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An Unexpected Reunion 20 Years After the Srebrenica Massacre in Bosnia · Global Voices
Balkan Diskurs

Maksim and Sehida. Photo by author.
Considered the worst massacre in Europe since World War II, 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb troops at Srebrenica in 1995. In this piece, Nevena Medić recounts a story of extraordinary bravery as the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide approaches. Republished here as part of a content-sharing agreement, this piece was originally published on Balkan Diskurs, which is led by Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC), a 2014 Rising Voices grantee.
Maksim Marjanović, a retired teacher from the village of Skelani, risked his life to help his colleague Jakub Abdurahmanović and Jakub’s family. Jakub was murdered during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and, twenty years later, Maksim reunites with Jakub’s wife Šehida for the first time. Their emotional meeting accompanied by the memory of Jakub tells the story of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Maksim and Jakub met each other when they studied together in Tuzla. Soon after, they began working together as teachers in Srebrenica.
When the war began, Šehida remembers how Jakub didn’t want to leave their apartment, insisting that he wasn’t guilty of any wrongdoing. She distinctly remembers her husband’s words: ‘If they kill me, they kill me.’ Šehida recalls how she did not want to be separated from him because, in her words, life would mean nothing to her without him. Thus, they remained in the building, alone.
Maksim took special care of them during that time. When the phones were still working, Šehida remembers Maksim calling and saying: ‘Listen my Jakub, things are getting worse outside. Get your children Šehida ready. I am coming to get you.”
Šehida remembers those days vividly and fleetingly comments that “it doesn’t matter who or ‘what’ you are. All that is important is that you are human.”
“Maksim arrived as darkness fell,” Šehida explains. “At first I didn’t recognize him because it was dark. Then he said to us: ‘Let’s go downstairs.’ We put what we needed into backpacks and went to Maksim’s apartment.”
“My children were so scared,” she remembers. “Whenever the doorbell rang they would jump up and ask: ‘Are they going kill us?’ I will never forget when we were in Maksim’s room and he took out a gun and said: ‘Listen, sweet Zijada, don't cry. See Uncle Maksim's gun? No matter who comes to our door, they cannot harm us. It’s just like in the cowboy movies, Zijada.’”
“She then hugged Maksim, feeling protected,” Šehida tells us.
Šehida telling her story. Photo by author.
Jakub's determination
According to Šehida, Maksim went to the town center to check on the situation. When he returned, he was visibly shaken. As he has passed through the town by car he had witnessed shootings all around him.
“The thought that someone would come to the apartment to make problems for Maksim, led Jakub to decide that we must return to our own home. Nothing could change his mind,” recalls Šehida. “My Jakub was known for setting his mind to something without any further explanation.”
Maksim reluctantly agreed to escort the family to their apartment.
“The days passed in fear and anxiety,” Šehida recounts. “The stores were looted. We were never sure what kind of evil awaited us just outside. At this point, a possible departure was out of the question.”
One morning, Maksim called and told Šehida to make coffee. “As soon as he arrived, he began crying,” remembers Šehida. He spoke with her husband, saying, ‘You know what, Jakub? I am a decent man. I taught my children a different set of values. I am ashamed to be seen in this uniform. This would only be an honourable uniform, if I were at least able to protect you and the people with whom I have spent my life. I have decided that I must go back to my village of Brežani. If I must, I will die there.’
Maksim offered Šehida the key to his apartment. He told her: ‘If you feel more protected there, then go, but I have to leave.’ He embraced Šehida’s children and cried. “He probably sensed the evil that was to come,” adds Šehida as she recounts that moment.
She remembers Maksim telling Jakub: ‘If we stay alive and meet again, we will know who was truly responsible for all this. I really have to go now.” He then left and Šehida, who followed him across the playground, recollects how he put his hand over his face and cried.
A few days after the separation, Šehida remembers how Arkan's “Tigers” entered their apartment to search it. “They opened everything in the apartment, but found nothing. One of them yelled: ‘Everybody get up!’ My son Zijo, who was in his second year of high school at the time, let out a distinct cry. Then, they removed my Jakub. In a Serbian dialect, one of the Tigers said: ‘You! Sit with the children!’ So, we stayed behind in the apartment.”
Shortly thereafter, Šehida received the news that Jakub had been killed.
“I hadn't bathed in 10 days. When I took off my clothes to take a bath,” she explains, “I saw that my thighs were covered in bruises. I realized that my child Zijada had pinched my legs out of fear and I didn’t even notice it. It was then that I understood the trauma she was going through.”
Šehida had not seen Maksim since 1992 but explains that they still knew everything about each other. “Maybe he is fishing on the Drina,” she mused.
When Šehida told us her tragic story, we decided to find Maksim and contact him. When we found him, he was happy to hear from us. He asked us to bring Šehida to him because he didn’t want to return to Srebrenica. He believed that the people he spent the good parts of his life with no longer lived there.
We never wanted this
As we approach Maksim's house, I hear Šehida breathing heavily. Maksim is waiting for us out front. He says: “Look at my Šehida, she is the same. You are just as I left you, you haven't changed one bit.”
Sehida and Maksim. Photo by author.
During Maksim and Šehida’s first coffee after all those years, they begin to recount tales of child’s play, first loves, and fights. They mostly speak of their sons Zoran and Zijad. “Those kids were inseparable,” they say.
Šehida also remembers the letters Zoran sent to Zijad. She comments that these letters can be a lesson to younger generations.
“Once we received a letter from Zoran via the Red Cross,” she tells us. “I was surprised by the fact that some messages were not censored. They used to cross out what they did not approve of with black ink. Zoran told my Zijo: ‘I am sending you this letter, but I don’t know if you will read it. If it does reach you, know that I am the old Zoran. I haven't changed. I know that you and I never wanted this.’”
The duo sits together motionless. Their eyes are full of tears. For the first time, Maksim listens to the story of how his friend was killed. Šehida describes the night Jakub was murdered. She and the children spent the whole night on the roof of a school in Srebrenica. They didn’t sleep all night. In the early morning, they went to the hills above Srebrenica. They found accommodation in the first village they came to. Accommodation was easy to acquire, according to Šehida, because everyone knew Jakub.
“Something kept me restless. I had to go. I had to find him and try to bury him. I couldn’t stop thinking that dogs would rip him apart,” she says.
Šehida remembers that when she returned Srebrenica it was “abandoned, without birds, and without people”. She says she did not feel any fear or sorrow when she buried her husband because she was in shock.
“I was going down the street and there were no birds or plants. Nothing existed. Cars were parked on the road with all of their doors open. All the Serbs had fled when Goran Zekić [Member of the Bosnian Serb Republic and the Personnel Commission of the Social Democratic Party] was murdered. I thought my Jakub was killed in front of Srebrenica’s department store, but people told me that he was murdered in a basement.”
“We went to the police station. Muniba told me to go down the stairs and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I reached for the door but I couldn't open it. It was locked. I turned around and told Muhamed, the man who had been helping us, “I can't open the door, but I can see Jakub's shoes.” He opened the door. At first, I couldn't look. Then I quickly turned around. What I saw was a relief – he hadn’t been butchered,” says Šehida.
She explains to Maksim that after she buried him, it was easier for her. However, as she recalled these memories, there was a moment when she was not able to speak or get enough air. Šehida believes that, if it hadn’t been for her children, she could have never gone back to the village. She tells Maksim that she probably would have thrown herself off of something.
Maksim and Šehida remember more than just the bad times, though. They begin reminiscing about the good times as well. They speak of school days and hanging out. While on the subject of school, Maksim comments that teachers should never be nationalists or chauvinists. “Back then, it never occurred to me to make distinctions between children,” he says.
Maksim goes on to explain the internal pull he felt to help Šehida's family. “I thought helping others was the human thing to do. Once, when I saw Jakub at the police station, I told him I would keep him safe. I told some police officers nearby to call me if those bastards came through. Even today, I remember their fingerless gloves. I later realized they were just ordinary criminals,” recalls Maksim.
As Maksim describes the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he states: “War is like a flood. When it hits, all the trash floats to surface. All the decent people retreat. The trash stays afloat and, as long as it surrounds us, we cannot wash our hands of it.”
According to Maksim, everyone could anticipate that there would be a war. Even his students, who often asked silly questions, could feel that something was coming. “Children see everything,” Maksim says. “My student Sabina asked me: ‘Teacher, will there be a war?’ Although I knew the answer, I told her: ‘No my children, there will be no war. If, God forbid, there was a war, I only ask that you do one thing—take care of and support each other. Don't allow national interests to create rifts between you. Help one another. This is what is most important. Only in this way will you be able to save yourselves and others.’
This piece was recently awarded an honorable mention in PCRC's The Srđan Aleksić Youth Competition, which challenges young people to discover, collect, and share stories of peacebuilding, moral courage, and interethnic cooperation from their own communities.

author: Balkan Diskurs


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For Arab Human Rights Defenders, Hacking Team Files Confirm Suspicions of State Surveillance · Global Voices
Abir Ghattas

Cartoon by Doaa Eladl, via Cartoon Movement.
Human rights advocates across the Arab world are combing through the troves of data uncovered in last Sunday's massive hack of the controversial Italian security and surveillance technology firm Hacking Team.
Hacking Team's notorious “Remote Control System” has been used by oppressive regimes in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Sudan, UAE, Oman, Morocco and Egypt to surveil and intimidate political opponents, human rights advocates, journalists, and digital activists. The Remote Control System is a pernicious form of surveillance technology that enables the attacker, usually a government entity, to infiltrate and control the device of the target. It can copy files from a computer’s hard disk, record Skype calls, e-mails, instant messages, passwords typed into a web browser, and even turn on and eavesdrop via a computer's webcam.
Hacking Team technologies have become so prevalent in this realm that the company was named an “Internet Enemy” by Reporters Without Borders in 2012. Working with activists who have been targeted by governments using Hacking Team products, the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab has undertaken large scale technical research to better understand the systems used by Hacking Team and other major surveillance technology providers. Their research can be found here.
The company's official Twitter account, that was also hacked, pointed to the torrent file of more than 400 gigabytes of internal data: Emails, bills, client lists, source code, contracts and even personal WhatsApp backups. The documents are also available on Transparency Toolkit and the emails are available on Wikileaks [updated July 15, 2015].
It remains unclear who hacked Hacking Team. An individual known as “Phineas Fisher”, who claimed to have hacked into the systems of Gamma, a UK and Germany-based major surveillance technology company, has claimed responsibility for the attack, but this is difficult to verify.
Screenshot of Hacking Team tweet linking to the 400GB of leaked data.
Shortly after information from the hack became public, several security experts and journalists started posting Hacking Team's lengthy client list, internal communications records, and some invoices. Among the international clients, several Arab states have apparently used the services of Hacking Team.
Cairo-based digital rights activist Ramy Raoof tweeted to his 111K followers documents revealing that GNSE Egypt, a prominent e-business firm in the region, appears to have negotiated the purchase of Hacking Team software:
from the #HackingTeam Leaks: invoice to #Egypt – 58,000 EURO – January 2012. pic.twitter.com/pgSJOwUwQq
— Ramy Raoof (@RamyRaoof) July 6, 2015
GNSE the man-in-the-middle company in #HackingTeam deal with #Egypt intelligence. Contacts http://t.co/BugJeepS4C – http://t.co/YExcAOWbDn — Ramy Raoof (@RamyRaoof) July 6, 2015
Raoof pointed out that the hack proved what the activists in the region knew all along:
rights groups knew #Egypt using #HackingTeam spyware since 2012; Sunday's hack just proved it http://t.co/UiqP2z9ZQl
— Ramy Raoof (@RamyRaoof) July 7, 2015
Advocates in Morocco have had similar reactions. In 2012, citizen media group and Global Voices partner Mamfakinch was the target of an attack using Hacking Team's Remote Control System. When they received an email that appeared to contain a story tip, unsuspecting members of the group opened a document attached to the email and their computers were instantly taken over by the system. Sunday's revelations confirm that they had learned some years prior, after investigating the incident with the help of digital security experts.
Human rights defender and digital security consultant Mohammed Al-Maskati tweeted to his 89K followers that Bahrain bought several spy software products from Hacking Team.
البحرين اشترت برامج تجسس و تنصت من شركة @hackingteam ، بحسب ما كشفت عنها الوثائق و اخر صيانة كانت منذ فترة بسيطة #bahrain — Mohammed Al-Maskati (@MohdMaskati) July 6, 2015
Bahrain purchased several spywares from @Hackingteam and as per the leaked documents, the last maintenance happened not so back ago.
2-برامج التجسس من @hackingteam تستطيع التنصت على المحادثات في برنامج Skype و نسخ الملفات و تشغيل الكاميرا -يتبع #bahrain
— Mohammed Al-Maskati (@MohdMaskati) July 6, 2015
2- The @hackingteam spyware can breach encrypted files and emails, Skype and other Voice over IP or chat communication, copy local files and turn on the device camera.
3-و ايضا تستطيع تسجيل كل ما يتم ادخاله عن طريق الكيبورد keyboard و هذا يشمل الباسوورد و المعلومات الحساسة و غيرها #bahrain — Mohammed Al-Maskati (@MohdMaskati) July 6, 2015
The spyware can also log every keystroke, which will include sensitive information and passwords.
One invoice from the files shows the purchase of a “Remote Control System” for a total of €210K by an entity called “Midworld Pro” located in Dubai, UAE. A file name associated with the invoice reads “Midworld Pro – Bahrain”. Separate documentation indicates that the government of Bahrain purchased €210K worth of services and products from Hacking Team, suggesting that this purchase was likely routed to Bahrain through the UAE.
MidWorld Pro invoice – Obtained from the leaked documents.
Along with Egypt and Bahrain, documents also revealed that the Lebanese Army purchased Hacking Team's Remote Control System, along with other equipment. It appears that the government spent over one million Euros on their products.
Lebanese Army Galileo Invoice
Lebanese Army Hardware Invoice
Lebanese Army Hardware Invoice (2)
Lebanese journalist Mahmoud Ghazayel tweeted that he was blocked by the official Lebanese Army account on Twitter after inquiring about the Hacking Team leaked files.
I just got blocked by @LebarmyOfficial after trying to get their opinion about this matter #IsHackingTeamAwakeYet pic.twitter.com/ohfxypKqHp — محمود غزيّل (@ghazayel) July 6, 2015
The leaked documents also revealed that Hacking Team sold to Sudan. EFF's Eva Galperin tweeted:
Hacking Team never sold to Sudan? Here's the instructions for the 480,000 Euro wire transfer. cc @hackingteam pic.twitter.com/JqexHpvb3s — Eva (@evacide) July 6, 2015
In the leaked ClientList_Renewal.xls, Hacking Team noted that Sudan is “not officially supported”. Russia was also listed as such. The documents also reveal several communications between the company and the United Nations Security Council Committee regarding the use of a Remote Control System within Sudan. Hacking Team's Remote Control System appears to have stood in violation of a 2005 resolution (1591) that placed an arms embargo on the country.
To learn more about the global reach of Hacking Team's products, see Matthew Stender's interactive map visualizing all Hacking Team clients:
Follow @RamyRaoof, @MohdMaskati, @Gharbeia and @simsimt for more information and commentary on this unfolding story.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Abir Ghattas


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Mass Protests Halt Ecuador’s Proposed Tax Hikes · Global Voices
Daniela Gallardo

Ecuadoran opposition demonstrators protesting against a proposed inheritance tax in Guayaquil. Photo: César Muñoz/Andes from the Flickr account of Agencia Andes under Creative Commons license.
A new legislative initiative by Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa is facing a setback this week, following protests in several cities and a visit from Pope Francis, who sought to calm the country's political atmosphere. President Correa's draft law would impose a progressive tax on inheritances greater than $35,400 and a 75 percent tax on “surplus profits” associated with capital gains and real estate.
Despite the problems with the legislation, President Correa first vowed to hold his ground. On June 15, after a week of protests, the President promised not to back down “one inch” from new taxes he says would affect only the “oligarchy”:
“Si me demuestran que las leyes de Herencias y Plusvalías afectan a los más pobres y a las clases medias, yo mismo pediré a la Asamblea el archivo de las leyes”. Sin perder el tono fuerte, manifestó: “¿Quieren sacar al presidente? Llamen a la consulta para la revocatoria y los derrotaré una y mil veces”, confirmó el medio móvil Fáctico.
If there is proof that the Inheritance and Capital Gains laws affect the extremely poor and middle class, I myself will ask the [National] Assembly for the archive of the laws. […] You want to remove the president? Call for a referendum and I will come out on top time and again.
Two hours after this announcement, however, Correa's position changed. That night, in his “Message to the Nation, Correa addressed the nation, saying he would temporarily withdraw the tax initiative, in order to ensure a “peaceful and joyous” environment during Pope Francis’ visit.
Protests and political opposition to the tax hikes has not dissipated, however. Large demonstrations were held throughout the country on June 18 and June 25, and the political collective Democracia Sí is asking for a referendum on Correa's office, threatening the President with losing his job.
Many voters continue to express concerns about the class impact of the proposed tax increases, asking questions about the redistribution of wealth and the possible harm to property ownership in Ecuador.
Since early June, social causes that began as hashtags online (such as#FueraCorreaFuera, or “CorreaOUT,” and #SigueCorreaSigue, or “CorreaIN”) have found their way to the streets, inspiring mass protests, as well as demonstrations of support for President Correa and the ruling party:
No se necesita una revolución y cambiarlo todo para progresar, solo hay q dejar a la gente en paz. #FueraCorreaFuerapic.twitter.com/dK952hCXOG
— Mario (@mnuonno) junio 9, 2015
You don't need a revolution and to change everything in the name of progress; you just need to leave people in peace.
Por un #Ecuador productivo y generador de empleo #FueraCorreaFuerapic.twitter.com/OPx8rLobj7
— Malena González  (@maggieligg) junio 8, 2015
Towards job creation and productivity in Ecuador
Al gobierno no le queda más que obligar a los empleados públicos a salir a marchar en contra de la oposición. #FueraCorreaFuera
— Alvaro Aguilar  (@alvaromiic) junio 10, 2015
The government's only recourse is to force civil servants to go out and march against the opposition.
Oposición golpista, escucha: Nosotrxs trabajamos. No heredamos. #SigueCorreaSigue
— DIANA CHUIZA GUEVARA (@DianaChuiza) junio 10, 2015
Oposición golpista [Opposition in favor of a coup], listen: We work. We don't inherit anything.
#SigueCorreaSigue aunque el camino sea duro para el cambio, con ustded compañero Presidente @MashiRafael.
— Andreita Pardo (@agepars) junio 10, 2015
Although the road to change is a tough one, I'm with you, my President
Atrasa pueblos déjenme decirles CUENCA defiende este proceso Revolucionario #SigueCorreaSigue al pasado NUNCA MÁS!! pic.twitter.com/B3liWteFmB
— Pedro Padilla (@pytherjose) junio 10, 2015
Backwards, let me tell you, CUENCA defends this Revolutionary process. Time to move forward!!

author: Daniela Gallardo


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More Than 100 People Have Been Killed Extrajudicially This Year in Bangladesh · Global Voices
পান্থ রহমান রেজা (Pantha)

A relative holding up a portrait of the disappeared person. Image by Indrajit Ghosh. Copyright: Demotix (30/08/2014)
Recently, Bangladesh graduated from low-income to lower-middle income country in the eyes of the World Bank. Moreover, the South Asian country has reduced poverty, increased the number of female students in primary and secondary education and achieved some success in paring down child and maternal mortality.
Despite this progress, the country's human rights situation leaves a lot to be desired.
Human rights organization Ain O Shalishi Kendra (ASK) published a report showing that in the first six month of this year, 101 people were victims of extrajudicial killings while in custody of different law and enforcement units. Twenty-nine people disappeared or were abducted and 132 died from political violence.
According to a Daily New Age report, more than 200 people, mostly political activists, fell victim to enforced disappearances from 2007 to 2014.
Former Member of Parliament Saiful Islam is on the missing persons list. He was first reported missing in November 2013. His family doesn't not know whether he is alive or dead. Participating in a seminar on the International Day for Victims of Enforced Disappearances in Dhaka, his daughter Mashrufa Islam said:
আমার বাবাকে কী করা হয়েছে, আমরা জানি না৷ তিনি জীবিত, না তাঁকে মেরে ফেলা হয়েছে তাও জানি না৷ এ ঘটনায় মামলা করা হলেও কোনো অগ্রগতি নেই৷ তারপরও নানা রকমের চাপ রয়েছে মামলা না চালানোর জন্য৷
We do not know what was done with my father. We do not know whether he is alive or dead. There is no progress in the case. We faced different kinds of threats and pressure not to pursue this case.
Supreme Court lawyer and director of the Brac University School of Law Dr. Shahdeen Malik said in an interview with the Daily Star that the “culture of impunity” is the main reason why enforced disappearances take place in Bangladesh.
Families of the disappeared people allege that police and special forces, especially Rapid Action Battalion, were involved. But the government rarely takes action against those forces. In a report published last September, Amnesty International mentioned:
Without providing any details, the government said that cases of enforced disappearances have been investigated, and torture charges have been framed “against certain number of law enforcement personnel under [Torture and Custodial Death (Prohibition) Act 2013] (on the basis of evidence)”.
The Asian Human Rights Commission demanded an end to the “impunity”:
#BANGLADESH: #Disappearance will never stop unless #impunity is ended: http://t.co/Bzt0XCmN
— AHRC (@humanrightsasia) April 20, 2012
On Twitter, engineer Shapath Guh urged people to speak out:
Please raise ur voice now to stop #judicial #killing & #enforced #disappearance in #Bangladesh. Tomorrow u may be the #victim too. Act now!
— Shapath Guha (@ShapathG) May 3, 2014
Muktasree Chakma wanted to know why the government wasn't stepping in:
Rise in #enforced #disappearance in #bangladesh http://t.co/xD16ubA4Ep What's exactly happening in the country in the name of rule of #law?
— Muktasree Chakma (@SathiChakma) March 5, 2014
The Rapid Action Battalion has made great strides in controlling Islamist militants in Bangladesh. But they have faced widespread criticism over human rights violations and been accused of extrajudicial killings. Human Rights Watch, an international human rights organization, has recommended that the special force be eliminated. The US State Department’s Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2014 pointed to extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances as the most significant human rights problems in Bangladesh.
Article 32 of the Bangladesh Constitution guarantees that no person shall be deprived of life or personal liberty. But Sharif Hasan and Lam-ya Mostaque wrote in Dhaka Tribune that this provision exists only on paper:
In reality, these provisions have not been implemented, and this very fundamental right is being repeatedly violated with complete impunity. Enforced disappearances, that took thousands of human lives in the early 1970s and continued during the tenures of the successive governments with fewer numbers of cases, have resumed, without consequence, in Bangladesh after the RAB started operating in the country.

author: পান্থ রহমান রেজা (Pantha)


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Russian Consumer Group Raises Hell by Warning Tourists Against Traveling to Crimea · Global Voices
Olga Kocheva

The consumer rights group OZPP says traveling to Crimea without Kyiv's permission could result in serious legal problems. Image edited by Kevin Rothrock
Last month, Russian federal censors blacklisted a travel advisory published online by a consumer protection group known as OZPP on charges of extremism. Officials targeted OZPP because it released a memo cautioning tourists against traveling to Crimea, which it warned is considered “occupied territory,” according to international law. OZPP advised potential tourists to seek permission from the Ukrainian government, before setting foot in Crimea.
Since June 22, 2015, neither OZPP's website or the single webpage with its travel advisory has been accessible to Russian Internet users.
“The Memo to Customers Traveling to Occupied Territories” advises tourists to ask Ukrainian migration authorities for permission to enter Crimea by crossing the Russian-Ukrainian border at a checkpoint controlled by Kyiv. The memo also cautions tourists against buying real estate in Crimea. According to OZPP's analysts, anyone who violates Ukrainian sovereignty with unsanctioned travel or financial transactions could face prosecution by Kyiv or other foreign powers.
After OZPP's memo started making headlines in the Russian media, the Attorney General's Office came to a decision that the travel advisory is extremist. Prosecutors are now determining whether or not to open a formal criminal investigation against the group. If police launch a case and press charges, a conviction could put OZPP's administrators behind bars for as long as five years.
Mocking the authorities’ concerns about OZPP, the satirical VKontakte community Lentach tweeted a cartoon mocking the logo of Roskomnadzor, the Kremlin's media watchdog agency:
Сайт Общества защиты прав потребителей,советовавшего россиянам не ездить в Крым,заблокировали http://t.co/IZb9mZiZ4U pic.twitter.com/FVNtXpE2Te
— Лентач (@oldLentach) June 23, 2015
The unique glasses: “Roskomnadzor’s eyesight.” They let you to see everything that is concealed! [Without eyeglasses, the meme seems harmless: Don’t go to Crimea. With eyeglasses, the extremism becomes apparent: Don’t go to Crimea! It should be returned to Ukraine and all those who disagree should be killed.]
In an interview with the news agency RBC, OZPP head Mikhail Anshakov said his group published the memo after receiving complaints from “several dozens” of Russian citizens who said they had trouble obtaining European travel visas, since visiting Crimea, after the Russian annexation in March 2014.
According to Rublacklist.net, a project by the Russian Pirate Party that keeps track of the country's blacklisted websites, government censors also blocked Anshakov’s personal blog on LiveJournal.
Anshakov is a well-known critic of both the Kremlin and Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russian Orthodox Church, whom Anshakov tried to defrock in 2012 for living extravagantly and operating numerous businesses inside the Moscow’s main church, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
Recently, Anshakov formally appealed to Russia's Constitutional Court, asking judges to rule on the constitutionality of Crimea's reintegration with Russia.
The NGO’s position on Crimea has spurred criticism from several high-profile politicians, who rushed to call the group a “foreign agent,” though OZPP isn't formally an organization and therefore does not meet Russia's description of a “foreign agent” NGO.
In his speech to the Civic Chamber, an oversight committee that monitors government bodies, Putin blamed OZPP for serving interest of foreign countries:
Вот недавнее событие, уже не помню, как эта организация называется, которая якобы заботится о потребителях, начала давать рекомендации по поводу того, как вести себя нашим туристам в Крыму и как относиться к решению вопросов с собственностью в Крыму. Вот это как называется: это забота о гражданах России? Нет, это обслуживание интересов иностранных государств в отношении России. Именно для этого и вводилось это понятие «иностранный агент», чтобы иностранные государства не использовали инструментов подобного рода для вмешательства в наши внутриполитические дела.
Recently one organization, I don’t remember its name, which, so to speak cares about customers, began to make recommendations to our tourists about how to behave in Crimea and how to deal with real estate in Crimea. What do we call this? Caring for Russian citizens? No, this is serving foreign interests, and it's happening inside Russia. For this reason, the term “foreign agent” was introduced, to keep foreign states from applying such tools for meddling in our internal politics.
On his LiveJournal page, still accessible to Internet users outside Russia, Anshakov responded to Putin about OZPP's foreign agent status, accusing him and other officials of spreading ignorance and paranoia:
Позиция ОЗПП: 1. Господин Путин В.В. некомпетентен давать оценку деятельности общественных объединений; 2. Господин Путин В.В. плохо информирован, так как ОЗПП не имеет официального статуса иностранного агента и не получает зарубежного финансирования; 3. Подобного рода заявления самого господина Путина В.В. и ряда его коллег в связи с публикацией Памятки для потребителей при посещении оккупированных территорий временами похожи на симптомы паранойи.
This is OZPP’s position: 1. Mr. Putin is not qualified to assess the activity of public organizations; 2. Mr Putin is badly informed because OZPP does not have official status as a “foreign agent” and is not financed from abroad; 3. Such declarations from Mr. Putin himself, as well as a number of his colleagues, about to release of the “Memo to Customers Traveling to Occupied Territories” displays some signs of paranoia.
Ironically, while OZPP does not appear on the Justice Ministry's official registry of “foreign agents,” OZPP did declare itself a foreign agent in 2012, when the law was enacted, in solidarity with other civic organizations, in protest against the legislation.
Some officials, like Duma deputy Alexander Sidyakin, hope police will still find a way to add OZPP to Russia's blacklist, accusing the group of “already performing so diligently the duties of a foreign agent.”

author: Olga Kocheva


text:
The Aymara Indigenous University, a Path Towards Helping Native Communities in Bolivia · Global Voices
Rising Voices

Rising Voices note: As part of a partnership agreement with La Pública, we are republishing some of the stories written by Aymara university students at the Aymara Indigenous University of Bolivia “Túpac Katari” (Unibol). The students have been taking part in a citizen journalism project coordinated by La Pública and Jaqi Aru. All of the blog posts were written originally in Aymara or Spanish.
Student at the Aymara Indigenous University of Bolivia (Unibol). Photo – La Pública.
The Aymara Indigenous University of Bolivia “Túpac Katari” (Unibol) attracts students from across rural communities on the Altiplano in search of educational opportunities. Some of the students have had the lifelong dream of pursuing higher education, while others were encouraged by community members to learn all that they could to improve life back home. Each student has a unique background and unique experiences, many of which were captured on the project's blog.
The following was written by Eva Alvares Mamani, a food sciences student from the community of Chajlaya.
En mi pueblo se trabaja mucho para tener una vida mejor; los habitantes son agricultores y, como el sol es muy fuerte, se te quema la piel.
En ese lugar crecieron tres hermanas que se quedaron allí después del tiempo del patrón. Se casaron, cada una con un hombre llegado de distinto lugar, y tuvieron hijos. Una de ellas es mi abuela, quien tuvo siete hijos. La familia criaba chivos y ovejas y, según cuenta mi abuela, la comida apenas alcanzaba. Lo poco que tenían, cada sábado lo llevaban al mercado más cercano para obtener algo más.
Mi papá era quien acompañaba más a mi abuela. Uno de esos días conoció una iglesia, la Adventista, y los sábados acudía al lugar, aunque su padre, mi abuelo, se oponía pues odiaba todas las iglesias. Pero fue así, desobedeciendo, que mi papá aprendió a leer, pues ni él ni mis tíos asistían a una escuela debido a que no había una en el pueblo y la pobreza de la familia.
Mi papá iba contento a la iglesia, le gustó mucho aprender y así se capacitó y quiso saber cómo se podía hacer agricultura. Él sabía que en un pueblo más abajo del suyo había producción de verduras y frutas, así que él se fue a ayudar y aprender.
Cuando se casó con mi mamá, a los 20 años de edad, él tenía sólo 150 bolivianos de capital. Con eso empezó a trabajar y se arriesgó a plantar tomates por vez primera en su tierra. Dice que cosechó siete cargas y así mis tíos, al ver que producía bien, se animaron a sembrar y poco a poco aprendieron a ser agricultores.
Hoy en día, en mi pueblo hay una escuela que educa hasta sexto de primaria. La gente siembra tomate, lechuga, vainita y choclo. La comunidad me ha enviado a la Unibol para que yo pueda ayudar a mejorar la producción.
In my community, one works hard to have a better life; the residents there are farmers and since the sun is very strong, the skin burns easily.
In that community, three sisters were raised there, remaining there after the time when there were land masters. They married, each to a man that arrived from a different community, and they had children. One of them was my grandmother, who had seven children. The family raised goats and sheep, and according to what my grandmother told me, the food barely was enough. Each Saturday, with what little they did have, they went to the nearest market to acquire something more.
My father was the one that accompanied my grandmother the most. One day he learned about an Adventist Church, where he went on Saturdays even though his father, my grandfather, opposed it because he hated all churches. However, because he disobeyed, he was able to learn how to read. Neither he nor my uncles attended school because the town lacked a school, and because of the family's poverty.
My father was content to go to the church. He liked learning and that's how he was trained how to farm. He knew that there was a community nearby that produced fruits and vegetables, and that's how he went to help and learn.
When he married my mother at the age of 20, he only had 150 bolivianos (approximately 20 USD in current conversion) as capital. With that he started to work, trying to plant tomatoes for the first time on his land. He said that he harvested seven loads and that's how my uncles, upon seeing that it produced well, started to plant little by little and also learned how to be farmers
Currently in my community there is a school that educates children up until the sixth grade. The people plant tomatoes, lettuce, beans, and corn. The community sent me to Unibol so that I can help to improve the farming production.
Other students arrive to learn more about the textile industry, so they can help their communities, too. Two female students,Julia Apaza Mamani and Zelma Mamani Mamani, write about the lack of male students in the field:
Somos más mujeres (80%) que varones (20%) quienes ingresamos a la carrera de Ingeniería Textil de la Universidad Indígena Boliviana Aymara Túpak Katari. Y luego, algunos de ellos se van saliendo, pues parece que el enfoque práctico de tejer, por ejemplo, no les gusta. Se sienten humillados frente a las mujeres al tener que hacer un tari, una istalla, una chambrita para wawa (saquito para recién nacido)… Ellos quieren “ciencias exactas”. Por eso, ahora que estamos en sexto semestre, los varones son pocos.
There are more women (80 percent) than men (20 percent), who entered the field of study for Textile Engineering… Later, some of the male students started to leave because it appeared that they did not like the practical focus of weaving. They felt humiliated in front of the women because they had to weave a tari (cloth), istalla, or chambrita for babies (a coat for newborns)… They wanted “exact sciences”. Because of that, we are now in the sixth semester, and there are very few male students.
We'll continue to share more stories from the Aymara students as they write about their educational experiences at this unique university.

author: Rising Voices


text:
The Impossible Dream of Having an Apartment of One’s Own in Hong Kong · Global Voices
Sofus

Hong Kong Skyline by Flickr Jens Schott Knudsen. CC: NC-AT
Housing in Hong Kong is the most expensive and least affordable in the world, according to the latest Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey. With the housing prices on average 17 times annual income, 88 percent of young people aged 19 to 29 has lost the hope that they could afford having an apartment of their own.
The current median monthly wage, as announced by the government, is around HK $15,000 (approximately US $1,950), while the median monthly domestic household income in 2014 was HK $23,500 (approximately US $3,000). Though the figures look promising in a city with highly affordable daily necessities, what truly eats up Hong Kongers’ income is housing.
A 400-square-foot property in Tai Po, a suburban district in the New Territories, goes for approximately HK $4.68 million, 200 times the median domestic household income. In other words, an average family would have to spend all of their income for 16.5 years to buy one of the cheapest properties in town.
Even if an individual were to win the 1st division prize in the city's biggest lottery game, the Mark Six, the prize money might not manage to cover a humble apartment if he or she is unlucky and has to share the winnings with others. The 1st division prize is around HK $8 million, but if you have to share with another person, you only get half the amount.
QC, a columnist from citizen media platform inmediahk.net, shared the feeling of hopelessness on the rocket-high property price:
對，香港已進入了中六合彩也未必可以買樓的年代。儘管你那麼幸運，以一億三千九百萬分之一的機會中了六合彩，如果沒有累積多寶獎金而幸運兒不只是你一個的話，彩金也未必足夠可以買樓。[…] 過去數十年，香港人都認為中六合彩可以改變生活，給大家一個渺茫的希望。現在連這個希望也未必存在。
Hong Kong has entered an era when winning Mark Six doesn't mean you can buy a property. Even if you are lucky enough to win against the odds of one in 139 million, if the jackpot isn't just for you, the prize money might not be enough to buy an apartment. […] In the past few decades, Hong Kongers used to believe that winning Mark Six prizes can change their life even if hope was slim. But such hope does not even exist now.
Tse Kwun Tung, another columnist from inmediahk.net, listed three necessary conditions for young people to have an apartment of their own:
如果你想買樓，你必須過三關：首先，你能月儲3000元；第二，你能找到伴侶；第三，樓價大跌。如果你一關都過不了，還是別再造買樓的春秋大夢了！如果你已過了兩關，那便可望天打掛，苦候樓市盤崩的一天吧。
If you want to buy an apartment, you have to pass three challenges: First, you need to save HK $3,000 every month; second, you need to have a partner [to share the burden of the monthly mortgage]; third, there must be a great drop in the property price. If you can't fulfill the first two challenges, don't dream about buying apartment. If you have passed the first two challenges, you can wait for the day when the property price jumps off a cliff.
But others believed there are a lot more challenges than the three:
總有好多關:不失業,不離婚,不生仔,不生病,樓價不升…..
There are still many other challenges: not becoming unemployed, not divorcing, not having a baby, not getting sick, no rising property prices…
Another comment disagreed with the idea of finding a partner to share the mortgage:
找到伴侶重要儲錢結婚，結咗婚要比三份家用，可以點儲錢，儲幾多呢
If you find a partner, you need to save up money for marriage; after marriage, you need to support three families. Can you save any money? Even if so, how much can you save?
The pain of not having a room of one's own is not shared by the wealthy business sector. When Lau Ming-Wai, the son of a local tycoon, advised that if young people his age spend less money on movies and travel to Japan, they would be able to buy an apartment, is not hard to imagine why netizens trashed his advice. From the comments section of Passion Times’ report:
我一世人只去過一次旅行,係十年前去泰國,我父母從不旅行,不是人人都會大洗去日本,唔係人人都唔努力唔儲錢。其實都仲有好多人好似我咁,但係未能買樓
In my whole life I have only traveled once, which was to Thailand more than 10 years ago. My parents don’t go traveling at all. There are people like me who don’t go to Japan and do work hard and save money, but we still cannot afford a property.
日本，計每年2次每次1皮，唔去一年慳2萬
睇戲，計每週2次每次100，唔睇一年慳1萬零4百
300萬既樓，儲98年多d就買到了，佢既建議真係好洗得
Assuming one travels to Japan twice a year, not going to Japan means H $20,000 additional savings annually; assuming one watches two movies a week and each movie costs HK $100, not watching movies at all means HK $10,400 additional saving annually. If the property costs HK $3,000,000, you just need to save money for 98 years. What a practical suggestion!
Hoping for a big drop in the home prices may be as unrealistic as Lau’s advice, according to experts. The city's property market not only serves local demand but also a large number of wealthy mainland Chinese investors. Future land supply will be challenging due to political stagnancy as well as environmental and preservation concerns.
Soaring property prices are a significant source of social discontent in Hong Kong. When Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying was running his election campaign in 2012, he vowed to keep prices low, but they continue to rocket up in the past two years. As Hong Kong politics are still dominated by the wealthiest, it is unlikely that policies that go against their interests will become reality anytime soon.

author: Sofus


text:
A Tribute to Yemeni Cuisine: Culinary Traditions in Ramadan · Global Voices
Thalia Rahme

Sambosa one of Yemen's top food in Ramadan – CC Yemeniah Blog
Yemen is ”one step” from famine, pleads UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, who notes that ”21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance” due to the current conflict in the country. These are frightening figures when considering that the total population of Yemen is 24 million.
A truce is being discussed during the holy month of Ramadan or what is left of it, to allow the 99-percent Muslim country to at least fast in peace. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims fast in commemoration of when their holy book, the Quran, was first revealed to Prophet Muhammed.
But long before the crisis and the conflict-hit the country, Yemenis used to enjoy Ramadan nights. The country was also famous for its cuisine, and this post is a tribute to the culinary traditions of Yemen during Ramadan. What is also interesting is that every city in Yemen has its own specialties even for Ramadan. So if you one day get the chance to be invited to an Iftar (fast-breaking meal) by someone originally from Aden, it might differ from if you were on a table prepared by someone from Sanaa and so on.
Like many other Muslims, Yemenis first break their fast in the evening by eating dates, which have been known historically for helping people in the desert sustain long hot days as they are rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, sulfur and chloride and various vitamins.
The dates are followed by soup and salad, and then the main meal. Lamya Almas or Yemeniyah has a section dedicated only to Ramadan recipes on her food blog.
There, for instance, we can learn how to cook a shurbah baydah, literally meaning white soup or the Adeni oatmeal soup in reference to the city of Aden.
While in the Yemeni capital Sana'a this soup is sweet, the Adeni variation is rather salty with curry and oatmeal. Copyrights reserved to Yemeniyah Blog
She says:
This is a staple during Ramadan. Very hearty soup, that is a meal in and of itself. In Sana’a they make it sweet and they add milk. But in Aden ours is very different and we make it either plain which we call  Shurbah Baydha which literally means “White Soup”  or we add a red sauce to it that we make with onions, tomatoes and spices and hence call it Shurbah Hamra meaning “Red Soup”.
You will need:
1) 1/2 pound of lamb cut into small pieces with bone in [you can also use chicken which will cut down the cooking time]
2) 2 cups of rolled oats [or you can use Old Fashioned Quaker Oats]
3) 3 sticks of cinnamon
4) 1/2 tblsp of peppercorns
5) 1/2 tsp of curry powder
6) 1/2 of a medium onion finely chopped
7) 1 small tomato finely chopped
8) Salt to taste
Katherine Abu Hadal, from the blog Sheba Yemeni Food’, shows us in this video how to make a Yemeni yogurt salad, which is spicy:
Fattah is a common main meal on a Yemeni table during Iftar. As explained in the blog “ Yemen Food” it is made of:
Fatta, meaning crushed or crumbs, is a sort of bread soup made with pieces of the Yemeni bread bits mixed with meat broth and cooked vegetables making it soggy and mushy. As flatbreads quickly tend to get stiff when exposed to air, it is indeed a way of using stale bread. Fatta can also be made as a dessert with sweet ingredients including dates and honey. In Yemen, fatta is a common meal during the month of Ramadan.
Katrin too shares with us the recipe of her own version on YouTube:
Another thing you are very likely to find on any table during Ramadan would be red meat. Try the lahma mahshoosha (lahma being meat in Arabic) using this recipe shared by Katherine:
First wash and separate the fat from the meat. Cut the meat into small pieces. Heat the fat (if there is not a lot then add butter) in a pot over medium heat until it melts.Then add the meat, onions, garlic, spices and salt. Close the pressure cooker and cook for approx. 20 minutes or until the meat is tender. If you use a regular cooking pot, then the time will be longer, about an hour or so.  NOTE: It is always necessary to use liquid with a pressure cooker, but in this case some juices will seep out of the meat to make enough liquid. You need to watch the cooker carefully to make sure all the liquid doesn’t evaporate because this will burn the meat.Once the meat is fully cooked and tender, then remove the pieces onto a pan, leaving the broth and onions in the pot. Broil the meat for about 10 minutes or until it is browned to your taste. Watch this carefully because the broiler can quickly turn the meat black. I leave the oven open to watch.
And here is the video for a better demonstration:
For dessert, you are spoiled for choice. You can, for instance, have a creamy bulghur (close to semolina) pudding; find a simple recipe on the blog Tried and True Eats. It is the sweet version of the shurbah baydah we mentioned at the beginning.
Combine water, bulghur, and salt in saucepan, bring to boil, and cook over high for 20 – 30 minutes until tender and most of the water has evaporated. Add milk and sugar. Simmer for 35 minutes or until thickened and bulghur is soft. If not soft, cover, reduce heat to low and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Place in serving bowls, put a small dallop of semn and honey and enjoy.
But if Yemenis are divided into many things including politics and religion (or at least some want to make it seem that way), there is one meal they all agree on, a typical Ramadan appetizer: sambosa, which is known worldwide as samosa or sambusek, and cooked in every corner of the planet differently. Here is the Yemeni way, as detailed step by step by the blog Yemen Kitchen:
The Yemeni sambosa recipe as posted on “Yemen Kitchen” blog
Sambosa recipe part 2
Sambosa recipe part 3
Sambosa recipe part 4
Finally, don't forget tea or coffee, especially since Yemen is famous for the drinks worldwide.
Alongside food also comes plenty of traditions and happiness among family and friends — something that Yemenis might be deprived of for the moment but which are meant to come back sooner or later. Wishing our Yemeni friends peace and happy times ahead.

author: Thalia Rahme


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Former Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal Dies at 75 · Global Voices
Faten Bushehri

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 5th March 2015 — Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal addresses reporters during a news conference with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. State Department photo/Handout — John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, travels to Saudi Arabia to discuss the latest developments on the Nuclear Talks and ISIS with the GCC and to meet with King Salman of Saudi Arabia to ease the fears of the Sunni country over Shia Iran. Photograph by Demotix Live News. Al-Faisal was proclaimed dead today. Copyright: Demotix
After 40 years of service, former Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal has died at the age of 75 today. He earned the title of the longest serving minister in the world in April when he was replaced by Adel al-Jubeir, who was the ambassador to Washington DC at the time.
Al-Faisal was a regional key player and an influential figure in Middle Eastern diplomacy, who had significant power in running the Kingdom's foreign affairs.
Al-Faisal was the main commander and chief that ran the country, which was evident in the latest leaked Saudi Cables. A large amount of the cables were addressed to him briefing him on little matters, and another large amount was signed by him corresponding with worldwide governments. He was indeed “micro-managing the foreign department“.
Lawyer Mohammed BELLO holds Al-Faisal accountable for the Syrian Crisis:
Former Saudi FM Prince Saud al-Faisal -Architect of the Conflict in #Syria is Dead. @AJENews http://t.co/gAXEkyk1Ne
— Mohammed BELLO (@Pastoralist1) July 9, 2015
The Arabic hashtag for Saud Al-Faisal has a thread of tweets mourning his death and remembering his achievements in the Kingdom.
And Iraqi Ali Hadi Al-Musawi describes Al-Faisal's meddling in Iraq as “destructive”:
Former Saudi foreign minister Saud al-Faisal is dead. Here's a glimpse into some of his destructive meddling in Iraq https://t.co/BSTEixOZbt
— Ali Hadi Al-Musawi (@ahmusawi) July 9, 2015
One popular Twitter account @heekmh, tweeted to its over 2 million followers a video of Al-Faisal's last public speech:
#سعود_الفيصل أخر كلمة قالها رحمه الله قبل استقالته من الوزارة لسنا دعاة حرب ..ولكن إن قرعت طبولها فنحنُ جاهزون لها pic.twitter.com/zNdyg6muVr
— أقوال وحكم الفلاسفة (@heekmh) July 9, 2015
Suad Al Faisal's last speech before he resigned from the ministry. We are not advocating for war but we are ready for when the drums toll
Many users tweeted identical texts, saying Saudi Arabia has not yet recovered from King Abdullah's death.
Nora Al Khalidi notes:
ما حسبنا حسَاب جرحيّن في عام 😔 اي وربك للحِين مآ برى جرح السعوديه رحمكم الله و اسكنكَم فسيح جناته #سعود_الفيصل pic.twitter.com/rO4VyDUCuq
— NoraAlkhaldi✨ (@Noraa1Nora) July 9, 2015
We have not accounted for two wounds in one year. Saudi Arabia's would has not yet healed.
Saudi Tareq Wasmi shares a collage of photographs of Al Faisal:
The world lost a great man. #RIP Prince Saud Al Faisal#Riyadh #SaudAlFaisal #saudi #ksa pic.twitter.com/yosgxuWCGM
— Tareq Wasmi ✨ 20K ✨ (@Tareq55557) July 9, 2015
And the German Embassy in Riyadh described Al Faisal as a “respected statesman” in a tweet:
Condolences on the passing away of HRH Prince #SaudAlFaisal, long-serving Foreign Minister & respected statesman #KSA pic.twitter.com/ox3gFxiT4y
— GermanyinKSA (@GermanyinKSA) July 9, 2015
Other Saudis, however, were not as forgiving in their comments. Gulf commentator/analyst and investigative journalist Ali AlAhmed wasn't too kind. In two tweets, he describes Al Faisal as a “racist” and a “Shia xenophobe”:
Former Saudi #Saudi foreign minister AlFaisal who  died today was a racist who refused 2 appoint a single black diplomat @KSAMOFA @JohnKerry
— Ali AlAhmed (@AliAlAhmed_en) July 9, 2015
Breaking: Former #Saudi  foreign minister & Shia xenophobe Saud AlFaisal dies.He refused 2 appoint a single Shia diplomat for 42 years @cnni
— Ali AlAhmed (@AliAlAhmed_en) July 9, 2015
Check out our coverage on the Saudi Cables here: WikiLeaks Reveals the #SaudiCables

author: Faten Bushehri


text:
Hong Kong’s Taxis Drivers Go Head-to-Head With Car-Hire Apps for Passengers · Global Voices
Sofus

Taxi driver protest helps promote Uber. Image from 852 post, an independent commentary platform in Hong Kong.
A group of taxi drivers launched a two-day slow-drive protest and urged the government to crack down on unlicensed car-hire businesses in Hong Kong last weekend. They threatened to hold a large-scale protest and block roads if the government fails to take actions.
In Hong Kong, unlicensed car-hire services have been operating in a legal grey area for a long time. For example, vans that provide luggage delivery service are often called to carry passengers to the airport. In recent years, the sector has expanded with the rise of mobile apps, including US-based Uber and Hong Kong-based GoGo Van, which connect would-be passengers to drivers.
The grievances of taxi drivers are by no means difficult to understand. The Hong Kong Taxi & PLB Association claims that taxi business has declined by 20% due to these unlicensed alternatives.
In the battle between Uber and taxis, the law seems to be on the taxis’ side. In Hong Kong, private vehicles that provide rental services to passengers must carry a license, otherwise the passengers would be unprotected by the third-party insurance if an accident occurs. Protesting taxi drivers are trying to pressure the government to tighten enforcement against unlicensed car-hire services.
Interestingly, their actions have helped promot ride-hailing mobile apps, in particular Uber. During the two-day protest, Uber was number one and two in app downloads in the Apple store and Google Play store for Hong Kong. Many netizens said they were unaware of the Uber app until the taxis drivers protested.
Many netizens also expressed discontent with taxi drivers. An anonymous columnist, “Ballroom in the South” from citizen media platform inmediahk.net, complained about some taxi drivers’ illegal practice of selecting and over-charging passengers:
這些明目張膽揀客的司機是香港之恥，遊客當然首當其衝，他們除了被拒載，還是會被濫收車資、兜路，但市民也一樣受了不少的士司機的劣質服務。每逢周末，中環一帶，所有的士司機都是冚旗揀客的，灣仔唔去、屯門又唔去？去黃泉路好不好？
Taxi drivers who blatantly choose passengers are a shame to Hong Kong. Tourists are, of course, the most vulnerable — in addition to rejecting tourists, taxi drivers take a longer route and charge a higher fee. But even Hong Kongers have to bear the poor service of the taxi drivers: every weekend, taxi drivers in Central District would cover their meters and pick passengers. They are reluctant to go to a [nearby] region like Wanchai and a region [that's too far away] like Tuen Mun. Why not go to hell?
The writer then praised Uber's service:
Uber好處太多，只是用信用卡找數一項，對乘客來說已是重大發明，香港的士到今時今日還不能以信用卡／八達通付款是一大落後。
Advantages of Uber abound. To name one, payment by credit card is a breakthrough to many passengers. Taxis in Hong Kong lag behind as payment by neither credit card nor [electronic payment service] Octopus is accepted.
HR Bear, a columnist of VJMedia, an independent online news site, also praise Uber's rating and complaint system:
uber既出現，就係迎合市場上呢個無可避免既大趨勢，call車方便，而且特別對於女仔黎講係感覺有保障，佢地提供投訴同埋評分渠道，如果有司機被投訴就會被「cut 單」，所以服務質素大致上有保證。
The rise of Uber is an inevitable trend given customers’ call for convenient and reliable service. For women, Uber proves to be more secure because it provides mechanisms for rating and complaints. If a driver is complained about, he or she will lose business from Uber, so the service is generally satisfactory.
Having examined the advantages of Uber, one valid question to ask is whether taxis will eventually be replaced completely in Hong Kong. In the foreseeable future, it's unlikely. For one thing, Uber is short of vehicles to satisfy all customers. For another thing, as people cannot hail Uber vehicles on the street, traditional taxis are more used when people are in a hurry.
What complicates the matter further is the legal side of the debate. If Uber is unlawfully providing services without a car-hire permit, what the government should do is either enforce the law or amend it. In this regard, we should all stay tuned to see which side will win the tug of war — taxi drivers or customers who call for better services.


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How Do You Bring Electricity to 620 Million People? · Global Voices
Ensia

Reliable electricity is coming to more of Sub-Saharan Africa. In this photo, a student studies in Zambia. Photo by Flickr user SolarAid Photos. CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0
This post by Tom Jackson was originally published on Ensia.com, a magazine that highlights international environmental solutions in action, and is republished here as part of a content-sharing agreement.
In South Africa, major cities are subject to regular power outages as electric utility Eskom periodically shuts down parts of its distribution system to take the pressure off the aging national grid. Whole areas of Cape Town and Johannesburg are without power for hours at a time, a “last resort” Eskom is forced to resort to on a regular basis.
In Nigeria, the country’s biggest wireless service provider, MTN, has said it may have to shut down its services temporarily due to a shortage of diesel, with electricity production at an all-time low.
Chronic shortages of power such as these affect the whole of sub-Saharan Africa. Almost 620 million people — 60 percent of the region’s population — lack access to electricity, according to the African Development Bank. Even those who in theory have access face very high prices for insufficient and unreliable supplies. Management consulting firm McKinsey goes so far as to say the region is “starved” of electricity.
This lack of power matters: Countries with electrification rates of less than 80 percent consistently have a lower per-capita gross domestic product than other countries, and more power is crucial if Africa is to meet basic development goals. But how the situation improves is important, too. Should electrification focus on off-grid or on-grid solutions? Should it prioritize fossil fuels or renewables? What is the appropriate role for governments, regional entities, the private sector and community initiatives?
How these questions are answered will play a big role in the long-term sustainability of the region’s emerging power infrastructure as well as — thanks to implications for fossil fuel use — the well-being of our entire planet. It also will help determine the extent to which sub-Saharan African nations can meet the greenhouse gas targets they set for themselves as part of the United Nations climate negotiations process.
Southern Africa leads the way in the region in terms of installed grid-based capacity with 58 gigawatts, though 46 GW of that is in South Africa. West Africa has 20 GW, East Africa has 8.1GW and Central Africa has 4GW — compared with 80GW in the United Kingdom and 1,060 GW in the United States. This lack of grid capacity plays a big part in the region’s electricity shortage.
Graphic by Ensia
Obtaining access to electricity for rural sub-Saharan Africans not currently connected to these grids will require decentralized solutions. According to the International Energy Agency, 315 million people in rural areas will gain access to electricity by 2040 — 220 million of these through off-grid and mini-grid solutions, which typically involve producing electricity locally using diesel generators or renewables.
Uvie Ugono, chief executive officer and co-founder of Solynta Energy, which installs solar power kiosks in Nigeria and Ghana, says decentralization is “absolutely the way to go” with the African energy supply, the “only viable alternative” given how poor and inefficient grid infrastructure is.
“It will make trillions of dollars of investment to get [grid infrastructure] up to scratch, with sufficient power generation to meet the needs of the continent,” he says. “Added to that is the terrible state of the transmission infrastructure, which is also not fit for purpose. It would be far easier to simply rebuild the entire infrastructure … than to attempt to repair and increase its capacity.”
“A grid system remains the first best option. Decentralized solutions are really a second-best option in the absence of the former. The distinction is crucial.” — Grant McDermott
Grant McDermott, a research scholar at the Norwegian School of Economics, sees the situation a little differently. Large, centralized grids still constitute the most efficient and cost-effective way of delivering electricity in modern economies, he says. Although deficient grid networks have constrained economic growth in many developing countries, that doesn’t mean “the decentralized alternative offers an intrinsically superior solution,” he says. “A grid system remains the first best option. Decentralized solutions are really a second-best option in the absence of the former. The distinction is crucial.”
Similar debates swirl around fossil fuels and renewables.
For all the talk of renewables, fossil fuels will remain vital.
Where power comes from today varies substantially from one country to another. For Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole, according to the World Bank, coal accounts for 38 percent of electricity supply; gas, 31 percent; hydroelectric, 18 percent; and oil, 10 percent. However, gas supplies 62 percent of Nigeria’s electricity, while Kenyan power comes 46 percent from hydroelectric and 19 percent from geothermal. In South Africa, coal accounts for a huge 94 percent of supply, with most of the rest from nuclear.
Graphic by Ensia
Fossil fuels will likely continue to play a major part in Africa’s energy future. Though coal is expected to decrease in overall importance in terms of its percentage contribution to power generation, there is potential for around 300 GW more capacity, according to the IEA. Sub-Saharan Africa also has potential for around 400 GW of gas-generated power. New oil and gas discoveries are still occurring regularly on both coasts. For all the talk of renewables, fossil fuels will remain vital.
That said, Tony Seba, a lecturer in entrepreneurship, disruption and clean energy at Stanford University in California predicts that by 2030 oil, gas, coal and nuclear will be redundant sources of energy in a world powered by renewables. Other experts are more circumspect, but it is clear renewables are set to be of increasing importance. Even without active incentives, McKinsey predicts more than 25 percent of total energy across Africa in 2040 will come from clean sources such as geothermal, hydro, solar and wind.
The IEA projects solar energy will power mini-grid and off-grid systems in rural areas in the region by 2040, and account for more than 30 percent of capacity additions between 2030 and 2040.
South Africa aptly demonstrates what could be the beginning of a subtle shift in this direction. Heavily reliant on coal, the government is fracking the semi-arid Karoo region in search of more fossil fuel-based capacity. But at the same time the government has also made significant investments — notably through its Renewable Energy Independent Power Produce Procurement, or REIPPP, process — that have landed it a spot on solar research firm Wiki-Solar’s list of top 10 solar-producing countries globally. An increase in nuclear capacity is also on the agenda.
The IEA projects solar energy will power mini-grid and off-grid systems in rural areas in the region by 2040, and account for more than 30 percent of capacity additions between 2030 and 2040. For Sachi DeCou, who runs East African solar firm Juabar, it is key to Africa’s energy future.
“It will not be the only solution, of course, but rather an important part of the energy ecosystem that will provide access to millions of people and businesses who currently lack consistent, reliable electricity,” she says.
The one certainty is that investment is required across sub-Saharan Africa, in all spheres. “If every country builds what it needs, we estimate that the region would require about $490 billion of capital for new generating capacity, plus another $345 billion for transmission and distribution,” McKinsey says.
[C]ombined investment in grid and off-grid, fossil fuels and renewables, could speed the electrification of Africa — if adequate collaboration exists.
There have been steps in the right direction, but research firms contend the pace is not fast enough. That said, reform programs are beginning to improve efficiency of grid provision, while governments are slowly removing barriers on investment, such as prohibitive regulatory regimes, capital exchange controls and duties. Grid-based generation capacity in Africa is likely to quadruple by 2040, according to the IEA.
Graphic by Ensia
Though the IEA predicts 950 million Africans will gain access to electricity by 2040, it says this is not enough: More than half a billion people will remain cut off. But the agency says this challenge is “surmountable,” with the benefits of success “immense.”
Research firms, individuals and companies working within the energy sector agree that the resources and solutions are there, and that combined investment in grid and off-grid, fossil fuels and renewables, could speed the electrification of Africa — if adequate collaboration exists. The report “Power, People, Planet: Seizing Africa’s Energy and Climate Opportunities,” released earlier this spring by former U.N. secretary general Kofi Annan’s Africa Progress Panel — calls for a tenfold increase in power generation and urges governments to start an “energy revolution” to connect the unconnected and meet the demands of consumers, businesses and investors. Regional “power pools” providing nations a way to share electricity across borders — of which the Southern Africa Power Pool is a reasonably strong example — could be game changers that save US$40 billion by opening the doors to more efficient use of various sources of electricity.
The electrification of Africa is a process that is ongoing, with the results set to be impressive. Slight tweaks in strategy could make sure the lights are turned on even more quickly — and, ultimately, more sustainably.  Code Embed v2.1    End of Code Embed code
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author: Ensia


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ISIS Hacks Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Website and Threatens its Director · Global Voices
Rami Alhames

A residential area of Aleppo, after a bombing in 2014. Photo by Freedom House via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
The ISIS cyber army has allegedly hacked the website of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights watchdog on July 8, 2015, and threatened its Syrian director, Rami Abdelrahman, for his role in documenting human rights abuses committed by all parties in the ongoing war in Syria.
The news was confirmed by Reuters. SITE Intel Group also reported the hack on the UK-based site:
“Cyber Army of the Khilafah” Purportedly Hacks Website of Syrian Observatory for Human Rights http://t.co/2KITr5dGvH pic.twitter.com/DIjNckAVPp
— SITE Intel Group (@siteintelgroup) July 8, 2015
The cyber attack was made by the group, affiliated with ISIS, which calls itself the Cyber Army of the Khilafah, or the self-proclaimed Caliphate, which covers large swaths of territory across Syria and Iraq.
Below is a screenshot of the site, which is now down.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights website is down, after being allegedly hacked by ISIS supporters

author: Rami Alhames


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Japan’s Cosplay Culture Helps a Global Community Experiment With Identity · Global Voices
N'Donna Russell

Image couresty Pixabay user nile | CC0 Public Domain
Over the past 30 years, cosplay (コスプレ) has grown from a small subculture to a worldwide cultural phenomenon. While for some, cosplay has become a hobby that borders on an obsession, for others the practice of cosplay is a way to try on new identities.
The term cosplay was created by combing and shortening the words “costume play.” Japanese writer Takahashi Nobuyuki is typically credited with creating the word after being inspired by the individuals in full costume who he encountered during a visit to the Los Angeles-based World Science Fiction Convention in 1984.
Once he returned to Japan, Takahashi went on to encourage members of Japan's burgeoning otaku community (fans who are passionate about a particular hobby, usually related to anime and manga) to take up the practice. Members answered the the call,and as a result, cosplay is now the most visual expression of expression of otaku culture, both within and outside of Japan.
There is even a website, Cure, which is devoted to Japan's cosplay community.
WorldCosplayのプロモーションビデオを公開中！ https://t.co/7TxOiIwItV
— コスプレサイトCure (@curecos) May 13, 2015
In an interview with Japanese news website Nippon.com, cosplayer and Cure web administrator Inui Tatsumi described the dynamics of this collaborative grassroots movement:
One of the charms of cosplay is that it’s a way for a common sensibility to be shared among friends or members of a particular group.
So it would be rather pointless for a person to do cosplay on his or her own. That collaborative aspect of cosplay has created a “give-and-take” relationship where everyone involved takes photos and videos of each other.
And now through SNS (social network services) sites it’s possible for such interaction to take place across Japan, not just in the big cities.
Tatsumi, who appears on the right in the photo below, has made cosplay an integral part of his life:
[INTERVIEW] Tatsumi Inui ~ Sin Izumi ~ KANAME☆ at Chara Expo 2015 http://t.co/F2n42DFHgz pic.twitter.com/QrYFbJfHbv — Kojacon Report (@Kojacon) June 29, 2015
Playing with identity seems to be a common theme among cosplayers. In his interview with Nippon.com, Tatsumi went on to say that around 80% of all female cosplayers have tried dressing up like a male character at some point.
Dressing up like a fictional character also seems to allow people to recharge emotionally, Tatsumi says. For those who have a hard time talking to other people, cosplay can offer them a chance to feel more confident in their personal interaction by taking on the role of someone other than themselves.
In an article for the website Kotaku, Patrick Macias, an editor for the magazine Otaku USA, said:
…in Japan, where the otaku spirit runs deep, I get the sense that you can't be as casual about your fandom, so there's a sort of perfectionist streak that runs through the cosplay community there. That means far less goofing off.
Indeed, some cosplayers can take their craft to what seem like extremes anywhere else:
エジプトで承太郎してる時、やたらめったらラクダに懐かれたんだぜ… 【速報→http://t.co/mQ37NX6dKe】 #エジプトコスプレの旅 #JOJO #egycon #anime #egypt #cosplay pic.twitter.com/VVTVsA8PQs
— コノミアキラ❎7/19坂クラ (@akiracos) February 11, 2015
When Jotoro was cosplaying in Egypt, a random camel snuck in a furtive snuggle.
For the Japanese cosplay community, the practice is as much about personal empowerment and fostering a supportive community as it is about doing the character justice.
Come down like a Phoenix. #Cosplay #StaticShock #DCcomics #graphicdesign #Blackcosplay #RETWEET @TITANSofCOSPLAY pic.twitter.com/Bq5crZztmn
— Avery Byrd (@acdramon) junio 28, 2015
Though oceans apart, a group of cosplayers in the West are also pushing for representation while finding their personal power through cosplay.
This past February, the 28 Days of Black Cosplay movement celebrated black cosplayers, cosplayers of color, and their ardent fans.
The movement swiftly gained popularity, as was even featured on some mainstream media sites.
COSPLAYERS. Who are we wearing to #AgeOfUltron next week?? I think I'm gonna be Cap <3 pic.twitter.com/wHjH9ckA47
— #JurassicChaka (@princessology) April 21, 2015
The grassroots movement was spearheaded by Chaka Cumberbatch, who cosplays under the name Princess Mentality. Cumberbatch is passionate about her craft and encourages others to participate, especially upstart black cosplayers, even in the face of pushback for the sake of “accuracy.”
In an interview with Global Voices, Cumberbatch said:
When I was a much younger nerd, we didn't have websites like Black Girl Nerds and movements like Black Comics Month or #28DaysOfBlackCosplay — all we had was our fan art and our fanfics where we had to insert ourselves into the worlds we loved so much, just to feel connected.
I think it's critically important for cosplayers of color to show up, speak up and be heard — because if that representation isn't there already, we will have to make it for ourselves.
Cumberbatch explained that the act of embodying a character through cosplay is one that transcends ethnic and cultural borders.
“I don't feel it's necessary to be the same race or come from the same culture of a character in order to have a personal connection,” she said. “I don't feel any less of a connection to the character just because I'm not Japanese.”
As a result, Cumberbatch said she strives to embody characters she is completely connected to, even right down to the color of the nail polish.
“For me, I have to really care about the character,” she said. “If I don't have a personal connection to the character or the series, I find that I'm just really not motivated or interested in finishing the costume.”
Mad respect for this awesome Scooby and the gang cosplay! #cosplay #cosplayer #blackcosplay #scoobydoo pic.twitter.com/1ETzO5DK39
— Cool Azz Cosplay (@coolazzcosplay) June 6, 2015
For her efforts, Cumberbatch has connected with other cosplayers around the world who continue to cosplay characters outside their race in spite of vocal opposition:
While it saddens me to know that the problems I've faced in America transcend beyond our borders, it's encouraging to hear that even in the face of that, the strength to rise above it is what brings so many of us together.
Although February is long gone, the #28DaysOfBlackCosplay movement continues, not only through the efforts Cumberbatch but also through the efforts other black cosplayers and cosplayers of color.
The frequently visited Tumblr website Cosplaying While Black features positive images of black cosplayers and cosplayers of colour, submitted by the users themselves.
Butterfly Samurai sums up her feelings in a post for the website “Nerdy but Flirty”:
This movement has further fostered a community within a larger cosplay community. The amount of black cosplayers who actually started due to seeing other black cosplayers is unimaginable. Therefore, 28 Days of Black Cosplay is also about shepherding those on the fringes into the fold and giving them the courage to cosplay themselves.

author: N'Donna Russell


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Moscow Street Musicians Tape Their Mouths Shut to Protest Police Pressure · Global Voices
Tanya Lokot

Single-person protest by a street musician on Arbat, Moscow, on July 2. Photo from Oleg Mokryakov on Facebook.
The Arbat street in downtown Moscow is known for its tourist attractions, including souvenir shops, art vendors, Russian restaurants, and the requisite Starbucks. Of course, the Arbat street musicians and performers also contribute to the atmosphere that attracts hordes of visitors to the pedestrian area. And now they're protesting for their right to perform in the street.
On June 28 those walking on Arbat could observe a group of 40 or so musicians protesting, and on July 2 and 8 single-person protests also took place, with musicians and other performers standing with their gear, their money boxes, their mouths and their hands bound with duct tape to symbolize “their voices being shut down.” Many RuNet users documented the protests on social media.
На Арбате музыканты проводят одиночные пикеты против незаконных Задержаний полицией pic.twitter.com/ytkvqiZngd
— Alexander M (@nesvetit) July 2, 2015
On Arbat musicians are holding single-person pickets against illegal police detentions.
The musicians’ main motivation for staging the protests is the rise in police detentions and fines, which they believe have no legal grounds. Oleg Mokryakov, a leader of one of the music collectives playing on Arbat, wrote on Facebook that with their actions, the musicians want to draw the attention of the public and the local government to the issue. Mokryakov, who uses his Facebook page to document the detentions across Moscow, posted a handful of photos from the protests.
Полиция бросается на артистов, отвозит их в отделения, конфисковывает инструменты, выписывает повестки в суды, которые приговаривают их к огромным штрафам по разнообразным статьям, на какую только хватит фантазии (обычно 10000 рублей за устройство несанкционированного собрания зрителей).
Police is attacking artists, taking them to police stations, confiscating their instruments, giving them court summons, and the courts then appoint huge fines based on various articles, depending on their imagination (usually 10,000 rubles for organizing an unsanctioned gathering of spectators).
Mokryakov promised the protests would continue and become “more creative” until those who abused their powers were held accountable.
Организатор пикета Олег Мокряков рассказал про обещания депутата Капкова о легализации уличных музыкантов. pic.twitter.com/mTtX5VWRec
— DoubleDiez (@DoubleDiez) July 2, 2015
Picket organizer Oleg Mokryakov recounted the promises of deputy Kapkov [former head of Moscow's department of culture] about legalizing street musicians.
Moscow residents seem to be sympathetic to the artists’ cause, both in their responses to the mainstream media and online. Journalist Yury Saprykin told Echo of Moscow radio station that he considers street performers to be “a natural adornment of the urban environment” and said that “loud music on the city streets” was “no cause for arrests.”
Арбатские музыканты против, чтобы их прогоняли. И правильно, Арбат без музыки – ничто #арбат pic.twitter.com/lxm2b9AkAA
— Ksenia Davydova (@xndvdv) July 2, 2015
Arbat musicians are against being kicked out. And they're right, Arbat is nothing without music.
Other Twitter users questioned the unequivocal support for the buskers, and wondered why they deserved special treatment.
Те самые музыканты и артисты, что не платят налоги? Может в этом причина?  #Москва #Арбат #налоги https://t.co/Nadz5pFk4e
— Роман Бибеа (@bromtula) June 29, 2015
Are these the same musicians and artists who don't pay their taxes? Maybe that's the reason [for detentions]?
While the musicians on Arbat vow to continue their struggle, the Moscow authorities have seemingly reacted to the intitial protests. Aleksandr Kibovsky, head of Moscow's department of culture, spoke out in support of the idea of creating a system of patents for street performers, Slon reports. The patents, currently being developed by the department and a committee in the Moscow Duma, would allow to spread the musicians evenly across Moscow's districts, and the fees from the patents would flow back into the city budget. It is still unclear how the proposed patent system would work and whether it would mitigate the threat of “extralegal” police detentions.
The unofficial protest leader Oleg Mokryakov applauded the city authorities’ decision to address the artists’ demands, but pointed to the continuing police pressure against them, with several musicians detained in various parts of Moscow on the very day the authorities were discussing their plight.
Мы не примем подачек в виде разговоров о “диалоге”!
Мы требуем, чтобы полиция перестала приставать к музыкантам, художникам и другим представителям уличного искусства, выполняя уже существующие законы, уважая конституционные свободы.
We won't accept handouts in the form of discussions of a “dialogue”!
We demand that the police stop harassing the musicians, artists and other representatives of street art, abiding by the existing laws and respecting constitutional freedoms.
Single-person protests on Arbat. Poster says “Police, hands off the music of the streets!” Photo from Oleg Mokryakov on Facebook.

author: Tanya Lokot


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Bangladesh Activists Have Little Faith in Blogger Murder Investigations · Global Voices
Probir Bidhan

Activists demonstrate before the National Press Club in Bangladesh, condemning the murder of writer and blogger Avijit Roy. Image by Sourav Lasker, copyright Demotix (1/3/2015)
Four secular Bangladeshi writers have been killed since November of 2014: Rajshahi University professor AKM Shafiul Islam, and writers Avijit Roy, Oyasiqur Rahman Babu and Ananta Bijoy Das.
At least a dozen more have been killed and scores of others attacked or threatened with death for their progressive and secular views, since massive protests erupted in 2013 calling for Islamist parties to be banned. The protesters also demanded that war criminals including some Islamist politicians be hanged for war crimes committed in 1971. A war crimes court handed down a series of death sentences to a number of people including a few Islamist leaders later that year.
All of the murdered bloggers or activists had one thing in common: they openly opposed Bangladesh's increasingly unpopular largest Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, and similar communal Islamist organisations, who have been fighting a losing battle for a more conservative, religion-based legal regime in the country since 1971 when the country first won independence from Pakistan. In 2013, Bangladesh's Supreme Court declared the Jamaat illegal, blocking it from contesting in the country's elections.
Law enforcement and the judiciary have failed to adequately investigate the recent killings, some of which have happened with apparent blessings from international militant groups like al-Qaeda.
Bangladesh is a non-religious parliamentary democracy, which means there is no Sharia or blasphemy law. People who identify as atheists have the same rights as other citizens. However, under Section 295A of Bangladesh's Penal Code (1860), any person who has a “deliberate” or “malicious” intention of “hurting religious sentiments” is liable to imprisonment. While Bangladesh's constitution has recognised and protected the right to secularism since 2011, it also allows religion-based politics and identifies Islam as its state religion. Government inaction and police ineffectiveness have also given Islamist groups a certain amount of impunity.
Several militant leaders and field-level workers were arrested in a crackdown recently, including an alleged leader of Al-Qaeda's branch in the region. Al-Qaeda in South Asia has claimed responsibility for the murder of several secular bloggers in Bangladesh this year, including Mukto-Mona blog (free-thinker) founder Avijit Roy.
Law enforcers have also identified new militant organizations that are campaigning against progressive cultural norms to justify the need for Islamic revolution in this state. But the cases of the bloggers and professor mentioned above have scarcely seen progress. Police last week claimed to have identified seven suspected killers of Avijit, saying that their photos had been verified by the wife of the slain blogger, but Mukto-Mona blog refuted the claim on Thursday.
Global Voices contacted several secular bloggers and online activists to know their views regarding the recent killings, investigation process and possible future plan of the militant groups operating in the country. We received responses from four individuals. Several others refrained from making any comment out of fear of reprisal.
History says that all these attacks against atheists, Hindus, etc. are the result of materialistic rather than religious issues. The hatred against atheism is not new in Bangladesh, but the attacks on atheists with machetes is definitely something new. The killers are probably motivated by the political powers and their interests, whether among the ruling coalition or the opposition.
There has been no satisfactory development in probing the killings of so-called atheists since the attack on Prof. Humayun Azad in 2004. The killers of Avijit Roy have not been identified or arrested; we do not know about the masterminds in Oyasiqur murder…it seems that the law enforcers are not interested…For this, even the coordinators like Redwanul Azad Rana or Masum (alleged gang leader behind attack on Oyasiqur) [have not been] arrested yet.
Considering the previous incidents, I am not hopeful that the planners and their patrons [will] be identified and held. According to their claims, the Islamist organisations want to establish Shariah law. They attract ordinary Muslims by making false promises to claim that Islamic rule will end oppression and discrimination against the common people. Their activities have no relation with the religion.
There is contradiction in the words and the deeds of the government. They talk about battling the extremists but also use religion for their own political advantage. The government took no step to implement secular and scientific curricula in all primary schools and madrassas.
It is widely alleged, truly, that these killings are the evident result of callousness of the law enforcers and the government who are taking the country towards backward. These are not ordinary killings or violence, but acts of some organised criminals with a particular motive. Militants have been given scopes to spread under the incumbent government though many developed countries had warned Bangladesh and also pledged to assist in combating militancy. The government is not carrying out [the] probe properly. [It seems to understand] so-called power politics only. I am aggrieved as well as frustrated seeing no [awareness of] reality in [the] speeches and actions of this developing country.
Arifur Rahman
Killing secular writers is not just another murder. There is a huge group working from behind the [scenes]. I doubt whether the government wants to bring them to book or enforce the laws. Look at Avijit murder case probe; police [found] no clue in several months!
It is not tough to understand the aim [of fundamentalist groups]. You can easily realise their agenda while going through the 13-point demands put forward by Hefazat-e-Islam and the 10 points declared by Olama League. Bangladesh is a victim of distorted Islam introduced by Saudi Wahabi and Pakistani Moududi followers. This Islam is deeply rooted in the country's economy, thanks to Jamaat-e-Islami and the Saudi Sheikhs. It is not possible to save Bangladesh until we have moral strength and strong resolve to establish secularism. The Wahabi militants want to change.
What the extremists are trained to do [kill people], they will keep doing. They will perhaps find new ways to silence opposition. If we must take a lesson from Boko Haram or Al Shabab, we have to protect our secular institutions, especially educational ones, which are their target.
The government hasn't been successful in combating extremism because there are sympathisers of the extremists lurking under government institutions. The technologically-backward government organisations cannot monitor all their [employees’ communications] and they have not tried to [keep] the madrasas of Chittagong and Rajshahi under their control. Some of these madrassas are outside the control of the government. So such inaction from the government does not [elicit] a positive response.
Like many others, I am frustrated over the investigation process, though this is nothing new. The authorities have remained mum deliberately as they do not want enlightened people. They prefer fundamentalists who would help the government stay in power for long. Militants have supporters in the administration. Or else the militant gang would not be able to kill Oyasiqur on March 30 after one of their accomplices was arrested with arms on March 24. How could a killer like Redwanul Azad Rana flee the country when we have CCTV cameras everywhere? What are the investigators doing then? I doubt whether they are working on the cases at all.
Farazana Kabir Khan
I do not think they will arrest the culprits even if they are able to. This is not only happening in the case of atheists. Mystery behind the cases over murders of Old Dhaka pir and Maulana Faruqi allegedly by the radical Islamists is yet to be resolved.
[Fundamentalist groups] want to capture power and establish Shariah law in the country. They want to diminish secularism, one of the principles of independent Bangladesh, and make it a 100% Muslim country from the existing 92%. This conspiracy is on since long.
Why are they attacking bloggers? They are afraid of the power of pens and knowledge. Only blind belief can make someone blind. A progressive person, for example Avijit Roy, proves through writings how the virus of belief is destroying their humane thoughts and obstructing people from being enlightened. That is why they are scared of the pen. They do not need enlightened people, rather they need blind believers who pray to an imaginary power disregarding the theory of evolution.
If we silence ourselves, then it will be not far when we will reminisce about the history of secularism and independence with old pictures like Afghanistan. There will be no cultural festival and they will consolidate their power at the helm for a long period.
Watching the reactions of the government, I think that they are silently allowing the activities of the extremists. This is the first step to implement the Madinah declaration. But they are not realising that this is against the principles of our independence. In 1971 we didn't even consider who is Muslim, who is not.
Nirjhar Mazumder
I am very much frustrated over the investigation process. They cannot arrest the killers since there are many associates and sympathisers of the radicals in the law enforcement agencies. These Islamists want to hit the persistent social values of Bangladesh, especially the culture of coexistence of different religions and cultures. They want to popularise extremist views among the ordinary Muslims through their own explanations. Capturing state power is their key target.
They are carrying out offensives against the bloggers because the Internet penetration is still low in the country and they want to silence freedom of speech that exposes their narratives and political message. Bloggers with secular ideologies are threats to these people with extreme ideologies as they are aware of their political stance and motives. Bloggers, although less in numbers, are playing a role in the politics with their writings.
The government's stand on extremism can be explained in two ways: either they may have no intention to stop them or they are not giving importance to the rise of extremism. The nature of investigations and not considering the fact that extremism is spread at grassroots level is worth mentioning. Whatever the reason behind this is very frustrating.

author: Probir Bidhan


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Legalizing the Great Firewall: China’s New Cyber Security Law Would Codify Censorship, Shutdowns · Global Voices
Jennifer Zhang

China released the draft of cyber security law on 6 July. Remix image.
Many Internet users around the world are aware of the censorship regime of the Chinese government — this is not a well-kept secret. Yet Chinese government officials have denied on many occasions the government's role in filtering and blocking content from overseas web platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. Among the other things, this means that there is actually no channel by which citizens or businesses can challenge government censorship online. One can pursue legal action against Internet service providers, as in the court case against China Unicom for its service failure to access Google's online platform, but not against the government itself.
A new cyber security draft law may change this. The law would legalize China’s use of the Great Firewall to block access to information that authorities say violates local law, as part of an effort to make cyberspace a more “safe and harmonious” place for Chinese citizens and their government.
China has actively laid claim to “Internet sovereignty” since the 18th Congress of the Communist Party of China where Internet control dominated the central leadership’s agenda. But the draft law would codify previously scattered Internet regulations and solidify the status of the Cyberspace Administration as the leading government body making and enforcing policy for the Internet.
Article 43 of the draft states that the cyberspace administration and relevant departments shall require “relevant organizations” to adopt technological and other necessary measures to block the transmission of information that is prohibited by Chinese law. But the draft law does not specify any existing channel for citizen to appeal to authorities’ decisions concerning the blocking of content.
The draft also rationalises Internet shutdown tactics that were deployed during the Xinjiang riot of 2009. Article 50 of the draft stipulates that in order to protect national security and public order, and respond to major social security incidents, the State Council, or the governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities with approval by the State Council, may take temporary measures with regard to Internet communication in certain regions, such as restricting it.
The law would oblige Internet service providers and platforms to actively monitor user activity and delete content that is forbidden by law in order to prevent that information from spreading (Article 40). Under current practice, both Internet service providers and content service providers are required to designate some personnel to handling censorship notices issued by government and party authorities, and to implement these requests round the clock. The draft law explicitly states that failure to prevent illegal information from spreading will result in punishment including warning, fines and even forced closures (Article 57). Law enforcement can also enlist network operators’ help for national security and criminal detection purposes (Article 23).
The draft also duplicates the stringent requirements on the real name registration system of the NPCSC's 2012 Decision on Strengthening Network Information Protection, according to Clement Chen, a post-doctoral fellow at Hong Kong University's Faculty of Law. Article 20 of the draft states that network operators shall require users to provide real identity information when signing service agreements to ensure the traceability of their Internet activities and content. If users do not provide real identity information, network operators must deny them the relevant services. Chen adds that while the draft imposes obligations to protect privacy on the ISPs, it does not impose equally comprehensive obligations on public authorities in relation to their collection and processing of personal information within the broad scope of ‘Internet security maintenance’.
The Cyberspace Administration, or the Office of the Central Leading Group for Cyberspace Affairs, was set up in 2013 with the aim of enhancing China’s cyber security and informatisation strategies. Chinese President Xi Jinping has since served as its chairman and on many occasions stressed cyber security and informatisation are significant strategic issues that are critical to national security and development.
The draft law may cement the Cyberspace Administration’s central leadership in administering, coordinating and supervising cyberspace affairs, from monitoring and censoring online content to evaluating and authorising the overseas storage and transfer of Chinese citizens’ personal information (Article 31). However, with the enhancement and expansion of the Cyberspace Administration’s role, it is unclear whether it will be subject to any form of supervision or judicial oversight.
The cyber security law may be seen as China’s official response to both domestic and foreign criticisms of the current chaotic and inefficient Internet control mechanism. By codifying the Internet control policies and concentrating the power to one body, China is likely to exert more aggressive posture with more efficiency in governing the domestic cyberspace.
Jennifer Zhang is an internet researcher at Journalism and Media Studies Centre, the University of Hong Kong.

author: Jennifer Zhang