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Indians Push Back on Racist Taunts to Miss America 2014 · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

New York's Nina Davuluri, 24, has won the Miss America 2014 title. Photo from Miss New York Organization's Facebook Page
New York's 24-year old Nina Davuluri made history last night by becoming the first American of Indian descent to win the coveted Miss America title. But now she has found herself at the receiving end of a slew of racist comments online, proving that beauty, for many, remains merely skin-deep. Ironically, because many did not know her actual heritage, comments and tweets vented ire against Arabs, Africans and Muslims, in addition to Indians. There were also references to terrorism and 9/11.
Davuluri has brushed off the stream of online racism, saying she prefers to “rise above that” and that she has always considered herself “first and foremost American”. In this YouTube video by the Miss America Organization in the run up to the Miss America 2014 pageant, Davuluri speaks of her upbringing and the fact that New York, which she represented in the pageant, is essentially a multicultural hotpot.
While Davuluri may not have been provoked by the racist comments, others have pushed back. In India too, there is a lot of discussion about Davaluri's win, making it a trending topic of the day.
Curiously, netizens in India have been divided in their opinion of the new Miss America.
On the one hand, there was a lot of support for Nina Davuluri and anger at the racist comments that have been dogging her victory. On the other hand, a section of netizens debated whether Davuluri would have ever have won a beauty pageant in India, given the country's fetish with fair skin.
Mumbai-based author and journalist Deepanjana Pal (@dpanjana) tweeted:
Nina Davuluri's Miss America win brings out American Twitterati's racist side. http://t.co/jbdEY5ZR42 Trolls are the same the world over.
— Deepanjana Pal (@dpanjana) September 16, 2013
Food blogger and nutritionist Nandita Iyer (@saffrontrail) pointed out how many of the people making racist comments were not even aware of the differences between Arabs and Indians. She tweeted:
There are ppl so dumb to think Indian & Arab are same- Go to school, yo! Outrage over Indian miss America http://t.co/XUYW00tg6H
— Nandita Iyer (@saffrontrail) September 16, 2013
Engineering student Siddhartha R Thota's anger at the onslaught of racist verbal attacks on the newly crowned Miss America was evident in this tweet:
Free boil for my blood and disrespect for stupid “Americans”, this #MissAmerica issue. Some heartening exceptions though.
— Siddhartha R Thota (@tweetingsid) September 16, 2013
His anger found resonance with Ankita Singh (@VaanarMukhi) who commented via tweet
I'm sure the people making jokes on Nina Davuluri have the sharpest of features and they are the fairest ones there are.
— Ankita Singh (@VaanarMukhi) September 16, 2013
Gyanonymous pointed out the hypocrisy embedded in the racist comments through this tweet:
It's funny how the world sun-bathes to get a brown tan. And then they hypocritically attack brown skinned Nina Davuluri (Miss America 2014)
— Gyanonymous (@ASShishism) September 16, 2013
Too dark-skinned for India?
Davuluri's dark skin was the focus of many. In one tweet, journalist and author Samar Halarnkar (@samar11) wondered:
Interesting. “Dusky” Indian-American becomes Ms America but would she ever make it in India? http://t.co/MZsmcyw9E5
— Samar Halarnkar (@samar11) September 16, 2013
Kushan Mitra echoed the sentiment in his tweet:
The question is whether a girl as dark as Nina Davuluri could possibly have won Miss India? Knowing our fascination for fairness, maybe not!
— Kushan Mitra (@kushanmitra) September 16, 2013
Writer and columnist Salil Tripathi (@saliltripathi) wondered along the same lines, reminded by this article in FirstPost that ‘dusky’ skinned models and actresses in India often underwent “colour adjustments” before they got accepted.
To win Miss India, I guess the new Miss America would have had to use Fair and Lovely, as @ElChaudhry reminds us: http://t.co/nJ6W1EEamv
— Salil Tripathi (@saliltripathi) September 16, 2013
There were still others who used humour to underline the fact that Ms. Davuluri was indeed dark complexioned and not the quintessential (white-skinned) American. For example, stand-up comedian Atul Khatri (@one_by_two) tweeted:
Hey you guys sure Nina Davuluri won Miss. America and not Miss. Africa ?? #JustAsking
— Atul Khatri (@one_by_two) September 16, 2013
Challenging notions of beauty
However, a section of netizens celebrated the winner and saw this as another milestone to champion “Dark is Beautiful”.
From Mysore, author and blogger Ratna Rajaiah (@alphabetiya) tweeted:
if my eyes serve me right, Nina Davuluri is a dark-skinned girl, no? Take that, Fair&Lovely
— ratna_rajaiah (@alphabetiya) September 16, 2013
Kaveri Jain (@Mehitabel) from Delhi proclaimed via this tweet
Dark is beautiful campaign just got its newest ambassador “@ndtv: Miss America crowns first winner of Indian descent ”
— Kaveri (@Mehitabel_Delhi) September 16, 2013

author: Aparna Ray


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Local Police in Bangladesh Capital Dhaka Sign Up for Facebook · Global Voices
পান্থ রহমান রেজা (Pantha)

[All links lead to Bengali-language webpages unless otherwise noted.]
A police department plagued by complaints in a suburb of Bangladesh's capital city Dhaka has joined Facebook for the first time in an effort to improve its relationship with the community.
A Facebook page titled Assistant Commissioner of Police Patrol Uttara has recently caught attention in Bangladesh. It provides information and guidance on many police services, especially for the Uttara suburb residents of the Bangladesh capital.
It may be mentioned that there are a lot of complaints against Bangladesh police. A recent report says that in last year alone complaints against 13,745 police officers across Bangladesh were lodged.
The office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police Patrol Uttara page is an experimental page. It invites around 350,000 Uttara residents to share police-related issues.
This is not the police's first foray into new technology. They had started e-general diary (webbased station diary for recording complaints) system and SMS-based complaint system which were not successful.
Bangladesh Police force. Image by A. M. Ahad. Copyright Demotix. (13/6/2011)
For example, the Police elaborated on the page what they are doing about the ongoing problem of traffic jams in the area:
উত্তরাবাসীদের যানজট থেকে কিছুটা হলেও মুক্তি দিতে আজ থেকে আমরা এয়ারপোর্ট গোল চত্বরের দুপাশে অতিরিক্ত পুলিশ ফোর্স মোতায়েন করেছি।যেসব পথচারীরা ফুটওভার ব্রিজ ব্যবহার না করে রাস্তা দিয়ে পার হোন তাঁদেরকে ফুটওভার ব্রিজ ব্যবহারে অভ্যস্ত করতে এ ব্যবস্থা।আমি নিজে আজ সকাল ১০ টা থেকে ১২ টা পর্যন্ত রাস্তায় দাঁড়িয়ে ডিউটি করেছি।পুরো সময়টুকু সম্ভব না হলেও অন্ততঃ “রাশ আওয়ার”(Rush Hour) সময়টুকুতে উত্তরার পুলিশ তাদের যথাসাধ্য চেষ্টা করবে পথচারীদের ফুটওভার ব্রিজ ব্যবহারে অনুপ্রাণিত করতে।দুঃখজনক হলেও সত্য, কাজটি খুব কঠিন এবং পথচারীরা প্রায় কেউই এটি মানতে চান না।তবে আমরা ঠিক করেছি আগামী বেশ কিছুদিন আমরা এই ডিউটি অব্যহত রাখব যাতে পথচারীরা এতে অভ্যস্ত হয়ে পড়েন।
We have deployed additional police force near Airport Square today to relieve Uttara residents from the traffic congestion. We were there to encourage pedestrians to use the footbridge instead of crossing the street. From 10am-12pm I personally was on duty there. If not the whole day, the police will remain there helping and encouraging pedestrians to use the footbridge during rush hours. Sorry to say the job is tedious as many pedestrians refuse to comply. We have decided to maintain this campaign for a few more days so that people are used to the rules.
Police cleared illegal parking in front of Scholastica School in Uttara
In a recent post the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police in Uttara wrote how they cleared illegally parked car in front of Scholastica School and reduced traffic jam. The police has this advice for citizens:
জোরপূর্বক কাউকে আইন মানানো সম্ভব নয় এটা আমি আপনি সবাই জানি। আপনাদের প্রতি অনুরোধ, আপনারা মেইন রোডে কোনও অবস্থাতেই গাড়ি রেখে যানজট সৃষ্টি করবেন না।
We cannot make everybody abide rule by force, we all know that. I urge to you all, please do not park your cars in main road and contribute to traffic jam.
Blogger Onu Tareq called on Bangladeshis to take advantage of the page and highlight the local issues:
এই পেজে দলে দলে যোগ দিন। আপনার এলাকার সমস্যার কথা পুলিশকে জানান, পুলিশ জনগণের সেবক, রক্ষক। সঠিক জায়গায় অভিযোগ করুন- এই উদ্যোগের মাধ্যমে ধীরে ধীরে বাংলাদেশের সমস্ত পুলিশ থানা ফেসবুক ব্যবহারকারীদের আওতার মধ্যে আনার চেষ্টা করা হচ্ছে, আপনিও সাথে থাকুন…
Please join this page in numbers. Discuss the problems in your locality. Police are the saviour of the citizens, they serve them. Kindly complain to an effective outlet. I hope every other police station in Bangladesh will join Facebook soon. Please stay with them..
Blogger Asad Mohammad Asaduzzaman said he has travelled widely and never had seen such an effort from police anywhere. He wrote:
kindly accept my sincere appreciation. it's indeed an exceptional but very effective way to ensure civic security through social media. I've been to many countries across Asia, Europe and Africa but have never heard about such innovative idea. my personal feeling is that if the mass have accessibility to the law enforcing agencies by any means, it just boost up their level of courage. please keep your motivation up and I hope people will be beside in spirit. good luck!
Junaed Hossain praised the initiative:
‘পুলিশ ফোর্স’ নয় আমরা ‘পুলিশ সার্ভিস’ চাই। আমাদের নিরাপত্তা প্রদান করা সংস্থার সাথে আমরা বন্ধুত্ব মানের সম্পর্ক রাখতে চাই।
We don't only want a ‘police force’ but also ‘police service’. We want to keep friendly relations with our security force.
Faisal Ibne Jamal hoped that the page will augment the understanding of “community policing” and implementation of related theories:
এটি খুবই ভালো একটি উদ্যোগ। আশা করি শুধু মাত্র তথ্য আদান প্রদান কিংবা মতামত-ভিন্নমতেই এটি সীমাবদ্ধ থাকবে না। কমিউনিটি পুলিশিং এর ধারনা ও তার বাস্তবায়নে কীভাবে সবাইকে কাজ করতে হয় এ ব্যাপারগুলো ও উঠে আসবে এই পেজে। ঔপনিবেশিক আমলের পুলিশি বাস্তবতা এবং এ সময়ের পুলিশি বাস্তবতা যে ভিন্নতর তার ধারনা পুলিশ বিভাগেও যেমন গড়ে ওঠেনি তেমনিভাবে জনগণের ও কোন ধারনা নেই সে সম্বন্ধে। আমাদের সৎ পুলিশ কর্মকর্তা বা সদস্যের অভাব নেই মোটেই। কিন্তু আমাদের সমস্যাগুলি অন্য জায়গায়। ভালো সেবা পেতে গেলে যিনি দেবেন আর যিনি নেবেন তাদের সম্পর্কটা সহজ হতে হয়। বন্ধুত্বটা শুধু মুখে মুখে বললেই হবে না গভীরতম বিশ্বাসেও ধারন করতে হবে।
This is an exemplary effort. I hope it won't be confined to only the exchange of information or arguments and counterarguments. This page will highlight the concepts of “community policing” and how it is implemented with everyone's participation. The realities of the British era and the realities of today are completely different, this needs to be recognized by the police and people should realize it. We have also honest and willing police members. But our problems lie elsewhere. The relationship between service provider and receiver should be easy. The talk about friendship should also materialize with trust.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: পান্থ রহমান রেজা (Pantha)


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New Australian Government: Where are the Women? · Global Voices
Kevin Rennie

On her YaThink? blog, Noely Neate asks why there is likely to be only one woman minister in Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's new government. Where are the “Women of Merit”?:
Married, unmarried, Gay, children, no children, minorities… The previous Cabinet, particularly under Ms Gillard, including both women AND men, while not perfect in displaying all facets of the population, was probably one of the most ‘representative’ of the Australian public that we ever saw, sadly those days are now gone :(“.

author: Kevin Rennie


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Opinion Leader Charles Xue Forced to Prostitute Himself on Chinese State TV · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Charles Xue, a Chinese American billionaire investor and prominent opinion leader residing in Beijing, was again featured in state-controlled Chinese Central Television (CCTV) reflecting on his attitude as an influential celebrity. It came two weeks after the public humiliation of his arrest and detention under the charge of solicitation of prostitution, also aired by CCTV news. His self-criticism of being an irresponsible opinion leader in the public reminded people of the “class struggle session” during the Cultural Revolution and some even said Xue was forced to prostitute himself on TV.
The latest 30 mins TV feature, however, has nothing to do with his immoral act of prostitution, but a self-criticism of his attitude as a big V, meaning verified celebrity in Sina Weibo. By the end of the feature, he expressed his support for the recent judicial guidelines that define online rumor, saying that it will restore order in the online world.
Screen capture from CCTV news channel. Charles Xue was “interviewed” by the police officers in the detention center.
Interviewed by the police officer inside the detention center, Charles Xue talked about his path of becoming a Big V in Sina Weibo in the first part of the feature. He joined Weibo in 2010 and became popular in May 2011 after he launched a snapshot campaign to help parents to find their kidnapped kids who sometimes ended up begging in the streets. Later he was diagnosed with cancer and started blogging about his treatment. By then he had more than a million followers. As an online celebrity and successful businessman, he attended many career talks, being interviewed by magazines and newspapers. His followers reached 5 millions in 2012 and he developed a habit of commenting on news and helping others to distribute their content. In 2013, he wrote in average 80 micro-blogs per day and had more than 12 million followers, a size equal to 3% of the 400 millions total internet population in China.
The CCTV host then commented that the Weibo communication mode has made Charles Xue egoistic because he was surrounded by so many friends.
Charles Xue then admitted that he could not possibly verify every piece of information he re-tweeted and that he was often emotional, not constructive and irresponsible. He said he felt himself like an emperor, “more powerful than a CCP secretary of a local government” as the number of fans he got is more than a major city. As a “star”, he was very high and lost himself.
Historical photo of struggle session during the Cultural Revolution. Source: Wikipedia.
In the final part of the interview, he resonated the CCP rumor crackdown campaign and said the biggest problem in the Chinese internet is rumor and it will generate disorder in the society. He thus supported the judicial guidelines which define defamatory and ungrounded contents that have more than 5000 views or have been retweeted 500 times as rumors. He stressed that Big V should have greater social responsibility and respect the law.
The TV feature reminded many of the “class struggle session” during the Cultural Revolution. The public performance of “struggle session” was to “help” the self-criticized person to correct their counter-revolutionary and reactionary thinking. As Chinese micro-blogging is now heavily censored, many have moved to Twitter to comment on the political performance of Charles Xue.
@Dennis_Chang believed that Charles Xue must have suffered a lot during detention:
薛蛮子，有1200万粉丝的大V，在CCAV上那个乖啊。可见被警察整成什么样了，叫说啥就说啥了，下次上电视时，是不是得直接高呼毛主席万岁了？
— Dennis_Chang (@Dennis_Chang) September 15, 2013
Charles Xue, a Big V with 12 million fans. He was so cooperative in CCAV [Chinese Central Adult TV, a spoof name for CCTV]. Obviously the police must have made him suffer to the extent that he would say whatever he was told to say. Next time he would say Long Live Chairman Mao.
@Business_trader said this time Xue has been forced into prostitution:
听了小潘的采访，再听薛蛮子的表白，我终于明白，男人一样可以被嫖的。
— Business_trader (@Business_trader) September 16, 2013
Upon listened to previous interview and then watched Charles Xue's confession, now I got it. Man can be forced into prostitution.
@MerlotN echoed:
薛蛮子欠了安慧北里失足妇女的嫖资，这下党国嫖了薛蛮子，也没给嫖资
— 吴乐宝 (@MerlotN) September 15, 2013
Charles Xue forgot to pay the prostitute in the lane [he was caught on spot], this time the Party-state also does not pay Xue for prostituting himself.
In reply to @aiww's rather harsh comment, @aac_ feels sympathetic towards Xue:
薛蛮子在高压恐吓下被迫屈服，可以理解吧，毕竟不是主动作恶。RT @Waynexg “@aiww: 看了薛蛮子在央视的网络自白，这人还真的是欠镇压，一群流氓暴捶了一个嫖客的快感油然而生。”他一定是 #劉無敵 的崇拜者。
— 赖永献 (@aac_) September 15, 2013
Charles Xue was forced to be submissive under high pressure. We should be more understanding, it is not an intended evil act. RT @Waynexg “@aiww: upon watching Charles Xue's self-criticism, this guy deserved repression. The gang's pleasure comes from beating up the prostitutor…
Indeed, many are disappointed with Charles Xue. For example, @lihuaixio4427 said:

薛蛮子这回算是彻底栽土共手上了、其实干嘛服软呢、抗拒从严就从严嘛、作为大V、他难道不知“士可杀不可辱”吗、人不总归有一死嘛、突然之间觉得他有点可惜了、节操全无。
— 张琦@zhangqi (@lihuaixio4427) September 15, 2013
Charles Xue has been ruined by CCP. He should not have submitted. Although any resistance will result in harsh punishment, as a Big V he should know that an intellectual should rather be killed than humiliated. After all everyone will die eventually. Now I feel pity for him that he has lost all his virtue.
@liurui007521 said the TV feature has turned Xue to an eunuch
看了薛蛮子在监狱中关于网络大v的言论特别恶心，这世上又多了个阉割的太监，其实就是一个愿打，一个愿挨。当年艾未未怎么没有被抓嫖也没有认罪视频去传播正能量。所以两者的结果也是不同的，艾未未被罚了1500万，薛蛮子估计很快就取保候审了，回到花花世界。@aiww
— 独孤锐-独立维权记者 (@liurui007521) September 15, 2013
Charles Xue's talk about his path to Big V is so disgusting. Another castrated eunuch has joined the world. The relation between repression and submission is mutual. A few years ago, Ai Weiwei was not be accused of prostitution and put on show. He was fined 15 millions. Charles Xue will soon return to the joyful world.
However, @tufuwugan  believed that the CCP will continue to exploit him:
薛蛮子对黑帮的无耻程度不够了解，以为配合演出一下就没事，没想到黑帮越用越爽越上瘾，怎么会舍得放弃，当然要好好剥几层利用一番，可怜的薛蛮子出来后，声名狼藉，之前大家还挺同情，但你太配合作贱自己，适得其反。唉！
— 超级低俗屠夫 (@tufuwugan) September 15, 2013
Charles Xue does not have enough knowledge about what kind of scumbags he is dealing with. He thought he would be free if he is cooperative in the performance. But the Gang will be addicted to the means and will not easily give up. They will continue to exploit him. When poor Charles Xue came out, he lost his name. People felt sympathetic for him earlier on, once you humiliate yourself, you lose everything.
Can CCP achieved their goal?  @duyanpili used the husband and wife relationship to explain why CCP is doomed to fail:
党妈认为舆论战线是天然是属于它的，怎能薛蛮子们来占领了？在公众面前出薛蛮子的丑，好比大老婆当街羞辱小三，可惜，这样不仅难以挽回老公的心，恐怕已经覆水难收。
— 艳萍 (@duyanpili) September 15, 2013
The CCP wants to control public opinion and cannot allow people like Charles Xue to take the lead. However, to humiliate Charles Xu in public is like a wife beating up the husband's mistress in the street. However, the wife cannot get back the husband's heart by doing this, it is all too late.
@duyanpili's prediction is probably right as indicated by comments from Sina Weibo. Mo Ju (@墨鉅) believed the authorities have humiliated themselves in such political performance:
抓嫖娼就抓嫖娼，别扯什么网络大V。薛蛮子是因嫖娼获罪，还是因言获罪？司马昭之心路人皆知，但司马昭自己不能说出来。谁都知道你的目的是打压言论，你的目的就达到了。但你不能说出来，更不能在大庭广众之下说出来。这等于是在说，为了让他闭嘴，你攻了他的下三路。你不要脸，党和政府也不要脸了吗？
Is this a prostitution case or a Big V case? Charles Xue was arrested for solicitation of a prostitute, or it is speech prosecution after all? The heart of Sima Zhao [an ambitious ancient politician] is known by everyone layman. But Sima Zhao could not spell it out by himself. Everyone knows that your objective is to repress free speech and they are about to achieve it. You cannot state your intention publicly, which means, in order to shut him up, you attack his penis [through the charge of solicitation]. You are shameless, but what about the Party and the government? Don't they want to keep their faces looking good?
@wybfz (@网眼八分斋) urged the authorities be merciful to Charles Xue:
【呼吁善待薛蛮子】忽然觉得，60岁的人，话说到这样，事办成如此，已然成了祭品，也达到了祭旗的目的。作为他的对手、敌人，看不下去了：一个文明的社会，即便是对罪犯也需应有的文明。网络斩首示众、网尸悬挂多日、网事昭告天下，让人倍感倒退！因此，坚持之前对薛的批判，但现在我呼吁善待他！你呢？
[Please be merciful to Charles Xue] A 60-year-old fellow, talking like this, he have completed his mission and become a scapegoat for the ritual. Even if I am his opponent and enemy [in public debate], I cannot watch this anymore: In a civilized society, it should be civilized even to the criminals. To behead a person in the internet and have the body hanging up in the air for so many days to let the online world bear witness to the consequences, this is pure regression. I will continue criticizing him, but I urge you to treat him with mercy. What about you?

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
Police Arrest Protesters Protecting Macedonian City Park from Destruction · Global Voices
Danica Radisic

Eleven protesters who were demonstrating with several hundred others in Bristol Park, one of Macedonia's capital city of Skopje's few remaining parks, to save the green space from the construction of a government building, were arrested on the night between September 11 and 12.
The protests began more than a month ago and have since grown into a larger movement. Around 1 a.m., police surrounded the area, began breaking up the gathering and arrested the group [mk]. Macedonian and regional mainstream media are keeping silent about it.
Tamara Atanasoska, a blogger from Skopje, addressed the international community in a blog post on September 12 and gave a round-up of the events, explaining some of the issues Macedonian society is faced with today:
I hope you had a fine day. In fact, I am pretty sure you did. I myself, did not.
You see, today, in the city named Skopje, from where I come from, in front of the building in which I grew up, there are currently 400 policemen surrounding it. Peaceful protesters were arrested during the night, with the noble cause of saving one of the last remaining parks in Skopje, as the city is clogged with dust, dangerous particles and environment that sparks health problems.
This is not the first time. I’ve been woken up one night, some time ago, with the sound of the chainsaws. It was 4 a.m.. I cried as the old and big trees fell as the angry citizens were clashing with the police. Many, many of policemen, for just 30 citizens. Yes, we are not Gezi. But we are not the Turkish. Macedonia has not still recovered from the communist mentality. We had no resources for that. The governments after exploited that to the highest extent, killing all hope for citizen initiatives.
The demolishing of the park began in early August as preparation for a new government building in faux-baroque style that is part of a new urbanism plan dubbed “Skopje 2014″ by city officials and that many Skopje citizens regard as kitch and derogatory to Skopje's existing architecture and urban history.
A sign on a monument in downtown Skopje says: “Yesterday trees, tomorrow heads”; photo by Aleksandra Spaseska, used with permission.
The hashtag #Bristol (#Бристол [mk]) remains popular and active among Macedonian Twitter users, with live updates from the scene as the protests develop. Mainstream media however, remain silent, and many are also criticizing this fact online. Twitter user Stefan Manevski posted a comment and YouTube video showing the police crackdown on protesters at Bristol Park:
Not Turkey but Erdogan police style, Not Egypt but Mubarak police style- this is EU candidate #Macedonia #Бристол http://t.co/UANIbw31uH
— Manevski Z Stefan (@manevskizstefan) September 12, 2013
Some smaller independent online media and journalists have made attempts to report on the protests at Bristol Park, but have run into heavy resistance and even threats from the several hundred police officers guarding the park from protesters. NOVA TV reports [mk] on their website:
На новинари денеска пред паркот кај Бристол им беше забрането да фотографираат, а на екипата на НОВА и беше избришан видео материјал. Има ли право полицијата да спречува снимање и бришење на видео мат
Павле Трајанов актуелен пратеник и поранешен министер за внатрешни работи ни рече дека снимањето може да се ограничи само на места на кои постои јасна ознака дека снимањето е забрането
Според поранешен висок функционер во јавната безбедност полицијата нема право на таква мерка. Тој вели дека професијата полицаец е ризична но дека токму затоа имаат бенифициран стаж и други привилегии
Слободата на јавно информирање и на пристап кон информации, како дел од Уставот на РМ (чл.16) за секое демократско општество е повисока вредност од заштитата на интересите на прекршочната постапка
The journalists today outside the park in Bristol were forbidden to photograph, and the NOVA team also had their video deleted. Is it legal for police to prevent filming and to delete video mat. [material]
Pavle Trajanov current MP and former Minister of the Interior told us that filming may be restricted to places where there is a clear indication that filming is prohibited
According to a former senior public security official, the police has no right to such measures. He said the police profession is risky but this is why police officers have benefits in seniority and other privileges
Freedom of the press and access to information as part of the Constitution (Article 16) for any democratic society is of higher value than the protection of the interests of misdemeanors
And also describes in more detail the conduct of police officers on site with NOVA TV photographer and journalists:
Во случајот со екипата на НОВА, полицаецот кој го принудил нашиот новинар да го избрише видео записот не се повикал на никаква законска одредба, подзаконски акт, решение или било каков документ кој му го дава правото да забрани вршење на новинарска работа и бришење на снимен видео материјал.
Од нашиот новинар било побарано да се легитимира при што на полицаецот му била приложена прес картата која би требало да овозможи слободно извршување на новинарските задачи.
In the case of the NOVA team, the police officer who forced our journalist to delete the video recording did not cite any legal decree, subordinate regulations, resolution or any document whatsoever which provides him with the right to ban journalists in doing their jobs or to delete filmed video material.
Our journalist was asked for identification documents even thought the police officer had been shown a press card which should allow for the unobstructed pursuit of completing journalistic tasks.
Tamara Čausidis, a correspondent from Skopje for online weekly Forum.tm, reports [hr] on her journalistic team's experiences with police and the events on the night of September 12th at Bristol Park:
„Ako objaviš fotografiju, dobit ćeš kaznenu prijavu“, rekao je naoružani policajac mom kolegi nakon što je fotografirao skupinu teško naoružanih pripadnika specijalne policije koji su raspoređeni u središtu Skopja.
Novinar je na licu mjesta izbrisao fotografiju. “I vi novinari previše sebi dopuštate“, zaključio je ovaj specijalac, koji je s velikim brojem svojih kolega zadužen za operaciju „oslobađanja“ parcele koja je nekad bila mali park i koju su aktivisti branili tako što su zasadili nove mladice i u šatorima, na smjenu, danonoćno bdjeli nad njima.
U policijskoj akciji u dva u noći, isto kao što su prethodno posjekli park, sada su uhićeni i privedeni i parkobranitelji, kako se je ta grupa nazvala. U akciji je sudjelovalo nekoliko stotina – brojke se kreću od 200 do 400 – pripadnika obične policije, ali i specijalnih jedinica za brzo raspoređivanje, koji su krenuli na 11 aktivista i priveli ih na ispitivanje u policijsku postaju. Prema riječima policije, zbog „narušavanja javnog reda i mira“.
“If you publish that photograph, you will get a citation”, an armed police officer told my colleague after he had taken photographs of the group of heavily armed members of the special police squadron that was strewn in the center of Skopje.
The journalist deleted the photograph on the spot. “And you journalists allow yourselves too much”, the special forces officer concluded, who with a large number of his colleagues was tasked with the mission of “liberating” the parcel of land that once was a small park and that activists were defending by planting new seedlings and sitting in tents, guarding them day and night in shifts.
In a police action at two in the morning, just as they had previously cut down the park, the park defenders, as this group has named itself, were now being rounded up and arrested. The action was carried out by hundreds – reports of the number vary from 200 to 400 – members of regular police forces, but also special units for faster distribution, that came at 11 activists and brought them in for questioning at a police station. According to police sources, for “disturbing public order and peace”.
Others online, like a1on.mk, have managed to capture video and photographic material despite police warnings and post them online. The video below shows police officers at Bristol Park in full gear, surrounding the park, blocking passage and towing cars away from the park.
In calling for the support of the international community for Bristol Park, blogger Tamara Atanaskosa added:
We are not Syria. Our children are not dying on the street, gassed to death. But my country is dying in another way. For the first time after going out of Yugoslavia, my people got a country, to build, to grow, to develop, to evolve. As the years passed, those dreams of democracy, prosperity and future of any kind are less and less, as we are going rapidly down on all measured markers. This has a huge toll on young people. We try to keep our heads up from the gutter, but it’s quick sand under our feet.
The protests in downtown Skopje continue. As they bring to the surface much of the government pressure and disfunctionality in the country, these protests are slowly but surely growing into something bigger in Macedonia.

author: Danica Radisic


text:
Exclusive: “We Will Start a War” – Kyrgyz Thugs Threaten Canadian Gold Miners  · Global Voices
Shakhnoza Isakova

The Canadian-run goldmine accounts for 12 per cent of the country's GDP.
Back in May 2013, Global Voices covered the trail of political chaos that resulted when protests close to Kyrgyzstan's Kumtor gold mine turned violent. Now a secret video has emerged that appears to show the hand of organized crime in the protests and points to the likelihood of future conflicts over the mine.
Peace for money
On August 28 a video featuring men widely acknowledged as instigators of the May unrest negotiating with representatives of Kumtor's parent company Centerra Gold appeared on YouTube and other video-sharing platforms. On camera the two men attempt to extort money from the company, offering peace and stability in the communities around the mine in return. One of them said, “If they try to put pressure on us, we will start  a war.”
The video was ostensibly shot in July 2013 and released on state television in late August. Centerra Gold funds various projects in the region surrounding the mine, where locals are divided between supporters and opponents of the company.
Following the release of the video, Kumtor Operating Company announced that it was providing “full assistance” to the authorities in investigating the incident. Kurmanov and Junushbaev subsequently organized [ru] a road block on August 29 to protest against what they claimed was a fake video. They were arrested and are now awaiting their trial.
Netizens had their say on forums and news blogs, with opinions varying from those who felt [ru] the video was a fake created by the Kyrgyz security services to those who argued the footage was real and who registered their disgust [ru] at the local thugs.
Below is the only publicly available video in Russian and Kyrgyz with exclusive unabridged English subtitles.
To give our readers a little bit of background about the four key persons in the video, we are also sharing their brief biographical details below:
For the convenience of readers, the full conversation from the video and its English translation is available below (note: the conversation is quite long):
Дуйшеналиев Т: Давайте Бахтияр, Эрмек. Дуглас. Сейчас Дугласа ждет в Торонто совет директоров. От него ждут ответа на этом собрании. Дугласа ждут, будет ли рудник работать. Будем ли мы с вами дружить или в разные стороны?
Duishenaliev T: All right, Bakhtiyar and Ermek. Douglas. The Board of directors in Toronto is now waiting for Douglas. He is expected to provide them with an answer about whether the mine will work or not, whether we will be friends or go in opposite directions.
Жунушбаев Э: Дуглас, ты еще не понимаешь, мы тебе говорим, сейчас “Кумтору”, кроме нас, никто шанс не дает второй раз на работу – ни правительство, ни президент. Если они нам ругают, мы его война уже сделаем.
Junushbaev E: Douglas, you still don't understand. We are telling you: no one except us will give Kumtor a second chance to work – neither the government nor the president. If they try to put pressure on us, we will start  a war.
Курманов Б: Эрмек, давай я сейчас объясню. Дуглас, вы теперь поняли, да, кто решает? Поняли да? Не правительство, мы правительства не боимся, мы никого не боимся, только бога боимся. Если договор…если вы не согласны, “Кумтор” работать не будет. Вот, сейчас китайцы готовы стать, японцы есть. Мы с ними договоримся нормально, вот они работать будут. Если с канадцами нормально, дай бог, то работать будут канадцы.
Kurmanov B: Ermek, let me explain. Douglas, do you now understand who makes the decisions here? Do you? It is not the government. We are not afraid of the government. We are not afraid of anyone except God. If the contract… If you do not agree with us, Kumtor will not work. Now we have the Chinese ready [to cooperate with us], we also have the Japanese. We will have an agreement with them, and they will [operate the mine]. If [we reach an agreement] with the Canadians, God helps us in this, then the Canadians will work.
Гриер Д: Это другой уровень но я все передам.
Grier D: [The decision has to be made at] a different level, but I will pass the message on.
Курманов Б: Жапаров, да знаешь Жапарова? Ташиева? Они готовы с нами вместе сотрудничать и вас атаковать. Вам это надо?
Kurmanov B: Japarov, do you know Japarov? Tashiev? They are ready to cooperate with us in attacking you. Do you need this?
Гриер Д: Нет, конечно, и я думаю, здесь тоже людям это не нужно.
Grier D: No, of course not. And I think people here don't need this either.
Жунушбаев Э: Нет, если вы с нами не работаете, мы на все готовы. Вот “Кумтор” закроем, правительство вызовем. Все надо закроем, кого куда уезжайте. А кого-то из вас закрыть, того закрыть надо.
Junushbaev E: [If you disagree], if you don't work with us, we are ready for anything. We will close Kumtor and call out the government. We will close down whatever we need to close down [and you will have to] leave. If we have to close you down, we will close you down.
Гриер Д: Если я здесь, я думаю, это знак, что мы готовы с вами работать.
Grier D: I am here, and I think this is a sign that we are ready to work with you.
Дуйшеналиев Т: Дадим слово, потом вы свои требования выскажете, так?
Duishenaliev T: We will let you know when it is your turn to speak, and you can then state your demands, alright?
Гриер Д: Я просто объясняю, вот это сейчас – это совет директоров, они его там одобрили 20 млн долларов, да, на проект? Мы тоже таким образом…
Grier D: I am just explaining. Currently, the board of directors… They have approved the allocation of 20 million [US] dollars for the project. So in this sense we…
Курманов Б: На какой проект?
Kurmanov B: For which project?
Гриер Д: Ну, раньше мы делали такие, как “Алатин финанс”, которые вообще не работают. Тоже 2 года назад проект шел…
Grier D: Well, earlier we had [projects] such as Alatin Finance, which did not work at all. Also two years ago we had another project…
Дуйшеналиев Т: Я разъясню ребятам. Когда правительство, Бабанов был во главе правительства, те 20 млн, знаете, это 1 миллиард сомов, с теми 7% и Ала-Тоо финанс, который давал в кредит для молодежи, пропали. То были наши деньги, сейчас вот эти 20 млн по требованию Джеты-Огузцев, да? Сейчас одобрено?
Duishenaliev T: Let me explain. When Babanov was the head of government, the 20 million [dollars], you know, which is 1 billion [Kyrgyz] soms… With the 7% [interest] that Ala-Too finance used to give loans for young people… It all got lost. That was our money. Now there is a request for another 20 million [US dollars], a request by [the residents of] Jeti Oguz…[Is this what] has been approved?
Гриер Д: Да. Сейчас, ну, я стараюсь. Вот наш план… это…ну это… одобрено 20 млн. Или бы я давно уехал бы и сказал бы…
Grier D: Yes, well, I am trying… This is our plan… There is an approval for 20 million. If there wasn't one, I would have left long ago, and I would have said…
Жунушбаев Э: Да…
Junushbaev E: Yes…
Жунушбаев Э: Скажем те вещи короче. Если захочет, пусть, если нет, то пойдем… по любому…
Junushbaev E: Let us be blunt about this. If he wishes, let it be… If not, then we will make a move, at any rate.
Гриер Д: Ну, хорошо…
Grier D: Okay…
Курманов Б: Если правительство давить начинать будет, да? Мы объявим войну, гражданская война будет; революция будет. До 20 сентября вот это не решить, мы выйдем. Тогда ни вам, ни этому правительству, там другие будут. Мы с Эрмеком, ты в курсе да? До 20-го, 10-го сентября мы остановим, если хотим. Если… Он в курсе?
Kurmanov B: If the government puts pressure on us, we will declare a war, a civil war; there will be a revolution. If you do not make up your mind before September 20, we will start [the protests]. In this case neither you nor the government [will control the mine]; others will come [to control the mine]. Me and Ermek, you understand, yes? Before the 20th [of September], or even the 10th [of September] [you have tine]. We can stop [the mine] if we want. Does he [Kumtor's president] know?
Дуйшеналиев Т: Нет.
Duishenaliev T: No.
Курманов Б: Хорошо.. Сейчас он пойдет и скажет. Пойдет туда, возьмет и скажет,что здесь с ним такое делают.
Kurmanov B: All right… Now [Douglas Grier] will go and tell him. He will go there and say what we are doing here.
Дуйшеналиев Т: Вы скажите свои требования.
Duishenaliev T: What are you demands?
Курманов Б: Нет, он о том проекте, за этим проектом… Он же сказал про проект, задай ему вопрос, есть ли мы в этих 20 млн?
Kurmanov B: No, he speaks about the project. Behind that project… He has [already] spoken about the project. Ask him whether we have a share in the 20 million [US dollars].
Жунушбаев Э: Объясните ему короче.
Junushbaev E: Explain this to him briefly.
Курманов Б: Нет, если мы будем говорить короче, то он немного не поймет.
Kurmanov B: No, if we speak briefly, he will miss many things.
Жунушбаев Э: Так-то нужно, если не так, то не получится. Объясните не затягивая.
Junushbaev E: That is the way it needs to be – if it is not so, it won't work out. Explain it now.
Дуйшеналиев Т: Кто-нибудь один скажите, что, кроме того, мы будем спрашивать и это.
Duishenaliev T: One of you two say what you want and we will ask for it in addition.
Курманов Б: Дуглас, после орозо люди готовы выйти, да. Их надо остановить или не надо?
Kurmanov B: Douglas, after Orozo [holiday to mark the end of Ramadan, on August 8] people will be ready to come out and protest. Should we stop them or not?
Гриер Д: Нет, ну, я думаю, надо…Это очень важно.
Grier D: Well, I think you should [stop them]… This is very important.
Курманов Б: Это очень важно, да?
Kurmanov B: Very important, right?
Гриер Д: Чтобы продолжался процесс переговоров, потому, что это не в моих руках.
Grier D: [This is important] in order to the negotiations to continue, because [it is not me who makes the decisions].
Курманов Б: Время дать, да?
Kurmanov B: We should give you time, correct?
Гриер Д: Да, да.
Grier D: Yes, yes.
Курманов Б: А люди не хотят, надо решить побыстрее.
Kurmanov B: But people don't want [to wait], we need to reach an agreement more quickly.
Гриер Д: Да.. насчет просто напрямую платить, этого не будет, этого не может быть, потому что опять мы акционерное общество, и это против закона, и все сядут, и от этого ничего не получается. А какие-то другие инвестиции тоже надо посмотреть. Потому, что здесь проблема в том, что если мы это вам, ну, помогаем да, все будут знать сразу. И потом Тон выйдет, и там Барскоон, и вот здесь, и Балыкчы. Поэтому это тоже очень деликатный и сложный вопрос. Как-то решать.
Grier D: Yes… As for paying you directly, this is not going to happen. We cannot do this because, again, we are a joint-stock company. And this is against the law, and we will all go to jail and nothing will come our of it. We need to think about how we can make the investment in a different way. But the problem is that if we give you assistance, everyone will know about it. Then, [the residents of other villages near the mine such as] Ton, Barskoon, and Balykchy will take out to the streets. This is why it is a very sensitive and complicated matter that we need to resolve somehow.
Джунушбаев: Э, Дуглас, ты знаешь, да, Кумтор где, месторождение? В Тонском или Жети-Огузском? Знаете, да?
Junushbaev: Duglas, do you know where Kumtor, the mine, is located? In Ton or Jeti-Oguz? You know, right?
Гриер: Да-да-да
Grier: Yes
Джунушбаев: А вы вот нам дорогу сделаете, да?
Junushbaev: You are going to build a road for us, right?
Гриер: Угу
Grier: Yes
Жунушбаев Э: У нас Балыкчы с Караколом – одно круговое кольцо. Эту проблему полностью надо решить…
Junushbaev E: This problem needs to be resolved.
Гриер Д: Угу
Grier D: Yes
Жунушбаев Э: А вот местные люди – это местные…
Junushbaev E: And local people, they are local…
Гриер Д: Да-да-да…
Grier D: Yes, yes, yes..
Жунушбаев Э: Везде там. Правильно, да?
Junushbaev E: All around there. Correct?
Гриер Д: Да-да-да…
Grier D: Yes, yes, yes..
Жунушбаев Э: Поэтому, как Бахтияр говорит, мы с Родни поговорили, показали, что мы делаем. Если будет, мы тоже стараемся нормально ему.
Junushbaev E: That's why, as Bakhtiyar says, we spoke to Rodney, we showed him what we can do. If [things work out], we will be good with him.
Гриер Д: Насчет какого-либо предложения, либо котельный центр или еще что-то. Я тоже не могу решать здесь. Мне надо решать с Майклом Фишером. Я с ним один разговаривал. Кроме него, нас трое. Это вот так.
Grier D: As for other proposals, like building a heating facility or something else, I cannot make decisions here. I have to discuss this with Michael Fischer [President of Kumtor]. I spoke to him only. There are three of us [who need to make the decision together]. It is like this.
Курманов Б: Совет директоров тебе сейчас не важно. Сейчас тебе вот это общение важно.
Kurmanov B: The board of directors is not important for you at the moment. This conversation is what is important at the moment.
Гриер Д: Да-да. Я думаю мы можем это решать. Просто я сам не могу сейчас решить. Я не могу сказать, да или нет. Да? Поэтому мне надо узнать идеи, предложения. И я с Майком обсудим. Я уже говорил, что…
Grier D: Yes, yes. I think we can solve this. I just cannot make decisions alone now. I cannot say yes or no. Understood? This is why I need to find out what your ideas and proposals are. Mike and I will discuss this afterwards. I have already said that…
Курманов Б: Ты Майку скажешь вот так. Майк скажет наше правительство. Наше правительство по телевидению пустит, тогда уже все. Мы…
Kurmanov B: You will speak to Mike, and Mike will tell our government about this. Our government will go on television, and that will be the end. We..
Дуйшеналиев Т: Он же сказал, например, вот…
Duishenaliev T: He has explained, for example…
Курманов Б: Гарантия где? Где гарантия?
Kurmanov B: Where is the guarantee? Where is the guarantee?
Дуйшеналиев Т: Он знает. Родни не играет здесь. Он знает. Он скажет Майку, и Турумбек знает. Все. Вот так вот…
Duishenaliev T: He knows. Rodney is not playing here. He knows. He will say to Mike. And Turumbek knows. That's it. So..
Гриер Д: Потому что напрямую невозможно просто так, да? Это достаточно большая сумма, и… так не получается.
Grier D: It is impossible (to pay you) directly, right? It is quite a large sum… It won't work.
Курманов Б: Что большая сумма?
Kurmanov B: What about the large sum?
Гриер Д: Ну если это большая сумма, да?
Grier D: Well, if it is a large sum.
Дуйшеналиев Т: Если этот проект большая сумма – просто так подарить… Дуглас начал говорить про реабилитационный центр, да? Это один проект – да. Это большие деньги – да. Дуглас объясняет, что они не могут просто так. Надо подумать. Может, в виде кредита…
Duishenaliev T: If this project costs a lot – to just give the money away… Douglas has started to talk about a rehabilitation center, right? This is one project. This is a lot of money. Douglas is explaining that they cannot simply (give the money).. We need to come up with something.. Perhaps, in the form of credit…
Гриер Д: Надо делать так, чтобы были гарантии у нас. Нужны гарантии. Потому что если бы мы помогли, через месяц еще кто-то скажет: «Давайте я тоже кредит дам». Поэтому нужны гарантии, что это стабильность. Потому что всем нужна стабильность для развития бизнеса. Вот там туризм и все-все…
Grier D: We need to manage it so that we would have guarantees. We need guarantees. Because if we provide this assistance, someone might say in a month: “Okay, I can give you a loan, too”. That's why we need guarantees, to ensure stability. We all need stability to do business. Tourism, and all the rest…
Курманов Б: Это от вас зависит.
Kurmanov B: That depends on you.
Дуйшеналиев Т: Бахтияр, вот Дуглас говорит, что вот мы три человека. Я тоже уйду. Вот Даг будет один с вами работать, больше никто не будет. Он же утверждает, что ни правительство, никто не будет знать, что мы оказываем какую-то помощь. Это не просто взять деньги и вот так отдать. Этого нет. За это его не то что уволят, его посадят.
Duishenaliev T: Bakhtiyar, as Douglas says, there are three of us here. I will leave too. Doug will work with you alone, no one else. He is saying that neither government nor anybody else will find out that we are providing you with some kind of assistance. But we cannot simply give you the money. It's not like that. He would not simply be fired for that, he would go to jail for that.
Гриер Д: Это уже невозможно делать как обычно – писать письмо, вот у нас бизнес-проект, можно поддерживать, поэтому что там видят все, что мы там отплатили.
Grier D: It is also impossible to do things in the usual way, say, for you to send us a letter with a request to support a business project. [If we did so], everybody would understand that we are simply paying you.
Дуйшеналиев Т: Ты можешь без огласки оказать содействие, помощь.
Duishenaliev T: You can provide us with assistance without such publicity.
Гриер Д: Да, и кредиты в другие организации…
Grier D: Yes, through credits to a different organization…
Дуйшеналиев Т: Да. У вас будут деньги.
Duishenaliev T: Yes, you will have the money.
Жунушбаев Э: Ну насчет проекта мы поговорили, да?
Junushbaev E: Well, we discussed the project, right?
Дуйшеналиев Т: Это проект называется. Мы не просто делаем там… Это закрытый проект.
Duishenaliev T: We call this is a project, ok?. This is a project [that we do not make public].
Жунушбаев Э: Это один год зарплату президента “Центерры”, бизнес-проект там.
Junushbaev E: It is a one-year salary of Centerra's President, this business project…
Курманов Б: Сколько у него зарплата?
Kurmanov B: What is his salary?
Гриер Д: Я не знаю.
Grier D: I don't know.
Курманов Б: Вот в ЖК была комиссия. Они показали 3-3,5 тысячи миллион, да? Или миллиард…
Kurmanov B: A commission in the Jogorku Kenesh [parliament] suggested that the salary is about 3 or 3.5 thousand million, right? Or a billion?
Дуйшеналиев Т: Нет-нет, миллиард – это такая сумма. Подумай. Миллиард эмес (не миллиард). Может, три миллиона. Эту сумму они получают один год, а мы говорим не эта Центерра, а один годный зарплату Майка.
Duishenaliev T: No, no. A billion is a huge sum… Think about it. It could not be a billion. Perhaps three million. The [company] might get a sum like that every year. But you are talking about Mike's annual salary, right?
Курманов Б: Нет, не Майка, а где в Торонто сидит главный ваш? Из главнейших кто?
Kurmanov B: No, not Mike's. [I am talking about] your senior boss based in Toronto? Who is the head?
Дуйшеналиев Т: Говорит, Ян? Ян.
Duishenaliev T: He says Ian? Ian.
Курманов Б: Там Аткинсон, да, главный?
Kurmanov B: Atkinson is the boss there, right?
Дуйшеналиев Т: Аткинсон сейчас президент, да? Да, “Центерра” президент. Над ним – Совет директоров.
Duishenaliev T: Atkinson is the president now, right? Yes, he is  the president of Centerra. Then there is the Board of Directors above him.
Джунушбаев Э: Тебе тоже лучше там говорить, мы вот это делаем. Тебе тоже гарантия будет конкретно, потому что мы таких доноров предлагаем.Потому что район тоже такой.
Junushbaev E: It would better to tell them [in Toronto] what we are doing as well. There will also be a guarantee for you, because we are putting forward donors like these. Because the region is like that.
Курманов Б: Это не маленькое дело. Это большое дело. Тоже правильно должны понять это. Принять.
Kurmanov B: Is is not a small matter. This is big business. You should understand it correctly too. And accept it.
Гриер Д: Давайте я тогда с Майклом поговорю. Это нелегкий вопрос. Я понимаю, что это капля в море. Но это вот такой… потому что это не так просто, три миллиона… туда-сюда…
Grier D: Let me talk to Michael then. This is a complicated question. I understand this is a drop in the ocean. But it is not so easy to do: three million here, [three million] there…
Курманов Б: Не, ну у вас есть же…
Kurmanov B: Of course not, but you have the [money]…
Жунушбаев Э: Мы требуем вот эту первую партию надо до 10-го, чтобы конкретно до Орозо…
Junushbaev E: Our demand is that you give us the first portion of the money before the 10th, before Orozo…
Гриер Д: 10 августа?
Grier D: The 10th of August?
Курманов Б: нет, не 10-го августа. Сегодня какое число?
Kurmanov B: No, not August 10th. What is the date today?
Дуйшеналиев Т: 31-е
Duishenaliev T: The 31st
Курманов Б: До 3-го августа ответ.
Kurmanov B: [We need to hear about your response] by August 3rd.
Гриер Д: Хорошо
Grier D: Good.
Дуйшеналиев Т: 3-го Майкл спустится, ты сможешь с ним поговорить?
Duishenaliev T: Michael will come on [August] 3. Will you call him?
Гриер Д: Он в субботу спустится, 3-го числа спустится, а вечером с ним разговариваю. Не хочу по телефону, потому что это тоже…
Grier D: He is coming on Saturday, on the 3rd. I will talk to him in the evening. I do not want to talk about this on the phone, because, you know…
Жунушбаев Э: Да-да…
Junushbaev E: Yes, yes…
Гриер Д: Я лично с ним встречаюсь… И…
Grier D: I will meet him in person…
Дуйшеналиев Т: Какой-то ответ будет, да?
Duishenaliev T: There will be a response, right?
Гриер Д: У меня есть ваш номер.
Grier D: I have your phone number.
Курманов Б: Вы только скажите нам: да или нет.
Kurmanov B: Just tell whether it is yes or no.
Жунушбаев Э: 3-го вы скажете, потом до 10-го вот эти проекты, как говорится, на друг другу доверие надо, как доверие будет, у нас первая партия будет…
Junushbaev E: You give us the answer on [August] 3, then these projects before the 10th. We need to trust each other. If there is trust, we'll play our part…
Гриер Д: Я обязательно приеду тогда. Если все нормально, я приеду хорошо…
Grier D: I will definitely come then. If that is all right, I will come, ok…
Жунушбаев Э: По наличному… А-то на год там, это уже…
Junushbaev E: [We want the money] in cash… Otherwise [the whole thing might take a year]…
Курманов Б: мы не согласны на это.
Kurmanov B: We won't go down that road.
Жунушбаев Э: Если до 10-го конкретно ответ будет, 10-го такую-то сумму наличными дам, потом остальное на проект идет. Хорошо.
Junushbaev E: If there will be a concrete answer before the 10th, give us part of the money in cash before the 10th, the rest goes to the project. Good.
Курманов Б: Нет, не проект. Если хотите дать, то давайте налом( наличными). Хотя бы половину. Половину – так, половину – проектом.
Kurmanov B: No, not the project. If you want to give the money, then give us the cash. At least half. Another half through a project.
Гриер Д: Это я не могу сказать сейчас.
Grier D: This is something I cannot say for sure at the moment.
Курманов Б: Вот это наша последний… это… разговор… как вот…
Kurmanov E: This is our last conversation.
Гриер Д: Хорошо.
Grier D: Okay.
Курманов Б: Если вы не согласны, мы больше так сидеть не будем.
Kurmanov B: If you do not agree [with our demands], we will not be siting idle.
Гриер Д: Хорошо.
Grier D: Good.
Жунушбаев Э: вот эту общение гарантия дайте. Ниче там… мы не боимся. Просто… мы впятером конкретно это решим.
Junushbaev E: Give us a guarantee. We are not afraid of anything. We will just resolve this, the five of us together.
Гриер Д: Даже Родне не скажу. Ничего…
Grier D: I will not say anything.. not even to Rodney.
Курманов Б: Вот, Турумбек ака, ты, Эрмек, я и Майк. Кроме вот этих пять человек, никто не должен знать.
Kurmanov B: So, Turumbek, you, Ermek, me, and Mike. No one besides us five should know about this.
Курманов Б: Если наше правительство узнает, мы все это откажем и…
Kurmanov B: If our government finds out about this, we will deny everything and…
Гриер Д: Вы все равно ничего не делали…
Grier D: You have not done anything yet anyway …
Курманов Б: Нам сейчас, вот этот Ташиев, Жапаров и другие оппозиционеры предлагают нам, да, говорят любые суммы скажите, давайте с нами вместе…
Kurmanov B: At the moment Tashiev, Japarov and other opposition leaders are making offers to us.. They offer us money to join them…
Жунушбаев Э: И последнее слово: Дуглас, мы, как говорится, что мы делаем, говорим, мы делаем. Как его там двуличие, обмануть, лицемерить не будем, лукавить не будем. Ты тоже видел, да, губернатора, на министра говорим… говорим… Делаем, делаем. Завтра уже другого слова не будет да.
Junushbaev E: Lastly, Douglas, we do as we say. No double games, tricks, hypocrisy on our part.. You saw this.. We spoke to the governor, to the minister… We do, we fulfill.. We won't be speaking any differently tomorrow.
Гриер Д: Это не надо говорить, я это знаю.
Grier D: You do not need to say this, I know this.
Жунушбаев Э: Тогда 3-го позвоните, да? После обеда или как?
Junushbaev E: Then you will call us on [August] 3, right? In the afternoon?
Гриер Д: Я утром уезжаю. Ближе к вечеру.
Grier D: I leave in the morning. [So, I will call you] in the late afternoon.
Жунушбаев Э: Дуглас, последнее слово. Ты не боись. Ты позвони мне телефоном
Junushbaev E: Douglas, one last word. Don't be afraid. Call me on the phone.
Гриер Д: Хорошо… здесь ничего личного нету… [My number is] 0775 970162
Grier D: Okay… nothing personal.. 0775 970162
Гриер Д: Позвоните, чтобы это…
Grier D: Call me, to…
Жунушбаев Э: Просто не бойтесь. Мы свое слово держим.
Junushbaev E: Just don't be afraid. We keep our word.
Курманов Б: Если вы хотите дальше работать, с нами надо… как говорится… кроме нас, с Макеевыми, кто вам там обещает…
Kurmanov B: If you want to continue working here, you need to be with us… Besides us [nobody can make this work for you].
Курманов Б: Они уже ничего не решают, вы уже поняли, наверное.
Kurmanov B: [Other local leaders] decide nothing, you have understood this I think.
Дуйшеналиев Т: После того, как вы заявили, они перестали звонить…
Duishenaliev T: After you made your statement they stopped calling…
Жунушбаев Э: Хорошо. Договорились…
Junushbaev E: Good. We are in agreement

author: Shakhnoza Isakova


text:
The Fight to Ban Child Marriage in Yemen  · Global Voices
Noon Arabia

Child marriage is a widespread practice in Yemen, especially in the rural areas. The story of the death of an eight-year-old child bride puts this serious issue under the spotlight.
In a 2011 Human Rights Watch report, “How Come You Allow Little Girls to Get Married?” quoting a nationally representative survey conducted by the Yemeni government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 2006, 52% of all young girls are married before age 18. About 14% of girls in Yemen are married before age 15. A 2005 study by Sana’a University noted that, in some rural areas, girls as young as eight are married. The main underlying cause for child marriage in Yemen is poverty. Fathers tend to pull their young girls from school and often marry them to elder men for a generous dowry in order to provide for rest of the family.
Nujood Ali, aged 10, made headlines in 2008 as the world's youngest divorcee, after escaping marriage to a man who bought her as a child bride at the age of nine. Today Nujood is 15, living with her elder brother as her father used proceeds from her book deal, intended to secure her education, to marry twice and arranged a marriage for her younger sister. Read more about her ordeal here.
At 10 years old, Arwa had already been married and divorced. Her case sparked a nationwide debate about child marriage in 2009.
(Video uploaded by Journeyman Pictures)
Last week, another Yemeni child bride, an 8 year old, made headlines as she reportedly tragically died after bleeding to death on her wedding night to a 40 year old “Saudi’ man.
There was an wide international outrage as this story broke out in the media:
Human Rights Watch director Kenneth Roth tweeted:
Tragic death of 8-year-old “bride” on wedding night should finally convince #Yemen to outlaw hideous child marriage. http://t.co/oVS0mHxlCW
— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) September 15, 2013
Human Rights Watch urged Yemen's transitional government to set the marriage age to 18 in drafting the new constitutions order to save the childhood and lives of many girls.
(Video uploaded to YouTube by Human Rights Watch)
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, statement
demanded Yemen to ban child marriage:
“I am appalled by reports of the death of an 8 year old Yemeni girl from serious injuries, including internal bleeding, sustained on her wedding night. I urge the Yemeni authorities to investigate this case without delay and to prosecute all those responsible for this crime.
New York columnist Nicholas Kristof also shared the story via Twitter:
An 8-yr-old girl in Yemen dies of internal injuries after being forced to marry a 40-yr-old man http://t.co/VFE9pZXvGk
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) September 9, 2013
Celebrity Mia Farrow tweeted a message to Yemen's government:
After death of 8-yr-old ‘bride’ on wedding night, it should be clear to Yemen, they must end child marriage NOW http://t.co/RPNNnlVKEl
— mia farrow (@MiaFarrow) September 15, 2013
CNN correspondent and anchor Jim Clancy tweeted in dismay:
#Yemen An 8-year-old “child bride” is dead. Another one. Lawmakers bring #shame on their country. http://t.co/NG4c8rZMfJ
— Jim Clancy (@clancycnn) September 10, 2013
Angham, a Yemeni living in Washington D.C wondered:
Does it take an innocent bride child's life to bring attention to #Yemen ‘s dire need of economic assistance to end poverty #childmarriage
— Anغam ♫ (@LevantMelodies) September 16, 2013
Yemen's prominent cleric Al Habib al-Jafri noted:
ينبغي علينا جميعا العمل الجاد على إيقاف مهازل الاتجار بالصغيرات تحت ستار الزواج http://t.co/HwKAf7dLia pic.twitter.com/1zZ2y8p1b5
— علي الجفري (@alhabibali) September 12, 2013
We should all work hard to stop the trafficking farce of young girls under the guise of marriage http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=626378434068807&set=a.222106194496035.59084.196704400369548&type=1 … pic.twitter.com/1zZ2y8p1b5
In a follow up note on Facebook, he urged the government of Yemen and all governments in Arab and Islamic countries that do not have laws to prevent crimes violating children's innocence, by turning them into goods for sale in the market under a slave-coated marriage, to hasten to criminalize this heinous act and work hard to fight it through the legislative, judicial and executive authorities. And he also urged fellow clerks, scholars and preachers to abolish the practice, reminding them of their obligation to raise awareness about this issue.
The credibility of the tragic and controversial story of the death of the 8 year old has been debatable. Reporter Saeed Al Batati investigated the case in Gulf News and in this video. Regardless, whether this particular story is true or not, or if it is a cover up by the government, is besides the point. Child marriage is a major problem in Yemen which causes the death of many girls, during marriage and child birth – young victims whose stories do not make it to the headlines. This was not the first story and certainly will not be the last. The fact is that Yemen's government needs to stop child marriage.
Blogger Afrah Nasser tweeted:
I don't understand why it's questioned if the little bride's death true or not!! Just have a quick look at Yemen's rural areas & u'll know.
— Afrah Nasser (@Afrahnasser) September 15, 2013
Yemen's Human Rights Minister Hooria Mashhour also tweeted about the controversial case:
@BaFana3 @saeedalBatati covering the crime is much more worst than the crime itself and those involved in should be accountable
— Hooria Mashhour (@Hooria_Mashhour) September 15, 2013
Regardless of the contradictory news on the alleged death of Haradh child ,legislation to stop under aged girls marriage is needed#yemen
— Hooria Mashhour (@Hooria_Mashhour) September 15, 2013
The Human Rights minister also sent a letter to the head of Parliament to approve the minimum age of marriage in Yemen and to enforce the law. Vocal advocacy to ban child marriage and set the age limit for marriage has been a struggle in Yemen, long before the minister's appointment, but has been repeatedly opposed over the years by conservatives. In 1999 Yemen’s parliament, citing religious grounds, abolished article 15 of Yemen’s Personal Status Law, which set the minimum age for marriage for boys and girls at 15. In 2009, Yemen's parliament passed legislation raising the minimum age of marriage to 17, but conservative parliamentarians rejected it too and the bill was never signed. Passing the law is an arduous and long process yet it is only the first step to win the battle. Its implementation will be the real challenge for Yemen.
Dr. Jamela Saleh Alraiby, Deputy Minister of Public Health and Population wrote a piece, last year, entitled The Suffering of Girls Must Stop
She points out:
Fighting to ban child marriage in Yemen is so difficult as it has religious, cultural and tribal roots, but this challenge gives us more strength to save our girls and to stop the violence they are exposed to, to assure that they have the means and tools to make their own decisions, and to ensure their participation in sustainable development.
She concluded:
My dream for girls is that they be empowered to be able to make their own decisions. …My dream is that every Yemeni girl has the chance to education and can live a safe life, not threatened by a forced marriage when she is only a child.
Yemen's government and the civil society need to collectively work on this issue. Passing a law setting the marriage age and implementing it by punishing those who break it, alleviating poverty and empowering girls by allowing them to complete their school education and work, countering religious fatwas through an aggressive awareness media campaign about the harm of child marriage, can save many lives in Yemen.

author: Noon Arabia


text:
Colombia’s Agrarian Strike Enters Fourth Week · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

After three tense weeks, Colombia´s rural national strike continues with no white smoke on the horizon. To contain the spreading crisis, the government of Juan Manuel Santos, under pressure from peasant strikers who have blocked several crucial highways, has followed a three-pronged strategy that has thus far proved ineffective.
Nazih Richani writes about these three tactics in NACLA's Cuadernos Colombianos blog.

author: Silvia Viñas


text:
Do These Videos Show Iranians Fighting in Syria’s War? · Global Voices
Farid

That Iran supports the Syrian regime is well known, but there has been little evidence of direct involvement on the ground. Now a series of videos purporting to show Persian-speakers dressed in military uniforms, operating inside Syria and working with government forces have gone viral.
Apparently, Syrian rebels overran troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and obtained video footage of what appears to be Iranian military advisers working with Syrians. The man in the video above can be heard speaking Persian, and asks someone for a phone number in Tehran.
According to the New York Times, the videos have been widely shared in international media although it is difficult to independently verify their claims. Based on reports from Iran, The Lede Blog speculates that the footage may have been recorded by an Iranian documentary filmmaker who was reportedly killed in Syria.
Iranians on the Road
Another filmed conversation between two Iranians in a car says they need specialized people to be able to guide and lead. The driver says that “that [rebels] were cleaned out with difficulty from this part.” Several times they pass military forces, and once the driver says these are presidential guards. There is also a conversation in Arabic between the Iranian driver and Syrian soldiers.
Iranian Military Resting
Iranian “Commander”
An Iranian commander says, “We sent troops to the left part of the field.”

author: Farid


text:
Film Screening of East Timor’s First Feature in Dili · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

Co-Director Bety Reis and the crew of A Guerra Da Beatriz, made up of over 30 Timorese accross all departments.
The Díli premiere of East Timor’s first locally produced feature film, A Guerra da Beatriz (Beatriz’s War), takes place today, September 17, 2013. The love story spans the years of Indonesian occupation and beyond (1975 – 2009):
[confronting] the issues at the heart of modern East Timor: forgiveness, reconciliation, and justice.
The producers, FairTrade Film and Dili Film Works, relied on fundraising to make this film possible. A crowdfunding campaign was launched on indiegogo in early 2011 and a series of weekly film screenings (announced on the Facebook page of A Guerra da Beatriz) also helped to raise funds.

author: Sara Moreira


text:
Egypt – “A Dangerous Place for Journalists” · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Abdulmonem Mahmood – a journalist who fled Egypt. Photo credit: @moneimpress
Egyptian blogger and journalist Abdulmonem Mahmood has left Egypt, saying he fears for his life.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 40 local and international journalists have been arrested or detained since the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi on July 3. And at least eight journalists have been killed since the overthrow of former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011. The CPJ also accuses Egypt of conducting a “campaign of harassment on local and international journalists seeking to cover the ongoing political crisis in the country” –
“Through a series of arrests, prosecutions, assaults and censorship, the Egyptian government has made one thing crystal clear to journalists: Deviate from the official narrative at your own risk,” said CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney. “The authorities must stop this attempt at quashing independent and critical reporting. They can start by freeing all journalists in prison or under arrest.”
On Twitter, Mahmood writes [ar]:
غادرت مصر من فترة والآن لحقت بي أسرتي ..نعم هربت خشية أنا أقتل غدرا ويحرق جثماني أو اقتل ف سيارة الترحيلات ثم يقول ع زملاء نضال أني إرهابي
— monem منعم (@moneimpress) September 12, 2013
I have left Egypt some time ago and now my family has joined me. Yes, I fled fearing for my life, that I would be killed by treachery, have my body burned or get killed in the transfer car [after my arrest], and then my colleagues would call me a terrorist
He adds:
اعمل أنا وزوجتي صحفيين تعرضنا بعد #الانقلاب لتهديدات لم نشهد مثلها في عهد مبارك .. للعلم أنا دخلت السجن ٣ مرات ف عهد مبارك :(
— monem منعم (@moneimpress) September 12, 2013
My wife and I work as journalists. After the coup, we were subjected to threats we have not experienced in Mubarak's era. For your information, I have been jailed three times during Mubarak's rule.
And Mahmood concludes:
الصحافة الان في مصر ليست متاحة سوي لمندوبي الشئون المعنوية ورؤساء تحرير تابعي المخابرات .. مهنة الصحافة أصبحت من أخطر المهن بعد الانقلاب
— monem منعم (@moneimpress) September 12, 2013
Journalism now in Egypt is only available for the correspondents [of the army] and the editors in chief, who are [in the pockets of] the secret service. Journalism as a profession has become one of the most dangerous jobs after the coup
He does not say where he is or what he is doing now.
Here's a Global Voices story from 2007 of one of the times Mahmood was previously arrested.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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How To Handle A Chinese Government Raid · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Dan Harris from China Law Blog gave some advices on how to handle a Chinese government raid. The blogger stressed the importance of not volunteering information to the government.


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Iran: Facebook, Twitter become Accessible · Global Voices
Farid

Several bloggers and news sites reported Facebook and Twitter became widely accessible to Iranian users on Monday, Sept 16, for the first time since 2009.  Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and several other Iranian officials use Facebook and Twitter.


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Iran:Facebook and Twitter Blocked Again · Global Voices
Farid

Internet users in Iran lost access Tuesday to Facebook and Twitter. Several bloggers and news sites reported Facebook and Twitter became widely accessible to Iranian users on Monday, Sept 16, for the first time since 2009.Iranian officials dismissed the episode as a technical glitch.


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Mixing Politics at Live Concert in Cuba Gets Musician Banned · Global Voices
Elaine Díaz

Robertico Carcassés, founder of Interactivo. (Photo reproduced with permission)
On September 12, the campaign to free “Los Cinco” culminated with a concert at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune, located near the United States Interests Section in Havana. For over three hours, artists belonging to diverse musical genres participated. Near the end, when the group Interactivo was performing, its founder, pianist Robertico Carcassés, improvised a chorus that made a critique of the Cuban government.
“We want our brothers to return and we want much more,” said Carcassés, referring to the four Cuban political prisoners that still remain imprisoned in the United States. The audience hummed, “I want, remember that I always want.” Carcassés asked again, “I want them to free the Five Heroes and María,” alluding to marijuana, a drug whose sale and consumption is illegal in Cuba today.
Later he added: “[I want] free access to information to have my own opinion” and “to elect a president by direct vote and not otherwise.” The improvisation ended with the phrase, “Neither militants nor dissidents, all Cubans with the same rights and may the blockade [of the United States towards Cuba] and the self-blockade come to an end.”
Although the performance was not interrupted, and was broadcast live entirely on Cuban state television, Interactivo posted the following on its Facebook page [es]:
Interactivo's statements on its Facebook page
(…) Roberto dijo algunas cosas que seguramente ya todos conocen y nos citaron ayer a todos a una reunión al Instituto Cubano de la Música donde se nos informó que Roberto queda ‘separado del sector’ por tiempo indefinido. Quiere decir que no se puede presentar solo ni con Interactivo en ningún lugar estatal.
(…) Roberto said some things that surely everyone already knows, and all of us were called into a meeting at the Cuban Institute of Music where we were informed that Roberto is now “separated from the sector” indefinitely. What this means is that he cannot perform solo nor with Interactivo at any state facility.
When the post was deleted, minutes later, it had already been shared 40 times and had 36 comments. The group's performances in two nightclubs in Havana last Saturday and next Wednesday have been canceled, a fact this this author confirmed via telephone. A worker at Café Miramar said that “she did not know the reasons” behind the cancellation.
Reactions on blogs and social networks emerged immediately. Carcassés has been praised and criticized from a diverse audience. According to Cuban journalist Marta María Rodríguez, who interviewed Carcassés [es] in 2003 for the Cuban daily Juventud Rebelde:
No puedo, no quiero dejar de solidarizarme con Robertico (Roberto Carcassés) y con Interactivo. Es inaceptable no pronunciarse a favor de la libertad de opinión, de expresión, en cualquier circunstancia. Si permitimxs se censure a nuestrxs artistas, qué pasará con nosotrxs? Ya decía otro gran artista, James Mullen, que “La libertad, al fin y al cabo, no es sino la capacidad de vivir con las consecuencias de las propias decisiones”. Las consecuencias de Robertico serán suyas. Pero, las de permitir su censura sin pronunciarnos, más allá de nuestras ideologías, son todas nuestras.
I cannot nor do I wish to stop expressing my solidarity with Robertico (Roberto Carcassés) and with Interactivo [es]. It is unacceptable not to rule in favor of freedom of opinion, of expression, under any circumstances. If we allow our artists to be censored, what will happen to us? Another great artist, James Mullen, already said that “Freedom, after all, is nothing but that ability to live with the consequences of our actions”. Robertico's consequences will be his. But, the ones that come from allowing his censorship without speaking out, beyond our ideologies, are all ours.
Cuban Americans for Engagement alluded [es] alluded to recent statements [es] by the pianist about the United States blockade on Cuba.
¿Qué dice Robertico Carcasses sobre el bloqueo de EE.UU a Cuba? “Las relaciones políticas con Estados Unidos marcan el nivel de alcance que pueda tener nuestra música en el exterior, ya que ellos dominan la mayor parte del mercado mundial y practican un bloqueo ridículo a mi país, hace más de medio siglo”. CAFE desea que todos los que andan alabando a Carcasses por sus críticas al gobierno, legítimas o no, en lugar apropiado o no, discutan con el mismo vigor y actúen para quitar lo que el llama: “bloqueo ridículo a mi país, hace más de medio siglo”.
What does Robertico Carcassés say about the U.S. blockade on Cuba? “Political relations with the United States mark the level of scope that our music can have abroad, since they dominate the majority of the world market and practice a ridiculous blockade against my country from over half a century ago.” CAFE wants all of those who praise Carcassés for his criticisms of the government, legitimate or not, appropriate or not, to discuss these expressions with the same vigor and to take action to get rid of what he calls: “a ridiculous blockade against my country from over half a century ago.”
On blog Capítulo Cubano [es], Vizenso Basile considers the following:
No se trata de juzgar las peticiones de Robertico. Carcassés ha ejercido su elemental derecho a la opinión y sobre esto no cabe la más mínima duda (…) No ha dicho nada de subversivo, contrarrevolucionario, ni de otro planeta. Al contrario, ha abordado quizás las cuestiones que -hoy día- más pueden interesar a la población de la Isla. Un cambio en los medios de comunicación, la abertura completa a un internet que no cueste más que pepita de oro, un sistema presidencial en vez de uno parlamentario (aunque sobre esto pueden haber distintas dudas y opiniones), una reconciliación nacional que elimine anacrónicas divisiones debidas a las contingencias históricas del siglo pasado. En una sola palabra, el autobloqueo, ese bloqueo interno, a veces absurdo, que sintetiza, contiene y genera muchas contradicciones, reconocidas en varias ocasiones por los mismos dirigentes de Cuba.
It is not about judging Robertico's requests. Carcassés has exercised his fundamental right to an opinion and there is not even the slightest doubt about that (…) He has not said anything subversive, counterrevolutionary, nor out of this world. On the contrary, he has addressed perhaps the questions that – today – may most interest the island's population. A change in media, the complete opening to an Internet that does not cost more than a gold nugget, a presidential system instead of a parliamentary one (although regarding this there may be distinct doubts and opinions), a national reconciliation that eliminates anachronistic divisions due to historical contingencies of the previous century. In a word, the self-blockade, this internal blockade, sometimes absurd, which synthesizes, contains and generates many contradictions, recognized on several occasions by the very leaders of Cuba.
Later, Basile points out:
Lo que ha ocurrido es que Carcassés ha hecho peticiones sagradas, casi imprescindibles en la Cuba de hoy, pero en un lugar equivocado y en el momento menos oportuno. Esto es lo que ha pasado el 12 de septiembre. Y la cuestión problemática es la consecuencia de su actuación. Roberto se ha convertido en el héroe mediático del momento, en el que desafía al régimen.
En otras palabras, Roberto -consciente o inconscientemente- ha robado espacio a la causa de lo Cinco y ha dejado en un segundo plano el principal objetivo de una -hay que repetirlo- gigantesca y espontánea movilización popular. No se trata de juzgarlo, criticarlo o condenarlo. Solamente se trata de analizar las consecuencias mediáticas de su gesto, quizás genuino y necesario pero que ha dado un pretexto más a la prensa internacional para manipular y silenciar las verdades de Cuba. Más allá de esto, nada más y nada menos. No se pretendan aplausos, ni represalias.
What has happened is that Carcassés has made requests that are sacred and almost essential in the Cuba of today, but he did so in the wrong place at the wrong time. That is what happened on September 12. The problematic issue is the consequence of his actions. Roberto has become the media hero of the moment in which he challenges the regime.
In other words, Roberto – consciously or unconsciously – has stolen space from the Los Cinco cause and has left the main objective of a giant and spontaneous popular mobilization – which must be repeated – in the background. It is not about judging, criticizing, or condemning him. It is solely about analyzing the media consequences of his act which, while perhaps genuine and necessary, has given another pretext to the international press to manipulate and silence the truths of Cuba. Beyond this, nothing more and nothing less. Neither applause nor retaliation is expected.
An article published in Progreso Semanal [es] considers that “the outcome of this saga will reflect the limits of official tolerance in a context in which the very Raúl Castro has called to debate – in the right place at the right time and in the right way – and to the defrosting of certain issues.”

author: Elaine Díaz


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PHOTOS: Violent Dispersal of Election Protest in Cambodia  · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Water cannons were used by police to disperse crowd. Image from @PonniahKevin
The three-day protest organized by the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) was marred by violence when police and protesters clashed last Sunday.
The camp-in protest is a continuation of the series of assemblies by the CNRP aimed at pressuring the government to form an independent committee to probe the recent National Assembly elections.
The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) which has been in power in the past three decades won the elections but the results were rejected by the Opposition.
Despite the clashes during the first day of protest, more than 20,000 people were still able to attend the CNRP assembly at the Phnom Penh Freedom Park yesterday.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and CNRP leader Sam Rainsy also held a dialogue and agreed to renounce violence and reform the voter list. But they still disagreed on the fundamental demands of the opposition which included the formation of an independent committee. The opposition has earlier warned to boycott the opening of the Parliament session.
Road blockades were blamed by some groups for igniting the violence during the Sunday protest. Even non-protesters were prevented from crossing some parts of the city. Photo from Urban Voice
Freedom Park protest. Image from @PanhaTheng
A barricade separating the police and protesters. Image from @illied
Monks also joined the protest. Image from @illied
Videos of the protest at the Freedom Park and the Sunday night clash between police and protesters were also uploaded on YouTube:
Cambodians are using the hashtag #electionsKH to monitor the election-related protests:
“I am not a protester. I hope my leg recovers soon, and then I will join…because I am so angry with our police officials” 16yo victim #QOTD
— phnompenhpost (@phnompenhpost) September 17, 2013
Opposition leader Mu Sochua wrote about the original plan for the three-day protest:
The camp-in will have a more of a Occupy Freedom Park atmosphere with the space shared with civil society combined with music and the Gandhi film in the evening.
The challenge will be toilets for 5,000 people for 3 days and nights.
Leaders of the opposition are expected to spend most of their time at the park
OU Ritthy described the set-up in the park:
Many people are bringing their family members to visit; they are roaming around and visiting demonstrators who are eating, sleeping, smoking and talking in manner of rural areas or grassroots people.
Translated into Khmer language, documentaries of Mahamta Gandhi and Martin Luther King are being displayed on four big screens placed at different corners of Freedom Park for demonstrators to watch.
Casey Nelson observed a significant deployment of police in the city:
In my estimation there were at least 25,000 people in the Freedom Park area midday today, perhaps significantly more, and more protestors were on the riverfront and in other areas.
Police presence around the city was much heavier today than it was for the last demonstration. Roads were blocked with concertina wire blockades across town making travel difficult, and PMs (gendarmes) and riot police in full gear were visibly out in significant force
Naomi Collett Ritz wrote what she saw at the scene of the clash:
As we got closer to the bridge we saw shrapnel, gas canisters, and chunks of pavement littering the bridge, and hundreds of armed police were lining the road and filing into a huge warehouse just. They let us run around and take photos, but no one would tell us what was going on. Then we heard gunshots, so we booked it down the street until we could find someone to give us a ride towards the source. Maybe fifty men were lining the street just down the road from the police under the bridge, and were feeding a handful of fires in the middle of the road.
Sovachana Pou believes many young Cambodians are in favor of change:
We will see in the next massive demonstrations how much the leaders of the opposition party leaders and our people are willing to sacrifice for this change. I have noticed that a good number of the nation’s youth rejected the values of their parents (status quo). They want fundamental change.
Sopheap Chak thinks the two major parties need to clarify their objectives:
I rather view the current political deadlock as the excuse by both sides of parties. The one who claimed to win the votes of people but dare not to address the problem properly and has failed to show enough effort toward resolution. The other side, opposition party, has also played an excuse around this political deadlock.
Local and international human rights groups have condemned the excessive use of violence by the police in dispersing the protesters which led to the death of one person. The police also reportedly used tear gas and live ammunition during the clash. Meanwhile, many people noted the failure of Cambodian TV networks to report the violent dispersal of the protest last Sunday.

author: Mong Palatino


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Brazilian Artists Unite to Save Lions in Kenya · Global Voices
Fernanda Canofre

Leo Vultus by Murillo Martins for the campaign Run4Run4Lions.
After the collective publication #sobreontem (About Yesterday) in  support of the movement [pt] that started the protests this past June in São Paulo, Brazilian artists are now coming together for a new cause. This time, their artwork is against lion-killing in Samburu, Kenya.
Natives of the region are using poison and other weapons against lions that are attacking their goats. To raise the public's awareness of this issue, in 2010 the Ewaso Lions Project organized a half-marathon with the purpose of “neutralizing conflicts between humans and wildlife by involving the local community in the conservation of the lions.” For the organizers, part of the solution to the problem is “more free goats”, and that's why at the first event in 2010, the prizes for winning the race were goats.
Now the project is preparing for the next race with the crowdfunding campaign #Run4Run4Lions, which will collect funds for 2014's half-marathon. The Brazilian artists’ original artwork (of which some pieces are already sold out) is offered as compensation for those who support the project.
Learn more about the campaign:

author: Fernanda Canofre


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Russian Warships in Nicaragua Rekindle Territorial Disputes · Global Voices
Oscar Howell

San Carlos, Rio San Juan, Nicaragua. Photo by Daniel Fajardo Valenti on Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)
The presence of two Russian warships in Nicaragua's pacific port of Corinto has heightened tensions between Colombia and Nicaragua over a longstanding maritime boundary dispute which had been resolved by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague back in November 2012.
The ICJ's resolution has also set the stage for recent diplomatic conflicts that include Costa Rica and Panama, reviving old territorial and annexation disputes in the region.
The origin of the dispute between Nicaragua and Colombia is the San Andrés Archipelago, and the Providencia, Quitasueño and Santa Catalina keys, all of which are close to the Nicaraguan coast. After considering a claim filed in 2001 by Nicaragua, the ICJ upheld Colombia's sovereignty and expanded the maritime territory of Nicaragua around the archipelago, as a way of offering a middle ground solution. The decision has sparked a discussion about expansionism in the region, national pride, and the role of the ICJ.
Colombia’s government has not been forthcoming about accepting the ICJ ruling and has said it will seek remedy, since the decision supersedes sovereign and fishing rights. The government has further claimed that the ICJ pronouncement has permitted Nicaragua to start illegal oil exploration activities [es] within its territory.
The dispute with Colombia is part of a series of boundary claims that Nicaragua has engaged in, including the dispute over the San Juan River boundary with Costa Rica and the supposed claim over Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province.
In August 2013, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega had already hinted in a speech before army forces that Nicaragua might seek a ruling from the ICJ to regain possession of Guanacaste.
The speech caused widespread indignation in Costa Rica. As a result, Costa Rica's President Laura Chinchilla issued a communique on August 15 [es], where she refers to Nicaragua as an “adversary country” that has already in the last 2 years “invaded parts of the northern” territory, and calls the ICJ's approach a “foolish ambition.”
On September 9, 2013 Colombia formally announced the repudiation of the ICJ decision, which it considered invalid without a formal treaty between self-governing states; and President Santos expressed his willingness to enforce Colombia's sovereignty with these words:
Lo que vigilé como marino y lo que defendí como ministro lo voy a proteger, hasta las últimas consecuencias, como presidente.
Those areas that I patrolled as a sailor and later defended as a Minister, I am willing today to protect, as President, to the very last consequences.
Santos went on to mention the “expansionist ambitions” of Nicaragua, which were affecting not only Colombia but Costa Rica, Panama and Jamaica.
In August, two Russian warships arrived in Nicaragua's pacific port of Corinto. Last week, following the communique by President Santos, regional online media was set abuzz by the declarations of the captains of the ships released on YouTube, saying they were ready to defend Nicaragua in any eventuality, should it be required.
The presence of the Russian ships in the Pacific coast is seen as a warning that Nicaragua could be willing to escalate its border disputes, including the San Juan River controversy.
San Juan River, Nicaragua
The tensions between Costa Rica and Nicaragua arise against the backdrop of a planned inter-oceanic canal to be built by Hong Kong company HKND Group, converting the San Juan River into a broad commercial waterway. The San Juan Canal is planned to compete with the Panama Canal in sea freight.
According to the boundary treaty signed in 1858, the San Juan River belongs to Nicaragua, but the navigation of the river for commercial purposes is shared and no exclusive rights of cabotage should exist.
Not only sovereignty and national pride are at stake, it seems, but also a huge and profitable project and a political legacy: A conflict over such a notorious public issue could help Costa Rica's President Chinchilla, who finds herself struggling with declining approval ratings and a looming election that may throw her party out of government in February 2014.
In the YouTube video [es] uploaded August 19, 2013 by “canalestrellatv,” two Russian navy officers who speak excellent Spanish are heard expressing the following views:
Rusia y Nicaragua son dos países amistosos. Si es necesario apoyar, y existe la decisión política, nosotros vamos a apoyar.
Russia and Nicaragua are two friendly countries. If it is necessary to support Nicaragua, and the political decision is made, we will support them.
In the same video, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega is seen waving from the deck, escorted by a Russian official, and then the officers go on to describe the kind of weapons the ships carry.
The discussion on Twitter has been controversial and instructing, with a pause to think about regional brotherhood and to congratulate each other on their shared celebrations of independence on September 15:
#Guatemala #ElSalvador #Honduras #Nicaragua #CostaRica es lamentable que solo en estas fechas seamos patriotas…
— #AnonCA (@AnonymousC_A) September 15, 2013
It is regrettable that we act patriotic only this time of the year…
While others reflect on the meaning of the symbolic passing of the torch of liberty and independence between Nicaraguans and Costa Ricans in Guanacaste:
Antorcha lima conflicto político entre ticos y nicas http://t.co/VJCh20aCtw +1 #CostaRica #Nicaragua pic.twitter.com/O940sX0Nwd
— Guillermo Trejos Cob (@memotrejoscob) September 14, 2013
Torch smooths political conflict between Costa Ricans (ticos) and Nicaraguans (nicas).
But only days before, the tone of discussions on Twitter was different altogether, with many users commenting on the supposed intentions on both sides to snatch away territory, and on the supposed help that other countries in the region were providing. Opinions have sometimes been posted in outright crude ways:
#COLOMBIA #PANAMA #COSTARICA PRETENDEN ROBARCE EL MAR DE #NICARAGUA PERO EL TRIO DE LADRONES NO PODRAN ROBARCELO (SIC)
— AlvaroAntonioMorenoG (@AlvarinAntonio) September 14, 2013
Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica have the intention to steal the ocean from Nicaragua, but the three thieves won't be able to.
One user jokingly compared the supposed coalition against Nicaragua to the Trio Los Panchos, an old and defunct music group, and incisively pointed out the relationship of the maritime conflict and the canal:
El trio de los panchos unidos en contra de #Nicaragua; #CostaRica por el #Sanjuan, #Colombia por su lejano mar y #Panamá por nuevo #Canal
— Daniel Jarquín (@Daniel_Jarquin) September 12, 2013
The Trio Los Panchos united against Nicaragua; Costa Rica because of the San Juan, Colombia because its faraway ocean and Panamá because of the new canal
The perception of the role of Nicaragua goes from that of a victim of antagonist forces in the region to that of an aggressive local power that uses whatever means available to impose a territorial and legal agenda:
Nicaragua ha sido víctima del expansionismo de Colombia y de los aprovechados de Costa Rica! @monterocnn #Nicaragua #Colombia #CostaRica
— James Aguirre ツ (@JamesAgui) September 13, 2013
Nicaragua has been a victim of the Colombian expansionism and of the opportunistic Costa Ricans!
@CancilleriaCol #nicaragua nación de doble moral que recurre al matoneo y se aprovecha de que #costarica no tiene ejercito y la invade!
— Diego Rodriguez (@Diego_Robel) September 12, 2013
Nicaragua is a nation of double moral standards that resorts to bullying and takes advantage that Costa Rica has no army and invades it!
One post pointed out that Costa Rica supporting Colombia against Nicaragua in the ruling about the San Andrés Archipielago, out of fear of the expansionism that this could trigger, would set a precedent for other territorial disputes. In the case of the San Juan River, an ICJ decision could favor Costa Rica, forcing the future administration into a difficult position:
Si #CostaRica apoya a #Colombia, desconoceria fallo que favorezca a #Nicaragua en caso limitrofe y daño ambiental? @VivaNicaragua13
— Oscar Tapia (@oscarviva13) September 10, 2013
If Costa Rica supports Colombia, would it disregard the ruling that favors Nicaragua in the boundary and environmental damage case?
Finally, Francisco Álvarez de Soto, a former Sub-secretary of Foreign Affairs of Panama, proposed that the way to go is to discuss the pretensions in a regional forum like the SICA (Central American Integration System) summit, as solution to the impasse that might result in an escalation of diplomatic faux-pas and misunderstandings that have spread to the public and social networks in the weeks before:
Pretensiones territoriales de #Nicaragua frente a #CostaRica deberían ser tratadas en Cumbre SICA.Panamá debería respaldar a #CostaRica
— Fco Alvarez De Soto (@FAlvarezDeSoto) September 10, 2013
Territorial claims of Nicaragua against Costa Rica should be discussed at the SICA summit. Panama should support Costa Rica.
It is clear that one way or another the conflicts in the region will have an impact beyond the immediate presidential elections and the battle of claims and speeches. It might also reignite old boundary conflicts that were resolved (but apparently not settled) in the last century.

author: Oscar Howell


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South Korean Major Newspaper Criticized for Violating Child’s Privacy   · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

An international child advocacy organization, Save the Children's Korean office released a statement [ko] condemning a South Korean major newspaper for violating a child's privacy. Donga, one of the three biggest conservative newspapers in the country, recently published a column [ko] mocking an 11-year-old illegitimate son of the chief prosecutor who recently resigned over an extramarital affair allegation.

author: Lee Yoo Eun