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The As It Happens Podcast

Programs prior to April 12, 2004 are no longer available.

Some are calling it a deal with the devil.

Today, the federal government of Pakistan signed a controversial peace deal with the Taliban forces in the northern region of Swat Valley. One condition of the agreement is that the government will allow the implementation of sharia -- or Islamic -- law.

It's an attempt to bring about a long-term ceasefire in a part of the country that has suffered during ongoing warfare, and endured brutalization at the hands of Islamic militants. But human rights activists fear that this new arrangement will actually lead to more abuses and suffering for residents of Swat Valley.

Ali Dayan Hasan is a South Asia expert with Human Rights Watch. We reached him in London, England.

Last week, Roy Bennett was expecting to be sworn in as Zimbabwe's new Deputy Agriculture Minister. That was after his party, the Movement for Democratic Change, formally entered into a power-sharing agreement with President Robert Mugabe. But on Friday, his political ambitions took a turn for the worse. Before Mr. Bennett was sworn in, he was arrested. Today, he is still languishing in prison.

As an outspoken white coffee grower, Mr. Bennett has been a thorn in the side of Mr. Mugabe's government. It's a fight his friend and neighbour, David Wilding-Davies, has watched play out for years. Mr. Wilding-Davies has known Roy Bennett for more than a decade. He's a Canadian from Thornbury, Ontario who also owns a coffee farm, about an hour's drive from Roy Bennett's Zimbabwe estate.

Today, we reached Mr. Wilding-Davies at his home in Thornbury.

You could be forgiven for thinking the Battle of the Plains of Abraham was a done deal. After all, it took place in 1759. And during its course, the English forces led by General James Wolfe defeated the French forces of Louis-Joseph, Marquis de Montcalm on that famous Quebec site. So: that's it for that then. Except, of course, for the repercussions -- which continue to this day.

Last week, we spoke with Horst Dresler, a Vermont man who is hoping to participate in a long-planned re-enactment of the battle. I say "hoping" because there is a chance the re-enactment may be cancelled, due to growing opposition by some Quebeckers.

Meanwhile, Talkback obliged Mr. Dresler -- by contributing to the battle online.

From Bishop's Mills, Ontario, Michael Whittaker wrote us this e-mail:

"The majority of re-enactors who will participate in the Plains of Abraham re-enactment will be American. They have far less comprehension than most Canadians of the socio-political sensitivities in Quebec. That said, I know for a fact a few sovereigntists and nationalists will participate in the re-enactment. They accept the undeniable fact of history and are content to commemorate the fall of Quebec City."

That was from Michael Whittaker in Bishop's Mills, Ontario. And Léon Robichaud -- an assistant professor in the Department of History at the University of Sherbrooke -- sent this to our inbox:

"Historical recreation is a wonderful opportunity for the participants, and for the public, to discover history in a direct and personal manner. As a low-key event, previous recreations at the Plains of Abraham did not raise eyebrows.

Billing it as the event of the year, as some promoters have done, to keep local tourism booming following last year's 400th anniversary, put it in the limelight and at the centre of a debate.

"On Tuesday, authorities will decide to maintain or to cancel the recreation. Whatever their decision, hopefully everyone has realised that commemoration is not neutral. Serious thought has to be placed as to why we do it, and how we do it."

For a primate, the chimpanzee they call "Cheeta" has many claims to fame.

At 76, he's said to be the world's oldest chimp -- out-living the typical captive chimp by more than 20 years. And he's seen a few things in his time. As the last surviving chimp from the "Tarzan" movies, he could tell you some stories about Johnny Weissmuller's personal hygiene. And he'd likely have some choice words about the suaveness of Rex Harrison -- with whom he starred in "Doctor Doolittle" -- and the woodenness of his co-star in "Bedtime for Bonzo", one Ronald Reagan. If he could talk, of course. Which he can't.

Now, though, his inability to explain himself is proving especially frustrating. Because -- you might want to sit down for this -- the ape we know as "Cheeta" is apparently an imposter.

R.D. Rosen is a writer and editor, and the person who blew the whistle on this monkey business. We reached him in Naples, Florida.

There was a mob of photographers outside Scotland Yard in London today, and they weren't paparazzi. They were protesters.

The National Union of Journalists in Britain organized a demonstration against an amendment to the country's Counter Terrorism Act.

Peter Murray was at today's demonstration. He's the Vice-President of the National Union of Journalists, which is based in London.

Peter Murray is the Vice President of the National Union of Journalists, based in London.

Peter Smyth is in London too. He's the Chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation.

It's never too late to say you're sorry. Even if it takes forty-nine years.

That's the philosophy of Katharine Nakamura. She spearheaded a campaign to apologize to legendary folk singer Pete Seeger -- for some unpleasantness that took place in 1960.

We reached Ms. Nakamura in California, where she's a member of the board of the San Diego Unified School District.