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Holy Week in Antigua, Guatemala · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Alfombras (carpets), processions, and floats –AntiguaDailyPhoto shares a series of photo posts on Holy Week traditions in Antigua, Guatemala.


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Russians Can’t Agree on Billionaire’s Suicide · Global Voices
Andrey Tselikov

When Alexander Dobrovinsky, lawyer to Russia's rich and famous, announced on his Facebook [ru] that Boris Berezovsky, controversial Russian oligarch living as a refugee in London, had committed suicide, RuNet reacted with disbelief.
Berezovsky, a Shakespearean character, who by his own admission [ru] was instrumental in bringing Vladimir Putin to power only to be betrayed by him and exiled from Russia, was indeed found dead in his posh suburban London home last Saturday, March 23, 2013. However, the police did not immediately disclose the cause of his death, prompting speculations about what actually happened.
At first, bloggers agreed that while it was likely that Berezovsky could have died from a heart attack (he was after all sixty-seven years old), the idea of him committing suicide was less believable. Even Maxim Kononenko and Sergey Parkhomenko, usually deathly foes, saw eye to eye: Kononenko writing [ru] that given the type of person Berezovsky was, suicide was “unthinkable”; Parkhomenko saying [ru] that when he saw Berezovsky a year ago he looked far from a “potential suicide.” Andrey Sidelnikov, another London refugee and former leader of the youth movement Pora, also wrote [ru]:
Хотел бы сказать всем, кто распространяет заведомо ложную информацию о самоубийстве Бориса Березовского, прекратите врать! Я знал Бориса более 11 лет и такой человек как он никогда не мог покончить с собой. Он был исключительно жизнерадостным человеком, и несмотря на разные неудачи в жизни, всегда оставался таким.
I wanted to say to everyone who is distributing the patently false information about Boris Berezovsky's suicide, stop lying! I knew Boris for more than 11 years and a man like him could never have ended his own life. He was an extremely cheerful person, and notwithstanding various setbacks in life, he remained that way.
Sidelnikov ended his post darkly hinting that Berezovsky's death was a political assassination with involvement of Russian intelligence forces. Considering that after Berezovsky left Russia he became staunchly anti-Putin (apocryphally, funding at least part of the Russian opposition movement), such theories spread even before the Thames Valley Police finally revealed that his death was “consistent with hanging”, with “nothing to indicate a violent struggle” — i.e. police-speak that seems to imply Berezovsky actually committed suicide.
A commenter on Maksim Kononenko's blog, for instance, wrote a darkly humorous poem [ru]:
Вновь прислали из колоний
Изумительный полоний…
Directly from the colonies
They sent us great polonium…
The commenter was referring to the death of Alexander Litvinenko, a former FSB officer living in London, from polonium poisoning. Litvinenko was connected to Berezovsky, and his death was widely assumed to have been an assassination. Others had similar ideas. Blogger Roustem Adagamov tweeted [ru] (a tweet that he later deleted) right away:
Я ни в какой инфаркт и самоубийство не верю. БАБа нашли в ванной, как пишут норвежцы. Я думаю, что просто убрали свидетеля
I don't believe in any heart attacks or suicide. BAB [Boris Abramovich Berezovsky — a common shorthand] was found in a bathtub, as the Norwegians are writing. I simply think that they took out a witness
After the police report came out, Adagamov tweeted [ru]:
Ну т.е. остается вопрос: он сам себя задушил или его задушили.
So there remains a question: did he asphyxiate himself, or was he asphyxiated.
Other bloggers questioned the police report. The actor Stanislav Sadalsky blogged [ru] that hanging seems an odd choice, since Berezovsky was “smart” and had to have known that it was an “unsightly” way to commit suicide. Journalist Arkady Babchenko thought about potential motives, speculating [ru] that Berezovsky might have been killed to contain some kind of kompromat on Putin. Meanwhile, the commenters of Andrey Malgin's blog, their interest piqued, picked apart the phrasing of the press release, sometimes confused by the translation. (It must be said that Russian mass media have not helped the situation, ubiquitously using the word “udushenie” or “asphyxiation”, to describe what happened, rather than “hanging” used by the police. The word “udushenie” carries connotations of violence.) For example, one commenter triumphantly concluded [ru]:
VIOLENT struggle – не было следов ГРУБОГО насилия (борьбы). А негрубого значит были.
VIOLENT struggle – there were no signs of ROUGH violence (struggle). That means that there were signs of non-rough struggle.
Not everyone who thinks that Berezovsky was murdered claims Kremlin involvement. Pro-Kremlin political scientist Sergey Markov, for example, thought [ru] that Berezovsky could have been killed by western intelligence agencies:
Когда стало ясно, что БАБ решил перейти в Россию с покаянием, стало ясно, что БАБ сдаст российским спецслужбам всю инфо о том, кто из западных спецслужб пытается прямо работать на свержение Путина.
When it became clear that BAB decided to come back to Russia, penitent, it became clear that BAB will giver the Russian intelligence all the info about who out of western intelligence is trying to work directly at toppling Putin.
Journalist Oleg Kozyrev has a different idea — he thinks [ru] that Berezovsky was murdered by Bill Browder, head of Hermitage Capital (the company that is involved in the Magnitsky case), in order to cover up his involvement in embezzling several billion dollars worth of IMF funds loaned to Russia in the late nineties. All agree, however, that if Berezovsky was assassinated, this was the right time to do it. In the words [ru] of blogger Vladimir Golishev, Putin waited until Berezovsky:
[…] окажется в ситуации, хотя бы отдалённо напоминающей пред-суицидальную.
[…] was in a situation even remotely reminiscent of a pre-suicidal one.
Did Berezovsky have reasons to commit suicide? It appears that he did. Recently he lost a case in the British courts against another Russian billionaire, Roman Abramovich, and many bloggers agree that this took an emotional toll, besides from possibly bankrupting him. His acquaintance, Elena Chekalova wrote [ru]:
Где-то месяц назад от общего знакомого узнала, что все продано, что он разорен проигранным судом с Абрамовичем и совсем обнищал, что он просит взаймы даже 100 фунтов, что сам сидит за рулем старой машины […]
About a month ago I found out from a mutual acquaintance  that everything is sold off, he has been bankrupted by the lost case with Abramovich and has been completely paupered, that he asks people to loan him 100 pounds, and drives his old car on his own […]
Berezovsky (on the right) giving a post-trial interview. YouTube screenshot. March 26, 2013
DemVybor's Kirill Shulika concurred [ru]:
Источники в Лондоне рассказывают, что БАБа сильно подкосил проигранный Абрамовичу суд. […] Версия самоубийства правдоподобна, ибо олигарх сейчас был в состоянии глубочайшей депрессии из-за финансовых проблем и невозможности вернуться в Россию.
My sources in London tell me that BAB was really shattered by his loss to Abramovich. […] Suicide is likely, since the oligarch was in a state of deep depression about financial problems and his inability to return to Russia.
This theory is supported by a short piece published in the Russian Forbes [ru], which is billed as Berezovsky's last interview. It is a record of an off-the-record conversation the journalist had with Berezovsky shortly prior to his death, in which Berezovsky muses about existence and says things like “I don't see any meaning in life.”
Berezovsky's legacy is unclear. As popular blogger Ilya Varlamov tweeted:
Больше всего по поводу ухода БАБа сокрушается либиральный полит-твиттер, забыв, что именно БАБ привел к власти Путина.
BAB's departure mostly upsets the liberal political-twitter, who have forgotten that it was BAB that brought Putin to power.
As in life, so in death Berezovsky remains a divisive, polarizing figure. Did he get what he deserved [ru]? Did he auto-erotically asphyxiate himself [ru]? Did Putin murder him, and so cross a line [ru] behind which lies “bloody mayhem”?  People can't even seem to agree on the little things, a point proven all too well in a Facebook post by journalist Mikhail Degtyar, which begins [ru]:
В действительности, последним интервьюером Бориса Березовского был я.
In reality, the last interviewer of Boris Berezovsky was me.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Andrey Tselikov


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The Pros and Cons of Drafting Israel’s Ultra-Orthodox · Global Voices
Elizabeth Tsurkov

This post is part of our International Relations & Security coverage.
Israel Defense Forces share a photo on flickr of Ultra-Orthodox soldiers finishing a course in 2010 (CC BY-NC 2.0)
The Israeli public largely objects to the current policy of allowing ultra-orthodox Jewish youth to avoid army service, but the rule has long been upheld thanks to political power play. Now, for the first time in 18 years, an Israeli prime minister has formed a government without the ultra-orthodox parties and loyal coalition partners Shas and United Torah Judaism, and the policy is up for consideration.
The reason for the surprising exclusion of the ultra-orthodox parties is the meteoric rise of the secular Yesh Atid party, headed by former TV personality and columnist, Yair Lapid.
One of the main focuses of Lapid’s campaign was the demand for an “equal share of the burden” of military service. Meaning, an end to the policy of allowing ultra-orthodox men to avoid army service if they continue their religious studies past the age of 18 with a government stipend, while other Jewish youths are forced to serve in the army at a monthly wage that amounts to pocket money.
Lapid’s success in the polls and his tactical alliance with the Jewish Home party – a party associated with the religious Zionist sector (whose members do serve in the army) –  forced Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud-Beytenu party to form a government that will promote the drafting of ultra-orthodox Jews into the army. The ultra-orthodox parties have reacted with horror and even threatened to leave the country en masse if they are drafted.
The anonymous blogger behind Israeli Politics 101 reflects a widespread view in Israel, namely, that integrating ultra-orthodox into national service will also pave their way to integration into the labor force. He writes:
It is important to remember – 29% of children under the age of 6 are Arabs. 30% of the children under the age of 6 in Israel today are ultra-orthodox. Anyone who looks ahead into Israel’s future understands that there is no realistic possibility to continue building the system based solely on the secular Jewish sector and on the religious Zionist sector. In 12 years, they will be a minority whose share in the population will probably continue to decrease. The only way for Israel’s future is re-planning the systems to allow real integration of the Arab and ultra-orthodox sectors.
Leading leftist blogger Yossi Gurvitz, on the other hand, thinks that the neo-liberal parties are raising the issue of “equal sharing of the burden” to distract the public that took to the streets in large numbers to demand social justice in 2011:
Instead of talking about economic equality, we will now talk about “equal sharing of the burden”. The scarecrow of drafting the ultra-orthodox into the IDF will replace, in this new government, the Iranian scarecrow… The drafting of ultra-orthodox will harm everybody. It will cost a great deal of money, it will draft into the army people that the army has no need for – it is suffering from too much manpower even now – and will reverse the standing of women [ultra-orthodox men will only serve in units where genders are segregated – E.T.].. In the end, the IDF will be less combat ready, the military budget will increase by billions [to cover the salaries of the ultra-orthodox and other expenses– E.T.], society will be more militaristic – and it will have much less equality. Under this façade, most of society will continue to become poorer, and the class warfare that Netanyahu is waging will continue to transfer the national wealth from the lower classes to the top 1%.
Ultra-Orthodox social justice activist, Yaacov Lebi [he], thinks staying in the opposition, for once, may benefit the ultra-orthodox community:
As opposed to the handful of politicians and those who have a vested interest in this, the larger ultra-orthodox public will benefit from sitting in the opposition… The ultra-orthodox public will undergo a process of internal and necessary correction and reflection about internal ultra-orthodox problems and the relations between the ultra-orthodox and the State and the rest of its citizens.
Previous attempts by centrist-secular parties, including the party Shinui, headed by Yair Lapid’s father, were unsuccessful and Prime Minister Netanyahu has no interest in changing the status quo and alienating his trusted allies. However, he may be pressured to do just that.
This post and its translations to Spanish, Arabic and French were commissioned by the International Security Network (ISN) as part of a partnership to seek out citizen voices on international relations and security issues worldwide. This post was first published on the ISN blog, see similar stories here.

author: Elizabeth Tsurkov


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Film Exposes Madagascar’s Child Sex Trade · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

The journeyman.tv published on March 25 a detailed investigation using undercover filming to expose the booming child sex trade in Madagascar:
One mother in the film testifies:
My daughter was at school, I had no money and no job so she decided to become a prostitute. I finally decided not to stop her

author: Lova Rakotomalala


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‘Thinking Big’: Gambian IT Teacher Talks Moving the Classroom Online  · Global Voices
Demba Kandeh

Ousman Faal, a young computer instructor and IT professional from The Gambia, has traded the classroom for a blog.
Faal is the man behind the Faal Academy, a website that offers video lectures, presentations, and tips on various computer programs. Don't know how to create a certain effect in Adobe Photoshop? Need help making a newsletter in Microsoft Word? Faal can show you how.
After spending most of his career in the classroom, Faal now spends the majority of his time teaching online. Global Voices recently caught up with Faal and asked him about the move.
Ousman Faal at work. Photo courtesy of Demba Kandeh.
Demba Kandeh (DK): What motivated you to blog?
Ousman Faal (OF): I have been an IT instructor in capacity building training with non-governmental organisations for several years in my career as a tutor. I have also formed a youth group called ICT Community. And I have lots of Google online platforms and blogging sites, WordPress, Webs & Blogger. I have experience in creating interactive video lectures and this greatly motivated me to blog.
DK: How long have you being blogging?
OF: Well, I have been blogging for a year now and found it amazing because it's another way of expressing myself and putting my content online and sharing them. I started with Google's blogger and Google Sites then to a fast growing CMS (Content Management System) WordPress which I found very interactive and user friendly.
DK: How has blogging changed your life?
OF: Blogging helps me to express myself and has made it possible for more and more people to see my talents. I am therefore, in a way, contributing to help more people out there now than ever before. And this makes me feel happy as a blogger.
DK: What do you hope to achieve in blogging?
OF: I am “thinking big”. I hope that blogging will change a lot in my career as an ICT practitioner.
DK: How is life as a teacher on a blog different from life as a teacher in the classroom?
OF: I always want to show my students that I am always available for them, as sometimes you teach in the class students might not actually get the exact picture of what you were trying to explain maybe because of distraction, but I believe that with a blog full of interactive content they can always view it with ease and understand more. This is a great source of satisfaction.
Below is a YouTube video of one of his tutorials:
DK: What are your success stories?
OF: After having six years in the IT field and having done so much research on information technology I really realized that I am paving myself a way to a successful career. I have successfully trained many professionals within a short period of time and that is something worth celebrating. The Internet, my second home, has offered my students a permanent reference point for interactive content.
The successful management of the following sites is also a pride for me: ICT Gambia, OusFaal, Jollof Tutors, Ousman Lectures and My YouTube channel.
DK: What challenges do you face?
OF: I do not bother so much about challenges. In Africa generally and the Gambia in particular, challenges are common and they range from slow but expensive Internet connections to erratic power cuts. Yet I look forward to more challenging opportunities in the future because I believe that the future is brighter as far as technology is concern.
DK: What are your plans for the future?
OF: I have a lot in mind because I am “thinking big” every day. I would love to have my own social network in the future which will be based on real advanced technology. A social media for better and more refined teaching styles and outputs is also part of my dreams.
DK: Please share anything else you consider important.
OF: I wish to take this opportunity to call on like minded bloggers to join hands and bring about positive change in their environment. I think this is a good thing to do to put together bloggers that are willing to use their time to create an online platform for sharing information for the benefit of others.

author: Demba Kandeh


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Venezuela Gears Up for Upcoming Elections · Global Voices
Laura Vidal

After the impact caused by the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, and all the discussions regarding his burial, his funeral, or even whether his body was going to be embalmed, Venezuelan debates online are now focused on the country's next political episode: the April 14 presidential elections.
Online conversations have not only taken a dizzying pace, but they also depict the sharp division between supporters of the two competing political forces. At the same time, there is a complex debate ranging from the most neutral to the most extreme comments.
Supporters of the former president are now in favor of Nicolas Maduro, the current candidate and acting president, while the opposition emphasizes the differences between Maduro and Chávez. At the same time, Venezuelans discuss the possibility of a formal debate between the candidates, they make loyalty oaths, and they refer to Chavez's mythical figure of leadership. Frustration is perceived on both sides because of a lack of mutual understanding; some intend to promote dialogue and others report electoral abuse.
Although electoral campaigns have not officially kicked off, candidates and their supporters are already on the move. A new fast political race towards the new elections has started and political positions are being reaffirmed among restless opinions and online conversations.
Supporting Nicolas Maduro, José (Jose_18) [es] posts on Twitter:
Jose_18: Buenos dias Venezuela tenemos el mismo presidente, cuerpos diferentes mismo pensamiento y en honor al padre chàvez #MiVotoEsPaMaduro
Jose_18: Good morning, Venezuela. We have the same president. Although they have different bodies, they have the same ideas and honoring father Chávez #MiVotoEsPaMaduro (I'll vote for Maduro)
Moreover, many people criticize Nicolas Maduro's strategy of staying under Chávez's shade. The Madurodice [es] (Maduro says) website keeps count and statistics on the times the interim president has mentioned Hugo Chávez in his public speeches in both radio and television. So far, at the moment this post was published, the numbers were up to 4,542.
Nicolas Maduro announcing his presidential candidacy. Caracas, Venezuela, March 11th, 2013. Photo by Santi Donaire. Copyright Demotix
Netizens supporting Nicolas Maduro use different hashtags, and some have become Trending Topics in Venezuela. One of them is #ConMaduroAlVolante (With Maduro at the wheel), a hashtag referring to his experience as a worker in the Caracas Metro system.
However, some users, like @Aquileronca [es], participated in this conversation to complain about urban violence spreading in the country:
@Aquileronca: #ConMaduroAlVolante Cuál patria? me robaron casi me matan enfrente de mi hijo, la patria es del hampa, ademas estamos mas divididos q nunca
@Aquileronca: #ConMaduroAlVolante which nation? I was robbed and almost murdered in front of my son. The nation belongs to crime, besides that, we are more divided than ever.
Ana Cecilia (@Greciachrisana) [es] answered:
Greciachrisana: @Aquileronca ese malandro es el resultado de una sociedad que ha venido en decadencia desde hace 40 años!
Greciachrisana: @Aquileronca those criminals are the result of a society that has been in decline for 40 years!
Meanwhile, blogs like Antonio Aponte's Un Grando de Maíz [es] once again share criticisms of opposition candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski:
Cuando al Comandante [Chávez] le plantearon el debate con capriles sentenció: “no se puede debatir con la nada”. Y tenía razón. El candidato es una simple marioneta de intereses imperiales y de ese núcleo fascista que capturó a la mesa de la derecha.
Él no tiene luz propia, vida, movimiento, ni palabras, si no es llevado por las manos que, desde otra parte, mueven sus hilos
When someone proposed commander [Chávez] a debate with Capriles, he asserted: “you cannot debate with nothingness”. He was right. This candidate is just a puppet controlled by the empire's interests and the fascist core that has taken hold of the right-wing.
He neither stands out on his own nor conveys life, movement, or words, but is rather controlled by hands moving their threads somewhere else.
Nevertheless, the Enigmas Press [es] blog defends the idea of holding a debate:
No deberían haber tantos peros para que se dé un debate – Capriles – Maduro.
En cualquier sociedad sana y equilibrada y que se precie de ser una verdadera democracia el debate presidencial entre candidatos es algo normal.
Siempre forma parte de las reglas del juego.
There should not be so many excuses for a Capriles-Maduro debate.
Any healthy and balanced society that feels proud of being in a real democracy considers presidential debates as something normal.
It is always part of the rules of the game.
Henrique Capriles in Caracas, September 30th, 2012. Photo by Alejandro Rustom. Copyright Demotix.
Additionally, Ramon Morales in his blog Ultimátum Hiperbóreo [es] emphasizes the values that, from his point of view, are at stake in this political division.
No se trata de política. Se trata del ser humano.[…] ¿Algún otro presidente había hecho tanto por el pueblo llano? Chávez era un hombre de pueblo, un hombre brusco y malhablado si lo comparamos con los muchos otros hombres educados y cultivados que tuvieron la oportunidad de hacer un cambio en Venezuela. Esos hombres educados y cultos, bienhablados y de raza adecuada, que pasaron por la presidencia, no hicieron ni la mitad del bien que Chávez hizo por nuestro pueblo.
It is not about politics. It's about the human being. […] Has any other president done so much for the Venezuelan people? Chávez was a small-town man, a tough and foul-mouthed man if we compare him to the educated men who had the chance to change Venezuela. Those educated and well-spoken men coming from educated families, who had taken office, did not even do half of what Chávez did for our people.
He continues:
[…] Los opositores se burlaban de los chavistas llamándolos chusma, ignorantes, arrastrados. Los pata-en-el-suelo que víctimas de su propia ignorancia creían en las promesas de Chávez. Estos insultos, estos estereotipos fueron reales y masivos en Venezuela durante años.[…] Sin embargo hoy vemos –yo lo veo HOY– cómo los opositores se burlan de Nicolás Maduro, el metrobusero, el conductor de autobús que llegó a ser vicepresidente y que hoy es nuestro Presidente Encargado de la República. Se burlan del hecho de que una persona humilde logre ocupar un cargo tan alto.
Puede ser que ya no debamos hablar de “clases sociales” sino más bien de estratos sociales. Pero sí hay lucha de clases, y la sigue habiendo.
[…] People supporting the opposition mocked chavistas by calling them ignorant, mobs, or vile. The poor that believed in Chávez's promises because of their ignorance. Those insults and stereotypes were real and common in Venezuela for years […] however, we currently see – I see it TODAY- how the opposition mocks Nicolás Maduro, a Metrobus driver, the driver who became vice president and is currently our temporary president of the republic. They mock the fact that a humble person could be in such a high position.
Maybe we cannot talk about social classes anymore, but rather about social stratus. There is a social clash and this clash still continues.
At the same time, Irya Puyosa shares a public note on Facebook [es] analyzing the motivations of both sides, which still drag scars and historical aspirations: equality as main value of chavismo, and freedom as the main value of those who oppose chavismo. Additionally, Puyosa highlights the emotions that encourage voters:
No son los indicadores, son las emociones.
El chavismo irá a votar con el pathos del duelo. Se les murió su mesías y los están llamando para un memorial de 10 millones votos.
(Les cuento un secreto: Yo soy hiperracional en mi trabajo. Y emo cuando me enamoro y cuando voto. En eso último, me parezco a las mayorías.)
Échenme un cuento que me emocione. Un drama, una épica, un evangelio. Un mito […]
No son los trending topics y el rating, son las relaciones personales.
It's not about indicators, it's about emotions.
Chavismo will vote with the mourning pathos. Their Messiah is now dead and they are being called to participate in a 10-million-vote memorial.
(Let me tell you a secret: I’m super rational in my work, and emo when I fall In love and when I vote. In the latter, I’m like the majority)
Tell me an emotional story, a drama, an epic, a gospel, a myth  […]
It’s not about trending topics and ratings, but rather about personal relationships.
She concludes:
¿Y si cambiamos de juego?
¿Y si jugamos a expresar nuestras identidades políticas?
¿Y si nos ponemos en movimiento?
La campaña no es de masas. Esto es un asunto personal. Es mi identidad. Es salir a encontrarnos con gente como uno. Y hacer esto juntos.
What if we change the game?
What if we express our political identities?
What if we start moving?
A campaign is not about multitudes. It is a personal issue. It is my identity. It is to get out and find people like us and do this together.
The Venezuelan Politics and Human Rights blog, administrated by members of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), shares some answers in the questions and answers section of The Latin America Advisor newsletter, which is published by Inter-American Dialogue. In the following extract they discuss the upcoming campaign and fairness in Venezuela's electoral system:
In 2012, Venezuela’s National Electoral Council once again showed that it runs a clean and effective election.[…] However, the CNE last year also showed itself unable to ensure a fair campaign. During Chávez’s presidency, the incumbent’s advantage took on grotesque dimensions with abuse of state media, public service messages and state resources and institutions on behalf of the governing party’s candidate.
Nevertheless, Nicolás Maduro is likely to win handily, not because of this incumbent’s advantage, but rather because more Venezuelans trust Chavismo than trust the opposition. They feel their lives improved during Chávez’s presidency and associate the opposition with Venezuela’s neoliberal period when poverty and inequality increased.
To shed light on those unfair advantages, the group Usted Abusó [es] (You abused), which started in the last elections, continues its activities and gathers concrete complaints which seek to ensure fairness in the campaigns of all candidates. Usted Abusó is on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook [all es], where you can see some cases and examples of unfair advantages in the electoral campaigns.
It is important to point out that for many people, both inside the country and abroad, Venezuelan political conversations online and on the street can be extremely confusing. This complexity can take unexpected turns and citizen media show voices and opinions that are hard to put into context. In this scenario, where many different actors are having conversations, debating or even contradicting themselves, Naky Soto [es] and Luis Carlos Díaz [es] host Google HangOuts where they try to explain different scenarios and the possible motivations of each side. The HangOuts are published and recorded on Youtube, and are also available on hangoutpolitico.blogspot.com [es].

author: Laura Vidal


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African Cinema Honored at Film Festival · Global Voices
Abdoulaye Bah

Boukari Ouédraogo wrote [fr] about the 23rd Pan-African Film Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO, Festival Panafricain du Cinéma de Ouagadougou).  The festival took place from February 23 to March 2, 2013:
What I did notice is that African filmmakers are true messengers, real educators, historians, storytellers, etc. They speak directly to us and they are sending strong messages.

author: Abdoulaye Bah


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Interview: Brazil’s Indigenous Before Eviction · Global Voices
Raphael Tsavkko Garcia

The interview, in Portuguese and Guarani, has English subtitles.
Brazilian activist Nayana Fernandez interviewed some of the former dwellers of the indigenous settlement known as Maracanã Village, in Rio de Janeiro, days before they were violently evicted by the state government.

author: Raphael Tsavkko Garcia


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Brazilian Military Enters Indigenous Lands · Global Voices
Raphael Tsavkko Garcia

On March 22, the Brazilian Government deployed [pt] 60 forces of the police and army to the lands of the Munduruku indigenous people, at the Tapajós river basin. Activists and bloggers believe that the mission is to ensure the realization of studies of impact of the construction of yet another hydroelectric plant. “Munduruku's carbon credits” have been bought by international private investors, A Pública reported [pt].


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Charity on a Subway · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

[G]iving to beggars is a straightforward opportunity to practice generosity in my daily life. So why the resistance to giving? At the time my friend pointed out that I had probably been targeted, I felt ashamed and tried to defend myself. I argued that I would rather risk being tricked by 99 rather than missing the chance to help the one in need.
Mary Ann O'Donnell writes about her experience with a beggar on a subway in Shenzhen city, and reflects upon the reactions of a Chinese friend to her act of charity.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China’s Feel-Good Viral Photo Wasn’t Real · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A feel-good viral photo showing a young girl on her knees helping an elderly homeless man eat has turned out to be a publicity stunt and netizens feel cheated. More from Off Beat China.


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Chinese Couples Divorce to Dodge Property Tax  · Global Voices
Abby Liu

A capital gains tax hike in China has couples racing to file for divorce to avoid paying a steep rate on the sale of their second home.
On March 1, 2013, the Chinese government unveiled a set of new policies in an effort to reign in the country's growing real estate bubble, including raising the tax on second home sales from 1-2 percent to 20 percent.
Faced with the higher tax, some couples with two properties are now amicably divorcing so that each person becomes the owner of one of the properties. Then, they can sell one of the properties and avoid the 20 percent tax before remarrying.
Thanks to the hike, the phrase “fake divorce” has become a buzzword on China's most popular microblogging site Sina Weibo. Although legal experts have warned couples against getting a divorce in order to avoid tax, most netizens blame the trend on the policy itself. “We are forced to do so”, Web users claim [zh].
Chinese magazine Nandu ran a cover story titled “Chinese-Style Divorce”, which read [zh]:
In Shanghai, the Civil Affairs Bureau set up a banner, which reads: “The real estate market is risky, be cautious about getting a divorce.”
若不是“东风恶”，谁愿意假离婚，这样的夫妻，大部分是刚需人群。一个逼得普通百姓离婚来避税的制度，就一定是恶政。“国五 条”出台后，因离婚排队民政局立牌提醒“楼市有风险，离婚需谨慎”，可制订政策的人又没有反思一下：“离婚几辛酸，政策须谨慎
If it were not for the evil policy, who is willing to fake divorce? For the majority of such couples, owning an apartment is a must. A policy that has forced ordinary people to divorce to avoid taxes must be bad governance. After the introduction of new policy, people queued up to apply for a divorce, so the Civil Affairs Bureau set up a banner as a reminder: “The real estate market is risky, be cautious about getting a divorce.” However, have those policy-makers reflect themselves: “divorce is bitter, be cautious about policy making.”
Journalist “Zhu Xudong” commented [zh]：
假离婚打政策擦边球，是社会诚信陷落的佐证。但也警示我们出台政策要多为百姓想想，别拍脑袋，尽量减少政策漏洞，把政策的“负能量”降到最低。
Fake divorce exploits a loophole in the policy, it shows the moral decay of society. However, it also warns policy makers that they have to think about ordinary people and try to avoid the loopholes in policy making.
Some Web users criticized the distorted values behind the fake divorce trend. “Huangshi Haican” wrote [zh]：
婚姻和房子到底哪一个才是牢不可破？现代人的爱情婚姻观究竟还有没有底线？难道在金钱面前，真的什么都是不堪一击吗？
Which is more unbreakable, marriage or an apartment? Is there any bottom line in love and marriage for modern people? Are we really so vulnerable in front of money?
Another user “Huang Sheng” echoed [zh]:
是天朝奇观，也是一种悲哀，婚姻在房子面前微不足道！
This is rare scene, and also pathetic. Marriage is worth nothing compared to an apartment.
Real estate consultant “Hanjia Gaoxianlin” added [zh]:
在当下中国人的心里，赚钱比婚姻、老婆和家庭更重要。这奇葩价值观绝对可以在人类历史上留下奇特的一页！
For modern Chinese people, money-making is more important than marriage and family. The distorted priority will definitely leave a strange mark in the history of mankind!

author: Abby Liu


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Macedonia: Independent Daily Publisher Found Dead · Global Voices
Filip Stojanovski

Nikola Mladenov (1964-2013): “We want a society of free people, they want a bunch of spineless sycophants. There's no way to compromise!”
The body of Nikola Mladenov, publisher and editor of the independent Fokus daily and weekly, was extracted from the wreck of his car found near the highway at the entrance to Skopje on March 27.
According to news reports, Mladenov died over 12 hours earlier, and was found by geo-locating his mobile phone after the family reported him missing. Mladenov's newspapers often examined political corruption and were Macedonia's last printed media outlets openly critical of the government. The funeral is today, while the fans of Mladenov's work were lighting candles [mk] on Skopje's Stone Bridge during the night. Social media users (#НиколаМладенов) expressed dismay and lamented the state of freedom of speech in Macedonia by sharing his quotes, links to reprints of his 2011 article “The Price of Freedom” [mk], his last column [mk] (published Friday, on the controversies of this Sunday's local elections) and tributes [mk, mk] from colleagues.

author: Filip Stojanovski


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Facebook Removes Serbian Anti-Fascist Poster  · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

On his blog, Filip Stojanovski translated an anti-fascist poster published by Serbian anti-fascist activists [sr] on Facebook, shared by hundreds (if not thousands) of users, but later removed by Facebook admins [sr]:
[…] Fascism has all the characteristics of Fascism but is additionally adapted to 21 century losers. Specially designed for the uneducated, angry young man, capable of redirecting his anger towards stupidities and helping perpetuate the system forever. Fascism differs from classic Fascism by its allowance of even greater mental acrobatics. Connecting Hitler, Jesus, Russia, Germany, Emperor Dušan, Karadjordje, Battle of Kosovo, SS Divisions, Hip-hop, use of drugs and fight against drugs. […]

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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‘Good Morning Earth!’: Tweets from Space · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield), a Canadian astronaut “currently living in space aboard ISS as Commander of [Expedition 35],” has been tweeting his amazing photos of the Earth daily since Dec. 2012.
The Central and Eastern Europe locations featured in Hadfield's tweets include Lake Baikal, Russia – “immensely old and deep, it holds one-fifth of all the Earth's fresh water”; Riga, Latvia – “with the outflowing Daugava River holding the Gulf ice at bay”; Minsk, Belarus – “hometown of happy [crewmate Oleg Novitsky]”; and Split, Croatia – “a fine natural harbor on the gorgeously rugged Adriatic coast” (see photo above).


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Guyana: Hole in the Wall · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Seawall in Georgetown is a unique social hub – a place to see and be seen – so naturally, Guyana-Gyal is concerned about a massive hole “on top of the wall where people walk or jog…long, from left to right…almost one foot wide at one end.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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VIDEO: Urban Artists Invade Lima · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

2013 urban art festival Latidoamericano in downtown Lima, Peru.
From March 4th to the 15th, 33 artists from different Latin American countries painted 18 murals as part of an urban art festival called Latidoamericano (Latin American beat) in downtown Lima, Peru. Tres Mitades shares a one-minute video of the festival on YouTube.

author: Silvia Viñas


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Migration a ‘Tragedy’ for Kyrgyzstan · Global Voices
Alexander Sodiqov

About 2,000 young and well-educated professionals leave Kyrgyzstan every year. Begimai Sataeva on NewEurasia.net calls the outward migration of the bright and skilled young people a ‘real tragedy’ that affects Kyrgyzstan's economy and international competitiveness.

author: Alexander Sodiqov


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Dream a Little Dream in China · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

My Chinese dream: Judicial fairness. Give back the life of my son.
While China’s new leader Xi Jinping likes to talk about his “Chinese dream”, a group of Chinese petitioners are using the microblogging site Sina Weibo to talk about their Chinese dreams. Rachel Lu from Tea Leaf Nation has collected posts and photos of their dreams.


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Regime Critic Goes Missing in Tajikistan · Global Voices
Alexander Sodiqov

Over the last ten days, journalists and internet users in Tajikistan have actively discussed the ‘disappearance’ of a Tajik opposition leader from a Dubai-based detention center. Meanwhile, they have largely ignored another recent disappearance of an outspoken critic of the regime within the country itself. Salim Shamsiddinov, 58, has been missing since he left his house in the southern city of Qurghonteppa early in the morning on March 15.
Critic of the regime
Shamsiddinov has served as the leader of the local Uzbek community in Khatlon province, southern Tajikistan, and as deputy leader of the countrywide Uzbek community since 2004. A lawyer by profession, he was largely unknown to people in the country before he alleged, in early 2012, that the Tajik government was no less responsible than neighboring Uzbekistan for straining relationships between the two Central Asian republics. The authorities in Tajikistan always blame the neighboring republic for the rift in bilateral relations. Shamsiddinov also criticized the Tajik government for pursuing the controversial Roghun Dam project and discriminating against Uzbeks, the largest ethnic minority in the country.
Salim Shamsiddinov (Image courtesy of RFE/RL, 2012).
Following these statement, Shamsiddinov was beaten up severely in May 2012. The authorities have not been able to identify the individuals who attacked him although the beatings took place across the road from the provincial office of the State Committee for National Security (GKNB) in Qurghonteppa. Shamsiddinov himself alleged that the attack must have been ordered by “important people” as an attempt to silence him.
In early 2013, Shamsiddinov joined a number of opposition politicians in demanding that the country's Election Law be amended in order to make the electoral competition fair. Moreover, he urged the country's ethnic Uzbeks to vote for Rahmatillo Zoirov, the leader of the opposition Social-Democratic Party (SDPT), in the upcoming presidential elections. Effectively, this meant urging his ethnic kin to vote against Tajikistan's veteran president Emomali Rahmon who would be seeking reelection for another term during the contest in November.
Several days after Shamsiddinov went missing, the authorities announced that they did not know his whereabouts. The police announced they could not find any signs of kidnapping. Zoirov, however, has alleged [tj] that Shamsiddinov was detained by the Tajik security services because of his political statements. On March 25, Amnesty International announced that Shamsiddinov's disappearance might have been “a politically motivated abduction”. The authorities have denied any role in the disappearance.
Rare reactions
Internet users in Tajikistan have largely missed the disappearance of Shamsiddinov. There have been no reactions among the country's bloggers, and very little discussion on Facebook. Of those few people who have noticed the disappearance, most seem to have little concern for Shamsiddinov.
In a comment under the initial report about the incident on Radio Ozodi's website, ‘Spitamen’ wrote [tj]:
Чи даркор хамин кадар вохимахо.. як бори дигар ба назарам ин шахс нопадид шуда буд ва боз ёфт шуд.. “Аз МАГАС фил назозед” Мумкин ба ягон чой ба мехмони рафтааст..
Stop this hysteria… I think this person had gone missing before and was found. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill. Maybe he is just visiting some friends…
Another person, under the name ‘Folbin’, added [tj]:
Дар арафаи Навруз ба сахро гулчини рафтаги. Меведе хушру биков, яке гург нахурда боша ин узбаки бечорара
He must have gone to the field to gather some flowers for Nowruz. Search better and you will find him, unless a wolf has eaten the poor Uzbek.
Many other comments under the article are openly nationalistic and critical of Shamsiddinov, the ethnic ‘other’. Sarboz wrote [tj], for example:
Кор ба чое расидааст, ки узбак дар даруни Точикистон зидди идеяхои милли (сохтани гесси Рогун) шудааст.ки гуе ин ба фоидаи Узбакистон набудааст. Агар дар Узбакистон як точик чунин чуръат кунад.уро чи кор мекунанд? Пусташро мекананд
We've come to a point where an Uzbek in Tajikistan speaks against national ideas (such as the Roghun Dam). He says the project is harmful to Uzbekistan. If a Tajik acted in such a bold way in Uzbekistan, what would happen to him? They would take his skin off.
Another person, ‘Rustam’, chipped in [tj]:
Нопадид шудааст такдираш будаст чи чои бахс аст… Ин Ватан сохиб дорад ва сохибаш Точик аст
He's gone missing, it was his fate, no doubt about it… This country has a master, and the master is the Tajik.
‘Haqiqai Talkh’ added [tj]:
Шамсиддинов аз меъёр зиёд мухолифи кишвари мо буд ва Узбакистонро, ки боре надидааст таъриф мекарду ҷонибдори аз Каримов мекард.
Shamsiddinov was too critical of our country; he praised Uzbekistan which he had never seen and supported [Uzbek President Islam] Karimov.
Several other readers, however, urged their fellow Tajiks to be more tolerant of the ethnic minority. An anonymous user asked [tj]:
Ajoib, charo in qadar dar borai in odam va umuman uzbekhoi Tojikiston badbin hasted?
I wonder why you all are so hateful of this person and of Tajikistan's Uzbeks in general.
‘Bemakon’ wrote [tj]:
Ин посуххоро мехонаму нафратам нисбати миллати худ зиёд мегардад! Хой, мардум, наход ки мо то ин андоза миллатчи бошем? Узбак хаст вай, точик ва ё гайра, чи фарк дорад? Шахрванди Точикистон хаст ва асосаш ИНСОН хаст! Агар акидаву андешахои шахс нисбати дигарон фарк кунад, пас уро якумра хабс бояд кард, ё несту нобуд? Бояд эхтиром нисбати ШАХСИЯТРО омузем ва шояд он гох ба хурмату иззати бегонагон сазовор гардем…
I read these comments and I begin to hate my own nation! Hey, people, are we really so nationalistic? Why does it matter whether he is an Uzbek or a Tajik? He is a citizen of Tajikistan, but most importantly he is a HUMAN BEING! Do you think we should imprison a person for voicing personal opinions? Or eliminate the person? No, we should learn to respect people because of their PERSONALITY; this will earn us respect from other people…
And Tojikbacha added [tj]:
Ин тавр нагуед мардум, охир у ба хеч кадоми шумо бадие накардааст. У пеш аз хама ба касе падар, шавхар е бародар аст ва баъд сиесатмадор. Онхо мутмаинам об аз гулуашон намегузарад. Худованд саломат бошаду ба назди оилааш баргардад.
People, stop writing [hateful] comments; the person didn't do any harm to any of you. He is, first of all, somebody's father, husband, or brother, and only then is he a politician. I am sure his family is suffering now. I pray that he returns to his family healthy.
The responses show that xenophobic attitudes run deep within Tajik society. Bloggers have recently criticized the rise of religious intolerance and negative attitudes towards ethnic minorities among social media users in Tajikistan.
The disappearance that wasn't
Meanwhile, Umarali Quvvatov, the exiled Tajik opposition politician who had allegedly “disappeared” from a detention center in Dubai ten days ago, has been “found”. His lawyer Nikolay Nikolaev posted [ru] on Twitter on March 26:
@NikoDN Умарали Кувватов- ЖИВ!
@NikoDN Umarali Quvvatov is ALIVE!
He added [ru]:
@NikoDN Только что вышел со мной на связь.По его словам сидит в зиндане в полной информационной блокаде.Считает что [власти Дубая] это сделали в угоду тадж.властям.
@NikoDN He has just been in touch with me. He says he is held in a solitary cell, deprived of any communication with the outside world. He believes the Dubai authorities did this at the request of the Tajik authorities.


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Senegal Releases Influential Religious Leader Charged in Disciples’ Murder · Global Voices
Mamadou Cherif Faye

[All links forward to websites in French unless otherwise stated]
Accusations of injustice are flying after a Senegal court granted provisional release to Islamic leader Cheikh Bethio Thioune, a once privileged presidential ally in the predominantly Muslim country who was arrested in April 2012 on charges of ordering his followers to beat two men to death.
Thioune's release on February 27 came a few days after the sheik traveled to France for medical care. Senegal's Minister of Justice Aminata Touré said in a press release that once Thioune returns from France, he must surrender his passport to a magistrate, is barred from organizing or attending meetings and public gatherings, and cannot make statements about the legal proceedings he is facing.
An influential dignitary of the Islamic Mouride brotherhood [en] who backed former President Abdoulaye Wade‘s failed bid for reelection last year, Thioune has remained locked up in prison [en] since his arrest in connection with the murder [en] of two of his disciples, Ababacar Diagne and Bara Sow, allegedly over a dispute at the sheik's home. The case against him has touched off at times violent protests [en] among his supporters.
Global Voices author Marc-André Boisvert speaks about Thioune's involvement during Senegal's 2012 presidential elections in the YouTube video below:
The decision to release Thioune sparked outrage among some Senegalese who feared the move signaled that the government under President Macky Sall [en] wasn't committed to prosecuting previously untouchable figures, people such as Thioune who maintained a large amount of influence in Senegal's political arena.
On the Facebook page Réhabilitons notre Sénégal (Let's rehabilitate Senegal), user Tall Janneh discussed the hypocrisy of the release:
Sacré pays le Sénégal, car un citoyen qui se nomme Béthio Thioune sur lequel pèse 5 chefs d'accusation: “Association de malfaiteurs, détention d’armes sans autorisation, inhumation de cadavres sans autorisation, recel de cadavres et complicité d’homicide” vient de bénéficier d'une liberté provisoire alors que des citoyens avec des faits moins graves se sont vus refuser la liberté provisoire
Good ole Senegal, a country where a citizen named Bethio Thioune who is charged on five counts of  “conspiracy, possession of weapons without authorization, burial of corpses without permission, concealing corpses and accessory to murder” was granted release while people with milder offenses were denied.
He pointed out:
Et cette liberté provisoire fait suite à une “autorisation médicale” d'aller se soigner en France. Alors je me demande s'il n’y avait pas un deal entre la Ministre de la Justice et Béthio  ?
And this provisional release is granted after a “medical clearance” was issued so he can be treated in France. So it begs the question, was there a deal in place between the minister of justice and Bethio ?
Presumably in jest, Ibrahima Datte commented afterward:
c’est le Sénégal qui gagne.
This is Senegal winning.
But Tall Janneh responded quickly, asking:
Que gagne le Sénégal dans cette parodie de justice ?
What exactly is Senegal winning in this parody of justice?
David El Bachir Diallo added:
Ce qui nous intéresse, c’est la suite.  les Sénégalais ont déjà constaté, dénoncé et renvoyé l’ancien régime, par conséquent, fait-il, quelle est la suite juridique que ce nouveau régime va donner au combat déjà mené par le peuple sénégalais ?  Les sénégalais attendent des actes forts contre l’impunité.
What concerns us is the aftermath: the Senegalese people have already put on notice, reported and dismissed the old regime, therefore, what legal proceedings will the new regime choose to undertake after the Senegalese citizens have showed them the way? Senegalese expect strong action against impunity.
Dame Ndiaye was convinced that Thioune's release was part of a deal:
c’est un deal. On a tout compris.
It is a deal. Everyone knows it.
With a great deal of irony, Mohamed Coulibaly went after the judge who made this decision to release Thioune:
Le juge aurait dû au moins revoir les chefs d’inculpation et enlever le crime d’association de malfaiteurs car il est aberrant d’en être poursuivi et être libre même pour une heure de temps. La république est en train de foutre le camp car notre président n’est pas à la hauteur des charges républicaines, preuve pour laquelle il traîne les pieds depuis un an. Un président doit avoir la rigueur et la vigueur pour ne pas flancher, mais cela n’est pas la règle de ce président qui avait tout planifié pour cette mascarade juridique sur le dossier Béthio.
The judge should have at least reviewed the charges and removed the allegation of criminal conspiracy because it is absurd to be charged and then be freed. The republic is now going down the drain because our president is not up to the task as seen in the way that he's been dragging his feet for over a year. A president must have the strength and discipline to persevere but it is not in this president's make-up. He had planned for this Thioune juridical masquerade all along.
Tall Janneh imagined that Thioune's provisional release may become permanent:
Ne soyons pas surpris si Béthio bénéficie d’une liberté totale car la justice peut être aveugle. Le cas de O.J Simpson en est un exemple patent.
Do not be surprised if Bethio is completely free soon as justice can be blinded. The O.J. Simpson case is an obvious example.
AL Diouf was even more fierce in his condemnation of the release:
Foutaises. Rien à attendre de ce régime de fourbes dissimulateurs ! Nous avons déjà beaucoup passé à ces adeptes de l’esbroufe. Mais nous applaudissons des pécadilles  d’effets d’annonce, alors tous les actes posés par la mackysphère allaient à l’encontre du droit et/ou de la morale et surtout de l’intérêt des populations. Il ne nous reste plus qu’à ériger des murs des lamentations partout dans le pays, ça pourrait soulager.
Bollocks. You can't expect anything else from this secretive deceitful regime ! We have already let a lot go with these corrupt men. But we applaud the trifle announcement even though all the actions of the president's entourage went against the law and/or ethics and especially against the interest of the people. We're only left to build walls of laments everywhere in the country, only that could relieve us at this point.

author: Mamadou Cherif Faye


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Brazilian LGBT Advocates Beaten, One Arrested · Global Voices
Raphael Tsavkko Garcia

Photo by Cícero Bezerra shared by Homofobia Não on Facebook.
On March 27, a protest against the recent election of congressman and controversial evangelical preacher Marco Feliciano as chairman of the Committee for Human Rights and Minorities in the Brazilian Deputy Chamber ended with repression against LGBT rights advocates. On Youtube, Rodrigo Grassi shared the moment when one of the protestors was arrested.


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Caribbean: Technology Regulation · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Has technology outpaced regulation in the Caribbean?  ICT Puslse takes a closer look.


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China Government’s Growing Weibo Footprint · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The number of Chinese government Weibo accounts has soared over the past few years and will continue to be so. Via China Digital Times:
The survey by the Chinese Academy of Governance found that by December 20, 2012, a total of 176,700 Weibo accounts had been opened by government organs and officials on the four major domestic Weibo service providers.


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China’s Social Web Fawns Over First Lady  · Global Voices
Abby Liu

China's fashionable first lady Peng Liyuan has not only made the front cover of newspapers home and abroad, but also has attracted a hardcore following on popular Chinese microblogging site Sina Weibo.
Just like her husband Xi Jinping's fan club, these first lady fan clubs devoted to Peng have chronicled the comings and goings of her foreign tour as well as published pictures and videos of her past as a popular singer. Within just a few days, the sites have attracted thousands of followers.
These sites, unlike news coverage of Peng, tend to be of a more personal and funny tone. One page, “Liyuan Fan Club“[zh], commented on Peng's fashion style:
“Ms Xi fans Club” on Weibo
枚红色，靓蓝，总有你喜欢的色彩。
Red or blue, there's always a color you like.
Another site called “China Support Yuan club” [zh] records details of Yuan's life with entertaining and engaging comments.
One Weibo user “Linchun Hongtongxiao” joked:
我的天，第一夫人的粉丝团完爆习大大的@学习粉丝团 啊， 据不完全统计： @学习爱媛 @学媛派第一夫人 @中国后媛团 @丽媛粉丝团 @习太粉丝团 简直了，媳妇儿还得娶漂亮的啊。。
My god, “Learn from Yuan”, “Learn from the First Lady Yuan”, “China Supports Yuan Club”, “Liyuan Fan Club”, “Mrs. Xi Club”…..our first lady has got a lot more fan clubs than Xi himself, looks like one has to marry a pretty wife after all..
HK media believed [zh] the fan clubs on Weibo has a positive effect on politics:
粉丝团的出现某种程度上反过来又推动了民间关注和热议政治的高潮。
To some extent, the appearance of the fan clubs in return has helped bring the public's attention to politics, and also helped promote discussions about politics.
While Peng's stylish homegrown outfits are believed to help promote local designs, HK media analyzed that it also reflects China's more open attitude towards diplomacy:
这一变化，某种程度上也反映了中国外交和政治语境的不断开放和中国政府公关理念的进步。
The change, to some extent, also reflects that China is adopting a more open attitude towards diplomacy and that Chinese government has made progress in public relations.


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PHOTOS: Life Before Myanmar Violence · Global Voices
Rezwan

College graduates in Maiktila, Myanmar. Riots erupted last week which affected the peaceful image of the town. Image by Geoffrey Hiller. Used with permission
Photo-blogger Geoffrey Hiller posts photos on the daily life in Meiktila, in the center of Myanmar between Naypyidaw and Mandalay. The town was peaceful with coexistence of Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims until violence spread between Muslims and Buddhists in recent times.

author: Rezwan


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Beware: North Korea Rockets on Standby · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered rockets on standby to attack US military bases in South Korea in response to recent U.S.-South Korea joint military drills. North Korea Leadership Watch blog post a full script of North Korean state media report on this.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


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Official Fine Dining Goes Underground as China Curbs Excesses · Global Voices
Abby Liu

China's crackdown on extravagance and banqueting has sent official fine dining underground.
Local governments have turned in-house cafeterias into fine restaurants and hosted lavish private dinners in their homes in order to avoid being seen indulging in public, according to South China Morning Post.
Since last November, China's president Xi Jinping has signalled that he plans to cut back on extravagance when he called a halt to excessive banquets. The policy has a catchy slogan: four dishes and one soup.
State media also reported [zh] that in big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, some officials have relocated their banquets into the secluded suburban areas or hidden clubs. During the banquet, officials still drink the expensive Chinese liquor Maotai, but with the bottle's label torn off or with the alcohol poured into a water bottle.
The news of these clandestine feasts was soon picked up by other Chinese media.
Web users railed against the practice. While most criticized the officials’ behavior, some pointed out that the fundamental problem lies in the system itself.
“Qi renshi” wrote [zh] sarcastically on popular microblogging site Sina Weibo:
A screenshot of a sarcastic song about officials pouring Maotai into the water bottle(from youku)
咱们的官员适宜搞地下工作啊！红色传统继承的好啊！
Our officials are good at doing underground work! They followed the red tradition well!
A lawyer and consultant explained [zh] his perspective on the history behind official opulence:
中国自古都有“以官为贵”的传统思想，这样的思想不转变，官们就自以为贵，认为享受宴请是理所当然的。从宴请的目的来看，无非关乎名利。因此如要改变宴请坏风气，什么法律约束先放一边，法制当然要完善，最重要的是先从思想上做起来。
Writer Shen Dongjun compared [zh] officials’ “creative” ways to circumvent the crackdown with their inability to accomplish their work:
相当一部分地方官员，让他们为百姓办点实事、解决问题时通常都“没办法”，而在应对上头的相关条文上，却从不缺乏智慧
If you ask these officials to do something for the public or to solve certain problems, they would say they “can't do anything about it”, but to deal with the crackdown, they are never lacking in wisdom.
Another user “Early Worm” [zh] pointed out the problem lies in the system itself:
真是上有政策，下有对策，说到底根本原因还是制度问题。不改革，说再多什么话都是屁话，做再多什么事都是白做。只要中国人每年都挤破头去考公务员，那制度问题就一直存在，受益的就不会是老百姓。
When there’s a crackdown, they always have a way to deal with it. The fundamental problem is the system itself. Without reform, no matter what the government says or does is useless. As long as Chinese people fight to take the civil servant exam every year, it shows the system has problems.  Ordinary people will not benefit from such a system.
“Yuanfang Guandian” wrote [zh] that the policy against extravagance is just for show:
问题在于反腐口号只是为了安抚民众，并非真要反腐!因为上下一样黑这是众所周知的事实。
The problem is the crackdown is used to manage public opinion, the anti-corruption is not for real. Because both the top level government and the lower level officials are all corrupted.


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Censoring Censorship in China · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The above screen capture of a local news brief has gone viral on Chinese social media yesterday. It said: “Recently Myanmar has unblocked Facebook, the world's most popular social media website. Now only four countries in the world still blocked Facebook, including South Korea, Cuba, Iran and another country.” Other countries is a coded term for China.


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PHOTOS: Street Art Celebrates Chavismo · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and his Bolivarian revolution are kept alive through street art in Mérida, Venezuela. Photo via Venezuelan Analysis, under Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 US)
Ryan Mallett-Outtrim writes in a photo essay for Venezuelan Analysis:
Weeks after his passing, Chavez remains present on every street corner. Not just his face, but his message is encapsulated by street art peppering Merida's public places. Murals celebrate freedom and unity, while speaking out against imperialism and exploitation. Merida's street art are daily reminders of the ongoing revolution.


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Russian Anti-Corruption Blogger Appeals to Readers · Global Voices
Andrey Tselikov

Alexey Navalny, unofficial protest leader, took to his blog [ru] on March 27 to defend himself from what he says are unfair allegations of corruption. Navalny is currently a suspect in two different embezzlement investigations. One of these, the so-called KirovLes case, involves the supposed use of a shell company to steal several million rubles worth of materials from a Kirov Region lumber mill.
Navalny claims that there was no theft — the materials were purchased, and later resold for a profit. According to Navalny, he has no hope of convincing the authorities that he's not a criminal. Instead, he hopes to convince his sizable online audience. For that purpose, he has released for public download [ru] 2 gigabytes of financial documents pertaining to the case, so that anyone can ascertain his innocence on their own. It remains to be seen whether this move will make a difference in his coming trials.

author: Andrey Tselikov


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VIDEO: Student Film on Japan’s Ruthless Job Hunt Goes Viral · Global Voices
Keiko Tanaka

Finding a job in today's tough economy is hard. But for Japanese college students, the country's ultra-competitive recruitment process or “shu-katsu” which starts a year or more before graduation, takes things to a whole new level.
Recruitment Rhapsody, an emotional short animated film that captures the rigid and obstacle-ridden job hunt process Japanese students must endure has gone viral with more than 350,000 views.
The film by art student Maho Yoshida [ja] was uploaded to YouTube on March 9, 2013 and illustrates a regular carefree university student who suddenly finds herself struggling to find a job among a crowd of focused, competitive, and uniformly dressed sycophants.
YouTube user afas afsa looked back to his days of job hunting in this comment [ja]:
afas afsa:
ああこんな感じだったなあ 不気味な就活生の一員になるのは嫌だったけど、内定が無いのも嫌だった
笑われないよう間違えないよう、見よう見まねで、自分も不気味な就活生に成り果てた
「就活が下手」という、ただそれだけの理由で、一体どれぐらいの才能ある若者たちが無能のレッテルを貼られて心を挫かれていったのだろうと思った
Oh, I remember I used to be like this. I hated being a part of the crowd of job-hunters, but I also hated having no job offers. I tried not to make any mistakes, so as not to be laughed at…just do as everyone else does. I was reduced to that condition by the dreadful job search. I wonder how many talented young people must be labeled incompetent and are heart-broken, just because they “lack job-hunting skills”.
While youth unemployment in Japan is not as bad as most of the developed world, most commenters were worried that the rigid social structure, not the economy, made the recruiting process competitive and complex:
Bad Apple:
自分を取り繕うだけで社会から認められるという社会構造がまずゴミだな。
If the only way to gain recognition from society is to conceal your true self, then the structure of society must be rotten in the first place, right?
blackkitty0312:
日本はこういう社会構造だというのを世界から見てどう思うのか？
If this is what the social structure of Japan is like, what must the rest of the world think when they see this?
Students at a recruiting company's briefing session.
Photo by Dick Thomas Johnson (CC BY 2.0) taken on December 11, 2011
kokore012ify:
今の日本社会にはどこか束縛があるような気がする。ビニールハウスに閉じ込められたような。これからの日本はもっと自分という人間を表現できる時代が来るべきだと思っている。動画をうpされたかた、本当に面白い作品でした。
I feel a sense of restriction in Japanese society today, as if I were trapped inside a greenhouse. In the future in Japan, I feel that there should be a time in which you can express yourself as a human being. Thank you for uploading the video, it was very interesting.
However some commenters disagreed that the recruiting system crushed individuality:
Mephist007:
就職するという意味を良く考えよう。貴方に給料を払ってくれるのは、貴方を拘束しているからじゃない。また自分が利益を作り出せる人間であれば会社に所属する必要はない。もはや「働いたら働いた分お金がもらえる」という仕事は存在しない。たとえ数年は無理でも、将来会社の利益を作り出せる人材であると思ってもらえれば、会社は貴方を雇用します。貴方と会社は対等なのです。
Let's think about the meaning of a “job”. If I'm paying you a salary, it's not because I want to restrain you. People who can produce their own profits do not need to belong to a company. The “work, and get money for each minute worked” type of job doesn't exist anymore. Even if it will not happen for a few years, if there are people who will generate profits for the company in the future, the company will employ them. You and the company are equal.
aiueoribabaable:
この動画はよくできていると思います。ただ、「就活はやっぱり馬鹿らしい」みたいなコメントはどうかと。いままでの受験だって偏差値という画一的な価値観に自分を合わせる作業だったし、社会ってそういうものでは？？
それに就活生に同じように求められている社会の基礎的なマナーであって（だって茶髪・長髪で面接に行くのはおかしいでしょう）、その上に個性はいくらでも築けるよ。
I think this video is well-done. But I doubt the wisdom of the “Job-hunting is so ridiculous!” type of comments. In school, the examinations were uniform, and you had to tailor yourself to the standard. Isn't it the same case for society?
The same basic manners of society are required for job-hunting students (it would be odd to go to the job interview with long hair, or dyed hair). Nevertheless, you can still develop your individuality beyond the basic [recruitment] etiquette.
YouTube user posaburo went a step further and suggested that students need to think out of the box:
posaburo:
“模範解答のある社会から、模範解答の無い社会に出るにあたって戸惑う学生。 就活にあたって「こうしなければ」と思っている時点で「模範解答社会=学校」から
抜け出せていない。人の真似をしていたらビジネスはできないよん”
Since students are only taught the “correct answers” while at school, these students are confused when they have to confront the real world, without definite answers. While job-hunting, they are thinking that they must act upon “correct answers”, and they still are not able to escape from the school mentality. You can't do business simply by imitating what other people do, right?

author: Keiko Tanaka


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Trinidad & Tobago: Warner’s Woes · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The headlines in Trinidad and Tobago's mainstream media over the last couple of days have focused on a Reuters exclusive report that Daryan Warner, son of former football executive and FIFA Vice-President (now the country's controversial Minister of National Security) Jack Warner, is allegedly assisting the FBI with its investigations into corruption allegations in the international football governing body.
Social networking sites like Facebook were busy with discussion over the news, but most of the comments were posted on private walls or threads. One exception was the Facebook group PNM Abroad, which is a diaspora organisation that supports the current opposition party, the People's National Movement. Minister Warner is part of the People's Partnership coalition government. Unsurprisingly, most recent activity on the page had to do with all things Warner, including a request by the group's leader, Pearce Robinson, to:
‘LIKE’ and ‘SHARE’ this status if you are willing to JOIN ME outside the MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY to DEMAND the removal of JACK WARNER
The plea got 112 likes but only 22 shares.
In another update, the group asked its followers what they would like to say in a letter to Jack Warner; comments included everything from people quoting Bible verses to calling for his resignation. Ann Mc Carthy wrote:
In light of the current reports in the media, pertaining to your son Daryn Warner and yourself regarding ongoing FBI and IRS investigation, which is now confirmed by law enforcement agencies, it would be prudent of you to do one of the following: (1) Temporary suspension as Minister of National Security and from National Security Council until the investigation has been completed or (2) Resign as Minister of National Security and from National Security Council. This letter is in no way politically or personally motivated, it is of a matter of national interest. Whatever your decision, let it be known that it is of great importance to maintain and retain this nation's image as a whole as one that believes in high morals and integrity at all levels, including those in public office.
Angela Marcelle-Figaro was a bit more direct:
Please do the right thing and resign from politics. You are a disgrace to the nation.
Of course, Twitter was in a flurry as well.
@MiceRaymond: @kristalicia @tv6tnt Sorry but there is only ONE story this morning. #FBIinvestigation #JackWarner why so silent?
@apf17: Smh and this man still continues to manage such an important portfolio….that of national security #madness #jackwarner
One tweet even linked to an article by journalist Andrew Jennings, long known as a whistleblower on corruption within FIFA and archenemy of Jack Warner. The link was also being shared on blogs and news sites.
Bloggers of course, put in their two cents’ worth as well. Diaspora blogger Jumbie's Watch thought a quote by Keith Rowley, Trinidad and Tobago's leader of the opposition, summed it all up:
‘What the country is seeing in the international media is the name of Trinidad and Tobago being portrayed, not by Ato Boldon or by Keshorn Walcott for deeds well done, but by Jack Warner and the Government, who seem to think that there is no such thing as shame.’
The Eternal Pantomime, as of this posting, was the only blog (thus far) to address the report in any kind of detail, taking issue, first of all, with the Prime Minister's response:
Trinidad and Tobago is no longer a banana republic…as of last night with Reuters news service confirming that Warner’s son, and possibly Warner himself, are indeed under investigation, her vague press release in which she says she will wait on an official corroboration is just too hollow for words.
The Prime Minister spent last month in Haiti, right next to the US AG and even members of the FBI. Talk of Daryan Warner’s detention in the US had begun since December 2012 on the day he was caught at the airport with an alleged lump sum of money he had failed to declare at customs…allegedly. And yet in February, with the US AG sharing the same meeting space as you, not a question was asked?
Then you return to Trinidad and the Leader of the Opposition asks you to follow up on these allegations and still nothing?
The post went on to address the impact of all this on the country itself:
You see, we aren’t a banana republic anymore…we are THE BANANA REPUBLIC.
In future when films are being made where the setting or crime taking place in a banana republic, it is Trinidad and Tobago’s name that will be used. The film companies will spend their money and go somewhere safe, and name the location Trinitario…watch and see.
But the question we should be asking ourselves this morning isn’t so much will Kamla fire Jack, or will the Prime Minister act on this latest report.
Rather ask yourself why is the PM not acting?
Why is she continuing to keep Warner on as Minister of National Security?
The blogger concluded:
We in Full Dotish Mode this Easter Weekend, folks…find ah bobolee and beat it!


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Europe for the People, Not the Markets · Global Voices
Elena Arrontes

From March 11 to 17 European citizens organized a week of protests against the austerity measures imposed on the countries of the European Union as a strategy for ending the economic crisis. Known as the European Counter Summit [es], it is the response to the European Summit in which European leaders gathered [es], and an occasion to make the voices heard of those citizens who defend a “Europe for the people and not for the markets“. They also reject the negative effects of the policies of cuts and they demand a series of changes in the European Union. People from different countries have protested in the streets and commented on the events through Twitter under the tag #EuropeanSpring.
Press conference in front of the office of the EU in Madrid. Photo from Desmontando Mentiras. Used with permission.
In Brussels, the protesters have chosen to bring their discontent to the European Council, while in Spain the Counter Summit week entailed a program with different acts that culminated with a protest in the center of Madrid on Saturday, March 16. The manifesto of the Counter Summit published on the blog Desmontando Mentiras (Dismantling Lies) [es] begins by declaring the following:
Defendemos una Europa donde se impongan los derechos de todas y todos frente a los intereses de los mercados. Un nuevo modelo decidido por la ciudadanía a través de la democracia directa, que ponga en el centro a las mujeres y los hombres. Que cambie competitividad por cooperación, individualismo por apoyo mutuo, opresión y patriarcado por igualdad, que haga efectiva la soberanía popular. Una Europa de las personas y los pueblos que se imponga sobre los mecanismos del egoísmo y el canibalismo económico.
Luchamos por la libertad contra la tiranía de falsas democracias y de un sistema económico que solo sirven para perpetuar las desigualdades y las injusticias. La Unión Europea no es un proyecto social, su fin último es aumentar la competitividad de los grandes bancos y empresas en los mercados mundiales, y con ello sus ganancias. La maximización del beneficio capitalista por encima de cualquier derecho social o ecológico. Por ello en Bruselas hay 15.000 lobistas, y la gente de la banca se coloca en altos cargos en los gobiernos nacionales y en las cúpulas de organismos como el FMI o el BCE. Por ello los presidentes y ministros acaban en los consejos de administración de estas empresas y bancos.
We defend a Europe where the rights of the people are held above the interests of the markets. We support a new model chosen by the citizens through direct democracy, which puts men and women at the center of policy. A system that exchanges competition for cooperation, individualism for mutual support, oppression and patriarchy for equality, and that is based on the sovereignty of the people. A Europe of the people that is opposed to the mechanisms of selfishness and economic cannibalism.
We fight for liberty against the tyranny of false democracies and an economic system that only serves to perpetuate inequalities and injustices. The European Union is not a social project, its ultimate goal is to increase the competitiveness of the large banks and companies in world markets, and with it their profits. It is the maximization of capitalist benefit above any social or ecological right. That is why in Brussels there are 15,000 lobbyists, and people from the banks can be found in important positions in national governments and in the leadership of organizations like the IMF or the ECB. That is why presidents and ministers end up on the boards of these companies and banks.
Dozens of platforms, assemblies and organizations united in the group RE-ACCIONA CIUDADANA (Citizen Reaction) are behind the preparation of this European Spring [es] and they explain their reasons in videos like this one:
Poster for the protest on March 16.
Almost at the same time that the people were demanding a different model, the news about the imposition of a withdrawal [a tax] on bank deposits and the following freeze on assets in Cyprus [es] came by surprise. The negotiations for the rescue of Cyprus were concluded late in the night with a plan for restructuring the biggest bank in the country, closing the second banking entity and imposing withdrawals on stockholders, creditors and accounts with more than 100,000 euros.
Facing the harsh rescue conditions, and still seeming that those with small savings would also pay with a withdrawal from their deposits, solidarity with the Cypriot people was quick to come and there were a lot of signals of support and indignation toward the European decision, on Twitter under the hashtag #SomosChipre (WeAreCyprus).
It is hard to believe that European leaders will pay attention to the indignation of the people and their demands made in the Counter Summit . Will the European elections in 2014 be the opportunity to move forward with the changes that the Europeans are asking for, so that they are taken into account, and to alleviate the political crisis on top of the economic one that is taking place in the European Union? Even it the changes in the ballot boxes turn around the austerity measures, citizens should still put pressure on the activity of entities not subject to democratic elections such as the European Central Bank or the International Monetary Fund.

author: Elena Arrontes


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Will Brazil Stem New Tide of Immigration? · Global Voices
Thiana Biondo

This post is part of our International Relations & Security coverage.
Brazilian visa. By TheTransparentEyeball on flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
The global financial crisis, wars and natural disasters have inspired a new wave of immigration to Brazil. According to the Ministry of Justice, the number of legal immigrants entering Brazil rose by 50% over a six month period [pt] in 2012. The majority of immigrants came from Haiti, Bolivia, Spain, France and the United States.
The new arrivals have not gone unnoticed by mainstream media or the general public. Recently, the popular TV show Domingo Espetacular broadcast a report [pt] called “Perseguidos” (‘Hunted’) which tells their story. Brazilian blogger Pedro Migao [pt] praised the report for describing the many different reasons why immigrants are increasingly turning to Brazil.
However, the consequences of the upward trend in immigration remain the subject of heated debate. In an article entitled “The Other Face of a Global Player” on Mundorama.net [pt], Patricia Martuscelli says that while ‘old Europe’ is creating tougher immigration policies amid economic woes, Brazil has yet to come up with a decisive policy of its own:
É possível analisar que, frente à impossibilidade de atender completamente as demandas de sua própria população, seria difícil para o governo lidar com os custos internos e internacionais advindos de sua posição como global player, principalmente com a situação dos imigrantes e refugiados. Contudo, quanto mais o Brasil demorar em tratar dessas questões, mais elas se agravarão, pressionando a sua população.
It is possible to deduct that due to its inability to fully meet the demands of its own people, it would be difficult for the government to deal with domestic and international costs arising from its position as global player, particularly in relation to immigrants and refugees. Nevertheless, the more Brazil delays addressing these issues, the more it will get worse, putting pressure on its population.
Another blogger, Patrícia Mendonça, says the Brazilian state should accommodate refugees despite widespread poverty:
Ao contrário do que veem tentando nos fazer acreditar, o brasileiro continua vivendo em estado de miséria em muitos pontos do país. Estão aí as secas em várias regiões para mostrar. Assim como estão as favelas… A aparente ascensão das classes D e E vem do crédito oferecido por empresas privadas (santas Casas Bahia) mas muito em breve acarretarão em aumento cada vez maior do endividamento das famílias…
Fica uma pergunta: Temos como acolher esses refugiados? Temos como oferecer dignidade?
Temos, uma dignidade mínima igual a de nossos mais pobres e com certeza maior do que a que teriam em seus países.
In spite of what they will have us believe, Brazilians are still living in a state of misery in many parts of the country. We see droughts in various regions. And there are the slums (…) The apparent rise of the D and E class is the result of the credit offered by private companies (holy Casas Bahia), but will very soon lead to an even greater rise in household debt…
One question remains: Do we have the means to welcome those refugees? Can we offer them dignity?
We have a minimal level of dignity among our most poor, that certainly is greater than what they would have in their own countries.
Brazil has around 4,500 refugees from 75 countries [pt] with the biggest groups coming from Angola and Colombia. As in many other countries, refugees and immigrants in Brazil are among the most vulnerable members of society. Yet Brazil is nevertheless attempting to take concrete steps to protect immigrants from exploitation. In São Paulo, for example, a law was recently passed to revoke the licenses of establishments found to be using slave labor. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees in the Americas has developed the “Amplify your Voice” program to help empower women who have been victims of violence as shown in video in Portuguese below:
Brasilia also expects the influx of immigrants to boost the national economy. A lack of skilled professionals is considered a major factor holding back Brazil’s economic development, a predicament that the government hopes to overcome by attracting suitably qualified immigrants [pt] to the country. The development of successful immigration policies may, therefore, make a telling contribution to Brazil’s reputation as an emerging global power.
This post and its translations to Spanish, Arabic and French were commissioned by the International Security Network (ISN) as part of a partnership to seek out citizen voices on international relations and security issues worldwide. This post was first published on the ISN blog, see similar stories here.

author: Thiana Biondo


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Crash that Killed Cuban Democracy Advocate Still Shrouded in Mystery · Global Voices
Ellery Roberts Biddle

The car accident that killed democracy advocate Oswaldo Payá has been shrouded in mystery and misinformation since it happened in eastern Cuba last July.
Payá, who dedicated his life to promoting human rights and democratic governance in Cuba, died along with his colleague, advocate Harold Cepero. Angel Carromero and Jens Aron Modig, European politicians who were visiting Cuba to support Payá's efforts, survived the crash.
Oswaldo Paya, at his home. Screenshot from video by Tracey Eaton, taken with photographer's permission.
While state press and Cuban officials [es] reported that Carromero, who was at the wheel, lost control of the car and hit a tree, rumors of a second car began to circulate. Though the two Europeans survived the crash, weeks passed before either survivor gave an account of the accident. Having endured decades of harassment and threats on her father’s life, Payá’s daughter Rosa Maria publicly stated that she suspected foul play. Cuban authorities charged Carromero with vehicular manslaughter; he was put on trial in October, found guilty, and sentenced to four years in prison. Carromero also delivered a statement, before the press, confirming authorities’ version of the story.
Given that the passengers killed in the accident were in the back seat of the car, the claim that the car crashed into a tree seems unlikely.
This month, Angel Carromero, who served jail time in Cuba and was then (with assistance from the Spanish government) granted permission to complete his sentence in Spain, gave an interview to The Washington Post. The newspaper’s website does not specify who conducted the interview.
In this new account of the accident and its aftermath, Carromero describes being followed by a series of strange cars, the last of which crashed into the back of the car, killing Payá and Cepero, who were riding in the backseat. Carromero recalls being taken to a hospital and later asked to sign the “official” account of the accident and recite the account before members of the press.
Carromero says that military officers intimidated him, suggesting that he would face further trouble if he did not stick to the official version of the story.
One of them told me that what I had told them had not happened and that I should be careful, that depending on what I said things could go very well or very badly for me.
He also describes meager prison conditions and claims that while he was in the hospital, personnel unnecessarily sedated him. He believes this may have caused his memory of the incident to lapse.
Phil Peters, US-Cuba policy expert and author of The Cuban Triangle, is doubtful that those following the case will find Carromero’s account credible:
…[Carromero’s] conduct to date has frustrated those that most want to pin Paya’s death on the Cuban government, and the presentation of the case – slow, late, and piecemeal, with Modig consistently useless – has limited its impact.  My strong guess is that skeptics of both accounts are not going to get satisfaction.
Carromero claims that when they saw a vehicle following them, Paya and Cepero said it was “from ‘la comunista.’”  Peters notes that this doesn't sound right — Cubans do not colloquially refer to authorities this way. “La comunista” would be a pretty general way to refer to just about anyone in Cuba, a Communist country.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel García-Margallo says he has no reason to believe Carromero. Spanish daily El Pais notes that the Spanish government has handled the case delicately, likely in the interest of preserving Cuba-Spain relations and protecting other Spanish citizens who are awaiting trial in Cuba.
Havana Times reports that García-Margallo has said that Carromero should present this information before the court. At his trial, Carromero gave what he now claims was a false description of the accident.
Havana Times blogger Harold Dilla also expressed skepticism about Carromero’s account. He noted that people on all sides of the incident seem to have given accounts and spread information that is not entirely truthful– the lack of impartial, thorough reporting on the incident has made the situation all the worse. Dilla wrote,
The unfortunate death of Oswaldo Paya is another example of the morbidities that come with the lack of information openness in Cuba and the lack of independent response channels.
Although the Cuban government acted to provide rapid and technically supported information on the facts of the incident, I don’t think it was sufficient for anyone, if we consider that Paya was always considered an enemy and harassed accordingly.
Dilla also supported the Paya family’s request for an independent investigation of the case and argued that “the Cuban government should, in the name of decency, be obligated to allow that.”
Many have called for an independent investigation of the accident; the Payá family has sought assistance on the matter from the United Nations. But even this may be a challenge. Agustín López casts doubt [es] on the efficacy of such an effort
¿Qué tribunal internacional tendrá la suficiente potestad para realizar una investigación imparcial y por qué métodos obtendrán pruebas periciales que no sean fraudulentas? ¿Se dignara algún cubano que conozca la verdad a arriesgar la vida en una transparente declaración?
What international court will have sufficient power to conduct an impartial investigation and what methods will be used to obtain credible evidence that will not be fraudulent? Will any Cuban who knows the truth to deign to risk his or her life by making a transparent statement?
In the wake of the accident, a diverse range of Cuban voices — even those who didn’t agree with Payá — expressed appreciation for his efforts to push for reform on the island. Payá was internationally recognized as one of Cuba's most pragmatic, forward-thinking advocates for freedom of expression, freedom of association, and other fundamental rights on the island. For Payá's family and those who supported his work, it is unfortunate that his death has been marked on all sides by layers of misinformation and mistrust.

author: Ellery Roberts Biddle


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History of Myanmar’s Movie Industry · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Ei Ei Su writes about the history of Myanmar's movie industry beginning with the country's first silent film in 1920, up to the 1940s when the industry was producing about 400 films, until the army takeover in 1962.

author: Mong Palatino


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Majority Religion In A Country Is A Curse · Global Voices
Rezwan

Sri Lankan blogger Patta Pal Boru opines that the majority religion in a country is a curse as the simple weight of the established religion (inertia) gets people thinking about the wrongs rather than the rights favoring the fringe or the other religions.


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Russian Photographer Unearths Ghost Slum · Global Voices
Andrey Tselikov

A photo-blogger based in the city of Voronezh, located in central Russia not far from the Ukranian border, has taken a series of striking photographs [ru] (including an animated panorama) of a small, forgotten “slum” hiding in the center of an otherwise modern and populous urban area. The “slum”, which turns out to be mainly abandoned buildings, looks like a set for a WWII movie — ironic in a city that was rebuilt after heavy destruction during the war.


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Status of Vietnam’s Civil Society Organizations · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Asia Foundation estimates that there are about 2,000 Civil Society Organizations or CSOs in Vietnam. It recently published a survey on Vietnam's CSOs:
The nature of civil society in Vietnam is muddled by complex regulations and quasi-governmental organizations claiming to be, and sometimes behaving like, independent CSOs


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Tanzania: Building Collapses in Dar Es Salaam · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Pernille shares photos of a building that collapsed in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania on Friday, 29 March 20013: “Nearby is a football field used by children. Over 60 persona, including children, are reported missing according to ITV. No confirmations at this early stage.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Thailand: Mobile App for Autistic · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Autism Foundation of Thailand has developed a mobile application known as ‘True Autistic’ aimed at enhancing the “physical and mental development of the autistic, and provide guidance to their parents.” Since its launching, it has scored almost 200,000 downloads. According to a report written by Thanya Kunakornpaiboonsiri, there are about 370,000 autistic people in Thailand but only up to 12,000 people are able to access government health programs.