text:
Spain’s Love-Hate Relationship With The New York Times · Global Voices
L. Finch

A news stand in Madrid. Photo by Flickr user Juanedc. CC BY 2.0
When The New York Times reports on Spain, Spanish media report on The New York Times. The American newspaper's coverage of the country throughout the crushing economic crisis of the last several years has routinely made headlines, and a February 18, 2014 story about the relative lateness of Spain's national schedule was no exception.
The article, titled “Spain, Land of 10 P.M. Dinners, Asks if It’s Time to Reset Clock“, profiles a small movement that wants to bring the country's traditional schedule – with its late bedtime, long lunches and even longer workdays – in line with the rest of Europe in the hopes of boosting productivity.
The Gray Lady's story, which ran on the front page of the print edition below the fold, made its way into the Spanish news cycle throughout the day, appearing on more than a dozen news sites. Criticism was heaped on reporter Jim Yardley for evoking the stereotypical siesta, or midday nap, a thing of the past for most working people in Spain and a sore spot for Spaniards fed up with skewed foreign coverage.
Some outlets used headlines claiming that The New York Times “criticizes the Spanish lifestyle” or was outright “against the siesta and Spanish schedule.” A poor translation of the story's own headline that traded “Spain […] Asks if It's Time to Reset Clock” for the more accusatory “Spain, […] Ask Yourselves if It's Time to Change Schedules” (“España, el país de las cenas a las 10 P.M, preguntaos si no es hora de cambiar los horarios“) further fanned the flames.
While some Spaniards got behind the idea of dialing back their country's clock, others took to social media to defend Spanish culture.
Y todos somos toreros y tocamos la guitarra http://t.co/N9YJwIQBbd
— Pedro Luis García (@pedrol2013) February 18, 2014
And we're all bullfighters and play the guitar
Parece que para trabajar en The New York Times es imprescindible odiar a España y sus costumbres
— Adriana LópezÁlvarez (@AdrianaAlvarezz) February 18, 2014
It seems that to work at The New York Times it's essential to hate Spain and its customs
Totalmente a favor de cambiar nuestros hábitos horarios, pero prefiero mi cena a las 10 que tener una pistola en casa http://t.co/akNpFuUGZz
— Alberto Bonilla (@albertobonillaz) February 18, 2014
Totally in favor of changing our schedule habits, but I prefer dinner at 10 than having a handgun at home
Kick ‘em when they're down
It's not the first time during the economic crisis that The New York Times or other American and British media have acted as a rallying point for Spaniards who see the reporting as sensationalized or arrogant. British newspaper The Telegraph ruffled feathers with a similar report in September 2013 (“Time's up for siestas, delayed meetings and late nights, Spaniards told in effort to make them work better“) on a Spanish parliamentary commission's call to reform the working schedule. A photo of a shirtless pot-bellied man sleeping upright in a chair outdoors originally accompanied the story, but was swapped after the paper received complaints for a less crude shot of a man in a button-up shirt and newsboy cap napping in a horse-drawn carriage.
Much more outcry followed another front-page, below-the-fold story published in The New York Times in 2012 that featured a black-and-white photo of a man rummaging through a dumpster. The article detailed the problem of hunger against the backdrop of Spain's high unemployment – about a quarter of all Spaniards are out of work, while the number is closer to 50 percent for young people. It also cited Catholic charity Caritas’ report that it had provided meals for nearly one million Spaniards in 2010, more than twice the number in 2007 before the crisis. A slide show of photos capturing scenes of protest and poverty was published online alongside it.
The story and accompanying photos sparked heated discussions online. An Internet campaign #paraNYTimes countered the narrative by collecting more positive snapshots of daily life. One user on Reddit-like website Menéame wrote:
Sensacionalista, podría poner fotos similares sobre los EEUU, en blaco y negro y todo, y hacerlos parecer un país tercermundista.
Sensationalized, you could find similar photos about the US, in black and white and everything, and make it seem like a third-world country
In a different discussion thread, user “josejon” argued:
El reportaje da una imagen parcial de España: realidad cierta, pero no completa. Es comprensible que media docena de fotos no pueden abarcar todo un país, y que el fotógrafo tiene derecho a escoger y mostrar una parte del todo, según su interés o el tema que desea reflejar, pero después nos encontramos con la opiníon generada por ello en quienes, desde el desconocimiento y la distancia, juzgan el todo por la parte, lo unifican y España entera somos los de las fotos. No es así, y lo sabemos.
The report gives a partial image of Spain: true fact, but not complete. It's understandable that half a dozen photos can't cover the whole country and that the photographer has the right to choose and display only a selection according to his interests or the theme that he wishes to convey, but afterward we are left with the opinion that it generates in people who, in ignorance and from a distance, judge the whole by the part and put it together that all of us in Spain are those in the photos. It's not like that, and we know it.
Holding up a mirror
Others saw the story as confirmation that the situation in Spain had indeed gone from bad to worse. Responding to an analysis published by online news site eldiario.es, “What happens when the most influential newspaper on the planet gives you the third degree,” commenter “kio” wrote:
Muy de marca españa eso de invertir más energía en preocuparse más por la imagen que se da al exterior, “el que dirán”, que de arreglar las cosas de casa. No importa que haya gente que pase o se muera hambre, lo importante es que no se enteren los de fuera. Patético.
Very much in line with the Spanish brand, all this investment of energy in worrying more about the image being broadcast to the world, “what they will say”, than about fixing things at home. It doesn't matter that there may be people starving or dying of hunger. The important thing is that those abroad don't hear about it. Pathetic.
When it was revealed last summer by an ex-Popular Party treasurer that current Spanish President Mariano Rajoy had received payments from a secret slush fund for years, the international media coverage was taken by some as an important echo of the corruption in the country's politics.
Qué vergüenza…hasta The New York Times dice que Rajoy debe pirarse. Qué pena da España, joder…
— Lorenzo Chedas (@LorenzoChedas) July 15, 2013
Shameful…even the New York Times says that Rajoy should beat it. How pitiful Spain is, damn…
Hasta el Financial Times habla ya mal de Rajoy, a ver si le queda un poquito de dignidad, que lo dudo y dimite de una vez #RajoyDimision
— Daevandi70 (@daevandi) September 20, 2012
Even the Financial Times is talking bad about Rajoy, let's see if he has a little bit of dignity left, I doubt it, and steps down once and for all
And a New York Times piece from May 2013 detailing the culture of corruption in local and national politics – about 1,000 officials were under investigation at the time, according to the article – stirred up similar reactions.
“I hope the damage that this New York Times article causes to this rotten system makes it so that there are more and more people who are ready to change this terrible reality of corruption, abuse and power,” a Menéame commenter wrote.
The power of foreign coverage
But why is so much attention given to foreign media's editorial choices? With tourism a major driver of the Spanish economy, accounting for 10.9 percent of the country's economic output in 2012 according to Spain's National Institute of Statistics, many worry about the marca España, or Spanish brand, being portrayed to the rest of the world.
Positive coverage can certainly have an impact. After The New York Times included Burgos in its list of “46 Places to Go in 2013,” the northern Spanish city saw a staggering 145 percent jump in American tourists, what one local paper dubbed “the New York Times effect.” And the level of confidence that potential overseas investors have in the stability of a country can make or break their decision to put money there.
But with foreign coverage sticking to its largely negative focus and the country's political and economic struggles still ongoing, #MarcaEspaña has become go-to sarcastic commentary on social media for Spaniards unhappy with the current state of affairs.
Still, others recommend ignoring the coverage. For better or worse, foreign media will continue to report on Spain how they want.
The New York Times escribe un artículo sobre España y nos revolucionamos. Cuando deje de acomplejarnos lo q opinan los demás seremos mayores
— David Fernandez (@davfernandez) February 18, 2014
The New York Times writes an article about Spain and we get upset. When we stop getting worked up about what others think we will be better off

author: L. Finch


text:
“They Fell Our Souls and Memory”: Felling of Trees Draws Anger in Tajikistan · Global Voices
Alexander Sodiqov

Whenever the authorities in Dushanbe launch a new redevelopment project or simply repair a road, they start by felling trees. Over the last decade, Tajikistan's capital has lost thousands of trees, mainly decades-old sycamores. The big trees once lined Dushanbe's major walkways and roads, providing much-needed shade in the city where summer temperatures often reach 40 degrees Celsius. In an apparent attempt to give the capital a more “modern” look, municipal authorities are replacing the felled sycamores with ornamental trees and small conifers.
The felling of trees has accelerated since mid-2013 as the authorities launched a major redevelopment effort in central Dushanbe. This has angered many social media users who feel that decades-old trees are an important part of the city's outlook and its ecosystem.
Sobir Kurbanov, one of the individuals affected by the development, wrote [ru] on the Facebook page “Ya Dushanbinec” [I am a Dushanbe Resident] on December 15:
[Не]когда тенистая и красивая, украшенная высокими чинарами улица Чехова полностью уничтожена дорожными строителями. Специальную технику даже завезли. Ни одного дерева не пожалели, все вырубили под молчаливое согласие жителей столицы. Никто даже не пытался выражать несогласие. Когда там закончат однозначно приступят к парку вокруг оперки и вырубят все деревья у прилегающих улиц вокруг оперки, и так далее. А последним аккордом станет уничтожение деревьев по проспекту и улице Рудаки. И тогда превратится наш город в пустыню с широкими новыми улицами. Не дай Аллах мэрии города решить начать ремонт улицы там где вы живете, хотя всех это коснется рано или поздно…
Road workers have fully destroyed the once shady and beautiful Chekhov Street [in central Dushanbe], which was once lined by high sycamore trees. They used the special equipment [to fell the trees]. They didn't pity a single tree; they cut each and every tree with a silent consent of people living in the capital. There was not a single attempt to resist that. When they finish their job [on the Chekhov Street], they will certainly start felling trees in the park surrounding the [Opera and Ballet Theater] and will cut all the trees along streets adjacent to the theater. Their last move will be to fell all trees along the Rudaki avenue. This will turn our city into a desert with new and broad roads. God save you from the city mayor's office deciding to repair a road on your street, although this will affect all of us sooner or later.
Chekhov Street in Dushanbe after all the sycamores that lined it were cut. Image by Shah Mardon, used with permission.
Image by Shah Mardon, used with permission.
Artyom Geivandov commented [ru] angrily:
Вот дэбилы! Они хотят превратить Душанбе в пустыню?!
Such idiots! Do they want to turn Dushanbe into a desert?!
Chekhov Street is not the only part of central Dushanbe affected by redevelopment and deforestation. Parvina Ibodova writes [ru] about a similar situation affecting another neighborhood in the city:
…месяц назад к нам (ул.Турсунзаде, напротив роддома №1) пришли ответственные лица Хукумата и сказали, что будут обустраивать наш двор, то есть будут строить спорт и детскую площадку.радости нашей не было предела. но потом, как и водится, пришло огорчение. для того что б построить эти прелести, оказалось нужно было вырубить все наши деревья, чинары, которым по 25-35 лет. мы пытались предотвратить это, ходили и в мэрию города и к председателю нашего района. потом они приходили к нам, ругались, доказывали и т.д. но они говорят одно “Это Генплан и ничего не изменить”…
мы даже решили отказаться от этих планов у нас до дворе, что б спасти деревья, но…дошло до того, что в минувшую субботу кроме всех чиновников и работников, переворачивающих наш двор с ног на голову, также направил наряд милиции человек 10-12) что мы не мешали рубить деревья…
…about a month ago representatives from the [Dushanbe mayor's office] came to our neighborhood (Tursunzade Street, across the First Maternity Hospital) to tell us that they were going to redevelop our yard and build a new athletic field and a playground there. we were happy. but the happiness was gone soon. it turned out that in order to build all those facilities, they had to fell all our trees, the sycamores that were between 25 and 35 years old. we tried to prevent them from doing so. we went to talk to the mayor's office [and other officials]. then, they came to talk to us, argued with us, tried to prove their point… they all said one thing, “This is part of the General City [Reconstruction] Plan. Nothing can be changed”…
we decided to protect the trees in our yard. but last Saturday, in addition to all the officials and workers rebuilding our yard, they sent a group of police officers (10 to 12 persons) to prevent us from interfering with the felling of trees…
Sycamores cut on Tursunzade Street in Dushanbe. Image by Parvina Ibodova, used with permission.
Image by Parvina Ibodova, used with permission.
Contributing to the discussion on Facebook, Said Negmatulloyev suggested [ru] a way to stop the felling of trees:
Если посадить один саженец, то будет больше на одно дерево.
Если посадить одного лесоруба, рубящего незаконно, то будет больше на сотню деревьев.
А если посадить одного чиновника, позволяющего рубить деревья незаконно — будет больше на тысячи деревьев.
Сажайте правильно!
If you plant one sapling tree, the number of trees in the world will increase by one.
If you put in jail one lumberjack cutting trees illegally, the number of trees will increase by one hundred.
And if you put in jail one official who allows others to cut trees illegally, the number of trees will increase by thousands.
Plant [put in jail] the right way!
[Note: word play here; Russian word “sazhat'” means both “to plant” and “to put in jail”]
Russian Chronicles of Tajikistan blog suggests [ru] that the felling of trees is part of a much broader project by the authorities aimed at remodeling the country and its citizenry:
А ведь это не просто преображение одной отдельной улицы. Посмотрите на ландшафт Душанбе в общем, на то, как он изменился за последнее десятилетие. Город лишили его гордости – тысяч чинар, которые когда-то дарили душанбинцам летнюю прохладу и свежий воздух.
Что у нас остается? Остается уродливый город, ни чем не отличающийся от других городов бывшего Советского Союза. Да, есть много новых помпезных зданий, наляпанных китайцами многоэтажек – но все это не красит город. Старые здания, благодаря которым Душанбе был уютным местом, тоже под снос. В завершение ко всему переименовали все улицы…
Новые памятники, новые названия, безликая архитектура…
This is not just a transformation of a single street. Look at the landscape of Dushanbe and the way it has changed over the last decade. The city has been deprived of its pride, thousands of sycamore trees that used to provide the residents of Dushanbe with fresh air and summer shade.
What do we have left? We have an ugly city that is no different from other cities of the former Soviet Union. Yes, there are many new and pompous buildings, multi-storey houses [built] by the Chinese – but these do not adorn the city. The old buildings that made Dushanbe such a cozy place are also being demolished. On top of this, they have renamed all the streets…
New monuments, new names, faceless architecture…
The blog adds [ru]:
Они не просто вырубают чинары. Они не просто меняют ландшафт города. Они лишают Душанбе его души. Они хотят поменять нас, сделать из нас других людей, с другими идеями и ценностями. Они лепят из нас, как из глины, новых людей нового Таджикистана. А все, что осталось от того Таджикистана, который мы знали и любили, они выжигают каленым железом.
Вырубая чинары, они вырубают наши души и память. Они вырубают старый добрый Таджикистан.
They do not just fell the sycamores. They do not just alter the city's landscape. They deprive Dushanbe of its soul. They want to change us, turn us into a different kind of people, with a different set of ideas and values. They are molding us, as if we were clay, into a new people of a new Tajikistan. And they root out mercilessly all that is left from the Tajikistan we used to know and love.
By felling sycamore trees, they fell our souls and memory. They fell the good old Tajikistan.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Alexander Sodiqov


text:
Tunisia: Jailed Facebook User Pardoned, Release Unconfirmed  · Global Voices
Afef Abrougui

After spending nearly two years in prison, Jabeur Mejri jailed for posting content deemed offensive to Islam, obtained presidential pardon, local media reported on Wednesday.
In March 2012, Mejri was sentenced to seven and half years imprisonment for posting Prophet Muhammad cartoons on his Facebook page. His friend, Ghazi Beji who published an ebook named “the illusion of Islam”, received the same sentence in absentia after fleeing the country. He now lives in France after obtaining asylum there.
They were found guilty of ‘publishing material liable to cause harm to public order or good morals’, ‘insulting others through public communication networks’ and ‘assaulting public morals’.
Mejri was repeatedly denied pardon requests made by his defense team, despite multiple promises from interim President Moncef Marzouki to release him.
For instance, speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) last September, Marzouki said that he is “waiting for the good political moment” to release Mejri.
“Now when you have this situation with the Salafists, extremely violent, releasing this guy right now could be dangerous for himself”, he added drawing criticism from human rights activists who considered his statement as an excuse to keep Mejri in prison.
On Facebook, the President's office confirmed  the pardon[ar]:
الناطق الرسمي باسم رئاسة الجمهورية السيد عدنان منصر على موجات شمس إف إم :رئيس الجمهورية أمضى منذ أيام عفوا خاصا عن جابر الماجري في القضية الأصلية
The official spokesperson of the Presidency of the Republic Mr Adnan Mansar speaking on Radio Shems FM: Days ago, the President of the Republic signed a special pardon for Jabeur Mejri in the first case
Twitter reactions followed:
Ghassen Yahia referred [fr] to the country's new constitution which guarantees freedoms of speech, thought and conscience. The same charter, adopted last January bans “attacks on sanctities”, though.
Jabeur libéré? première application de la nouvelle constitution ? #FreeJabeur
— Ghassen Yahia (@GhassenYahia) February 19, 2014
Jabeur freed? Is this the first implementation of the new constitution?
Yamina Thabet, president of the Tunisian Association for Minorities, tweeted [fr]:
#freejabeur …Il est trop tard ,il ne s'agit plus de grâce mais d'une tentative de réparation d'une atteinte grave à la dignité humaine
— yamina thabet (@yaminathabet) February 19, 2014
#freejabeur…it is too late, this is not a pardon but an attempt to repair a serious blow to human dignity
Martin Pradel called for caution [fr]:
Cartoon in support of Jabeur Mejri, by Fey
La grâce est annoncée depuis longtemps. Elle serait signée ; mais prudence, tant que Jabeur n'est pas effectivement libéré. #FreeJabeur
— Martin PRADEL (@MartinPradel) February 19, 2014
The pardon was announced a while ago, it should have been signed. But, caution as long as Jabeur has not been effectively released
Though pardoned, Mejri's release remains unconfirmed. The privately owned radio Shems FM reported that he remains in prison over an old lawsuit against him.
In a statement published yesterday [Feb 19, 2014], his support committee said [fr]:
Nous ne pouvons confirmer ou infirmer, pour le moment, ce nouveau rebondissement dans le dossier de Jabeur Mejri
Right now, we can neither confirm nor deny this new development in the case of Jabeur Mejri
Last January, the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH) announced that Mejri would soon be released to travel to Sweden where he obtained political asylum.
Molka Chaari tweeted [fr]:
Gracié, Ok. Mais, il est "obligé" de quitter le pays??? #FreeJabeur #Tunisie
— Molka Chaâri (@Molka_Chaari) February 19, 2014
Pardoned, ok. But is he “obliged” to leave the country???

author: Afef Abrougui


text:
Ukraine: “A Young Man Died in My Arms” #EuroMaidan · Global Voices
Tetyana Bohdanova

The view over Independence Square from the roof of Globus shopping center in Kyiv, Ukraine (February 19)
Photo by Anastasia Vlasova © Copyright Demotix
A student in Kyiv, Ukraine tweeted from morning till past midnight on the day of a violent standoff between protesters and police which led to as many as 25 deaths and many hundreds wounded.
On this day, February 18, 2014, the Ukrainian Parliament failed to limit the powers of President Viktor Yanukovych, the main target of the protests that have continued for three months on Maidan Nezalezhnosti [Independence Square].
Below are selected tweets @Mira_mp who witnessed events first-hand as a protester in the square, and eventually as a volunteer at a hospital to help the wounded.
Her first tweets reflect the beginning of the clashes:
і знову я надихаюсь цього газу.
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 18, 2014
Looks like I will breathe in more than enough of this gas, again.
на Грушевського знову горять шини)
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 18, 2014
On Hrushevskogo [street where first clashes broke out a month earlier] tires are burning again)
в Маріїнці тітушкам кричать "раби" і показують гроші)) вони соромляться і відвертають голови #Євромайдан
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 18, 2014
In [Mariinsky park] people are shouting “slaves!” to titushki [thugs hired by the government to beat and intimidate protesters] and show them money)) they get embarrassed and turn their heads away
зараз горить намет в Маріїнці. взагалі, тут відбувається щось незрозуміле. і зв'язку практично немає
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 18, 2014
A tent in [Mariinsky park] is burning right now. In general, it is unclear what is going on here. and hardly any [cell phone] connection is available.
Her next tweets are sent on the way to a hospital. The time stamps indicate that it was after the police and special forces started cracking down on protesters near the parliament.
їдемо в лікарню. в 2 татових друзів серйозні травми голови і руки. ця революція стає війною.
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 18, 2014
We are going to a hospital. Two of my dad's friends have serious injuries  – to the head and arm. this revolution is turning into a war.
There were concerns that police might arrest those who report injuries, and she tweeted:
напевно не варто їхати в лікарню. краще в аптеку, обробити рани і везти їх додому
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 18, 2014
Maybe we should not got to a hospital. Just stop by a pharmacy, treat their wounds and get them home.
Later on, she returned to Maidan to follow events in the parliament.
тепер ми знову на Майдані. надіюсь, Бо прийде в себе, в нього поранення в голову.
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 18, 2014
Now we are back to Maidan. I hope Bo regains consciousness, he has a head injury.
Дивились включення з ВР. якась бабуся: "і за цих виродків голосували сусіди? сьогодні зроблю їм!" я люблю цих людей!)
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 18, 2014
We were watching a live broadcast from the [parliament]. Some old lady: “These are the bastards my neighbors voted for? today they will be in trouble!” I love these people!)
На Майдані дивляться стріми. жінок та чоловіків без захисту не пропускають
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 18, 2014
[People] are following Livestreams on Maidan. Women and men without [helmets and other protective clothing] are not allowed inside.
"Рибака забрали швидкою" реакція людей- хтось знає номер швидкої? кинемо коктейлі!
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 18, 2014
Rybak [Speaker of the Parliament] was taken away in an ambulance. Reaction of the protesters – does anyone know what ambulance it was? we should throw [molotov] cocktails!
3 померлих. мирний наступ перейшов у війну
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 18, 2014
Three people [reported] dead. Peaceful protest has turned into a war.
Беркут стріляє і кидає каміння з глобусу #євромайдан
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 18, 2014
Berkut [special forces unit] is shooting [at us] and throwing stones from Globus [a shopping center on Maidan].
На вулиці величезна к-ть людей. метро не працює, багато людей йдуть на Майдан
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 18, 2014
A huge crowd on the street. Metro is shut down, many are walking to Maidan.
Через 7 хвилин буде 18.00. не перестаю захоплюватись кожним, хто залишився на Майдані! тут багато літніх людей і жінок!
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 18, 2014
7 minutes to 6pm [the deadline government has set for protesters to leave]. I am endlessly proud of everyone who has stayed on Maidan! There are many elderly people and women here!
As special forces began storming Maidan numerous injuries were reported on both sides. Protesters called on women and children to leave the site of clashes.
не можу бути вдома. йду в лікарню на Шовковича
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 18, 2014
I cannot stay at home. Going to a hospital on Shovkovycha [street].
не можу брехати батькам і Дену. але і не йти на Майдан також не можу. вимкнений телефон – немає запитань
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 18, 2014
I cannot lie to parents and Dan. But I cannot stay away from Maidan either. Switch off the cell phone and no questions [can be] asked.
Her next tweet is from the hospital.
лікарі нічого не кажуть про стан Бо. я не можу читати новини по тві, до того ж в мене сідає батарея. зустрінемось там
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 18, 2014
The doctors are saying nothing about Bo's condition. I cannot read updates on [Twitter] and my battery is dying. I'll see you there.
приїхали в 17 лікарню. тут величезна кількість поранених людей! приходять кияни і забирають додому неважких потерпілих #Євромайдан
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 18, 2014
We came to hospital No 17. There's a huge number of injured people here! Kyevers come and take home those with less serious wounds.
багато крові і трупів. це найстрашніша ніч в моєму житті
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 19, 2014
So much blood and dead bodies. This is the scariest night of my life.
в мене на руках помер хлопець, якому прострелили голову і живіт. цю ніч я ніколи не забуду.
— Mira (@Mira_mp) February 19, 2014
A young man shot in the head and stomach died in my arms. I will never forget this night.
This post is part of our special coverage on Ukraine's #EuroMaidan protests.

author: Tetyana Bohdanova


text:
Venezuelan Beauty Queen Dies from Gunshot Wound Received During Protests · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

Génesis Carmona, reina venezolana, otra víctima mortal de la crisis política. http://t.co/TEgdttGQCG pic.twitter.com/ry3d5m8mWp
— El Universo (@eluniversocom) February 19, 2014
Génesis Carmona, Venezuelan beauty queen, another victim of the political crisis.
Génesis Carmona, a young Venezuelan beauty queen and student, died [es] on the 19th of February from a bullet wound to the head that she received [es] the previous day during the anti-government protests.
Asi trasladaron a la estudiante Génesis Carmona que recibió un tiro en la cabeza mientras manifestabaen Vlalencia pic.twitter.com/GoNOTSh28Q
— Luis Viana Rosales (@LuisVianaR) February 18, 2014
This is how they transported the student Génesis Carmona who was shot in the head while protesting in Valencia.
@pabloaure en la Guerra Mendez conversando cn la mama y familiar de Genesis Carmona con impacto de bala en la cabeza pic.twitter.com/LHIYz8voKr
— luismagallanes (@luismagallanes8) February 18, 2014
@pabloaure in the Guerra Mendez clinic talking with the mother and another family member of Genesis Carmona who has a bullet wound to the head.
According to the specialists who treated her at the Dr. Rafael Guerra Méndez Clinic in the city of Valencia, Miss Tourism Carabobo 2013 was hit by the projectile in the right-hand side of the occipital lobe, which hosts the brain's visual centre. There was speculation that she would have lost her vision even if she had been able to recover.
Genesis Carmona (23)herida de bala en manifestación en Valencia sale de quirofano,se encuentra en terapia intensiva pic.twitter.com/NzwPiGA3uc
— Marcos Morin Aguirre (@Mmorin_informa) February 18, 2014
Genesis Carmona (23) wounded by a bullet at the protest in Valencia comes out of the operating theatre, is now in intensive care.
A Caracas newspaper has published a collection of tweets [es] from the user Héctor Rotunda (@Hecalo), who narrates the events from the moment Génesis Carmona received the gunshot wound until her death. Rotunda was in the same part of the protest as the late beauty queen.
Nosotros estabamos en la marcha frente a la estación del metro Cedeño. Se escuchó una ráfaga de disparos y nos lanzamos al suelo…
— Héctor Rotunda (@HecAlo) February 19, 2014
We were at the march in front of the Cedeño subway station. We heard a burst of gunfire and threw ourselves to the ground…
On Twitter the reactions of anguish and accusations continue. The Governor of the State of Carabobo, Francisco Ameliach, has been singled out as the main instigator of the attack on the protest in Valencia. A few days ago the Governor sent messages over Twitter that the protestors are now using to accuse him of inciting violence [es]. In the following tweet, for example, he mentions the UBCH [es], the Bolívar – Chávez Battle Units (Unidades de Batalla Bolívar – Chávez) of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV – Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela), the country's governing party.
UBCH a prepararse para el contra ataque fulminante. Diosdado dará la orden #GringosYFascistasRespeten pic.twitter.com/tRafsF9D1E
— Francisco Ameliach (@AmeliachPSUV) February 17, 2014
UBCH get ready for the forceful counter-attack. Diosdado will give the order.
Diosdado Cabello is currently President of the National Assembly (Venezuelan Parliament).
Meanwhile the Member of Parliament Francisco Soteldo made a statement [es] to the media asking for justice for the death of Carmona:
Soteldo: “Exigimos justicia por la muerte de Génesis Carmona” http://t.co/K0wAIKGAuD
— CARABOBO INFORMA (@CBBOINFORMA) February 19, 2014
Soteldo: “We demand justice for the death of Génesis Carmona”
Thus Carmona has become the fourth fatality in the protests that have been taking place in Venezuela.

author: Juan Arellano


text:
Violence Escalates as Protests Continue in Venezuela · Global Voices
Jessica Carrillo

Protesters avoiding tear gas thrown by the National Guard. February 19, 2014. Altamira, Caracas. By Sergio Álvarez, copyright Demotix
After Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced [es] in a national broadcast that he would carry out special measures in the Táchira state to control demonstrations, internet users from different cities started to report irregularities related to police officers, the National Guard and some armed civilian groups in motorbikes.
Venezuela is going through an economic, political and social crisis which brought about thousands of citizens taking the streets to express [es] their discontent. For more than a week, Venezuelans have been involved in mass protests that, until now, have caused five deaths and hundreds of wounded and incarcerated people.
On February 19, Twitter and Facebook were used by protesters and witnesses to denounce the day-to-day repression carried out by security forces. However, this is not new, since a viral video by the research unit of the Últimas Noticias newspaper showed some members of the secret police SEBIN (Bolivarian National Intelligence Service) in the same moment and place where people were found dead last February 12.
This Youtube video allegedly shows members of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB for its initials in Spanish) destroying everything they find in their way in Valencia, the capital city of Carabobo state, located nearly 250km away from Caracas.
Ortega Brothers shared a photo related to the situation in Valencia.
#Valencia  #Venezuela  #ElBosque 7:00pm @amnistia  @amnesty  @AmnestyOnline  @AmnestyUK  #GovernmentKillingVenezuelans  pic.twitter.com/6JNvIfCtLs
- Ortega Brothers (@ ortegabrothers) 20 de febrero 2014
Most of the reports in Caracas came from the east and downtown areas of the city. As a matter of fact, repression started in Altamira, the scenario for most of these street protests. In his Twitter account, José Márquez not only recounts his experience in this area of the city, but he also denounces that the GNB threw expired tear gas at protesters.
En # Altamira la GNB lanza bombas lacrimógenas vencidas en 2010, Hoy # 19F  pic.twitter.com/e7WtpCTewf
- José G. Márquez (@ JGpunto) 19 de febrero 2014
In Altamira, the GNB throws tear gas which expired in 2010, today, February 19.
Some users also posted videos reporting that they were being attacked by both security forces and armed men in motorbikes.
Similarly, citizens also denounced that people were being repressed in another residential area in the east of Caracas. Carlos Bruguera posted on Twitter that even though there were no protesters around, they were being repressed.
La GNB va y Viene Por La Rómulo, Repartiendo gas y PLOMO HACIA Los Edificios. Cabe acotar Que abajo ya no hay manifestantes heno. De Qué es ESTO?
- Carlos A. Bruguera. (@ Burrgh) 20 de febrero 2014
The GNB roams through the Rómulo Gallegos Avenue, throwing gas and shooting towards the buildings. It is important to note that there are no protesters. What is this!?
Jorge Estevez also described what was happening:
Minutos HACE UN contingente de la GNB atravesó la Rómulo Gallegos Disparando pic.twitter.com/lU45XZ0Ibu
- Jorge Estevez (@ jestevz) 20 de febrero 2014
Minutes ago a GNB contingent crossed the Rómulo Gallegos avenue shooting.
Other people asserted there were armed groups attacking buildings.
Carmela Longo asked for help and described what she was witnessing:
Auxiliooooo colectivos atacan a tiros Edificios en horizonte
- Carmela Longo (@ carmeLaLongo) 20 de febrero 2014
Help! groups are shooting at buildings in Horizonte
However, Luigino Bracci reported that protesters provoked the National Guard:
Grupos opositores en Montecristo provocaron Hace Minutos a la GNB lanzándoles cohetones a Quienes Estaban en la Av. R Gallegos
- Luigino Bracci Roa (@ lubrio) 20 de febrero 2014
Minutes ago, opposition groups in Montecristo provoked the GNB by throwing firecrackers at those who were in the Rómulo Gallegos Avenue
Downtown Caracas was the most repressed area. During the night users shared two videos that allegedly showed National Guard Forces shooting at civilians, leaving a wounded man in the road (Warning: the following videos may contain strong images).
Although there was no official information about what happened to these civilians, the Twitter account for El Universitario [es] affirmed that two people had died.
Confirman la muerte de 2 personajes en Manifestaciones en Caracas Durante Esta Noche: 1 en La Candelaria y El Otro en Av. Panteón
- Eluniversitario (@ eluniweb) 20 de febrero 2014
Two people confirmed dead during protests tonight in Caracas: one in La Candelaria and another one in Panteón Avenue.
Update: Alba Ciudad [es] reports that “the crime reporter for the opposition newspaper El Nuevo País, Altagracia Anzola, informed through her Twitter account that both individuals were alive and one had been discharged [from the hospital].”
Other states are also experiencing moments of high tension. Citizens affirm that Táchira state is under siege [es], and some users reported that their internet service was suspended.
Marc Bonet reported about this situation.
Táchira ahora mismo sin ABA y sin luz en muchas partes. El ejercito en la calle. Estado de sitio implementado pero NO declarado. #SOS
- Marc Bonet (@ marcb__) 20 de febrero 2014
Táchira right now with no internet service and no light in many areas. The army is in the streets. State of siege implemented but not declared.
Frases Únicas shared a photo about the situation in Táchira.
Barricadas en Av Carabobo Tachira, esperando ataque de GNB desde Faro . Tachira no se arrodilla pic.twitter.com/Z5coDHcofM“
- Frases Unicas ♥ (@ FrasesMundia) 20 de febrero 2014
Barricade in Carabobo Avenue, Tachira. Waiting for GNB attack from Faro. Táchira will not kneel down.
Some of the citizens used their Twitter account to provide a brief analysis on the escalating violence. One of them was Sinar Alvarado, who asserts that there could be even more repression if the government feels more threatened.
El chavismo desplegará todavía mucha más violencia mientras vea su poder amenazado.
- Sinar Alvarado (@ sinaralvarado) 20 de febrero 2014
Chavismo [government supporters] will display even more violence as they see their power threatened.
Others criticized that the state channel, Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), was not covering these events. Victor Amaya (@VictorAmaya) affirmed this on his Twitter account:
En VTV denuncian que hay autobuses agredidos por la derecha fascista. Nada dicen de heridos y muertos a tiros. Pobrecitos los buses
— Víctor Amaya (@victoramaya) February 20, 2014
On VTV they are denouncing that buses were attacked by the fascist right. They don't say anything about the wounded and those shot dead. Poor buses.
Finally, Audrey M. Dacosta in the blog Caracas Chronicles writes the following about the protests on February 19:
A grave line has been crossed. Real, physical violence is finally catching up with the huge reserve of pent-up rhetorical violence we’ve suffered through since 1999.
We’ve spent 15 years fearing this.
Now we’re living it.

author: Jessica Carrillo


text:
Celebrating Netizens Who Blog in Nigerian Pidgin English  · Global Voices
Nwachukwu Egbunike

There are over 500 indigenous languages currently spoken in Nigeria. However, the official language is English.
A linguistic map of Nigeria, Cameroon, and Benin. Image released to Creative Commons
The other major languages spoken in Nigeria are:
Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Ibibio, Edo, Fulfula and Kanuri. Nigeria's linguistic diversity is a microcosm of Africa as a whole, encompassing three major African languages families: Afroasiatic, Nilo-Saharan, and Niger–Congo.
However, Nigerian Pidgin English (NPE) has gained considerable acceptance as an unofficial second language. According to Naija Tori:
Nigerian Pidgin English is a version of English and ethnic Nigerian languages spoken as a kind of lingua franca across Nigeria and is referred to simply as “Pidgin”, “Broken English” or “Broken”. It is estimated that Nigerian Pidgin English is the native language of approximately 3 to 5 million people and is a second language for at least another 75 million.
Sadly, despite the widespread use of NPE, it is yet to be given any official approval. North of Lagos laments:
Hundreds of languages are spoken in Nigeria. Apart from the most prominent–Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba and English languages–521 other languages exist that have significant numbers of speakers. 521 languages in one country about double the size of Texas, amazing. So how does a Urhobo man from Delta state converse with a man who speaks Edo [a local language in Nigeria]? English is the official language of Nigeria because of British colonial rule. From the time kids start primary school they are learning and speaking English. The numbers are diminishing, but youth still hear their native languages. They learn Tiv or Igala [Nigerian local languages] in the classroom, just like they learn math and science, and of course if their parents speak something other than English at home, they will speak that. But wheat [sic] you hear students gossiping, it is not in proper British English or deep Yoruba. The language is called Pidgin, or Broken. It is Nigeria’s lingua franca, understood in all 36 states. It is how Nigerians in the most northern cities and those in the Nigeria Delta are able to communicate; yet, you will not find a classroom in the whole country that teaches it.
Nonetheless, there are Nigerian netizens who blog in NPE.
Wehomezone, “a pidgin blog that brings it home”, runs socio-political commentary in NPE. For instance, this blog entry is a satire on the alleged budgetary allocation for the zoo in State House:
The time Saka de sing dat im craze song, I don port o, the bobo fit no know say that im song go useful pass MTN advert. For the last one week, people de voke for Naija sake of say dem hear say dem FG budget heavy money to take care of animal for Aso Rock zoo. Naija people wetin de do una sef? Make we no de backward na. as early as 1912 wey Titanic sink, na since dat time oyinbo don show us say animal na equal to man…
Animal de always respect and protect person wey de give am food. But some human being na chop and clean mouth dem be. Dem go chop with PDP only to run go APC. Animal no de abuse dem oga for Facebook. Dem no de get two face. One profile for to praise oga and another fake one to de abuse am de leak im secret.
When Saka sang that his crazy song “I don Port O”, the fellow did not realise that his song merit will outlive [telecom provider] MTN's advert. For the past one week, people have been angry in Nigeria because of the news that the FG's [Federal Government] heavy budgetary allocation to take care of animals in Aso Rock Zoo. Nigerians what is really wrong with you? We should not go backward. As far back as 1912 when Titanic sank, that's when the white man showed us that animals are equal to men…
Animals always respect and protect the person that feeds them. Yet human beings will eat and pretend they've not eaten. They will eat with PDP, only to run to APC. Animals do not abuse their boss on Facebook. They are not two-faced hypocrites. Who have one profile to praise their boss and another fake one to abuse him and leak his secrets.
Cikko's Lair is a fiction blog that has this short story “Crash Course” in Nigerian Pidgin English:
“I no go huzzle (till infinity) but I go bubble (till infinity)…”
I pick d phone. Wizboyy na my man. I no go change my ringing tone till I buy my own jeep. Or till Showkey Baba release song again; anyone wey sha happen first.
“Hello, omo how far na?” Na my guy Kajeta been dey call.
“Guuuuy! Yawa don gas o!”
“Ahn ahn. Wetin happen?”
“Jolomi don get belle oh!”
“Jolo-wetin?”
“Jolomi! And she dey tell men say na you give am d belle.”
“Give wetin? I never see im pant na! I never kiss am sef. How I wan take pregnant am?” Make I tell una true: I been don see her pant sha. Smelling pant for dat matter. But I no wan enter yawa abeg. Which kain wahala be dis?
“I won't work (till infinity) but I will enjoy (till infinity)…”
I picked up the phone. Wizzboy is my man. I will not change my ringtone till I buy my own Jeep. Or until Showkey Baba releases another song; whicher happens first.
“Hello, how are you?” It's your guy Kajeta.
“Man! There's trouble!”
“Ahn ahn. What happened?”
“Jolomi is pregnant!”
“Jolo-what?”
“Jolomi! And she's telling people that you're the one responsible for her pregnancy.”
“Give what? I have never seen her panties! I have never kissed her. How come I'm the one responsible for her pregancy?” Let me be frank: I have seen her panties, a smelly one for that matter. But I want no trouble, please. What type of trouble is this?
Chidi Anthony Opara writes poetry in Pidgin. In “Naija Dey Dishonour Honour” he examines the irony of awarding honours in Nigeria:
Everywhere,
These are also some witty sayings in Pidgin English, such as “He who fights and runs away….Na fear catch am”, which means, “He who fights and runs away… is afraid.” Take a look at some other sayings below:
Pikin wey no sabi em mama boyfriend….Dey call am brother.
A child who does not know his mother's boyfriend… calls him a brother
A rolling stone does not just roll… someone must have pushed it
He who lives in a glass house… is wealthy
A stitch in time… prevents further tears
Birds of the same feather… were born by the same mother

author: Nwachukwu Egbunike


text:
‘Central African Republic’s Most Pressing Need Is Security for its People’ · Global Voices
Rakotomalala

Béatrice Epaye via the CAR Press blog – Public domain
Béatrice Epaye is a former member of Parliament and today a member of the Central African Republic's National Transition Council (CNT), the body tasked with selecting a transitional president who will lead the war-torn country until the next presidential elections. When an uprising plunged the country into crisis in late 2012, the previous President-elect François Bozizé was removed by the Séléka rebels.
The terrible religious conflict continues still in the Central African Republic (CAR). On February 19, heavy fighting erupted near the airport in the capital Bangui. Anti-Balaka groups tried to block the evacuation of Muslims and disrupted a visit by a top United Nations (UN) aid official.
Epaye agreed to answer our questions on the current situation in the Central African Republic and the steps which need to be taken to avoid a human catastrophe in her country. In addition to her role on the National Transition Council, she is the president of the “La Voix du Coeur” (Voice of the Heart) Centre, which is currently a place of welcome and support for street children in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. She also sits on the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa's parliament (CEMAC) in Malabo in Equatorial Guinea, where she represents the Council.
Global Voices (GV): What's the latest situation in your area?
Béatrice Epaye (BE): Je suis une habitante de Bangui la capitale de la RCA, une ville meurtrie par le conflit. Tous les jours, de chez moi, j'entends des coups de feux venus de certains quartiers de Bangui. Ma maison comme beaucoup d’autres accueillent des proches venus de quartiers plus fragiles. Les gens fuient et beaucoup se sont regroupés dans des lieux qu'ils estiment sécurisés : Aéroport, Mosquées, Églises, dans des familles, en brousse dans la périphérie de Bangui ou en République Démocratique du Congo de l'autre côté du fleuve Oubangui.
De même, le Centre « Voix du Cœur » que j’ai fondé est devenu un lieu de regroupement pour les enfants de la rue en détresse. Là chrétiens et musulmans se côtoient, s’entraident.
Béatrice Epaye (BE): I live in Bangui the capital of the CAR, a town battered by conflict. Every day from my own home I hear shots coming from different areas of Bangui. Like many others, my house welcomes friends who come from the most fragile areas. People are fleeing and many gather together in areas which they feel are more secure: the airport, mosques, churches, with families, in the bush on the edge of Bangui, or in the Democratic Republic of Congo on the other side of the Ubangi River.
Likewise, the Voice of the Heart Centre which I founded has become a gathering place for distressed street children. Christians and Muslims come together and help each other.
GV: How do you manage the uncertainties? What are the most pressing needs so far?
BE: Effectivement c'est une situation difficile et précaire pour tout le monde : à tout moment le pire peut se produire! Quand on sent le danger, on cherche un abri.
Le plus difficile pour les familles et sur les sites des déplacés, c'est de ne pas avoir à manger ni avoir la possibilité de se soigner. Les salaires ne sont pas payés depuis 4 mois, et l'aide humanitaire n'est pas suffisante, ou même parfois inexistante. Dans leurs fuites les populations ont laissé derrière elles le nécessaire pour le quotidien et manquent du minimum pour la survie. Ensuite les enfants ne vont pas à l'école… on en est à un tel point que je ne peux pas le décrire.
BE: It's really a very difficult and precarious situation for everyone: the worst can happen at any moment! When we sense danger we look for shelter.
The most difficult thing for the families, and at the internally displaced persons sites, is having nothing to eat and no possibility of taking care of yourself. Salaries haven't been paid in four months, and humanitarian aid is not sufficient and sometimes even non-existent. As they fled, populations left behind things necessary for daily life and don't have the minimum needed to survive. Then children aren't going to school… we've reached such a point that I can't even describe it.
GV: How has the violence between Christians and Muslims increased so quickly in a country that isn't known for religious conflicts?
BE: Effectivement, le pays n'a jamais connu de conflits religieux. Les deux communautés ont toujours vécu ensemble en cohésion. Les familles s'échangent les repas lors des fêtes de Pâques, de la Tabaski, du Ramadan, de Noël et lors des mariages religieux. Lors du coup d’État nous avons vu parmi les rebelles des étrangers, engagés comme mercenaires. Depuis le début de leur progression ils ont utilisé les communautés musulmanes avec un discours de libérateurs des musulmans face aux mécréants qui les maltraitent. Ils ont pu enrôler beaucoup de jeunes qui les ont aidé à s'attaquer aux biens de l’église et faire les exactions que nous avons tous connues. Jusqu’à maintenant, nous avons toujours recherché à vivre en harmonie entre Centrafricains, avec nos différences de confessions ; comme nation, nous avons aussi accueilli beaucoup de personnes et de familles venant des pays voisins.
Cependant, il y a l'attitude de certains agents de l’État face à des concitoyens ou des résidents qu’ils supposent musulmans. Ceux-ci sont freinés dans leur démarche pour un papier administratif ou pour passer un barrage des forces de l'ordre. De même, les populations du nord-est de la RCA proches du Tchad et du Soudan (Darfour), vivant à plus de 1000 KM de la capitale, et majoritairement musulmanes, bénéficient peu du soutien de l’Etat parce que l’administration et les services publics sont quasi inexistants dans cette région, ce qui peut amener les habitants à se sentir laissés pour compte. Ces populations sont plus liées aux populations frontalières des autres pays voisins, ce qui est normal et parlent ensemble la même langue, ont une culture proche, mais ils sont alors perçus comme étrangers et eux-mêmes se sentent loin de la majorité chrétienne du pays. Au cœur du conflit que nous vivons, en ce moment, la grande majorité silencieuse des Centrafricains refusent la violence et beaucoup ont eu a agir pour protéger ou sauver la vie d’autres, souvent d’une autre communauté religieuse qu’eux.
BE: The country has never really known religious conflict. The two communities have always lived together with cohesion. Families exchange meals at Easter, Tabaski, Ramadan, Christmas and at religious marriages. When the revolution happened, we saw foreigners amongst the rebels, taken on as mercenaries. Since they started to advance they've made use of Muslim communities by making speeches about freeing Muslims from infidels who have treated them badly. They were able to recruit many young people who have helped them attack church property and carry out abuses which we've all experienced. Until now, we've always sought a harmonious life between Central Africans with our different faiths. As a nation we've also welcomed many people and families from neighbouring countries.
However, there is an attitude which certain public officials have concerning fellow citizens or residents who they believe to be Muslim. The movement of these people is slowed down by checking administrative documents or going through a security checkpoint. In the same way, populations in the northeast of the CAR close to Chad and Sudan (Darfour), who live more than 1,000 km from the capital and the majority of whom are Muslims, receive little benefit from state aid because the administration and public services are almost non-existent in this region, which can lead to local residents feeling overlooked. These populations are more closely linked to border populations from other neighbouring countries, which is normal, they speak the same language together, have cultural similarities, but then they are seen as foreigners and themselves feel a long way from the country's Christian majority. At the heart of the conflict which we're living in at the moment is the large Christian silent majority refuses violence and many have had to act to protect or save other people's lives, often from a different religious community to their own.
GV: You say that it's critical that the communities talk to each other and have a dialogue in order to solve problems. In your opinion, what conditions are needed in order to set up this dialogue? How can the international community help in this area?
BE: J'estime que parallèlement à la sécurisation du pays il faut commencer la réconciliation entre les communautés.
Tout d'abord, rassurer la communauté musulmane qui est en train de quitter le pays, elle fait partie prenante de la RCA. Il s'agit de réfuter toute idée soit de les chasser, soit de scission du pays. Il faut éliminer dans les mentalités la confusion systématique entre Seleka et musulman.
Inviter à ouvrir un processus de dialogue politique entre toutes les parties prenantes aux conflits, mais aussi avec les acteurs non-armés afin de lancer un processus de réconciliation nationale à même d'apaiser aujourd'hui les populations désemparées et leur redonner confiance dans l'avenir.
Dès la rentrée scolaire, qu'on commence à mettre en place un programme sur le vivre ensemble pour les enfants, et aussi l'élargir dans les quartiers et villages.
Il faut renforcer la sensibilisation déjà initiée par la plate-forme inter-religieuse dans les Églises, les Mosquées et autres Temples, ainsi que d'autres initiatives locales qui concourent à la paix”. Il est vrai que l'idée d'organiser des élections fait partie des priorités de la Communauté internationale, mais cette idée fait certainement peur à la communauté musulmane centrafricaine. C'est pourquoi il serait souhaitable que parallèlement au processus électoral, soit amorcé un programme de réconciliation nationale, une démarche qui assure à chacun qu’il sera reconnu comme centrafricain à part entière.
BE: I believe that parallel to securing the country we have to start the reconciliation process between communities.
First of all, we must reassure the Muslim community, which is in the process of leaving the country, that they are a stakeholder in the CAR. We have to refute any idea of banishing them or splitting the country. We have to eliminate the systematic confusion in people's minds between Seleka and Muslim.
We must encourage the opening of a political dialogue between all parties taking part in the conflict, but also key players who are not fighting, in order to start a national reconciliation process to give comfort to helpless populations and give them back confidence in the future.
Once the new school year begins we must set up a children's program about living together and also extend this to urban areas and villages.
We have to support the raising of public awareness, which has already been initiated by the inter-religious platform in churches, mosques, and other temples, just like other local initiatives which lead to peace. It's true that the idea of organising elections is amongst the priorities of the international community, but this idea also scares the Central African Muslim community. That's why it would be desirable to launch a national reconciliation program alongside the electoral process, an approach which assures everyone that they will be recognised as fully Central African.
GV: What are the other pressing needs for Central Africa at the moment? What solutions can be put forward?
BE: Le besoin le plus pressant pour la RCA c'est d'abord la sécurité pour son peuple. L'idéal serait que les familles rentrent chez elles avant les premières pluies du mois de février, que l'aide humanitaire arrive aux habitants partout où on peut les trouver (alimentation, eau potable, soins, couchages, produits d'hygiène, vêtements…). Ce serait aussi le paiement des salaires aux fonctionnaires.
BE: The CAR's most pressing need is security for its people. Ideally, families would be able to return to their homes before the first rains in February and humanitarian aid would arrive for local people wherever they are (food, drinking water, medical supplies, sleeping bags, hygiene products, clothes..). Also, public officials would have their salaries paid.

author: Rakotomalala


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Congratulating The New Prime Minister of Nepal · Global Voices
Rezwan

Nepal’s Parliament has elected Mr. Sushil Koirala (75), the president of the party Nepali Congress, as the new Nepali Prime Minister. Nepali diaspora blogger Indra congratulates the new Prime Minister and thinks that “the gift Mr. Koirala has for empowering others with his humility and sincerity will go a long way”.

author: Rezwan


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Developing Latin America: Winners of the Regional Acceleration Event · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

Last year's Developing Latin America event evolved through several segments according to individual schedules for each of the 12 participating countries. The first segment was called the Apps Challenge, during which everybody had different activities such as conferences, hackathons, presentations of projects and other events throughout the month of October, ending the segment on 26 October with Demo Day [es].
The next segment was called Regional Acceleration. The 34 national winners resulting from the evaluations from Demo Day, who had a month to improve their apps, had the option of applying for this segment which consisted of building up the applications that had been developed with the help of Socialab, [click lower left corner for English] an organization specializing in supporting these enterprises.
After the period of nominations and evaluation by the jury, the six winners of the Regional Acceleration were announced on January 10, three in the form of in person presentations (in Santiago, Chile), and three remotely. They will receive Socialab support for three months.
The in-person Acceleration winners were:
Ayni [es] from Ecuador. “A web and mobile application that can geographically identify computer parts. It allows people to upload computer parts they are not using and generate a map of reusable parts. This map will be used by collectors (public or private entities) for faster recycling and clearer identification of each part.”
Dromos [es] from Ecuador. “Dromos is not just a transportation app. Dromos focuses on the landmarks of a city rather than routes. Using metadata tags to define each landmark it is possible to include criminalistics and tourist attractions, among other features. By not depending on the routes, we suggest intelligent alternatives estimating mobilization times, detours, safety and prices with a visually appealing app.”
Bizu Buzú [es] from Brazil. “Mobile application that offers a professional study plan focused on the skill the user wants to develop, taking advantage of free time on the trip to and from work, providing content in multimedia format so that the experience best fits one’s path of travel. These studies will be like a game and users accumulate points (Bizús) with which to establish a ranking.”
The remote Acceleration winners were:
Conciliador Virtual [Virtual Mediator] [es] from Brazil. “Our application will put interested parties in contact in order to reach a solution to their problems through a real mediator, as well as a real mediating session. In the end, the system will generate a signed and sealed contract.”
Tu Primer Trabajo [Your First Job] [es] from Argentina. “A game that allows young people to go through the experience of a job interview, get and then keep a job. The ability to advance in the game will be subject to the participant being able to correctly respond to questions about situations that could occur in the future. It also includes useful advice.”
Wedoo [es] from Chile. “Wedoo is a platform that seeks to promote the initiatives of NGOs and the laws that arise from them or that they hope to create. An NGO will be be able to not only publish an initiative (with its associated laws) and spread it via social networks, but may also, depending on the timing, encourage and coordinate specific actions by its members to boost their reach and influence.”
Given that two Ecuadorian apps took two out of three places in the in-person Regional Acceleration, there were various reactions from that country. For example, Fundapi, the the partner organization for Developing Latin America Ecuador, was among the first to congratulate them:
Felicitaciones a los equipos de #Dromos y #Ayni, que son los ganadores de la Aceleración Regional Presencial de… http://t.co/DVbe8UIaZp
— Fundapi (@fundapi) January 13, 2014
Congratulations to the Ayni and Dromos teams, who are the winners of the in-person Regional Acceleration
While the Center for Entrepreneurship at the Polytechnic School of the Coast (ESPOL in Spanish) commented [es]:
Felicitamos de forma especial a los ganadores de este concurso, ensalzando no sólo su potencial y talento sino de todos los ecuatorianos. Son un orgullo para nuestro país y para la ESPOL, siendo algunos de ellos ex-alumnos de nuestra institución.
We especially congratulate the winners of this contest, extolling not only their potential and talent but of all Ecuadorians. They make our country and EPSOL proud, since some of them are alumni of our institution.
Afterwards, ECStartups [es] organized a Hangout with the members of the Ayni group, headed by Luis Bajaña, and Dromos, led by Jorge Domínguez, José Espinoza and David Chang.
The Remote Acceleration starts this month, in February, and ends in April. During this time, Socialab will train the winning teams on topics such as Lean Startup, Business Model Canvas, Design Thinking, etc., and will give them the tools to measure the social impact.
In the case of the in-person Acceleration, which will start in March and end in May, apart from the training mentioned above, the teams will participate in an activity of co-creation “on the ground” with potential users and/or customers. They will also carry out their communication and financial plans, and seek funding for the sustainability of their projects. This is besides, of course, the prize of US $10,000 per team.
In conclusion, here’s a video summary of the Apps Challenge for Developing Latin America 2013:
Other related posts:
2011
Desarrollando América Latina – 30 horas de tecnología y sociedad [es]
Developing Latin America Open Data Project
2012
Developing Latin America 2012
Developing Latin America Draws Near
Day 1 of Developing Latin America 2012
Day 2 of Developing Latin American 2012
Winning Applications from Latin America's Biggest Hackathon
2013
Developing Latin America 2013: Apps Challenge for Social Impact
This Weekend at Developing Latin America Apps Challenge Part I
This Weekend at Developing Latin America Apps Challenge Part II
¡DemoDay en Desarrollando América Latina! [es]


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Equatorial Guinea Moves Closer to Becoming Portuguese Language Country · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

The door has been opened for Equatorial Guinea to enter the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) despite the orienting principles of the intergovernmental organization which pledge “the primacy of peace, Democracy, the Rule of Law, Human Rights and social justice”.
The recommendation for the country's entry into the organization (which includes Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe and Timor-Leste) was approved unanimously by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs for CPLP, who met in Maputo, Mozambique on February 20, 2014, the eve of UNESCO's International Mother Language Day.
Spanish and French are the official languages of Equatorial Guinea, and Portuguese is now closer to become the third. The country, which has been an Associate Observer of CPLP since 2006, announced a proposal in mid-February for the suspension of the death penalty. This change pleased the diplomatic front of the community as the abolition of capital punishment is one of the conditions for membership.
However, Equatorial Guinea's “human rights record is particularly concerning”, as highlights writer David Shook in an article published on February 19, one day before CPLP's announcement:
Under the leadership of Guinean president Teodoro Obiang Nguema, now the longest-serving head of state in Africa, Equatorial Guinea continues to rank among the most corrupt states in the world.
Shook reports that the most important living writer of the country, Juan Tomás Avila Laurel, has been forced into hiding for his work as an activist. Malabo's security forces threatened him just this week after denying his request for permission to stage “a sit-in protesting a recent wave of police brutality”. Shook stresses:
Juan Tomás Avila Laurel’s safety is currently at risk; he faces dire conditions if captured by Guinean security forces. The international visibility of his situation is an important protection.
He also points to The Human Rights Watch “World Report for 2013“:
Corruption, poverty, and repression continue to plague Equatorial Guinea under President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has been in power since 1979. Vast oil revenues fund lavish lifestyles for the small elite surrounding the president, while most of the population lives in poverty. Those who question this disparity are branded “enemies.” Despite some areas of relative progress, human rights conditions remain very poor. Arbitrary detention and unfair trials continue to take place, mistreatment of detainees remains commonplace, sometimes rising to the level of torture.
All of this doesn't seem to be relevant now for the representatives of the eight governments that count Portuguese as one of the official languages. The heads of state and government will meet in Dili, Timor-Leste in July to make a decision on Equatorial Guinea's membership.
“African money #CFA #Malabo”. Photo shared on Flickr by Kaysha (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Reacting to the latest news, the Portuguese chapter of Transparency International, the civic association and corruption watchdog “Transparência e Integridade” (Transparency and Integrity) [pt], tweeted that “money speaks louder” in the lusophone world.
Although the government of Portugal had rejected the country's request for membership until now, the relations between the two countries might be changing in times of economic crisis.
Lusomonitor, a website dedicated to the analysis of “lusophone issues” reported [pt] that Equatorial Guinea has injected 133 million euros into Portuguese bank Banif, “helping the Portuguese State to unravel a complicated dossier, which has hindered the fulfillment of the goals of economic and financial adjustment program with the ‘troika'”, composed by the European Central Bank, European Commission and the International Monetary Fund.
Meanwhile, civil society organizations have promised to mobilize against the accession [pt] in the coming times.
Check out past Global Voices coverage of Equatorial Guinea, including:
07 June 2011 – Equatorial Guinea: A Language That Ignores Human Rights
08 June 2012 – Equatorial Guinea: Dictatorship Seeks Entry in Portuguese Language Community

author: Sara Moreira


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GV Face: Venezuela Protests · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

Venezuela is going through an economic, political and social crisis which brought about thousands of citizens taking the streets to express their discontent. For more than a week, Venezuelans have been involved in mass protests that, until now, have caused eight deaths, hundreds of injuries and hundreds of arrests. What's going on?
In this edition of GV Face, our Latin America editor Silvia Viñas and I talk to Global Voices author and digital rights lawyer Marianne Díaz Hernández who has been tracking citizen media and web censorship amidst a government-imposed media blackout in Venezuela.
Marianne talks about everyday life in Venezuela – how shortages of food and medicine affect people, and how newspapers in the country have been reduced to as few as four pages because of lack of paper. She recommends alternative online news sources that focus on fact-checking, including Elperiodistacivico.com, at a moment when disinformation and propaganda is confounding those trying to make sense of events.

author: Solana Larsen


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Interview With Fula-Language Blogger Balde Mamadou Tafsir for Mother Language Day · Global Voices
Abdoulaye Bah

Fula is the language of the Fula (Fulani) people. Few African ethnic groups exhibit such a wide range of political and economic integration in the West African region. Fula people number among Africa's greatest writers, professors, filmmakers, artists, politicians, and businessmen. Yet Fula nomads, representing the largest migratory ethnic group in the world, live in extremely precarious conditions as they travel with their livestock in the Sahel savannah. They are called Fulɓe (singular Pullo) in the Fula language, Fula or Fulani in English, and peul in French. The geographic distribution of the population extends from West Africa to Central and East Africa.
The Fula language varies significantly between countries:
Le , ou peulh ou fulfulde, ou pular/ pulaar, est une langue parlée dans une vingtaine d’États d’Afrique occidentale et centrale, des rives du Sénégal à celles du Nil. C'est la langue maternelle des ethnies peules, et aussi une langue seconde employée régionalement comme langue véhiculaire, par d'autres ethnies.
Fula (also known as peulh, fulfulde, pular, or pulaar) is a language spoken in some twenty West and Central African countries, from the banks of the Senegal to those of the Nile. It is the native language of ethnic Fulas and is also spoken as a second language and lingua franca by members of other ethnic groups.
Unfortunately, this language, despite being taught in several universities outside of Africa, is rarely taught in school systems on the continent.
African culture and languages researcher Balde Mamadou Tafsir writes two blogs in Fula, his native language. For the first, Misiide [ful], he uses the Latin alphabet, and for the second, tafsirexpress.blogspot.com [ful], he posts using the Arabic alphabet. His goal is to promote all facets of Fula language and culture. For International Mother Language Day, a UNESCO initiative celebrated every February 21st since 2000, he agreed to answer a few questions for Global Voices.
Balde Tasfir. Photo from Facebook, used with permission.
What do you think of International Mother Language Day?
Balde Mamadou Tafsir (BMT): C’est un moment de partage de joie, de satisfaction, de se sentir intégré dans la diversité culturelle. En ma qualité de développeur web de langues et cultures africaines je considère la Journée Internationale de la Langue Maternelle comme une merveilleuse occasion de maintenir ce noble objectif.
Je pense qu’il faut soutenir la résolution de L’UNESCO [ résolution 37 adoptée en 1999 par  la Conférence générale de cette institution du système des Nations Unies basée à Paris] qui affirme cette reconnaissance de la diversité culturelle de par le monde, cette journée nous encourage à multiplier nos efforts dans le développement de nos langues nationales.
Balde Mamadou Tafsir (BMT): It's an occasion to share joy and satisfaction, to feel integrated in cultural diversity. As a web developer working on African languages and cultures, I consider International Mother Language Day to be a wonderful occasion to further this important objective.
I think we need to support the UNESCO resolution [resolution 37 adopted in 1999 by UNESCO's General Conference of the United Nations System in Paris], which reaffirms recognition of cultural diversity throughout the world. This day encourages us to redouble our efforts in the development of our national languages.
What do you blog about?
BMT: Je blog le plus souvent sur la culture, les langues africaines, tout comme sur les activités socioculturelles.
I blog mainly about African culture and languages, as well as social and cultural activities.
What do you find gratifying about blogging?
BMT: Tout d’abord, ça me rassure que bon nombre de mes lecteurs apprécient mes billets, mais aussi les questions/thèmes que j’aborde sur mes blogs. Ça m’encourage à plus écrire dans ces domaines.
First of all, it's reassuring that a good number of readers appreciate my posts, as well as the questions and themes that I bring up on my blogs. That encourages me to write more on these subjects.
What have you been working on since starting the blog Misiide?
BMT: Quelque mois après sa création, Misiide a lancé une version en arabe du blog pour ses lecteurs utilisant les caractères arabes. Tout récemment,  j’ai enregistré un album de poèmes poular (ou peul) qui sortira bientôt. Actuellement, je travaille sur la traduction des logiciels en peul. J’ai aussi traduit pas mal de livres en poular comme j’ai réalisé un petit lexique (poular-français, français-poular, et poular-arabe). D’autres projets sont en route.
A few months after its creation, Misiide launched an Arabic version for its readers who use the Arabic alphabet. Just recently, I recorded an album of Fula language poems, which will be released soon. I'm currently working on translating software into Fula. I've translated quite a few books into Fula and have also created a little glossary (Fula-French, French-Fula, and Fula-Arabic.) Other projects are on their way.
What kinds of difficulties do you come across?
BMT: Ce sont entre autres les mêmes difficultés que rencontrent nombre de bloggeurs à savoir : Problèmes financiers et techniques, l’entretien du blog… Sauf que nous avons plus de difficultés que celui qui blogue dans une des langues les plus utilisées, qui ont facilement accès au web. En outre quant à nous bloggeurs en langues africaines, le nombre de nos lecteurs est rès limités par rapport aux bloggeurs dans les langues les plus courantes.
For the most part, I encounter the same difficulties as other bloggers, such as financial and technical problems and blog maintenance issues. However, we face more difficulties than bloggers who write in more widely spoken languages and who have easy access to the internet. Plus, African language bloggers have a very limited number of readers compared to bloggers in more common languages.
What do you think about teaching native languages in the school system?
BMT: L’enseignement des langues nationales dans le système scolaire mérite d’être encourager comme stratégie pour une amélioration de la réussite des élèves. Car elle joue un grand rôle dans la formation et l’affirmation de l’identité culturelle des individus, par conséquent leur valeur comme instruments de communication.
D’après les études, notamment celles menées conjointement par l’UNESCO et l’UNICEF, les élèves des pays où la langue maternelle est aussi la langue d’enseignement, surpassent les autres dans la plupart des secteurs d’étude.
Teaching national languages in the school system should be encouraged as a strategy for improving students’ success. It plays an important role in the formation and affirmation of individuals’ cultural identity, and, therefore, has value as a means of communication.
According to research studies, especially those conducted jointly by UNESCO and UNICEF, students who are taught in their native language outperform other students in a majority of subjects.
What are the results of mother tongue education in schools in Guinea?
BMT: La Guinée a mené une expérience originale dans l’enseignement des langues nationales a l’école ; comparativement aux autres pays de la sous région, mais elle a obtenu des résultats critiques et peu déterminants, dont le plus important a été la baisse du niveau des élèves dans les langues d'importance mondiale (arabe, français, anglais).
Compared to other countries in the subregion, Guinea has led an original experiment in teaching national languages at school. But Guinea has seen disappointing and inconclusive results, most importantly a decline in students’ performance in major world languages (Arabic, French, and English).
What caused this failure?
BMT: A mon avis, cet échec est dû au manque de préparation de l’opération, mais aussi au fait que les langues nationales étudiées à l’école étaient trop nombreuses par rapport à un petit pays comme la Guinée. Sans oublier le manque de motivation de parts et d'autres (enseignants, élève et parents d’élèves).
In my opinion, this failure is due to a lack of preparation for the undertaking, but also to the fact that the national languages studied in schools are too numerous for a small country like Guinea. Not to mention the lack of motivation of the various parties (teachers, students, and parents).
At what age do you think mother tongue education should begin?
BMT: Les études nous ont toujours démontré que l’introduction des langues nationales dans l’enseignement permet incontestablement d’obtenir une plus grande scolarisation des enfants de bons résultats scolaires. Cependant, la scolarisation en langues nationales doit absolument commencée dès les premières années de l’école.
Studies have always shown that the introduction of national languages in education unquestionably allows children to perform better in school. However, mother tongue education absolutely must begin in the first years of school.
Do you use your native language every day? In what context?
BMT: Oui !Cela dépend de mes activités journalières, mais étant un étranger dans le pays ou je vie, l’utilisation de ma langue se focalise le plus souvent sur les moyens de communications (téléphone, internet…).
Yes! That depends on my daily activities, but as a foreigner in the country I live in, the use of my native language mainly revolves around means of communication (telephone, internet…).
What do you predict for the future of your language?
BMT: En se basant sur les différents travaux réalisés pour cette langue afin qu’elle soit plus intégrée dans la vie publique en général me rassure que celle-ci sera un jour l’une des langues de science et de technique.
Judging from the various projects undertaken to better integrate this language in public life, I generally feel reassured that one day it will become one of the languages of science and technology.
Anything else you would like to add?
BMT: Je profite de cette occasion pour saluer la résolution de l’UNESCO qui affirme que la reconnaissance et le respect pour la diversité culturelle dans le domaine du langage inspirent une solidarité basée sur la compréhension, la tolérance et le dialogue, et que toute action qui favorise l’utilisation des langues maternelles sert non seulement à encourager la diversité linguistique et l’éducation multilingue. Cette résolution, vise aussi à sensibiliser davantage à la multiplicité des traditions linguistiques et culturelles dans le monde.
Je lance un appel a tous mes amis bloggeurs à travers le monde, à s’associer à cette Journée pour prendre part à cette journée pour bloguer dans les langues nationales parce que nos langues sont  menacées d’extinction.
I'll take this opportunity to acknowledge the UNESCO resolution, which affirms that recognition and respect for cultural diversity in language inspire solidarity based on comprehension, tolerance, and dialogue. This resolution advocates that any action promoting the use of native languages should serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education, but also to increase sensitivity to the multiplicity of linguistic and cultural traditions in the world.
I urge all my blogger friends across the world to take part in this day by blogging in their native languages, because our languages are at risk of extinction.

author: Abdoulaye Bah


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Jamaica Awaits Verdict in Murder Trial of Dancehall Reggae Star Vybz Kartel · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaicans – and dancehall music fans – have been anticipating the long-awaited verdict in the Vybz Kartel murder trial.  Two days ago, blogger Annie Paul posted this Facebook status update:
Massive roadblocks, crowds milling round downtown Kingston in anticipation of #KartelMurderTrial verdict (which may not even be delivered today)
Journalist Emily Crooks, who blogs here, wrote a first-hand account that supported Paul's update:
Its (sic) February 19, 2014.
There is animation and anxiety in the 200 metre space around the Supreme Court on King Street in downtown Kingston. In courtroom number 2, Vybz Kartel sits in the dock with his co-accused as prosecutor Jeremy Taylor prepares to rubbish the closing argument of defence attorney, Tom Tavares Finson who acts for Kartel. The case has been going on since November 20, 2013 – we are nearing the end. The stakes are high. Security is tight as I have never seen it before.
Downtown is on edge. The precise reason is not known to many.
There are whispers that the police had intelligence overnight.
Her post went on to give an account of the day's court proceedings:
Court is about to resume its morning session. The eleven member panel of jurors takes seat in the box. The judge arrives. Jury is again asked to leave. Christian Tavares Finson [the lead attorney's son] wishes to address the court in the absence of the jury. Something weighs heavily on him. In the normal course of a trial, I do not report matters that transpire in the absence of the jury but these matters are later repeated in their presence hence my reporting of Christian’s burden that weighed him down.
He stands and says to the judge – I am very distressed to see the approach the police have taken this morning – extra police personnel who have descend on the building.
Judge – are you privy to intel the police has – is the judge’s almost impatient reply.
Christian – I am not My Lord but this scenario that bothers me – media representatives have identification, lawyers have identification, workers have to provide identification cards but jurors have to disclose that they are jurors to get unto the Supreme Court complex and that is very irregular and dangerous. Additionally, the family of the accused have been prevented from entering the building. There is no indication as to the reason this is so. I do no know that there is any order from this court.
Soon after that, Crooks reported, the members of the jury were called back inside and Kartel's lead attorney, Tom Tavares Finson, again rasied the matter – this time in the presence of the jury:
At the end of the session, the judge calls the superintendent and says ‘I have been made to understand that members of public some related to the family of accused have been denied entry. I don’t know the reason if any. What I will say is that every Jamaican citizen has a right to the court unless security forces have some reason that could interfere with the rule of court. I wish for you to bear that in mind. I can’t give any instructions as I don’t know what your intelligence is. But I ask you to consider the rights of the citizens regarding access to court. I wish for you to bear that in mind’.
Mr Tavares Finson is later to announce to the court that during lunch he had discussions two police personnel – Superintendent Pinnock and Ellis who reported there was ‘a breakdown in communication and I accept what they have said’.
Judge – do you believe if you had gone to them before the matter would have been dealt with
Tom – No My Lord because it was because of what transpired in court why they came to me.
On Twitter, @Pseud_O_Nym said:
Whatever decision is reached today in the #KartelMurderTrial I won't be surprised. Juries are unpredictable.
— Pyotr Alexeyevich (@Pseud_O_Nym) February 19, 2014
As it turned out, the verdict was not delivered on February 19; the nation is still in limbo, but tweeting while they wait.  Late yesterday, @Lacey_World noted:
It is expected that the prosecution will finish their closing argument today. #KartelMurderTrial
— unknown (@Lacey_World) February 20, 2014
Emily Crooks later updated the legal timeline:
Judge in #KartelMurderTrial revised his expected date for matter to be handed to jury. He now says by mid next week
— Emily Crooks (@emilynationwide) February 19, 2014
There were tweets that shared links to Vybz Kartel's full statement to the court…
#LateNightCreep #KartelMurderTrial Vybz Kartel Reads Emotional Statement in Court & Breaks Down Crying http://t.co/RIC4otABrV
— TEAM AKADEMIKS (@TeamAkademiks) February 20, 2014
…and tweets that focused on the strategy of the prosecution:
Prosecutor Jeremy Taylor tells #KartelMurderTrial the letter allegedly sent by the main witness to Public… http://t.co/U9eETVZzmX
— Nationwide90FM (@Nationwideradio) February 20, 2014
Emily Crooks, who has been religiously using social media to inform netizens about trial developments, tweeted the following updates about a half hour ago:
No court tomorrow. A juror has a difficultly. Court resumes on Monday. #KartelMurderTrial
— Emily Crooks (@emilynationwide) February 21, 2014
About ten minutes later, she posted the first closing speech of the trial on her blog, explaining:
These are my verbatim notes, as I able to capture, of the closing speech of Kartel’s attorney, Tom Tavares Finson. Kartel having called witnesses to give evidence on his behalf is the first to make a closing address to the jury. The address of the legal team for Kartel is followed by the address of the prosecutor, Jeremy Taylor.
Closing arguments will continue on Monday and if the judge is right, by mid-week Jamaicans will know whether or not their self-appointed #WorldBoss has been declared innocent or guilty.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Kyrgyz MPs Explain Themselves Over a Prayer Room in Parliament · Global Voices
Mahina Shodizoda

The recent opening of an Islamic prayer room in the Kyrgyz parliament has triggered a heated online debate about the boundaries between the state and religion in the Central Asian country. Responding to criticisms, MPs designed and circulated among journalists and bloggers a six-page document suggesting that prayer houses in parliament or government buildings were common across countries.
Kloop.kg provides [tj] the full text of the document, claiming that it is the “first time” that the country's parliamentarians make such an effort to explain themselves publicly.

author: Mahina Shodizoda


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Mayoral Elections in Quito, Ecuador: President Correa on the Campaign Trail  · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

On November 20th, 2013, the ruling PAIS Alliance party registered the names of its candidates for the 2014 local elections. Photo: Micaela Ayala V./Andes on Flickr, used under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).
[All links lead to Spanish language pages, except where otherwise noted.]
In the heat of the electoral battle for mayor of Quito, the statements of Ecuador's highest authorities have gotten more attention than those of the candidates themselves.
The electoral process, officially called the 2014 Elections of the Metropolitan District of Quito, will take place this Sunday, February 23. Six candidates remain in the running, including the city's current mayor Augusto Barrera, a member of the governing PAIS Alliance party. The latest polls show that 42% of respondents intend to vote for the candidate Mauricio Rodas, of the opposition party SUMA-Vive, while support for government party candidate Barrera fluctuates between 36 and 39%.
Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa, worried by the possibility that his party's candidate may not be reelected as mayor of Quito, recorded the following message for party members [es]:
The message was also published in written form on Correa's Facebook page and in other media. In the written version of the message, Correa cites social media tags and mentions that the right wing has united to take over the mayor's office in Quito. Correa adds:
San Ignacio decía: “En una fortaleza asediada, toda disidencia es traición. Cualquier diferencia entre nosotros la trataremos al día siguiente de la victoria. Quito debe seguir siendo la capital de la Revolución Ciudadana”.
Saint Ignatius said: “In a besieged citadel, all dissidence is treason.” We will settle any differences between us on the day after the victory. Quito must continue to be the capital of the Citizen Revolution.
The message provoked reactions of both support and opposition on Facebook. For example, user Romel Pardo comments approvingly:
Romel Pardo: Bueno señor presidente pueden ganar alcaldias. Pero el presidente de Ecuador ES y sera Rafael Correa. A correa no le gana nadie hay que cambiar la constitucion para que se quede UNOs 20 años mas el 80% de ecuatorianos LO apoyamos
Well, Mr. President, they [the opposition] might win mayoral elections. But the president of Ecuador IS and will remain Rafael Correa. No one can beat Correa. They should change the constitution so that he can have 20 more years; more than 80% of Ecuadorians support HIM.
Meanwhile, Diego Quimbaila disagrees:
Diego Quimbaila: Sr. Presidente para usted mi voto en las elecciones nacionales todo 35, pero para alcalde de Quito ya no Barrera hay cosas buenas pero son más los desaciertos, no caminamos a ningún lado hay caos en esta hermosa ciudad no podemos seguir en esto…
Mr. President, you have my vote in the national elections for your “Todo 35″ plan, but we no longer want Barrera for mayor of Quito. There are some good things, but the mistakes outnumber them. We're not going anywhere, there's chaos in this beautiful city, we can't continue like this.
User Alberto Gallifa brings up an important point:
Alberto Gallifa: En una verdadera democracia un Presidente de la República no debe hacer proselitismo político en favor de ningún candidato!!!!! Eso debería estar penado por la misma Constitución y por el Instituto encargado de regular y avalar las contiendas políticas, mientras eso no suceda Ecuador no tendrá la verdadera Revolución Ciudadana que tanto pregona RC y su país jamás será verdaderamente libre y democrático……
In a true democracy, a President of the Republic must not campaign in favor of any candidate!!!!! This should be punishable by the Constitution itself and by the Institute responsible for regulating and managing electoral contests. Until this happens, Ecuador will not have the true Citizen Revolution that Rafael Correa claims to support, and his country will never be truly free and democratic…
This isn't the only message that President Correa has sent. He sent another on February 12, this time addressing all citizens of Quito, where he reviews the projects and successes of Mayor Barrera and stresses that the right wing wants to boycott the Revolution:
A los votantes de Quito, con el cariño y compromiso de siempre… http://t.co/odllRirt4d Rafael.
— Rafael Correa (@MashiRafael) February 13, 2014
To the voters of Quito, with caring and commitment, as always…
In this case, however, an internet user put forward a response. Paola tweeted:
@MashiRafael Nuestra respuesta a Rafael Correa… pic.twitter.com/mT1ROWe8hA
— ..Paola.. (@gorgonna) February 13, 2014
Our response to Rafael Correa…
Among other comments, Paola notes that Correa only writes to the Ecuadorian people during election time and when he wants something. She also asks how losing a mayoral election could destabilize the government. Paola adds:
Trato de entender por qué es un “DEBER A CUMPLIR” votar por alguien en particular? […] Por qué debo sacrificar mi bienestar y el de mi familia por el bien del color de un partido, de un ego y absolutamente nada más? […] Lo siento Presidente, yo voto por quien yo quiera.
I'm trying to understand how it can be a “DUTY TO FULFILL” to vote for someone in particular? […] Why should I sacrifice my well-being and that of my family for the good of a party flag, an ego, and absolutely nothing more? […] I'm sorry, President, but I'm voting for whomever I want.
Other public officials, like Héctor Rodríguez, General Manager of the public company YACHAY, also felt the obligation to tell the citizens of Quito his reasons to vote for Mayor Barrera. In a message tweeted from the account @hrodriguez_, Rodriguez stresses the importance of the public spaces reclaimed by Barrera, and states: “It's not fair that a couple of greedy obsolete neoliberals want to take away our opportunity to continue doing great public work.”
Mi posición personal y como militante de @juventudpais_35 del por qué votar por @AugustoAlcalde @compaiRENE pic.twitter.com/cGCQWr42To
— Héctor Rodriguez (@hrodriguez_) February 18, 2014
My personal position as a member of Juventudes Alianza PAIS: why I'm voting for Augusto [Barrera] for mayor.
In recent statements, President Correa declared that if the PAIS Alliance loses the mayoral election in Quito, then “we will begin to see results like those in Venezuela, where Nicolás Maduro faces opposition from Caracas itself every day.” Economist Alfredo Velazco reacts to this on Twitter, saying:
Amenazan con q #Ecuador se convertirá en #Venezuela si pierden #Alcaldía #Quito – amenazará también q se convertirá en Maduro? Estas #EleccionesEC estarán marcadas en amenazas más que en ofertas de campaña.
They're threatening that Ecuador will turn into Venezuela if they lose the Quito mayoral election – will [Correa] also threaten that he will turn into Maduro [en]? These elections will be marked by threats more than campaign promises.
On February 14, a televised debate took place between the two candidates with the best chances of winning: current mayor Augusto Barrera and opposition candidate Mauricio Rodas. On February 19 another debate took place, this time between five of the six candidates (Mauricio Rodas was absent). Twitter user Vero Salvador summarizes the impression shared by many viewers after the latest debate:
Que vergüenza de debate!.ideas tan pobres, ironías repetitivas,burlas cansonas.Como se dice en #quito #platabotada con estos candidatos
— Vero Salvador (@vero_salvador) February 20, 2014
What an embarrassment of a debate! Lame ideas, repetitive irony, tiresome jokes. Like they say in Quito, we are wasting money with these candidates.
A final controversial issue is that President Correa will air his usual television program, or sabatina, on Saturday the 22, the day before the elections. This would violate the fifth subsection of Article 207 of Ecuador's Democratic Code or Organic Electoral Law. In response to this issue, a resigned Domingo Paredes, President of the National Electoral Council (CNE), declared:
Domingo Paredes: ‘En campaña es preferible que Correa esté en un mitin que en la sabatina’ » http://t.co/jbrD5tF1Le – pic.twitter.com/U7Q0vu37IF
— ElComerciodeEcuador (@elcomerciocom) February 18, 2014
During the campaign, it would be preferable for Correa to be at a rally than at the sabatina. [Photo reads: Sometimes Correa surpasses the electoral authority” Domingo Paredes, President of the National Electoral Council.
More information about the progress of these upcoming local elections – which will be carried out at a national level, not just in Quito – can be found online at Elecciones 2014 Ecuador, on Twitter under the tag #EleccionesEC, and in the special features of newspapers El Comercio and La Hora.
Finally, we leave you with a satirical music video that pokes fun at one of the government party's campaign mottos, “Todo todito 35,” linking it with criticism of various government policies.


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Photos from The Fashion Pakistan Week   · Global Voices
Rezwan

Fashion blogger Amara Javed  posts photos from the ongoing Fashion Pakistan Week in Karachi showcasing the Summer 2014 collections by many Lahore designers.