It feels like the least fun Christmas Eve ever here in Islamabad tonight. Voting in the Pakistani general election is due to start in ten hours, and every TV channel is running election coverage. They seem to have run out......more
Ben Hammersley in the Philippines
Recently in General Category
Cockfight
And I as fly back to Manila tomorrow, here's the full edit of my cockfighting story.......more
Photos from Basilan
New on Flickr, my photos from Basilan For hi-res downloads, low-res comps and so on, go to my photoshelter page.......more
Lack of events, dear boy, lack of events
It was a good choice, it seems. This weekend's supposed Major Offensive turned out to be a let down - even if I'd been there, there was nothing to actually cover. Two soldiers were injured in a small firefight, but......more
Or, for course, not
An eventful day, yesterday. With nothing to see, no access to any refugees, and very little possibility of any travel closer to the frontline, by an hour after I'd written the last post, I was ready to get off Basilan......more
Choices, choices
Written on 24 August, 07:49 local Choices choices. With a new Colonel in command, and the need to not get as many soldiers killed as they did last time, the planning for the next Big Operation Against Abu Sayyaf is......more
Waiting for the President
The boss's schedule will always screw you. It's early morning on the Philippine island of Basilan. I'm here at the Marine HQ, awaiting the 'surprise' arrival of the Philippine president, Gloria Arroyo. Her advance team, all 150 of them, are......more
Background posting
Simon Roughneen at the Asia Times, on the story I've just arrived to cover. More to come.......more
Ben Hammersley in the Philippines:
Ben Hammersley reporting from the Philippines from the end of August 2007. He posted his reports, pictures and videos on...