text:
Azerbaijan: Social media for 11 March · Global Voices
Ismayil Hasanov

While Flying Carpets & Broken Pipelines [EN] explains the purpose and introduces the group behind a Facebook group launched for 11 March, the date scheduled for pro-democracy protests in Azerbaijan, RAUFRAY | my point of view [AZ], a blog apparently by an activist from the pro-government İRƏLİ Public Union, attempts to discredit it by noting that 6 Armenians were among the first 50 to have joined even though there is nothing to stop anyone from anywhere from doing so.

author: Ismayil Hasanov


text:
Caucasus: The Revolting Index · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Aaron in Azerbaijan comments on attempts by some international media outlets to predict which country might be next after popular uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, and Libya. However, the blog says that such an index might be better considered as an indicator of where unrest could occur unless governments adopt real measures to address the source of any widespread discontent.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Onnik Krikorian


text:
China: Chang Ping talks about “being resigned” · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Alice from DANWEI interviews Chang Ping, a journalist at the Southern Media Group, about his “forced resignation” at the end of January 2011.

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
China: In Memory of Post-80s Trash Poet, Xiao Zhao · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

On February 14, 2011, 25-year-old poet Xiao Zhao ended his life by jumping off a bridge near his home in Hunan province. While the urban post-80s generation blogging star Han Han has caught the world's attention and become one of “The World's 50 Most Influential Figures in 2010″, Xiao Zhao's short life tells a completely different story of the same generation in China.
His last piece of work is an online biographical fiction, Never eroded: A exiled intellectual's experience in this country in this life（永不磨损：一个流浪知识分子此国此世的闻历见思）, first published on KDnet in December 2010. Below is an excerpt of his writing which comments upon the rural born post-80s generation:
对于广大的生于80年代、生活于小城小镇甚至乡村的人来说，面临的困境基本相似：县级的图书馆中，除了武侠小说之外，很难找到一本封底标价超过5毛的书。 纸张暗黄，像是多年以前擦过屁股，有些还粘着某种来历不明疑似鼻涕的东西；随手一翻，尘封多年的烟灰直扑鼻子，其内容不提也罢。新华书店，一半以上是教 辅。音像店不少，勉强能听的只有老狼。互联网尚未兴起，网上浏览信息还属于将来时。更何况，这些还得在无休无止索然乏味的功课的夹缝中进行。基于以上的原 因，我以为，不应对这一代人过于苛责：那些勇于进取的青蛙们，不是不想看到更多的天空，而是你给的井口只有这么宽。而爬出井口，需要漫长的努力和时间。
Despite his less advantaged rural background, he managed to enter the Nanjing Normal University, one of the best Universities in China. Such opportunity could have help him to climb up the social ladder, instead, he decided to quit his study in 2005. He made a statement on his decision:
首先我想说的是，这游戏我玩了十二年，倘若由着惯性或惯例，做一天和尚撞一天钟，当一天婊子接一天客，—— 得过且过，那么，我还得玩四年。如果“表现够好”，“正是你们想培养的人材”，没准，四年后还得玩下去。没准，还会和你们一样，站在讲台上恬不知耻地说一 些连自己也骗不了的傻话，误人子弟还收钱。除此之外，每年定期不定期人模狗样地参加一系列以“学术”冠名的大会小会，辩论议论争论讨论，和颜悦色勾心斗 角，出书，抄袭，造假，表演，作戏，——只要足够不要脸，保不定混成个“大师”。就说咱这专业吧，谁敢说没蒙过人，屁股干净？但，现在兄弟我不想玩了。
He probably wanted to save himself from the so-called “brain-damaging system” that he mentioned in his last message in KDnet on December 14, 2010, two months before he committed suicide :
我敢拍案：这个国家不是人有没有才华和潜能的问题，是脑残制度的问题。我敢叫绝：这个国家深层来说还不是制度的问题，而是人种问题，各行各业被一帮智商低于零的劣等人种把持。
Xiao Zhao belongs to a newly-emerged Laji (垃圾派) poetic stream, meaning “trash style”. According to the 2009 summit on trash writing, the definition is:
垃圾写作，就是一种让自身腐烂，让灵魂完全堕落，把自己完全融入生活中，去进行大胆的创造和发现，为诗歌写作，开创一片新天地的写作行为。
In August 2010, Xiao Zhao published a 20-point 2010 Trash Declaration, below is a selected translation of some of his points:
3。在这个时代，诗歌本身就已经沦为垃圾。诗人在大众心中的地位，等同于一个捡垃圾的。
4。2009年2月5日，某画廊，行为艺术家片山空当众吃下一盘大便，然后，用屎写了十个大字：“你选择强权，我选择吃屎”。与之相较，徐乡愁的所谓垃圾屎尿写作，只是无关痛痒的呻吟，属于叫春，而不是做爱。
6。垃圾派是一个概念，一个山头，一个场子，一竿旗帜。与其你占据，不如我占据。与其你装逼，不如我装逼。
14。我垃圾，所以我伟大。我垃圾，所以我光荣。我垃圾，所以我正确。我垃圾，所以我反思。
Below is one of Xiao Zhao's most representational poem, My wish is on my way（《我的希望在路上》）, written in March 30 2009:
我希望
在宽广的大路上行走着
没有终点、目的和意义
在前方茂密的苹果树下
有一个孤独地等我的少女
她将拉着我的手继续前行
走到那下一个城市里
那个城市里没有别人


text:
China: The Sorrow of “Artificial Limbs Village” · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Roy from China Hush translates a QQ news story about a village in Yunnan, near the border of Vietnam. As a result of landmine accident, many villagers had lost their legs.


text:
Costa Rica: Interview With Director of La Nación on Wikileaks · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Blogger Cristian Cambronero from Fusil de Chispas [es] got an exclusive interview with the director of newspaper La Nación [es], Yanancy Noguera. The newspaper is starting to publish 827 cables released by Wikileaks related to Costa Rica. Cristian asks how the paper got involved with Wikileaks to obtain and release the cables, among other things.

author: Silvia Viñas


text:
Estonia: Elusive historical memory · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Itching for Eestimaa reflects upon the elusiveness of historical memory departing from impressions of Estonian schoolchildren.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


text:
Gathering to Celebrate Internet Access in Cambodia · Global Voices
Sopheap Chak

Let's White Out Phnom Penh's Independence Monument for a few hours! We believe that social media is an important tool in present day and age, and such tool is accessible in Cambodia.
This is the message for the White-Out Day which will take place this Friday, March 4, at the Independent Monument which represents the liberation movement from French Colonization in 1950s. The invitation was announced on Facebook by Nate Sovatha.
From the invitation page, it reads:
Social Media has become increasingly important in present day and age. Its benefits in connecting people across and beyond boundaries are indisputable. It has also played a pivotal role that translates into social changes in recent days in some countries across the world. Despite such values, this tool is not available to everybody; some countries have blocked access to this vital tool. As a genuine member of the 21st century global community, CAMBODIA IS NOT ONE OF THOSE COUNTRIES AND WE WANT TO CELEBRATE THAT FACT. This is what this event is all about.
The whole idea of the gathering is simply to celebrate the fact that internet access in Cambodia is better compared to other countries with strict media censorship laws:
Let's meet up with your friends and other social media users, talk stories or simply just take some pictures with the monument in the background. To show our unity and membership in the social media users community, let's all wear WHITE COLOR (top and bottom if can, if no can, just white top. Just plain white, no print, no sign or anything).
Insisting that this event is not a demonstration, and avoiding mention of current uprising in several Arab states, the organizer of the event warned participants not to use the activity for political purposes.  More importantly, realizing the potential reaction from the government and understanding that the laws in Cambodia require permit for such gathering at a specified location namely Freedom Park, the organizer emphasized the non-political character of the gathering:
Disclaimer: This event is not a protest or a demonstration. Laws in Cambodia require permit for such event and it would need to be held at a specified location. I DO NOT HAVE SUCH PERMIT. This is not a political event, so please don’t hijack this event for political purposes.
As of this writing, there are 31 Facebook users who have confirmed their attendance. However, the event will definitely attract more internet users who are likely to attend the gathering without confirming participation on Facebook.
Even if it is non-political, such event organized through social media networks, may spark reaction from the government which recently denied that it ordered the blocking of certain websites that are leaning towards the opposition or viewed as critical to the government; and also government leaders have publicly condemned commentators who are comparing Cambodia to the situation in Egypt and Tunisia.
The count down begins to the White Out Phnom Penh's Independence Monument. Will the participants of this non-political event get arrested?

author: Sopheap Chak


text:
Ghana: The other face of investigative journalism · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

George Abugri discusses Ghanaian investigative reporter Anas Amereyaw Anas and the other face of investigative journalism: “The case of Anas Amereyaw Anas, the award-winning investigative journalist who has made more news headlines himself than the scandal-prone subjects of his investigations, has played up a rather clouded concept of investigative journalism.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


text:
Hungary: Constitutional questionnaire · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum discusses a questionnaire sent out to Hungarian citizens asking them what they think should be included in a new Hungarian constitution.


text:
Latvia: Shortcomings of an Internet census · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Juris Kaža of Telecoms in Latvia points to some major shortcomings in integrity for the Latvian national census, to be conducted by way of the Internet.


text:
Macedonia: What About the Census? · Global Voices
Filip Stojanovski

A number of Balkan countries were scheduled to run a census this spring: Macedonia, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Local observers link the ability to perform this operation to viability and maturity of a state.
When the ‘census season’ was announced in 2010, Dzhaman did a test press clipping [MKD] from various countries. At the time, Macedonian bloggers were mainly discussing the situation in the neighboring Bulgaria and Albania, criticizing these states for not allowing the local ethnic Macedonians state their ethnic affiliation and be counted.
Bulgaria at first had this option, but backtracked. Its census is under way. In Albania, officials promised certain changes to the minorities [MKD] who threatened boycott, but now face disagreement from the majority.
Macedonian bloggers viewed these situations as part of ongoing campaigns for assimilation of ethnic minorities, with discussions often steering toward hate speech, involving labeling and invoking history. For instance, 1979 cited this and the arrest [MKD] of the owner and employee of a printing company in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, who prepared an ethnic Macedonian periodical, an instance of 21-century fascism [MKD], reminding that Bulgaria sided with Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
Inclusion of ethnic and religious affiliations is not a controversial issue in the multi-ethnic Republic of Macedonia. But, as certain “collective rights” guaranteed by law are linked to the number of people registered in a given territory, statistical results have an explosive political potential. For instance, while Macedonian is the official language of state and local administration, other languages automatically become official on municipal level, too, if the number of their native speakers is above 20% of the population. Since the last Census (2002) showed that ethnic Albanians comprise around 25% of the total population, the Parliament uses Albanian as its official language, in addition to Macedonian. This is also linked with the “Badinter principle” of decision making: proposals involving ethnic aspects need support both on the general level and from representatives of non-majority ethnic groups (if they comprise over 20%).
In Macedonia, controversies began with the traditional media publishing “predictions” that the real results can turn out far different than in 2002. Then some of the ethnic Albanian opposition parties demanded that the Census take place in July instead of April, in order to make sure that ethnic Albanians who work abroad and come back to Macedonia for summer holiday are counted. The administration refused, citing the examples of Albania and Kosovo, which also have a lot of guest workers, but scheduled their census for April anyway. Albania in fact just decided to postpone its census, but for a different reason – due to the early local elections.
A more serious problem of boycott by the ethnic Albanian and Turkish members of the State Census Committee arose due to the composition of local census committees, over the rule that it has to have an ethnic Macedonian member, regardless of the ethnic composition of the area. According [MKD] to local portal PrespaSky, other ethnic communities, such as Vlach, also joined the boycott.
In addition, Vasko Krajchevski wrote [MKD] about the looming early elections:
Another important moment is a certain large-scale statistical operation called the Census. If early elections take place in May, the Census surely will not take place in April. What are they trying to prove? Nothing, they just want to play with tenders for four more years. If they want to remove the political (ethnic) label from the Census, they should change the Constitution and declare that the [Framework Agreement] is valid for those below the (infamous) 20%.
In her latest statement, the president of the State Census Committee said [MKD] that “the Government has not informed them about any delays of the Census.”

author: Filip Stojanovski


text:
Pakistan: Minority Affairs Minister Assassinated · Global Voices
Rezwan

Habib Sulemani at the Terrorland comments on the assassination of Pakistan's Federal Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti in Islamabad: “Besides other segments of the society, human rights groups are mysterious silent on the recent engineered wave of extremism, which has hit hard those people known as liberals.”

author: Rezwan


text:
Panama: Public Rejection of Mining Code Reforms · Global Voices
Ariel Moreno

January and February of 2011 have been turbulent months for Panama. The latest cause of discontent and division among Panamanians is a law  approved by the National Assembly and signed by  President Ricardo Martinelli that reforms the mining code. As reported by the Panamanian Government's website [es]:
El presidente de la República, Ricardo Martinelli sancionó –este viernes 11 de febrero- el proyecto que reforma el Código de Recursos Minerales, por lo que ahora, la minería tendrá que aportar más dinero a las comunidades, a los municipios y al Estado.
Students, indigenous people, civil rights and environmental groups marched on the Coastal Highway to protest reforms to the mining code. Image under copyright by Demotix taken by Guillermo Johnson
The same site also points out the reforms’ strengths, concluding that they benefit all Panamanians:
Con este nuevo código ganamos todos los panameños al modernizar un código que tenía 50 años de atraso y abre las puertas para la generación de miles de empleos.
However, Panamanians have not been very receptive to these reforms and they  talk about the damage it can cause to the environment. Several environmental groups, students and unions rallied in marches and protests. Telemetro [es] reported:
Más de 70 organizaciones ambientalistas panameñas e internacionales le han pedido al gobierno dialogar para cambiar la reforma porque, advierten, la minería a cielo abierto en un país de clima tropical y lluvioso como Panamá tendrá efectos adversos graves.
Furthermore, indigenous groups blocked roads for more than several days until the  government committed to dialogue, as reported in La Prensa [es]:
Así, reiteró que hoy, martes 1 de marzo se inicia el diálogo sobre las reformas mineras entre el Gobierno y los indígenas.
Como parte del acuerdo se revisarán qué artículos de la Ley 8 que reformó el citado código tienen incidencia en la comarca Ngäbe Buglé y la posibilidad de crear un articulado o ley que garantice la protección de recursos naturales e hídricos de esas regiones, mencionó la funcionaria en el noticiero matutino.
Thus, [Interior Minister Roxana Méndez] reiterated that on Tuesday March 1st the dialogue on mining reforms between the government and indigenous people will begin.
As part of the agreement they will review which sections of Law 8, which amended the [mining] code, have an impact on the Ngäbe Buglé territory and the possibility of creating an article or law guaranteeing the protection of natural and water resources in those regions, as the official mentioned in the morning news.
Reactions appeared quickly on social networks. Cheryl Martinez (@chery2621) writes to the president through his Twitter account, asking him to not use mining as a means to move the country forward.
@rmartinelli el medio ambiente y la belleza de Panama vale muchos mas… Hay otras manera de hacer crecer el pais no con la mineria :(
Carlos Moral (@cmmoral), on the other hand, represents the group that is in favor of mining and criticizes the double standard that some seem to reveal as they are against mining but in favor of the benefits it brings:
Aca en #panama nos quejamos de las minas y la mineria, pero como consumidores la incentivamos, no queramos torta sin que se rompa el huevo
Meanwhile, the president insists that the protests and discontent are due to a hidden political agenda and to misinformation. The site Terra [es] reports on the president's statements:
“Hay personas que han querido por cuestiones políticas oponerse a esto”, dijo Martinelli al canal 13 de televisión. “También hay personas de afuera empresas que no quieren que haya más cobre en ninguna parte del mundo para ellos seguir manteniendo el monopolio y seguir manteniendo los precios alto”
Avarana replies to the president's stance in his blog Avarana [es]:
Si vemos las noticias y declaraciones de “altos” funcionarios gubernamentales, alguien podría pensar que la lucha en contra de la mineria en Panamá es un asunto entera y exclusivamente de indígenas, extranjeros, y esos ambientalístas locos.  Esa es la mentira que nos ha vendido el gobierno, el mismo que dice no entender el porque las protestas:  si ya no se van a tocar las comarcas, entonces no hay nada por qué quejarse, ¿verdad?  Además, qué saben ellos sobre la Naturaleza; de seguro estan manipulados.  ¿Verdad?
Avarana later adds that the only interest in mining is economic, not taking into account other issues:
Los perjuicios de la mineria trascienden los límites comarcales o provinciales, pero el gobierno no puede ver más allá de sus bolsillos, y se complica aún más porque decide azuzar a una de las sociedades que históricamente más ha sufrido la manipulacíón y desinterés de los políticos.
Students, indigenous people, civil rights and environmental groups  marched on the Coastal Highway to protest reforms to the mining code.  Image under copyright by Demotix taken by Guillermo Johnson
The dialogue began on March 1st with some drawbacks and is expected to continue until Thursday March 3rd, as reported by La Prensa [es]:
Nueve horas después de lo pactado originalmente, quedó instalada anoche en San Félix, Chiriquí, la mesa de diálogo entre la Coordinadora ngäbe buglé y el Gobierno para revisar la Ley 8 que reformó el Código de Recursos Minerales.
Meanwhile, Panamanians hope the conflict is resolved in the best possible way for the whole country.
Update 03/03/11: La Estrella [es] reports that during a meeting with the indigenous ngöbe, President Martinelli announced Law 8 will be repealed.

author: Ariel Moreno


text:
Peru: Facebook Campaign Against Journalist for Homophobic Comments · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

Jonathan Sánchez examines [es] how the media should face a viral campaign against them, in connection with a recent Facebook campaign [es] organized against Philip Butters, a journalist at Capital Radio who aired some  statements that were considered homophobic during his radio program. Jonathan indicates that the radio's Facebook page [es] is full of messages about this incident.

author: Juan Arellano


text:
Puerto Rico: “You Will Not Silence Them…” · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Illinois Congressman Luis Gutiérrez took the floor once again before the Congress of the United States to denounce human and civil rights abuses that are being committed in Puerto Rico and to the attempts to silence him. He referred to ACLU's report Human Rights Crisis in Puerto Rico: First Amendment Under Siege.

author: Firuzeh Shokooh Valle


text:
Russia: A slap in the face of public taste · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Putin Watcher writes about the avantgarde art group Voina and how its art happenings challenge the boundaries of public taste.


text:
Russia: Militsia out – politsia in · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Stanislav of Mat Rodina addresses the problems of the Russian militsia (police) changing names to politsia and whether this is merely a cosmetic change or an honest attempt to reform Russian law enforcement.


text:
Serbia: Reactions to Gaddafi’s Interview on Pink TV · Global Voices
Sasa Milosevic

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.
Libyan president Muammar Al Gaddafi gave an 8-minute phone interview to Serbian TV Pink on February 28, describing Libya as “an absolutely peaceful” country and declaring its rebellious people “Al Qaida gangs.” He spoke of unrestrained and drugged groups of young people who occupied mosques, intimidating visitors:
They fired at a mosque with machine guns. The young people were moving through the streets, firing from Kalashnikovs. […] They were shooting at anything that moves. Whoever was moving, they would kill him. If someone opposed them, they would slaughter him the way [Zarqawi] did. Without any doubt, these gangs are Al Qaeda. […]
Muammar al Gaddafi says Libyans have no reason to rebel. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jesse B. Awalt/Public domain)
Gaddafi also referred to the story of the alleged participation of Serbian military pilots in the bombing of protesters, calling it a failed attempt of bad propaganda placed by the (unnamed) Arab media outlets. He suggested that a Serbian pilot had been offered money to falsely accuse the Libyan army of ordering him to shoot at the people:
An Arab station was in contact with a Serbian Air Force officer named Daniel. They were trying to bribe him into saying that Libya sought the planes of Serbia to attack its citizens. They told him: “Say that and you'll get the money.”
TV Pink also ran a short report from Tripoli, showing scenes that fit Gaddafi's description of a “peaceful Libya”: sunlit streets with palm trees, luxury cars and relaxed residents sitting in local street cafés. Life looks completely normal, including at a residential block that had otherwise reportedly been bombed by Gaddafi's forces.
TV Pink, Serbian national consciousness
Undoubtedly, Gaddafi has chosen the right channel for his appearance. TV Pink is one of the most popular national TV networks that mainly runs entertainment content (reality shows, music, soap operas). In the '90s, its greatest popularity came with local prophets and astrologists.
TV Pink was founded during the reign of Slobodan Milosevic. The owner of TV Pink, Zeljko Mitrovic, was a member of  JUL, a political party led by Milosevic's wife, Mira Markovic. In this period, a friendship with Zoran Lilic, the former President of Yugoslavia and a Milosevic supporter, was formed, and it is rumored that he was the one who helped arrange the “exclusive” interview with Gaddafi.
Where is the blood?
Reactions to the interview were naturally varied, but comments on one Serbian internet forum, Krstarica [SRB], also showed several confused citizens who, lacking access to images of violence from Tripoli, accepted Gaddafi's statements as truth.
In a discussion thread titled “Libya is peaceful, world media are spreading lies,” Yamamoto writes:
People who stayed there, as well as those who arrived by “rescue” planes, testify that they do not understand what images we are seeing. All of them deny the intensity of the events in Libya.
Bernard O observes:
Pink's TV records confirm that some buildings are intact, although, according to CNN, they were destroyed in the criminal bombing of Gaddafi's army.
Jevropa sadly notes:
This is a splendid country. Now, the world's scum will come to destroy all this man has created and to make the people poor despite [the country's] wealth.
Pedjica tries to be realistic:
I am not sure how the rest of the country lives. I saw Tripoli on Pink. I saw cars no older than [the year] 2000, the buildings are relatively new, and it is a beautiful city. As far as I could see. The truth is probably somewhere in between!
To remind fellow netizens of how good life in Libya supposedly is, Caliburn posts an excerpt from a recent Serbian newspaper story, which is titled “Libyans Live Like Gods” and is based on a testimony of Dragan Gordic, a Serb who has lived in Libya for years:
I do not believe that the riots broke out because of dissatisfaction. They have no reason to be dissatisfied because they live like gods… They do not work much, and they come to the office around 9 A.M. and already at noon they go home to pray, and that happens five times during the day… They have free medical treatment, education, electricity, and all food products are 30-40 percent cheaper than at home. Everyone who wants to study abroad just needs to write a request and they receive a scholarship from the authorities. About 5 million people have registered 15 million cars. In general, these are expensive and good cars, and they have easy access to them because for a 50,000-euro car you pay 3,000 or 4,000 euro, and the rest is subsidized by the state.
Reactions on Burek.com [SRB] also confirm that President Gaddafi and TV Pink have convinced many Serbian people that Libyans have no reason to revolt.
Smook has an idealized view of Libya:
Statements of our citizens who have resided and worked in Libya absolutely match. They say that phone is free, electricity is free, and interest-free loans for up to 10 years are available. Housing is provided by the state or its price is symbolic. For a few dollars you fill your car's tank. […]
RawenClaw 3190900 warns:
His tribe is one of the three largest in Libya. Any conflict with them turns into a civil war.
Paganin1 reveals:
The reporting in the domestic media on the developments in Libya is striking. “The dictator Gaddafi, towns liberated from the government forces, hundreds of victims of the dictatorship” and much related nonsense. Now, given that Serbia is a “banana republic” under the patronage of our famous “democratic” and “friendly” forces, we have the answer as to who is trying to manage this crisis in Libya…
Vale on CafedelMontenegro says:
Cheap food, cheap fuel, education and health care for free. Very soon, they will come to grieve for Gaddafi. Our people who lived and worked there know it best. May God give us Gaddafi's government for 40 years.
Pink TV or CNN
Those most outraged by the fact that the Serbian channel gave the Libyan dictator such a prominent public political platform, are mainly gathered on the B92 web site:
It is a quite accepted fact that Pink is in the service of Gaddafi. They also faithfully served Slobodan (Milosevic) and Mira (Markovic). “People are sitting in cafes sipping the coffee.” It was same here where I lived in the time of (NATO) bombing. People were sitting in the cafes and they were drinking their beer, but it does not mean that there was no bombing. In the center of the city that was not bombed people were very relaxed, but nearby, close to the factory that was bombed, people left their homes and went out of town…
Bg says:
Gaddafi communicates with the outside world through Serbia to the hysterical delight of his fans in Serbia, and to the outrage of normal people.
Nikon Savest says:
If Pink interviewed Kim Jong Il he would certainly say that in North Korea roses are flowering, the economic growth is 20% and all people enjoy freedom.
Realist says:
The man who used tanks and air crafts against its own nation deserves only loathing. It is no wonder the fact that Serbs love and support him, given that Milosevic, gravedigger of his own people was able to survive so long in power.
Terenac is sarcastic:
It's not true that only we Serbians support him. With him are also all those mercenaries he hired to fight for him.
Sava, a Serb who was evacuated from Libya, attempts to present an ideal picture of Gaddafi's “kingdom” as the opponent of all the anti-Gaddafi comments above:
I returned to Serbia in yesterday's evacuation of Serbian workers from Libya. I would like to deny a false picture of events in Libya that have been shown in some of our media. In the town where I lived it was a very quiet, to the point that children normally went to the school, shops were open and people moved freely. Libyans with whom I worked tried to convince me that people are with Gaddafi… Our people have already experienced the same scenario so that everyone is clear about how propaganda works. I hope that everything will finish as soon as possible and that everyone, including your news agency [B92], will show the true picture of events in Libya.

author: Sasa Milosevic


text:
Social Media in China: Why and How · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Thomas Crampton reposts Andrea Fenn's overview of why and how companies have used Social Media to engage with China’s online culture. Andrea Fenn is a Shanghai-based member of Ogilvy’s social media team.


text:
South Africa: Body parts for cash · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

What about body parts for cash in South Africa?: “Ogilvy advertising agency has apologised “unreservedly” for a pamphlet and website offering money for body parts that was actually part of a campaign to advertise a South African horror movie.”


text:
South Korea: Dating App Developer Convicted of Privacy Violation · Global Voices
Jae Yeon Kim

The web developer of a controversial mobile application which tracks down the current location of one’s boy/girlfriend, has been indicted without detention by police in South Korea for violating the country's telecommunication law.
South Korean net users have criticized authorities for misunderstanding the application and have branded the decision as double-standards. They have also voiced concerns that the government’s harsh decision may discourage future web development.
The ‘Devil's App’
The ‘Trust Me!’ application (indirect translation) and its powerful Location-Based System enables users to track down targets, most commonly spouses or boy/girlfriends, to check if they are lying about their whereabouts.
The application was an instant hit in Korea, even amid concerns over information security and privacy. It ranked among the top 10 searched words of 2010 in South Korea’s most visited web portal sites such as NAVER and Daum.
App icons in the window of an Apple store. Image by Flickr user Cristiano Betta (CC BY 2.0.
The direct translation of the application's name is ‘You Can Trust Obba’ (오빠 믿지, in Korean). The Korean word ‘Obba’, which literally refers to a female’s older brother, is widely used as an affectionate nickname for men when in a relationship. The English equivalent would be ‘sweetie’ or ‘darling’. However, ‘Trust Me!’ was soon nicknamed the ‘Devil’s app’ for thwarting cheaters’ attempts to stray.
On January 6, 2011, police charged 24-year-old developer, Jung-tae Kim, with providing people’s locations to third party users without consent.
Korean Communications Commission (KCC) explained that the reason the app's liability had been brought into question was not because of the complaints filed by several individuals, but rather mistakes made during its authorization procedure. Korean communication law states that when providing an individual's location to a third party, an organization has to notify and be licensed by the KCC.
Korean net users have accused the government of adopting double standards. A loyalty cashback program called ‘OK Cashbag‘, run by South Korean conglomerate SK Group, was also investigated by Korean authorities for commercial use of personal information. It was left unpunished however, after the government dropped the case.
Furthermore, people have blamed the government for its belated response in the case of ‘Trust Me!’. No action was taken against the app until several months after it became available for purchase.
Here is the summary of Korean Twitter users’ discussion of this issue.
@ollehs simpson stated:
오빠믿지 앱 개발자가 위치정보 공개 앱 개발한지 수 개월 이내에 검거된 것과 OK 캐쉬백 개인정보 사용남발이 불법이 아닌 것.
@amatory11 criticized:
‘오빠믿지’ 개발자 입건, 개인정보 무단이용한 OK캐쉬백은?.. 대기업은 조사만 한거냐?
@skysy317, instead of criticizing the government's unfair treatment, pointed out the app’s utility:
‘오빠믿지 유용함. 어서 풀어줘
Slowing App Development
Some developers worried that this case could slow down the current boom of mobile app development in South Korea.
Young developers such as ‘Trust Me!’ founder Kim either do not care or do not understand the law and its interpretations; over-application of the law without clear evidence may dampen entrepreneurial spirits.
Blogger Silver Wolf (은빛 늑대, in Korean) commented on this aspect [ko] of the government’s decision:
오빠믿지 어플이 과연 (최근 신문 기사의 제목처럼) 개인의 정보위치 정보를 전화번호만 알면 마음대로 알 수 있을까요? 개발자이기도 하면서 직접 어플을 다운받아 사용해 본 결론은 아니다… 입니다. 실제로 이 어플은 커플간의 양방향 아이디를 일치 시켜야 되고, 실제로 등록이 되었다해도 실시간 위치정보가 아닌..내가 보여주어야 상대방에게 위치가 전송되는 방식이었습니다.
The blogger then provided his view on why Kim's indictment occurred, even without clear evidence of privacy infringement. He blamed false and inaccurate media reporting, done without a clear understanding of the app’s function and mechanism:
아마도 언론이나 단순히 글을 퍼날은 블로그들에 의한 사실여부 확인보단 자극적인 보도로 인해 여론이 안좋은 쪽으로 형성되어 정통위에서도 이런 결정을 내린게 아닐까 합니다. … 더 이상 이와 같은 사례로 제2의 개인 개발자에게 피해가 가지 않았으면 하는 바램입니다.

author: Jae Yeon Kim


text:
South Korea: Tweet Petitions Filed to Defend Trade Unionist at Risk of Being Deported · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

The Amnesty International Korea bureau has filed tweet petitions against the Korean Justice department's decision to deport Michel Catuira, the president of the Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon Migrants’ Trade Union (MTU). (Read more in English) Amnesty Korea encouraged South Korean net users to sent a tweet petition[ko] to the Minister of Justice
with using the hashtag, #MichelCatuira.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


text:
What Happens Now to Zambia Telecom Owned by Libya?  · Global Voices
Gershom Ndhlovu

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.
Just over a year ago, the Zambian government sold the telecommunications parastatal, Zambia Telecommunication Company (Zamtel) to a Libyan parastatal, LAPGreen for over US$270 million. The initial process of selling the company was very controversial because RP Capital, the company that that was engaged to carry out due diligence and valuation was contracted under suspicious circumstances, which saw the minister responsible at the time, Dora Siliya, being reported to the Chief Justice for investigation under a ministerial and parliamentary tribunal.
Siliya, who was then Transport and Communication Minister, relinquished her position when the Chief Justice approved the Tribunal comprising three Supreme Court judges who found that she acted improperly in the manner in which RP Capital was appointed in the transaction. The High Court however overturned the tribunal’s findings on appeal and Siliya was reappointed Education Minister by President Rupiah Banda.
The Zamtel deal with LAPGreen has come back to haunt the Zambian government with the instability that has rocked Libya following street protests that swept out of power Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia. Zambian netizens have seized on the developments in Libya to question the future of the Libyan company in the country.
Dr Richard Mbewe, a Zambian economist based in Poland, wrote in an opinion piece on online news site Lusaka Times :
Firstly, what will happen to foreign investments undertaken by the Gaddafi regime? Since Gaddafi was Libya’s strongman, he was behind all these investment decisions. In light of a new nationalist government taking over, will these investments be cancelled off and the money taken back to Libya? Also, there is a danger that there might be a power vacuum upon Gaddafi’s departure. This power vacuum might be filled by Islamic fundamentalists. They might want to keep intact these investments (especially in telecommunications) in order to foster their further development of Islam in these countries where LAPGreenN is operating, especially in Africa south of the Sahara.
Taking into consideration that telecommunication is one of the most strategic sectors of an economic of a given country, what dangers will these African governments (including Zambia) will face in the new circumstances? On the other hand, the new government in Libya might as well just want to get rid of these investments to anybody that offers the best bid. This results of such a move whereby a strategic sector falls into the hands of investors who do not necessarily have Zambia’s national interests at heart.
He continued:
This situation of LAPGreenN investment in ZamTel is a classical example of how you really have to analyze any privatization investment, prior to its launching it. Had the Zambian government undertaken appropriate assessment LAPGreenN, surely they would have come up with information that there is a possible threat to this investment exhibited by a change in the political situation in Libya. This should have been proved and counter-checked by Zambian intelligence security reports from Libya, as to how long the Gaddafi regime was going to hold on to power. Now it is time to protect our national interests by our not further losing control over such a strategic company.
Dr Mbewe’s post attracted over 120 comments with a good number agreeing with him and others disagreeing.
SHAKA OZ says:
Dr.Richard Mbewe you are a great analytical man.
Zambia wasted a lot of money and ZAMTEL by allowing an MMD [the ruling party] political made decision (not a business) at State House to allow LAP GreenN to take over ZAMTEL.
So we may end up losing even the few QUIDS we were suppose to save had the decision made independently without political interference.
President Banda should learn something from what is happening in Libya, the problem, he has said that he is a sturborn man and can not listen to advise. May be he can listen to act under pressure now.
Academic Worrior says:
Great analysis Dr Mbewe.
Rupiah and his corrupt worshippers are more concerned about making themselves rich through dubious deals at state house since he has taken over the National Tender Board. Therefore, they don’t analyse situations when selling companies.
Zambians refused the sale of ZamTel. We are in trouble to say the least. Lesa fye umwine. (Only God will save us)
INDEPENDENT OBSERVER says that Dr. Mbewe's analysis is flawed:
Dr Richard Mbewe – your analysis is very flawed and unsound. You have focused only on the investment & memorandums that Libya has acquired into Africa.
If RB has made a mistake then the rest of the world has made mistakes including USA, UK, France, German, China, Brazil, South Korea and South Africa doing buisness with Gadaffi.
Libya has many Wealth Managers in Western Countries via Hedge Funds. Like in Zambia, Gadaffi invested heavily in Government Bonds & Treasuries in USA UK, German, China, Brazil, France, South Korea & South Africa. Gadaffi has also invested in Telecom companies in the Western Hemispheres / Countries.
Chola Mukanga, the blogger who runs the Zambian Economist website, analyzed Dr Mbewe’s post:
Richard Mbewe touches on the problems of an headless foreign direct investment policy. I suppose the larger question is – does it ever make sense to allow another government, especially an authoritarian one, to own your strategic asset?  A point incidentally not mentioned in his assessment is that the world has begun to freeze Libyan assets – what implications does this have for ZAMTEL? Indeed, will Zambia even consider freezing these assets in line with emerging international actions? No easy answers, but surely Zambians deserve to know. What is the government's current assessment of the situation? These questions demand further exploration.
Chola's post attracted some comments as well.
Anonymous said:
I feel that the quote [*see below] from Richard Mbewe is nonsense. No one knew that this was going to happen in Libya. No matter how thorough the investigation or due diligence, the likelihood of such an event was near zero at the time of the diligence exercise.
Hindsight is always 20/20, foresight is much harder.
I however agree that there may be problems ahead for Zamtel as a result of the asset freeze. It may hinder investment plans.
* This is the quote from Dr. Mbewe that Anonymous was discussing in his comment above: “Had the Zambian government undertaken appropriate assessment of LAPGreenN, surely they would have come up with information that there is a possible threat to this investment exhibited by a change in the political situation in Libya. This should have been proved and counter-checked by Zambian intelligence security reports from Libya, as to how long the Gaddafi regime was going to hold on to power. Now it is time to protect our national interests by our not further losing control over such a strategic company.”
MrK said:
Although I would agree that it would have been nearly impossible to foresee the wave of ‘uprisings’ (?) sweeping across the mainly arabic spreaking world, it was always apparent that there were big problems with the ‘privatisation’ of ZAMTEL.
1) LP Capital Partners
The dubious identity of the company that is headquartered in a tax shelter was always clear. It belongs to Dan Gertler, who has extensive diamond and other interests in Central Africa.
How much was paid to the likes of Dora Siliya and other MMD people in this deal?
I remember Dora Siliya making herself available on Zambiablogtalkradio, and not taking questions on any except one single subject. Apparently she wasn't so sure she could answer questions about ZAMTEL.
2) Privatisation?
It is not ‘privatisation’ or ‘showing what the markets can do’ when a Zambian state owned company is sold to a Libyian state owned investment fund.
3) National Security
What are the national security implications of having the nation's main telecom company in foreign hands? And the hands of a totalitarian state at that? How about some nationalism?
Frank said:
It is not difficult to have forseen this. Libya is and has always been a dictatorship under Gadaffi for the past 42 years. “This is something we know we know”. Questions should have been asked about the risks of selling a strategic asset to a country ruled by one man. Everybody knows that dictators never step down on their own free will. It is usually through upheavals or revolutions. Do we even know as to who owns LAP Green? It is common knowledge that when you enter into deals with rascals or dictators you risk having your fingures burnt.This is no hindsight. The truth is that Zambian authorities are slow upstairs! It is even highly likely that no assessment was ever made whether LAP Green was a fit and proper entity to buy ZAMTEL. This deal was sealed through someones trip to Libya and a tent meeting with the colonel. Thus the decision was made first to sell ZAMTEL to the Libya government or is it to Gadaffi and Sons? Thereafter everything that followed was just going through the motions!
General said that Zamtel was sold to Libya and not Gaddafi:
With hindsight, people appear more intelligent than they really are. Like Frank has said, Gadaffi had been in power for 42 years, short of dying, what would have prevented him from remaining in power for another 42 years? Let us not pretend that the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, Jordan and Libya were foreseen. Even the USA is questioning why its own intelligence did not foresee these events. The cards fell the way they did and if we are affected in one way or another, so be it. Zambia once lost a major investor in Anglo-American Corporation when the company withdraw from Konkola. Besides, Zamtel was sold to Libya and not to Gadaffi. Should Libya decide to disinvest, then Zambia will simply have another chance at seeking another investor. And those who are waffling should then be asked to put their money where their mouths are.
As it is now, the Zambian government does not know how to deal with the diplomatic issue regarding Libya and Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. Foreign Minister Kabinga Pande is quoted by one of Zambia’s main newspapers as saying that a decision whether or not to cut ties with the Libyan regime will depend on resolutions passed by the United Nations Human Rights Council.
This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.

author: Gershom Ndhlovu


text:
Zimbabwe: Solidarity messages for Gwisai and 44 others · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Read solidarity messages for Munyaradzi Gwisai of the International Socialist Organisation (Zimbabwe) and the 44 others who have been charged with treason after organising a meeting to discuss uprising in Egypt.


text:
Jordan: Creative Signs for Change at Amman Protest · Global Voices
Nadine Toukan

Another Friday protest calling for reforms in Jordan took place in downtown Amman today (March 4, 2011). After a week of generally disappointed reactions at the newly appointed prime minister's speech, and negative, provocative statements from ex-ministers and members of parliament, some Jordanian citizens responded creatively in an ongoing call for reform and inclusive change.
Here are some of the placards protesters held to put their points across:
I want state media that represents me, not one that takes me for a ride. Photo by @KTT84
Agenda? I don't have an agenda, except for the one I bought from Istiqlal (independence) Bookstore! Photo by @KTT84
Citizenship is: to want your country to be the best country, and to want your people to be the best people, and when you see something wrong, don't stand there silent. Photo by @KTT84
Bare armed, bare legged girl wants political reform. Photo by @KTT84
And towards the end of the protests in the early afternoon, @RaghdaButros rescued these kittens from the crowd and was planning to name them Thawra (Revolution) and I3tisam (Protest):
Revolutionary kittens. Image by @RaghdaButros.

author: Nadine Toukan


text:
Azerbaijan: Activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev arrested · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

SEMIÇKA – OLUBDUR, OLUR, OLACAQ… (Now Democracy Now!) comments on the arrest today of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, a youth activist responsible for a Facebook page calling for pro-democracy actions in Azerbaijan following similar protests in Egypt and Tunisia.


text:
Azerbaijan: Facebook activism under pressure · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Likely the most evolved country in the region in terms of online activism, Global Voices Advocacy posts details of new concerns about moves taken against alternative voices in Azerbaijan as well as the arrest today of yet another youth activist calling for pro-democracy protests in the oil-rich former Soviet republic after popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.


text:
Bahrain: Hamad Town Fight Sparks Rumours and Sectarianism · Global Voices
Yacoub Al-Slaise

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
On Thursday night, a fight broke out in Hamad Town, southwest of Manama, between youths which later escalated to larger numbers with reports saying over 200 joined the fight using wood blocks, metal bars, knives and even swords.
Twitter, Facebook and Blackberry messages exploded with alerts ranging from news, rumours, finger pointing and sectarian slurs. Other users were at a loss with the incredible amount of conflicting information not knowing who to believe, especially with a great lack of images and videos of the incident.
@baderkamal Sectarian fights breaking out in Hamad Town. This is how a civil war starts. Bahrain, please protect your citizens.
@iLandBahrain توارد أنباء عن شجار بين بحرينيين في دوار 7 مدينة حمد لأسباب طائفية.. لا اخبار مؤكدة للآن عن التفاصيل
@Mariam_AlMannai Will everyone just CALM DOWN and not jump to the worst case scenario yet??!
Anti government tweeps blamed the Gathering of National Unity group for sparking sectarian tension through their figurehead's (Shaikh Abdullatif Al-Mahmood) speech at Wednesday's rally  at Al-Fateh Mosque in Manama.
@Alshajjar يبدو إن الخطاب التحريضي عند الفاتح بدأ يأتي بثماره قبل ان يمر عليه حتى 24 ساعة ! #Bahrain #Feb14
@jeefara_BAH خبر عاجل : اشتباك بين مواطنين بحرينين و موقيمين من سوريا في مدينة حمد الدوار السابع و لا زال الشباك مستمر. شكرا عبداللطيف المحمود
Hamad Town in recent times have had to deal numerous fights and even murders between Bahrainis and who are called “politically naturalized” citizens who usually come from countries like Syria, Jordan, India and Pakistan. Many believed that they caused the fight.
@bahrain14feb الأنباء الواردة عن شجار مدينة حمد أن مجموعة من المجنسين مسلحين بالسلاح الأبيض والأخشاب هاجموا مجموعة من البحرينيين كانوا بقربهم #hamadtown
@AlToobli اليوم المجنسين هاجموا الشيعة في مدينة حمد .والسنة دافعوا عنهم هذي البحرين سنة وشيعة يد وحدة الله يحفظ البحرين واهلها@m77md #bahrain #unitebh
@omklthom @morningdewq8 @b0rashed انا سمعت من ربعي سنه ان الشيعه دشوا عليهم في بيوتهم في مدينة حمد وسمعت من ربعي شيعه ان بلطجيه سنه طقوهم.منو فيهم صح
@eyade Apparently This is right outside my house. http://yfrog.com/gz9fwmhj Pic via @7amandi my lil bro.
Neighbourhood gathers in Hamad Town curious of what has been happening
Riot police intervened with reports of tear gas used on the people gathered near the roundabout. A video by pro government group The Truth About February 14th [ar] also released a video showing some youth throwing stones at police jeeps.
@RedhaHaji Unconfirmed reports may b a continuation of yesterday incident at girl school.Report riot police using tear gas & rubber bullets. #bahrain
@HAS_BuLayan @RedhaHaji i live in dawar (roundabout) 8 tried going to the dawar (roundabout) 7 couldn't stopped by police tried using shortcuts same result trying to get info
Video of youth throwing stones at Police jeeps. Courtesy of The Truth About February 14.
This video by YouTube user devilish7amood:
فيديو يبين حمل المجنسين للأسلحة في شجار مدينة حمد البحرين يوم 3-3-2011
دار شجار في مدينة حمد البحرين يوم الخميس 3-3-2011 بين المجنسين و البحرينين في دوار 7
لاحظوا اللهجة و تعرفون إنهم مجنسين و تشاهدونهم رافعين الأسلحة من مربعات خشب و غيرها
فليعرف الناس الحقيقة إن المجنسين هم من حملوا السلاح
The fight resulted in one young man getting injured and was taken to hospital.
@alntai صور المصآب إلي في مدينة حمد ..http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/184353_156171754439738_100001407432404_327655_5215856_n.jpg
Young man being treated at hospital after the fight in Hamad Town
@ifowzan ما حصل في مدينة حمد اليوم جريمة طائفية قذرة يوقدها خونة الوطن..
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.

author: Yacoub Al-Slaise


text:
Barbados: politician pushes social media · Global Voices
Nicholas Laughlin

Former opposition leader Mia Mottley is encouraging citizens to use social media “to bring about change,” reports Barbados Underground, who reads between the lines to analyse her political reasons.

author: Nicholas Laughlin


text:
China: Google SSL interfered by GFW · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Several sources from Twitter confirm that Google SSL has been interfered by the Great Fire Wall in China. Access to Gmail, GTalk and Google Reader becomes extremely slow. Google's server in Korea (74.125.153.113) is blocked 20-29 mins and 50-59 mins in every hour.

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
China’s Twelfth Five Year Plan · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Dan from China Law Blog posts Steve Dickinson‘s speech outline on 10 major challenges of China's Twelfth Five Year Plan.


text:
Cote d’Ivoire: Can The Calls for Peace be Heard? · Global Voices
Kanigui

This post is part of our special coverage Côte d'Ivoire Unrest 2011.
In the aftermath of a turbulent week in which the Cote d'Ivoire was plunged into new bouts of unprecendented violence since the presidential elections in late 2010, the United Nations has warned as to the risk of civil war.
Drawing by 26 year-old Ivorian artist Aboudia (Abdoulaye Diarrassouba), December 2010. Photo by Stefan Meisel, copyright Demotix (20/12/2010).
The violence surrounding the political stand off between the country's two leaders, Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara – who each claim to have won the 2010 presidential election – is worsening.
A few Ivorian citizens have been calling for restraint on the Internet, although they are a minority. Unlike the majority of Twitter users in the country who have been fanning the flames of division on both sides, blogger Yeni Djidji describes the most recent violence in her blog [fr] as, “Equally ridiculous”.
In the post, Djidji deplores the destruction of buses in the former capital city of Abidjan belonging to SOTRA (Abidjanais Transport Society) by supporters of Ouattara, and condemns the reactions of the pro-Gbagbo groups who subsequently destroyed the private communal mini cars allegedly used for transport by Ouattara’s supporters.
Vous voyez à quel point la situation devient ridicule. A quel point le fanatisme politique, peut inhiber le bon sens des gens. On sait tous où Alassane se trouve, on sait tous où Gbagbo est. Mais, c'est dans les quartiers que les gens s'empoignent, ce sont les biens qui n'appartiennent ni à l'un ni à l'autre qu'ils détruisent.
In his blog Dans ma cabeza, Stephane questions the profound motivations of those who pose these acts of violence. In his post ‘Au nom de … quoi?’ (‘In the name of…what?’) [fr], he recalls the painful events the Cote d'Ivoire has experienced in the past:
Quel souvenir gardons-nous des évènements de 2000 ?
? Une des nombreuses expressions de notre vocabulaire politique :  le balayeur balayé ?
? Un « beau » monument censé célébrer les combattants de la  démocratie, mais qui ne représente pas encore le symbole qu’il doit être  ?
Si vous êtes conscients de l’importance de cette période dans notre  histoire mais comme moi, êtes incapables d’avoir un souvenir très  précis, alors dites-moi au nom de quoi nous battons-nous aujourd’hui ?
Stephane then challenges the ideas, in the name of which, Ivoirians are engaging in this excessive violence:
Au nom de… quoi ?
Au nom de la souveraineté ??? Clamée par l’un dont certains choix  économiques pour son pays trahissent les mots ?
Au nom de… quoi ?
Au nom de la démocratie ??? Défendue par l’autre dont les supputations  sur le passé jettent des ombres sur sa cause ?
Souveraineté ??? Démocratie ??? Au regard de tout ce sang versé, ce ne  sont que d'autres noms qu’ils donnent au mal selon qu’il vive dans un hôtel ou dans un palais.
On Twitter, some Ivorian netizens have asked the same questions, as @diabymohamed, retweeted by @Jeanjacquesk:
@jeanjacquesk RT @diabymohamed #civ2010 on sème ce qu'on récolte. Pourquoi avons nous abandonné notre culture de paix ? POURQUOI  ET POUR QUI???
In the same vein, blogger Edith Brou suggests that Ouattara and  Gbagbo should be banished from Ivorian politics in order to see a return  to peace:
@edithbrou on bannit LG et AO de  toute implication (et leur clique) dans la vie politique ivoirienne.
Alongside these calls for restraint on the Internet, Ivorian women have  decided to make themselves heard. At Treichville (an Abidjan commune), they marched dressed in white [fr] on February 25, 2011, to denounce the killings of  their children.
They met at the Headquarters of the PDCI (Democratic  Party of Ivory Coast) and from there made to march on the Republican  Guard barracks. A police operation blocked the women’s march and intervention  by a police superintendant put an end to it.
Update: on March 3, 2011, six or seven women were shot dead by the security forces loyal to Gbagbo and up to 100 civilians were wounded during a march in support of President Ouattara in Abobo, a district of Abidjan.
This post is part of our special coverage Côte d'Ivoire Unrest 2011.

author: Kanigui


text:
Côte d’Ivoire: Facebook and Twitter, Messengers of Death · Global Voices
Anna Gueye

This post is part of our special coverage Côte d'Ivoire Unrest 2011.
The violence surrounding a political standoff between two leaders, Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara – who each claim to have won the presidential election in December 2010 – is rapidly worsening in Côte d’Ivoire [fr] (Ivory Coast).
While the international media appear to be have difficulty concentrating on more than one crisis with widespread political turmoil in the Middle East and Africa, the United Nations is now warning about the risk of civil war in Côte d’Ivoire.
On Thursday March 3, Ivorian security forces loyal to incumbent président Laurent Gbagbo shot dead seven women supporting elected president Alassane Ouattara during a protest, and wounded another 101 persons in the capital Abidjan.
Executions, as well as tell tales signs of division and incitements to hunt down foreigners in Ivory Coast, have been reported [fr] on different Facebook profiles and on Twitter, via the central conversation thread and hashtag #civ2010 (“Ivory Coast 2010″ – in use since the presidential election).
A demonstration of Pro-Gbagbo youth near the Golf Hotel where Alassane Ouattara sought refuge in Abidjan (25/01/2011)
Here are a couple of examples. Shortly before the attacks on mosques in Côte d'Ivoire on February 25, 2011, Aïko-Lala Méïta, daugther of Mamadou Ben Soumahoro who is a self-described “independent member of the National [Ivorian] Assembly ” [fr] and theorist of [nationalist concept of] ivoirité (PDF), wrote on her Facebook wall [fr]:
les gars, surveillez vous. surveillez vos voisins. ils ont décidé d'attaquer partout après la prière de 13 heures. avertissez qui vous pouvez. les groupes d'autodéfense, le CRAC [cercle révolutionnaire d'action concrète], ce message est pour vous. réunissez vous. on va s'amuser, aujourd'hui.
Guy Narcisse Takri wrote on his Facebook wall on February 28, 2011 [fr]:
les gras, avec l'heure ki est grave changeons de methode Info confirmes. Ce sont des soldats burkinabes et senegalais (corps d'assaillants tues) qui combattent a abobo contre nos FDS et qui saccagent tout faites remonter l'info dans nos millie..ux pour qu'on mette la pression sur leurs ressortissants. Au prochains mort chez nous leurs ressortissants plient bagages. Comme quand l'ecomog etait annonce doit etre valable pour les pays qui ont finalement donne des soldats pour venir tuer ici. Ces inacceptables que des burkinabes et senegalais a qui nous avons gites et couverts et qui font fortune chez nous tuent nos gars et sacagent tout. c'est innaceptable et n'acceptons ca. Cette entreprise ne doit plus prosperer. Au les coeurs
The next day, shops belonging to Senegalese citizens Ismaël Ba, Mamadou Barroh, among others, were looted.
Some ‘Young Patriots’, a generic name given to Ivorian youth supporting president Gbagbo, as for instance the Patriotes Invisibles [fr], have lately put their Facebook profiles on private; while others, like @MossiDramane, are still very active on Twitter under various handles.
In spite of  persistent tweeting urging CNN correspondent Anderson Cooper go to Côte d'Ivoire, he has still not set foot in the country. Netizens on conversation thread #CIV2010 ask: Can the international community attend to more than one crisis at once?
This post is part of our special coverage Côte d'Ivoire Unrest 2011.

author: Anna Gueye


text:
Côte d’Ivoire: Who Killed the Seven Women Protestors? (Videos) · Global Voices
Julie Owono

This post is part of our special coverage Côte d'Ivoire Unrest 2011.
Unrest between supporters of Cote d'Ivoire's two opposing leaders, Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara, has taken a further violent turn. Since December 3, 2011, both politicians have claimed to have won the November 2010 presidential election.
Ivorian women have held demonstrations against the political situation since February 25, 2011.
Bloody Thursday
What was supposed to be a peaceful march ended up as a bloodbath on Thursday March 3, 2011. During an all female protest organised in Abobo, a pro-Ouattara district of economic capital Abidjan, seven women were shot dead, apparently by Gbagbo's national Defense and Security Forces.
Videos of the gunfire rapidly spread online via video sharing service Youtube.
Youtube user Dreamdav posted a seven minute long video, in which unarmed women can be seen chanting “ADO” (Alassane Dramane Ouattara), when suddenly (at 3:32), national police tanks shoot at the demonstrators, dispersing them and forcing them to seek shelter.
Other citizen videos posted show the same incident (WARNING: GRAPHIC).
This video posted by SuperDjatou and shot by a protestor within the crowd shows the confusion a few seconds after the gun shots:
Another video shows four dead bodies lying on the ground:
Sadness and anger are just some of the feelings being shared by Ivorians netizens and others in the wake of the attack. Here are some of the reactions from social microblogging network Twitter, sent to the hashtag being used for the unrest, #civ2010.
@KDGF2505 replying to another Twitter user says:
narrow-minded are ones killing innocent women…do you think that hatred can be stopped in that way?
@SenamBeheton, a Twitter user from Benin names the 7 dead women “martyrs”:
La boucherie d'Abobo (8 martyres) est une erreur grave que Gbagbo regrettera.
@kanazan reminds us that International women day is arriving soon and wonders:
comment celebrerons nous le 8 mars en? #civ2010 femmes abattues …
Pointing Blame
In an article [fr] published on the website of French daily paper Liberation, a source claims that the people who shot the women were in a 4×4 vehicle. When contacted via email, the journalist behind the article, Thomas Hofnung, confirmed that the source is reliable.
According to another testimony by a  military source to a Reuters journalist, it was an accident:
Une source militaire a confirmé la fusillade en expliquant qu'il s'agissait d'un accident justifié par la «nervosité des forces de sécurité à la suite de précédents accrochages»
Another version of the facts was shared on Laurent Gbagbo's fan page on social network Facebook. According to this interpretation, these women were killed by rebels loyal to Prime Minister Guillaume Soro's Forces Nouvelles (New Forces), who in turn are loyal to President Ouattara:
Des femmes de la commune d’Abobo qui ont décidé de marcher hier (3 mars 2011) matin, ont essuyé des tirs des éléments de la rébellion de ladite commune.
Today, Notre Voie, one of the main daily newspapers in Côte d'Ivoire, accused the mysterious ‘Invisible Commandos‘ – a group of pro-Ouattara masked men – of the killings. In an unequivocal frontpage headline, the newspaper writes: ‘”The Invisible Commandos” Kill Seven Women’.
The same denial has been aired on the national television station RTI: Côte d'Ivoire army spokeperson, Colonel Major Hilaire Babri Gohourou has said [fr]:
les troupes sont restées stationnées dans leur cantonnement d'Abobo.
DjibiTV [fr], a web television station reputed to belong to one of  Laurent Gbagbo's daughters, Marie Patrice Gbagbo, maintains this version:
Des femmes qui marchaient pacifiquement ont essuyé des tirs de cette force négative [le commando invisible ndlr] qui ont fait une diziane de morts. Cet acte s’est déroulé dans la commune d’Abobo où est logé la rébellion d’Alassane Ouattara qui tue et égorge les paisibles populations.
This post is part of our special coverage Côte d'Ivoire Unrest 2011.

author: Julie Owono


text:
Cuba: USAID controversy? · Global Voices
Nicholas Laughlin

Along the Malecón suggests “10 reasons why the U.S.-funded Cuba programs are intriguing and controversial.”


text:
Egypt: A TV Show that Ended a Prime Minister’s Career · Global Voices
Tarek Amr

This post is part of our special coverage of Egypt Protests 2011.
Ahmed Shafik, the Egyptian prime minister who was appointed by former president Hosni Mubarak, was forced to resign today after his appearance in a TV show late Wednesday night (March 2). This episode of the show was described by Zeinobia as a historical one.
Photo posted by @mernathomas
During the second part of the show, Shafik was accompanied by two Egyptian writers and journalists, Alaa Al-Aswany and Hamdi Kandeel, the channel's owner Naguib Sawiris, as well as the hosts of the show, Yosri Fouda and Reem Maged. Aswany and Kandeel had a heated discussion with Shafik and criticized him a lot.
Even during the advertisement breaks, some people expected them to kill each other.
The most important thing about the episode, is that according to the viewers, it revealed a lot about Shafik.
Aswany was criticized by many users on Twitter to be rude. However, this didn't stop them from criticizing Shafik even more.
Right after the show ended, it was obvious to some people on Twitter that Shafik was on his way to be dismissed from his position.
It is worth mentioning that there has been ongoing protests asking for Shafik's resignation since the day Mubarak stepped down on February 11, yet the show seemed to be the last nail in his political coffin.
This post is part of our special coverage of Egypt Protests 2011.

author: Tarek Amr


text:
Jamaica: political satire thrives · Global Voices
Nicholas Laughlin

“Political satire is alive and well in Jamaica,” writes Active Voice, pointing to the supposed Twitter account of the controversial gang leader and “president” of the Tivoli Gardens community Christopher “Dudus” Coke: @dudusfromtivoli.


text:
Kazakhstan: Little Enthusiasm for No Choice Elections · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

After the political controversy that accompanied the New Year holidays in Kazakhstan (see earlier report), February 2011 has seen a return to calm.
The recent announcement of an early presidential election has brought little excitement – the opposition will boycott the vote, other candidates are weak, and the incumbent president is sure to secure another term after more than 20 years in office.
“In light of the protests that swept through Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, Jordan and Bahrain, some analysts have suggested that the early elections proposed by Nazarbayev are just a smokescreen aimed at quelling criticism and appeasing Europe and the United States as well as a strategy to fend off anti-government demonstrations at home”, writes Christya Riedel.
Rural poor in the Tien Shan mountains, Kazakhstan. Image by Flickr user Anguskirk (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).
However, it would be too superficial to draw such parallels – not only because Kazakhstani society is effectively controlled by a complex of measures that include propaganda, buying-off the protest potential and continuous crackdown on the dissent – but also because referendum, in essence, hardly differs from elections as they are usually held in Kazakhstan.
“Referendum was rejected.  Don’t worry about the President, though, as thanks to an Amendment back in 2007, there is no limit to the number of times he may be elected to the top office”, Michael Hancock reminds to his readers.
The process of candidates nomination was perceived by many as a circus – and it really resembled a carousel of comic characters, including pensioners, some small businessmen and the person, notoriously known for his startling behavior. Interestingly, an overwhelming majority of those 18 nominees were publicly voicing their “utter support” of the current head of the state.
Fake satirical account of the Kazakhstan's prime-minister, which ridicules the government, tweeted in this regard [ru]:
Looking at the line-up of the nominees, you suddenly realize that, actually, referendum was not a completely bad idea.
When the authorities realized that opposition is serious in its intention to boycott the elections, they took the old puppet competitors of the incumbent president – senator Gani Kassymov and environmentalist Mels Yeleusizov – back onto the stage. Finally, these two men, president Nazarbayev and Jambyl Akhmetbekov from the pro-government Communist People's Party, have been registered as candidates for the race.
Young political activists Alexander Danilov and Aidos Kapanov launched a website [ru] dedicated to elections with the improvised poll to monitor the preferences of Internet users and separate pages with some info about the each of the candidates. Notably, those pages contain no ideological platform or election program whatsoever – only CV-style biographies.
Zulkar wonders “Qui prodest?”, why elections are so necessary now, ahead of constitutional term [ru]:
“my paranoid mind developed an idea that elections are called to ensure legitimacy for the coming years after 2012, because next year the outcome would have been not as predictable as now”.

author: Adil Nurmakov


text:
Kenya: Meet Kenyans on Twitter · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Tech Mtaa discusses KenyansOnTwitter: “They are also a very creative bunch. You will see from the many trending topics like #ActualExperts, #MuliroGardens, #KhalwalesNewCareer, #tonyMOGexcuses, #kcpe2010 , #rutosplaylist, to many others we cant remember. Kenyans are one sure funny lot.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


text:
Latin America, Caribbean: Increase in Food Prices · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Bloggings by Boz writes: “The FAO reports that February 2011 was a yet a new high on food prices. This has led to several warnings from organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean including ECLAC [Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean] and the IICA [Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture] that commodity markets are volatile and several countries are very vulnerable to price swings and food insecurity issues.”

author: Silvia Viñas


text:
Lebanon: Protests Against Sectarian Regime · Global Voices
Layal Al Khatib

“The people want to bring down the regime” is a statement that has been echoing across Arab countries for more than than months. It has reached Lebanon last Sunday with a small amendment: “The people want to bring down the sectarian regime.” More than 2,500 Lebanese citizens marched on February 27, 2011, in the capital Beirut against the sectarian system governing Lebanon and they're planning to march again after tomorrow (March 6).
Smoker holds sign, translation: "Sectarianism is bad for your health. We suggest avoiding it." Beirut, Lebanon. Image by Dana Ballout, copyright Demotix (27/02/11).
The demands of this movement as posted on its Facebook Event are:
نحن مواطنون ومواطنات نتحرك اليوم
لذلك نريد:
هذه هي بعض من ظواهر الفساد في النظام الطائفي القائم، لهذا كله ولأسباب أخرى، يجب ونريد!
إسقاط النظام الطائفي
لذا، ندعو جميع المواطنين والمواطنات، وكل أفراد المجتمع الللبناني إلى التحرك.
Therefore, we want:
These forms of corruption are only some of the consequences of the current sectarian regime. And because of that, we want and must bring down the sectarian regime.
Therefore, we call every citizen of the Lebanese community to move.
The protesters were of all ages, genders and religious beliefs and refused to be related to any political party in the country. Here are some of the supporting tweets:
@justimage: Sunni, Shia, Christian, Secular and other, the rain comes down on all the same in #Lebanon. #unitelb
@mdghamloush:  انا مني ضد الدين انا ضد الطائفية #feb27 #unitelb
@habibh: All those who are sick of sectarianism, nepotism, corruption, political apathy, please wake up, stand up and demand change NOW! #UniteLB
On the other hand, Fadi didn't like the idea of the protest despite his support of a secular state. He said in his post entitled “Lebanon is Drunk on Revolution Wine“:
I believe no good will come of it.
I've never been a fan of the system in Lebanon. In fact, a secular system is very much what I would hope for, but the best I can say about this uprising is that it is Naive.
[…]
Tell me, if the system was changed tomorrow:
- Will the issue of the special tribunal for Lebanon and all the disagreement around it go away ?
– Will the issue of Hizbullah and the conflict with Israel go away ?
– Will the sectarian lines that divide us as a people and make us vote for corrupt politicians within our sect instead of the capable deserving ones go away ?
Mustapha of the Beirut Spring asked “What Next For The Anti-Sectarian Movement?” and said:
As long as they’re using the revolution model and talking of things like “breaking the barrier of fear”, they won’t get anywhere. Because behind that thinking is the false assumption that the majority of the Lebanese are eager to “take down the sectarian order” for whatever that means.
He added:
If I were sitting with them, I would have advised them to focus all their energy on individual issues like civil marriage and the rights of Lebanese mothers to pass their nationality. These issues have a wider base of support among the Lebanese and can be pointed at as concrete achievements to give momentum to future action.
Word is spreading about a weekly protest until their demands are met. Moreover, independent Lebanese youth have already started two open-ended sit ins in Sanaye’-Beirut and the southern city Saida for the same cause this week.
Between the next anti-sectarian regime protest after tomorrow and a March 14 protest on the following Sunday calling for an end of Hezbollah's armament, what do the Lebanese people really want?
Stay tuned to the hashtag #UniteLB on Twitter for more insights and reactions, for it has now become a portal to different Lebanese voices and opinions on how we can have a United Lebanon.

author: Layal Al Khatib


text:
Libya: Death Toll Rises to 6,000, US Mulls Intervention · Global Voices
Antoun Issa

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.
Human rights groups have put the latest death toll in the Libyan crisis to over 6000, as pro-Gaddafi forces continue to pound opposition-held cities with air strikes.
Much of the fighting appears to be in the city of Brega, although reports indicate that anti-Gaddafi revolutionaries have successfully repelled the offensive and are pushing towards the capital, Tripoli.
Men at the refugee camp "Shusha" on the Libyan-Tunisian border. Image by Amine LANDOULSI, copyright Demotix (03/03/2011).
Evidence that Gaddafi is perpetrating gross atrocities is mounting, with images and news of human rights violations continuing to seep through social media. This, for example, is an extremely graphic image of protesters shot dead by anti-aircraft weaponry currently being circulated on social media.
Thousands of refugees continue to pour over the border into Tunisia, where temporary camps have been set up by the United Nations Refugee Agency UNHCR to shelter fleeing foreigners, mostly Egyptians.
Below is raw footage of fighting taking place on the outskirts of Brega. Pro-Gaddafi fighter jets can also be heard hovering above the city.
Bloggers in Libya continue to post updates, amidst growing fears for their safety.
From Tripoli, From the Rock urges the West to lift sanctions that are cutting off urgently needed funds for ordinary Libyans to live:
If you thought that the past two weeks were painful, the future does not look less tragic, because with this mass freezing of  Libyan assets, I'm afraid that the Central Bank will not be able to cover any withdrawing of funds from Libyan citizens, which would result in an economic crisis in the power of purchase. Salaries may not be accessible if there is no liquidity and that would create mass fear.
If there is anyone listening please unfreeze those assets!
Khadija Teri describes life in Tripoli as pro-Gaddafi forces prepare for the looming battle:
We drove around the city to see what was happening. Women holding shopping bags hurried about with worried looks on their faces. Men wearing green scarves around their necks were busy putting up green flags. Pick-up trucks with oil-company stickers slapped on the sides but without licence plates were parked at roundabouts, doors and windows open to reveal uniformed men with machine guns inside. A huge crowd of people were at the port waiting to board a ship that would evacuate them to safety. Anti-aircraft guns were  placed at various places along the coast road. The weather was beautiful but no one was enjoying the day. The whole atmosphere was weird, it felt as if you were being watched or followed. It felt as though any second something horrible could happen – it felt unsafe.
I'm getting tired of staying at home. The kids want to go back to school again. Today I said to a friend: ‘I want things to be normal again.’ and she laughed and replied ‘Things have never been normal in Libya!’
My Enchanting Sereeb writes with a sense of urgency as Gaddafi continues to perpetrate atrocities:
The cities of Misrata and Az-Zawia still under siege and medical supplies are running low; yesterday Gaddafi’s mercenaries dropped bombs on Al-Brega, one of the biggest oil fields in Libya.
I just spoke to my brother in Benghazi and he told me: “there is no going back; all we want is for gaddafi and his sons to leave Libya and stop this bloodshed. No negations, no reconciliation with this criminal regime. We are not purporting violence but we are all willing to die for our freedom. We had enough of this cruel regime; it terrorized us over 42 years, enough is enough. We want to live in peace and build our country. There is no civil war in Libya and there won’t be one; the war is between the Libyan people and gaddafi and his mercenaries. We either live with dignity or die. THERE IS NO GOING BACK.
My life is at a standstill at the moment; I’m sick, I’m traumatized but I’m sure of one thing: I am too willing to die for our freedom.
One crazy person is going to set a whole country ablaze and kill as many people as he can and the world is watching, analysing, worrying about gas prices and the Oscars! No wonder I’ve been sick for days. I need to join my family in Libya.
Libyan tweeps are also keeping the world informed as the violence unfolds:
Meanwhile, talk of US military intervention in Libya has received little enthusiasm from neither Libyan nor American tweeps.
@Tripolitanian Come on #Libya! The US or UN or anyone else won't do it for you, YOU must bring success to this revolution! You can do it.
@Tripolitanian With the US involvement in current #Libyan affairs, I worry that #Libya will turn into the next #Iraq
@Tripolitanian The #Libyans would greatly favour an Arab League's imposition of a No-Fly Zone over #NATO's. #Libya
@libya_Horra Hates how western media has adopted calling us #rebels.. We revolutionaries, people that said enough.. We deserve to be FREE!! #libya #feb17
@TrablesVoice last plan for Gaddafi is to tell all Libyans the US are coming to invade Libya for OIL, he will do what ever it takes for them to come.
@Tripolitanian Looks like the Chinese have made themselves clear on #Libya situation, they want w/e is economically best for them, ie #Gaddafi
Western tweeps:
@jane4today We in America toss the words”hero” & “freedom” aound a lot. U all have shown us the real meanings #Libya #Tripoli #Feb17 God be with u all
@chlai88 #libya is more #iraq than bosnia. premature western military intervention becomes a western revolution rather libyan's own
@wwwwwhatt they (US) had the capabilities to end it (Gaddafi) yesterday, 10 years, 20 years ago, wouldn't agree then or now…to put it another way, i would not want a serial killer to rescue me from a crazed mugger
@nirrosen No fly zone over Libya is a great idea, but maybe put one over Afghanistan too so the US stops killing Afghan children?
@nist Gates is wrong: No-fly (if limited to East Libya) does not require strikes against air defenses in Tripoli. US should act now. #eastlibya
@robertastrupp Libya: Have to do what is BEST 4 US & Israel-It is a fool's errand to imagine the Muslims of Libya will even thank us. Remember Lockerbee !
Past experiences of Bosnia and Rwanda have come back to haunt the international community as it faces a major test in averting a humanitarian catastrophe in Libya.
Whilst many are indeed skeptical of American and British intervention in a strategic Arab state, given historic antagonism, the world must decide whether allowing thousands to perish is a necessary sacrifice to free Libya from a ruthless dictator.
This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.

author: Antoun Issa


text:
Libya: High Hopes for the Friday of Liberation · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.
It's already Friday in Libya, and emotions are running high, as more protests are planned after Friday prayers in the capital Tripoli. The day has been billed as the “Friday of Liberation”, in hopes that it will mark the end of dictator Muammar Al Gaddafi's regime. Both Tunisia's President Zein El Abideen Ben Ali and Egypt's Hosni Mubarak's reigns ended on Fridays, after popular uprisings.
In this video posted by loveroflybia, a woman who identifies herself as a Libyan appeals to all men, young and old, to rise and take part in the protests, and die as martyrs to liberate their country.
LibyaFeb17 has the full translation to English. She says:
This corrupt tyrant must leave my country, must leave my country. Send them out with Zghareet (the tongue moving sound), tell them today is your day, this is your day you Libyan eagles. This is your day O free people! This is your day O martyrs! Avenge your martyrs, and tell this corrupt person: GO OUT! Tell this tyrant: ENOUGH! 42 years, every mother is crying over her child, and every sister is crying over her orphaned children. Tell them to go out, the day of Friday is the day of your gathering, the day of the free, we will write a banner on Libya: Oh my free country, oh my country that has been watered with the blood of Libyans. How beautiful is the scent of my country.
Here are some reactions to the planned Friday events on Twitter:
@IbnOmar2005: tomorrow there will be a lot of people killed marching for freedom. please keep #libya in your prayers
@ChangeInLibya: WE MUST END THIS #TOMORROW #FRIDAY or else we risk another #SOMALIA… GO OUT AND GET YOUR FREEDOM #TRIPOLI #libya #feb17
@libyafidammi: Reports that internet is down in #Tripoli tonight. Tomorrow, big Friday prayers and protests planned. Coincidence? #Libya
@IbnOmar2005: tomorrow there will be a lot of people killed marching for freedom. please keep #libya in your prayers
@ChangeInLibya: WE MUST END THIS #TOMORROW #FRIDAY or else we risk another #SOMALIA… GO OUT AND GET YOUR FREEDOM #TRIPOLI #libya #feb17
@libyafidammi: Reports that internet is down in #Tripoli tonight. Tomorrow, big Friday prayers and protests planned. Coincidence? #Libya
@Libyus: Libyans are incredible in their resistance & determination. May tomorrow be a Glorious Friday #Libya #Feb17
@libyansrevolt: expecting further protests after Friday prayers tomorrow to be met brutally by regime. ‘We will win or we will die’ #libya #feb17
@hhamze: Its almost #Friday, the day every stupid #dictator hates #iraq #libya
@NorthCup: CONFIRMED: Big mosques closed in #Tripoli for Friday prayers #libya #feb17 / @SmithSofia @LibyaInMe
@Jnoubiyeh: Muammar #Gaddafi-loyalist forces are conducting a huge kidnapping campaign across #Tripoli to intimidate #Libyan protesters. #Libya #Feb17
@: #Tripoli will be in a state of siege tonight as fears grow over any unrest likely after Friday prayers. #Libya
@iyad_elbaghdadi: Now in Tripoli, esp. in Tajura, they're telling people not to head to Friday prayers and protest, otherwise they'll “get hurt”. #Libya
@maqam: #Feb17 Revolution now enters it's 17th day in #Libya. Today [Friday local time] mass demonstrations are planned in… http://fb.me/BJLOOrgz
@libyafidammi: Hope that Friday's protests in #Libya will bring the outcome we are all waiting for…the downfall of the #Gaddafi regime. Come on #Tripoli
@FreeLibyan87: Tomorrow is the resillience Friday all people in Libya are planning to go out All ppl gather ur courage and STAND against this TYRANT #Libya
@Shoruk_K: Every Arab will see liberation on a Friday #Tunisia #Egypt #Libya
This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


text:
Morocco: Fadoua Laroui, our own Mohamed Bouazizi · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

This post is part of our special coverage Morocco Protests 2011.
When young Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in the town of Sidi Bouzid, he couldn't have imagined the chain of events his act would set off.  Self-immolation as an act of protest and despair quickly spread across the region, with at least ten cases reported from Mauritania to Egypt in the weeks following.
In mid-February, Fadoua Laroui, a young Moroccan single mother, set herself on fire in front of the town hall in Souq Sebt where she lived.  Moroccan author Laila Lalami writes in the Nation:
According to newspaper reports, the local government destroyed the shack  in which she lived with her children and later denied her access to  replacement social housing because she was a single mother. She died in a Casablanca hospital two days later.
This image, from the blog Moroccans for Change, reads: "Fadoua Laroui, everyone burns with their silence"
According to one blog, Laroui's last words before committing suicide were “Stop injustice, corruption and tyranny!”  Though many say she was not of any particular political bent, Laroui's actions and words have nonetheless inspired a new wave of protest in Morocco.  One blogger, Mouad, laments the society that engendered such actions:
Peut être que si la vie était moins dure pour elle où elle aurait pu bénéficier d'un milieu clément pour étudier, travailler et s'épanouir au milieu d'une société égalitaire et sans hypocrisie l'aura sauvé la vie.
On the blog Moroccans for Change, one author sees Laroui's suicide as a call to action:
What kind of change are we looking for?
The change that makes a positive difference in every Moroccan’s life.  The kind of change that would have allowed Fadoua Laroui to feed and shelter her children.  Change that would have earned Fadoua people’s respect for being a hard working single mom, rather than their despise for being unlucky.  We seek the kind of change that puts food on Fadoua’s two children’s plate and a roof over their heads.  The change that allows every Moroccan child to grow up loved, nurtured, and educated, and every hard working woman and mother to feel safe and appreciated.  The change that says no to indifference, yes to responsibility and accountability.
Change is desperately needed.
Laroui's funeral brought hundreds to the streets and was captured on video.  A Facebook page has also been set up to memorialize Laroui.
While some see Laroui's act as heroic, others discuss the societal and psychological conditions that led to her action. Roumana, not one to mince words, writes on Kobida of the psychology behind Laroui's choice:
Moroccans are wondering, why? After all, she isn’t the only poor and homeless shantytown woman in the country. The status of single mothers , highly stigmatized, still leaves a lot to be desired. Although the status-quo apologists will respond by claiming that the Moudawana, Morocco’s latest family code, already grants women “too many” rights. Didnt she fear Allah? Some said while regurgitating a Hadith or two condemning suicide victims to hell. But the thing is, those standing still on the sidewalk wondering in their confusion and watching Fadoua as her flesh burns will never understand why she ignited the match, for they have never felt the real flames she felt, way before she doused herself in Gas.
He continues:
While Fadoua decided to end her pain by taking the leap, other Bouazizis are diluting the overly grim reality by resorting to the ever-alluring escapism. Now, I am in a no position to judge anyone who prefers the company of anti-depressants, hallucinogens or a bottle of cheap wine to numb the pain. Lord knows I need it sometimes. What I despise however is our alarming indifference to other Moroccans’ plight or even worse, some pathetic  attempts to trivialize those unfortunate and inhumane conditions. Maybe this apathy is yet another escapist defense mechanism, who knows.
Blogger Son of Words sees society as the trigger, and discusses why Laroui's actions are indeed political:
D’aucuns ne verront dans le geste de Fadoua qu’une détresse psychologique qui se manifeste de manière extrême. D'autres, avec beaucoup moins de scrupules et une totale absence d'empathie, n'y verront que l'acte d'une femme dont les mœurs ne lui font mériter la moindre sympathie. Mais le geste de Fadoua est une action éminemment politique, et c'est en cela qu'il appelle une action collective tout aussi politique. Elle aurait en effet pu se résigner à son triste sort qu'elle partage avec tant d'autres, mais elle a refusé. Elle a cru au système et emprunté ses multiples labyrinthes pour en être brutalement éjectée. Elle aurait pu exprimer sa détresse autrement, mais choisit de confronter par son arme ultime, son corps, ce système injuste et ce devant sa manifestation la plus inhumaine et la plus kafkaïenne
On the semi-satirical blog C.J.D.M., Aboulahab writes of the mundanity of Laroui's life and its resemblance to the lives of so many Moroccans:
Fadoua n’était pas une héroïne, elle n’a rien fait dans sa vie qui mérite d’être rapporté. Car Fadoua a mené ce genre de vie banalement misérable, qui aurait pu se prolonger pour ressembler à celles de millions d’autres, pour s’éteindre un jour, victime du manque de lits ou de personnel médical dans un hôpital public.
The blogger concludes:
Un jour viendra, où ça sera au tour du Makhzen se consumer dans les flammes de notre volonté de changement. La situation des Fadoua n'en sera pas améliorée du jour au lendemain, je le concède. Mais la responsabilité ne sera plus celle d'un corps politique abstrait et ubique qui n'oeuvre que pour sa propre survie, mais celle de toute la société, de tous les individus, de tous les sujets désormais citoyens. Et je crois sincèrement qu'une fois leur destinée entre leurs propres mains, les Hommes en font le meilleur usage possible.
A day will come when it will be the turn of the Makhzen* be consumed in the flames of our desire for change. The situation of all the Fadouas will not be improved overnight, I concede.  But the responsibility will no longer be that of this abstract political body that only fights for its own survival, but that of the whole society, all individuals, all subjects who will become citizens.  And I truly believe that once their destiny is in their own hands, men make the best use of it.
*Makhzen is a term used to refer to Morocco's ruling elite.
This post is part of our special coverage Morocco Protests 2011.

author: Jillian C. York


text:
Mozambique: Global Voices and @Verdade Newspaper  · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Global Voices and @Verdade [Portuguese for The Truth], a free newspaper that enjoys the highest circulation among Mozambican weeklies, have just launched a content exchange partnership [pt]. Starting today, on the first Friday of every month @Verdade will publish a column prepared by Global Voices, with highlights of our coverage of Portuguese speaking countries and cyber-activism around the world. On the other hand, @Verdade will become a regular Global Voices contributor, to bring the voices of Mozambican citizens to the rest of the world, drawing on coverage of local events as reported in its section called Reporter Cidadão [Citizen Reporter] and other citizen media.
March 4th edition of @Verdade
This first partnership of Global Voices in Portuguese could not be a better match. Recently designated by Time magazine as a “newspaper that wants to change Mozambique”, @Verdade was launched in August 2008. According to its founder and director Erik Charas, the paper is a social intervention media channel, a way to educate and engage Mozambicans, thus creating the much needed critical mass to achieve important social changes in the country. For Charas, the paper's mission is “to intervene in the process of social development of Mozambique through the use of two powerful tools: free information and technology”.
With 32 pages in full colour, @Verdade is the first and only high quality newspaper to be distributed for free in Mozambique, where it is enthusiastically sought after by readers of all ages, walks of life and social classes. The weekly paper is out every Friday, and the manual distribution model in the areas of most needy areas of the capital Maputo and some neighbouring cities gives priority to those who could not afford a newspaper otherwise. With @Verdade, the invitation to act as agent of social change is open to all Mozambicans.
The Truth is Priceless
The slogan “A Verdade Não Tem Preço” allows for a wordplay Portuguese: it can be read as “The Truth is Priceless” and at the same time “@Verdade [newspaper] is free”. Erik Charas explains the philosophy behind it, stating that Mozambican people “should not be forced to choose between having access to the news or buy bread”. It is not just a figure of speech, according to Newspaper Innovation blog [en], the normal retail price of any other newspaper is equivalent to the price of 8 pieces of bread, or a month of cellphone access. In a country where 75% of the population live on less than $1.25 a day, newspapers that cost between 45 cents and 75 are considered unnecessary luxury items. Given this, the reader's enthusiasm captured on video below doesn't come as a surprise:
In total, 20,000 copies of @Verdade hit the streets every week and reach the hands of the Mozambican population. The print-run is not sufficient to meet demand, so in the end @Verdade goes from one reader to another, in a kind of collective reading. It is estimated that every week, @Verdade is read by 400,000 people, with each copy being shared by between at least 6 and 8 people. This means that information about what happens in the country and the world is no longer restricted to those who can afford to buy a newspaper.
For those who miss the chance to lay their hands on this weekly dose of news from Mozambique in print – or for anyone following the events from abroad – the good news is that @Verdade is not confined to Maputo and a few other cities. Those who have Internet access can download the paper in PDF on their website. There is also a Facebook page and a Twitter account – both very popular – and also a YouTube channel. All these channels are well linked with each other and fully integrated into the printed version: by integrating offline and online, the pioneering model of @Verdade is pushing the communication envelope, setting the tone for the future of print journalism and showing the way to those that have failed to go beyond the paper format.
It all started with a DM on Twitter
The distribution of @Verdade during the 2009 elections increased civic engagement, says a study of voter education by University of Oxford/LSE. Photo: Pedro Vicente, publsihed with permission.
The first time @Verdade caught the eye of Global Voices team was in October 2009 when it launched the Mozambican Elections Ushahidi platform to encourage citizens to act as reporters. A study about the correlation between access to information and voter turnout run by Oxford University and London School of Economics (LSE), found distribution of @Verdade had increased voter turnout by almost 10%.
A year later, the newspaper was once more an important source of information for GV, when another platform was set up cover  citizen reactions to the unrest against the high cost of living in Maputo. Their Facebook wall became the best place to follow the unfolding events in Mozambique.
It was, however, a simple direct message (DM) on Twitter, exchanged between the Global Voices author Janet Gunter and Erik Charas, that kicked off the partnership. Erik had updated Facebook saying he would be in London to attend the Growth Week 2010, where the study mentioning the impact of the newspaper during the election campaign would be presented, and Janet saw on this trip an opportunity to have coffee with other Global Voices members living in the UK. And the watery coffee of Brixton left all wanting something stronger: to conjure how the well-matched projects could join forces together.
Six months later, @Verdade and Global Voices are now partners. One advantage for Global Voices, apart from reaching people who normally would not have access to the site, is to fill a gap in coverage. Mozambique has always been a difficult contry to cover due to the difficulty in finding volunteer bloggers on the ground. The articles produced by @Verdade for Global Voices will come from the newspaper's Cidadão Repórter [Citizen Reporter, pt] section where people can report abuses and leads via email or SMS, as well as from their discussion forum and SMS forum. Coming soon.
"Have you bribed somebody? Have you seen somebody be bribed? Help us to keep watch over the corrupt and those who corrupt…"

author: Paula Góes


text:
Nigeria: Jesus Film in Hausa · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The “Jesus film”, a 2 hour docudrama on the life of Jesus Christ based on the Gospel of Luke is now available in Hausa.


text:
Panama: Law Modifying Mining Code to be Repealed · Global Voices
Ariel Moreno

On the morning of March 3, President Ricardo Martinelli promised to repeal Law 8, which modified Panama's mining code. Hora Cero [es] reports:
El Presidente de Panamá, Ricardo Martinelli anunció este jueves que su gobierno derogará este jueves, una ley minera que miles de indígenas rechazaron durante las últimas semas con protestas en las calles y cierres de rutas en la provincias de Chiriquí y Veraguas.
The news were received with joy among Panamanians who saw the change in the code as an attack on the environment. Reactions immediately appeared on social networks.
President Ricardo Martinelli (@rmartinelli) shared the announcement of the repeal on his Twitter account, adding that he would always listen to his people:
La Ley 8 será derogada en Consejo Extraordinario, un Presidente como yo siempre escuchará a su pueblo
Juan Carlos Navarro (@juancanavarro), former mayor of the Panamanian capital, wrote on Twitter:
panama no quiere mineria a cielo abierto. ahora a defender naturaleza, fortalecer ANAM y escuchar a la gente.
Daniel A. Robleto A. (@danielrobleto) thanks the indigenous people that fought for the law to be eliminated:
Se anuncia derogacion de la ley 8 que permitía minería metálica de cielo abierto en Panamá. Gracias hermanos Ngäbe, su lucha lo logro.
Students, indigenous people, civil rights and environmental groups marched on the Coastal Highway to protest reforms to the mining code on February 20. Image under copyright by Demotix taken by Guillermo Johnson
Yitzhak Polanco M. (@yitzpolanco) shows his joy at the promise of a repeal:
Super Feliz!!! Degoracion total de la LEY 8!!! NO A LA MINERIA en PANAMA!!
Ana Perezmackenzie (@peresmackenzie) echoes the words of the president:
Martinelli dijo “No me gustan las minas, los mineros, ni la mineria” bueno a sacarlos de Panama, que el ORO de Panama es Verde!
C. Adrian Martínez (@cadrianmartinez) reminds his followers that the promise of a repeal does not necessarily mean that open-pit mining will not exist in Panama:
La derogación de la Ley 8 no es compromiso de un Panamá sin minería metálica/a cielo abierto. Ahora hay que lograr garantizar esto.

author: Ariel Moreno


text:
Peru: First Presidential Candidate Debate · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

The first presidential candidate debate for this year's elections in Peru took place on March 3. Read reaction in this post [es] in Globalizado.

author: Juan Arellano