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Azerbaijan: Overzealous minions? · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Following the recent detention of online activists and bloggers Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli in Azerbaijan, Business Week and former New York Times journalist Steve LeVine comments on the case on The Oil and the Glory, wondering if the arrest wasn't simply a case of an overzealous police official trying to win favor with the president.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Bahrain: Learn To Live With Israel? · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

The Bahraini Nationalist is pleased that Bahrain's Crown Prince has written an op-ed in the Washington Post asking Arabs to talk to the people of Israel: “Shaikh Salman is trying to tell Arabs that Israel is a reality and won’t disappear. Learn to live with it!!” Yet a Facebook group has already started called “Bahrainis against the Crown Prince's call for normalization with the Zionist enemy“.

source: news-globalvoices

license: Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Bangladesh: Practice of child labour · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

Monjuraul at Muktangan discusses[bn] the condition of child labourers in Bangladesh.

author: Aparna Ray


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Brazil: Amnesty for illegal immigrants sparks hope and controversy · Global Voices
Paula Góes

14th São Paulo's Immigrant Festival, in June 2009. Photo by Rita Barreto, published with permission.
Historically, Brazil has been a landing point for many nationalities, an openness that has given the country the diverse and multicultural character that has made it a true melting pot. Whereas in the past immigration was a government backed solution to populate the vast lands of the South American giant, in recent years the trend is the arrival of immigrants, mostly illegally living in Brazil, from neighboring countries, notably Paraguay, Peru and increasingly Bolivia, due to economic and political reasons. There is also a strong flow of people coming from China, in search of work opportunities.
From Bolivia alone, it is believed that between 1,200 and 1,500 immigrants arrive in Brazil  every month, looking for jobs and ending up as illegal workers. There are an estimated 200,000 Bolivians living in the Greater São Paulo area, most of whom are undocumented. This is, however, soon to change. A new Law of Migration Amnesty has been sanctioned by President Lula da Silva, allowing foreigners in irregular situations to apply for temporary residence permits and ultimately gain legal status in Brazil. This will benefit anyone who arrived prior to February 1st 2009 – either entering the country illegally or overstaying their visas – who will now be guaranteed rights to freedom of movement and work, in addition to access to public health care, education and justice services.
According to the Ministry of Justice, roughly 50,000 people may take advantage from the law, but international organizations believe there are an estimated 200,000 qualifying immigrants. If even a quarter of this number take advantage of the new law, this will be the largest amnesty ever seen in Brazil. The hope is that the amnesty will change the fortunes of those working in sweatshops that cash in on illegal immigrants for example – a crude reality in São Paulo.
Immigrants from the Andes in São Paulo. Photo by Thiago Macedo taken on April 2009, used with permission.
The ultimate goal is to gain compassion for Brazilian immigrants living illegally abroad: more Brazilians leave the country than the thousands of immigrants arriving in Brazil, according to the Ministry of Justice. At the recent G8 summit in Italy, President Lula, who is also campaigning for the upgrade and “humanizing” of Brazil’s 1980 immigration statute, criticized rich nations for taking a tough stance against illegal migrants and called for international solidarity. Can Brazil teach other countries about the need to better treat immigrants? Ariel Pontes [pt] believes Brazil is teaching the world a lesson:
Enquanto Estados Unidos criam leis e muro entre seu território e do México para impedir estrangeiros de entrar em seu país e Israel isola comunidade palestina, presidente Lula dá ao mundo demonstração de que é possível vivermos em tempos modernos a multicultura.
Fernando Branquinho [pt] elaborates further:
Em época de crise, onde as oportunidades de trabalho e negócios minguam, a mesquinhez humana aguça preconceitos numa “ética de bote salva-vidas”, onde a regra é: eu me salvo, você, não! É o caldo cultural onde os fascismos prosperam, e a história nos mostra que o ápice da direita como ideologia aconteceu após a 1a grande guerra, reforçado pela crise do capitalismo de 1929. Hoje na Europa o tema que tem elegido direitistas a cada urna aberta é a restrição a estrangeiros. A França tem cotas de expulsão mensais. A Itália incentiva a deduragem de estrangeiros com a aprovação de uma nova lei que criminaliza a imigração ilegal.
No Brasil, temos uma elite tão retrógrada quanto a que deu o golpe agora em Honduras, e que se manifesta no cotidiano espumando seu ódio ao “iletrado” presidente Lula, às cotas das políticas de afirmação racial e às transferências governamentais como o bolsa-família, Prouni, etc. E temos um governo que, apesar do grande defeito de não ter avançado mais nas conquistas sociais e de ter sucumbido aos defeitos da política tradicional, acaba de sancionar a anistia a cerca de 50 mil imigrantes ilegais que se encontravam no país até fevereiro de 2009, humanizando o problema migratório. Na contra-mão da discriminação, o Brasil se mostra como país acolhedor de imigrantes, dando exemplo ao mundo.
In Brazil, we have a retrograde elite such as the one who executed the recent coup d'état in Honduras, and who go about in their daily life foaming hatred against “illiterate” President Lula, against the policies of quotas for racial affirmation and government benefits such as the Family Grant, the [University for All Program] PROUNI, etc. And despite the fact that we have a government whose greatest mistakes were not having achieved more social development and having succumbed to the problems of traditional politics, it has just signed an amnesty for about 50,000 illegal immigrants who entered the country no later than February 2009, humanizing the immigration problem. Instead of discriminating against them, Brazil appears to be a welcoming country to immigrants, setting an example to the world.
14th São Paulo's Immigrant Festival, in June 2009. Photo by Rita Barreto, published with permission.
On the other hand, pointing out that there have been past migration amnesties in Brazil, in both 1988 and 1998, with some 60,000 people benefiting from the last one alone, Vitor Vieira [pt] reacts sarcastically to the news of yet another amnesty:
Estrangeiros de todas as latitudes, podem vir para o Brasil e podem ficar clandestinamente aqui, porque em poucos anos será feita outra lei legalizando todo mundo. O Brasil é a mãe do mundo. Membros da Yakuza, podem entrar à vontade. Membros da máfia russa, podem chegar.
Maria B [pt] is not happy either:
Que país de mierda.Enquanto a Itália torna crime a imigração ilegal, Lula, o bom transforma o Brasil na casa da Mãe Joana.Estou sendo polida.
Até hoje Lula só prestigiou o que não presta.Vamos aguardar o dia que vai privilegiar o que presta…sentados, por favor
Leonardo Sakamoto [pt], a blogger who follows immigration and modern day slavery matters very closely, agrees that the law is a great step in the right direction, but he stresses that it far from solves the problem:
A notícia é ótima, mas os problemas para os imigrantes ilegais não serão resolvidos de um dia para noite. Primeiro, porque o valor não é tão baixo em se tratando de famílias pobres com muitos membros: por exemplo, cinco pessoas terão que desembolsar R$ 490,00 – o que não é pouca coisa para quem já não ganha quase nada. Além disso, para obter o registro definitivo, o estrangeiro terá que, entre outras coisas, comprovar que está trabalhando. Considerando que muitos estão na informalidade – como uma parte considerável do resto da população brasileira – quais serão os documentos exigidos? Contracheque fantasma de oficina de costura ilegal?
É um primeiro passo, mas o ideal seria atingir algo mais profundo, que mude também a forma como vemos a América do Sul e como a “Sudamerica” nos vê.
Os preços baixos de roupas em ruas de comércio paulistanas como a José Paulino ou a Oriente, que tanto atraem os consumidores do varejo e do atacado, muitas vezes são obtidos através da redução dos custos no processo de produção. A maior parte dos funcionários utilizados na confecção dessas roupas é composta por imigrantes latino-americanos em situação ilegal no Brasil. Bolivianos, paraguaios, peruanos, chilenos formam um verdadeiro exército de mão-de-obra barata e abundante em São Paulo. Saem de seus países de origem em busca de uma vida melhor em solo brasileiro, fugindo da miséria. Das comunidades latino-americanas na capital paulista, os bolivianos destacam-se por constituir a mais numerosa. Além disso, encontram-se nas situações mais graves de exploração e degradação do trabalho humano.
It is a first step, but it would be ideal to achieve something deeper, which would also change the way we see South America and “Sudamerica” sees us.
The low prices of the clothes sold on the São Paulo streets José Paulino or Oriente, which both attract retail and wholesale customers, are often possible because of the reduction of the production costs. Most employees working in the manufacture of clothing are Latin American immigrants in illegal situations in Brazil. Bolivians, Paraguayans, Peruvians, Chileans make a real army of abundant, cheap labor in Sao Paulo. They leave their home countries in search of a better life on Brazilian land, fleeing poverty. Among the Latin American communities in São Paulo, Bolivians stand out as the largest. Furthermore, they are in the most serious situations of exploitation and degradation of human labor.
The blogger carries on explaining that many of these workshops operate illegally in hidden basements, without fresh air or daylight in order not to raise suspicion. The noise of machinery is suffocated by loud Bolivian music and ‘employees’ are locked inside facing walls, unable to see or talk to other, to avoid mobilization and demands for better working conditions. Because of their illegal situation, they earn unlawfully low wages and are kept in constant fear of being out of work, and in some cases, their employers even keep all their documents, so that the workers have no other choice. At the end of his long, lucid and comprehensive post, Sakamoto [pt] takes the opportunity to ask: “after all, what is it really to be a Brazilian?”
A história de nosso país é uma história de migrações, de acolher gente de todos os cantos do mundo (não tão bem, é claro – São Paulo, por exemplo, é a maior cidade nordestina fora do Nordeste e, ao mesmo tempo, ostentamos um preconceito raivoso e irracional). Mas não faz sentido que viremos às costas aos que vêm de fora e adotam o Brasil, mesmo que a contragosto. Eles são tão brasileiros quanto eu e você, trabalham pelo desenvolvimento do país, mas normalmente passam invisíveis aos olhos da administração pública e do resto de nós.
Centenary of Japanese immigration in Brazil. A photo by emersonik, published under a Creative Commons License.
Immigrants who succesfully apply for a residence permit will have all the rights of Brazilian citizens, only remaining forbidden from voting and joining the army. The request for temporary residency should be filed within 180 days from the publication of this new Law, and the applications must be directed to the Ministry of Justice.

author: Paula Góes


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China: Muslim blogger to be investigated · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Muslim blogger Ismael is going to be investigated by police on his connection with Xinjiang Muslim: since Uighur riots in Urumqi on July 5, I try to defend those oppressed people on Chinese website. So Chinese police telephoned my father to stop me. Try to shut me up. My words exposed the lies and let some Han Chinese be unhappy.

author: Oiwan Lam


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India: Family dynamics and domestic violence · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

Mandy Van Deven's post in The WIP analyses family dynamics and its impact on domestic violence in the context of Deepa Mehta's film ‘Heaven on Earth’.


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Israel: Does Violence Pay? · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Israeli activist Joseph Dana compares the way the Israeli state treats ultra-orthodox rioters with its treatment of anti-occupation protestors: “The ultra orthodox have succeeded in exerting force against the state – one could say that violence in this situation has proven successful –  while non-violent leftist Israelis are often attacked with grave force by the state authorities.”


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Jerusalem: Discovering The Old City · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Glenn Strachan has been working temporarily in Nazareth, and is now visiting Jerusalem for the first time: “What I quickly discovered is that Nazareth is to Jerusalem what hamburger is to filet mignon.”


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Kazakhstan: Astana dominates Tour de France  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Dina writes that Kazakh cycling team Astana is back on stage after a series of financial problems and it is showing a solid performance in the French Grand Tour.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Kazakhstan: New Internet Law Passed  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Katya Fisher Yoffe reports that Kazakhstan president signed a new law placing blogs, social media networks, and chatrooms under the rubric of “mass media”, effectively creating criminal liability for users of these internet communication platforms  and permitting the government to shut down and censor websites as it sees fit.


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Kyrgyz Airlines Still Banned in Europe · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Elena informs that the European Commission published the new List of airlines banned within the EU, featuring 17 – i.e. all – Kyrgyz airlines.


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Kyrgyzstan Sets Up the Anti-terrorist Centre · Global Voices
Elena Skochilo

15, July, the President of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiev gave interview to the American New York Times.
During the interview, he told [ru] that Kyrgyzstan was going to set up the anti-terrorist centre at the south region of Kyrgyzstan.
The representatives of the Kyrgyz and the Russian Ministries of Defence are exploring the question of the opening of the anti-terrorist centre at one of the southern regions of Kyrgyzstan to reinforce the anti-terrorist activity. We could hold joint anti-terrorist trainings of the Kyrgyz and Russian military, Kurmanbek Bakiev said.
In the beginning of July the delegation of the Russian government with the Russian vice-premier Igor Sechin visited Kyrgyzstan. As it was found out later, the Russian delegation discussed the possibility of the extension of the Russian military forces in Kyrgyzstan and the possible opening of the second Russian military base at the south region of Kyrgyzstan during the private talks.
The President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev neither confirmed nor denied the information that Russia supposedly had the negotiations to Kyrgyzstan to set up the second military base for the CSTO forces.
Such agreement can't be announced in advance. We can't neither confirm nor deny, Medvedev told.
The official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Erhzan Ashikbaev announced the position of Kazakhstan.  He told, that Kazakhstan considered the possibility of the opening of the Russian military base the business matter between two countries and greeted any steps to improve the stability and safety of the region.
William Burns, the U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs told that such decision was obviously the sovereign right of the government of Kyrgyzstan.
Our view is that any step that strengthens the sovereignty, independence and security of Kyrgyzstan is a sensible one, Burns said [en] to AP.
But Uzbekistan expressed [ru] the negative opinion about the possible new military bases in the border countries.
Tashkent expresses strong disagreement about the setting up the new foreign military bases in the border countries, the high-ranking Uzbek official told anonymously.
Internet-society of Kyrgyzstan started criticizing of Uzbekistan.
Okey, should we ask for the written permission of Uzbekistan to set up a new base? But what about the closure of the Uzbek borders recently? They did it without any permission. Now we can make them nervous also. We need to open one more military base in Osh city and set up the American transit center in Batken instead of Bishkek, Diesel Forum user Dizelist said [ru].
Why is Tashkent so nervous? If the problem is in the terrorism it is advisably for Tashkent to defend the Ferghana Valley better. Americans always stressed that the American military base has the special mission and it won't get involved to the regional conflicts. But the CSTO base should do this. So, why is Tashkent so nervous?, Diesel Forum user Baker Street asked [ru].
I think this possible base at the southern region of Kyrgyzstan is to manipulate Uzbekistan. The Russians with Tajikistan will control the half of the Ferghana Valley, Diesel Forum user Zeeke suggested [ru].

author: Elena Skochilo


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Latvia: Limiting civil liberties · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Free Speech Emergency in Latvia argues that a new government proposal to expand security police powers would increasingly limit the scope of civil liberties in Latvia.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


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Morocco: First Femal Mayor Loses her Seat · Global Voices
Hisham Almiraat

The View from Fez reports on how 33-year-old Fatima Zahra Mansouri lost her council seat as the first female mayor of the city of Marrakesh, after a controversial administrative court ruling disallowed the vote on the basis of alleged irregularities. “Mansouri's Party for Authenticity and Modernity (PAM), which swept the local elections last month, said in a statement that a 48-hour strike had been called to ‘protest the plot against the democratic process,'” reports the blogger.

author: Hisham Almiraat


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Palestine: Fear Of Flying · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

At the Moments of Gaza blog, Professor Abdelwahed writes about a couple taking their children out of Gaza for the first time in 13 years, and discovering that they were terrified to fly: “Their persistent question was on their situation if the airplane bombed somewhere and killed innocent people like what it did in Gaza during the war!”


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Peru: Bloggers Targeted by Hackers · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

Disagreements between bloggers and their readers may often take place within the comments section, and can continue in the form of debate and discussion. However, for some Peruvian bloggers, some of their views motivated some to take actions to silence these differing opinions. The blogger Carlos Quiróz, also known as Peruanista [es] had his YouTube channel erased due to waves of complaints by a group who disagreed with him. In addition, Francisco Canaza of Apuntes Peruanos [es] was on the receiving end of a hacking attack that left his blog offline for days.
Many are asking what did these bloggers do to deserve these types of attacks? Do their opinions on uncomfortable topics make them a target by those who disagree? Is that a valid reason for these types of attacks?
Carlos Quiróz of Peruanista [es] wonders why his YouTube accounts were suspended, where he lost hundreds of videos that took two years of work.
¿Qué podría motivar este abuso? Acaso ha sido el último video que subí con Cynthia McKinney enviando un mensaje de solidaridad a los pueblos indígenas y afro descendientes de las Americas. … Podrían ser los videos donde denuncio y expongo en detalle acerca del genocidio de Bagua en la selva peruana … Acaso fueron los videos donde yo he protestado contra el Tratado de Libre Comercio entre EEUU y Perú …
Afortunadamente tengo todos mis videos archivados y los voy a subir en otro website de videos. A lo mejor debería mover mis blogs también, porque Google -dueños de Youtube- tambien es dueño de Blogger. Un ejemplo más del abuso que uno se expone frente a los monopolios de las corporaciones privadas.
What could have caused this abusive action? Perhaps it was the last video that I uploaded of Cynthia McKinney sending a message of solidarity to the indigenous peoples and African descendants in the Americas. … Could it be the videos where I denounced and provided details about the genocide in Bagua located in the Peruvian jungle … Perhaps it was the videos where I  protested against the Free Trade Agreement between U.S. and Peru …
Fortunately I have archived all my videos and I will upload videos on another website. Maybe I should move my blog too, because Google, which is also the owner of YouTube, also owns Blogger. This is an example of an abuse that is exposed against the monopolies of private corporations.
The controversial nature of some of the subject matter attracts many who disagree.  Kisha explains how many of these critics band together to launch waves of “complaints” against a channel [es] even if it may not be in violation of the terms and conditions of YouTube.  However, due to the large volume of complaints, these channels are often suspended or erased. Regardless of any disagreements with the opinions of bloggers like Quiroz, Isabel Guerra of Las Burbujas Recargadas [es] writes that the actions of these critics are unacceptable:
Es público; no es ningún secreto que Peruanista (Carlos Quiroz) y yo hemos discrepado muchas veces y que yo más de una vez le he dicho que no exagere y etc. … Por muchas discrepancias y pleitos que se puedan tener con alguien, hacer que le cierren la cuenta, la verdad, es una señal muy peligrosa.
Screenshot of the Canaza's site that had been hacked. It reads ‘it has fallen!’
Apuntes Peruanos [es], the blog of Francisco Canaza was hacked. While his blog is being repaired, he set up an “emergency” blog called En el Exilio [es] (In Exile), where he provides details of the sequence of events that led to the hacked site.
Apuntes Peruanos sufrió un ataque mayor y quedó fuera de línea por casi 9 horas. Como lo comenté, fue el segundo ataque en lo que va de la semana, y este sí comprometió a todo el site. El resumen es que varios archivos esenciales del WordPress fueron comprometidos, editados a discreción del atacante. Aún falta mucho para saber qué pasó y en qué dimensión. Hemos guardado copia de varios archivos y scripts php para luego analizarlos. He recibido muchas muestras de apoyo, por diversos medios y por personas que ni siquiera me conocen. No me queda más que agradecerlos a todos.
Ernesto of Física3 [es] also agrees that this type of negative behavior should not be tolerated:
Si, es cierto en la blogosfera no todos pueden estar de acuerdo, pero cuando tu irracionalidad te lleva al querer silenciar a la otra voz, no te diferencias mucho de la dictadura china, … la verdad es que no la veíamos venir pero luego de leer este comentario en el blog de Gran Combo, uno no puede sino pensar que esto no es aislado.
Yes, it is true that not everyone can agree in the blogosphere, but when your irrationality leads you to want to silence other voices, you are no different than the Chinese dictatorship, …. the truth is that we did not see this coming, but after reading a comment in the Gran Combo blog, one cannot help but think that this is not an isolated incident.
It has become evident that independent bloggers have drawn the ire of others with different interests and intolerant attitudes. Perhaps even more important than finding out who is behind these attacks is that many bloggers continue to use increased security methods. However, some bloggers like Luis Aguirre of Bloodyhell [es]  describes how the Peruvian blogosphere cannot be looked at in the same way and it has become a cutthroat environment due to the economic interests at stake.
estamos en una coyuntura donde la blogósfera ya no pasa caleta ni piola como ejercicio de la libertad de expresión. Si alguien como (el presidente) García pide que desde internet se realice una ofensiva contra lo que él considera “desinformación” entonces es de esperar que oficialismo y oposición, propaganda y periodismo, comiencen a confundirse en una pelea post a post o tuit a tuit. Más aún con elecciones encima, las municipales y las presidenciales. Hace rato que la blogósfera dejó de ser inocente.
la miseria de la red: si hasta el momento los grandes cerebros mundiales no saben cómo hacer rentable en ella la creación de contenido e información, en el Perú la mermelada como paradigma cultural ha convertido ese hermafroditismo de encarte publicitario y opinión personal la única norma económicamente viable en webs, blogs y tuits. Una lástima. Porque las presiones comerciales se transforman en presiones por salvaguardar intereses -la quincena, hombre- y, en última instancia, por silenciar otros blogs, comentarios u opiniones incómodos.
We are in a situation where the blogosphere no longer goes unnoticed in exercise of freedom of expression. If someone like (President) García calls via the internet for a crackdown against what he considers “misinformation,” then it can only be expected that the government and opposition, propaganda and journalism, begin to confuse themselves in a fight, post for post or tweet for tweet. Even more, with municipal and presidential elections coming soon. For some time now, the blogosphere is no longer innocent.
The misery of the internet: if until now, the world's greatest minds do not know how to make the creation of content and information profitable, then in Peru, money as a cultural paradigm has become that hermaphroditism of insert advertisement and personal opinion as the only economic viable way on websites, blogs and tweets. What a shame. Because the commercial pressures have become pressures to safeguard interests – salaries – and ultimately, to silence other blogs.

author: Juan Arellano


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Philippines: Senior citizen perks · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Ed from the Philippines found out that being a senior citizen gives him several privileges when transacting in government offices.

author: Mong Palatino


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Russia: Americanophobia or Americanophilia? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

In the midst of the Russophobia-Russophilia debate, LJ user drugoi raises the issue [RUS] of whether Russians are Americanophobes or Americanophiles.


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Russia: Extremism law going to extremities · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Sean's Russia Blog reports how the Russian law against extremism is increasingly liberally interpreted, now to include the registration of youth subcultures, in parallel to the registration of ideologically harmful culture during soviet times.


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Russia: Shalamov’s Siberia · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Russian Blog does a follow up on the Russian writer and Gulag prisoner Varlam Shalamov, visiting sites of his incarceration in the Ural and posting pictures to illustrate the story


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Russia: Which way with the WTO? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Amanda Lahan at Crisis Crunch discusses Russia's ambivalence on whether to become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) or not.


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Tajikistan: Rasht fighting · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Gavin reports that a shootout has taken place in the Rasht Valley of Tajikistan, when national guardsmen were attacked by unknown armed grouping, presumably by the drug trafficking gang or by extremist militants.


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Ukraine: Running out of time to dissolve parliament · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Ukraine Today draws attention to the coming week being the last when president Yushchenko can constitutionally dissolve parliament before the 2010 presidential elections.


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Armenia: Vardavar · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Ianyan marks the much-loved Armenian holiday of Vardavar. The blog examines the roots of a tradition which usually revolves around children dousing complete strangers with buckets of water.


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Azerbaijan: Activists’ support site goes down · Global Voices
Ali S. Novruzov

Yesterday, as Önər Blog [AZ] reported, the Appellate Court in Baku was to consider again the case of Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade, the recently beaten and detained youth activists and bloggers sentenced last week to two months of pre-trial arrest on alleged “hooliganism” charges.
However, while Emin Milli was brought before the judge, the authorities failed to bring Adnan Hajizada to the court for unknown reasons. When Hajizada's lawyer filed a motion demanding that he be present, the judge accepted the motion and postponed the appeal hearing until 20 July.
With other activists and supporters of the detained men utilizing social media and YouTube to campaign for their release, online activity naturally increased. Yesterday, however, one of the main websites, AdnanEmin.com, created in their defense went  down.
According to discussions on Facebook, many suspect that this was because of a ping flood, a denial-of-service attack (DoS attack),  when a website is overwhelmed by ping packets.
Hours later, the site was accessible again.
For background info on Emin and Adnan, Global Voices Online has extensive coverage here, while more information on Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade can be found here and here. A new English-language version version of the OL! blog is also providing updates.

author: Ali S. Novruzov


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Bahrain: No to Eating Corn in Shop  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

On Twitpic, Bahraini Twitter user Hussein Nasser posts a photograph of a sign posted in a boutique which reads:  “You are not allowed to eat sweet corn inside the shop.”

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Bahrain: Swine Flu Awareness  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger Khalid [ar] blames Bahraini health authorities for not handling the H1N1 or Swine flu virus properly and creating public awareness about the disease. He goes on to provide information about it.


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Bangladesh: Stigma of the ‘D’ tag · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

Life As It Is holds a mirror to the rising number of divorces and examines the stigma associated with the ‘D’ tag.


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Belarus: Arms trade rescues regime · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Bielar.us discusses a recent United Nations’ report on arms’ trade in the world, where Belarus is pointed out as a major dealer, and the significance this trade has for the regime.


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China: Rio Tinto’s trouble – commerical bribery or espionage? · Global Voices
Bob Chen

According to China Daily, the official newspaper in China, Rio Tinto has virtually bribed the entire management of the steel industry in the country.
More than a week ago, four employees of Rio Tinto were arrested on suspicion of ‘espionage, stealing state secrets and harming the nation’s economic interests and security.’ Stern Hu, an Australian national who is in charge of iron ore trade in China for Rio Tinto is one of the four detained.
More than ten people in different Chinese steel companies have also been detained for further investigation, including the executive assistant of China Shougang Group.
The state secret involved is said to be confidential documents that gave Rio Tinto the upper hand in its iron ore negotiation with China’s state-owned steel mills. More specifically, it includes detailed information of the industry's projected ore demand and production data.
In the recent negotiation on long-term fixed price ore contracts, Chinese steel mills demanded a 40% decrease in  price, back to the levels of 2007. But Rio Tinto insisted on a cutback of 33% at most, a price already accepted by Japan. The big three iron ore companies in Australia threatened a stoppage of supply to the open market, which meant that China had no recourse if negotiations broke down.
This tough position by the miners is because they have been informed of the forecasts of Chinese steel mills by insiders who took bribes. In past years, although the largest buyer of iron ore in the world, China has suffered from price rises of over 90% since 2004.
Columnist Li Fuyong comments:
在2002年以前，中国因为进口量小，在铁矿石市场几乎没有发言权；但是，自2003年起，中国成为最大进口国以后，依然得不到发言权，影响不了谈判局势。每次谈判都以中方失败告终，不得不屈从对方高额要价，世界三大矿山巨头每次都似乎号准了中国的脉搏，对中方的底牌了如指掌.
More details about how the employers of the state-owned steel companies took bribes were soon revealed. Netizens were furious to see that the people enjoying high pay from their own industry were ‘selling China to foreign companies!’
The article ‘从力拓间谍门看中国商业贿赂‘ (commercial bribery reflected in Rio Tinto's ‘Espionage-Gate’)
在2008年北京奥运会开幕前，澳洲铁矿石巨头必和必拓的奥运团队就开始忙碌着接待来自全球各地的“贵宾”，他们主要是购买必和必拓产品的客户和必和必拓各业务高层及业务表现出色的员工。
其中，就包括近年来代表中国众多钢铁企业与必和必拓进行铁矿石价格谈判的上海宝钢集团及马钢等钢铁、有色金属企业的高层。
白天，必和必拓邀请“贵宾”观看奥运比赛，晚上安排客人下榻每间每天数千元的酒店，并与他们在酒店的酒吧或公司预定的场所交流，还专门请演唱“猫”和“Mama mia”歌剧的著名女歌手来献唱。这方面的付出，为澳方铁矿石价格谈判上赢得了先机。
On the internet, the senior officials were called ‘Hanjian’, which means ‘rats amongst the Han Chinese’. It more usually refers to people who helped the Japanese invaders during the WW2.
hanyzj commented on 163.com:
中国人太容易被收买了！
And a netizen named Sunny-day complained:
对付国有企业太容易了，哈哈，美女+金钱，可以横扫一切。
Commercial or political?
The national security bureau has intervened to investigate the ‘espionage’ case. The computer of Stern Hu was confiscated and it was said that  confidential information on scores of Chinese steel companies was found inside.
As China stepped up the campaign against commercial bribery there was reaction from overseas.
Australian prime minister, Kevin Rudd, warned China to handle the case carefully so as not to affect international public perceptions. Also the U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke reacted with ‘great concern’ to the arrest of the four employees. Rio Tinto has asked its foreign staff to leave China or not to return to the country.
Last month a Chinese state-owned company called Chinalco just failed to buy a large stake of the Australian mining giant Rio Tinto. Most Chinese people thought the failure was the result of Australian political concern. Therefore an opinion has suggested that the detention this time could be China’s retaliation, but China has denied, saying it was an ‘individual case’.
Rather than the foreign employees, Chinese netizens are angrier at the rats among themselves. 暗香浮动 criticized that the corruption and bribery are the results of monopoly in the steel industry.
而这些垄断行业多是嫡出身，带有先天的优越性，在行业竞争中有着天然的优势，赚了是自己的，赔了找国家要。
Woyaodese further points out that the centralization of power should be blamed as a hotbed that encourages corruption.
我们对于铁矿石的管制是越来越厉害，这厉害的结果就是中国能够经营铁矿石的进出口的单位只有100多家，远远少于钢铁企业的数量，这些有资质的进出口商最值钱的就是资质，这资质来自权力，当然就要权力寻租了。需要铁矿石的企业，只有找他们代理，而他们的代理费用不如说是倒卖的利润，进口的价格可以加一个 50-100%在给钢厂
Therefore, the qualified companies, which constitute the majority of the negotiation team, all have an incentive to accept a high price. That might be the reason that, this year in order to stop the trend, it is the China Iron and Steel Association who took charge of the bargaining.
A question was raised. Bribery and commission are not unusual in Chinese business circles. Why would China be so adamant in investigating the case that it would even risk international disputes?  An article suggested Rio Tinto has violated the hidden rules of business in China. Not only has the failure of China Aluminum Corporation to seize the stake of Rio Tinto seriously annoyed many senior officials, but its tough position in negotiations has also pushed the representatives to the corner.
The article said,
大伙再来看rio近期的表现
通过与中国内地的小钢企达成协议，避开中钢协，满足自己最大利益需求。
大批向中国港口运矿石，就地囤积，制造需求旺盛假象，逼迫中钢协在谈判中就范
这两条还不至于要命，最要命的一点是，把中钢协已经逼到绝路上，放话说，“我们也不坚持百分四十，但三大巨头必须在33%上有所松动”的前提下，依旧步步紧逼。其实中钢协最近那句话完全可以解读为，“老大，算你狠。给我点折扣，让我跟上边对人民有个交代吧，哪怕是0.1%也成，求你了…….”，可是 rio等偏偏装听不见。
Let's look at what Rio Tinto has done recently.
First, it strikes a deal with small steel enterprises to circumvent the China Iron and Steel Association, which is responsible for collective bargaining for the steel giants in China.
Second, it sends a huge amount of iron ore to different ports in China to fake an apparent strong demand in order to pressure the Association.
But the ultimately fatal problem is that it has backed the Association into a corner! The Association has already implied that ‘we won't insist on a 40% decrease but you have to make some concession on your 33% ultimatum!’ It could be interpreted as, ‘Come on, we know you will be the winner but give us some discount so we can at least have something to report back to our bosses. Even 0.1% is enough, please!’ But Rio Tinto pretended to be deaf!
其实，33%也好，40%也罢，中钢协谈判组从中没一点提成可拿。他们只需要rio这边有所松动，让他们跟上头和国内舆论有个交代。如果连续两年毫无建树，他们这个组织就没存在的必要，多少人的前程和饭碗就全毁了。但rio不明白啊，一再把人往绝路上逼。既然这样，中钢协和先前被rio得罪的人，也就没路可退了。
（Bob Guy also contributes to the post.)

author: Bob Chen


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Dominican Republic: The Financial Cost of Undocumented Haitian Immigrants · Global Voices
Rocio Diaz

The countries of the Dominican Republic and Haiti share the same island, which has commonly been known as Hispaniola ever since its discovery by Christopher Columbus in 1492. During that time, the island was compromised of the same territory and remained that way until 1697, with the signing of the Treaty of Ryswick, Spain ceded the western part of the island to France, which was renamed Saint-Domingue.
Map of Hispaniola. From Traveling Man's Flickr and used under a Creative Commons license. http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelingman/2816126909/
This colony was gradually populated by African slaves, and who eventually rebelled against their French colonizers. It was in this manner in 1804 that Haiti was born, becoming the first independent country in Latin America. By 1822, Haiti had total control of the island and occupied Santo Domingo until February 27, 1844, when a secret society called “La Trinitaria” led by among others, Juan Pablo Duarte, was created to gain independence from Haiti and to create what is now the Dominican Republic.
Since that day, the Dominican Republic and Haiti have been two independent nations, with a different culture, beliefs, and system. Their paths of economic development has also varied greatly, with Haiti being the least developed country in the Americas and the Dominican Republic enjoys one of the largest economies in the Caribbean and Central America.
Despite these stark contrasts, it is the close proximity of these two countries that have the intertwined their own fates. A large number of Haitians cross the border on a daily basis, usually illegally, to look for work as construction workers or to work as street vendors selling fruit, candy or other small, inexpensive items. Others may be specially contracted to work on sugarcane plantations.
Haitian fruit vendor in the Dominican Republic. Photo by Caymang and used under a Creative Commons license. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dlakme/2903770065/
Due to the large numbers of undocumented Haitians in the Dominican Republic, a large percentage can be seen in the streets as beggars. These visible examples often leaves Dominicans with a negative stereotyped view of all Haitians. However, there is still a smaller percentage that arrive legally with intentions to study, often with scholarships, but may not be the typical profile of Haitans in the country. José Rafael Sosa introduces his readers to one of these successful students, named Gessy [es]:
Cuando uno conoce a Gessy, el esquema prejuiciado que tenemos de “los haitianos”, se va a casa del carajo. Gessy Bellerive nació en Grande Riviѐre Du Nord, cerca de la ciudad de Cabo Haitiano, y voy directo a la historia: acaba de graduarse Magna Cum Laude en la Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra. Ahora regresa a Haití a servir a su pueblo.
Despite these positive examples of Haitians excelling in their neighboring countries, many Dominicans feel that immigration is out of control. Even though most arrive out of their free will, there are others that are brought to the Dominican Republic due to human trafficking and are taken advantage of in a network of beggars. There are estimates that there are approximately 1 million undocumented Haitians in the D.R., many of which are children who are working on the streets as window washers or shoeshiners. Manuel Vólquez of Diario Digital Dominicano [es] summarizes the situation this way:
Los haitianos se desplazan por el país como hormigas y han desplazado a nuestros obreros en sectores importantes de la economía como son la construcción y los negocios informales. Han llegado tan lejos que hasta usan niños en las avenidas para mendigar, han asimilado nuestra cultura y nuestras costumbres. ¿Cosas de la transculturización y la globalización?
It is the economic impact on the Dominican State that worries many people, because of the funds destined to provide free medical care to the undocumented immigrants. There are cases where the number of beds available for patients are decreasing because they are often occupied by immigrants [es]. According to Dr. Bolívar Matos, the Health Director of the South Region, the cost to provide medical care to these immigrants in the San Juan and Elías Piña provinces [es]reached 55 million pesos (approximately 1.5 million dollars).
In the comments section of the Hoy article, many write about these increased costs. Rosado320 wonders how much the total cost on the entire island would be, since the estimates only included two provinces. Oscar Caceres thinks that taxes may need to be increased in order to meet these needs, and even suggests asking for international aid to help cover these costs. However, Davidlebron is a little more sympathetic and writes:
A nosotros los dominicanos ausentes, no se nos niega la atencion medica por estos paises tampoco…asi que estoy un poco sorprendido porque hay gente que considera que tratar a los hermanos haitianos es un problema. Claro que es costoso…pero a ninún humano se le debe negar el derecho a comer y ser atendido por probemas de salud…a muchos de nuestros niños se les atiende en hospitales del extranjero y nadie sale a relucir esto como si de algo negativo se tratara.
These topics are often at the center of the discussion about Haitians in the Dominican Republic. As a result, Dominicans are often accused internationally of racism, abuse and mistreatment against the Haitian people, especially in the sugar industry. There are also outcries about the rights of Haitians when the Dominican Republic takes sovereign actions including deportation. There are non-governmental organizations that are active in these types of campaigns, and this is a topic that will be explored in the next article.

author: Rocio Diaz


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Dominican Republic: Wikiproject to Create Content · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Leon Taveras has been organizing a Wikiproject via Twitter to help create and improve upon the Wikipedia content relating to the Dominican Republic.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Egypt: 77 Egyptian Prisoners in Israeli Jails  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

On Twitter, Egyptian blogger Noha Atef  [ar] notes: “I didn't know that there were 77 Egyptian prisoners in Israeli jails!! 41 of them are held on criminal charges, meaning smuggling and illegal entry.”


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Honduras: 7 Point Document Allows for Zelaya Return · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Aaron Ortiz of Pensieve [es] writes about the seven-point document written by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, who is acting as a mediator in the Honduras crisis. The terms do not allow for an “unconditional” return of Mel Zelaya, but it allows for him to return as President.


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India: Don’t let the camera get wet! · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

India Travel Blog instructs photography enthusiasts how to protect their cameras in the rain.


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India: Once a teacher, always a teacher · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

I love life…So I Explore tells us how easy it is to spot a teacher – they are always in the teaching mode, inside the classroom and out.


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India: The joy of vandalising public property · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

Random Thoughts of a Demented Mind takes a caustic view of the violent bandh that crippled Kolkata last Friday (17th July)  – a day that saw free-for-all vandalism.


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India: The Moment of Truth, now in Hindi · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

Youth Curry watches ‘Sach ka Saamna’, the Indianised version of the American game show The Moment of Truth and realises that we are constantly hiding things, not only from others but even from ourselves.


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Kuwait: Swine Flu and Health Officials  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Kuwait, Dilli O Milli [ar] is surprised with the way officials are dealing with announcements related to H1N1 or Swine Flu. “We are handing our lives to people who are not up to the responsibility,” she writes about health officials.


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Mauritania: Election Fraud? · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Yesterday, 11 months after a military coup d'état led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Mauritania has elected the General to the presidency, resulting in Abdel Aziz's main challengers denouncing the election as a “charade,” according to BBC News.  A quick scan of the Sahelian blogosphere shows that the challengers are in good company.
Maghreb Blog explains the candidates:
Mauritanians head to the polls today in landmark presidential elections. The front runner is Ould Abdel Aziz, former junta leader who is running on a platform based on populism and being anti-Israel. Ould Abdel Aziz has also called for an end to corruption and instituting principles for good governance. According to recent polls, General Ould Abdel Aziz is trailed by Ahmed Ould Dada and Messaoud Ould Boulkheir. The former's agenda emphasizes the morals and values of “justice, equity, tolerance.” Ould Boulkheir has espoused ideals of democracy and human rights, and has pledged his support for trade unions.
The Moor Next Door, based in the U.S.,  boldly calls fraud, stating:
The Ould Daddah and Boulkheir campaigns are now best described as “in shock”: the numbers coming out since the polls closed are showing massive majorities for General Ould Abdel Aziz. In Nouadhibou, sixty-five precincts are showing the same results in favor of Ould Abdel Aziz. The question: how? The answer: fraud. Their reactions now will determine what is possible tomorrow and in the days afterward.
The blogger reminds us:
General Ould Abdel Aziz has lead Mauritania in three substantial campaigns: The Good Coup (2005), the Rejected Coup (2008) and, now, the Constitutional Coup (2009).
U.S.-based self-described African blogger A Bombastic Element calls a spade a spade:
The BBC is reporting that coup leader General Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz, who relinquished power and turned civilian in order to run in Saturday's elections, is about to pull off a “Musharraf.”
As bloggers wait for results to be finalized, one – an artist living in Nouakchott, offers this sketch of election day in Nouadhibou:

author: Jillian C. York


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Morocco: Electoral Boycott Campaigners Acquitted · Global Voices
Hisham Almiraat

Ibn Kafka reports [Fr] on the acquittal of seven Moroccan pro-democratic activists. He recalls the circumstances and the legal basis upon which the defendants were sued in the aftermath of last month's communal election when they publicly campaigned for the boycott of a poll they deemed undemocratic.


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Nepal: Incentivising widow re-marriage · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

In the budget for fiscal year 2009-10, the newly elected government in Nepal has proposed an incentive scheme whereby USD625 would be awarded to any groom who married a widow. This proposal has angered widows and women's groups alike, writes Bhumika Ghimire at NewsFlavor


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Palestine: Egypt and Israel and Humanitarian Aid  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Writing on Arab-American joint blog Kabobfest, Will notes his disgust with Egypt's stalling of humanitarian aid entering Gaza. “Though we have seen Egypt’s role as essentially Israel’s sidekick before, the machinations around the Viva Palestine really exemplify how much it shares Israel’s sick agenda of collective punishment in Gaza,” he notes.


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Russia: Did Kadyrov kill Estemirova? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Reactions to the murder of Russian Human Rights’ avtivist, Natalya Estemirova, of Memorial have been frequent in recent days. Sean's Russia Blog discusses accusations against Chechen president Kadyrov of being behind the murder, and posts a translation of a Novaya Gazeta article. Streetwise Professor compares the terror of the Chechen militia, Kadyrovstsy, with the oprichnina during the reign ov Ivan the terrible. Eternal Remont sums up reactions in Russia, forcing even president Medvedev to condemn the murder. Cafe Turco reflects upon worsening condidtions for Human Rights’ organizations in Russia, and Foreign Policy Blog Russia asks who will be the next victim.


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Russia: Grozny photographies · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

LJ user pumchik posts pictures with comments [RUS] from the new Grozny, rebuilt after the second Checnyan war.


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Russia: Kadyrov sues Memorial · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Eternal Remont comments on Chechen president's, Kadyrov, plans to sue Russian Human Rights’ organization Memorial for libel, by accusing him to be guilty of Natalya Estemirova's murder.


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Russia: Medvedev Murder Mystery · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

As news broke of Wednesday's murder of Russian Human Rights's activist Natalya Estemirova, it did not take long for President Dmitry Medvedev to offer his condolences to her family and appoint a committee to investigate a crime widely covered by international media. But was this merely a reaction to avoid repetition of the Politkovskaya PR-fiasco? In the domestic media arena, there was no comparison in coverage, provoking anger, resignation, and accusations of hypocrisy among Russia's liberal bloggers. However, looking at the wider picture, others see the Estemirova case as yet another herald of troubles ahead for the Putin-Medvedev tandemocracy, and believe that Medvedev reacted to the murder out of honest concern and worry.
The first, and obvious, question for all touched by the murder of one of Russia's foremost human rights’ defenders is: Who could commit such a heineous act?
Fingers have been pointed at both Putin and Kadyrov, resulting in the Chechen President threatening to sue Estemirova's organization, Memorial, for libel. Still, the question remains, who were the murderers, and who stood behind them?
LJ user Andrei Naliotov is wondrous about [RUS] the character of the murderer, as opposed to that of Estemirova:
I cannot understand what kind of person one has to be, to shoot at a doctor, hurrying to save the sick or the wounded, at a priest praying to save souls, at a human rights defender, pulling people out of misery? I knew Natalya Estemirova. When I first spoke to her, I was surprised by her courage: To challenge power in today's totalitarian Chechnya, doing so living in Grozny – takes the highest of courage. But to stand on the side of truth and save people was superior to all for her. “No village without one righteous.” Natalya was the righteous of Chechnya. Let her memory live eternally.
Whereas Medvedev's statement on the murder, may have averted international repercussions, reactions in Russian media were sparse, and LJ user tupikin accounts for [RUS] his own feelings and others’ neglect to cover the issue:
Almost the entire day was spent in a realm of black colour. At first, the press conference about yesterday's kidnapping and murder of Grozny Human Rights defender Natalya Estemirova (judging from comments on my post – a single one – one might think that it is only of interest for anti-Kremlin websites, whereas none of my best friends showed any interest whatsoever). Tell me, honestly, do you think that Human Rights’ defenders are crazy? Or rather, predestined to die? OK, the press conference gathered 60 journalists, including ten TV-cameras. When Ludmila Alexeyeva, chairman of the Moscow Helsinki group, asked national [i.e. Russian] journalists to raise their hands, it turned out to be no more than 15 people. The news, which has circled world media, is received, here in our country, with amazing stoicism, as if that simply is the way it has to be. Really, not 60, but 160 journalists should have come… Well, that is not some other country, but it is all ours. [—] and then Ludmila Alexeyeva added that two people were guilty – Ramzan Kadyrov and Vladimir Putin. [—] I don't know whether the tacit readers of my LiveJournal understand, that this is a sensation of all-Russian proportions [—] that two of the most high-ranking state officials in Russia were named as accomplices to a political murder in front of TV-cameras and tens of journalists. The ground did not shake, only silence followed. As I wrote these words on the keyboard of my old notebook, it was as if the finger-touches forming letters were like the strikes from the Tsar Bell…
Turning to the political ramifications of the murder, there are bloggers who underline how problematic and untimely the Estemirova case is for Medvedev, possibly adding to an alleged domestic political campaign to undermine the president's power and legitimacy. Consequently, LJ user anaitiss writes [RUS]:
It is the second political murder during Medvedev's presidential term. What's more, straight after Obama's visit. Moreover, just as the provocation with “the drunk Medvedev” at the G8 [summit] failed. And then, if we are to be honest, in a region where the guilty are nowhere to be found, even if we all know who everyone is thinking of. And also, exactly when America, personified by Obama, has deserted the local revolutionaries (they even write about this themselves). And boy, how they were abandoned! And this, having formed the joint McFaul-Surkov commission [US-Russian working group on human rights]. They simply have to portray Medvedev as “a bloody tyrant, trampling justice”, they really have to. To make matters such, that any dialogue between ourselves and the West becomes impossible. “The second Politkovskaya” is an ideal scenario, one must admit that much. And moreover, in the Caucasus.
Human Rights and the disrespect for law is a matter of great concern for the Russian president – a lawyer by profession. With little over a year in office, turning the tide on rule of law seems a precondition for Medvedev to efficiently exercise power at a time when Russia experiences an economic downturn not seen since the 1998 financial crisis. Although trusitic, it suffices to point out that Putin back in 2001 – a year and a half into his first presidential term – was not the uncontested source of power and authority that marked the last years of his reign. So, that could barely be expected from Medvedev. At a recent discussion on the rule of law and Human Rights, published on his blog [RUS], Medvedev characterised the problem of Russian lawlessness accordingly:
MEDVEDEV: You were speaking about massive lawlessness. As a matter of fact, we live in a country with a very complicated relationship to law [—] and a very relaxed and tolerant [attitude] to lawlessness. But it is not a secret that one has to be able to fight for justice. We have no culture of fighting for justice, we simply don't. [—] How do we handle this? At first, we turn to some bureaucrat – once, twice, and still no result whatsoever. Then we turn to the media, as an alternative source of power, but if there is no result, to whom do we write letters?
REPLY: To you.
MEDVEDEV: To me. That is totally correct. So that is the hierarchy for defending human rights.
REPLY: Then one turns to Strasbourg [the European Court of Human Rights].
The last remark is illustrative of Medvedev's dilemma, when confronted with Estemirova's murder, and the general lawlessness of current Russia. In matters of human rights and the rule of law, the President of the Russian Federation appears not to be the supreme authority and guarantor of the constitution. It is to Strasbourg the Russian citizens turn as a last resort when their own judicial system fails to deliver on their constitutional rights.
Consequently, reinstating law and order stands out as a crucial credibility issue for Medvedev, and moreover as a make or break for his own capacity to exercise the power invested in him. Judging from Medvedev's views, and those of some bloggers, the law is also one of the major problems of today's Russia, as it touches the very fine line of political statecraft – the balance-act between continuity and change, stability and progress. Whereas the murder may not be a mystery to most, for Medvedev it is a mystery how to solve it, as part and parcel of general Russian disrespect for law.


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Russia: Retreat of the Cold Warriors · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Gerhard Mangott discusses [GER] the recent letter by Central and East European leaders, warning the US of the consequences of a withdrawal from the region.


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Syria: Sexual Misconceptions  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Syrian blogger Marcelllita [ar] blogs about sexual complexes young people in this part of the world suffer from, such as misconceptions and wrong information.


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Ukraine: Nato membership in question · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Ukrainiana strongly reacts against voices in both Ukraine and the West saying no to the country becoming a member of Nato.


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Ukraine: Toying with early elections · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Ukraine Today comments on president Yushchenko toying with the idea of resigning in exchange for parliamentary dissolution and combined presidential and parliamentary elections.


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Aruba, Suriname: Journey of Discovery  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“It was so incredibly beautiful. The big trees rising from the gorges. The river flowing seemingly endless past the jungle…”: Arubagirl visits Suriname and posts some photos from her trip.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Bahrain: Be Positive · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Bahraini blogger aMal has decided to rid herself of negative feelings – but that's not so simple: “People, at least maybe in this part of the world, I wholeheartedly say, are allergic to positivity.”

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Bahrain: Keeping Apart · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Bahrain-based blogger Shirley Dockerill, who writes at White Girl Arab World, had a male student walk out of her class because she was female: “I'd forgotten there is a school of thought here which doesn't allow interaction with non-relatives of the opposite sex, in any way, shape or form.”


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Bangladesh: The Aged Student Leaders · Global Voices
Rezwan

Half of the newly appointed leaders of the student wing of the political party BNP of Bangladesh are in their mid 40s and the remaining are in their late 30s. Syed ABM Ashrafuzzaman questions: “how old should a student leader be? “.

author: Rezwan


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Bangladesh: What Bloggers Can Do On Tipaimukh Issue · Global Voices
Rezwan

JRahman at Mukti urges Bangladeshi bloggers to act “by any means necessary and possible” to highlight the issue of the disastrous effects of the proposed Tipaimukh Dam in India.


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Barbados, Jamaica: Rock & A Hard Place · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Today, the Jamaican government will announce whether it is taking the International Monetary Fund up on its offer of financial aid – guest blogging at Bajan Dream Diary, Leesha Delatie-Budair says: “Basically, we are damned if we do and damned if we don’t.”


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Bermuda: Celebrity Tours  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As Bermuda introduces “celebrity tours”, 21 Square says: “For those who believe that…tourism can be rejuvenated via exclusivity and prestige, this is horrifying…the absolute opposite direction for Bermuda tourism that we should be taking.”


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Bulgaria: Judicial problems · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Viharg of Blogactiv.eu complains about deficiencies in Bulgaria's judicial system.


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Bulgaria: Ukrainian gas crisis caused government fall · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

LJ user koltashov turns attention to [RUS] a report claiming that Bulgaria's government fell earlier this year due to the gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine.


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Cambodia, Thailand: Preah Vihear dispute continues · Global Voices
Chhunny Chhean

The ancient Temple of Preah Vihear, which, according to UNESCO, dates back to the eleventh century and is dedicated to Shiva, rests on the Cambodian and Thai borders.  Exactly which country can claim Preah Vihear has been a source of contention between the neighboring countries.  In 1962, the International Court of Justice, acting on an application by the Cambodian government, ruled that the Temple is within Cambodian territory.  In July 2008, UNESCO listed the Temple as a World Heritage Site, citing its “unique architectural complex.”
Photo below by paniek at Flickr.
Two boys sit in the Temple.  Photo by paniek at Flickr.
Since the July 2008 inscription by UNESCO, there has been violence in the region between Cambodian and Thai soldiers.  However, as The Mirror reports, various Cambodian government officials have denied that the UNESCO listing is the reason behind the violence.  Thailand has urged that UNESCO re-list the Temple so that it would be jointly managed by Thailand and Cambodia.  The Mirror notes:
Based on the relevant UNESCO documents, and referenced here point by point, we bring additional information related to the procedures of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and the listing of the Sacred Site of the Temple of Preah Vihear, which led to military confrontations, the loss of human life on both sides, and a sharp decline of tourism – all this has been reflected in different degrees in the Mirror during the last year.
Unfortunately, and to our surprise – in spite of the wide emotional concerns related to the Preah Vihear listing – the press in Cambodia has not reported much about the delicate and detailed legal and contractual arguments at the basis of the listing as a World Heritage Site, and the future obligations entered into by the Cambodian government.
But if the Cambodian press is failing to report on the implications of the listing, the Cambodian government is very much aware of the UNESCO designation.  The Cambodian government recently recognized the one-year anniversary of UNESCO's listing with singing, dancing and speeches.  Photos of the event are available on Monkgol's blog and at Khmerization.
Video of the festivities is available as well.
The animosity between the two countries has manifested online as well, as Kounila Keo points out in her post entitled “I Love Khmer vs. I Love Thailand” about competing websites ilovethailand.org
 and ilovekhmer.org.
Details are Sketchy, with comments from ThaRum, reports that the ilovethailand.org site is blocked in Cambodia, but it is unclear which side is censoring the site.
As hostilities continue, Sopheap Chak charges the Association of Southeast Asian Nations  (“ASEAN”) for not fulfilling its duty to “promote regional peace and stability.”  In an editorial published in UPI Asia, Chak writes that ASEAN's passivity in the Preah Vihear matter is unacceptable.  Chak writes that “[i]t seems that ASEAN is simply irrelevant when it comes to member states’ security…[and that continued lack of action will mean] ASEAN cannot continue to be considered a crucial regional body.”

author: Chhunny Chhean


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China: Challenges to the Judiciary in the Age of the Internet · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

C. Custer from Chinageeks translated a blog entry from He Weifang, a former law professor at Beijing University on challenges to the judiciary in the age of the Internet.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Defamation Can No Longer Be Used to Restrict Netizen Speech · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Cool Knowledge has a translation of Hu Yong's comment on the Yan Xiaoling Defamation Case in which, the local authorities use criminal defamation charges to punish individuals who posted critical comments against local government.


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China: Tecn.cn harmonized · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

TECN.CN, a famous China-based online academic forum, has been inaccessible since 18 July 2009. Insiders said the web portal has been closed down. More from C.A Yeung in Under the Jacaranda Tree.


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China: Tweeting a detention experience · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Yesterday, Guangzhou blogger Beifeng went hiking with a number of friends in Baiyun mountain. Some of them were wearing a t-shirt that carry a slogan from Xinhua Daily in1946 that says: one-party rule will bring disaster everywhere （一黨獨裁，遍地是災）. It is a communist party slogan against the former ruling party Kuomingtang. The group of people were interrogated by six police and brought to the police station for further investigation. The tea-time lasted for more than eight hours and Beifeng reports on the process via twitter. Here is a translation of his tweets:
一些人穿着印刷有当年”新华日报”主张TEE人爬白云山,被六名警察盘查中。
警号018356的警员最积极。
警察要带人去派出所,这些人不让,僵持中。
双方互拍中,警察要求删除拍下的视频。
有几个人身上的TEE写着”一党独裁,遍地是灾”。
现一干干人等被请去白云山所在分局,大家可致电查询事态进展。
具体是广州市公安局白云山分局(广园中路805号),以查身份证为由。
我自己没穿那件TEE,我是去爬山。
共有九人被带到分局一间大房,房里没警察没摄像头,偶尔有打酱油的在门口闪过,相信是等市局的人来。大家在在屋里说笑话。
还在警局枯坐,有便衣进来问了文字出处,让大家自愿写下名字,有两朋友写了。外面雨很大。
公安的同志们在开会,只派个人在门口不远外看着,很无聊,一个朋友在读圣经上的诗,几个人睡着了。
有个朋友竟然从大门堂而皇之走了,哈,太恶搞了。
白云山公安分局大门现在关起来了,是不是叫”逃羊补牢,犹未为晚?”可乐死了。
气氛紧张了些,警察也多了,要请我们吃饭,大伙没尿,要他们给个留置的理由。
剩下的八人排排坐在公安局门口台阶,路过群众可围观并拍照。
一便衣把我们带上二楼会议室,说是警官要要见。警方至今没有出具任何手续。
开始一一做做笔录。
以扰乱社会秩序为由做笔录中。
我在20分钟前离开警局，前后共8个小时，其他人应无大碍，详情后报，但至少野渡还得留下与国保喝茶。
其他人被要求换上他们买的新衣服，留下旧衣服。我再三提出只有写扣押单才能留下衣服，他们不干，几番折腾的结果是我脱下旧衣服拿回家，但得穿上新衣服。给钱他们不要，光身不给。我衣服上写“Fucking revolution”及列宁中指图案。
第一次喝茶，竟然是这样子，太出乎意料了。
我在笔录后面要求补充：我作为一个白云山的游客，一个国家的公民，在没有违反任何法律法规的情况下，对警方传唤置留超过六个小时的行为，本人深表遗憾。我希望国家能尊重每一个人的自由与权利，不要让类似的事情再次发生。
刚开始他们要我换下衣服，我要求开扣押单，一警察说，如果算是宣传品就直接没收销毁。后来说换下后直接剪碎，还拿了剪子来，我还是要求开扣押单。一警察有点怒，我说私人不要结怨。后来是再三汇报，方得以保留。
他们问为什么要开扣押单，我说，我一定会问你们要回这件衣服。
或许他们想不到用什么名堂来问我们的话，才没有收我们的手机及没人看门让一个朋友出去了。他们在上面开了两个小时会，后来弄了一份打印的问讯提纲，想必也是层层请示后商量出来的。我跟他们说，不管怎么弄，都将会是一个笑话。
野渡也回到家了，全部八人都已经回家。
As the time line of the tweets are not clear, Beifeng added more details in his blog:
第一条信息的发布是在19日14时40分左右，带到白云山分局是15时15分左右，开始做笔录是18时许，8个人分开做，我做完笔录是在21时许，因要求取回衣服又多呆了一点时间，离开时是22时55分。


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China: Xinjiang People – Sorry and Thank You · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

China Digital Times has translated a popular post, Xinjiang people – sorry and thank you, written by a Han Chinese in Xinjiang that criticizes the social and economic development in the region.


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Cuba: Biscet’s Birthday  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Uncommon Sense marks the 48th birthday of Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, a political prisoner “who by his example provides the moral leadership needed for that struggle [for freedom] to eventually prevail.”


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Ecuador: National Day of the Andean Condor · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Ecuador recently celebrated the Day of the Andean Condor on July 7 [es]. Fausto Marcelo writes about the symbolic importance that the bird has throughout the region.


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Ecuador: National Gathering of HIstorians · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The 4th National Gathering of Historians recently met [es] in Manabi, Ecuador writes Joselías Sánchez.


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Hungary: Failure of the liberals · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Hungarian Spectrum discusses why the Hungarian liberal party, the SZDSZ, seems to be failing in its political clout.


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India: Chasing a solar eclipse · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

On July 22, we are about to witness the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century. The eclipse will be visible between 5.20am to 7.40am, from within a narrow corridor spanning half the Earth.
In India, the path of the eclipse will cover the cities of Surat, Indore, Bhopal, Varanasi and Patna.
Image courtesy NASA
There is a huge amount of excitement in the country regarding this eclipse. Though Earthquakeforcasting says that eclipses in India are generally of interest to 4 segments of people – namely astronomers, astrologers, religious people and astro-tourists, it appears that most Indians will readily fit into atleast one of the above categories.
For Hindus, an eclipse is not only an astronomical event. It is deeply intertwined with religion and cultural beliefs; there are many myths associated with the eclipse. Astronomy India Blog tries to debunk a few of them here.
The travel and hospitality industry is all set to cash in on this excitement surrounding the eclipse.  Places within the eclipse corridor have all geared up to accomodate hordes of people arriving to catch a glimpse of the event. Goodread writes that even a small village like Taregana in Bihar is abuzz with preparations since it got listed by NASA as one of the best perches from where to get a good view of the total eclipse.
And talking of eclipse chasing, tour operators are also getting innumerable requests for chartering flights to observe this event from above the clouds. In fact,  as DesPardes India points out, a special eclipse flight is indeed being organised to offer this priviledge for a price of INR 75,000 (approx. USD 1560) – cost of a window seat on this 3hour long flight from Delhi.
Religious minded Hindus will gather at places of pilgrimage such as Varanasi, Kurukshetra (Haryana) etc., to take a dip in the river. The district administration of Haryana are expecting more than 10 lakh pilgrims and are also offering insurance cover  to pilgrims to guard against any possible mishaps.
If you are one of the lucky people going to view this rare celestial event, these moments of magic on July 22nd, please remember to take adequate eye safety measures.
Happy viewing!
Eclipse map courtesy F. Espenak & J. Anderson, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

author: Aparna Ray


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Jamaica: Jacksons to Perform  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Girl With a Purpose and Repeating Islands report that Jamaica's Reggae Sumfest is being pegged as a “salute to Michael Jackson” this year – and the Jackson brothers are scheduled to perform.


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Kenya: Devastating Drought Worsens Human-Wildlife Conflict · Global Voices
Samuel Maina

No grass in sight
Kenya is experiencing the worst drought in more than a decade according to the country's meteorological department. This drought has been felt throughout the country, but it is more visible among the Maasai community who's primary source of livelihood is cattle.
Faced by the danger of loosing their valued livestock, the Maasai, a traditional nomadic community resident in southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania, are driving their cattle into wildlife areas – and even cities – in search of pasture. This has worsened human-wildlife conflict as the weakened cows fall prey to lions and other predators.
The Lion Guardians blog reports that there has not been any good rain in two years.
The drought is worsening day by day. It has not rained properly for two consecutive years, and the pastoralist Maasai community who inhabit the [Mbirikani] group ranch have moved their livestock in three directions in search of greener pastures. The cows are all becoming very thin, and many are dying.
Predator Aware, a group that works towards conservation of predators, is also reporting some dire situations in Masai Mara wildlands and Siana ranches in the southern part of Kenya. In the Predetor Aware blog they say:
The Masai Mara and Siana in particular is running out of grazing [pasture] as the need for rain continues. Last night there appeared to be a storm over the Reserve some where. We are hoping this is an indicator and more rain will come. This dry weather really increases the human-wildlife conflict as the search for water and grazing goes on.
Although wildlife are better able to cope with drought, cattle are very badly hit. The Maasai, being traditionally nomadic pastoralists, will do what they have done for generations, they will move their cattle to seek pasture. It happens that the only places with open pasture are protected areas such as national parks and reserves. Ironically, most of the world famous parks in Kenya were carved out of traditional Maasai reserve pastures. The Lion Guardians blog describes the movement of the Maasai groups living adjacent to Amboseli National Park:
The first group moved their livestock all the way to Manyara in Tanzania. Others decided to take their cattle to Tsavo West National Park, but they have been experiencing serious clashes with the park authorities, who are trying to prevent the pastures of the national park from being overgrazed by cattle, leaving the ground bare.
Some of the these herders have traveled with their cattle for more than 400 km in search of pasture and water. Some have moved northwards towards Nairobi City after a little rain was reported some weeks ago, while others have moved south into Tanzania.
The severity of the drought can be heard in the words of ole Lentura, the key blogger at Predator Aware. ‘The days bring hot sun and a lot of wind’, says ole Lentura who reports that wildlife that are traditionally grazers (feed on grass) are being forced to browse on trees and bushes as they adapt to the absence of grass.
“Elders in the group ranch are describing this drought as the worst ever, and with price of consumer goods sky-rocketing while the price of selling livestock and other domestic products are falling, the situation is triggering a catastrophic food crisis” say the Lion Guardians.
Of the human wildlife conflict ole Lentura of Predator Aware says “No predator incidents to report but another Maasai man sadly was killed by a buffalo over the weekend. This human-wildlife conflict will not lessen until we get some good rain.”

author: Samuel Maina


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Latvia: EU loan but on what conditions? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Baltic Economy Watch discusses EU's upcoming loan to save Latvia's economy and reflects on its conditions.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


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Macedonia: On Visiting Offline Museums · Global Voices
Filip Stojanovski

Volan recommends visiting what's in his opinion is a somewhat neglected Macedonian National Gallery at the Daut Pasha Hammam in Skopje, situated in a former harem bath of a high Ottoman official, presenting reproductions of some of the most notable paintings [MKD] and other artwork from the XIV to the XX century.

author: Filip Stojanovski


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Nepal: Cursed By A Widow · Global Voices
Rezwan

Nepal had 20 Prime Ministers and almost 1000 ministers in the past 20 years. “But why they failed and subsequently we failed? We can’t always blame our geographic features and neighbors. Being a Hindu Kingdom until recent past, is this is the nation that was really cursed by a widow?” comments Krishna Giri at United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal.


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Pakistan: Urdu Transliteration Tool · Global Voices
Rezwan

Saeed at PakFellows blog discusses about the latest developments in the Urdu transliteration tools for ease of computing in Urdu language.


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Peru: More Conflicts in Cajamarca · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

In Peru, Francisco Canaza of Apuntes Peruanos [es] tells the story of two social conflicts in the Cajamarca region. He is concerned about the number of injured as a result of the clashes with the police.

author: Juan Arellano


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Puerto Rico, Bahamas: Education Issues  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Puerto Rico's Gil the Jenius and Weblog Bahamas‘ Rick Lowe take issue with the education systems in their respective countries.


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Russia: Channel “2×2” censors Putin episode of South Park · Global Voices
Ruth Collins

The recent decision by Russian television channel “2×2″ to cut a scene in an episode of the US cartoon series “South Park” has sparked anger in the Russian blogosphere. The episode Free Willzyx, which was aired last Tuesday, appeared to mock Vladimir Putin and portray him as an avaricious and desperate dictator. When Kyle, one of the cartoon's protagonists, phones him to ask if he will fly him to the moon, Putin thinks he is the butt of a prank phone call from the US and exclaims “Kiss my ass George Bush, this isn't funny” and hangs up.
As LJ user dark_lawyer comments (RUS), the television channel has a history of censorship:
Television channel “2×2″ has long been censoring cartoons by cutting scenes containing violence, alcohol and drug consumption, both candid scenes and scenes which mock the feelings of different social and religious groups. Of course this is done in a crude way but to a certain extent, everyone can understand why the channel does it. […]
However, there is some uncertainty as to whether the decision to censor this episode, which originally aired in the US in 2005 when Putin was still president, was made by regulators or by executives at “2×2″ itself.
Dark_lawyer is sceptical of higher powers having a say in the matter:
[…] But look when it turns out that they have also cut an episode featuring the voice of Putin, well that is very interesting. And for whatever reason I am most confident that they have not acted on any so-called ‘instructions from above’ and they have done this of their own good will. […]
Fellow LJ user samoleg, a.k.a Oleg Kuvaev – creator of the popular cartoon Masyanya – agrees, writing this (RUS) on his other blog, which is devoted almost exclusively to animation:
[…] It looks as if it's not a case of ‘instructions from above’ but a ‘in case of emergency’ measure. In principle we can understand their motives but of course in a way it's a type vandalism, but Channel “2×2″ has always had a lot of difficulties with South Park. In Russia this kind of political satire is always dangerous. Although in my opinion, in the Internet era it's stupid to censor things like this as it simply has a type of reverse effect of attracting even greater attention to such a scene. […]
LJ user alex_kainit explains (RUS) that “2×2″ has not been deterred in the past even by criticism from religious circles:
[…] The blogosphere feels that, in trying to correct the channel's broadcast policy, the regulators have gone one step too far.
We understand that during this channel's lifetime of broadcasting ‘cartoons for adults’, it has time and again faced criticism for propagating violence, cruelty extremism and paedophilia. The biggest “2×2″ scandal flared up in March 2008: leading Protestant Churches in Russia demanded that the channel, which they felt indulged in “overt propaganda of many evils”, should be shut down.
In September of that year, the Basmannyi court issued a warning, which appeared amongst signs of extremism during episodes of South Park. They hoped that the warning would prove enough to stop the channel from renewing its broadcast license. The scandal incited massive demonstrations by the channel's supporters in Moscow and St. Petersburg where they gathered together 50,000 signatures. However, on 17 October 2008 “2×2″ renewed its license for a further 5 years.

author: Ruth Collins


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Russia: Comparing Hitler and Stalin · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

LJ user fesstagere turns attention to [RUS] an Ekho Moskvy survey, showing that the radio stations readers see greater similarities than differences between Hitler and Stalin – a comparative issue that recently has evoked strong reactions and protests in Russian debate.


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Russia: Rallying the youth · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Sean's Russia Blog writes about President Medvedev's efforts to rally the Russian youth to politics.


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Russia: Scoring partly free in Freedom of the Net report · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Karina Alexanyan of Internet & Democracy Blog accounts for Russia labeled partly free in a recent Freedom House report on Freedom on the Net.


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Singapore: Censors refuse to classify political film · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Singapore censors refuse to classify a political film (One Nation Under Lee) for containing video excerpts from a banned film.

author: Mong Palatino


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Singapore: Eating on subway trains · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Epilogos from Singapore criticizes those who eat while riding on subway trains. The blogger wants to increase the fine for this “anti-social” behavior.


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Singapore: History of Keong Saik Road · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

ygblog4 writes about how the Keong Saik Road in Singapore became a red-light district.


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Sri Lanka: Deaths In IDP Camps · Global Voices
Rezwan

Indrajit Samarajiva at Indi.ca criticizes the mention of a large number of deaths in Sri Lankan IDP camps by some International media and comments: “making up very serious numbers doesn’t help anyone. It riles up some hard line diaspora elements, but it’s fundamentally a political missive, not a journalistic one.”


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St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Cricket Again  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Am I the only one who finds it amusing that WIPA has asked the Caribbean Govts to intervene in the cricket dispute?”: From St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Abeni blogs about “this cricket thing”.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Stifling Democracy · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

In response to a move by the Trinidad and Tobago government to have the Director of Public Prosecutions consider laying charges against a group of citizens who protested outside the Prime Minister's residence, This Beach Called Life says: “When people say you and your Government don’t care, Mr. Prime Minister, they are not being political; they are telling you what they see and experience everyday.”


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Ukraine: Canadians helping out with AIDS prevention · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

The Natashas draws attention to a Canadian effort to help developing a model HIV/AIDS prevention program in Ukraine in partnership with UNICEF.


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Ukraine: Party of Regions lead in public opinion · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Ukraine Today comments on a new opinion poll, showing that Viktor Yanukovich's Party of Regions currently rates highest among Ukrainian voters.


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Vietnam: War Remnants Museum · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Saigonnezumi visited the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City and saw the “horrors of war”


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Australia: Jakarta bombings bring personal reactions · Global Voices
Kevin Rennie

With three Australians among the nine deaths, responses to the terrorist bombings in Indonesia  on Friday 17 July were not confined to the political blogs.
Specialist social network sites in Australia reacted soon after the news broke.
Overlander 4WD Magazine hosts a forum on its online website. D200 dug gave a personal view:
Our eldest son was in Jakarta this morning and had planned to attend a breakfast meeting at one of the bombed hotels. So this is pretty close to home for me. I traveled through Indonesia in the 1970s and found Indonesians to be enormously friendly kind and hospitable.  …Talking to my son today he confirmed that the general population of Indonesians have not changed, they remain incredibly friendly welcoming and hospitable.
Jakarta Bombings Forum
TrevG at RealSurfers Forum was less than hopeful:
I sometimes wonder how far they can push it before “normal” humans feel that “offence” is the best form of defence.
Sort of like “do unto others, before they do it to you”
Not advocating it, personally but I do despair for the future of the world at times.
Bombings in Jakarta
Peter Martin is economics correspondent for two major daily newspapers, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. His initial reaction was one of outrage.  He quoted a very strong reaction to the 2005 London bombings :
I was angry when I arrived at work to be told the news. Really, really angry.
It put me in mind of this , written on the website of the London News Review hours after the 2005 London subway attacks. (Apologies for the language – it's necessary)
The Indonesia bombings were really, really stupid
Duncan Graham, a Perth journalist who blogs at Indonesia Now  , gave a measured analysis at On Line Opinion. He looked at Indonesian responses:
SBY’s instant and unequivocal response does indicate a welcome rejection of past equivocation. That included tolerating outlandish theories to brush away the idea of homegrown Islamic terrorism.
and concluded:
Most Indonesians are tolerant pluralists, genuinely friendly, proud of their country, and keen to meet and help visitors. Proportionally there are probably no more fanatics in Indonesia than Australia but the chance of meeting one ready to do serious harm is rare – there and here.
Jakarta bombings: bad things and evil people
Regular political blogger Duckpond explored the motives of the bombers:
Clearly, by targeting international hotels they were intending to harm international visitors, and it is not surprising that Australians and New Zealanders have been killed and injured. In that sense, it is personal. The people responsible for the bombing must feel that we have caused them harm. I just wish they would tell us what their grievances are rather than take such an extreme action.
It will probably turn out those who have organized this horrific action against their fellow human beings will claim to be strongly religious. As far as I know Islam teaches compassion and peace, and right conduct in the pursuit of war.
After quoting an Al Jazeera report, he suggested other reasons behind the bombings and raised questions of  morality on both sides of the terror war:
Thus it would seem that the attack is an act of vengeance with a view to damage the Indonesian economy following the successful presidential election. Seen in this light, the bombing would appear to be “criminal” without any religious or social justification. I note that using drones to attack and kill civilians is similarly “criminal”.
JAKARTA BOMBING

author: Kevin Rennie


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Bangladesh: Research In The Universities · Global Voices
Rezwan

Bijon B. Sarma at Mukto-Mona describes the  role of research in the universities of Bangladesh.


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Barbados: Breath, Art, Memory  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As Barbadian blogger Ingrid Persaud struggles with an art commission about memory “in the context of a larger exhibition about the international preservation of documentary memory”, she says: “Memories are things we have a place in our history for. Trauma is the stuff that has not yet found its place. What I found was the trauma of the unfinished and the unspeakable that refuses to take its place in history.”


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Barbados: Reduce, Re-use, Recycle  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Our culture and attitudes must change from that of ‘guvment take care of it’ to ‘This street is mine and I must take care of my property’.”: Barbados Free Press says that there's no excuse for not recycling.


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Ecuador: Reactions After a Bus Robbery in Guayaquil · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Crime can be a daily reality for many Ecuadorians, whether it be on the streets or during routine parts of one's day. For blogger José Andrés López Alvarez, he encountered one of these episodes while riding on a bus on the streets of Guayaquil. Since no one was hurt in the crime, he was able to remain in good spirits and because he was spared of his belongings. In his blog, Agucho [es] he provides details of how this happened, as well as the scene on the bus following the robbery.
Mientras el bus estaba parado en un semáforo en rojo, dos tipos subieron, uno se sentó en medio y otro al final. Al arrancar el bus comenzaron a realizar su acto. Para que voy a dar detalles si todos los ecuatorianos han sido víctimas de un robo así que saben cómo son esos momentos.
Lo bueno fue, claro si es que puede haber algo bueno en un robo luego de estar amenazado con una pistola y ver como nerviosamente el ladrón manipula esta, que no me robaron nada.
¿Por qué?
Simplemente porque tenía mi seguro contra robos: “Estaba Chiro”
Definición de “Chiro” en el Ecuador.
Persona que no tiene nada de dinero en sus bolsillos.
Debido a esto no me robaron dinero, pero y el celular, bueno no me robaron el celular porque ya me lo robaron meses atrás y aun no tengo otro. :)
While the bus was stopped at a red light, two men boarded, one sat in the middle and the other in the back. When the bus started to move forward, they began their act. Why should I give all the details when every Ecuadorian has been the victim of a robbery, so you all know what it's like.
The good part of the situation, if there can be a good part of a robbery especially after being threatened with a gun and how nervously the robber handled his gun, is that they didn't take anything from me.
Why not?
Simply because I had my insurance against robberies: “I was Chiro”
The definition of “chiro” in Ecuador.
A person that has nothing in his or her pockets.
Because of this, they didn't take my money or my mobile phone, well they didn't take my mobile phone because it was stolen months ago and I don't have another one. :)
He shares what happened with his fellow passengers moments after the criminals made a run for it.
Luego del robo viene algo interesante, este acto que causa nerviosismo en las personas luego origina una amistad entre los pasajeros. Cuando el ladrón baja del bus comienza un dialogo interesante. Hay el que dice que la pistola era de juguete o que no estaba cargada o que no valía, otros dicen que se le podría haber agarrado entre todos y no hubiera robado nada (claro eso nunca pasa, son solo unos “valientes” que solo lo dicen después del robo pero no lo hacen).La mitad de las persona quieren que el chofer siga al ladrón, la otra mitad quiere que avance rápido y no pare para nada, todo esto mientras unos a otros intercambiamos detalles de lo que nos robaron o dejaron de robarnos, como un señor que irradiaba felicidad porque el ladrón no quiso robarle su Alcatel viejito.


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India: Debate On BJP · Global Voices
Rezwan

Shveta Chhatra – Offstumped site for the New Big Tent republishes prominent Indian journalist, author, and politician Arun Shourie's detailed analysis of the political party BJP (Part 1, 2, 3, 4) which ensued a lively debate in the comment section.


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Indonesia: Online Nationalism · Global Voices
Juke Carolina

Last Friday's dual blasts marked the end of six years of a peaceful and sound Indonesia. As the nation condemns the terror attacks, Indonesian youths  show the spirit of  nationalism online.
Many Indonesians are sending tweets like “We're not afraid” motto through #indonesiaunite, something that people wouldn't dare say bluntly, especially right after bombing incidents a few years ago. Thanks to microblogging sites, Indonesian youths are able to get out of their fear shells and express themselves and their opinion.
Pitra Satvika said:
Secara spontan, banyak pengguna Twitter, yang lalu diikuti pengguna Plurk dan Facebook, yang mengganti avatar mereka dengan bendera Merah Putih. Hashtag #indonesiaunite menjadi topik tren di Twitter (bahkan hingga saat ini ditulis).
[…]
Lalu apakah pernyataan moral melalui ranah social media ini bermanfaat? Jelas!!
Pertama, kita sebagai warga yang aktif di ranah daring bisa menunjukkan diri di hadapan dunia, kalau kita menolak aksi terorisme. Bahkan kita tidak akan takut terhadap mereka. Upaya para teroris yang (dari namanya saja sudah ketahuan) untuk menanamkan rasa teror di masyarakat sudah tidak mempan. Kita bisa menunjukkan kepada mereka kalau usaha mereka menakut-nakuti kita dan membuat kita lemah di mata dunia tidak mempan.
Kedua, masyarakat dunia tahu akan sikap perlawanan moral kita. Mereka bisa melihatnya melalui tren yang terjadi di Twitter dan Facebook Page. Mudah-mudahan dengan cara ini pula, akan membuat mereka tidak takut untuk datang ke negeri kita. Mereka juga tidak lalu asal mengecap negeri kita sebagai sarang terorisme. Untuk membantu mereka memahami, cobalah sesekali membuat tulisan dalam bahasa Inggris, agar mereka paham perlawanan kita dan sikap kita yang tidak takut akan terorisme.
Mudah-mudahan Indonesia Unite ini bisa benar-benar mempersatukan, setidaknya kalangan masyarakat daring. Mudah-mudahan juga para pemimpin kita tidak lagi berdebat dan beragumen tidak mutu, dan mengambil contoh kita. Kalau kita yang rakyatnya saja bisa bersatu dalam satu suara perlawanan, mengapa pemimpinnya tidak?
Spontaneously, many twitterers, followed by users of Plurk and Facebook modified their avatars and used the national red and white flag. Hashtag #indonesiaunite has become the most active trending on local Twitter (even as this article is being written).
[…]
Does this morale statement through social media has any influence? Of course!!
First of all, we as online citizens show ourselves in front of the international world, that we're against acts of terrorism. We won't be afraid of them. The work of the terrorist which  (even from how they're called, we know what they're up about) to plant terror in our society is no longer effective. We can show them that their efforts to scare us and make us look vulnerable in front of the international world aren't effective.
Second, the international world will know about our fight. They can see it through trendings on Twitter and Facebook Page. Hopefully through these ways, (foreigners) won't be afraid to come to our country. They won't label  our country as terrorist's lair. To help them understand, try to post in English, so they'll learn about our fight and our stance against terrorism.
Hopefully Indonesia United (movement) will really unite us, at least the online citizens. Hopefully our leaders will stop issuing pointless debates and arguments, and take our example. If the people can unite  in one voice against this, why can't the leaders do the same thing?
Pandji and his peeps from the Jakarta Twitter User Group,  posted a song on Youtube called “Kami Tidak Takut” (we're not afraid).
On his Facebook's note, Timotius Christian said that there's even more reason to fight the act of terrorism which is no different with an act of cowardice.
Rasanya tak pernah saya mendengar seorang garong yang menggarong rumahnya sendiri. Tapi telah menjadi sebuah deviasi ketika pengebom membom negerinya sendiri.
[…] Di tanah Palestina, setelah sebuah bom meledak, akan ada pihak yang secara terbuka dan terus terang mengaku bertanggung jawab atas meledaknya bom di titik A pada jam sekian. Di sini? Harus diburu terlebih dahulu. Setelah tertangkap, apakah langsung mengakuinya? Atau malah melemparkan kesalahan ke Pencipta, yang diklaim sebagai yang menyuruhnya meledakkan bom tersebut dengan alasan ini dan itu?
Kalau memang membenci suatu negara asing tertentu, pergilah ke sana dan ledakkan di sana pula. Jangan di negeri ini. Jangan di negara sendiri. Hanya akan mencucurkan darah sesama anak bangsa. Lalu, apakah dengan demikian tercapai tujuan peledakan yang diinginkan?
I don't think that I've ever heard a robber robbing his own house. But the statement becomes deviated once (we replace robber into) a bomber who bombed his own country.
[…] In the land of the Palestinians, after a bomb exploded, there'll be a party who openly claim responsible of an explosion of a certain bomb which happened in location ‘A’ at a certain hour. While here, the (culprits) need to be pursued first, and do they admit their doing? Or blame the (Almighty) Creator, who send them to do what they did for such and such reasons?
If  they trully hate a certain country, go there and (try) blow things there. Not in this land. Not in this country. They'll only shed the blood of their fellow countrymen. So, is that trully the whole point of the act?
Indonesian twitterers in support of this cause also share IndonesiaUnite twibbon.

author: Juke Carolina


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Jamaica: The Last Don  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As “word on the street has it that the Jamaican Security Forces have created a ‘Don Squad'”, Annie Paul interviews the man behind the film The Last Don, “about the process of making this comic documentary and his own history as a film-maker and photographer.”


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Japan: Cat mania · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

The spreading of communities of people with same interests and hobbies is not new in the internet society. Netizens often exchange news, suggestions and picture on things and activities they share a common interest on.
By Flickr user id:WasabiNoise
In Japan that is not only limited to hobbies, however, also love for pets is one of the most discussed topics in the blogs. Cats in particular, occupy the first place in the “blog on animals”  rankings  [ja] and many bloggers dedicate entire pages to their feline buddies. And there are all kinds of blogs: blogs about black and white cats (like this), fat cats, short-haired cats, long-haired cats and so on, or blogs that help to locate the areas where there is most likely to be a cat sighting (like this).
A blogger gives her interpretation of the reasons for black-cat mania.
黒猫マニアってすごく多いんです。どんな黒猫でも、自分の猫のように思ってしまうので、黒猫の本はバカ売れ。グッズも多数存在しています。
Sometimes the cats’ owners even try to interpret their pets “feelings” like in this post by nana.
猫のビョーインに行ってきました。
ビョーイン内で猫さまを飼っていらっしゃるんだけど、
みんにゃスゲー人懐っこくて、
人間慣れも、猫慣れもしてるんです。
ええコ達やーーーーっ！
アタシ、スリスリしていただきましたわ・・・。（ぽっ）
おかえしに、クンカクンカしてさしあげましたわ。
But cat mania is not only limited to the blogosphere, as demonstrated by the recent movie Watashi wa Neko Stalker (私は猫ストカー, I'm a Cat Stalker) [ja], from the homonymous book by illustrator Harumin Asao  (浅尾ハルミン）[ja], published in 2005, where the protagonist is a young girl who literally stalks cats and enjoys “spying” on them to observe their daily life.
Here is a comment on the movie by a blogger who defines himself a “neko stalker”.
ストーリーはあって無いようなもので、のんびり、ゆる～く東京の下町を舞台に主人公の女の子が猫を追いかける様子をドキュメンタリー風に描いています。
住宅街で猫を見つけて写真を撮っている主人公をそこの住人が不思議な目で見る場面は「あー、自分もこんな風に見られているんだなぁ」と思ったりして、猫をストーカーするってこんな感じというのがたくさん出てきます。
劇場でにやけた顔で観ていた人たちは間違いなく猫ストーカーでしょう。
（はい、私です。）
And, at least in Tokyo, there is no lack of events where cat lovers can meet and boast of their cat.  Besides the “Neko-stalker photo contest” organized as part of the promotion to the movie above, Bandai Namco sponsored the “Show off your cat photo contest” (猫自慢写真コンテスト) to which as, id:bengalcat announces [ja], 1500 people participated and more than 3000 photos were sent.
One of the winner of the contest, who presented the picture of her cat intent on an adventurous jump, shares her feelings when received the contest result. (Unfortunately, we cannot upload the winning picture for copyrights reasons)
なによりも嬉しかったのは、私の写真がスクリーンに映し出されたときに、観客の皆さんがどっと吹き出し、笑ってくれたこと。小さい子どもなんか、写真の猫と同じポーズをしてはしゃいでいたらしい。
自分の写真を見てくださった方に、一瞬でも「面白い」「楽しい」という気持ちを持っていただけたのであれば、これにまさる幸せはありませんね。
Cat mania is also becoming a business for some people, as Yoshimura-san explains. In fact, while the inhabitants of Owase City in Mie prefecture complain about the increase of cats, Tashiro Island  [ja] in Miyazaki Prefecture (only 71 inhabitants and no children) is considered a paradise for cat maniacs.
昨晩、NHKで「ドキュメント20min.　猫の楽園」という番組があって、猫が観光資源になっている島が紹介されていました。[…] この島の猫は人間になついていて逃げないのがすごいです。でも、人間になついていない野良猫も魅力的だと思ってます。村おこしはアイディアが大切です。猫が増え過ぎてしまったのなら猫で観光客を呼び込もうというような、マイナスをプラスに変える発想が必要ではないかなと思ってます。

author: Scilla Alecci


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Japan: Japanese characters as ccTLD? · Global Voices
Tomomi Sasaki

Motoko Hunt reports that a new conference is being set up to discuss Japanese ccTLD (country code Top Level Domain) issues. We'll be seeing ccTLD with Japanese characters, such as “xx.日本”. (日本 is ‘Japan’ in Japanese.)

author: Tomomi Sasaki


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Lebanon: No He Can’t! · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“No he can't!” chants Sophia from Lebanese blog Les Politiques on the controversy surrounding the release of Guantanamo Bay prisoners, following US President Barack Obama's promise to close down the detention camp.

author: Amira Al Hussaini