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Benin’s President Opens Door to Third Term  · Global Voices
Sinatou Saka

[All links forward to French-language web pages.]
Much ink continues to be spilt over the question of revisions to the West African country of Benin's constitution.
The country's President Yayi Boni has proposed an amendment to the constitution that would twist the law which puts a ban on presidential third terms to allow him to run one more time in the next presidential elections. Boni already has won two presidential elections in 2006 and 2011. In the past, the president of the republic has made his views on the subject very clear on several occasions, stating that he will not be standing for election in 2016.
Boni submitted a draft proposal of the decree to the National Assembly on June 6, 2013 and wanted a vote on it four days later, leaving only four days for members of the parliament to review the proposal.
A number of political players and public opinion accuse Boni of hurrying the amendment for his own political gain. Observers note that Boni got rid of a potential nuisance in Robert Dossou, who is former president of the Constitutional Court and who vehemently opposed any changes to the constitution.
In principle, major changes in the constitution are still quite unlikely because the full draft text presented to the National Assembly clearly states that:
Les options fondamentales suivantes énoncées à la Conférence Nationale des forces vives de la Nation de février 1990 et considérées comme socles de notre Constitution seront préservées. Il s’agit de : – l’Etat de droit , – la démocratie libérale; – la forme républicaine de l’Etat; – le multipartisme intégral; – la nature présidentielle du régime; – la limitation du mandat du Président de la République; – l’âge des candidats à l’élection du Président de la République.
The following options, as laid down in the National Conference of Active Forces of the Nation in February 1990, and considered to constitute the very core of our Constitution, will be retained. They are: – a State of Law – a liberal democracy; – A State based on republican principles; – a full multiparty system; – a presidential regime; – a time-limited Presidential mandate; – the age of candidates on election of the President of the Republic.
The crest of Benin courtesy of Wikipedia CC-BY-3.0
Furthermore, in an attempt to reassure the people of Benin and to guarantee a large consensus, the president of the National Assembly called for a consultation process to be organised on the content of the draft revisions to the constitution, stating that:
ce projet de loi portant sur la relecture de la loi fondamentale du Bénin respecte les engagements prises par la nation béninoise à la Conférence des Forces vives de la nation de février 1990, en ce qui concerne le mandat présidentiel de cinq ans renouvelable une fois, la limite d'âge de 40 ans au moins et 70 ans au plus pour tout candidat à l'élection présidentielle et enfin le type présidentiel du régime politique.   Outre ces acquis démocratiques, souligne le président du Parlement du Bénin, ce projet de loi portant révision de la Constitution béninoise du 11 décembre 1990, comporte trois principales innovations répondant parfaitement aux préoccupations de la classe politique béninoise, notamment la création et la constitutionnalisation de la Cour des comptes, la constitutionnalisation de la Commission électorale nationale autonome et enfin l'imprescriptibilité des crimes économiques dans le cadre de la moralisation de la vie publique.
This draft legislation, relating to the review of Benin's fundamental legislation, honours the commitments undertaken by the nation of Benin at the National Conference on Active Forces of the Nation in February 1990 in terms of the five-year presidential mandate, renewable only once, with a lower age limit of 40 and the upper age limit of 70 for all presidential candidates and, lastly, the nature of the presidential political regime. Aside from these democratic gains, the Benin's Parliamentary President has stressed that this draft legislation, seeking to revise Benin's 11 December 1990 Constitution, also brings with it three main innovations which respond perfectly to the preoccupations of Benin's political classes, most notably the creation and constitutionalisation of the Auditor's court, the constitutionalisation of the national, independent Electoral Commission and, finally, immunity from accountability for economic crimes in public office.
Ministers are very supportive of the president as operation “hands on my constitution”, referring to the slogan “hands off my constitution” used by opponents of the revisions, was launched on June 20, 2013 by government minister Beniot Degla with the aim of supporting the head of state's reforms. However, all of this has fallen well short of reassuring public opinion. On his blog, Benoit Illassa accuses the president of wanting to cripple Benin's democracy:
Selon les propos d'Abdourhamane Touré,journaliste, qu'il rapporte,Un autre coup est en préparation afin qu’il se donne les moyens de continuer au-delà de 2016 l’exercice du pouvoir d’Etat. On a vu cela venir. Le premier à l’avoir flairé, c’est Me Robert Dossou, ancien président de la Cour constitutionnelle. Jugé pendant toute sa présidence d’être aux ordres de Yayi Boni, il a refusé de donner carte blanche à une révision opportuniste de la constitution du 11 décembre 1990. Sans doute pour se venger et se mettre en position de force pour aller jusqu’au bout de ses ambitions, le président de la République ne l’a pas reconduit lors de la désignation des membres du gouvernement pour siéger à la 5ème mandature de la Cour constitutionnelle.
According to journalist Abdourhamane Touré, another coup is being prepared in order to allow him to retain State power beyond 2016. We saw that coming. The first person to suspect something was lawyer Robert Dossou, former president of the Constitutional court. Believed throughout his presidency to be under the control of Yayi Boni, he refused to give carte blanche to an opportunistic revision of the 11 December, 1990 constitution. By way undoubtedly of retaliation and to manoevre himself into a stronger position to fulfill his ambitions, the president of the republic did not renew his mandate following nomination by members of the government to chair a fifth session of the constitutional court.
The blogger also invites the president to refrain from touching so much as a single comma of the constitution. He thinks “the danger does not lie in modifying article 42 of our Constitution, but in the deft alterations with will pave the way for a new republic. And the journalist is not alone in his condemnation of this revision, politician Janvier Yahouedehou has also said no, and with reason:
Le contexte régional ne s’y prête pas. Modifier la Constitution de son pays au cours du deuxième et dernier mandat est la nouvelle trouvaille de certains chefs d’Etat africains pour s’éterniser au pouvoir. La stratégie est simple et reste la même : • Dans un premier temps, annoncer au peuple son engagement ferme à ne  pas briguer un autre mandat pour endormir les esprits ; • Dans un deuxième temps, utiliser des arguments comme la modernisation et la création de nouvelles institutions afin d’honorer des obligations vis-à-vis de partenaires financiers, etc. comme prétextes pour modifier la loi  fondamentale avec comme conséquence une nouvelle République, permettant de facto au chef de l’Etat sortant de se repositionner pour d’autres nouveaux mandats. Les exemples font aujourd’hui légion. 3- Le contexte national ne s’y prête pas. Il y a des besoins plus urgents: – En 2006 vous aviez promis aux béninois l’autonomie énergétique, où en sommes-nous 7 ans après au regard des graves situations de délestage ? – En 2006, vous aviez promis aux béninois, de transformer notre pays en un village numérique, où en sommes-nous sachant que le Bénin est classé avant-dernier en termes de qualité de l’internet par socialnetlink ? ….
The regional context does not lend itself to this. Modification of a country's constitution in the middle of a second and final mandate is the latest discovery by those African heads of state wanting to remain in permanent power. The strategy is simple and always the same: Initially, in order to quell any concerns, make a public announcement firmly stating a commitment to not seek a future mandate; Then, by way of pretext for modifying a fundamental law, use arguments such as modernisation and the creation of new institutions that will make it possible to honour obligations to financial partners, etc. There are now innumerable examples. 3 – the current situation within the country does not lend itself to this. There are more pressing concerns: – In 2006 you promised energy autonomy to the people of Benin, but seven years on, where are we on the question of power cuts? – In 2006 you promised the people of Benin that the entire country would go digital, where are we on that, bearing in mind that Benin is classified by socialnetlink as second last in terms of the quality of it's Internet provision? …
For others in opposition such as Charles Toko, an influential writer and Robert Dossou, former president of the constitutional court, a revision cannot be allowed. Dossou was removed from his position within the court because he decided: “[…] these are not things that can be subject to referendum, namely the fundamental options of the February 1990 National Conference: […] the five-year presidential term, renewable only once…” and has thus sought to disrupt the despicable designs of the presidential circle.
Benin's Internet users are also voicing their refusal to accept revisions to the constitution and discussion is ongoing, especially on Twitter:
“@lionelchobli: Tout le monde est en Révision au #Benin. Les enfants pour les examens et les papas pour la Constitution !
“@lionelchobli: Everyone is being tested in #Benin. Children for exams, dads for the Constitution!
“@domingo_inc: Stop! yayi boni pas de revision de constitution au Benin”
“@domingo_inc: Stop it Yayi Boni no revision to the Benin constitution”
“@Nangnin: Qu'est-ce j'apprends? Que le PR du Bénin veut changer la constitution pour se maintenir? J'espère que le bon sens l'en découragera #civ2010 “
“@Nangnin: What do I hear? That the president of Benin wants to change the constitution to keep power? I hope common sense will deter him #civ2010 “
“@Nangnin: @wirr2011 tu poses la bonne question: est-il opportun, nécessaire de modifier la constitution? #benin@macmady@freeci3“
@Nangnin: @wirr2011 good question: Is it timely or even necessary to change the constitution? #benin@macmady@freeci3“

author: Sinatou Saka


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PHOTO: Bloody Protests Outside Brazilian Bus Baron Wedding · Global Voices
Thiana Biondo

“Miss Baratinha took the bus to come to the Copacabana Palace!” Photo: Mídia NINJA / Luiz Roberto Lima (Used with permission)
While the wedding of Beatriz Barata (the granddaughter of the owner of the largest bus company in Rio de Janeiro) with Francisco Feitosa Filho (heir of the same industry conglomerate in the state of Ceará) was being celebrated inside the luxurious Copacabana Palace, outside the hotel, a humorous protest ended up with wounded people, as journalist Hildegard Angel reports here [pt].

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Thiana Biondo


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Cave Temple in Sri Lanka  · Global Voices
Rezwan

Uditha Wijesena informs that Dambulla cave temple is the best preserved cave temple in Sri Lanka.

author: Rezwan


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VIDEO: Historic Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque Bombed in Syria · Global Voices
Rami Alhames

Protect Syrian Archaeology posted photographs on its Facebook page [en, ar] and videos on YouTube, recording the moment the historic Khalid ibn al-Walid mosque (7th century) was bombed in Homs, Syria.
Homs – Results of the bombing of Khalid ibn al-Walid mosque#حمص – أثار القصف الذي تعرض له مسجد الصحابي خالد بن الوليد”
This 5-minute video takes you inside the mosque as a fire rages in some parts of the building and this 8-minute video captures destruction from outside, with smoke rising from the building:
The video is dated July 9, 2013.

author: Rami Alhames


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Honduran Indigenous Leader Killed · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

This is a story of exploitation of Honduras’ natural resources, and of popular opposition to their destructive effects, largely ignored outside activist media outlets.
RAJ in Honduras Culture and Politics blogs about the murder of Tomás García, an indigenous Lenca COPINH (Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras) leader. COPINH has been demonstrating against the construction of a dam by a Chinese company.

author: Silvia Viñas


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@InsakaChat: Twitter-Based Platform For Zambians to Speak on Social Issues · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

U.S.-based Zambian writer and blogger Bwalya Chileya has created a Twitter-based space for Zambians at home and abroad to discuss social issues and learn from each other.
Global Voices Online recently caught up with Chileya about how the platform is giving Zambians “a safe place to speak their truths”.
Global Voices Online (GV): Will you briefly tell us about yourself?
Bwalya Chileya (BC): My name is Bwalya Chileya, otherwise known as @MissBwalya on Twitter and my blog, Miss Bwalya Writes. I’m a Zambian writer and blogger currently based in the U.S. Professionally, I’m a project manager with a background in Economics. I was raised in Lilongwe, Malawi and Lusaka, Zambia.
GV: What exactly is InsakaChat? What does the word Insaka mean?
BC: InsakaChat is Twitter based platform for people to discuss social issues. It’s a space for people to speak up on issues, share ideas and ultimately learn from others. The idea was borne out of a need to engage with fellow Zambians on Twitter on topics that aren’t solely focused on politics and politicians.
Zambian writer and blogger MissBwalya
I firmly believe that we are more similar than we are different and when we come together to discuss or even problem solve issues that affect many of us, we’re better for it.
Insaka takes place every Sunday at 6 p.m. Central African Time. While many of the topics are targeted at a Zambian audience we welcome contributions from anyone with interest in the topic at hand.
The word Insaka comes from the Bemba language (spoken in Northern Zambia) and means “a place to gather.” It’s derived from the verb isa “come.”
GV: Who is involved in this initiative?
BC: I’m the primary lead on this platform. I also have support from veteran Zambian journalist Laura Miti (@LauraMiti) who has served as moderator when needed.
GV: How do you run Insaka? Who suggests topics for discussion?
BC: I typically announce the topic for discussion on Tuesday or Wednesday, and spend time between then and Sunday advertising and reminding regular contributors to brainstorm and come prepared.
On the day of, Sunday, I spend much of the time during the 1.5-2 hours moderating the discussion. This is done by asking questions and following up on different threads, and helping steer the conversation based on what points are being raised. I follow this up by compiling a sampling of the tweets into Storify. Storify is handy because it helps people who missed the discussion to catch up, and also serves to educate people on what exactly we do on Insaka.
Topics are typically crowd sourced from folks on Twitter; these have been sent via email, WhatsApp, and direct message. I have these compiled into a list along with some of my ideas.
GV: How many topics have you discussed so far?
BC: As of July 14, we have had ten Insaka discussions.
GV: Do you use any other tools apart from Twitter for this initiative?
BC: Twitter is the primary tool we are using for the actual discussions, and Storify to compile tweets thereafter to share with friends.
GV: What has been the most popular topic so far?
BC: Our post popular topic so far has been the two-part series we did on changes in traditional Zambian marriage processes. We discussed the practice of lobola [dowry], and other ceremonies that lead up to marriage including icilanga mulilo (when the groom is formally welcomed to the bride’s family by introduction to foods typically prepared in the bride’s family), kitchen parties (a take on the western-style bridal shower) and weddings. Much has evolved over time in these various practices and it was interesting to see what people thought about the changes and the value they still have today.
GV: Are most participants living in Zambia or in the Diaspora?
BC: At this time it’s a pretty even split – 50/50. This is good because the intent is to engage Zambians both at home and abroad in the various topics because we have much to learn and share among us.
GV: What do you intend to accomplish with this initiative?
BC: What I hope to accomplish with Insaka is giving people a safe place to speak their truths. Some of the topics we have discussed are quite contentious such as the treatment of domestic workers in our culture. These are topics we often talk about among friends and in our homes but not always in the open. By bringing these to the fore I believe we challenge ourselves and others to think and act differently. And ultimately people have a voice. We don’t always have to agree on issues but at least having honest discussions is a start.
One point I always try to emphasis, is “what are the next steps?” What can we do with the resolutions we reach to take our words to actions? There is definite interest from my generation of Zambians to be more than talkers and be part of the needed changes in our society, and I see Insaka as being just one vehicle for us to share ideas, collaborate and start projects offline.
GV: Any future plans?
BC: I’m currently engaged in conversations to take Insaka to a radio platform. There is interest to make the discussions open to a wider audience which radio provides. There are number of issues to consider – the correct program format to facilitate robust conversations, scheduling, and other technicalities to have the program streaming online and live on radio simultaneously. If this works out, a radio show would not replace the Twitter platform but rather complement it.
Follow @InsakaChat (#Insaka) on Twitter and Storify.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Female Blogger Jailed in Iran · Global Voices
Farid

Jonbeshe Sabz reports that Fariba Pajooh,a reformist journalist and blogger, was jailed last week. Her father hopes “she gets released soon”.

author: Farid


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Ireland to Cancer Patients: Not Dying? No Financial Aid. · Global Voices
Stanislas Jourdan

The anonymous Irish blogger behind the blog “Pieces of me” sends an open letter to the Irish minister of Health after the ministry decided to cut off medical reimbursements for cancer treatments, “unless their diagnosis is terminal.” As a cancer survivor, the blogger writes a poignant pamphlet:
My “not such a bad diagnosis at all”, brought me to my knees in ways you could only know if you yourself had been handed one. My  ”not such a bad diagnosis at all”, robbed me of my last few fertile years. My self esteem. My self worth. My mental health. My joy. And replaced it with a fear that seeps deep into your bones and probably won’t leave me for a very long time.

author: Stanislas Jourdan


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PHOTO: Muslim Brotherhood Surrounds National Security in Cairo  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Netizens and journalists are reporting that thousands of Muslim Brotherhood members and supporters are heading towards the National Security building in Nasr City now.
Muslim Brotherhood supporters surround the National Security headquarters in Nasr City, Cairo. Photograph shared by @amrsalama on Twitter
Amr Salama El-qazaz shares this photograph.
آلاف المتظاهرين يحاصرون مقر مباحث أمن الدولة الآن بمدينة نصر #رابعة_العدوية pic.twitter.com/oxBFRmzYrN
@amrsalama: Thousands of protesters are surrounding the National Security headquarters in Nasr City now

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Protests Crush Nuclear Complex Plans in Southern China · Global Voices
Ronald Yick

Following three days of continuous protests, it seems the Heshan municipal government in Jiangmen city has abandoned its plans to construct a massive nuclear fuel complex.
Some believe that this victory – confirmed in a written document  [zh] released on July 14, 2013 – is only temporary. They worry the project may simply prop up somewhere else, near the highly populated Pear River Delta in Southern China.
The Heshan government made several concessions after hundreds of local residents took to the street on July 12 enraged by the high-risk project. At first, the government tried to negotiate to extend their consultation period to 20 days. But this move failed to pacify local residents and at a press conference on July 13 they announced, “with respect to public opinion, the project would not be approved” [zh], even though the city government had already signed the initial agreement with China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC).
Protesters took to the street to oppose construction of the proposed nuclear fuel plant on July 12, 2013. Image from Zhu Kunling's weibo.
But some people are not satisfied with the government's claim. In the past, Chinese local governments have adopted delay-tactics like this to pacify people's anger. For example, in Dalian, the city government suspended the PX factory after thousands took to the streets in 2011 in the “Not-In-My-Back-Yard” campaign, but the factory was restored back to normal operations after a few months [zh].
“Little bee” (@小蜜蜂-V) and “Little Eaffen” (@Eaffen细细)'s comments on Sina Weibo:
小蜜蜂-V：看了新闻发布会，但只字没提到取消两只，只是说在社会未达共识时，不立项，不动工。认误解成取消了？
“Little bee”: Having seen the press conference, (the spokesperson) did not mention ‘cancel’, only said ‘as long as there is no agreement in the society, the project will not be approved and built. (Have we) misunderstood?
Eaffen细细：真的假的？不立项什么意思？应该明确表明以后都不会建才行！
Little Eaffen: Is it true? What does it mean by ‘not approve’? We only accept ‘not to build the plant forever’!
Some netizens spelled out that the halt is just a ‘delay tactic’ [zh]:
张二飞flyfan：又不知道哪个内陆城市要倒霉了
Zhang Erfei flyfan: Wonder if which inland city will be unlucky.
就是爱摩托：会不会过几天又宣布：鹤山核燃料项目取消，经专家研究，决定将项目迁到新会～
Damn like motorcycle: Will (the government) announce that the Heshan nuclear processing plant is cancelled, and with research from professionals, the project will be relocated to Xinhui (another Guangdong city)?
With anger and distrust, hundreds of local residents continued to rally on the third day on July 14 demanding a written official document on the cancellation of the project. The city's two vice mayors arrived at the protest spot, Donghu Square  to reassure the public of their decision. Still people could not accept their verbal promise and they marched to the municipal government building, where the secretary of municipal Party committee showed them a written notice of the project's cancellation. They cheered and claimed victory.
The government document on the cancellation of the nuclear plant project [zh].
However, the written document has not cleared all skepticism as the contract signed between Heshan government and CNNC involves 37 billion RMB (6 billion USD) investment. So far, the CNNC has not announced any change in its plan. Some are worried that the project will eventually find a home in the Pearl River Delta. For example, “ocean_Joe” said:
：凡事要三思而行。zf为何会引进该项目？为何不在咨询广大民众后才考虑引进？为何要在13日内决定一项可能会影响几百年甚至几千年嘅事？今日核息，明天会不会又有新花样？请不要触碰到广大江门以及珠三角人民的底线，珠三角是我家。
Ocean_Joe: We have to think carefully. Why did the government introduce the project? Why wasn't it introduced after public consultation? Why did (the government) intend to make a decision that affects our lives and our offsprings’ lives, in only 13 days? The dispute has been settled, but who will know [when or where] the project might start again in the future? Please do not test the baseline of the people of Jiangmen and Pearl River Delta. My home belongs to the Delta.

author: Ronald Yick


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Artists Capture a Bloody Ramadan in Syria · Global Voices
Thalia Rahme

Mubarak, (blessed) kareem (generous) or peaceful, are the usual words that come to mind during Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting when families and communities joyfully come together to pray and break their daily fasts.
But for artists depicting the holy month in Syria – blood, violence and helplessness are the only words that seem to fit. Since protests first began in March 2011 during the Arab Spring, Ramadan in Syria has not been mubarak, or kareem, and especially not peaceful.
What is really going on in Syria? Nobody can really tell. But what everyone can see are the countless people being killed, dozens kidnapped and hundreds forced to flee their homes everyday.
Ramadan in Syria according to Osama Hajjaj
The UN recently said that the Syrian conflict is “drastically deteriorating” with up to 5,000 people dying every month. And it seems Ramadan this year will be no different than any other month. It might even be worse. Both camps seem to have turned a deaf ear to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's plea to stop violence. To add insult to injury, food and medicine prices are soaring. According to The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA):
@Sana_English: #Syria‘s Health Minister: Decision to raise medicine prices intended to preserve medicine security
Homs is under siege, so is Aleppo and many other cities across the war-torn country.
Syrian Amal Hanano summarizes the situation in one of her tweets:
@AmalHanano: On the 1st day of Ramadan, #Aleppo is starving. Dollar is up to 300 Syrian Pounds. No food or medicine to be found. #Syria
Even religious buildings have not been spared.
@GotFreedomSY: A Mosque I could once see from our balcony in Syria is now burning to ruins. One of many Mosques the Assad regime is destroying in Ramadan.
Syrian artists also to depict the situation through many works of art, available online.
Here's how Tammam Azzam draws the famous Ramadan Crescent or moon:
Ramadan Kareem from Tammam Azzam
And here's sad Suhoor (the meal people have before they start their fast at dawn) by artist Hicham Chemali posted on “Syrian Revolution Caricature” Facebook Page:
There is no one left to wake up for suhoor (meal at sunrise before the daily fast) in Syria
Maher Abul Husn sees a Ramadan Hazeen (Sad) in Syria. A Ramadan Crescent dripping blood alongside a full moon made of the names of Syrian towns. Photo posted on Art and Freedom Facebook Page.
See how Bashar [Syria's president] is distributing Food for the Iftar.
During the month of Ramadan cannons are fired to indicate to people the time to break their fast and have their meal. In this caricature, posted on Basma Souria Page (Syrian Fingerprint), Bashar is seen bombing Syrian towns and cities
From Jordan, caricaturist Osama Hajjaj also sympathizes with the plight of his Syrian neighbors and brothers.
But despite everything, Syrians still resort to humor, even if it is black, to carry on with their lives. This photo is going viral on Twitter and on Facebook.
We apologize this year to Arabs for not broadcasting “Bab Al Hara” [The Neighborhood's Gate] series (one of the popular series in the Arab world, usually aired during Ramadan) because Bashar hasn't left any Hara (Neighbourhood)

author: Thalia Rahme


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Reporters Break Their Silence on Trinidad & Tobago Press Freedom Confusion · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

In the latest twist to the press freedom fiasco at the Trinidad Guardian, the three reporters who walked off the job last Wednesday (Dr. Sheila Rampersad, Anika Gumbs-Sandiford and Denyse Renne) have issued a press release detailing their version of events – and they make a point of saying they stand behind their initial claim that “there was a significant threat to press freedom; that threat wore the garments of political interference and its dimensions included, importantly, the sidelining of the Editor in Chief (EIC), Ms Judy Raymond.”
Their statement, released late yesterday in response to this article by Judy Raymond, began by explaining why they chose to speak out now:
We spoke publicly on the day of the walkout and Dr Sheila Rampersad spoke again on I95.5FM the morning after (Thursday July 11). A comment was solicited by and given to the Trinidad Express newspaper on the same day (Thursday July 11).
We have made no other public comment.
Following Ms Raymond’s statement published in the T&T Guardian on July 15, we have decided to break our dignified silence in the interest of our professional credibility and personal well-being.
It also provided a bit more background on the circumstances leading to their cry of “attack on press freedom”:
Critical to understanding the events leading up to the Wednesday walkout is a meeting that occurred on Tuesday (July 9) at 2.15 pm.
At that meeting, we were told by the MD and EIC that they had both returned from a meeting at the ANSA McAl head office, that there were many concerns with what was perceived by the Guardian Media Ltd’s board of directors to be our biased news reporting, and that things had come to a head. Two examples were mentioned: the Sunday Guardian lead of July 7 which carried the headline ‘Millions Leaving T&T’ and the T&T Guardian’s lead of July 4 under the headline ‘Rowley Escapes.’
The “Rowley Escapes” headline and stories, however, generated much debate between editors, who defended our representation of the story, and the MD. Flipping between pages one and three of that day’s paper, the MD said, essentially, that our coverage of the story was biased in favour of Dr Keith Rowley and Mr Colm Imbert and against the Privileges Committee. The MD said the board of directors was unanimous in that view. The MD said the EIC had to go ‘offline.’
When asked how we were to proceed in an environment in which the EIC was ‘offline’ for vague, undetermined reasons, and with increasing instability in the newsroom that would only be heightened by the EIC’s physical absence, we were told by the MD to tone the paper down.
The reporters also revealed other details:
We were told the EIC going ‘offline’ to work on an editorial policy and the toning down of the paper in the interim comprised the best option available following the MD’s and the EIC’s meeting at head office. Someone asked what the other options were. There was silence, then the EIC said, ‘It’s either this or we both go.’ ‘We’ referred to the MD and the EIC. One editor asked whether we could meet with the GML board to dialogue; the MD said no, that was out of the question.
Later on Tuesday, editors were told by the EIC that someone was being sought to sit-in on the afternoon editors’ meeting which determined the news content of the next day’s paper. One person was approached by the MD; that individual requested time to consider. A short time later, another person was approached by the MD; that person sat-in on Tuesday afternoon’s editors’ meeting.
The release then referred to a series of text messages and emails reportedly sent between Editor-in-Chief Judy Raymond, Dr. Sheila Rampersad and Anika Gumbs-Sandiford. The release noted that “these messages and other correspondence quoted here, along with many more, remain in our possession as corroboration”:
Uncertainty grew on Tuesday night during which Dr Rampersad and Ms Raymond exchanged a number of text messages relevant to fluid developments. The idea of a walkout, floating around since Monday, took shape on Tuesday night.
On walkout Wednesday, some editors arrived at the office with that idea (walkout), one aspect of which was to confer before walking out. The conference occurred.
At the conference, the EIC suggested waiting until ‘tomorrow’, adding an hour or so later that her lawyer had advised her not to do anything drastic until she spoke to him. The EIC later left to see a lawyer on Duke Street. Notwithstanding this, Ms Raymond, on walkout Wednesday at 2.58 pm, texted Dr Rampersad saying, ‘I need to get out of here. Will be following you in matter of hours. Talk later. Thx for everything xx.’
After the walkout, at 5.56 pm Wednesday July 10, the EIC texted Dr Rampersad following Dr Rampersad’s immediate post-walkout interview on I95.5FM: ‘Heard interview. Great.’
Investigative reporters Ms Anika Gumbs-Sandiford and Ms Denyse Renne affirm that, contrary to the EIC’s statement in today’s Guardian, they were at no time asked, told or advised by the EIC to defer their resignations for 24 hours.
Ms Gumbs-Sandiford confirms that the EIC was in possession of her resignation letter since 1.44am on Wednesday July 10. There was no response advising Ms Gumbs-Sandiford to defer her resignation. In fact, Ms Raymond responded at 7.30am via e-mail: ‘Thanks for letting me know, Anika. I am so sorry it has to come to this. Thanks for all your great work. All the best.’
At 8.20 am, having already agreed on the walkout the night before, the EIC texted Dr Rampersad: ‘Cd you call Anika & ask her not to send letter yet? GF [Gabriel Faria, the company's Managing Director] on way to talk to Norman now, still hoping to save the day. If not, we’ll go together after that’.
Dr Rampersad responded: ‘It’s over.’ Ms Raymond acknowledged that with a sad-face emoticon.
The joint statement took the position that the reporters’ walkout enabled the subsequent dialogue between the Editor-in-Chief and Guardian Media's management:
Ms Gumbs-Sandiford and Ms Renne confirm that they resigned in support of Ms Raymond knowing that if Ms Raymond went ‘offline,’ very soon they would have also been sent ‘offline’ given the number of protests that followed the investigative stories they wrote.
Our silence between Thursday morning and today is not to be interpreted as stupidity, cowardice, or belief in the convoluted spin generated by GML. We are clear that the issue at the start of last week was interference in the editorial processes and products and the suspension and/or potential dismissal of Ms Raymond.
That there was dialogue between the EIC and management from Thursday July 11 was not inevitable; our walkout enabled that change.
It ended by denouncing the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago's claim that Gumbs-Sandiford and Renne were back on their reporters’ beats at the Guardian:
Contrary to reports from the Media Association of T&T, none of the three journalists who walked out is back on the job. None of us was contacted before or after the MATT news release was issued.
We remain unshakeable in our conviction that we took an honourable and principled position; we have no regrets.
The public will adjudicate on whether the confusion of the past few days can be accurately termed ‘misinformation,’ ‘massive miscommunication’ or, quite simply, lies.
Global Voices will continue to follow developments.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Revolution or Coup: The Ousting of Morsi  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Many are continuing to debate whether the ousting of former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi was the result of revolution or a military coup. Mohamed El Gohary shares his two cents in this post.


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São Tomé Pulls ‘Rotten Rice’ After Protests   · Global Voices
Mário Lopes

Protest over reports [pt] of the circulation of rice unfit for human consumption in São Tomé have led to the withdrawal of the food from the market by order of the government at the beginning of July.
The rice was part of a 900-ton order worth about two million US dollars imported from Cameroon using public money. The deal was a direct agreement [pt] between the importing company D.S. Neves Limitada, owned by deputy and Secretary General of the São Tomé Democratic Convergence Party Delfim Neves, and Santoméan Prime Minister Gabriel Costa.
Rice, which is one of the most basic and most consumed foodstuffs in São Tomé, is usually given to the country as a donation from Japan through a cooperation agreement [pt] between the two countries. Approaching an expected rice shortage [pt] until an expected 3,000-ton shipment arrived in June, it is likely the rice from Cameroon was an urgent purchase to keep the market supplied in the meantime.
But the rice displayed a visible infestation of “mould, remains of dead larva and other insects”, according to a Preliminary Report [pt] into the quality of the rice from the Centre of Agronomic and Technological Research (CIAT) on 6 June 2013. The report circulated widely on social media, reinforcing discontent among the people of São Tomé, who had already reported instances of rotten rice online since the end of May 2013.
In the face of the ensuing scandal, the government decided [pt] at a council of ministers on June 23 that the rice should be temporarily withdrawn until conclusive results of tests requested from abroad arrive in the country, as the results appearing in the government agency Centre of Agronomic and Technological Research's report were deemed to be inconclusive. But the rice continued to be sold, leading the government via the Ministry for Commerce, Industry and Tourism to order [pt] it collected from the market and banned from sale.
Sacks of rice from Cameroon. Photo by Carsten ten Brink on Flickr (Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.0)
“We don't want rotten rice“
The matter has been widely discussed [pt] by the country's Internet users, especially on the group “São Tomé e Príncipe ★ Téla Non ★” [pt] on Facebook, which has the greatest audience and influence in the country. A photo of the rice shared by Arlindo Santos on the group gave rise to numerous comments, such as the following by Nayr Santos who states [pt]:
É triste mas é verdade! Hoje tive a oportunidade de deparar com esta “qualidade” de arroz que esta a venda na nossa praça. Poderia não acreditar nesta foto, mas vi, infelizmente, de perto o arroz para o “povo” consumir… Digo o “povo” pra ser de uma forma super limitada, porque os que mandam chegar esse arroz cá na ilha pra ser consumido, de CERTEZA que não fará [sic] o uso do mesmo, estes e outros todos que têm as costas largam [sic]!
It's sad but true! Today I stumbled upon this “quality” rice which is on sale in our market. You might not believe the photo, but unfortunately, I saw this rice for the “people” to consume with my own eyes… I say the “people”, because those who ordered this rice to be sent to the island for consumption, are CERTAINLY not those who will be eating it, these people and all the others who have power!
Photo by Tito Cheque Djalma on Facebook (used with permission)
Lucas Lima, a lawyer from São Tomé currently living in Portugal, commented [pt] after reading the Centre of Agronomic and Technological Research's report:
Em conversa com uma Mestranda em engenharia alimentar, coloquei-lhe a seguinte questão:
Com base neste relatório, o arroz objecto da análise pode ser consumido pela população?
Ela simplesmente respondeu-me que nem para animais se deve dar um arroz com essa qualidade. E disse mais, só não houve intoxicação alimentar porque o arroz é um produto seco ou seja, tem baixa quantidade de água.
Por ultimo disse-me que este produto a nível de nutriente, já não tem, come-se para “encher a barriga” mas não alimenta.
In a conversation with a Master's student in alimentary engineering, I asked her the following question:
On the basis of this report, can the rice which has been tested be consumed by the population?
She simply replied that rice of this quality should not even be fed to animals. And she added, the only reason why nobody got food poisoning was because rice is a dry product, that is, it has a low water content.
And to finish, she told me that this product no longer contains any nutrients, it is eaten to “fill the stomach” but it doesn't provide nourishment.
The company responsible for importing the rice refuted [pt] the accusations in a press release:
Quanto a qualidade do produto ora importado, gostaríamos de salientar que para além de visibilidade ocular de qualquer produto, faz-se fé nos Certificados de Qualidade e de Fitossanitário emitidos pelas entidades credíveis e vocacionadas para o efeito a nível internacional…
As for the quality of the imported product, we would like to stress that besides the ocular visibility of any product, trust can be placed in the Quality and Phytosanitary Certificates granted by credible organisations entrusted with this task at an international level…
The act of indignation went beyond Facebook comments, with a public protest held on June 26 under the slogan “We don't want rotten rice”.
The protest was recorded by Roberto Carlos and shared on YouTube [pt]:
A letter sent from Delfim Neves to the Cameroonian authorities at the beginning of May, and revealed by protest group São Tomé e Princípe Indignados [pt] on July 1 fueled the people's opposition and subsequent protests. In the document, Neves, with the intention of obtaining a tax exemption, referred to events which do not correspond to the true situation of the country. “Starvation crisis”, “starving population”, are some of the terms used in order to obtain the tolerance of the Cameroonian authorities.
Photo of the protest “We don't want rotten rice” (26/06/2013), shared by Tito Cheque on Facebook (used with permission)
Paulo Gomes commented [pt]:
Usar mesmo que indevidamente, o nome de um país (POVO) de forma fraudulenta em beneficio próprio pondo em causa futuras ajudas que os mesmos possam vir a necessitar já é de si só um ato de falta de caráter mas que ate se entende quando a ganancia assim dita. O que não se entende é quando se brinca com a saúde publica pondo em risco uma população por imperativos econômicos… acorda povo.
To use, even ineffectually, the name of a country (PEOPLE) in a fraudulent manner for one's own profit and potentially jeopardising future assistance that the people may need is an act displaying a lack of moral character but one which could be understood in terms of greed. What is beyond comprehension is the jeopardising of public health and putting the population at risk for economic gain… Wake up, people.

author: Mário Lopes


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South Korea’s Ex-President Accused of Lying Over Four Major Rivers Project · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

A highly controversial big-budget rivers project in South Korea has again enraged the Korean public with the release of an audit report revealing that the country's ex-president and the ruling party allegedly went back on their word about dropping additional canal construction.
The government claims that the main purpose of the ‘Four Major Rivers Project’ is to prevent floods and create new jobs, but civic and environmental groups have strongly protested against the project since its very early stage, stressing that it will cause irreversible harm to the environment by blocking water flow and meddling with the ecosystem. A previous audit report released in January 2013 revealed that construction was a poorly done train-wreck.
One of the most contested parts in the project was for canal construction, a costly plan which was considered not only unnecessary, but seriously detrimental to the environment. As public opposition grew stronger back in 2010, then-president Lee Myung-bak and the ruling Saenuri party backed off from their initial plan and vowed repeatedly that [ko] they will, at least, drop the canal plan. However, the latest report by the Board of Audit and Inspection exposed that the Four Major Rivers project laid physical groundwork for canal construction.
Image of Four Major Rivers Construction Site, South Korea. Image by Flickr user @Wetlands and Birds Korea (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
On July 15, 2013, the United Progressive party filed a lawsuit [ko] against Lee Myung-bak and his close inner circle members under the charge of negligence of duty, dereliction of duty and abuse of authority, condemning them for having ‘deceived Korean people, wasted the 22 trillion Korean won (about 20 billion US dollars) of taxpayers’ money, and abused government power for personal gain’.
Prominent citizen journalist Media Mongu (@mediamongu) tweeted [ko] a photo of protesters in front of Lee Myung-bak’s house. It has been retweeted more than 180 times.
@mediamongu: 4대강 사업은 변종 대운하였으며, 국민을 상대로 한 22조원 짜리 거대 사기극이었음이 만천하에 드러났습니다. MB 자택 앞에서 철저한 수사와 처벌을 요구하고 있습니다 pic.twitter.com/wufJI5YKB6
@mediamongu: The Four Major Rivers Project turns out to be a mutant for the canal [project] and 22 trillion Korean won (about 20 billion US dollars) of colossal fraud committed against Korean public. People demand a thorough investigation and punishment of [those involved, by protesting] in front of Lee Myung-bak’s house. pic.twitter.com/wufJI5YKB6
Net user ID Nabio on the Daum Agora site listed numerous problems [ko] of this river project, let alone the already done construction works to build canals:
Image of Upstream River in Daegu city, South Korea, taken on August 10, 2012 by Flickr User @Friends of Wetlands and Birds Korea (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
결국 MB가 떠난 후에도 4대강은 골치덩어리 입니다. 심각한 예산 낭비는 말할 것도 없고 수질은 개악이 되어 심각한 녹조에 의한 녹차라떼를 퍼 먹을 수 있게 되었습니다. 또한 […] 소중한 문화재로서 가치가 있을 법한 것들도 충분한 제고 없이 4대강 공사에 파묻혀 버렸다는 것입니다.  […] 4대강 사업은 처음부터 많은 문제점을 가지고 있었습니다. 물을 관리한다는 것은 좋은 것입니다. 하지만 3면이 바다인 나라에서 내륙에 운하를 만들고 배를 띄운다는 것은 쉽게 이해할 수 없는 일이었습니다. 그리고 잘 흐르는 강을 인위적으로 막아 ‘호수'를 만드는 것 또한 물을 다스리는 것이 아니라 자연의 법칙을 거스르는 짓이었습니다.
Even after MB [ex-President’s initial] had gone, the Four Major Rivers Project still remains as a pain in the neck. Not only has it hemorrhaged the national budget, but it has deteriorated the water quality that now we are able to drink the algae green tea latte straight from the river. [note: green tea latte is a sarcastic nickname people call river water turned green due to mass algae outbreaks]. Also cultural artifacts [unearthed in the construction sites] have been tossed back [so not to hinder/delay] the project.[…] The Four Major Project Project is inherently problematic. Although there is nothing wrong with controlling the water, the idea of building canals to promote water transportation in a country (peninsula) whose three sides are all surrounded by water is hard to buy. Building lakes artificially by blocking the water flow is not the way of controlling water [as they've told public], but is an action taken against the laws of nature.
Prominent political blogger Impeter, who has been closely following the story for years, wrote another explainer [ko] summarizing the audit and inspection report and reminding people of media censorship that blocked an investigative report from airing. The blogger, later in the post, voiced worries that this issue can be used to divert the public's attention from the recent spy agency scandal:
여기에는 이명박 전 대통령이 대운하를 하지 않겠다고 해놓고 “사회적 여건 변화에 따라 운하가 재추진될 수도 있으니 이에 대한 대비가 필요하다”는 MB의 지시에 따라 대운하 재추진과 연계된 4대강 사업 계획을 수립했고, 2.5m만 준설해도 되는 수심을 6m가 되도록 지시했다는 내용도 포함됐습니다. 감사원의 이런 지적은 밝혀져야 할 진실이 이제야 드러난 것에 불과합니다. 이미 PD수첩은 <4대강,수심 6m의 비밀>이라는 방송에서 이와 같은 내용을 폭로한 적이 있었기 때문입니다. 2010년 8월 국토부는 MBC PD수첩의 <4대강,수심 6m의 비밀>편을 방송금지 가처분 신청했다가 기각됐고, 김재철 전 MBC 사장은 ‘사전시사'를 요구해 전면 방송보류 결정이 나오기도 했습니다. […] 많은 사람들이 4대강 사업이 대운하에서 말만 바꾼 것이고, 나라 예산을 마구 사용하고 후손에게 빚을 안기는 사업이라 얼마나 목이 터져라 외쳤습니까?
This report includes the fact that even after ex-president Lee Myung-bak said he will not pursue the canal project, gave a guideline that ‘The canal project can resume when social conditions are ready, so we need to get some preparation work done’. And he drew venture plans accordingly and ordered to dig the river deeper — six meters deep, although it should be only be 2.5 meters deep [if the purpose was to control water, not for canal construction] […] The Board of Audit and Inspection’s report is quite a belated revelation. Previously, the [investigative program] PD Notebook had already disclosed such truth via their episode entitled “The Six-Meter-Deep Secret of the Four Major Rivers”. The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, however, requested to put this episode on hold, but their request was denied. The former president of MBC TV station, Kim Jae-chul [note: Kim was infamous for siding with the government on almost every issue] demanded to monitor the program beforehand and decided to hold off on broadcast. [note: the episode failed to air on the scheduled time and instead a short, heavily edited version of it was aired several weeks later [ko] in August 2010] […] Numerous people have cried out that the Four Major Rivers Project is merely a different name for the canal project and worried that it is a venture hemorrhaging the national budget that will impose huge debts on future generations.
Image of the Four Major Rivers Project construction sites, South Korea. Image by Flickr user @Wetlands and Birds Korea (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Another fact unearthed was that after the canal plan hit a snag, major construction companies colluded together [ko] to secretly carry on with their initial construction plan, which is a much bigger scale, lucrative construction plan. A tweet below by Ahn Cheol-soo (@cheolsoo0919) has been retweeted more than 550 times:
@cheolsoo0919: 4대강 사업이 과정에도 문제가 많았음이 계속 밝혀지고 있습니다. 건설사들 담합이 있었던 것으로 드러났습니다. 이에 따라 경제개혁연대(http://erri.or.kr )가 소송을 준비중입니다. 경제정의 실현에 힘을 더해주시기 바랍니다.
@cheolsoo0919: More revelations have been made about many problems committed during the Four Major Rivers construction process. There has allegedly been a racket between construction companies. The Solidarity for Economic Reform is preparing for a law suit now. (http://erri.or.kr ) Please support our cause for economic justice.
Politicians who tacitly agreed when the ruling party rammed the bill approving the project through in the National Assembly, now try to distance themselves from the failed project. Twitter users such as @yocla14 wrote [ko] offered sharply worded responses to them:
@yocla14: 3년 전까지 4대강 사업에 대해서 정부에 대한 전폭적인 지지를 호소하고 깨알같이 국회에서 거수기 노릇을 하던 사람들이 ‘국민이 속았다'며 개탄하는 코미디가 어디 있는가. 국민은 속지 않았고 당신도 속지 않았다. 당신이 국민을 속였을 뿐.
@yocla14: Those lawmakers who have rubber-stamped the bill in the National Assembly and used to express their whole-hearted support to the government’s Four Major Rivers project for the past three years– now suddenly started lamenting and cried out that ‘the government has deceived people’. What a comedic scene. The Korean public has not been fooled, and you have never been fooled either [by the former administration]. It is YOU who tried to fool people.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


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Taking ‘Long Walk of Hope’ Across Sri Lanka for Cancer Patients · Global Voices
Rezwan

Retired Major Ruvan Ranatunga of the Sri Lankan army embarked on a mission on May 30, 2013 — walk the length of the island of Sri Lanka to raise much needed funds for two charities looking after cancer patients.
A little more than a month, thousands of rupees, and more than 750 kilometres later, Ranatunga completed the journey.
Ranatunga began his trek in Dondra in southern Sri Lanka and ended on July 7, 2013 in Point Pedro, located in the extreme north of the country. His target was to raise 1.5 million rupees (11,500 US dollars) by the end of his walk, though according to the report his Long Walk of Hope fell 700,000 short of his target.
The money raised by The Long Walk Of Hope will be used in two charities: The Courage Compassion Commitment (CCC) Foundation and The Colours of Courage Trust.
Ranatunga wrote on Facebook when he finished his walk:
Even though the walk has ended there remains the core component of this great journey yet to be fulfilled. The funds have come in slowly and steadily and thank you all for your generosity.
He explained his reasons for his mission as the following:
Hi, I’m Ruvan Ranatunga, and I’ve been nurturing this passion to walk across my country. Having served in the Army for fourteen years and walked in many parts of the country including some of the operational areas of the North and East during my tenure it is seemed timely to embark on this exiting journey for a different reason. But “The Long Walk of Hope” is not just about living my dream; it’s bigger than that. I believe that to have lived, we have to reach outside ourselves and touch the lives of others in whatever capacity we can. Therefore, I want to combine that with my passion to trek– providing a ray of hope for those suffering from cancer.
How? Your pledges along my trek will go directly into funding the CCC House, a 188-‐bed cancer transit home for outpatients at the National Cancer Institute in Maharagama in the South, and to the Colours of Courage Pediatric Cancer Ward which is under construction at Thelippalai in the North of Sri Lanka.
My walk of hope is also in a sense my quest for peace. I plan to walk through the many shades of people, races, religions, happiness and poverty that make up this country.
Blogger and entrepreneur Indrajit Samarajiva commented:
The walk is to raise funds for cancer (you can donate here) and it’s also pretty awesome in its own right. I’ve been following his Facebook feed and he’s seen and experienced things that you just pass through when traveling from point to point. It’s an inspiring and interesting story.
Ruvan shared the equipment he took on his 39-day adventure in a YouTube video:
Watch his video diary on YouTube for the proceedings of the walk.
Throughout the walk, he also got a lot of encouragements on Facebook and Twitter. For example, Thilina Randeniya (@ThilinaRishan) from Colombo tweeted:
@ThilinaRishan: @slwalkofhope Weather here is terrible with stormy rains. Hope u r ok there Ruvan. Trek safe. http://bit.ly/15cH5Ef #LongWalkofHope #lka
Later on his journey family and friends also joined him. Smriti Daniel wrote in the Sunday Times:
They climbed mountains, and cut through rain forests, wound their way through tea plantations and stopped for a dip in every lake, lagoon, or well on the way. At night, they often relied on the kindness of strangers – sleeping in a little kade’s store room, in a temple hall, on a verandah or in someone’s home. In doing so, they found the Sri Lanka Ruvan knew was there all along – a land of staggering natural beauty, its people so very different yet all capable of extraordinary generosity.
Screenshot from the Video Diary of Ruvan Ranatunga
Follow the Long Walk Of Hope's Facebook and Twitter pages for more updates and pictures.


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The Beautiful “Country” of Africa · Global Voices
Laila Le Guen

In this week's edition of the Kenyan online magazine Brainstorm, Brenda Wambui rails against the ongoing narratives about Africa: “Africa is a country”, “Africa rising”, ‘”African fashion”. She looks at ways Kenyans can reclaim their story and define themselves on their own terms:
As Kenya, or any other country, we should define who we are, what we stand for, what we expect of other countries we interact with, and what we will and will not accept. We should forge this identity independent of others’ expectations and preconceptions. Then, we should stand by it. Saying who you are is not enough, you also have to show who you are by how you act.

author: Laila Le Guen


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The Perils of Putting a Label on Edward Snowden  · Global Voices
Barbara Auger

This is part of our special coverage Snowden: The US is Watching You
Edward Snowden, the man who revealed the existence of surveillance programs run by the the United States National Security Agency (NSA) has triggered divisive public and media debate. Is he a traitor? A hero? A fugitive? Or a spy? How should his actions be described?
When Glenn Greenwald published an article about NSA surveillance on 6 June, 2013, opinion initially focused on the information itself. However, the topic of interest quickly changed when the newspaper revealed its source on four days later. The man became more important than the information, and Edward Snowden became the subject under debate.
On 23 June, 2013, as Snowden left Hong Kong for Moscow, discussion became fervent about categorizing the tech specialist. For some, he was a fugitive. For others, a spy. He escaped the arrest warrant issued two days previously by the United States, and has allegedly given information to Russia.
Many people, including journalist Blake Hounshell (@blakehounshell), are asking the question:
@blakehounshell: OK @ggreenwald and @attackerman is Edward Snowden still a ‘whistleblower'?
Edward Snowden:  screen-shot from the video of his interview by Laura Poitras
Given the lack of an official definition, it is up to each individual – including journalists – to decide for themselves how to label Snowden's actions. He is not only the man who revealed the surveillance program, he is also the man who has raised questions about our role as citizens. His life has become a symbol in itself.
Whistleblowing: a moral choice
A whistleblower, the term invented in the 1970s by Ralph Nader to avoid the negative associations of ‘mole’, ‘informant’ or ‘snitch’, is someone who is aware of a government's wrongdoing and decides to alert the public to it.
As Snowden said during an interview with the Guardian:
It was seeing a continuing litany of lies from senior officials to Congress – and therefore the American people – and the realization that that Congress, specifically the Gang of Eight, wholly supported the lies that compelled me to act. Seeing someone in the position of James Clapper – the Director of National Intelligence – baldly lying to the public without repercussion is the evidence of a subverted democracy. The consent of the governed is not consent if it is not informed.
From this viewpoint, the perspective of the citizen, author and cryptography expert Bruce Schneier argues in favour of whistleblowers on his blog:
Whistle-blowing is the moral response to immoral activity by those in power. What's important here are government programs and methods, not data about individuals. I understand I am asking for people to engage in illegal and dangerous behavior.
Such behaviour puts whistleblowers at odds with powerful institutions. They distance themselves from a system which they judge to be unfair or wrong, and label it as such. This action is a message in itself: It is a reminder that a democratic government is not only relevant to a small group of people, but the whole population. It is a reminder that each citizen has a role to play.
Edward Snowden explains that his acts were guided by his conscience:
Citizens with a conscience are not going to ignore wrong-doing simply because they'll be destroyed for it: the conscience forbids it.
The whistleblower is defined by his or her relationship with the public – an audience whose role is to look at the information in all of its elements. An audience which reacts according to its own perspectives and acts as judge.
First of all, the audience looks at the data revealed. This requires expertise and mediation on the part of journalists, who make a judgement as to the validity of the information. Governments also have to make this judgement. By accusing Snowden of spying, the United States invalidates the questions being asked by the countries involved, namely what type of information did the US collect on its allies.  The Nouvel Observateur quotes [fr] a European authority:
Si c'est vrai que les Américains ont espionné leurs alliés, il y a aura des dégâts politiques. Cela dépasse de loin les besoins de sécurité nationale. C'est une rupture de confiance et on est parti pour quelque chose de très sérieux.
If it is true that the Americans have spied on their allies, there will be political damage. It goes much further than the need for national security. It represents a breakdown in trust and that is something very serious.
Subsequently, interest turns to the messenger, and the efforts made to divulge the information. The reception of what Snowden has to say is also influenced by the approach he has taken. Why did he reveal this information? Why did he act illegally? Has he fled? Where? Why is he suspected of spying?
These questions help the public to make an informed judgement. The information revealed forms only one part of the whistleblowing – the way in which it is revealed by the whistleblower and presented by the receiver are also of great importance.
In a tirade against the normalisation of spying over the internet, Jacques Gaillard writes on Bakchich [fr]:
Mais l’abolition de nos jardins secrets est de nature à modifier à terme notre conscience de nous-mêmes, exactement comme un nouvel homme a surgi lorsque les miroirs ont été capables, enfin, de renvoyer une image très fidèle de notre visage (et même de notre nuque, si on a deux miroirs).
Je ne vois qu’une solution pour déjouer les pièges cumulés du business et de la National Security Agency : fabriquez-vous un « faux moi » sur les réseaux a-sociaux, faites des fautes d’orthographe pour laisser croire que vous êtes inculte et pauvre, exhibez des goûts de chiotte et inscrivez des morts au nombre de vos followers.
But the eradication of our secrets will modify our self-awareness over time, in the same way that a new humankind appeared when mirrors were finally able to show a very accurate reflection of our faces (and even the backs of our heads with two mirrors).
I see only one solution for finding a way around the traps of both business and the National Security Agency: create a ‘fake self’ on anti-social networks, make spelling mistakes to make them believe you are uneducated and poor, exhibit the worst of bad taste and add dead people to your followers.

author: Barbara Auger


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Thousands of Congolese Refugees Flood Uganda · Global Voices
Prudence Nyamishana

More than 30,000 refugees from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo fleeing a rebel attack on the town of Kamango arrived in neighbouring Uganda on July 13, 2013.
The town of Kamango in the northernmost part of North Kivu province was attacked and briefly occupied July 11, 2013 by a Ugandan-Muslim separatist group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
The ADF was formed in the 1990's by groups that felt sidelined by the government.They staged several attacks on villages and towns, including a 1998 massacre of 80 students at a college in Kabarole. A government-led offensive ended their activities in 2001 and killed many ADF commanders, while the remaining fighters fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where they have continued to wage small-scale attacks.
Stephane is a 59-year-old Red Cross employee in DRC. He is a refugee in Uganda for the second time in his life. Photo courtesy of UNHCR/@luckycbeck (used with permission).
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo claims that Al-Shabaab fighters from Somalia are collaborating with the ADF rebels.
Irina Punga (@ir33na), a world traveler passionate about UN, peacekeeping, protection of civilians, DRC, media and strategic communications, shared an article about ADF rebels using Eastern DRC as a training base:
@ir33na: #Ugandan #ADF rebels use Eastern #DRC as training base http://goo.gl/CCqcQ
Mubatsi Asinja H (@Asinja), a Ugandan journalist and blogger, expressed his confusion about the situation:
@Asinja: So which is which if now #Uganda‘s military now withdraws claim that it's not #ADF rebels that attacked #DRC‘s Kamango town?
Richard Kabonero (@richardkabonero), the ambassador of Uganda to Rwanda, warned:
@richardKabonero: We must make it to clear to the DRC govt and the International community that any attack by ADF on Ug will have severe consequences.
musoga bin kyabazing (@MusogaK) reminded the ambassador that Uganda “made it clear” to the rebels since 1998:
@MusogaK: @richardkabonero I thought we made that clear in 1998….besides do we need to really “make it clear”, don't they know?
NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda), one of Uganda’s leading TV stations known for comprehensive Ugandan news coverage, reported:
@ntvuganda: Uganda Red Cross has registered 19000 refugees who have crossed into Uganda thru Kamango & R.Lamia in Bundibugyo fleeing an #ADF assault
Lucy Beck (@lucycbeck) shared a photo to illustrate the plight of refugees fleeing into Uganda:
@lucycbeck: 1 yr old ushundi was carried on his mums back for 1 day 2 reach #uganda afta #ADF attacked his home http://yfrog.com/ocdilpxj
She (@lucycbeck) later reported:
@lucycbeck: Already 3,000 pple in our new transit centre in #bundibugyo + more arriving halfhourly. time 4 them 2 get a hot meal + much needed rest #ADF
MONUSCO (@monusco), the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, tweeted about latest fighting in Kivu:
@MONUSCO: In North #Kivu, #MONUSCO repels #ADF ambush on its troops and reaffirms that any attacks on peacekeepers is considered a war crime

author: Prudence Nyamishana


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African Thinkers Blog Competition · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Africa Brains announces African Thinkers blog competition with a chance to win $50.
It’s now time to announce the first topic which is “How did Technology influence your Education?”
Let us know about the technology available when you were at school or college? How have things changed since? Were you & your classmates more tech savvy than the teachers?
The deadline for the 400-500 word blog post with an original headline is 6pm GMT, 23 July 2013.


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Billionaire Jack Ma Makes About-Face, Praises Chinese Government  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Prominent Chinese Internet entrepreneur Ma Yun (馬雲), known as Jack Ma, has in the eyes of some shattered his independent image during a recent newspaper interview in which he applauded China for its online censorship and brutal, strong-arm tactics.
Billionaire Jack Ma, who controls two top online e-commerce platforms, Taobao and Alibaba, stressed in an interview with South China Morning Post in Hong Kong that “the Chinese government is terrific” and compared China with his business empire, saying that cruel decisions like the June 4 crackdown have to be made [zh] for the sake of stability. He also praised the highly advanced Internet censorship in China that watches over 600 million Internet users and three to four of the world's top 10 Internet giant corporations. English bullet points of the interview are available at the Morning Post's website.
Jack Ma Yun speaks at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin, China September 2008. Photo by Natalie Behring, World Economic Forum (CC: BY-NC-SA)
Unlike the second generation rich, or Fuerdai in Chinese, Ma established his Internet business with the help of his friends in the U.S. and maintained an a reputation as an independent entrepreneur in China. Alibaba.com is listed in Hong Kong Stock Exchange market in 2007.
Terrific or terrifying?
Many netizens were disappointed and wondering why Ma chose to destroy his image. In the comment section of Beijing News on popular microblogging site Sina Weibo, many expressed the belief that Ma's change of attitude is related to the recent secret execution of Chinese businessman Zeng Chengjie who was dubbed “China's Madoff” and once called by China's state-run news as a “diligent, wise and conscientious man”.
“I am Wang Mo” (@是王默俺) was among one of the microbloggers who drew a line between Ma's change of attitude and Zeng's death:
右边，他从一开始就站队了，现在不过是赤裸裸了而已，曾成杰让他害怕了吧。
From the very beginning, he is lining up on the right side. Now he is just running naked. Zeng Chengjie made him scared.
“Bright moon on top of Yan's mountain” (@燕山明月) also believed that Ma had been terrified by Zeng's death:
淘宝是伟大的事业，阿里巴巴是伟大的公司，马云是伟大的商人。但是，马云似乎展现了深深的恐惧，站在万仞悬崖边上呼啸的山风中，远处传来曾成杰凄厉的哀嚎，心下不由一紧，回过头，老大哥正微笑凝视着他
Taobao is a great business and Alibaba a great company. Ma Yun is a great entrepreneur. But fear seems to have occupied Ma's heart. Standing at the cliff, the scream of Zeng Chengjie can be heard in the wind. His heart tangled and he looked back behind him, the big brother is smiling in his gaze at him.
Many also believed that Ma has made a deal with the devil, coming to some agreement with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) so that they exercise direct control over his businesses to keep them expanding:
鹿魜：2013年度优秀企业家！阿里巴巴啃腚还是优秀D支部！
“Lu Ren”: The most excellent entrepreneur in 2013! Alibaba will definitely becomes the most excellent CCP's branch.
吴刚梁：全是歪理邪说。百度“很成功”，谷歌要“反省”，反省什么？向官员行贿？像你一样搞政治投机、迎合权贵？为何谷歌在全世界都能成功，唯独在中国弄不下去？而百度就只能在中国逞能？这是一个“逆向淘汰”的市场，13亿人当然能够支撑起几家大的互联网公司，但让谁出头，决定权在政府。
Wu Gangliang: Ma's interview is full of twisted reason. Baidu is “very successful” while Google has to “reflect”. What exactly does it have to reflect upon? That it hasn't paid bribe to the officials? That it hasn't invested in politics and pleased the ruling elite? How come Google is successful worldwide and cannot survive in China? While Baidu can only have its market in China? This is a reversed market. Of course with a 1.3 billion population, the market can support a few Internet giants, but who become successful is decided by the government only.
amanart：你只是一个在“中国特色”里混得不错的网站而已，如你的网站放到欧洲去，立马就阳痿了，你信不…前些天看到有关你的言论，很是失望，今天证实了，人最可怕的是在恶的淫威下变节，变得事理不明…
@amanart: You are just a website running smoothly in a space full of “Chinese character”. If your website moved to Europe, you would be crippled… I am so disappointed with what you have said. Today has proven that the most terrible thing to happen to a person is the change of character and principle under threat.
杀破菊:……不怀疑马云智商，只能说明他说这话有目的，学校的小卖部生意好，是因为学生不准出校，只能在那个小卖部买
@”Chrysanthemum ruined”: … I won't doubt Ma Yun's I.Q. Clearly he said that with objective. The reason why the school canteen has so much business is because the pupils are all locked up and they are forced to eat there.
Outside the Great Firewall, about 300 mainland Chinese political liberals and overseas dissidents have co-signed a statement condemning Jack Ma's talk about the “cruel” and “rightful” decision of the June 4 Crackdown in 1989 and demanding Ma make a public apology. Below is a political drawing by Twitter user @badiucao, in which Ma's surname in Chinese “馬” is transformed into a Tank:
The Chinese character “Ma” is transformed into a tank in @badiucao's political drawing.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Furore Over Sudanese President Al-Bashir’s Visit to Nigeria · Global Voices
Nwachukwu Egbunike

President of Sudan Omar al-Bashir arrived Nigeria on July 14, 2013 to attend the HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis Summit organised by the African Union (AU). However, this visit generated much uproar – pitching the federal government of Nigeria against the government of United Kingdom and local civil rights organisations.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) urged Nigeria to arrest and surrender al-Bashir on his visit to the capital city of Abuja “over crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Darfur”.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for al-Bashir in 2009, the first warrant issued by the ICC against a sitting head of state, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. It is estimated that 300,000 people died in Darfur's six-year conflict.
The UK resented the visit of al-Bashir and urged the Nigerian government to live up to global obligations by arresting the Sudanese president. A statement by Mark Simmonds, UK foreign office minister for Africa, stated:
The UK has a strong and abiding bilateral relationship with Nigeria. I am therefore disappointed that Nigeria has chosen to host President Al-Bashir of Sudan at an African Union event, despite International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants against him for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. This undermines the work of the ICC and sends the victims a dismaying message that the accountability they are waiting for will be delayed further. The British Government takes seriously its obligations as a State Party to the Rome Statute and consistently urges other State Parties in all parts of the world to do the same.
Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, President of Sudan. (Photo released to the public domain by U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jesse B. Awalt)
Olugbenga Ashiru, Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that Nigeria cannot arrest al-Bashir because he was not in the country for a bilateral visit but to attend an AU event. Besides, Nigeria will abide by an AU resolution which decided not to arrest al-Bashir within the continent.
The Sudanese president is in Nigeria at the invitation of AU for the HIV/Malaria Summit. Remember AU in 2009 passed a resolution not to cooperate with the ICC indictment of President Al-Bashir. He is not in Nigeria at our instance, Nigeria’s commitment to the AU remains firm…
Human rights groups did not buy the government’s justification but insisted that al-Bashir should be arrested. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) made their position known through its Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni in online newspaper Premium Times:
The government risks sanctions by the UN Security Council if it fails to arrest President al-Bashir and surrender him to the International Criminal Court at The Hague. President Goodluck Jonathan now has a rare opportunity to assist the ICC and support the demand by the international community for justice for the victims of genocide and war crimes in Darfur.  Ignoring the ICC arrest warrants will have huge legal ramifications for the country, and it is therefore in Nigeria’s national interest to act in this case, by arresting President Omar Al-Bashir and surrendering him to the ICC to face fair trial for the allegations against him…
Another group, the Nigerian Coalition for the International Criminal Court (NCICC), filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja asking it to compel the Nigerian president to arrest his Sudanese counterpart the minute he steps foot in the country and surrender him to the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands. NCICC in its writ of summons, as reported in NBF [Nigerian Best Forum] News, asked the court:
Whether Nigeria has a legal obligation under Article 89 of the Rome Statute and Article 26 of the Vienna Convention to arrest any person indicted by ICC and surrender such person to the court? If the answer to the above is yes, whether Nigeria is under obligation to arrest and surrender Al-Bashir to the ICC? And whether the court can issue an arrest warrant against Al Bashir on the basis of the indictment by ICC?
Despite the agitation by civil society, al-Bashir was not arrested on Sunday when he flew into Nigeria. However, a twist developed the next day, when the Sudanese president was billed to address the summit. According to a report by the Guardian (Nigeria):
A mild drama unfolded at the ongoing Abuja +12 Special Follow-Up Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and other related diseases as Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir  who has two international arrest warrants against him failed to turn up to make his presentation…  Al-Bashir, who arrived in Abuja on Sunday to a red-carpet welcome and a full guard of honour, has not appeared in any of the sessions of the summit. He was expected to participate at the summit like many other Heads of State. When he was called to make a presentation, there was heavy silence. Alas, he was nowhere to be found.
The mystery of al-Bashir’s disappearance was resolved by a report filed by AP. The news story stated that wary of arrest, Sudan’s president shunned the AIDS summit midway:
A Sudanese diplomat says President Omar al-Bashir has left Nigeria after human rights lawyers and civil rights activists demanded his arrest… The diplomat who would not give his name told The Associated Press that al-Bashir left at 3 p.m. Monday, less than 24 hours after he arrived and in the middle of a two-day summit ending Tuesday.
Nonetheless the drama of the visit and its subsequent abortion; the resistance by civil society groups and the UK government; and the governments’ insistence on standing with the AU polarized the Nigerian blogosphere.
Yvonne Ndege (@YvonneNdege), reporter for Al-Jazeera, tweeted:
@YvonneNdege: #UK says its ‘disappointed’ with #Nigeria over #Bashir visit. Don't be #UK. Understand Nigeria…
Yvonne’s tweet elicited some replies from other users. These are two contrary reactions:
@deezer234: @YvonneNdege that murderous bastard came here?
@Ali2musa: @YvonneNdege Still wondering when war criminals Like Bush, Tony Blair and Obama will be charge to ICC?
Others within the Nigerian Internet weighed in on the discussion. Her Royal Hipness (@PUREHAIRE) and Uzo Ukaejiofo (@Rexdon05) were repulsed by the stance of the international community:
@PUREHAIRE: Wait, they want Al-Bashir & somehow it's Nigeria's job to give him up? They should take a piss in Sudan pls. Nonsense. 3 yrs since warrant
@Rexdon05: …After Nigeria gave up Charles Taylor, what has been the impact? Other than damning reports emanating from sister agencies.
Nwachinaemelu (@cchukudebelu) noted the glaring double standards:
@cchukudebelu: If George Bush (who launched an illegal war on falsified evidence) can move around freely, I don't get the noise from HRW over Al Bashir.
Some demanded that Nigeria’s sovereignty be respected and expressed their support for the government:
@horpenator: why do we have to live in the shadow of #US. Al-Bashir didn't commit any crime against Nigeria
@Raymond_Eyo: “@TheScoopNg: #Nigeria defies the #ICC; hosts #Sudan‘s President, Omar Al-Bashir http://buff.ly/12CfkWa” I'm with GEJ [Goodluck Ebele Jonathan] on this one 100%!!!
Some were merely humorous:
@thalksbossx: #LetterToICC By all means arrest Al-Bashir, but do not drag #Nigeria (tucked in between AU leaders’ pact and UN treaty) into it.
@funsodavid: I don't suppose Omar al-Bashir fled Nigeria for fear of an arrest. The video clip from Rivers State Assembly is enough to scare him off.

author: Nwachukwu Egbunike


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Judges Go After Soldiers Suspected of Slaughter in Guinea  · Global Voices
Abdoulaye Bah

[All links lead to French-language websites unless otherwise noted. This article was written prior to the recent events in Guinea.]
The head of presidential security in Guinea is the latest person formally accused of having a hand in security forces’ brutal crackdown [en] on an opposition protest in 2009, in which at least 157 people were killed and countless women and girls were raped.
On September 28, 2009, soldiers opened fire on opposition demonstrators protesting against military head of state Dadis Camara and his intention to run for president during the January 2010 election.
Following the massacre, Camara and members of the junta denied any responsibility for the killings. The international community sanctioned the junta [en] with an arms embargo and a travel ban, and froze any bank accounts owned by the officers in charge at the time. A year later, Camara was shot by soldiers [en] in his entourage.
A few weeks after the massacre, Camara ordered an independent investigation by a commission composed of 31 members. However, families of the victims have asked human rights organisations to look into the massacre [en] and the alleged clandestine burials performed by the military.
Investigating judges opened prosecution against Colonel Claude Pivi, the head of presidential security, on June 27, 2013 after hearing the previous day's testimony from the high commander of national police General Ibrahima Baldé. Pivi appeared in court the next day to hear the charges against him, and was due to appear in court again on July 4, but he did not respond to the judges’ summons.
Blogger Assanatou Baldé expressed her delight on afrik.com:
L’heure de rendre des comptes est arrivée pour Claude Pivi alias Coplan.
Human Rights Watch presented charges against this high-ranking official from President Alpha Condé’s government who was decorated in 2011:
Le suspect, le lieutenant-colonel Claude « Coplan » Pivi, est le ministre guinéen chargé de la sécurité présidentielle, un poste qu'il occupait déjà au moment des crimes de 2009. Selon les médias, Pivi a été inculpé de meurtres, viols, incendies, pillage, destruction d’édifices et complicité. Conformément au droit international, Pivi est présumé innocent jusqu’à ce qu’il soit jugé et reconnu coupable.
Website aminata.com published a press release in conjunction with many human rights organisations in Guinea. The introduction read:
Depuis le début de l’instruction, les victimes que nous accompagnons dans cette procédure craignaient que Claude Pivi, en raison des fonctions qu’il occupe et de sa place dans la hiérarchie militaire, échappe à la justice. Hier, les juges d’instruction ont apporté un premier élément de réponse en l’inculpant formellement.
Sarifou Barry reported in an article on website guineenews.org the words of Dr Thierno Maadjou Sow, president of the Guinean Human Rights Organisation (OGDH):
Nous considérons du point de vue des principes que c’est quelque chose de très important surtout dans la lutte pour le respect des droits de l’homme et aussi dans la lutte contre l’impunité qui est le terreau des crimes. Il ne faut pas oublier qu’il y a eu des personnalités qui ont été inculpées déjà dans cette affaire mais malheureusement, cela n’a rien donné. Ces personnes occupent encore des postes extrêmement importants au sein de l’administration. Vous savez, dès après les crimes commis, le Conseil de sécurité de l’ONU, les organisations de défense des droits de l’homme avaient déclaré que ces crimes commis étaient des crimes contre l’humanité.
Asmaou Diallo,  the president of the Association of Victims, Parents and Friends of September 28 (AVIPA), and who was also interviewed by Sarifou Barry, expressed her feelings in the same article in the following terms:
C’est la réaction d’une victime qui crie toujours à ce qu’il y ait justice dans cette affaire. Si le colonel Claude Pivi a été inculpé, cela nous fait du bien mais ça ne suffit pas. Il ne s’agit pas seulement d’inculper et de laisser par la suite le dossier dans les tiroirs. Cette inculpation nous remonte quand même le moral mais, nous voulons plus. Nous voulons que tous ceux qui ont été inculpés dans ce dossier, quittent leurs postes de responsabilité pour qu’ils se mettent à la disposition de la justice.
This article inspired some lively comments from readers. For example, Ardho  underlined the courage of the judges who accused Colonel Pivi and other high up members of the security forces:
In their previously mentioned press release,  the Guinean Human Rights Organisation expressed similar worries:
nos organisations expriment leur préoccupation quant à la sérénité de la procédure judiciaire et la sécurité de ses acteurs ou des victimes qui ont témoigné dans ce dossier, en raison du poste qu’occupe M. Pivi aujourd’hui. Comme nos organisations l’avaient recommandé concernant le colonel Moussa Oumar Tiegboro Camara, inculpé en février 2012, ou que le commandant Sekou Resco CAMARA, Gouverneur de Conakry, inculpé dans une affaire de torture en février 2013, qui ont tous deux été maintenus à leur poste, nous recommandons aux acteurs concernés de prendre toutes les dispositions afin garantir l’indépendance et l’impartialité du processus judiciaire en cours, dans le respect du droit à un procès équitable. Nous les invitons donc à envisager la mise à l’écart de ces hauts responsables, mis en cause pour des faits d’une exceptionnelle gravité.
Almamy Camara wrote the following in an article on afrik.com:
L’organisation internationale Human Rights Watch (HRW), a appelé ce mercredi 3 juillet à la suspension des accusés de leurs fonctions gouvernementales et invite les autorités à protéger les juges ainsi que les victimes dans le dossier du massacre du stade du 28 septembre, en 2009. Cet appel fait suite à l’inculpation du ministre de la Sécurité présidentielle, Claude Pivi dit Coplan par le pool des juges d’instruction le mercredi dernier.
Boubacar Bah expressed his doubts on the continuation of this affair in an article published on guineedirect.org, which deals with the impunity with which the other people in charge of the national security forces by the same Guinean justice as Colonel Pivi:
Mais pour des observateurs avertis, quelque soit la volonté du pool des juges d’instruction à éclaircir ce dossier, s’il n’y a pas de volonté politique, tous les efforts seront vains. Des soupçons forts sont portés sur le Président Alpha Condé qui ne souhaiterait pas du tout se débarrasser de Claude Pivi et de Tiegboro. Notamment parce que ces deux hommes puissants du temps du capitaine Dadis, lui avaient apporté tous leurs soutiens à l’occasion de la présidentielle de 2013. En prélude aux législatives de 2013, Alpha Condé ne veut pas perdre son électorat de la Guinée Forestière dont sont originaires Pivi et Tiegboro. Entre la justice pour les victimes du 28 septembre et la campagne pour les législatives, Alpha Condé a choisi la deuxième.
Commenting on an article in guineenews.org, Mr Sylla wondered:
To measure the dangers to which the judges brave enough to accuse Colonel Pivi have exposed themselves, here is his reaction as reported in another article by Boubacar Bah:
lorsque le Pool des juges d’instruction a informé Pivi de son inculpation dans le dossier du massacre du 28 septembre, l’officier a piqué une colère noire. “Si les gens pensent qu’ils peuvent m’humilier comme ça dans ce pays, ils se trompent. Nous, nous avons servi ce pays”, aurait rouspété Coplan.
Pivi's supporters have mobilized to express their support for him during the investigation.
The international community and Guinean supporters of human rights must apply pressure to President Alpha Condé for protection of the judges as well as the witness and so that all officials accused of crimes or figuring on the lists of individuals suspected of crimes against humanity are relieved of their positions and judged.

author: Abdoulaye Bah


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#Justice4Trayvon Rallies Across America · Global Voices
Asteris Masouras

NYC #Justice4Trayvon rally reaches Times Square, July 15, 2013. Photo posted by Macey J. Foronda on Twitter
Thousands joined peaceful protests held in many U.S. cities after the acquittal in Florida on July 15, 2013 of George Zimmerman in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin. Protesters condemned the “Stand Your Ground” laws, legislation in effect in more than 20 states that allow the use of force as self-defense when a person feels reasonably threatened, as racist. Global Voices social media editor Asteris Masouras curated updates and photos of the protests on Storify. On the day following the protests, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder slammed “Stand Your Ground” laws as dangerous to public safety, in line with research asserting that they result in an increase of homicides.

author: Asteris Masouras


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Kyrgyz Block Water to Kazakhstan, Demanding the Return of “Their” Land · Global Voices
Venera

During the enforced brotherhood of communism, land and water were not a source of friction for the peoples of Soviet Central Asia. Over the course of two decades of sovereignty, however, arguments over the delimitation of national borders and access to trans-boundary rivers have complicated relations between the region's governments, poisoning ties between communities living at the frontiers of independent republics.
The most recent flare-up began on July 7, 2013, when over 200 residents of Kara-Bura District, Talas region, Kyrgyzstan, blocked the canal “Ahmed” by building a makeshift stone dam, preventing the flow of water into Kazakhstan. According  to Vesti.kg [ru] the protesters blocked the channel to demonstrate their opposition to a border demarcation agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan that entered into force over four years ago. Negotiations aimed at unblocking the canal are ongoing [ru] as Kazakh officials implore their Kyrgyz counterparts to restore order in the region.
The treaty [ru] On the Delimitation and Demarcation of the Kazakh-Kyrgyz Border was signed by the leaders of the two countries on December 15, 2001, and ratified by the Kyrgyz parliament much later in 2008. But now – half a decade after ratification – villagers on the Kyrgyz side aren't satisfied. As Talaibek Izatov, a protester in Kara-Bura, told [ru] the Kyrgyz newspaper Fabula yesterday:
Нельзя отрицать, что отход земли в Кок-Сае к казахам это вопрос, вызывающий недовольства не только у одних таласцев, но всего кыргызского народа. Священной обязанностью каждого кыргызского гражданина является – беречь нашу землю как зеницу ока, сохранить ее. Если мы не защитим свою землю, и будем сидеть с раскрытым ртом, отдавая свои земли, то как нас простят потомки? Не простят. Поэтому, даже если на другое смотрим равнодушно и безразлично, но никогда нельзя быть равнодушным к земле.
It is undeniable that the handover of the Kok-Sai territory to the Kazakhs is a matter that causes discontent not only for residents of Talas but for most of the Kyrgyz people. The sacred duty of every Kyrgyz citizen is to protect our land and keep it as if it were the apple of our eye. If we do not protect our land, and we will sit with our mouths shut giving away our land, how will our descendants forgive us? They will not forgive us. Therefore, you can be indifferent and uncaring towards other things, but never towards land.
Kyrgyzstan's Deputy Prime Minister for Security, Tokon Mamytov, met with the residents of the area to discuss the situation on July 9. Mamytov explained to journalists that locals believe [ru] the borders have been marked incorrectly in their area and that many Kyrgyz territories have fallen under Kazakh control illegally. Mamytov subseqently explained [ru] to journalists that the residents of the area have changed their demands several times:
The makeshift dam built by Kyrgyz villages in Kara-Bura district. Image taken from stanradar.com
“At first they demanded to stop the process of sharing pastures along the border. Then they began demanding the denunciation of the treaty… Now, since they have been informed that a denunciation of the 2001 Agreement is impossible, they are demanding to open a criminal case against Askar Akaev, the first President of the Kyrgyz Republic, and 76 deputies of the third convocation of the [Kyrgyz] parliament, who voted for the ratification of the treaty with Kazakhstan.”
Significantly, Mamytov explained to villagers that “destructive forces” could manipulate their protests in order to destabilize the state, a possible reference to Kyrgyzstan's increasingly aggressive nationalist opposition.
Finally Mamytov explained [ru] that it wasn't just Kazakhs that have lost access to water as a result of the villagers decision to dam the canal. Eleven kilometers of the canal run through Kyrgyz territory, feeding into other villages in Kyrgyzstan's Kara-Bura District downstream of the makeshift dam.
The Kazakh government, meanwhile, urged the Kyrgyz authorities to address the issue  seriously and take all measures necessary to avoid a possible conflict.
The current situation has facilitated heated discussions between internet users reacting to updates of the situation on Kyrgyz and Kazakh news sites.
Annonim commented on Kazakh news portal Nur.kz [ru]:
В Киргизии правит толпа!
In Kyrgyzstan, the mob rules!
Another user that preferred to stay anonymous replied [ru]:
Там не толпа правит, а гражданское общество. Если их не устраивает что-то они говорят об этом, и обращают внимание власти на себя, и действуют, и власть все равно вынуждена к ним прислушиваться. Данный поступок конечно неразумный, Казахстан здесь ни причем, договоры заключало их прошлое правительство, но суть не в воде или границах, а в том, что они готовы отстаивать свои интересы раз власть не выполняет свои функции и тянет с решением вопроса.
A civil society rules Kyrgyzstan, not the mob. If they don't like something, they talk about it, and get the attention of the government by acting, and forcing the authorities to take measures. This act [blocking the water] is of course not a rational one, because Kazakhstan has nothing to do with it – the agreements were made by the previous government, and the issue is not about water or borders, but about their readiness to take a stand for their interests in cases where their government is not performing its function, delaying the resolution of a problem.
SAM OREZ stated [ru]:
вообще даже обидно от “братьев” киргизов нож в спину получить. сто человек портят авторитет миллионов. странно, что их выбранный Президент бездействует.
It hurts to get a knife in the back from our “brothers”, the Kyrgyz. A hundred people spoil the reputation of millions. It is strange that their elected President takes no action.
Skazka Almatinskaya issued a statement addressed to the Kyrgyz people [ru]:
Да вы даже на той земле, которую имеете, не можете порядок навести. Зачем вам еще ? Честное слово, уже надоели ваши революции . Лучше жить стали ? Нет. Так может надо идти другим путем ? Просто работать не пробовали?
You can't even restore order on the land that you have. Why do you need more? Honestly, we are so tired of your revolutions. Do you live better now? No. So, maybe you should choose another way? Have you tried getting a job?
H2O, likely a netizen of Kyrgyz origin, made an interesting prediction [ru]:
Во всем мире особенно в Китае, Индии в ЦА будет большие проблемы с водой и орошением в ближайшие годы и десятилетия. Возможно будут войны за воду. Например между Египтом и Эфиопией или Турцией и Ираком. Вода это новое супероружие (для тех кто богат на гидроресурсы как Киргизия) и скоро будет дороже чем золото+нефть. Тай что готовьтесь платить. Киргизы же платят за газ, бензин итд.
The whole world, especially China, India and Central Asia will experience huge problems with water and irrigation in the coming years and decades. There even might be wars over water. For example, between Egypt and Ethiopia or Turkey and Iraq. Water is the new super-weapon [for those that are rich in hydro resources like Kyrgyzstan] and soon it will be even more highly prized than gold & oil. Therefore, get ready to pay us. Because Kyrgyz have [long] paid for [your] gas, gasoline etc.
Talgat Smagulov, a Kazakh, wrote [ru]:
Мы им экономическую помощь, а они нам воду перекрывать. Неблагодарные.
Anonim, another Kazakhstani netizen, waxed analytical [ru] on the political situation in Kazakhstan's poorer, yet more democratic neighbor:
“… БЕДНОСТЬ И ДЕМОКРАТИЯ – ВЕЩИ НЕСОВМЕСТИМЫЕ…” ЦИТИРОВАЛ ЧЕРЧИЛЛЯ НАШ ПРЕЗИДЕНТ. ВОТ ЧТО ПРОИСХОДИТ, ОКАЗЫВАЕТСЯ. РЕВОЛЮЦИИ, ПИКЕТЫ, ДЕМОНСТРАЦИИ И ВСЯКИЕ РАЗНЫЕ АКЦИИ. ПОСТОЯННО У НИХ НА ГЛАВНОЙ ПЛОЩАДИ СТОЯТ ЮРТЫ ТАКИХ ПРОТЕСТУЮЩИХ… СЕГОДНЯ НА ОДНУ ТЕМУ, ЗАВТРА НА ДРУГУЮ ТЕМУ ПРОТЕСТУЮТ. ГЛАВНОЕ, НЕ РАБОТАТЬ. СКОРО КР КАК ГОСУДАРСТВО ПЕРЕСТАНЕТ СУЩЕСТВОВАТЬ НАВЕРНОЕ.
“…Democracy and poverty- are incompatible…” our President [Nazarbaev] quoted Churchill. It turns out to be true. Revolutions, pickets, demonstrations and all sorts of different events. They always have their yurts and protesters out on their main square…Today they protest for one issue, tomorrow for another. The main thing for them is not to do any work. Kyrgyzstan as a state will probably stop existing soon.
N.B Generally, Kyrgyzstan's border with Kazakhstan is less problematic than its borders with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Last month RFE/RL reported that Uzbek security guards had shot a Kyrgyz citizen near the republic's western border with Uzbekistan. According to the report: “Shootings along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border are common and often stem from the theft of animals such as horses, cattle, or sheep.”

author: Venera


text:
Peru: From Prison, With All Our Heart · Global Voices
Gabriela García Calderón Orbe

Every year, the Foundation Against Cancer of Peru [es] carries out a fundraising campaign called “Ponle corazón” [Put your heart in it] for children with cancer. Affected because in the last three years the collection has been unable to reach its planned goal, the inmates of Miguel Castro Castro penitentiary facility carried out a five-day long collection [es] inside the prison in an amazing and successful token of solidarity.
Peruvian Twitter users highlighted the action with messages from the microblogging network, such as Lorena Fernald (@LorenaFernald) [es] who tweeted:
@LorenaFernald: Hasta en los lugares menos pensados colaboran con #PonleCorazón. Y tu, ya colaboraste? http://youtu.be/RNjogs257Po  vía @youtube
@LorenaFernald [es]: Even in the most unthinkable places they are collaborating with #PonleCorazón. What about you, have you contributed? http://youtu.be/RNjogs257Po  vía @youtube

author: Gabriela García Calderón Orbe