From the very scanty news that has reached the global media it is already clear that a human catastrophe of the highest order is taking place in Burma. The number of deaths may be around 200,000. The response of the authorities to this tragedy is totally inadequate.

The failure of Pakistan's new government to resolve its judicial crisis has made a mockery of its legal and political systems. Pakistanis currently cannot tell who their chief justice is -- they have two. One has lost his salary and is fighting to keep his home, the other enjoys every privilege.

In the days since Cyclone Nargis passed through Burma on May 2 and 3, bringing a tidal surge with it to the delta region that has literally swept away hundreds of villages, it has become painfully obvious that the country's government is completely unable to deal with what has happened.

The extent of the devastation from Cyclone Nargis in Burma is slowly unfolding. The death toll is at 22,464 people, with 41,000 missing. Up to 1 million people may be displaced. People are in desperate need of food and drinking water; yet the junta insists it will proceed with its Saturday referendum.

Cambodia will hold a general election on July 27, but court cases against the leaders of two opposition parties may mar the electoral process. One is a lawsuit against Sam Rainsy for defaming the deputy prime minister; the other involves Prince Norodom Ranariddh. Neither is likely to get a fair trial.

Bangladesh's military-controlled government has been holding a series of "dialogues" with the country's various political parties ahead of expected general elections that are supposed to reinstate a civilian government. Yet in an odd twist, party leaders are demanding that army officers join the dialogue.

The government of the Indian state of Manipur has declared that it will provide arms, training and cash incentives for individuals to fight "terrorism." While the Supreme Court of India has yet to make a decision on a petition challenging this rationale, more states are resorting to this "dirty" tactic.

This week brought the welcome news that a group within Sri Lanka's JVP Party has called for a self-evaluation by the party of its past, particularly its past involvement in violence. A vigorous debate on the political follies of the past is much needed in the country.

There are, despite the odds, human rights lawyers in Burma. In fact the efforts of some to defend a working legal culture from official vandalism and neglect surpass those of their counterparts in more open societies of Asia. These persons are acting as a kind of life-support for Burma's judicial system.

Tibetans in Nepal are not hopeful that talks in Beijing between the Chinese government and representatives of the Dalai Lama will resolve any of the underlying issues that sparked unrest in Tibet in March, drawing world attention to the Tibetan plight. But, they say, they will not be useless either.