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Senegal: Book for Africa Partnership · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Peace Corps/Senegal is partnering with Books for Africa to bring textbooks and reading materials to schools and community libraries throughout the country. Volunteers in about 35 communities are working with teachers and village leaders to open libraries and reading spaces…”


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St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Dear Heart  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Abeni writes a letter to her heart on Valentine's Day.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Tajikistan: Dead insurgent lives forever online · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Nathan Hamm writes that one of the most notorious Tajik opposition commanders Ali Bedaki, who was reportedly killed in combat operations, as been noticed on a YouTube video that shows him being interrogated in the back of a vehicle. The Tajikistan government claims the video is a fake, but the insurgent's former comrade says it is not.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Tajikistan: Opposition Member Severely Beaten  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Christya Riedel reports that Hikmatullo Saifullozoda, a 60 year old editor of the opposition newspaper Najot and a prominent member of the Tajikistan opposition, was brutally beaten by unidentified perpetrators near his home in the capital city Dushanbe.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Literary Awards · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“It’s shortlist time — for at least a couple of literary awards”: Antilles has the details.


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Turkmenistan: Fake concert as a sign of longing for more freedom · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

A fake Hip Hop concert announcement on the Internet reveals something about the character of Turkmenistan’s young generation, and the complexity of hope, fantasy, and reality, reports neweurasia’s Annasoltan.


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Uganda: Press Freedom Diminishing as Elections Near · Global Voices
Mark Jordahl

This post is part of our special coverage Uganda: Walk to Work Protests.
Uganda walks a fine line when it comes to press freedom. At times, it is amazing the things that journalists are allowed to write or broadcast in criticism of the government. Then, suddenly, someone will cross that fine line and find himself or herself in jail, or worse. Many see a steady decline in press freedom in Uganda, particularly with the 2011 elections approaching.
International Freedom of Expression Exchange  (IFEX) reported on two journalists beaten while covering a campaign rally in Lira in January:
Lira, 22/Jan/2011 – Michael Kakumirizi, a “Red Pepper” publications photojournalist, was mobbed by suspected supporters of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party while covering an opposition presidential candidate's campaign rally in the Lango sub-region.
Francis Tumwekwasize, a former WBS TV journalist now affiliated with the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC) Press Unit, was also beaten. The IPC is a coalition of opposition political parties that nominated retired Colonel Dr. Kiiza Besigye as their candidate for the Ugandan presidency.
The journalists were roughed up by the suspected NRM supporters, who accused them of taking their pictures while they were allegedly bribing voters at the Aloi Police Post, in the newly created Alebeatong district, in an attempt to keep residents away from Dr. Kizza Besigye's 19 January rally in the area. When a camera flash went off, the NRM supporters realised that there were journalists among a group of residents they had called to the Aloi Police Post to receive money.
In a more recent release, Human Rights Watch  and IFEX draw attention to 16 activists and journalists who have been arrested and harassed  for spreading a petition asking the 330 Members of Parliament to return questionable payments of up to 20 million Ugandan shillings (about $9,000) they have received in the last two weeks from the ruling party to “monitor government programs.” Widely seen as a bribe, the money was released at a time when the Ugandan government has already spent 85% of its budget halfway through the fiscal year. About a quarter of the national budget was disbursed in January alone, the month before the elections.
Human Rights Network for Journalists  (HRNJ-Uganda) published a statement from the Pakistan Press Foundation condemning an attack by Special Force Guards on a television correspondent who filmed an altercation at a campaign venue:
Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), an independent non-governmental institution committed to promoting and defending freedom of expression, is concerned about the detention of Masaka based NTV Uganda correspondent Issa Aliga by the Special Forces Group (the bigger presidential protection unit SFG) for filming a scuffle involving Rwemiyaga area Member of Parliament Theodore Ssekikubo ahead of President Museveni’s campaign rally.
…While filming he was roughed up and man-handled by four Special Force Guards personnel who confiscated his camera. He was pushed here and there on accusation of filming an event without permission. He was taken to their bus and interrogated for some minutes. After interrogation, he was released and his pleas to get his camera back fail on deaf ears. He was then ordered to go through the usual security checks and attend a campaign rally like any other voters. His mobile phone was also switched off.
The Committee to Protect Journalists highlighted two incidents, in August and November of 2010, involving radio reporters being detained and harassed by the police:
On November 3, 2010, four armed men kidnapped Nzito, a 23-year old Radio Simba reporter who covered crime and occasionally opposition parties, and threw him into a pickup truck with tinted windows. “I spent 10 days locked in a dark room with my hands and legs handcuffed and remained on the floor. I was not given any real meals or food. The army men would come and scare me in the night,” he told CPJ. Assailants using the same truck eventually dumped Nzito outside the capital, Kampala, according to local journalists. His release came a day after HRNJ-Uganda filed a habeas corpus in court compelling the army commander, the attorney general, and the head of a security agency to produce the journalist. HRNJ-Uganda said its investigations determined that the journalist had been in the custody of Uganda's Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force.
Nzito told CPJ he frequently experiences nightmares now. “I have been dreaming about dark rooms, beatings and being held at gunpoint.”
Frank, a reporter with the U.S.-based online station Radio Free Buganda, suffered a similar misfortune in August 2010 after covering the 17th anniversary of the coronation of Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, the ruler of Uganda's most powerful traditional kingdom representing the Baganda, the country's largest ethnic group…
…The government was not happy to hear that Radio Free Buganda was broadcasting the festivities. After the local newspapers Ggwanga and Buganda Post published stories about Frank's live broadcasts, he said he began to receive anonymous phone calls. Then, four men stormed Frank's home who took away his wireless Internet modem and computer. The next day, men Frank believed to be security agents detained him for six hours, seized his mobile phones, and pressed him to reveal whom he worked with and how much was paid. “I am scared for my life because all of my contacts were in my phones and other crucial information.”
It seems that the reductions in freedoms may also ripple out beyond the mainstream media outlets. According to AllVoices, Uganda's Assistant Inspector General of Police, Asan Kasingye, has announced that the police will be monitoring social media such as blogs, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter during the elections:
[Asan Kasingye] said that it is possible that hate messages and inflammatory statements could be exchanged on Facebook and Twitter and so the police are monitoring them to guard against riots.
Kasingye claims that during the 2009 Buganda riots, some social media were used to stir up the population and cause widespread unrest.
Kasingye doesn’t explain the extent of the monitoring or how it will guard against infringement on personal rights of expression and privacy.
This is the first election in which social media has played an important role.
Political parties and candidates used Facebook to fundraise for campaigns and the Internet to raise their profiles locally and internationally.
This increasing harassment of journalists in Uganda has the potential to greatly impact coverage in this election season, and closer monitoring by the police may make it hard for the voices of citizens to be heard through social media. A free press is one of the hallmarks of a healthy democracy, and as that pillar erodes, it will weaken every other aspect of this nation.
This post is part of our special coverage Uganda: Walk to Work Protests.

author: Mark Jordahl


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Venezuela: Remembering a Historic February 14 · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Alejandro Tarre in Caracas Chronicles writes about February 14th 1936: “In my view, February 14th 1936 was the initial spark that marked a process of democratization without precedent in our history. Democracy might not have “flowered” that day, but it did begin to gain ground against an authoritarian inheritance of many centuries.”

author: Silvia Viñas


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Zimbabwe: Zimbabweans celebrate with Egyptians · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Read text messages from Zimbabweans who are celebrating with the Egyptian people for removing a dictator from power.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Africa: Pivot 25: East Africa’s Mobile Competition & Conference · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Pivot 25 is an event bringing together East Africa’s top mobile entrepreneurs and startups to pitch their ideas to an audience of 400-500 people, with a chance of winning monetary prizes and increasing awareness of their work to local and global investors and businesses.


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Azerbaijan: We are all Junkies… · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Jabbar Savalan updates its readers on the case of a youth activist recently arrested in Azerbaijan. In its latest entry, the blog reports that the Dalga Youth Movement have issued a statement concerning the arrest [EN], while in another, it posts a photograph of a protest demonstration held in his support [AZ]. Chanting “we are all junkies,” supporters of Jabbar Savalan believe that charges of drug possession are fabricated and politically motivated in the aftermath of protests in Egypt [EN].

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Bahamas: Dr. Keva Bethel Dies  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Womanish Words pays tribute to the late educator Dr. Keva Bethel: “Bahamian women of my generation can be especially proud of her and grateful to her for a life and career that inspired us to reach for greatness in a man's world.”


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Bahamas: Fire on Bay Street  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Weblog Bahamas‘ Rick Lowe posts photos of yesterday's tragic fire in Nassau, commenting: “What a sad loss of those beautiful old buildings.”


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Bahrain: A Second Day of Protests Continues (Video)  · Global Voices
Yacoub Al-Slaise

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
Continuing with Global Voices’ coverage of the ongoing #Feb14 protests in Bahrain, we have compiled a number of videos covering today's developments.
Many of Bahrain's protesters have turned to YouTube, Bambuser and Facebook to upload videos from the day's events across the capital Manama and neighbouring villages. A number of protester Bambuser accounts have been blocked by the authorities within the country including @Nabeelrajab and @alaali‘s accounts.
The day's events started at Salmaniya Medical Center, Bahrain's largest hospital in Manama, where some thousands of people waited to start the funeral procession for 27 year old Ali Mushaima to bury him in his hometown in Daih. Unfortunately, riot police forces fired tear gas and bird shotgun fire at mourners, later leading to the death of Fadhel Al-Matrook.
@mahmood: #Feb14 #bahrain the moment they fired tear gas at us this morning. Video http://yfrog.com/72wabz
From @alaali's Bambuser account following the procession with mourners chanting religious chants and a number of slogans in support of the fallen martyrs [Ar]
After the 3pm news, national television broadcast the first speech by His Majesty King Hamad after protests began giving his condolences to the families of the killed and ordering an investigative committee headed by Vice Prime Minister Jawad Al-Orrayedh to look into the killings and find those responsible. He also emphasized on the freedom of protest within laws and asked the Parliament to seek the demands of the people and create legislation. He concluded his speech praying to Allah to keep Bahrain safe from harm and find reconciliation.
@Salmaaaaaaaaaan http://youtu.be/a2kfOOATLl8 #Bahrain #Feb14 التسجيل الكامل لكلمة جلالة ملك مملكة البحرين
By the time of the speech hundreds of protesters had gathered in Lulu Roundabout and their numbers continued to of grow throughout the afternoon, with no police presence as protesters continued their peaceful protests.
From aburadwan‘s Bambuser account
From @alaali‘s Bambuser account
Young protesters have added a festive feel to the proceeding by doing a Mexican Wave!
@chanadbh Awesome videos of Lulu Roundabout #Bahrain: http://youtu.be/LK0PPtsH2Rk http://youtu.be/zkl7dn105tQ #feb14 Its like a football match! #Feb14

author: Yacoub Al-Slaise


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Bahrain: A Second Man Killed as Police Attack First Victim’s Funeral · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
Another young man Fadhel Al Matrook has been killed this morning as police attacked a funeral procession for another young man Ali Mushaima killed in yesterday's Day of Wrath protests in Bahrain.
The world watched in horror as tweeps who attended the funeral broadcast their observations on Twitter. The first victim was shot in the back, with gun shot; If that was not enough, his family and friends were not allowed to rest his body in peace. Police attacked the mourners at the government hospital, where they had gone to collect the body, with tear gas, and tweeps report hearing gunshots. Soon enough reports emerge of another man shot dead – yet another fatality of the indiscriminate police brutality, which shoots at protesters at close range as we have all seen from videos shared by netizens yesterday.
Here's a snap shot of reactions:
@BahrainRights: CONFIRMED: Fadhel Ali AlMatrook killed by bird shot used by police this morning at the funeral of the 1st martyr #Feb14 #Bahrain
@HusseinMohdBH: Fadhel Ali Almatrook, hit with birdshotgun at procession has become the second martyr. #feb14 #bahrain #Egypt #Jan5
@HusseinMohdBH: CONFIRMED: Fadhel AlMatrook killed by bird shot used by police this morning at the funeral of the 1st martyr #Feb14 #Bahrain #Egypt #Jan25
@mahmood: Big crowd awaiting the receipt of ali Mushaimi body for burial at mortuary. http://yfrog.com/h7r3rkbj
@mahmood: On the move to the cemetery now. Peaceful. No police yet. http://yfrog.com/gy86009320j
@mahmood: Police sternly to fire into crowd now. Unprovoked. #bahrain
@mahmood: Tear gas everywhere. Unprovoked. Some responses with rocks. Prevented by other demonstrators. Cottage diverted (cont) http://tl.gd/8raik2
@maryamalkhawaja: Fadhel Ali Almatrook, hit with birdshotgun at procession has become the second martyr source: alwefaq #feb14 #bahrain
@mahmood: Sorry where are we supposed to burry the fallen if police tear gas a funeral? Any ideas? #bahrain
@mahmood: I hear more birdshot. The preferred method of killing by the @moi_bahrain People unfettered. #bahrain #feb14
@mahmood: This is horrible. Eyes and lungs sore. People generally dispersing and finding their way to cemetery. Cortège (cont) http://tl.gd/8raq34
@mahmood: People still determined. Continue to stream through street. #bahrain #feb14 http://yfrog.com/h0iiiihj
@mahmood: 100s of cars by road to grave yard. Met Ebrahim sharif #Waad on way. Awaiting funeral. http://yfrog.com/h7437iwqj
@mahmood: On the move to the cemetery now. Peaceful. No police yet. http://yfrog.com/gy86009320j #bahrain #feb14
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Bahrain: Day of Wrath Number Two · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
Bahrain's Day of Wrath protests are continuing for the second day. Two protesters have been killed, reportedly at the hands of police using excessive force.
Here are some of the reactions from Twitter on the day:
@alibinkhalid: “@mkalkhalifa: Impressive BTV … Finally a live feed … welcome to the 21st century” exactly!
@JustAmira: Bahrain TV showing Pearl roundabout protesters LIVE #feb14 http://yfrog.com/h288kwoj
@JustAmira: Now that BTV has shown the Pearl roundabout protests, can they show the videos which horrified us on national TV as well? #Feb14 #Bahrain
@Ali_Fareed: BTV is hosting a live discussion about current protests btw. Some good improvement on their programming #Bahrain #Feb14
@chanadbh: Journalist just mentioned protests in Bahrain in a question to Pres Obama in press conf! #Feb14
@iLandBahrain: MOI spokesman on #Bahrain TV says two deaths r accidents to be investigated. Actually he sounded more reasonable than the other BTV guests
@YousefMunayyer: #Bahrain TV panel: Sure the people have concerns, but the legitimacy of the regime can not be one of them. #feb14
@monaeltahawy: We're following 4 uprisings at once: keep an eye on hashtags! #Algeria #Bahrain also #Feb14 #Yemen #Iran also #25Bahman
@MZ5aaan: A Bird View of Pearl Round about Protest #Bahrain #feb14 http://twitpic.com/404m09
@emile_hokayem: Went on tour of Manama Sanabis Budeiya etc. Massive n aggressive-looking police deployments. Police shd be abt reassurance not intimidation
@ian_black: WikiLeaks cables show no evidence of Iran's hand in Bahrain unrest http://gu.com/p/2n5nh/tf
@bintbattuta: I hope this means that no one asks me where #Bahrain is again. #feb14
@nezarradhi: #Bahrain is trending on Twitter Canada!
@mohdalwardi: #Bahrain #Feb14 بدون تعليق! | No Comment! http://plixi.com/p/77618454
@reemkhalifa17: Pearl sq became Bahrain Tahrir sq.Bahrain started a revolution and now they set up tents,etc.Bahraini will sleep in th sq #Bahrain #Feb14
@angryarabiya: They've brought matresses for the protesters #bahrain #feb14
@SayedMohDarwish: Going to Lulu roundabout — having dinner with my wife #Bahrain #Feb14
@maryamalkhawaja: Just finished interview with #aljazeera and #channel4 london. Ppl are giving out food, setting up tents, and cleaning #lulu #feb14 #bahrain
@Yousef_Slais: The Demands are not Clear, Please Clear them for All if You Want More To Join #feb14 #bahrain #luluroundabout
@SaraMahmood8: Ebrahim shareef in his speech:”we should all be united under similar chants and demands” #lulu #bahrain #feb14
@RamiJamal: Those who want to and demand a general strike I request you to use common sense. #Bahrain #Feb14 #LuluRoundabout
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.


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Bahrain: The second martyr falls · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Saudi Twitter user @Al Ahlawy29 posts a series of photos (WARNING: graphic images) showing the second protester to die in Bahrain, prefaced with the text (ar): “And the second martyr falls. The martyr is Fadhel Salman Al Matrook, 32 years old. He was martyred while taking part in the funeral of [first] martyr Ali Abdul Hadi Mushaima, near the Salmaniya Medical Complex, after he was shot by a bird shot gun at close range.” The images were taken from Al Wattani, an online forum that is blocked in Bahrain.

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Bangladesh: Dhaka On Valentine’s Day · Global Voices
Rezwan

Photo blogger Monirul Alam captures some moments of love during this year's valentine's day celebrations in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

author: Rezwan


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Bangladesh: Widespread Protests Force Government To Back Down On Airport Project · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

This is the second of the two part series on the debate in Bangla blogosphere over the protests against the proposed international airport at Arial Beel, a low-lying vast wetland in the middle of Bangladesh. Read the first one here.
In August 2010, the government of Bangladesh endorsed an ambitious infrastructure project, namely the construction of a new, modern, world-class International airport. In the first part we highlighted netizens’ arguments on the need to protect the Arial Beel – the proposed site of the airport, which is a critical ecosystem that sustains Biodiversity & livelihoods.
In this post we examine other arguments – both for and against the proposed project.
Aerial view of Arial Beel. Image courtesy www.move4world.com. Click on the image for more pictures.
Debating the need for a new airport
A section of bloggers OPPOSING the takeover of the Arial Beel for the proposed airport project were found to be questioning the very need for a new airport. According to them, the current airports themselves were not being used to their full potential so why plan another one in the first place? Some of them suggested that instead, the current airports could be upgraded with better infrastructure and facilities so that they could handle the additional projected load and traffic.
Blogger Sochol Zahid writes on his blog[bn]:
আপাতদৃষ্টিতে এই প্রকল্পকে বাংলাদেশের বর্তমান প্রেক্ষাপটে একটি   উচ্চাভিলাসী প্রকল্প বলেই আমি অভিমত প্রদান করব। যেখানে ঢাকার শাহজালাল   আন্তর্জাতিক বিমানবন্দরকেই বৈশ্বিক প্রেক্ষাপটে আরো বেশি উন্নীতকরণ করা   উচিৎ বা বাংলাদেশ বিমানকে একটি শক্তিশালী বেসামরিক বিমান সংস্থায় পরিনত করা   অধিক জরুরী সেখানে নতুন একটি আন্তর্জাতিক বিমানবন্দর বেসামরিক বিমান খাতে   বাংলাদেশকে কোন সমৃদ্ধি বয়ে আনবে তা যথেষ্ট আলোচনার দাবী রাখে।
Blogger Dinmojur at Somewherein, echoes his sentiments. According to Dinmojur[bn]:
বাস্তবতা হলো শাহজালাল আন্তর্জাতিক বিমান বন্দরের ক্ষমতাই অবব্যবহৃত রয়ে গিয়েছে। তাছাড়া ঢাকার শাহজালাল বিমানবন্দর ছাড়াও আরো ২ টি আন্তর্জাতিক বিমানবন্দর রয়েছে : শাহ আমানত আন্তর্জাতিক বিমানবন্দর, চট্টগ্রাম ও ওসমানি আন্তর্জাতিক বিমানবন্দর, সিলেট। অভ্যন্তরীণ রুটে চলাচলের জন্য সৈয়দপুর, রাজশাহী, যশোর, বরিশাল এবং কক্সবাজারে মোট ৫টি বিমানবন্দর রয়েছে। এই বিমানবন্দরগুলোকে আপগ্রেড না করে এবং শাহজালাল আন্তর্জাতিক বিমানবন্দরের পুরো ক্ষমতা ব্যবহার না করে ৫০ হাজার কোটি টাকা খরচ করে সম্পূর্ণ নতুন একটি বিমানবন্দর তৈরী করতে যাওয়ার যুক্তি হাস্যকর।
Google Earth View of Shahjalal Airport (former Zia International Airport). Image Courtesy Dinmojur Blog
Various Arial Beel related protest groups on Facebook have been discussing the same issue. One such group ‘Save the Arial Beel’ writes:
Do we really need another International airport while three of our existing international airport are still underutilized?…People are very much confused whether another international airport is absolutely necessary or not at this moment while only 25% of the Shahjalal Int'l Airport is learned to be used. The government should clear this confusion with strong justification of a new airport.
On the other hand, those SUPPORTING the project felt that the agricultural and piscicultural yields were being exaggerated by the protesters. Furthermore, the project's supporters echoed the Urban Development Minister that  while those who had legal land rights were open to the project, it was essentially the illegal encroachers and squatters on the Beel lands who feared loss of livelihoods as they were not legally entitled to get compensation. The supporters felt that the Beel was anyway getting filled and encroached upon in an unplanned manner so why not take it over for the proposed project?
The aspirations of those in favor of the airport project at the given location have been summed up neatly by blogger Sayem Dohar at Sonar Bangladesh Blog. Sayem is of the opinion that [bn]
যারা এর বিরোধিতা করছেন, তারা উন্নয়নকে ভয় পান…বিমানবন্দর হলে ঢাকার দোহার, নবাবগঞ্জ ও মুন্সীগঞ্জের শ্রীনগরে উন্নয়নের জোয়ার বয়ে যাবে। এ বিমানবন্দর নির্মাণে আন্তর্জাতিক উন্নয়ন নীতিমালা অনুযায়ী পদ্মা সেতু নির্মাণে ক্ষতিগ্রস্তদের সমান ক্ষতিপূরণ দেওয়া হবে, যা হবে ক্ষতির কয়েক গুণ বেশি।
সরকারের স্পষ্ট নীতি হচ্ছে, কারো বসতভিটা কিংবা বাড়ি অধিগ্রহণ করে কোনো স্থাপনা নয়। ক্ষতিপূরণ ছাড়া কারও জমি অধিগ্রহণ করা হবে না। দোহার, নবাবগঞ্জ ও শ্রীনগরের ২৫ হাজার একর জমির মধ্যে বঙ্গবন্ধু আন্তর্জাতিক বিমানবন্দর ও বঙ্গবন্ধু সিটি গড়ে তোলা হবে। কী না থাকবে সেখানে! এর মধ্যে ১০ হাজার একর জমির ওপর নির্মিত হবে বিমানবন্দর। বাকি জায়গায় আইটি ভিলেজ, শিল্পনগরী গড়ে তোলা হবে। আকাশপথে যোগাযোগ বিস্তৃত হবে। উন্নয়ন কর্মকাণ্ডের জন্য হাজার হাজার কোটি টাকা খরচ হবে। বিপুলসংখ্যক মানুষ এতে কাজের সুযোগ পাবে। বেকার যুবক, খেটে খাওয়া মানুষের জন্য কাজের দুয়ার উন্মোচিত হবে।
বিমানবন্দর ও শহর ঘিরে আধুনিক জীবন-প্রণালীর সবকিছুই তৈরি হবে এ জায়গায়। পরিকল্পনা বাস্তবায়ন হলে অবিশ্বাস্য উন্নয়ন কর্মকাণ্ডে বিমুগ্ধ হয়ে যাবে এলাকার মানুষ। এ অঞ্চলের সঙ্গে সড়ক যোগাযোগ যেমন বাড়বে, তেমনি রেল যোগাযোগেরও ব্যাপক উন্নতি হবে। রাজধানীর ওপর থেকে যানজট আর আবাসনের চাপ কমে যাবে ব্যাপক মাত্রায়। উন্নয়ন কর্মকান্ডে যে পরিমাণ মাটি ভরাট করার প্রয়োজন হবে, তাতেও কয়েক হাজার কোটি টাকা খরচ হবে। এখানেও কাজ পাবে হাজার হাজার মানুষ। বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় প্রতিষ্ঠা করা হবে, আন্তর্জাতিক মানের হাসপাতাল প্রতিষ্ঠা হবে। আধুনিক প্রযুক্তির সব ধরনের সুযোগ-সুবিধা নিশ্চিত করা হবে। ইপিজেড, ট্রেড সেন্টার, পর্যটন স্পটের উন্নয়ন ও অন্যান্য শিল্পের বিকাশ সাধিত হবে।
Those who are opposing it, they are afraid of development. If the airport project gets started then there will be a strong tide of development and upliftment in the areas of Dohar, Nababganj and Srinagar in Munshiganj. According to the International Development regulations, the people losing their land because of the project will be compensated at a rate much higher than their losses.
The government's clear principles are that no people shall be displaced or their land taken over without adequate compensation. In this region the Bangabandhu International airport and satellite city will come up. Imagine, what will it not have? Out of this the airport will be on 10,000acres of land. On the rest, there will be an IT hub, industrial township, etc. Air travel will be easier. For these developmental works billions of Takas will be spent. A huge number of people will get employment. The gates of opportunities will open up for the hardworking, unemployed youth.
Everything that is needed for a modern lifestyle will be available in the region. Once the project is realised, the local people will be amazed at the positive changes and leaps in development of the area. There will be better connectivity – better roads, better railway connections. The population and traffic pressures on the capital city of Dhaka will reduce substantially. Billions of Taka will also be spent on the landfill of the Arial Beel, Here too thousands of people will get employment. Universities will set up, hospitals of International standards will open here. All conveniences of modern technology and way of life will automatically follow. Other industries such as trade and tourism etc., will also blssom here.
However, on 4th February 2011, the Prime minister announced that the government would heed the people's demands to relocate the project and thus there would be no airport on the Arial Beel. Speaking at a press conference, Sheikh Hasina said that ‘her government decided not to construct the proposed aviation facility at suburban Arial Beel of Munshiganj against the backdrop of opposition's demand and spilt of opinions among the residents in the area’.
So the Arial Beel gets a fresh lease of life. As of now.

author: Aparna Ray


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Brazil: Journalist’s dismissal causes outrage · Global Voices
Thiana Biondo

Journalist Aguirre Peixoto's dismissal from the Brazilian newspaper A Tarde caused outrage among bloggers and journalists [pt]: Peixoto's reports on the environmental damage caused by a new development to the city of Salvador allegedly put an end to the contractors’ advertising in the broadsheet. After applying 30-days suspension on Peixoto, the newspaper will readmit him.

author: Thiana Biondo


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Brunei: Rare coins · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Tiger Lim from Brunei uploads some rare coins which were used in Brunei and Malaysia in the 1920s and 1930s

author: Mong Palatino


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China and Mongolia: Goliath and David? · Global Voices
Andy Yee

At East Asia Forum, Justin Li discussed the Sinophobia in Mongolia caused by high dependence on China for trade and investment. In another article on the Forum, Julian Dierkes questioned Li's claims, and highlighted that significant shift in Mongolia's ‘third neighbour’ policy is possible. In a separate but related article in Asia Pacific Memo, Dierkes discussed how changes in Mongolia's political party landscape will affect populist tendencies and public discussion on national policies in Mongolia.

author: Andy Yee


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China: Apple’s new supplier responsibility report · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Samuel Wade from China Digital Times brings the readers’ attention to Apple company's new supplier responsibility report. The company pledges greater cooperation with Chinese NGOs in the future in the monitoring of labour condition.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Lhasa People Are “Happiest”? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

High Peaks Pure Earth translated Tibetan blogger Woser's article in response to the latest CCTV's survey that found Lhasa be the “2010 City With the Happiest People”.


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China: The limits of Chinese censorship · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Michael and Eric discuss China’s censorship policies in both the new and traditional media sectors in the latest episode of China Talking points podcast. Text introduction is here.


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Ecuador: Judge orders Chevron to pay $8.6 billion fine · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

“The eighteen-year lawsuit against Chevron came to a climax when a judge ruled that Texaco (now owned by Chevron) was liable environmental damages in the Ecuadorian rainforest. The court decreed that the oil company pay a reported $8.6 billion fine and apologize publicly or risk doubling the damages figure,” reports Erwin in The Latinamericanist.


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Egypt: The Guy Behind Omar Suleiman · Global Voices
Tarek Amr

This post is part of our special coverage of Egypt Protests 2011.
During the past weeks, places like Tahrir Square, Suez and KFC, and names like Wael Ghonim, Omar Suleiman and Hosni Mubarak have grabbed the attention of the world. But just hours after the Egyptian people toppled their regime, the focus had switched to a single person – the ‘guy behind Omar Suleiman':
Omar Suleiman, and the guy behind Omar Suleiman. Still from Egyptian television, widely available in public domain.
The mysterious individual appeared behind the Egyptian vice-president during his speeches throughout the unrest. No-one knew his name, nor what he does, but it did not prevented people from creating a Facebook page for him under, ‘The Guy Behind Omar Suleiman‘.
The buzz surrounding the man did not stop at the Facebook page, which had more than 40,000 fans before it later got deleted; there is also a song on YouTube [Ar], a mock press conference by president Obama [Ar], a Twitter account and hashtag dedicated to him. Here are some of the funniest tweets:
Twitter user Malak El Ezzawy decided to mock Egyptian state television's lies and state of denial that lasted throughout the revolution.
There are also fake accounts on Twitter for the top figureheads of the toppled regime, including Hosni Mobarak and Habib El Adly, and sure enough they participated in the #TheGuyBehindOmarSuleiman phenomenon.
An internet meme was also made; here is a sample of the pictures collected in the BehindOmar TwitPic account:
The movie 'Inception' all over again… Image from TwitPic account BehindOmarSuleiman.
What if Omar Suleiman and the man behind Omar Suleiman switched position?
The camera man was just checking the white balance… Image from TwitPic account BehindOmarSuleiman.
Mock Egyptian cabinet meeting held in front of a picture of the 'man behind Omar Suleiman'. The news feed at the bottom says "Huge demonstration held at Tahrir Square to discover the identity of the man behind Omar Suleiman". Image from TwitPic account BehindOmarSuleiman.
Finally, the man was identified as Egyptian army lieutenant Colonel Hussein Sharif. Many people believe now that it is not appropriate to make fun of him any more however, so the previously mentioned Facebook page has been deleted.
A new one has since been created, asking people to apologise to him after making him the unwilling focus of so many jokes.
This post is part of our special coverage of Egypt Protests 2011.

author: Tarek Amr


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Eritrea: Capital Eritrea News site · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

capitaleritrea news is an online news platform covering the latest from Eritrea. The site is managed by volunteer editors and authors.


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Eritrea: Invest in Eritrea blog · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Invest in Eritrea is a blog about business and investment activities in Eritrea.


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Ethiopia: Bringing down Ethiopia’s Mubarak · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Tedla Asfaw says that Egyptians have taught Ethiopians a lesson: “We have twenty years of Western financed tyranny run by Meles Zenawi and Ethiopians who match in number with Egyptians but far behind in their developmental stage by any measurement can topple Ethiopia's Mubarak, Meles Zenawi in short order. The time we spent  lobbying  on Western streets and embassies have brought us only contempt.”


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Gabon: Leaderless Opposition? · Global Voices
Julie Owono

This post is part of our special coverage of Gabon Unrest 2011.
Gabon is entering its third week of political tension, as its two governments – official and unofficial – both claim the presidency. But as developments continue in this small West African nation, critics denounce a lack of leadership in the burgeoning opposition movement.
Ongoing Repressions
Ida Reteno Assonouet, Minister of Justice of the official Gabonese Government announced in a press release on 12 February, 2011, that a warrant had been issued [fr] for the arrest of opposition leader André Mba Obame, self-proclaimed ‘unofficial’ President of Gabon and the government he has formed.
The same Minister announced that sympathisers who were demonstrating in front of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) building where the opposition government are in hiding, would also be arrested.
In addition, Camarade on Le Post Blog [fr] posted an article regarding students demonstrations at University Omar Bongo, explaining that police are arresting protestors within the campus, in a bid to stifle the movement that started there on Thursday 10 February, 2011.
Student wounded at the University Omar Bongo in Gabonese capital Libreville. Image by Camarade on Le Post.
Among the repressive measures being taken by the official regime, one caused particular discussion among users of the Twitter microblogging network: satirical African online newspaper Le Gri-Gri International has reported [fr] that Guy-Blaise Nambo-Wezet, Gabonese Ambassador to Switzerland, was recalled to Libreville:
Guy-Blaise Nambo-Wezet, ambassadeur du Gabon en Suisse qui a été convoqué par les services de renseignements de l’armée, le tristement célèbre B2
B2, the second bureau of the army intelligence services, has a reputation for questioning and torture. Le Gri-Gri continues:
l’intéressé est le frère cadet du Professeur Joseph John-Nambo, Ministre de l’Intérieur dans le gouvernement légitime du Président Mba Obame
This connection to the ‘unofficial’ opposition government, led Le Gri-Gri to question the political motivation behind this move:
contre tous les usages diplomatiques, un ambassadeur est rappelé, non pas par son ministre de tutelle, « pour consultation », mais par un service de l’armée pour y être entendu comme un vulgaire délinquant.
Meanwhile at the UNDP building in Libreville, Mba Obame and his ‘ministers’ continue to work in forced asylum, as this Le Gri-Gri International photo story [fr] shows:
Michel Ongoundou Loundah, 'unofficial' Gabonese Minister of Defense and Joseph John-Nambo, 'unofficial' Minister of Interior. Image from Le Gri-Gri International.
Gabonese Diaspora in Action
To help understand the struggle against Ali Bongo's regime, three leaders of the international Gabonese diaspora agreed to be interviewed on the issue, and their own reflections on the current crisis.
Gloria Mika is an activist and founder of the citizen watch initiative Les anges gardiens du Gabon [fr] (Gabon's Guardian Angels for Transparency); Jean-Aimée Mouketou, is a Geography professor in Versailles, France and fellow professor in New-Scotland, Canada, who represents DIAGAU (Diaspora Gabonaise Unie – United Gabonese Diaspora) in France; Joël Mbiamany N'tchoreret is a professor in educational psychology in Canada and blogger, who is involved in Gabonese political groups abroad.
Referring to demonstrations organised by Gabonese citizens living in France, Gloria Mika says:
Les gabonnais de l’étranger n’ont pas manqué d’exprimer leur intérêt, en France et aux USA principalement.
Gabonese demonstrating in Paris on 11 February, 2011, in support of the Egyptian protests. Image by Gloria Mika on Facebook.
For Joël Mbiamany N'tchoreret, mobilisation is a little more difficult in Canada:
Jusqu’à maintenant, il n’y a pas encore eu des actions concrètes directes sur le terrain. Il faut dire que la population gabonaise au Canada est composée majoritairement d’étudiants (80%). La plupart sont des enfants du système comme on dit.
Beyond the political crisis, there appears a profound division between the political elite and the people who are organising to demonstrate. All of the interviewees agree that Ali Bongo won the 2009 presidential election fraudulently, and they all agree on the point that the opposition movement needs a leader.
For Jean-Aimée Mouketou the problem lies in the credibility of those opponents pretending to bring about change:
Au sortir des élections présidentielles d’Août 2009, le peuple gabonais est allé voter massivement pour l’opposition gabonaise et au sortir de cette même élection le même peuple gabonais est sorti massivement pour protéger/revendiquer cette élection, malheureusement, ce même peuple a été encore une fois roulé par ces opposants que moi je qualifie de pseudos opposants
Nevertheless Mouketou admits that André Mba Obame's political act is “courageous”.
Mika insists that:
Nous avons la chance d’avoir un mouvement historique, en référence à ce qui s’est passé en Tunisie, On espère aujourd’hui trouver l’élement qui sera un déclic
For Joël Mbiamany, the movement must go beyond mere political figures:
Nous travaillons fortement pour que cette révolte se situe au-delà des leaders et des partis politiques.
One thing is sure for Jean-Aimé Mouketou, the proceedings in Gabon do not have an ethnic aspect:
Ce qui se passe actuellement au Gabon ce n,’est pas une affaire ethnique, mais un problème d’homme politique.
This post is part of our special coverage of Gabon Unrest 2011.

author: Julie Owono


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Kenya: Sing for Kenya on February 28 · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A group of Kenyans of diverse interests, political affiliations,tribes, religions and economic backgrounds have agreed to come together on February 28th 2011 and take a few minutes at exactly 1pm (East African Time) to sing the three verses of the National Anthem.


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Latin America: Conversations About OCD Iberoamérica  · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Juan Arellano spoke to Soraya Sacaan [es] and Juan José Retamal [es] of OCD Iberoamérica [es], a Chilean initiative whose mission is to “contribute to knowledge of digital communications in the private sector, academia and government to promote and understand its scope and application in society.” Juan added both videos to a post about OCD for Periodismo Ciudadano [es].


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Macedonia: Violent Inter-Ethnic Incident on Skopje Fortress · Global Voices
Filip Stojanovski

On Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, the police failed to effectively separate an ethnic Macedonian and an ethnic Albanian mobs and prevent them from clashing around the old Skopje Fortress. The two large groups of mostly young men had come there to protest for and against the construction of a church-like building, which the government claims should become a museum. Some of the results include six injured civilians and two injured policemen, and alarmingly high levels of general fear and hate speech on-line.
The incident was the culmination of a chain of events of the last two weeks. On Jan. 31, some media revealed that the government had started building “an object” within the medieval Skopje Fortress, called Kale (a Turkish word for “fort”). This caused an uproar among ethnic Albanian politicians, including coalition partners in the government from the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI). DUI demanded [MKD] cessation of the construction of any “religious object” that did not reflect the overall heritage of the area.
Pasko Kuzman, archeologist and head of the Culture Ministry's Department for Protection of Cultural and Historical Heritage, appointed by the ethnic Macedonian VMRO-DPMNE, a senior coalition partner, claimed that the works would pause [MKD] until all the misunderstandings have been resolved. In statements relayed by the media he claimed that the building would not serve as a church [MKD], but would house artifacts found on the site.
However, reports that workers were being brought in to continue the work during the night caused “a group of ethnic Albanian citizens led by high officials of DUI” (formulation [MKD] by the Dnevnik daily), including the mayor of nearby Čair, the minister of health and the deputy minister of internal affairs, to storm the construction site during the night of Feb. 10, chase the workers away and do some damage to the walls. Some of the high officials later claimed they had come to the site not as participants, but to calm the population.
On Saturday, blogger Neutralec warned [MKD] that the ongoing call for ethnic Macedonians to go to the fortress to “assess the damage” and/or “defend the church” (which, he reminded, was not a church, according to the government) on Sunday, could only lead to further manipulation:
Do not make war for the interest of others, someone will gain political points even from this!
Viktor Arsovski provided an exposé [MKD] of the subsequent events and the impact of social media. He pointed out that, unlike in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere, the organizing power of social media in Macedonia was not used to benefit the people:
…a group of “supporters” of the building of the church (i.e., a Macedonian football fan group Komiti), and a group of “supporters” of its destruction (i.e., an Albanian football fan group Shverceri) gathered on the same location at Skopje Fortress to express their opinions through a “peaceful” protest.
One could have assumed what would happen between these two groups. Mass beating, stoning, eight injured, one knifing, panic in the media, critiques against the politicians, ethnic bigotry…
The difference between this and other similar stupid incidents is the role of Facebook.
[…]
According to Radio Free Europe [MKD], the protests […] were organized by informal Facebook groups and the Albanian NGO “Wake Up.”
[…]
Currently, a new protest is being organized on Kale for Feb. 19. A FB group with thousands of members calls to protest, posting hideous photos and hate speech (to put it mildly).
And this group is not the only one. There are others with similar violent content. A group with over 4,000 members Church on Kale [MKD], both ethnic Macedonian and ethnic Albanian, arguing and exchanging insults and calls for ethnic cleansing. A similarly sordid story of ethnic insults and hate speech continues within FB groups Museum-Church on Kale [MKD] and Against the Church on Skopje Fortress [ALB].
One click is enough to reveal the age of these people – most of them are teenagers and college students! Interestingly, one can see that most of these young “minds” share similar interests […].
On Facebook, alongside verbal provocations, the most frequent means to challenge the other ethnic group is by using YouTube videos. This service has grown into a vast library of awful hate-filled videos in the years before Facebook gained prominence… [FB users now “recycle” the available] calls for Greater Albania and Greater Macedonia, calls for ethnic cleansing, death, genocide, clips from the [2001 conflict]. For years the .MK institutions have been ignoring the existence of these repulsive videos, even though I believe it would only take a credible notice for YouTube to remove them…
In retrospect, blogger Volancommented [MKD]:
An old fishing trick is to muddy the waters, and if you hunt on land to hunt within a mist…
It is getting clearer that someone is muddying the waters, in this case the hunt is on – on voters. Hunting voters is especially important in the hunting season, i.e., the looming election season. From this perspective, the muddying of the waters on Skopje Fortress becomes clearer. Hidden in the fog, one side is building a church under the smokescreen of a museum church. The others demolish the museum church. The most puzzling aspect is that both ‘sides’ sit within the government/the ruling administration. The smaller opposition parties also sit on the sidelines trying to catch some fish as well….
The hunt on the undecided voters, who comprise more than half of the electorate, is especially sweet… Unfortunately, only the small fry was left swimming in the muddy waters of Skopje Kale: football fan groups… with worrying calls heard in 2001… The big fish sit in the cabinets of power and observe.
Civil – Center for Freedom, an NGO, issued a call on their blog for Macedonia without violence and divisions – in Macedonian, Albanian and English:
The government has to start doing its job, not to play a role of a helpless observer and commentator on events. A huge portion of responsibility for the deterioration of inter-ethnic relations lies precisely in the practices of this government. This particularly applies to the adoption and implementation of projects that have nothing to do with the needs and realities of this country.
Civilasked the government to stop controversial projects, and act in a transparent manner and build consensus. It also reminded political parties, the civil sector and individual citizens about their responsibilities in maintaining peace and stopping nationalism and religious hatred:
Do not let obsession and madness take hold of you. This situation is not conducive to good for you; neither is for generations to come. A war has inflicted much harm. Another one would mean disaster for this country. What political figures say, sometimes may sound good, but is mostly motivated by their thirst for power and popularity. And personal gain.
The walls are raised high above our heads. Division is our reality. Further divisions can also mean setting new, physical frontiers between people. All of us know that it involves war and bloodshed. And that brings good only for criminals and thugs.
Make the first step; tear down the walls that stand between you and your fellow citizens with different backgrounds or beliefs. It will not jeopardize your identity, on the contrary, that will enrich you.
All this raises the levels of tension and concern among the ordinary citizens of Macedonia, who are not eager to participate in another Balkan bloodbath. However, it seems that forces with powerful backing are working on stirring unrest. For instance, local people prevented an allegedly premeditated arson attempt [MKD] over a mosque in Bitola this morning.
A Facebook initiative “Monolith on Kale” [MKD] provides a rare attempt to fight dread with humor. It claims that “in 2001: A Space Odyssey the monolith helped the apes evolve. As a religiously neutral object, planting a monolith on Kale” might aid the evolution in Macedonia too. Unlike the previously mentioned groups, which have several thousand members/fans each, this has only about a hundred supporters so far.

author: Filip Stojanovski


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Malaysia: Amending the law to censor internet? · Global Voices
Jerrenn Lam

Malaysia’s government is considering tightening its already strict laws on printing to include online publications as well.
In late January 2011, the secretary general of the Home Ministry Mahmood Adam was quoted saying that the Home Ministry was considering amending the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA), changing the definition of publication to include Internet content, including blogs, Facebook and YouTube content.
The announcement immediately drew huge criticism from the online community who believe that the Internet should not be controlled.
The Member of Parliament for Seputeh, Teresa Kok, published a press statement in her blog, where she stated that the Government is trying to suppress freedom of speech in Malaysia.
This move is not surprising because the Government is increasingly threatened by the rise and rise of online media as an agent for change and democratization in Malaysia, as demonstrated by the watershed March 2008 election results.
Therefore, the Government’s rush to have the amendments passed by the Dewan Rakyat in March 2011 is but yet another measure to further strangle the voice of the people and tighten the Government’s control prior to the Sarawak state elections and the upcoming general elections, plunging Malaysia further towards being an authoritarian regime.
The Home Ministry’s excuses of wanting to “plug loopholes” and “correct weaknesses” are nothing but a sham to further violate Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which promises citizens the right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression.
Blogger Fuad Hikaru also believes that censorship of the Internet is not a positive move, because Malaysians should be given the freedom to see both sides of an issue before taking sides.
Unlike in 1997 when we would primarily be updated with news only from newspapers and TV which are (still is) controlled by the ruling government, we now have almost unlimited access (save for some unreliable broadband services) to the internet, feeding us news from all sides, giving us the opportunity to form our own understandings based on issues and cases are presented, that will affect our voting decisions. The vast amount of information grants us powers to literally choose the next government, which are among the reasons why the Act is to be amended soon, that is to block views which are likely to cause political instability.
What I’m trying to point out is pretty simple – while we may have different political beliefs we also need to understand that we can’t just be mindless robots. Most of the times we need to flip the coin to see the other side, that way we will be able to see the bigger picture.
The Nut Graph also published two columns on why further censorship is not a step in the right direction, and on why regulating the Internet is not easy.
However, the following day Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohamed Nazri Aziz said that under the Bill of Guarantees of the Malaysian Multimedia Super Corridor, the government has pledged not to censor the Internet. However, he also pointed out that the pledge can be ignored if national security is threatened.

author: Jerrenn Lam


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North Korea: More Stalinist than Stalin himself, the country has about 100 IP addresses · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

In the New Media Revolution and U.S. Global Engagement conference, Professor
Andrei Lankov, a Russian specialist in Korean studies said that North Korea has about 100 IP addresses for the whole country (plus intranet). He also commented that North Korea has managed to be more Stalinist than Stalin himself in controlling information.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


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Pearl Roundabout, Bahrain’s Tahrir Square · Global Voices
Yacoub Al-Slaise

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
Following the burial of the first protestor Ali Mushaima, who died after clashes with riot police on Monday 14 February, 2011, hundreds of Bahraini protesters headed towards Pearl Roundabout (also known as Lulu Roundabout) in the centre of the capital, Manama. Up until the time of writing (around 5:30pm Bahrain time), the protestors had experienced no heavy-handedness at the hands of the riot police.
The following is a timeline of the events at Lulu roundabout:
@dairy71 :الان لحظة الوصول لميدان اللؤلؤة
@Khalil_Bohazza Thousand of young people took control of Lulu Roundabout. Police withdraw.
@donamurad: Pearl Roundabout RIGHT now!!!
Birds eye view from Abraj Lulu Towers by the Roundabout at 3pm
@ba7ari Crowds using Pearl roundabout just like egyptian Tahrir square#Bahrain #Feb14 #HRW #EU http://twitpic.com/4038dc
First tent erected at Pearl Roundabout at around 4pm Bahrain local time. @yslaise: FROM FACEBOOK: First tent in Pearl Roundabout #Feb14 #Bahrain http://twitpic.com/403h1a
@ehsankooheji: الله يحفظ البحرين و الله يحفظ المتظاهرين و الله يحفظ حكومتنا و يرجع حقوق المظلومين
After a short time, some protesters started to spray paint and vandalise the Pearl Monument in the middle of Lulu Roundabout, causing some Bahraini tweeps to express anger:
@RshRsho: 5 minutes you’re there and vandalism start! #Fail #Feb14 #Bahrain http://t.co/iLWS14t
Graffiti on Pearl Monument, Lulu Roundabout, Bahrain. Upper text reads: Allah created Man to live", lower text reads: "The People want to topple the regime". Image from Plixi user Jalal Aljazeeri.
@mkalkhalifa: You can protest all you want …. But don't vandalise monuments
At the time of writing, people are peacefully protesting at the Lulu Roundabout, one of the largest and most iconic public spaces in Bahrain.
@emoodz: People walking around with trashbags collecting trash, others distributing water.. Mood still calm.. #bahrain #feb14 #luluroundabout
@Khaleejia: The beauty of our democracy :) http://plixi.com/p/77589170
Image courtesy of @JTheIslander
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.


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Philippines: Hot air balloon fiesta · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Ginger of ManilaReviews writes about the 16th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Clark, Pampanga.


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Puerto Rico: Muñoz for UPR · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Repeating Islands reports that a new interim president has been selected for the University of Puerto Rico.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Russia: 2011 State Budget Funding for Media Companies · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LJ user sart posts info (RUS) from the Russian Federation's 2011 budget (RUS, .zip, 322MB) on the state funding allotted to media companies: e.g., VGTRK gets nearly 19 billion rubles (approx. $628 million), and TV-Novosti, a company that owns RT (Russia Today), gets over 11 billion rubles (nearly $380 million).

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Russia: Government Officials Dismissed for Compromising Online Photos · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

Government officials in Russia start to feel the pressure of ‘Privacy 2.0.’ 2 policemen have been dismissed [RUS] in Chita after anonymous commenter published pictures [RUS] of them drunk at a local forum. Almost simultaneously in Buryatia, Irina Levandovskaya, a regional judge, has been dismissed for compromising photos [RUS] found by local bloggers at her Vkontakte.ru page.

author: Alexey Sidorenko


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Russia: Old and New Media Censorship Tactics · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

In its yearly report Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) analyzes situation with Post-Soviet online expression, noting that online censorship in the region has become more subtle without losing efficiency. “Accidents befall Web servers, just as mysterious, unsolved crimes of violence silence the region's online journalists.”


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Russia: Reactions to the “Safe Internet League” · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

Radio Free Europe writes about the “Safe Internet League”, a new initiative that would use volunteer cyber squads to monitor and report ‘dangerous content.’ Reacting to the news, Jeffrey Carr at Forbes notes that “security services have masked a variety of oppressive actions under the more acceptable umbrella of cleaning up RuNet.”


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South Korea: Blood exuding from the ground where culled animals are buried.  · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

South Korea had lost a quarter of the herd from its worst foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Fears among Koreans grow as experts anticipated the blood from culled animals may contaminate nearby underground water and soil. Twitterer @Hyeyounga posted a gruesome photo of blood exuding from the burial ground and running over frozen land.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Road Deaths  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Trinidad is head and a lot of people are dead because of it”: B.C. Pires explains.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Songs of Our Youth · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“There’s no soca like the soca of your youth”: Lisa Allen-Agostini says that's “the reason soca gets ‘worse’ every year. It’s not the music, darling. It’s you.”


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Azerbaijan: The Sinner and The Saint · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

As irreverent as ever, Scary Azeri comments on Azerbaijan's entry into this year's Eurovision Song Contest. Contrasting the angelic look of the male singer with the seductive maturer attributes of the female, the blog sarcastically concludes that Eldar and Nigar might be absurd enough a duo to stand a good chance in an international music competition as camp as Eurovision.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Bahrain: Funeral Procession Marks Third Day of Protests · Global Voices
Yacoub Al-Slaise

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
Wednesday February 16, 2011 is the third day of Bahrain's ‘Day of Wrath‘ protests; it has kicked off with the funeral of Fadhel Al-Matrook, who died after mourners faced excessive force from riot police during Tuesday's procession for the first fallen protester Ali Mushaima.
Like on Tuesday, hundreds of protesters headed towards Salmaniya Hospital to collect the dead man's body and begin the procession to Sheikh Maytham cemetery in Mahooz in Bahraini capital Manama. Unlike yesterday however, the procession was allowed to move smoothly without police interference.
@emoodz Angry crowds earlier today at Salmaniya at the beginning of the burial procession http://bit.ly/eObdAo #bahrain #feb14
Protesters at Salmaniya Hospital. Photo by Twitter user @emoodz.
@Jolly1412 تدفق المواطنين على موكب الشتييع #feb14 #bahrain #lulu # http://twitpic.com/40bzs0
Banner reads: "The blood of the martyr falls in the Hand of Allah, and when it does, it grows". Image posted by Twitter user @Jolly1412.
Many women also joined the procession walking behind the main procession.
@khokhz Procession of the second victim Fadhel Matrook @ Mahooz #Bahrain #Feb14 http://yfrog.com/h6pcrrvj
Bahraini women mourning and following the procession. Photo by Twitter user @khokhz.
Mourners have praised the peacefulness of the procession and lack of riot police presence, a great improvement from events the day before.
@RedhaHaji There r no traffic police in site either yet the proceedings r organized. #bahrain #feb14 #lulu volunteers directing traffic. Managing ppl
@RedhaHaji I personally want to thank the government for keeping riot police away.They understand now this is a peaceful mourning #bahrain #feb14 #lulu
The lack of police on the streets did not mean they were not on Twitter; the Bahraini Ministry of Interior sent out alerts of areas to avoid because of traffic jams in the areas and streets the procession was in.
@moi_bahrain Stay away from Salmaniya,Oman,Kuwait & Adliya Roads that lead to Maitham Al Bahrani Cemetery in Mahooz to avoid traffic jams.
Foreign media outlets have also taken advantage of the peacefulness of the procession to conduct interviews with mourners.
@Moaweya foreign media covering the funeral in #bahrain http://yfrog.com/h6odj7j
Foreign media interview a funeral mourner. Image by Twitter user @Moaweya.
The funeral processions continue at the time of writing.
Meanwhile at Pearl/Lulu Roundabout in Manama, the focal point of Bahrain's protests, people have stayed behind and continue to protest peacefully.
@adelmarzooq تشييع الشهيد فاضل المتروك والمتظاهرون باقون في دوار الحرية … وتقديم وجبات للإفطار للمتظاهرين #feb14 #bahrain
Some of the protesters at Lulu Roundabout have vowed to stay there, skipping work until their demands are met.
Right banner reads:"Skipping work until the regime falls". Left banner reads: "No Sunna No Shia, all our demands are legitimate. My people want democracy, a constitution and freedom (signed by Youth of Muharraq)". Images from 14th February Revolution Facebook Page.
For most in Bahrain, Wednesday 16 February, 2011 is a work day; yesterday was a national holiday for the occasion of the Prophet Mohammed's Birthday (PBUH). People who were worried about access to the capital Manama, were able to go to work, even checking in on Foursquare at their workplaces near Lulu Roundabout.
@nadooi_wish Went to #LuluRoundabout .. traffic went smooth. The protesters smiles and help with the traffic flow. #Bahrain #Feb14
@Ali_Fareed I'm at Bahrain World Trade Center (King Faisal Hwy, Manama) http://4sq.com/hIYMBX [Within sight of Lulu Roundabout]
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.

author: Yacoub Al-Slaise


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Bahrain: Pro-Government, Pro-King Voices Emerge · Global Voices
Yacoub Al-Slaise

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
As the third day of protests in Bahrain continues this Wednesday 16 February, 2011, numerous voices have stepped up to show support for King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa and the Bahraini government.
Two support rallies have been organised over Facebook in both the old capital city of Muharraq [ar] and in Riffa [ar], south of the capital Manama. A third rally [ar] is planned for Friday February 18, 2011 after prayers outside the Al-Fateh mosque, Bahrain's largest, in Juffair just outside Manama.
On Twitter, a number of pro-government tweeps have been reminding the Twittersphere of some of the country's key achievements, and of services given to the people after the establishment of the National Charter in 2001.
@hussakhalid Do you know that Bahrain provides free K-12 Education for all citizens? #Bahrain #silentmajority
@hussakhalid Do you know that there are no income taxes in Bahrain? #Bahrain #silentmajority
@hussakhalid Do you know that #Bahrain provides free healthcare for all citizens? #Feb14 #silentmajority
@abdullamandi Do you know that #Bahrain gov pays unemployed citizens $530 a month for a period of six months and provides at least three job offers #Feb14
@abdullamandi Do you know that #Bahrain gov pays $400 per month to each citizen waiting for a subsidized home #Feb14
@abdullamandi Do you know #Bahrain gov.offers its citizens homes at extremely affordable and subsidized rates as low$40 per month #Feb14
At the same time, blogger Mohammed Al-Mastaki (@emoodz) who describes himself as “Not an activist, just a product of the Nido Generation [wealthy, westernised youths] in action!” has been tweeting some of the reasons why people are protesting at Lulu Roundabout:
@emoodz Why #Bahrain Protests: Government clamped down on local forums and blogs, initiated strict internet censorship #feb14
@emoodz Why #Bahrain Protests: A local blogger / internet forum admin is in custody being trailed for his opinions since September #feb14 (Prominent Bahraini blogger Ali Abdulemam)
@emoodz Why #Bahrain Protests: After losing its capital of $200 mil the BIC (Bahrain International Circuit) recorded a loss of $225 mil the following year.. it's still funded #feb14
@emoodz Why #Bahrain Protests: 10% of the oil revenue is not recorded in the national budget #feb14
@emoodz Why #Bahrain Protests: 30% of the national budget is being spent on the army and police, only 12% on health care and education #feb14
@emoodzWhy #Bahrain Protests: More than 20% of the entire workforce is paid less than 400 BD per month #feb14
@emoodzThe United Nations had declared a family income below 283 BD in #Bahrain is below the poverty line #feb14  http://bit.ly/gVq1QP
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.


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Bahrain: Safe Day for Protesters  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
It was a safe day for protesters in Bahrain today, with the police forces staying at bay, and allowing the protests to go unhampered. The day marks a total change to the police brutality protesters faced on the first and second day of the demonstrations, which saw the death of two protesters.
The protest seems to have been initiated on social networking sites to call for constitutional, economic and social reforms, like we have seen in Egypt, with people from different backgrounds joining as the developments took a turn. The killing of protesters, in particular, has drawn sympathy from onlookers, who had initially planned to stay away from the protests.
Protesters are now camping in the Pearl Roundabout, a monument in the capital Manama, where they say they will stay until their demands are met. Those demands, however, keep growing as protesters continue to swing between demanding reforms under a constitutional monarchy and calling for an end to the regime overall.
Meanwhile, a group of tweeps led a clean up campaign in the roundabout, called Lulu roundabout in Arabic, where they painted over graffiti sprayed by some of the protesters listing demands. The initiative was led by tweep Mohammed Al Maskati, who tweets at @emoodz
Also today, complaints were running high of slow Internet, with the New York Times writer Nicholas Kristof, who is in Bahrain, complaining loud on Twitter about the inconvenience. Online, tweeps were also complaining that a number of websites have been blocked by the Bahrain government, including live broadcasting online, put up by netizens at the Pearl Roundabout for those at home to follow developments there.
Here's a snap shot of the reactions from Twitter:
@NickKristof: Amazing that a banking ctr like #Bahrain blocks Internet to suppress protests. Never thought I'd use a sat phone here.
@ramyraoof: dear friends in #Algeria, #Bahrain, #Yemen, #Iran, #Libya, #Morocco: use TOR to bypass censorship, stay anonymous http://torproject.org
@ramyraoof: tmw. 17 Feb- Egyptians Marching in Solidarity with People of #Algeria, #Bahrain, #Yemen, #Iran & #Libya. #Feb14 #Feb12 #25Bahman #Feb17
@emoodz: Tweeps reporting that Egyptians will protest in front of the Bahraini embassy in Cairo in solidarity #bahrain #feb14 #lulu
@hadeelalsh: Thousands in Pearl Square. Colorful tents, families making tea, I can smell sheesha. #bahrain #feb14
@: #Bahrain enjoying the day in #lulu square #feb14
@tariqal: Ebrahim Sharif is here now, discussing, organizing & debating with group of youth http://yfrog.com/h0926ohj #Bahrain #Feb14 #Lulu
@ba7ari: LOLO Square right now #Bahrain #Feb14 #HRW #EU http://twitpic.com/40jkms
@Muntherek: #bahrain #feb14 #lulu The only flag that was raised is the Bahraini flag http://twitpic.com/40jkc8
@tariqal: Crowded round an old man singing – still a great atmosphere late night http://yfrog.com/h0jatfrj #Feb14 #Bahrain #Lulu
@Muntherek: #bahrain #feb14 #lulu http://twitpic.com/40jdsv
@bintbattuta: Photo from the Pearl Roundabout: “Covering up graffiti” http://twitpic.com/40j61n #bahrain #feb14
@MZ5aaan: Why Police (sha'3ab) have backed of completely ? Something is fishy ? #feb14 #bahrain #lulu
@hhusaini: Internet is soooooooooooooooooo slow!!! will @batelco in #bahrain compensate our bills this month? Or are we paying for poor service?
@anmarek: couldn't tweet when i was at #lulu as there was no network coverage in the area! #bahrain #feb14
@lauratrafach: Ministry of Information in #Bahrain blocking pages of specific users on the live-stream site Bambuser.com http://twitpic.com/405osn #Feb14
@aassfour: Due to some political issues ALJAZEERA is not covering the #bahrain revolution as it should. lots of pressure on her #feb14
@amanyalbahrain: Very true! “@YousifKamal: What's happening in #lulu is just a protest not a revolution sooner or later it will end #bahrain #Feb14”
@F_albinali: views of Pearl Roundabout have been called beautiful,guess beautiful in the same way that the Iranian Theocracy is beautiful #Bahrain #feb14
@anmarek: We will all gather at #lulu roundabout wearing red/white on Friday from early morning.. ANGER DAY.. plz be there #bahrain #feb14
@Zaharias1: Bahrainis bring blankets & grievances to protest camp http://bit.ly/g2cbcM This is our moment. This is our time. And we will take it. #Feb14
@ag47ent: ppl u have to take it seriously,u need a clear list of demands and a proper agenda which reflects #feb14 movement #bahrain #lulu
@NoorAlHaji: Hey sectarians, did u sleep? I want to tweet #Feb14 #Bahrain
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Bhutan: Amend The Tobacco Control Act · Global Voices
Rezwan

Tshering Tobgay calls all the concerned Bhutanese citizens to lead a movement to amend the draconian Tobacco Control Act, which can penalize 23 year old Sonam Tshering, a jail-term for minimum 3 years for smuggling Rs. 96 (approx US$2) worth of chewing tobacco.

author: Rezwan


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Bhutan: Arrested Development And Obsession With Tobacco Law · Global Voices
Rezwan

I am Drukpa is irked by the fact that Bhutan is obsessed with the newly introduced tobacco ban law and is ignoring the other facets of development.


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Bolivia: 10 Reasons Why You Should Visit La Paz · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

In Citizen of La Paz [es], Luis Ramos lists 10 reasons why you should visit La Paz, Bolivia, including: its nightlife, its surroundings, El Alto, Lake Titicaca, and more.

author: Silvia Viñas


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Caucasus: The Vagina Monologues · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Georgia On My Mind provides its readers with a comprehensive review of The Vagina Monologues held earlier this week in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital. Controversial as it was bound to be in a region more renowned for its patriarchal values, the event, which included performances from women from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, was well received. The blog concludes that despite some problems with its organization the event was a positive step forward.


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Colombia: Interview with director of English magazine “La Arepa” · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Albeiro Rodas from Colombia Passport interviewed Robin Finley, director of La Arepa –an English print magazine that can also be found online, on Twitter and on Facebook.


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Croatia: Google Flees Red Tape · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Viktor Markovic/@Belgrade reports: “Google fled Croatia because of red tape http://www.croatiantimes.com/index.php?id=17021.”


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Cuba: Cyberwar? Video Sparks Debate, Anger, Skepticism · Global Voices
Ellery Roberts Biddle

A video posted February 1st on Vimeo features a 52-minute presentation on new information technologies and a “ciberguerra” allegedly being waged on Cuba by the United States government and US-based NGOs. The man delivering the presentation has since been identified as Eduardo Fontes Suárez, a cyber security official at Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior (MININT). Initial reports called this a classified government video that had been leaked, but some bloggers (on and off the island) are questioning this assertion.
La ciber policía en Cuba
Posted by Coral Negro, a Vimeo account holder who offers no profile information of any kind, and has posted no other material, the video has ignited an international debate about its origin and its content. An original transcript of the video can be found at Café Fuerte [es], and an English translation can be found at Translating Cuba. The presentation provides a detailed description of US government efforts to establish unauthorized Wi-Fi connection spots on the island, with the help of dissidents and representatives from US-based NGOs, mainly the International Republican Institute. Fontes indicates that Alan Gross, the jailed USAID worker who was arrested in December of 2009 for illegally distributing IT equipment to Cubans, was involved with Washington’s project to establish these hot spots.
He describes bloggers such as Yoani Sánchez as counterrevolutionaries who, with the support of the Spanish and US governments, are attempting to use new technologies in order to spark a popular uprising against the Castro government. He also discusses the Cuban government’s latest plans for ICT use on the island, and the benefits of certain technologies, remarking on Hugo Chávez’s use of Twitter as a political tool.
Penúltimos Días [es], a Cuba-focused blog based in Spain, reposted the video, and soon thereafter a former (and now exiled) high school classmate of Fontes’ identified him and posted photographs of Fontes as a teenager in the late 1980s. On Cuban exile community blogs such as Babalú [es], readers seemed to delight in ridiculing Fontes, calling him a “cíberesbirro” or “cyberthug.” Fontes’ Facebook page has been deactivated since he was identified on Penúltimos Días. His Twitter account remains active, but he has not tweeted since December of 2010.
It is clear that Fontes is a real official of Cuban intelligence. What remains unclear is whether his presentation and the leak were “real” as well.
Regina Coyula, a former employee of the counterintelligence unit at MININT who is now the author of La Mala Letra [es] believes the video is authentic, and has denied another blogger’s accusation that she herself leaked the video. She reasons that the video contains far too much information about the power of ICTs to be a fake. She writes:
[L]a conferencia [es] un tanto didáctica. Así me entero de unidades satelitales wi-fi de alta velocidad como parte de un módulo que incluye blackberries y notebooks destinadas a blogueros…y contrarrevolucionarios tradicionales; me entero de que a través de ese servicio cualquier persona de pronto pudiera tener en su pc el mensaje de estás conectado; [Fontes] reconoce que es peligroso que la gente se conecte por la libre, y admite que nadie beneficiado va a quejarse ni a averiguar.
Yoani Sánchez [es] was unequivocally certain that much of what Fontes said was untrue. But she wondered whether it was he, or someone above him, who was responsible for this misinformation.
¿Usted es de los que fabrica las mentiras o de los que se cree las mentiras? Me gustaría hacerle esta  pregunta al ponente que despliega una complicada teoría de la conspiración en este video. Si se trata de alguien que sólo transmite un mensaje, entonces la respuesta es sencilla: la falsedad se cuece más arriba y él es apenas un emisario. Pero me temo que parte de lo que expone frente a esos adustos militares –que exhiben una constelación de estrellas en sus uniformes– es de su propia cosecha, se ha gestado en su interior.
Sánchez also pointed out that Fontes’ description of social media platforms reflected a limited understanding of their applications. Reinaldo Escobar (who blogs at Desde Aquí), wrote in an article on Diario de Cuba [es] that the content of the presentation had to have been fabricated. He referred specifically to Fontes’ claim that bloggers like Yoani Sánchez (Escobar’s wife) have been “created” and supported by the US government.
Si [Fontes] miente por iniciativa propia de presentarse como…imprescindible ante sus jefes, o si miente cumpliendo estrictas orientaciones de una mano tenebrosa, eso no puedo saberlo. Pero sé que miente. Me consta. La blogosfera alternativa cubana no es una creación del imperialismo norteamericano sino fruto de una conjunción de factores entre los que se destacan el fracaso del sistema socialista, la inconformidad ciudadana, especialmente entre los más jóvenes, y el desarrollo de la tecnología a nivel mundial.
The Cuban Triangle’s [en] Phil Peters believes that the video was created and intentionally released (under the guise of a leak) in order to send a message. He reasons that, unlike a typical leak, the video appeared to have been edited thoroughly, and was conspicuously devoid of information that could harm the Cuban government.
There is nothing in the briefing that is remotely inconvenient to the Cuban government; nothing that compromises an operation or breaks an important secret…[M]uch of the video conveys messages that Havana would probably want to present to international audiences. The cachet of a “leak” from the heart of a communist security apparatus ensures that those messages fly farther and wider than would words on paper.
Whether or not the video is “real,” US officials and IRI have firmly denied Fontes’ claims regarding WiFi connection spots. But regardless of whether it is entirely true or not, the message Fontes communicates here is clearly aligned with recent ICT policy directives of the Cuban government, which have focused closely on the nation’s “ciberguerra” against the United States.
A coincidence?
The Cuban novelist and blogger Zoe Valdés, who now lives in Paris, shares Peters’ contention. It is not a coincidence, she suggests, that the video surfaced at the height of the popular uprising in Egypt, given the critical role of social networks and ICTs in the movement. News from Cairo has prompted many journalists and bloggers to wonder whether, given the gradually increasing number of ICTs in Cuba, Parque Central could become the next Tahrir Square.
Valdés also points to “Por un levantamiento popular en Cuba,” a Facebook group created last week by members of the Cuban exile community in Spain, urging Cubans to follow the example of Egypt and rise up against the Castro government.
Valdés writes that while this is troubling, she believes that the Cuban government chooses to openly condemn bloggers because they are an easy target.
[E]llos prefieren a disidentes cibernéticos …frente a justicieros callejeros que podrían multiplicarse por miles en mínimo tiempo. Los primeros no son considerados peligrosos, los segundos sí, y mucho. La propia Yoani Sánchez ha declarado que su blog no se ve en Cuba,* así que muy poca gente lee sus crónicas dentro de la isla.
[…]
Ese video, entonces, forma parte de la nueva estrategia del raulismo light, ignorar a los que son realmente dañinos a la dictadura ha sido siempre la elección de los castristas. Ellos saben que mencionar es reconocer, y que ignorar es desaparecer, fulminar, borrar.
That video, then, forms part of the new raulismo light strategy. Ignoring those who are truly harmful to the dictatorship has always been the way of Castrists. They know that to mention is to recognize, and that to ignore is to disappear, to fulminate, to erase.
Her point about “raulismo light” does well to elucidate important intricacies in how Cuban state intelligence works. But while Valdés implies that there lies a clear distinction between dissidents in virtual and real space, the powerful online presence of dissident groups like the Damas de Blanco and the OZT Yo Rechazo movements disprove this—they demonstrate how this distinction is increasingly blurry, if not indecipherable.
In sum, it seems that whether or not the presentation was “real,” and whether or not it was a true leak, the video (if not entirely truthful) gives the world a rare, intimate window into the thinking and dialogue on ICTs and blogging that is happening within Cuban intelligence. However uncertain its origins, it holds valuable information for all those who have a stake in the future of ICTs in Cuba.
*Sánchez's blog became accessible in Cuba on February 8, 2011. Keep an eye out for GV coverage of this development later this week.

author: Ellery Roberts Biddle


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Cuba: Dissidents Arrested?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Babalu is concerned about two missing Cuban dissidents; Uncommon Sense re-posts the message, saying: “I'm afraid we will see a lot of this in coming days, with next week's one-year anniversary of the death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo and the Internet-based call for an Egypt-style uprising on the island.”


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Guyana: Mashramani Festival  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“On February 23, people from the ten regions of Guyana converge on the country’s capital to participate in the grand, massive carnival-like event, with costumed bands and a float parade”: Repeating Islands blogs about the Mashramani festival.


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Hungary: A New Blog on EU Council Presidency · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Via Kosmopolito, a link to Kovács and Kováts – a new blog that's “supposed to denote [the two authors’] weekly adventures while working for the Hungarian [EU Council] Presidency.”


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Iran: Jailed blogger Hossein Ronaghi in Danger · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Iranian blogger Hossein Ronaghi Malki is serving a 15 year prison sentence in the security ward of Evin Prison, deprived of contact with his family or his lawyer. Mojtaba Samienejad, a human rights activist and secretary of the Human Rights House of Iran, told BBC Persian that Ronaghi is in need of urgent surgery and is in critical condition. He said that the medical personnel of the Evin Clinic have confirmed that he needs to be transferred to a hospital to undergo surgery, but that the authorities have failed to take any action.
Samienejad also said that Arash Arkan, another political prisoner who recently passed away for lack of treatment in prison, had been denied medical prison leave despite the recommendation by the doctors.
Free Hossein [fa], is a campaign on the internet has been launched to provide the information on this jailed blogger. FreeHossein presents itself as a ‘committee to follow Hossein's case”. According to this campaign:
Hossein suffers from kidney and mouth problems and is in a lot of pain. He wrote a letter about how he was tortured by Intelligence Ministry agents to be forced to confess to a prosecutor, but the letter was confiscated.
Hossein was arrested in November 2009 and was confined in a solitary cell for more than a year.
The campaign's Facebook page has around 1500 fans. More than 100 political activists also wrote an open letter and asked the Iranian judiciary why they were so hard on Hossein, a student of Azad University in Arak.
The Iranian authorities have arrested several bloggers in recent years. Omid Reza MirSayafi, became the first blooger to die in prison on March 18, 2009 under suspicious circumstances. The internationally famous blogger Hossein Derakhshan was sentenced to 19.5 years last year, and Shiva Nazar Ahari, a female blogger, was sentenced to 74 lashes and six years of prison.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Jamaica: The “Dudus” Enquiry  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaica and the World identifies the key players in the “Dudus” Enquiry.


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Libya: Protests Against Gaddafi Start Ahead of Schedule · Global Voices
Hisham Almiraat

This post is part of Global Voices special coverage on Libya Uprising 2011.
Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi has been ruling Libya for more than four decades. According to Wikipedia, he is the longest serving of all current non-royal national leaders in the world. Hoping to emulate recent popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, Libyan pro-democracy activist have been calling for protests against the 41-year-old autocratic rule of Gaddafi. They set February 17 as a “Day of Rage”, using social networking websites to convince millions to take to the streets and peacefully call for change. But it seems that Libyans are too eager to voice their rage and anger at their leader as many decided to demonstrate today.
In the city of Benghazi, the second largest city in Libya, protesters gathered in front of police headquarters and chanted slogans against the “corrupt rulers of the country.” The response of the authorities was reportedly heavy handed.
This video, posted on YouTube by enoughgaddafi is from Benghazi:
Another video from the same demonstration in Benghazi by enoughgaddafi:
This post is part of Global Voices special coverage on Libya Uprising 2011.

author: Hisham Almiraat


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Libya: Protests Begin in Benghazi Ahead of February 17 Day of Wrath · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of Global Voices special coverage on Libya Uprising 2011.
Libya's revolution date is pencilled in for February 17 – but it seems that the Libyans are too eager to voice their rage and anger at Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who has ruled their country for almost 40 years.
Reports on Twitter and videos uploaded on YouTube speak of protests in Benghazi, where around 200 relatives of political prisoners killed in the Abu Slim Prison massacre of June 1996 have gathered after the spokesman on behalf of the families was arrested.
Libyan citizens take to the streets in Benghazi on February 15, 2011. Still from video by Youtube user enoughgaddafi.
As with Egypt, which ousted Hosni Mubarak after 30 years of corruption, the February 17 date was originally spread through social networking sites, including Facebook and Twitter.
Egyptian blogger Mohammed Maree provides (Ar) some context to why the protests started tonight:
Here are some of the reactions from Twitter, where tweeps are raising the alarm on the unfolding situation in Libya and urging the international community and the Press to pay attention to their cause:
@Naddah: Gaddafi warns against use of Facebook, activists arrested http://bit.ly/eEv4ds #Libya #Feb17
@Tripolitanian: Opposition in #Libya demanding Gaddafi resignation, 2 days ahead of planned #Feb17 http://bit.ly/ftZcfN
@libyan4life: Some reports of movement in Tripoli #Libya, not confirmed. Ahead of #Feb17, Libyans using element of surprise on #Gaddafi!
@Cyrenaican: Protests still going on, at shari3 houari in #benghazi #libya ppl arriving every minute, antiregime, antiGaddafi chants being made
@Ayonadre: Eyewitnesses: protests in Asaha AlKhadra, #Tripoli and more in #Benghazi. The revolt in Libya has begun, can't wait until #Feb17
@fineaccess: In #Benghazi #Libya, using boiling water on protestors in addition to usual bombs.. etc … this is new… rabena yostor
@amtfoto: Libyan protestors in #Benghazi attacked by high pressured hot water #Libya #feb17
@EnoughGaddafi: @dima_khatib @monaeltahawy families of Victims of AbuSalim prison massacre started to demand release of activists, more joined #Feb17 #Libya
@thanku4theanger: #feb17#Libya Benghazi Protests on Aljazeera now. Libyan Protesters attacked with tear gas and batons. Freedom is on its way! #Jan25#egypt
@Dima_Khatib: Police is reported to be already using gas near demo in Benghazi, #Libya. Al jazeera quoted sources on the ground #feb17
@JohnTMorgan: Protesters in Benghazi, Libya have burned down the govt security building heading for city center @monaeltahawy @bencnn @NickKristof #Feb17
@db_s_turbosnail: now protesters moving to the city center #Feb17 #Libya
@Sityaan: Its finally happening people, in #Libya . Even before #feb17. Sparks fly on the streets of benghazi…..http://bit.ly/h2Xn11
@libyan4life: Sources in #Libya say anything related to #Feb17 is blocked. Fears that #Gaddafi will soon cut internet totally.
@EnoughGaddafi: @EnoughGaddafi now numbers at 200 or so estimated in front of security headquarters in Benghazi protesting #Feb17 #Libya
@AhmadALGamaty: Benghazi revolution now it's true #Libya #feb17 #Egypt
@Abukersh: @Leak_Spinner http://j.mp/epEetx BREAKING NEWS !! First videos of Benghazi protests #Libya #Feb17 @enoughgaddafi
@Cyrenaican: Video of protests in #Benghazi #Libya up http://tiny.cc/7fruw #Feb17 read comments for more info
@Cyrenaican: Second video of protests in #Benghazi tonight http://tiny.cc/8f2c6 #Libya #Feb17
@Cyrenaican: Please mirror videos in case they get taken down! #Libya #Feb17
@ChangeInLibya: for libyans on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/17022011libya follow information and spread it even if u dnt want 2 like page #libya #feb17
@Tripolitanian: Gaddafi will murder protesters in #Libya #Feb17 in the absence of your media coverage @AJEnglish @cnnbrk @BBCBreaking @WSJ
@ChangeInLibya: To all followers: I'm sorry for retweet spam but I'm trying to make sure #libya is not ignored. It's the least I can do for my cntry. #feb17
@FreeLibyaa: people who are taking pictures, calling libya etc be very careful! #libya #feb17
@KCdalis: @AJELive #Libya uprising starts #Feb17. This could be the next BIGGEST revolution in history. Don't miss it. Media coverage urgent..
@KCdalis: @Tripolitanian Protests planned in London outside Libyan Embassy and White House USA..should attract Western Media attention. #Feb17 #Libya
@Pulitzercenter: Libya's “Day of Rage” approaches. Who will you be following for updates? We're creating a list. #Libya #Feb17
@FreeLibyaa: can't get through to my cousins… #libya #feb17
@ToneyBrooks: It appears revolution in #Libya has begun in earnest in #Benghazi and #Tripoli. Paid thugs out in full force. God's speed to all! #Feb17
@mnabd: BENGHAZI: Vive la revolucion!!! #libya #feb17
@BareeqBarqawi: Cannot wait till #feb17 for #Libya revolution – #Gaddafi is going DOWN.
@NohaZayed: Is Libya really happening? #feb17 #libya
@ChangeInLibya: lots of gaddafi thugs on twitter trying to spread misinformation, block them: http://bit.ly/enOGaO & send me names if u hv #libya #feb17
@ChangeInLibya: ALL LIBYANS: THE TWITTER TAGS FOR THIS REV ARE #gaddaficrimes #libya and #feb17 – mind the spelling! let's get our story out to the world.
@ChangeInLibya: #libya EVERYONE WITH A VIDEO, upload to http://sharek.aljazeera.net/ as well as FB/youtube! #feb17 don't rely on one medium/website!
This post is part of Global Voices special coverage on Libya Uprising 2011.


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Macedonia: Reactions to Kale Incident and Hate Speech  · Global Voices
Filip Stojanovski

After the violent inter-ethnic incident involving mass fighting on Skopje Fortress – Kale, social media frequented by inhabitants of Macedonia buzzed with hate speech and reactions to it.
The team of Metamorphosis Foundation set to a task to document links to discussions about the incident by setting a dedicated group named Kale [MKD] on the interactive aggregator Ping.mk, providing a resource for activists, reporters and researchers.
On Monday, Feb. 14, the civic associations Media Development Center (MDC) and NGO Info-Centre issued an appeal titled “Stop Hate Speech and Inter-Ethnic Tensions and Incidents”:
In the last several days, we are witnessing high presence of hate speech in the traditional and new media, heating up the tension and inciting further violence.
Last Sunday’s incident at the Skopje’s Kale (the Old Fortress) is a serious threat to inter-ethnic relations in the Republic of Macedonia. The use of physical violence is just a representation of a complete lack of public debate and open and civilized dialog.
Media Development Centre and NGO Info-Centre appeal to all involved, political parties, non-governmental organizations, media and all citizens of Macedonia to retire their passions and abstain from further incitement of ethnic intolerance.
We appeal to the press to report and cover the incidents with thoughtfulness and care, and act responsibly in accordance with professional standards.
We ask the responsible institutions to follow the situation carefully and to sanction, according to the law, all calls to violence or ethnic and religious intolerance.
In fact, Foundation Open Society Institute Macedonia and MDC recently published the “Black Book” (.pdf), which documents the rise of hate speech in Macedonia during 2009, in an attempt to warn the public about the top-down nature of this phenomenon and its possible consequences. As the book's editor and blogger Roberto Belichanec put it [MKD]:
Documenting of events has been done from the discourse of all participants in the public life… from broadcasting and print media, to participants in the new media and online social networks.
[…] this non-comprehensive collection of “pearls” […] attempts to warn that the level of public debate is problematic and represents a limiting factor in accomplishment of human rights in the country.
The book was promoted last Friday – two days before the Kale incident, alongside a discussion [MKD] about social and legal ramifications (full video available on the website of Citizens for European Macedonia). In an almost prophetic manner, the event was named “Hate Speech – an Announcement for Physical Violence.”
Grassroots anti-hate groups are also becoming more active and numerous on social media. One of them is “A Group Against Religious, Ethnic or Any Other Kind of Hatred” [MKD] with over 470 members advocating for…
…[stopping] of all gatherings on Skopje's Kale due to the possibility of escalation. The government should immediately take measures to prevent any further construction or demolition activity, and to prohibit any kind of gathering in the area.
Informal networks of local activists have also been trying to systematically report hate groups via Facebook's internal mechanism.
Viktor Arsovski informed [MKD] via IT.com.mk that on Feb. 15 the police also decided to address the hate speech issue and appealed to Facebook to close down the “aggressive Facebook groups about the church on Kale”:
MOI [Ministry of the Interior] asked Facebook to delete groups about the Kale church with aggressive content, spreading hate speech and calls for ethnic cleansing. These groups have become an arena for arguing and religious and ethnic bigotry after the recent incident on Skopje's Kale involving a fight between two ethnic groups.
[…] Considering Facebook's policy, one can expect the removal of such groups.
In its official statement, the Ministry of the Interior announced [MKD] that it…
…requested [from Facebook] provision of personal data about the persons, i.e. the IP addresses of the administrators who created these groups and pages.
Computer Crime Department also recorded and documented all members of the groups and their supporters, and profiles of the persons who accepted the invitations to participate in further fights on Kale.
MOI appeals to all social network visitors to refrain from hate speech and stop inciting violence, because it will take all necessary measures for their identification and prevention of their intents.
Some of the groups active until yesterday were indeed closed down, and the FB event scheduled for next Saturday – a gathering on Kale intended to “unite” ethnic Macedonian football fan groups from various cities (who were bitter rivals so far) has been “canceled.”
Facebook continues to serve as the main vehicle for more civilized on-line discussions about various aspects of the situation, but these events also shook up the sleepy Macedonian blogosphere. One of the frequent topics is whether the whole thing is a set-up, a staged performance by the main coalition partners, or a sign of a genuine conflict between them. Both options provide political points by presenting the politicians as defenders of their ethnic (often written as “national”) interests.
Pro-government social media users, such as blogger Kimi, promoted [MKD] a video clip which accuses an A1 TV cameraman for ridiculing ethnic Macedonian football fans during the Kale incident. Some of the comments on this post marked it as an attempt to shift the blame for the incident towards the TV station, which has been under various forms of pressure for some time, and away from the ruling political party.
Some ethnic Macedonian bloggers also addressed a spin-off scandal that involves a local employee of the Dutch Embassy: Artan Grubi, the president of the ethnic Albanian NGO “Wake up!” (Zgjohu!), was among the organizers of the counter-protest group on Sunday and participated in the rumble (caught on camera). This information was first spread by Vecher daily, and later reiterated by Sitel TV. These two media outlets have the same editor (Dragan Pavlovic – Latas) and are owned by the “oligarchs” close to the government. Both are businessmen and leaders of small political parties which are members of ruling coalition. The former heads the fringe Party of Justice of RM, and the the latter is an MP from the Socialist Party.
Blogger Zoriv linked the Sitel article, asking [MKD] whether the event could be considered a “diplomatic incident.” Roboto called [MKD/ENG] for an e-mail campaign, asking the Dutch Ambassador to react. This morning, Kosovo news portal Telegrafi confirmed [ALB] that Artan Grubi was “suspended from his post of a political advisor due to his role in Sunday's clashes.”