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Tunisian Police Use Shotgun Shells Against Protesters · Global Voices
Afef Abrougui

Around 265 people were injured on Wednesday during a second day of clashes between security forces and protesters in Siliana, North-West of Tunisia. Clashes started on November 27, when residents of Siliana, an impoverished interior region, staged a general strike and took to the street to call for the departure of the local governor, demand regional development and ask for the release of protesters arrested during another unrest which took place last April.
What highlighted these clashes was the use of shotgun shells by police against protesters. Ali Laarayedh, the Tunisian Minister of Interior, confirmed the police use of shotgun shells to “face destruction and vandalism acts”, he declared yesterday during a televised interview broadcast on state owned Al-Wataniay TV 1.
On November 28, Sami Ben Gharbia reported [ar] on Nawaat.org :
حسب التقارير المصورة و المكتوبة للإحتجاجات التي شهدتها مدينة سليانة البارحة تأكد خبر سقوط العديد من الجرحى جراء استعمال سلاح جديد من قبل قوى «الأمن» ل «احتواء المظاهرات» و الإحتجاجات الإجتماعية و الإقتصادية. و على ما يبدو فإن أمن السيد وزير الداخلية علي العريض بصدد استعمال سلاح جديد في تونس كان قد تم التنديد باستخدامه دوليا خاصة في البحرين
According to the visual and written reports on yesterday's protests in Siliana, several injuries were registered as a result of the use of a new weapon by the security forces, in an attempt to “contain” the socio-economic protests. It seems that the police of Minister of Interior Ali Laarayedh, are deploying a new weapon in Tunisia, whose use brought international condemnation especially in Bahrain.
Ben Gharbia adds:
وقد جاءت شهادات المواطنين و الأطباء لتؤكد خبر أستخدام قوات الأمن التونسي بسليانة لبنادق الصيد لتفريق المتظاهرين و إصابة البعض بشظايا رصاصها. إسم السلاح المستعمل في البحرين و الذي يبدو أنه استعمل هو أو شبيهه في تونس هو “الشوزن“. و هو عبارةعن بنادق للصيد ذات الرصاص المتشظي أو الانشطار ش
The testimonies of citizens and doctors came to confirm that Tunisian security forces used hunting rifles in Siliana to disperse protesters and wounded some of them with bullet pellets. The name of the weapon used in Bahrain, which is probably the same the similar of what is used in Tunisia is called “shotgun“. Shotgun is a hunting rifle.
Two wounded young men by Italian made shotguns: photo via Nawaat
Nawaat also reported that this type of firearm, deployed by police forces in Siliana, was made by an Italian company called Nobel Sport. Ben Gharbia posted the contact details of this company and made a call to Tunisian citizens to exercise pressure on this company to stop exporting such weapons to Tunisia.
The award-winning blog also published a Youtube video of injured persons arriving from Siliana to a Tunis-based ophthalmology clinic to get treatment after they were wounded in their eyes [Warning: Graphic content]:
The use of shotgun shells shocked and outraged Tunisian netizens. Tounsiahourra tweeted [ar]:
هل يعلم الحقوقي المرزوقي الذي تسلم قبل يومين جائزة تشاتام هاوس ان شبابا فقدوا البصر في سليانة لأن الأمن اطلق رصاص الرش في عيونهم ؟ #Siliana
Does the rights activist Marzouki [Tunisia President], who two days ago was awarded the Chatham House prize [en], know that young men who have lost their sight due to shotgun shells fired by police?
Tunisian journalist Nadia Haddaoui quotes [fr] Amnesty:
“La #chevrotine peut provoquer traumatismes majeurs et des décès si elle est tirée à faible distance” #Amnesty #Egypte #Bahrein #Siliana
“shotgun shell could lead to major trauma and death if fired from a short distance”
Selim  raises a major question [fr]:
Comment ont-ils juste pu accepter d'utiliser ce type de munitions contre les tunisiens?? Blessures graves, risque d'aveuglement.. #siliana
How could they accept to use such type of ammunition against Tunisians?? serious injuries, and lost of sight risks…#Siliana
Editor-in-chief of Nawaat.org, Malek Kahdhraoui said that last June police used the same type of ammunition against demonstrators protesting against what they deemed as a “blasphemous” art exhibtion:
L'utilisat° des armes à grenaille pr la police n'est pas nouvelle. Au mois 2juin +eurs 10énes de blessés par ces armes http://nawaat.org/portail/2012/0
The use of shotgun shells by police is not new. In June, several dozens of injuries due to these weapons were registered http://nawaat.org/portail/2012/0
France24 journalist David Thomson was also injured by shotgun shells. He tweeted a picture of his injured leg:
#Tunisie et me voici à l'hôpital de #Siliana blessé par un tir de chevrotines mais ça va, il y a des blessés graves pic.twitter.com/SJesLq5Z
Here I am in #Siliana hospital wounded by a shotgun shell, but I am fine, there are serious injuries pic.twitter.com/SJesLq5Z
The general strike in Siliana continues. Meanwhile, protests in other regions of the country were staged to condemn police violence and stand in solidarity with Siliana.

author: Afef Abrougui


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Singapore: Bus Drivers Participate in “Illegal Strike” · Global Voices
Kirsten Han

Last Monday, November 26, 2012, about 171 Chinese bus drivers from SMRT – a major public transport provider in Singapore – went on strike to protest the salary discrepancy between Chinese and Malaysian bus drivers working for the company. Malaysian drivers are paid S$1,400 a month with a month's bonus, Chinese drivers are paid S$1,075 a month without bonus for the first two years. Other complaints included the change from a five-day to six-day work week and poor living conditions.
Negotiations took place with SMRT management Monday afternoon, and the drivers agreed to return to work the next day. However, 88 workers continued the strike on Tuesday, saying that Monday's agreement of a $25 monthly increase was not enough.
SMRT Bus. Photo from Flickr page of TIB1218R used under CC License
The strike was denounced by Acting Minister of Manpower Tan Chuan Jin as “illegal”, a statement that was backed up by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), who added, “It is important to send a clear signal to all workers that as a nation ruled by law, there are proper ways of dealing with issues and disagreement.”
Until the Ministry of Manpower had labelled it a strike, the mainstream media had refused to use the word in their coverage, prompting Twitter users to find other euphemisms:
@mrbrown: Alternative names for a Singapore#busstrike : Co-ordinated Smoke Break
This highlights the decreasing influence of the unions: in this day and age of the internet, if the union is perceived to be pro-employer, the workers always have the option of strengthening their bargaining position by banding together and approaching the press.
NTUC has increasingly started turning to snazzy marketing to increase it’s membership base and the list of benefits of membership include, according to it’s website: “Health & Living, Lifestyle & Entertainment, Retail Therapy, Services & Development, Wine & Dine”.
Strangely enough, for a congress of unions aiming to represent the interest of workers, “Participation in a platform to fight for pay and working conditions” is not one of the benefits  of membership.
Joshua Chiang disagrees with the mainstream portrayal of the strikers as holding the public hostage by denying “essential services”:
So here we have a situation where a previously-government-owned-but-now-private enterprise providing a NATIONAL-LEVEL essential service engaging vast numbers of foreign workers (thanks to our very liberal immigration policies), who are nonetheless lacking in representation (thanks to our labor laws) who have to go on strike to make their grievances known (and let's face it, it works) and therefore causing incovenience to commuters.
And they have the nerve to single the workers out as hostage-takers.
Ravi Philemon argues that the strike shows that Singapore cannot depend on foreign workers:
The strike by SMRT's PRC drivers tells us that we cannot be overly reliant on foreigners for our essential services. We have to attract more Singaporean drivers to drive our buses, and for that they must be offered a competitive salary, and their working hours has got to be structured in such a way that they too can enjoy work-life balance.
Aresha expresses her disappointment with fellow Singaporeans for condemning the strikers:
I was really proud at first of being Singaporean when I saw this. It was wonderful to see temporary workers come together against all odds to stand up for a cause they all believed in…
…until I saw words like ‘PRC‘, ‘China‘, ‘ah tiong‘ ‘no respect for the law‘, ‘fine them‘ and ‘send them back‘ ‘being said – entirely missing the point of the very valid cause that the workers were trying stand up to, while unintentionally  breaking the law by not serving the 14 day pre-strike notice.
I felt embarrassed about being a Singaporean seeing the way most Singaporeans reacted on newsfeeds and comments… which made me realise that the recent survey by Gallup that found Singapore to be the most emotionless society probably wasn’t that far off from the truth. Emotionless of course to causes that ‘aren’t their business‘.
The cause was very worthy. It was a massive deal.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Kirsten Han


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Syria Plunges Into Total Info Darkness · Global Voices
Hisham Almiraat

This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011/12.
On Thursday, the US-based internet connectivity monitoring firm, Renesys, reported that internet was cut off in Syria. Starting at 10.26am GMT on Thursday, the company reported that all of Syria's 84 IP address blocks were inaccessible, “effectively removing the country from the Internet.”
Renesys also posted the following graph which seems to show a nationwide total internet shutdown:
Image courtesy of Renesys
Renesys’ observation was later corroborated by Akamai, a major internet monitoring company, which posted a similar graph indicating a complete collapse of internet connectivity on Thursday morning.
Google Transparency Report, a tool that provides information about traffic to Google services from around the world, indicates a collapse in the use of all of its services in Syria, starting at 13:36 GMT on Thursday.
Scattered reports on Twitter from activists and Syrian expats unable to reach friends and loved ones inside the country also suggested a major disruption of mobile phone and landline networks.
Leila Nachawati Rego, a Syrian-Spanish expat, tweets:
Trying to call my family in Damascus for hours now. Internet and all communications shut down. Help us trend #InternetCutinSyria.
Reuters reported that on Thursday activists were resorting to satellite phones to make contact with the outside world.
Who pulled the plug?
Many seem to believe that the outage is a deliberate effort on the part of the Syrian government to cut the country off the internet.
Lama Bashor tweets :
The #InternetCutInSyria could mean one of 2 things: Either a bad sign of things to come or a regime that has completely run out of moves.
The Syrian Government has resorted to internet blackout tactics in the past. Last September, the internet was cut off focal fighting areas like Aleppo for 10 days as regime forces intensified their attacks against rebel forces in the city. This is, however, the first time the entire country is plunged into a near total information darkness.
“Terrorists,” not the state, were responsible for the countrywide Internet outage on Thursday, Syria's minister of information is said to have told al-Ikhbariya, a Syrian state-owned TV station. A claim swiftly rejected by experts. “In order for a whole-country outage, all […] cables would have had to been cut simultaneously. That is unlikely to have happened,” comments CloudFlare, a website specialized in internet security and performance.
Any cracks in the wall?
As during the Egyptian revolution in early 2011, when the deposed regime decided to shut down the entire internet in an effort to take the steam out of the growing popular uprising, online activists rushed to provide alternate ways to connect to the global network. Telecomix, a hacktivist group, offers dialup numbers and access codes as tweeted by Anonymous earlier on Thursday:
Dial up access #Syria: +46850009990 +492317299993 +4953160941030 user:telecomix pw:telecomix OR +33172890150 login:toto pw:toto
Many international flights in and out of Syria were reportedly cancelled as fighting erupted near the Damascus airport area fueling speculations that the regime may be preparing for a major offensive against rebel forces.
Later on Thursday afternoon Syrian state TV announced the Damascus airport road was “secured” following major fighting.
For recent updates, please follow our coverage page of the Syrian revolution, and #internetcutinsyria and #syriablackout on Twitter with comments related to today’s internet blackout.
This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011/12.

author: Hisham Almiraat


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Tajik Official Blocks Facebook and Summons its CEO · Global Voices
Musharraf

Since November 26, more than 41,000 Facebook users in Tajikistan have not been able to access the social-network site. For the second time over the last ten months, Tajik authorities ordered that the country's internet providers and mobile operators block access to Facebook for ‘technical reasons’.
Yet, as Farkhod commenting on blogiston.tj suggests [ru]:
Самое страшное не то, что заблокировали Фейсбук, а то, как это объяснили…
The worst thing is not the fact that Facebook has been blocked, but the was this has been explained…
Speaking to media, head of the state-run communications service Beg Zukhurov alleged that many “academics, doctors, and important cultural figures” had asked him to block the social-media site because of the “filth and slander” it contains. He also suggested [ru] that some Facebook users earned from 5,000 US$ to 10,000$ by posting “negative” and “insulting” comments about Tajik leadership.
Beg Zukhurov, the chief of Tajikistan's state-run telecommunications agency. Still frame from YouTube video uploaded August 17, 2012, by yandexdisk.
Summoning Zuckerberg
But what has led many internet users to ridicule Zukhurov is his announcement that he wanted Facebook's founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to arrive in Tajikistan. According to BBC Russian Service, Zukhurov said [ru]:
Вообще хозяин у этого Facebook есть или нет? Он не может приехать в Таджикистан? Я бы с ним в дни приема встретился. Если у него нет времени, можно поговорить с кем-то из его помощников.
Does this Facebook have an owner or not? Could he come to Tajikistan? I would meet with him during my office hours. If he doesn't have time, I could meet with one of his assistants.
News Agency Asia-PLUS then reported [ru] that Zukhurov's office hours when Zuckerberg or his assistants could meet with him are from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays.
Netizens have responded with a wave of humorous comments and angry remarks. For example, blogger Iskandar Zarafshoni wrote [ru]:
Все таки лучше чтобы Цукерберг Зухурова послушал и приехал к нему на встречу как можно быстрее. Ато он разозлится и вызовет на встречу Бараку Обаму за то что он не контролирует фейсбук. Барак может придти к Захарову навстречу в приемные дни )))
It is better for Zuckerberg to do as requested and come to meet with Zukurov as soon as possible. Otherwise, he [Zukhurov] might get angry and summon Barack Obama for not controlling Facebook. Barack [Obama] can come to meet Zukhurov during his office hours )))
Ridiculing the official
In addition to ridiculing Zukhurov's lack of knowledge about what Facebook is and his decision to summon Zuckerberg, Tajik netizens have also been shocked by the official's inability to speak properly. His interview [tj] on Radio Ozodi is a mix of Russian and Tajik words that does not sound anything close to how other officials normally speak on record.
Blogger Shukufa writes [ru]:
Он же разговаривает как человек, который даже в школу никогда не ходил. Я никогда не думала, что чиновник на такой высокой государственной должности может ТАК разговаривать – на уровне 10-летнего мальчика, продающего “салафан” на базаре.
He speaks like a person who didn't go to school. I would have never thought that an official holding such a senior government post could speak THIS WAY – just like a 10-year-old boy selling plastic bags on a market.
She then adds [ru]:
То, что Бег клоун – это всем понятно. Но КАК такой человек, не умеющий говорить и скрывать свою придурковатость, попал на рыководящую правительственную должность? Он ведь позорит не только себя, но и все правительство Таджикистана. Да что там правительство – ВСЮ СТРАНУ!
That Beg [Zukhurov] is a clown is clear to everyone. But HOW could such an individual who cannot speak properly or hide his foolishness end up having a managerial job in the government? He is not only disgracing himself, he is also disgracing the entire government of Tajikistan. And leaving the government aside, [he disgraces] THE WHOLE COUNTRY!
Blogger, Teocrat has pointed out [ru] that there are several presidential decrees that Zukhurov disobeyed by ordering Facebook blocked. Another Tajik blogger, KHURRSHED, has shared [ru] different techniques that can be used to access Facebook despite the block.
Meanwhile, three days after blocking the social network, Zukhurov told [tj] journalists today that a group of “volunteers” monitoring internet asked him to keep Facebook closed. Global Voices Online reported in July that Zukhurov was planning to create a watchdog organization to monitor online publications and websites for “insulting” and “slanderous” content. Apparently, such an organization has been created and is functioning in Tajikistan now. Or this is what the official wants Tajiks to believe.

author: Musharraf


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Ten Years after Attempt on Ex-President’s Life, Rumors Linger in Turkmenistan · Global Voices
Anna Fergana

Just over a decade ago, Turkmen state media reported an attempt on the life of President Saparmurmat Niyazov, better known to the world as Turkmenbashi, or the Father of the Turkmen. Despite the fact that Niyazov survived the attempt, dying four years later, it remains a talking point in a country where media remains tightly controlled and rumours provide one of the few sources of alternative information.
Widely considered a colourless bureaucrat at the time he swore his presidential oath in 1991, one of Niyazov's most lauded achievements remains the construction of a rotating gold statue of himself in the country's white marble capital of Ashgabat. In 2004 he famously told Turkmen citizens to chew on bones in order to strengthen their teeth. The man that succeeded him following his death in 2006, Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, is a former dentist.
The golden statue of Turkmenbashi in Ashgabat. Still frame from YouTube video ‘President for Life’ uploaded May 21, 2012, by journeymanpictures.
‘Suddenly he was gone…’
The eventual death of the tyrant in December 2006 evoked mixed reactions. Central Asian blogger Bektour recalled [ru] a phone call he made to a Turkmen friend:
Ничто не вечно. Позабавил сегодня телефонный разговор с одной знакомой туркменкой, которая живёт в Бишкеке. Имени, по понятным причинам, называть не буду.
– Алло, привет. Ты сегодня телевизор уже смотрела?
- Нет, а что случилось?
- Гм… Уважаемый Сапармурат Атаевич-то коньки отбросил…
- ???
- Ниязов, говорю, умер!
- [Возгласы восхищения на том конце.] Спасибо за эту новость!
Nothing is eternal. I had an interesting conversation today with a Turkmen friend of mine who now lives in Bishkek. I am not giving name her due to obvious reasons.
- Hello. Have you watched TV today?
- No. What's happened?
- They are saying that respectable Saparmurat [Niyazov] has finally kicked the bucket…
- ?????
- I am saying Niyazov is dead!
- [Happy emotions]. Thank you for the news!
However, readers of Bektour’s blog remembered different feelings. Nazik commented [ru]:
Бектур, прочитала ваш пост и хотела бы заметить, что вы описываете реакцию только одного человека… Когда мы узнали о том, что Ниязов умер, стало страшно. Страшно за наше будущее… Умер человек, которого мое поколение называло дедушкой. По дороге в детский сад мы махали рукой проезжающему мимо картежу, и он выглядывал и махал нам в ответ. Как-никак, а этот человек был для нас залогом стабильности и процветания, и вдруг его не стало, и никто не знал, что будет дальше…..
Bektour, I read your post and I would like to mention that you are describing the reaction of a single person… When we [Turkmen] learned about Niyazov's death, we were scared. We were scared for our future… My generation called [Niyazov] grandfather. On our way to the kindergartens, we waived as his cortege was passing by, and he would look out the car window and wave back. This person was the guarantor of stability and prosperity in the country, and suddenly he was gone, and nobody knew what was going to happen next…
Assassination attempt
Even before the news of his death, Turkmenbashi's life had been surrounded by conspiracy theories. Citizens were shocked to hear of an attempt on his life on November 25, 2002.
As Eurasianet reported:
Saparmurat Niyazov, the mercurial president-for-life of resource-rich Turkmenistan, survived an assassination attempt November 25 that left several of the attackers dead and at least one bodyguard seriously wounded. Experts now expect Niyazov to intensify purges of security forces and other government agencies and tighten control over society.
Turkmen authorities blamed the attack on several former officials and diplomats, including the ex-Foreign Minister Boris Shikhmuradov. The assassination attempt had been preceded by a big opposition meeting in Vienna. Therefore many saw the botched hit as a government operation to enable Turkmenbashi to cement control over the country.
Opposition leaders accused of the assassination were publicly condemned and sentenced to life imprisonment. Boris Shihmuradov made a public statement [ru] in which he admitted his guilt and called himself and his supporters “an organized criminal group, gangsters, and nobodies”. Speaking on national TV, Turkmenbashi himself accused [ru] Russia of providing the assailants with arms, alleging also that Moscow was prepared to send ‘two planes with Special Forces troops to drown the people of Turkmenistan in blood’.
Ten years on, the event is still shrouded in mystery. ‘Vasya,’ a commenter on the dissident-run Turkmen Chronicles news blog, writes [ru]:
да все знают, что это была провокация, которую устроил сам туркменбаши-потому что он обкурился анаши.
Everyone knows that this was a provocation staged by Turkmenbashi himself, who was high on drugs at that time.
‘Ruslan T’ notes [ru] that the sentences given to those accused of organizing the assassination attempts exceeded the legal limits at the time when the trials occurred:
…Суть в том, что на момент совершения преступления (если оно было) максимум было 25 лет. Им дали пожизненное…
…The truth is that at the time when the [alleged] crime was committed (if it was committed at all), the maximum punishment [for the type of crime] was 25 years in prison. But they [opposition members] were given life sentences…
Some netizens even allege that the attempt on the ex-president's life might have been organized by the incumbent president. As ‘Eli's Expresso’ claims [ru]:
Это покушение было организовано … Бердымухамедовым. Это он с одной стороны, через подставных лиц, давал ложную информацию оппозиционерам и помог некоторым из них проникнуть в страну, а с другой натравил на них спецслужбы. Таким образом он укрепил свою власть и избавился от конкурентов к власти
This assassination attempts was organized by Berdymuhamedov. It was him who, on one hand, used the middlemen to supply the opposition with false information and helped some of them to enter the country, and, on the other hand, set the state security agencies on them… In doing so, he consolidated his power and got rid of [potential] rivals in the struggle for power.
In Turkmenistan, a state starved of reliable information about most things, even the inconceivable can enter the realm of the possible.

author: Anna Fergana


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Time for Civil Rule in Mauritania  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Mauritanian blogger Ahmed Jedou calls [ar] says it is high time his country had civil rule. He blogs:
“Today it is obvious that the military look at us as if we are a ball they are playing with. Our war should be for the establishment of a civil state which fights all the remnants of military rule and French guardianship, through a transitional period, which should be lead by civil society forces.”

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Tortured Sudanese Female Journalist Speaks Up · Global Voices
Usamah Mohamed

Attacks against journalists and human rights activists seem to have intensified recently in Sudan as shown by the horrific abduction and torture of a Sudanese female journalist by National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), Sudan's notorious security apparatus. Sumaya Ismail Hundosa, 34, was abducted from near her house on October 29, 2012, later to be found thrown inside a mud pit in a remote area in Khartoum on November 2, five days after her abduction.
The journalist was tortured for writing articles criticizing Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir. She was severely beaten up until she subsequently lost consciousness, had her head shaved because her hair ‘belongs to the Arabs’, and was iron-shocked on several parts of her body. She was called a slew of racist insults by her captors, including whore and slave for belonging to Darfur, a region in western Sudan that's also witnessing a decade-long, raging conflict.
Several human rights groups strongly condemned the attack on the journalist, including the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists and Cairo-based Al-Karama [ar], who issued calls to Sudanese authorities to investigate the attack.
Burns on Hundosa's arm caused by iron-shocking. She was iron-shocked on her stomach, back and other parts of her body!
Shock and outrage
As the details of Hundosa's unprecedented torture unfolded, Sudanese netizens largely responded with shock and outrage, showing sympathy and solidarity with the journalist.
Journalist Reem Shawkat tweeted a photograph of Hundosa's shaved hair, while expressing her support [ar]:
حلقو ليك شعرك يا سمية هندوسة و لكن لبستي تاج الشرف #السودان -يسقط جهاز عدم الانسانية و عدم الوطنية
@ReemShawkat: They shaved your hair, Sumaya Hundosa, but you wore the crown of honor. #Sudan – Down with the apparatus of inhumanity and lack of patriotism.
@nsaeed, on Twitter, pointed out to his fellow Sudanese that if they do not take action against such violations, it is going to be everyone's turn:
متى سيفهم المواطن السوداني أن ما يحدث لأمثال #هندوسة و #جليلة وارد حدوثه لأي مواطن في أي لحظة؟ كان حلقو لأخوك بل راسك #حرفياً
@nsaeed: When will the Sundanese citizen understand that what happens to the likes of Hundosa and Jalila can possibly happen to any citizen at any moment? If your brother's head is shaved, moisten your own!
Award-winning Sudanese cartoonist Khalid Al-Baih drew an expressive cartoon bemoaning Sudanese women's prestigious status in the past as compared to now, under the current regime in Sudan.
Khartoon! by Khalid Al-Baih
The cartoon illustrates two women, one who looks prestigious in a traditional garment (thoub), and refers to the old days, and another who looks bare-headed, humiliated and sitting behind bars, in reference to the treatment women are getting nowadays. The Sudanese woman is symbolized as “عزة” (transliterated, Azza), which means “glorious” in Arabic. It is a common female name in Sudan and is a semi-official national personification.
Hundosa, who gradually moved from print journalism to online journalism, came to Sudan from Egypt where she has been living since 2003, to spend Eid Al-Adha with her family. Following her horrific ordeal, she left Sudan immediately for fear for her life. Back in Egypt, she recounted her ordeal with the NISS in a detailed, first account 27-minute video testimony [ar] on YouTube. The video was recorded by a committee to protect journalists of Egypt's Journalists Syndicate.
The journalist also wrote an Open Letter to President Omar Al-Bashir [ar] that was highly circulated online, holding him accountable for bringing her offenders to justice and ensuring that no one can commit such horrendous acts with impunity in the future.
Race and identity, revisited!
The unequivocal racist attacks against Hundosa by her torturers provoked discussions online about the role of race and identity in Sudan's modern politics and society.
Amr Abbas, on Twitter, mockingly remarked:
سمية اسماعيل هندوسة تجلد، يحلق شعرها، تصعق بمكوة وتجلد بالسياط ليس لانها كتبت عن البديل لكن لانها غرباوية فى بلد العروبواسلاميين
@amrmohabbas: Sumaya Ismail Hundosa is flogged, hair-shaved, iron-shocked and whipped not because she wrote about the alternative, but because she's gharbawiya in the country of the Arabo-Islamists
“Gharbawiya” is a woman who hails from western Sudan, but the term is often used derogatory as a racial slur.
A Sudanese blogger who maintains a blog called “Sudanese Dream“, wrote a bitter blog post titled: “من هم العبيد الجدد؟” [ar], which translates to, “Who are the new slaves?”. She asserts:
ان ما يحدث الان في السودان هو اكثر سوءاً من عهد امتلاك الرقيق مع اعادة تعريف للعبودية ،
What happens now in Sudan is worse than the slave owning era with a redefinition of slavery,
The blogger observes that racism is still rampant among ordinary Sudanese who sometimes practice it with relative ease. She then addresses the more structural racism within the context of state violence, pointing out that many political detainees who originate from west and south Sudan testified to have been discriminated against and received racist insults during detention. She gives the discriminatory ill-treatment of female detainees like Sumaya Hundosa and Jalila Khamis as another pointer. She then dismisses arguments of ethnic purity before concluding:
عليه ؛ كلنا عبيد يا ريس ، كلنا عبيد يا جهاز الامن.
نحن العبيد “السودانيين” نتقبل حقيقة كوننا عبيداً ، فما بالكم ايها المستعربون؟
Thus; we are all slaves, Mr. President, we are all slaves oh Jihaz Al-Amn (security apparatus)
We the slaves “The Sudanese” accept the fact of being slaves, what bothers you, the Arabized?
The issue of identity is a recurring theme of debate among Sudanese youth. Known blogger and Global Voices long-time author Amir Ahmed (better known online as ‘Sudanese Thinker’) has written in the past about ending Sudan's identity crisis. Another blogger, Moez Ali, presented a critical view of the whole “Sudanese Identity” question.

author: Usamah Mohamed


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Trinidad & Tobago: Kublalsingh’s Hunger Strike Continues; So Does the Debate · Global Voices
Matthew Hunte

UPDATE: Dr. Wayne Kublalsingh ended his hunger strike 21 says after it began, explaining in a press release that the Highway Re-Route Movement agreed that the proposal from civil society groups to the government contained “the particulars they had requested, including the undertaking of a cost-benefit analysis of the proposed Debe to Mon Desir section of the highway, a social impact assessment and a hydrological, terrestrial and marine ecological report of the affected area.”
On Tuesday, November 27th, the Institute for Gender and Development Studies at the University of the West Indies in St. Augustine held a gathering in support of literature professor Dr. Wayne Kublalsingh, who has been on a hunger strike for the past two weeks to protest the proposed route of a highway in south-western Trinidad.
The organizers of the “Campus Community Gathering in Recognition of Dr. Kublalsingh” released a statement explaining their show of solidarity:
The first is because of our respect for Dr. Wayne Kublalsingh, not because we all agree with him, but because he is one of ours – as colleague and as citizen – and because he has made a rare stand, at this own risk, for something he believes to be right. This is not just any issue, it involves questions of transparent planning, accountable spending, increased national debt and responsible decision-making, as well as concerns regarding land, ecosystems, families, agriculture and more.
Another factor was the desire to inject some civility into the debate over the highway project and the hunger strike:
The second reason is because our work as a campus community is about cultivating ideas and debate that don’t descend into hate or polarising division. Our work is to give space for new generations to find a new way to work out our differences, whether of race, party, geography or vision for the future, without the violence that characterises party platforms and media airwaves.
The statement concluded by calling upon all the parties involved to resolve the issues in an amicable matter:
We want an end to Wayne’s hunger strike just as we want governmental decisions based on the best available, most transparent information, just as we want transportation options that make all people’s lives easier, safer and happier, just as we want to conserve our environment for those who will come in seven generations, just as we all want to speak to and be heard by each other in ways that do not leave us wounded.
Muhammed Muwakil, poet and lead singer of the band Freetown attended the gathering and tried to place the entire protest movement in the broader context he felt was being missed:
THIS IS NOT ABOUT A HIGHWAY!!! it is about a classist government that does not understand the needs of the people of this country. Most of you all have no idea what artists go through in this place, I am offended because only people who don't understand what struggle is would ridicule it.
Muhammed Muwakil addresses the gathering
Musician and actor Wendell Manwarren also participated
At The Eternal Pantomime, Rhoda Bharath, who is one of Kublalsingh's colleagues as well as a former student, wondered why the university community took so long to respond to the situation and whether it is sending mixed messages:
Last week when news of the Hunger Strike hit the campus you could hear pins drop in the department that Kublalsingh works. People were only whispering on corridors. Sending an e-mail around to see who wanted to go visit the camp and show solidarity was frowned upon. Indeed, the only action UWI was definite about was that Kublalsingh’s classes had to be looked after.
As per a proper position on the issue…mehh! Not even the Guild President…and he was being prompted by peers to issue a statement…but his political affiliation is widely known and probably played a role in his prolonged silence.
She wondered whether the university's response has been tempered by a lack of willingness to antagonize the governement:
Then over the weekend came the announcement of this show of solidarity. And I had to wonder what led to the show of conscience today.
It’s no secret that this institution suffers from incredible amounts of government interference. It’s in bed with the government…and scarily so.
So much so that writing against the government in newspapers columns like I do gets you the attention of management in less than positive ways.
Activist Ishmael Samad appeals to Kublalsingh to give up the hunger strike
Jax Yorke-Westcott believes that the Kublalsingh hunger strike has revealed the true character of Trinidad & Tobago's politicians:
One thing is clear about the Kublalsingh issue. It has illuminated the true characters of politicians on every side of the political divide. Members of the Government are either publicly abusive or woefully silent as their colleagues heap insults on Dr Kublalsingh and his supporters. The Leader of the COP, Prakash Ramadhar, issued a statement distancing the COP from the statements made by cabinet colleagues at the UNC public meeting in Debe. Frankly Mr Ramadhar, this was not enough. Meanwhile members of the Opposition PNM rub their hands in glee as the People’s Partnership digs an increasingly big hole to fall in.
While she feels it would set a bad precedent for the Prime Minister to meet with Kublalsingh, she believes that the Government should engage with civil society to try to resolve the matter:
In the interest of transparency and good governance, the Government should consider meeting with civil society groups to hear their suggestions for ending this unfortunate impasse. At the very least this would help the government to recover some modicum of dignity after engaging in a very public and vitriolic dogfight. For a government which swept into power on a tide of goodwill the People’s Partnership has done an extremely efficient job of turning public opinion against them.
Lord Strange of T&T wonders why government ministers have accused Kublalsingh of being “political”, as if that were a bad thing:
Without venturing into whether Dr. Kublalsingh is right or wrong in his position regarding the issue of the Point Fortin highway a particular position of the Government has intrigued me. Dr. Rambachan along with Jack Warner and others have accused Dr. Kublalsingh's actions as being ‘political’. My question to the members of the People's Partnership Government is ‘so what?’ What is wrong with Dr. Kublalsingh being political? Does this government not understand that for it to even grace the halls of power it required citizens of this country to be political and engage in a political process of electing them?

author: Matthew Hunte


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Why Have Honduras Expats Stopped Blogging? · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Laurie Matherne from Honduras Gumbo shares three theories about why expatriates in Honduras have stopped blogging: it's too dangerous, the economic crisis has forced many to leave, and those who stay “are forced to live in near chaos.”
She adds:
Personally, I am forced to spend more of my time just trying to maintain my projects and my personal life in Honduras. Each day, I come home exhausted just trying to survive. Many nights, the quiet is interrupted by rounds of gunfire. Not a great environment to think of sanguine, perky posts of daily life anecdotes.

author: Silvia Viñas


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Young Volunteers Training to Free Northern Mali  · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

young-volunteers-in-training-to-fight-in Northern Mali by Damonzon Mali copyright Demotix (13/11/12)
Young volunteers engage to liberate Northern Mali. Meanwhile, Jemal Oumar and Bakari Gueye report that extremists in Northern Mali target women with curfews and arrests.

author: Lova Rakotomalala


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40,000 Syrian Lives Lost in 20 Months · Global Voices
Rami Alhames

This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011/12
Up to 4 million people expected to require assistance in Syria by early 2013. This was the headline of the United Nations Humanitarian Bulletin Issue 11 November 2012 [pdf] on Syria. Among them are almost 2 million children and adolescents, who have limited access to basic services and experience psychological trauma caused by violence and displacement. The UN report showed that:
The violence in Syria causes rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation….. At least 1.2 million people are internally displaced with the cold winter weather setting in, and no foreseeable end to the fighting, the outlook for people trapped in the conflict – including Palestine and other refugee communities – is grim.
Bringing essential aid to a population under siege in Syria. Source: ICRC website.
While the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) have provided water for over a million people since early 2012, what is making the humanitarian crisis more complicated is that nearly 11,000 people flee Syria to neighboring countries every single day.
40,000 Syrian lives lost
Another shocking number was announced by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on its website on 22/11/2012 which is making headlines is the huge loss in lives. According to the Observatory, the death toll in Syria has crossed 40,000.
More than 40,129 Syrians have been killed so far, not to mention the thousands of people who have gone missing in the conflict, in violence across Syria according to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The breakdown in this tragedy is as follows:
“At least 28,026 civilians, 1,379 defectors, 10,150 soldiers and 574 unidentified people have been killed in Syria in the past 20 months,”.
Citizen Media in Syria. Source: Rami Alhames Blog
Most of human rights organizations claimed that the Syrian regime and its forces have the major responsibility in this high death toll. The Syrian Network for Human rights has documented three cases, among others, revealing an accurate evidence of activists death and torture by Syrian intelligence forces. After the activists appeared on the Syrian state TV and allegedly confessed, the Syrian government handed their dead bodies back to their families and relatives; their bodies had signs of brutal torture.
Syria war Crimes
Human Rights Watch issued on May 3, 2012, a report entitled  “They Burned My Heart”, documenting war crimes in Idlib province during UN envoy Kofi Annan's peace negotiations plan:
While diplomats argued over details of the peace plan, Syrian tanks and helicopters attacked one town in Idlib after another. Everywhere we went, we saw burnt and destroyed houses, shops, and cars, and heard from people whose relatives were killed. It was as if the Syrian government forces used every minute before the ceasefire to cause harm.
Human Rights Watch shares this video on YouTube, with a testimony of what happened in Idlib:
President Assad Welcomes Death in Syria. Source: The Daily Dose.
Can the Syrian revolution win?
This question was posed by Socialist revolution, who answers:
This will only happen if the workers and youth overthrow Assad themselves – the interference of NATO and Russian imperialists has only brought decades of bloodshed and tragedy to the peoples of the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Ammar Abdulhamid wroteon his blog Syrian revolution digest:
Whatever the case may be, taken in conjunction with a death toll currently put at 40,000, an estimated 50,000 missing, and the wholesale destruction that has been wrought on the infrastructure all over the country, the situation is disastrous.
This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011/12

author: Rami Alhames


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Brunei: ‘Bullying Awareness’ Project · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Nina Project features a ‘Bullying Awareness’ initiative based in Brunei Darussalam to help young people cope up with bullying. Internet users in Brunei are asked to support the campaign by spreading information about the issue.

author: Mong Palatino


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Chinese Netizens React: People’s Daily Fooled by The Onion  · Global Voices
Abby Liu

It’s all over the news now: Chinese newspaper People’s Daily made a fool of itself this week when it seriously reported that the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was named Sexiest Man Alive by The Onion, a satire newspaper from the United States. Since it went online, international media such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal all picked up the news. The Telegraph in the United Kingdom followed up with an editor from People’s Daily, and quoted him saying, he hoped the incident would not draw too much attention (the story has since been taken down).
It seems too late already, the news not only spread far and wide in international media, but also went viral on Weibo, China’s Twitter. When an active netizen “Pretend in NY” first shared the news on Weibo, it triggered over 40,000 reposts and 7,900 comments.
Many Chinese had a good laugh about it. Some felt shameful and criticized the government; still some got really angry and questioned the intentions of foreign media.
Netizen “Pretend in NY” shared foreign media's comments on Chinese social media
A Dash of Humor and Satire
OnionWeekly wrote sarcastically:
洋葱周刊：深夜获悉人民日报和洋葱新闻进行了业务交流，并获得得了洋葱新闻的高度赞赏，我们略感欣慰地表示，洋葱周刊和人民日报代表着中国最真实的声音。
Late in the evening, we learned that The Onion and People’s Daily had been communicating on an official level, and People’s Daily has received high praise from The Onion. We are pleased to announce that The Onion Weekly and the People’s Daily represent the most authentic voice of China.
Talking about work at the library echoed:
中传戏剧戏曲所暨图书馆覅谈工作：人民网原以为自己是天下第一大忽悠，哪想到，天外有天，山外有山，楼外有楼，强中还有强中手。这次，除了默默地删除以外，没有说别的。
People’s Daily thought themselves the best parody site, yet they didn’t realize there’s always competition. This time they had nothing to say but to delete it in silence.
Veteran journalist and researcher Xu Shenghai commented:
余胜海: 中朝两国只会相互吹捧，去年朝鲜媒体竟然说中国是世界上最民主最幸福的国家，美国是最不民主最不幸福的国家，真搞笑！
Chinese and North Korean like to kiss ass with each other, last year North Korea even said China is the most democratic country in the world and America is the least democratic country, which is ridiculous!
gdaygluck made a funny joke:
gdaygluck：人民网的编辑们成天认真学习党的精神，哪有时间了解洋葱、土豆什么的除了吃还能干些啥。
The editors at People’s Daily are too busy studying the Party spirit everyday, how do they have time to know that what onions or potatoes are about except to eat them.
Nobody Reads People's Daily?
Liang Weihao, editor at Central Broadcasting Station wrote:
梁卫浩: 全世界媒体都被嘲笑了，他们竟以为中国网民会相信人民网。
All foreign media are to be laughed at, because they even think we Chinese read People’s Daily.
Xunxi’s sheep dad echoed:
淳溪家的羊爸爸：人民日报想增加曝光度，平时大家都不看。
People’s Daily just wanted more attention, because usually nobody reads them.
Voices of Criticism
News Lecturer Yi Qiliang commented:
易前良：把恶搞当新闻，这是无知，无知其实还是可以原谅的，人民网通过不断学习，开拓视野还是可以补上这一课的。金恩这副权力膨胀起来的皮囊，要说性感，那是对性感的侮辱，人民网编辑莫非真没有美感？以丑为美，这种赤裸裸的权力崇拜才让人吐吐。
This is an innocent mistake, which can be forgiven because People’s Daily can learn more by broadening its view, however, Kim Jong-un is a power maniac, it’s an insult to beauty to even think of him as sexy, don’t editors at People’s Daily have a sense of what beauty is? It’s disgusting to think that they adore naked power.
Taorock No 2 was upset:
taorock二号：看看，党报犯了贱，人国外媒体就取笑中国人傻，人民日报和中国人民有啥关系啊，中国人民这都背黑锅背了多少年了。
Look, the party paper made a mistake, international media are making fun of us Chinese. What does People’s Daily have anything to do with us average citizens? We Chinese have to deal with so much shit on behalf of the Party for so many years.
Between Light & Dark criticized:
黑暗与光明之间: 可见中国官媒的固步自封到了什么程度.
You can see just how complacent the official Chinese media have become.
A Sense of Nationalism
Xu Jinbo, Asia News agency chief was obviously angry:
徐静波微博：日本媒体很恶毒，人民网就发了一篇金正恩被评为「最佳美男子」的消息，这些电视报纸连番攻击，矛头直指党报。人民日报应该游说中央有关部门，坚决封杀这些反动媒体，不让他们参加重要记者会！
Japanese media are evil, People’s Daily just reported the news about Kim Jong-un as “most good-looking man,” and these TV stations and newspapers keep attacking us, they point their fingers directly at the Party newspaper. People's Daily should persuade central authorities to block these reactionary media and forbid them to attend important press conferences!
Democratic Rice retorted:
民主米粒：为什么要封杀？因为日本做出了批评就要这么做么？难道这就是中国的一惯做法？这件事情首先是，人民日报作为拥有权威性的媒体机构，在对新闻审评如此的不谨慎，闹出如此荒唐的笑话，本就应该作出检讨。苍蝇叮不了无缝的蛋，一个所谓的大国，不要总是这么没气量。
Why ban them? Because it is criticism from Japan? Is this is a customary practice in China? People's Daily, as an authoritative media source made this absurd mistake, they should reflect on their mistakes. Flies don’t bite seamless eggs; a so-called big country should accept criticism.

author: Abby Liu


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Ecuadorian Blogger Paúl Moreno Detained · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

Ecuadorian blogger Paúl Moreno (@paulcoyote) [es] was detained [es] on charges of fraudulent access to computer systems and databases, after publishing a post [es] where he explains how he accessed the information of President Rafael Correa to show the vulnerability of the site www.www.datoseguro.gob.ec [es]. Twitter users have set up a campaign with the hashtag #LiberenaPaulCoyote [es] (free PaulCoyote). More information in this post [es] by Carlos Correa (@calu) [es].

author: Juan Arellano


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Egyptians Want to Overthrow Mursolini  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptians are back at the epi-centre of the Egyptian revolution, in Tahrir Square, in downtown Cairo, where they are protesting sweeping powers their newly elected president Mohamed Mursi has granted himself. They include a rushed draft constitution announced today (Nov 30, 2012), penned by an Islamist-led assembly, which has new Islamic references to Egypt's system of government as well as clauses which infringe on women's rights and freedom of speech.
Protestors rushed to the streets eight days ago when Mursi neutralised the judiciary, declaring that courts will not be allowed to challenge his decisions. This has angered Egyptians, who have turned out en masse at Tahrir Square to protest what they call Egypt's new pharaoh and his Muslim Brotherhood organisation, which they say is grabbing too much power.
Blogger Lilian Wagdy was at Tahrir today and shares the following photographs on her flickr account.
Many are calling Morsi Egypt's new pharaoh, drawing comparisons between him and dictators such as Mussolini and Hitler. A common name being used for him among netizens is Mursolini – which clubs his name and that of Mussolini.
Wagdy shares this photograph from today's protest, where a protestor is dressed as a pharaoh:
Mursolini – drawing comparisons between Mursi, Hitler and Mussolini. Photograph by Lilian Wagdy, used under (CC BY 2.0)
The banner the protestors are carrying reads [ar]:
No to an absolute ruler. Mursi's renaissance is just like Hitler's renaissance. Absolute power is absolute corruption
Others are calling for an end to ignorance:
A man carries a poster which reads: Freedom starts where ignorance ends. Photograph by Lilian Wagdy, used under (CC BY 2.0)
And others denounced the growing powers of the Muslim Brotherhood, of which Mursi was a leading member:
A protestor carrying a poster which reads: Down with the Muslim Brotherhood invasion. Long lives a free and independent Egypt. Photograph by Lilian Wagdy, used under (CC BY 2.0)
The martyrs of the Egyptian revolution were also present in spirit at today's protests. Wagdy shares those photographs:
Protestors raising banners with pictures of martyrs on them. Photograph by Lilian Wagdy, used under (CC BY 2.0)
A mural in Tahrir featuring some of the Egyptian revolution's martyrs. Photograph by Lilian Wagdy, used under (CC BY 2.0)
We end this series with this iconic photograph of the Tahrir sit-in as night falls:
Night falls at Tahrir as protestors continue their sit-in. Photograph by Lilian Wagdy, used under (CC BY 2.0)


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Egyptians Want to Overthrow the Supreme Guide’s Rule  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“And Egyptians are back again to protest in Tahrir square in another day of protest against not only the constitutional declaration but also the constitution draft,” writes Egyptian blogger Zeinobia. She adds:
Thousands of Egyptians at Tahrir Square today. Photograph shared by Zeinobia on flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
The square was packed by middle class and Upper middle class holding Egyptian flags chanting “Down with the Supreme guide's rule”.


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From Ramallah to Gaza: A Tearful Reunion · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Ramallah to Gaza, Linah Alsaafin had to travel through two countries – and two continents – for a tearful reunion with her grandmother. Read her account here.


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How Foreigners See Hong Kong · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A humorous map showing foreigners’ stereotype of Hong Kong. Shared by Lady Kylie in Facebook

author: Oiwan Lam


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Is the Saudi Government Monitoring Women?  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Is the Saudi government monitoring women? Blogger Ahmed Al Omran tells us how it is done. He adds:
The problem is not that there is now an electronic system that sends an SMS when women travel. Some people might actually want this service. The problem is that the government is enforcing rules of male guardianships even on the rest of us who don’t believe in such rules. One day, MOI could choose to provide a checkbox in their system that says: “My female relatives don’t need my permission to travel.” That day, unfortunately, has not come yet.


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Mauritania: “Don’t Touch my Nationality” March Broken by Police · Global Voices
أحمد جدو

On November 28, 2012, Mauritanian police dispersed [ar] a march organized by “Don't touch my nationality” movement and arrested their coordinator Birane Wane [en]. The opposition group was asking for the trial of all those involved in the killing of black officers in the Mauritanian army in the 90's during the ruling of former president Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya.
The march took place on the country's independence day. Mauritanian journalist Mohamed Naji Ahmedou followed the event closely and tweeted:
@ouldhmedoumedna “لا تلمس جنسيتي” تشتبك مع الأمن قرب العيادة المجمعة..
Don't touch my nationality, clashes with security forces near the clinic

author: أحمد جدو


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Movember: Campaign for Men’s Health Issues · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Delwin Keasberry writes about the ‘Movember Tweet Up’ event in Brunei to support the global campaign to raise awareness about men's health issues like prostate cancer, testicular cancer and depression.


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Nairobi Pulls Together During Matatu Vehicle Strike · Global Voices
Richard Wanjohi

On Thursday 29 November, 2012, most Nairobi city dwellers woke up to face another day only to be confronted by the harsh reality of the public service transport system going rogue.
The Kenyan public service vehicles popularly known as matatus were demonstrating against the latest Traffic Amendment 2012, which has introduced stiff penalties for both first time and repeat offenders and affects Kenyan motorists across the board.
Traffic Snarl-up in a Nairobi Street caused by Public Service strike – Image courtesy of @PossumBlu & @ktnkenya
Online reactions
A couple of bloggers have given a summary of the amended laws and penalties that were approved by the President (Mwai Kibaki) in early November.
Word of Mouth blog posted:
Here is a summary of the new traffic rules caused by the Amendment of section 12 of Cap 403 of the laws of Kenya. The president signed the amendments yesterday meaning they are in operation from today.
Autoportal, another blogger focusing on motoring, had a few sections of the Law too:
➢ The licence of a person found guilty of exceeding speed limits would be invalid for not less than 3 years if the limit is exceeded by up to 10 KPH or if the offense is repeated more than three times.
➢ The Inspector General of Police would designate areas where Police will be required to erect roadblocks.
➢ There will be road signs showing the prescribed speed limits.
➢ PSV drivers and conductors would be required to wear badges and uniforms. In addition, the PSV drivers would be required to do a compulsory competence test every two years.
➢ Motorcycles would have to be insured against third party risks and the riders would be compelled to wear helmets and reflector jackets. Penalties for contravening this law would attract a KES 10 000 fine or a one-year jail term.
What do you think will be the impact of these new laws ?
@Ramah_Nyang: A cab driver I know, commenting on the #MatatuStrike, says clients are “calling [him] off the hook.” His services are now being bid for.
@RobertAlai: Allowing private business to control 95% of public transport is the biggest tragedy in Kenya. No serious economy allows that #MatatuStrike
@JnttNemo: On top of walking home in the rain on Ngong road now people are being mugged? My psyche for work tomorrow is at 0.5%#matatuStrike

author: Richard Wanjohi


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Palestine Gets “Symbolic” Upgrade at the UN  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The upgrade of Palestine from an “entity” to a “non-member state” at the United Nations received a lukewarm reaction from netizens – who asked what a ‘symbolic’ gesture like recognising Palestine at the United Nations would do to Palestinians, particularly those living under Israeli occupation and refugees.
From Gaza, Lina Al-Sharif screams:
@livefromgaza: Ramallah is not my capital, Jerusalem is. And ALL of Palestine is my homeland. NO to #Palestine194
Adam Al Aqqad asks:
@Abou_Charlie: Who does #Palestine194 serve? '48 Palestinians? [West Bank] Palestinians? Gazan Palestinians? Palestinian refugees?
And he adds:
@Abou_Charlie: Remember, at it's core, the Palestinian struggle is one of refugees. Our struggle ends with the rights of refugees. #Palestine194
Palestinian Doc Jazz tweets:
@docjazzmusic: Symbolic? We are already drowning in symbolism. Give us back our land, our rights, our freedom, not a ‘symbolic’ gesture u call a ‘state’.
And he adds:
@docjazzmusic: While they support ‘Israel’ politically, economically & militarily, they support Palestine symbolically. And we're supposed to cheer.
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin notes:
@ASE: So, the UN now recognizes Palestine as a state while recognizing also that Israel Occupies the West Bank & Gaza. Hmm.
At the UN General Assembly meeting last night, 138 countries technically voted in favour of naming Palestine the world's 194th state by accepting its status as a non-member state at the world body.
The UN GA President Vuk Jeremić tweets:
@UN_PGA: The #Palestine bid is approved by @UN #UNbid Yes – 138 No – 9 Abstain – 41 pic.twitter.com/6wD4EbgT
He shares a copy which lists the countries which voted yes and no and those who abstained from voting [see image below].
Who voted in favour of granting Palestine a non-member state status at the UN? UN GA President Vuk Jeremić tweets a photograph of the list of countries which voted in favour, against and abstained
The countries that voted against the motion were Israel, Canada, Nauru, Palau, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Panama, the Czech Republic and the United States – giving netizens the chance to learn about some of the countries they have never heard of before.
Israeli Maya Norton quips:
@mayanorton: This is the most press I've ever read on Nauru, Palau, the Marshall Islands & Micronesia. It's almost like it was a PR decision.
Criticism flew in all directions and no one was spared. Some were not convinced about the UN itself – and the role it plays. Muiz shares his thoughts on how he feels about the UN:
@muiz: UN is a shining beacon of why words are so hollow & actions substantive. So much verbal support for #Palestine – so little tangible action
The US too got its fair share of criticism. Samar Dahmash Jarrah tweets:
@ArabVoicesSpeak: As often, the USA will stand on the wrong side of history #UNBID
And Iraqi Mina Al-Oraibi finds Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi giving a speech at the same time as the vote as unacceptable. She tweets:
@AlOraibi: Cannot believe Egyptian President chose to air his interview at same time of vote on Palestine! Talk about unacceptable
And she continues:
@AlOraibi: From decades, Arab Presidents and politicians abuse the Palestinian cause – sad to see Morsy is no less inconsiderate.
Abbas’ UN speech screened on a separation wall with Israel in Bethlehem. Photograph shared by @georgehale on Twitter
In Bethlehem, George Hale shares this photograph [above], which shows Palestinian leader Mahmood Abbas’ UN speech screened on a separation wall with Israel:
@georgehale: Photo – Scene in Bethlehem where Abbas’ UN speech was screened on Israel's wall pic.twitter.com/sUTT6KjQ
Celebrations in Ramallah. Photo shared by @RZabaneh on Twitter
From Ramallah, Rania Zabaneh tweets scenes of celebration:
@RZabaneh: And the #UNBid party goes on in Ramallah: Everyone is cheering to the tunes of “i3linha ya sh3bi” [Translation: Announce it, My People]. Picture: pic.twitter.com/CN5XYZgo
Overall, however, there was a positive vibe online. Just before the vote, Dima Khatib notes:
@Dima_Khatib: Regardless of effectiveness of #UNBid: beautiful support for Palestine by majority of nations in the world, against the will of Israel/US
Meanwhile, in Israel, Joseph Dana tweets:
@ibnezra: In a country of roughly 7 million people, around 500 Israelis are protesting, in Tel Aviv, in favour of Palestine Statehood at the UN now.
and he later jokes:
@ibnezra: Breaking: Vatican angry that Palestine will soon encroach on its unique and ultimately feckless status at the United Nations
For more on the conversation, check out the hashtags #Palestine194 and #UNBid.
Further Reading:
Reuters: Q+A-What's all the fuss about a Palestinian U.N. upgrade?


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Peruvian Junior Volleyball Team Wins South American Cup · Global Voices
Gabriela García Calderón

On Monday November 26, 2012, the Peruvian junior volleyball team, known as the ‘matadorcitas’, won the South American Female Volleyball Championship after a victory over Brazil. This is a historic result, after 32 years without getting any titles in that sports category. The name matadorcitas comes from the pet form of matadoras (attackers), as the national team has been widely known for years.
Peru won the first set with a score of 25-18. Brazil won the second with the same score, 25-18. The third set was the most hard-fought, almost point by point, with another partial victory for the Peruvian team by 25-20. Then, Brazil won the fourth set with 25-23 as a result.
Peru won the last and final set, with a partial result of 15-10. The match was won with a 3-2 score.
The day before, the Peruvian team had classified for the 2013 World Cup, which will be hosted by Thailand, after defeating Argentina, also by a final score of 3-2.
In a country where football seems to be the only existing sport, this victory was welcomed, the players were acclaimed and their coach, Ms. Natalia Málaga, was fully recognized everywhere. Málaga had been widely criticized for her style, considered too rude. Some journalists even started calling her Natalia Mala Mala (Natalia Mean Mean).
But now the country is celebrating, and the blogosphere has joined the celebrations.
The blog Chiclín por siempre republishes [es] an article that says that Ms. Málaga is not the only ‘Mean Mean':
Si bien las carajeadas de Natalia Málaga se ven en televisión, las chicas del combinado nacional afirman que no es la única. Hilary Palma, apodada la ‘Mini Mala Mala’, también es conocida por ser la que más “putea” en la cancha.
Por su parte, Rosa Valiente confesó que en el tercer set ante Brasil estuvo llorando y Natalia Málaga la mandó al banco. “No fue por ningún grito de Natalia. Lo que sucedió es que me daba rabia que ningún saque me salía bien. Pero mis compañeras y hasta la misma Natalia me hablaron fuerte y volví al partido”, comentó la ‘Mejor Bloqueadora’ del último Sudamericano.
Although Natalia Málaga's yells are seen on television, the girls from the national team say she is not the only one. Hilary Palma, known as ‘Mini Mala Mala’, is also known for being the one that “swears” the most on the court.
[…]
Meanwhile, Rosa Valiente confessed that on the third set with Brazil she was crying and Natalia Málaga sent her back to the substitute bench. “It wasn't because of any shout from Natalia. I was enraged, not one of my serves were good. But my teammates and Natalia herself talked to me and I got back into the game”, commented the latest South American championship's ‘Best Block Player’.
The blog Enlace Nacional tells us about the tribute the players received [es] in Juliaca:
En Juliaca, nuestras “matadorcitas” flamantes campeonas sudamericanas de vóley categoría menores reciben homenaje de alcalde y población de la ciudad de los vientos.
In Juliaca, our “matadorcitas”, brand new South American junior volleyball champions, receive tributes by the city mayor and the population of the city of the winds.
The post also includes a video [es]:
Natalia Málaga has enjoyed her own share of recognition after this important victory. The blogger from Nuestra Gente Digital tells us [es] about her personal struggle:
Una historia digna de resaltar. Natalia Málaga, entrenadora de la selección femenina de menores que recientemente se acaba de coronar campeona sudamericana, entró en el libro de oro del voleibol peruano al conquistar este galardón como jugadora y entrenadora.
En 1980, en el Sudamericano de la categoría disputado en Brasil, la hoy timonel del cuadro bicolor formó parte de aquel equipo que se coronó campeón venciendo justamente al elenco anfitrión.
A story worth to be mentioned. Natalia Málaga, coach of the national junior volleyball team that recently became South American champions, entered Peruvian Volleyball Hall of Fame as she conquered this title as a player and as a coach.
In 1980, in the South American tournament in Brazil, today's helmswoman of the two-color team was part of the team that became champions by beating precisely the host team.
Twitter is buzzing with comments and tweets about the championship with the hashtag #matadorcitas [es].
For instance, Sheila Vargas (@SheiRory) [es] says full of pride:
@SheiRory: El PERU nos hace sentirnos orgullosos. Amo mi tierra: gracias #Matadorcitas por devolver la ilusión.
@SheiRory: PERU makes us proud. I love my country: thanks #Matadorcitas for bringing us hope back.
Gloria Dioses (@gloriadioses) [es] makes some indirect comparisons with the football national team, notorious for their indiscipline:
@gloriadioses: Sin celulares, fb ni enamoraditos… mentalizadas en lo que querían lograr, las #matadorcitas clasificaron al mundial y derrotaron a Brasil
@gloriadioses: Without cell phones, Facebook nor boyfriends… focused on what they wanted to achieve, the #matadorcitas qualified to the World Cup and defeated Brazil.
Peruvian newspapers react to junior volleyball team's victory, image shared via Twitpic by Walter Melendez (@amigoperu76)
Making fun of some tremors felt in Lima recently, user @MikeReategui [es] said:
@MikeReategui: Temblor en Lima de 3,9 Parece que la Pachamama también celebra el triunfo de las #Matadorcitas#VoleyPeruano#Perú#Campeón#Sudamericano
@MikeReategui: A 3.9 tremor in Lima, it look like the Pachamama is also celebrating the triumph of #Matadorcitas #VoleyPeruano [Peruvian volleyball] #Perú #Campeón [champion] #Sudamericano [South American].
Pachamama is the Quechua word for land and, by extension, for Motherland.
According to Luis Alberto Wu (@LuisAlbertoWu) [es], the country needed some encouragement:
@LuisAlbertoWu: Perú NECESITABA esa victoria, gracias por devolvernos el ánimo a todos #Matadorcitas
@LuisAlbertoWu: Peru NEEDED that victory, thanks for getting us all back in a good mood. #Matadorcitas
Luis Francisco Vega (@Vegaluisfran) [es] is proud too:
@Vegaluisfran: Valen un Peru las #matadorcitas…Gracias por llevar una alegria mas al pais :)
@Vegaluisfran: The #matadorcitas are worth their weigh in gold… Thanks for bringing a new joy to the country :)
Finally, Lizajurel! (@Lizajurel) [es] sums it up very simply:
@Lizajurel: Son todo!!! #Matadorcitas
@Lizajurel: They are everything!!! #Matadorcitas
Global Voices contributor Juan Arellano [es] wrote a Storify post [es] about this historic victory.

author: Gabriela García Calderón


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Protest Against Chinese-owned copper mine in Myanmar · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Screen capture of a news report about the protest against Latpadaung copper mine in Myanmar. The Chinese banner said: Stop the Latpadaung copper
China Digital Times has put together news story of the crackdown of a protest against Chinese-owned copper mine in Monywa, Myanmar. Chinese state-controlled media outlet depicts the protest as the adverse effect of Myanmar’s democratic reforms.


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Riyadh Rain Causes 712 Road Accidents  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

It rained in the Saudi capital Riyadh yesterday [Nov 29, 2012]. Mohamed AlJuaid captures this image and tweets [ar]:
Riyadh Rain with a Parisian feel. Photograph shared by @mohammed919 on Twitter
أجواء الرياض باريسيه …. #أمطار_الرياض #الرياض
@mohammed919: Parisian weather in Riyadh today.
On a more sombre note, @amasq shares the toll [ar]:
#أمطار_الرياض : فقد شخصين ودهس ثلاثة آخرين، وإصابة ثماني حالات، ووقوع 712 حادثة مرورية هذي حرب عالميه ماصارت امطار
@amasq: Two people missing; three people run over by cars; eight people injured and 712 road accidents. This is a world war and not just some rain.


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South China Sea or Austronesian Sea? · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Le Minh Khai thinks that “Austronesian Sea” or “Nusantao Sea” are more appropriate names for the South China Sea referring to Austronesian peoples who navigated the territory in the past. There are maritime disputes in the area involving China and several Southeast Asian countries. The Philippine government has recently renamed it as West Philippine Sea.


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Syria Protest Videos Online Despite Internet Cut · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

With the Internet cut across Syria, videos of protests are still finding their way online.
On Twitter, Hivos reports:
@Hivos: While #internetcutinsyria @ANA_Feed continues to bring the news: video from large demonstrations today in Aleppo: http://ow.ly/fHVhx
The link they provide leads to this AENNetwork video, posted on YouTube, which shows a protest in Aleppo held today [Nov 30, 2012]:


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Syria: Time for a Frank Dialogue  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Syrian blogger Maysaloon calls for a frank dialogue on Syria. He writes:
What needs to happen now, and not when Assad falls, is frank dialogue with all – whether they are Islamists, Free Syrian Army, Jabhat al Nusra, the Kurds, whoever it may be, about core principles. For the sake of the country and their children they have to agree that political disputes, however paralysing, must never again transform into armed conflict. Basic respect for human rights and dignity are not difficult to agree upon and enforce.


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Tajikistan Blocks Popular News Website · Global Voices
Alexander Sodiqov

Four days after cutting local access to Facebook, Tajik authorities have ordered that internet providers and mobile operators also block the website of Radio Ozodi, RFE/RL‘s Tajik Service. The website has been one of the most popular news sources in Tajik. Blogger Temur Mengliev warns [ru] that efforts to restrict access to independent media might backfire:
The higher the walls they are building, cutting people off from the outside world, the more willing people are to destroy the walls and bury those who build them under the bricks.

author: Alexander Sodiqov


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The Surreality of Russian eDemocracy · Global Voices
Andrey Tselikov

The Coordinating Council of the Russian Opposition met for second time on November 24, 2012, a month after its 45 members were elected by nearly 100,000 online voters. In keeping with the its online origins, participants and audience members actively tweeted updates and excerpts from the four-hour-long meeting. One order of business was the somewhat scandalous appointment of Dmitry Nekrasov (who is not himself an elected council member) to be the Council's executive secretary. Council member Vladislav Naganov tweeted [ru]:
Итоги голосования по ответственному секретарю: 28 за, 4 против, 4 воздержались. Дмитрий Некрасов получил весомый кредит доверия от КС.
The results of the executive secretary vote: 24 for, 4 against, 4 abstained. Dmitry Nekrasov has received significant credibility from the CC.
Nekrasov's candidate profile for the Coordinating Council elections. Screenshot. Nov. 30, 2012.
The Council's decision notwithstanding, many questioned the logic of the appointment. Critics like Oleg Kozyrev raised [ru] Nekrasov's ties to the government:
Избрать застройщика (при Громове) Подмосковья, пришедшего в АП в 2009 году – ну ок, пусть это будет на совести всех, кто голосовал.
To elect a developer (during [former Regional Governor] Gromov's time) of the Moscow Region, who came the the AP [Office of the President] in 2009 — fine, let that be on the conscience of those who voted for him.
Joking further about Nekrasov's ties to Kremlin authorities (he's currently associated with former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin), Kozyrev later tweeted [ru]:
Надо было секретарем КС избрать Потупчик
The CC secretary should have been Potupchik [Kristina Potupchik, former NASHI press-secretary]
Leonid Volkov, the main developer and evangelist of the Council elections, relied on his gut feelings [ru]:
Чисто по-человески и интуитивно, это не тот человек. И это опасно для КС.
Purely instinctively and intuitively, this isn't the right guy. And that's a danger for the CC.
Meanwhile, @sssmirnov lamented [ru] the lack of other candidates, which essentially left the Council with no other choice:
у оппозиции выборы на безальтернативной основе. Просто охуеть же
the opposition has elections on an uncontested basis. That's just f*cked up.
Garry Kasparov, Chess Master and Coordinating Council member. © David Monniaux, 25 June 2012. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Whatever the criticisms, Nekrasov has proved a capable organizer (for instance, he managed the logistics for the second Council meeting). Presumably, he was also responsible for recording the Council minutes, published anonymously on GoogleDocs. The minutes, found here [ru], are a long read, but the view into the inner workings of the Council is unparalleled. RuNet Echo has translated an excerpt, featuring a debate about slogans for an upcoming protest. The conversation was at times quite surreal, but thoroughly revelatory about eDemocracy in practice:
Каспаров: Так, кто за то, чтобы проголосовать отдельно рейтингово все лозунги?
Некрасов: 23 ровно.
Каспаров: Так, хорошо. Теперь по очереди. Так, сколько лозунгов, Андрей Николаевич?
Илларионов: 12.
Каспаров: Нет, уже здесь проголосовали, уже здесь быстрее проголосуем.
Тогда зачитываю в порядке поступления. Свободу выбора. У меня 15, получилось 15. Свободу слова? У меня 16 получилось. Свободу политзаключенным. 35.
Г.Гудков: Гарри Кимович, только его нельзя делать первым. Все поддержали, но нельзя делать первым.
Каспаров: Можно, я пока.. Есть регламент. Я его выполняю. Дальше идем, Андрей Николаевич, ставьте быстро.
Илларионов: Следующий лозунг: Против диктатуры.
Каспаров: Долой диктатуру.
Навальный: Для протокола, те, кто не голосует за лозунг, они не за диктатуру.
Каспаров: Долой диктатуру.
Голос из зала: Гарри Кимович, было предложение «Нет диктатуре», это лучше.
Каспаров: Ну, неважно. Нет диктатуре, хорошо. 24.
Илларионов: Следующий: досрочные выборы.
Каспаров: 25. Дальше.
Илларионов: Лозунг «Справедливый суд».
Каспаров: 8. Никто не хочет справедливого суда. Ужас вообще, конечно.
Илларионов: Следующий лозунг. Банду Путина под суд.
Голос из зала: Был такой?
Илларионов: Нет, вариант есть. Банду Путина под справедливый суд.
Пархоменко: Вы хотели балагана, вы его имеете.
Каспаров: Поднимите руки, пожалуйста? 4 человека я насчитал. Дальше?
Илларионов: Даешь перевыборы.
Каспаров: Ну, это досрочные выборы.
Илларионов: Нет, даешь перевыборы – это вот есть лозунг отдельный.
Каспаров: Даешь перевыборы? Нету, никто не хочет.
Илларионов: Так, долой кровавый режим.
Голос из зала: Ну зачем…
Илларионов: Я извиняюсь, есть, мы обязаны это проголосовать.
Каспаров: Долой кровавый режим. Я вижу, три руки поднялись.
Илларионов: Так, тяга к свободе крепче всех тюрем.
Каспаров: Такие специалисты по физике политической. 4.
Илларионов: И последний лозунг, за вашу и нашу свободу. Рейтинговым голосованием.
Каспаров: 11.
Некрасов: Наиболее популярные, получается, «свобода политзаключенным» – 35 голосов. Далее «за досрочные выборы» – 25 голосов. Далее, «нет диктатуре» – 24 голоса.
Голос из зала: Долой диктатуру.
Некрасов: Подождите, тут было несколько вариантов, и последний озвученный был – нет диктатуре.
Голос из зала: Ну это неважно.
Kasparov: So, who is for voting separately for all the slogans and rating them?
Nekrasov: 23 even.
Kasparov: Ok, good. Now, one by one. So, how many slogans Andrei Nikolaevich?
Illarionov: 12.
Kasparov: No, we’ve already voted here, we’ll already vote faster here.
Then I’ll read them out in the order of receipt. Freedom of elections. I have 15, there’s 15. Freedom of speech? I have 16. Freedom for political prisoners. 35.
G.Gudkov: Garry Kimovich, we just can’t make that the primary slogan. Everyone is in support, but we can’t make it primary.
Kasparov: We can, as long as I . . . There are rules of procedure. I’m fulfilling them. Moving on, Andrei Nikolaevich, pose them quickly.
Illarionov: Next slogan: Against dictatorship.
Kasparov: Down with dictatorship.
Navalny: For the minutes, those who do not vote for the slogan, they aren’t for dictatorship.
Kasparov: Down with dictatorship.
Voice from the audience: Garry Kimovich, there was a suggestion “No to dictatorship”, that’s better.
Kasparov: Well, doesn’t matter. No to dictatorship, good. 24.
Illarionov: Next: snap elections.
Kasparov: 25. Go on.
Illarionov: The slogan is “Fair trials.”
Kasparov: 8. No one wants fair trials. That’s pretty horrible, surely.
Illarionov: Next slogan. Bring Putin’s gang to trial.
Voice from the audience: Wasn’t there already one like that?
Illarionov: No, there’s another version. Bring Putin’s gang to fair trial.
Parkhomenko: You wanted a circus, you’ve got it.
Kasparov: Raise your hands, please? I’ve counted 4 people. Next?
Illarionov: We demand reelection.
Kasparov: Well, that’s just snap elections
Illarionov: No, we demand reelection – it’s a whole other slogan.
Kasparov: We demand reelection? No, no want wants it.
Illarionov: So, down with the bloody regime.
Voice from the audience: What for . . .
Illarionov: My apologies, but we have to vote for this.
Kasparov: Down with the bloody regime. I can see three hands.
Illarionov: So, “the traction of freedom is stronger than any prison.”
Kasparov: Specialists on political physics I imagine. 4.
Illarionov: And the last slogan, for your and our freedom. Preferential voting.
Kasparov: 11.
Nekrasov: The most popular ones are “freedom to political prisoners” – 35 votes. Next is “for snap elections” – 25 votes. Next is “no to dictatorship” – 24 votes.
Voice from the audience: Down with the dictatorship.
Nekrasov: Wait, there were several versions, and the last one was – no to dictatorship.
Voice from the audience: It doesn’t matter.

author: Andrey Tselikov


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Thousands Protest at Tahrir Square against Constitutional Amendments  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Thousands of Egyptians are protesting at Tahrir Square, in downtown Cairo, against constitutional amendments, which the say undermine basic freedoms and give newly elected president Mohamed Morsi sweeping powers.
Thousands protesting at Tahrir Square in Cairo now. Photograph shared by Nazly Hussein (@nazlyhussein) on Twitter


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Virtual Game Leads to Real Job as Football Manager in Azerbaijan · Global Voices
Richard Wanjohi

On November 21, 2012, Vugar Huseynzade, a 21-year-old university graduate whose favourite past-time is playing the computer game Football Manager was confirmed as the new manager for Azerbaijan side FC Baku's reserve team. In an unprecedented move this gamer pipped former footballers including Frenchman Jean Pierre Papin to secure the job.
21-year-old Vugar Huseynzade, new manager for Azerbaijan's FC Baku's A team. Image courtesy of Azerbaijan FC Baku's official facebook page
Tyler Lee writing for the tech-blog Ubergizmo writes:
While we’re sure many of us out there dream of being able to become professional gamers and basically get paid to play games competitively, not all of us have the chops to get to that level, which is why it’s always nice to read about people who actually succeed while playing video games although in this case, it seems that this particular gamer was so good at playing the game that he was actually offered a job in real life which basically did the same thing. 21-year old gamer Vugar Huseynzade of Sweden has reportedly managed to land a job as a supporting manager of a football team despite having no experience managing a football team before – unless you count Sega and Sports Interactive’s Football Manager series. Huseynzade will be a manager in a support role of one of the Azerbaijan’s top football clubs, and it seems that despite his lack of experience, he has managed to beat out big names who have applied for the position including French legend, Jean-Pierre Papin. Not too shabby!
But is this 21-year-old up to the task? Sportsnewsireland.com says this on its blog:
Vugar Huseynzade was appointed to the role as manager of FC Baku’s A side despite never having managed a real life team before. The 21 year old’s only qualification for the job is his experience playing the computer game for the past 10 years.
The student has a degree in Business Management from Boston University and gained some experience in the sports world interning for an American sports agency.
Huseynzade somehow found himself in Azerbaijan where he was hired by the Premier League club as an assistant earlier this year. The club were so impressed by his prowess at Football Manager that he was promoted to his new position. So for all those Football Manager fans who spent hours on their computers dreaming they were managing their team to glory, their dreams may come true. Who knows maybe Roman Abramovich might be taking note as he searches for Chelsea’s next manager!
So as the bloggers say, next time you decide to play a computer game, do so with the firm commitment that one day you might be the next manager of your favourite team, the driver of your favourite motoring team or the best martial artist in your side of town!


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Will China’s New Leadership Bring More Freedom of Press? · Global Voices
Abby Liu

China Central Television (CCTV) has always been considered as government propaganda. However, the past week has seen progress in its news coverage, including that of Ren Jiayu, a young man who was sent to labor camp for Internet speech.
Chinese netizens are wondering: will the new leadership bring more freedom of press? Read more discussions at TeaLeafNation.


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Wiping Out Ethiopia’s History for the Sake of Development · Global Voices
abelpoly

It was in 1896 that Ethiopian forces led by Emperor Menelik II had defeated an Italian army with better contemporary military technology at the Battle of Adwa. Subsequently, the victorious Emperor had brought in a range of technologies including railway to transform his country. For his triumph at Adwa and for his endeavor to change Ethiopia in his own ways, a statue in his honor was erected at the center of Addis Ababa called Arada.
The statute of Emperor Menelik II in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Photo courtes of Abel Wabell.
Almost forty years later, in 1935, the Italians launched a new but a prearranged military campaign endorsed by their then belligerent leaders. The Italians managed to have a brief military occupation of Ethiopia but faced a staunch resistance from Ethiopians.
Pope Abune Petros, who was among the first Popes of Ethiopian Orthodox Church, was the leading figure of the resistance in Ethiopia. The Italians never liked what he was doing as a patriot and tried to stop him. He was forced to appear before General Rodolfo Graziani to submit and declare the Ethiopian patriots as bandits. He refused to comply with their demand and condemned the aggressors instead. He asked Ethiopians to struggle for their freedom. Finally, the Italians executed him in public. As it was done with Emperor Menelik II, a statue of Abune Petros was built at the center of Addis Ababa as reminiscent of his unwavering stand for his country.
However, unconfirmed reports are circulating online that the two iconic statues found on an historical thoroughfare might get wrecked due to an Addid Ababa rail tunnel construction project. The reports have not been received well by some netizens.
The statute of Pope Abune Petros in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Photo courtesy of Abel Wabell.
Daniel Kiberet, a blogger who usually write on culture, history and spirituality of Ethiopia, asks [amh]:
ይህ የባቡር መሥመር የአቡነ ጴጥሮስንና የዐፄ ምኒሊክን ሐውልት እንዲነሡ ያደርጋል?
ለዚህ ጥያቄ ምላሹ ‹አዎን› ከሆነ ስለ ባቡሩ የሚኖረን ግምት ይለያል፡፡ ኢትዮጵያን እናሳድጋለን ስንል ያሳደጓትን እየዘነጋንና መታሰቢያቸውን እያፈረስን መሆን የለበትም፡፡ ‹በማን ላይ ቆመሽ እግዜርን ታሚያለሽ› አለ ያገሬ ሰው፡፡ የምናመጣው አዲስ ነገር ባለን ላይ የሚጨመር እንጂ ያለንን የሚያጠፋ መሆን የለበትም፡፡ መኪና ያስፈልገናል፣ ግን እግር የሚቆርጥ መሆን የለበትም፡፡ ወደድንም ጠላንም ይህች ሀገር የታሪክና የቅርስ ሀገር ናት፡፡ ይህ ታሪኳና ቅርሷ ደግሞ የህልውናዋም ምንጭና መሰንበቻም ጭምር ነው፡፡ ይህን ታሪክና ቅርስ እያጠፉና እያበላሹ የሚመጣ ለውጥ አንገት ቆርጦ ፀጉርን እንደማስተካከል ነው የሚቆጠረው፡፡ እናም የሚመለከታቸው ሁሉ ወደ ርምጃ ከመግባታቸው በፊት ሦስት ጊዜ ሊያስቡ ይገባል፡፡ መቼም የመጀመርያውን ባቡር ያስገቡትን የዐፄ ምኒሊክን ሐውልት አፍርሶ ባቡር እናስገባ ማለት የታሪክ ምጸት ነው፡፡ ለነጻነት የተሠውትን የአቡነ ጴጥሮስ ሐውልት ነቅሎ በባቡር ላይ በነጻነት ለመሄድ መከጀል ግፍ መሥራት ነው የሚሆነው፡፡”
Will the Addis Ababa rail lines construction destroy the statues of Emperor Menelik II & martybishop Abune Petros?
If the answer to this question is yes, our stance for the rail lines construction would be different! Our development should not come at the expense of the statues of forefathers of Ethiopia who have given their life for the country! There is a saying which says “Are you gossiping God while you give your weight for the soil!” What we put in for development should reflect on what we already have, it should not destroy what we have. We might need vehicles but the vehicles should not cut off our feet. Whether we like it or not Ethiopia is a country with rich history and heritage and these are foundations for our survival and continuation. So constructing rail lines at the cost of Ethiopia’s iconic figures is like going to a barber shop for hair cut after amputating one’s head! The project group should think thrice before they decide to demolish these statutes. Destroying a figure of a man who had built the first railway in Ethiopia a century ago to construct rail lines is a complete sarcasm! Demolishing the statute of a man who had given his life for freedom of his country and wishing to commute freely on the train is an indulgence.
Abush Zekaryas relates an incident related to the recent controversy, which erupted in Italy after a small town east of Rome built a memorial to a Fascist military leader, General Rodolfo Graziani, using public funds. He writes [amh]:
ጣሊያናዊያን ለፋሽስቱ ግራዚያኒ መታሰቢያ ሲያቆሙ ኢትዮጵያዊያን የአቡነ ጴጥሮስን እና የአጴ ምኒልክን ሀውልት ሊያፈርሱ ነው ይባላል፡፡ እንዲህ ነው ልዩነት እና እድገት
While some Italians built a memorial to a Fascist military leader, there is a rumor that Ethiopians are set to demolish the iconic statues of Menelik II and Abune Petros! What an irony – this is the difference and this is the progress!
And Aderegen, an anonymous group of bloggers, posted on their blog [amh]:
እኛ እያልን ያለነው ሀገሪቱ ላይ የሚሰሩ ፕሮጀክቶች ለምን ቅድመ ጥናት ሲካሄድ የእምነትና የሐውልት ቦታዎች ፤ የአባቶቻችን ለቤተክርስቲያንም ሆነ ለኢትዮጵያ አሻራቸውን ያስቀመጡበት ቦታ ከግምት ውስጥ አይገባም ? ወይስ ከበስተጀርባ ሌላ ነገር አለ……?..
What we are asking is “Why are these kinds of projects not preplanned? Why are the statues and historical places of our forefathers who have contributed a lot for Ethiopia not given due emphasis during planning? Or is there a conspiracy against Ethiopia’s history?
However, pro-government media, Fana Broadcasting Corporate, has a self contradictory story on their website denying the iconic statues will be demolished for rail lines construction! [amh]:
ሀውልቱ ምንም ችግር ሳይደርስ የባቡር መስመር ዝርጋታው ይከናወናል ያሉት ሃላፊው ፥ የባቡር መተላለፊያ ዋሻ ከሃውልቱ ስር ስለሚገነባ ፤ ግንባታው እስኪያልቅ ድረስ ሃውልቱ ለጥቂት ጊዜ ተነስቶ ከዋሻው መጠናቀቅ በኋላ ወደ ቦታው እነደሚመለስ ተናግረዋል።አያይዘውም ይህ የባቡር መስመር ግንባታ የዳግማዊ ሚኒሊክ ሀውልትን በምንም መልኩ እንደማይነካው የሚወራው ወሬ መሰረተ ቢስ መሆኑንም ነው ያስረዱት።”
The rail lines will be contracted without doing any damage to the statues. However, as the Addis Ababa rail tunnel project passes through the iconic thoroughfare it will momentarily dig up the Abune Petros statue and it will not get anywhere near the statue of Menelik II. All the rumors revolving around this are baseless.
This is the second time in a year that the Ethiopian government has sparked controversy involving a statue. Kwame Nkrumah's statue, which was unveiled at the African Union (AU) headquarters, which was built with help of the Chinese government, has also sparked anger amongst Ethiopians as many Ethiopians feel that the country's former leader Haile Selassie also deserved recognition.

author: abelpoly


text:
Access to Public Information: It’s Your Right!  · Global Voices
Elena Arrontes

It is not always easy to obtain information, data and documents from public administrations, despite the fact that the information in their hands belongs to the citizens. In practice, accessing information has many obstacles that violate international treaties like the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents and more than 93 laws on access to information in the world.
This is one of the motives for which some civil society organizations, dedicated to pro-transparency activism, have launched a series of online platforms that allow people to request information from public institutions. In Europe, AsktheEU.org‘s main purpose is to process requests to European institutions while Your right to know [es], created and managed by the NGO Access Info Europe in collaboration with Fundación Civio [es], centers on Spanish institutions. The platform allows any citizen to send information requests directly to the desired administrations whether they be local, autonomous, or national. The idea came from British website WhatDoTheyKnow?, created by MySociety and based on free software called Alaveteli. Similar tools exist in Brazil, Germany, Chile, Kosovo, and Uruguay, with the recently debuted What do you know? [es].
With these applications, the information requests that each person sends to institutions are public. This permits anyone to follow the request and see the corresponding response. The system allows, among other things, public institutions to save time by not having to answer the same requests multiple times, and also helps the actual users who do not have to wait for an answer to a question that has already been asked. It therefore improves the system of transparency and makes it more efficient. The user has the opportunity to indicate if the answer was satisfactory or not and can even provide a resource in case he or she did not obtain the information requested by the deadline set for it.
Graph with results of Astheeu.org platform after one year.
The results vary from one country to the next depending on the national laws implemented for access to information. In Spain, the legislation excludes a lot of information from the scope of the law and permits administrative silence, which is to say that if they do not respond, the request is considered denied. Spain is the only country in the European Union with a population of over 1 million that does not have a transparency law (except regarding environmental material). Although the bill is currently awaiting amendments in the Parliament, experts who have already analyzed it consider it insufficient, and that it is below international standards [es]. If the text of the Transparency Law is approved as it stands, no major changes to the current lack of transparency will be made.
There are other similar initiatives that, like those mentioned previously, take advantage of the Internet to put it at the service of access to information, demand the right to know, and create an incentive for institutions’ accountability. In this sense, TweetyourMEP as well as Tweetminster and TweetCongress facilitate the possibility of sending messages via Twitter to representatives of the European Union or other politicians, whom the users want to speak to.
Access to information is a fundamental right linked to freedom of expression. Information is the key to forming public opinions and, as such, to citizenship participation in the decision making process. Institutions must answer the requests not only out of obligation but also to regain citizen confidence in those that represent them. If institutions were more transparent and accountable for their actions, the gap between the two would improve notably. A CIS study [es] pointed out that the third problem for one in four Spaniards is political management. It is no coincidence that this occurs in Spain, taking into account that this country does not apply Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights which protects “the freedom to receive or communicate information or ideas.” In April 2009, the European Tribunal on Human Rights recognize that the right to freedom of expression specifically includes the right to access to information [es] in the hands of public entities.
In the following video, the director of the NGO Access Info Europe, Helen Darbishire, explains how and why to use the Asktheeu.org platform:
http://youtu.be/uOvVdWafjEU

author: Elena Arrontes


text:
‘Carousel Voting’ Goes Viral in Kyrgyz Elections · Global Voices
Saikal Nogoibaeva

Nearly three months of intrusive and irksome electoral campaigns in Kyrgyzstan came to an end as votes were counted for the five municipal elections held on November 25. But with the results in, a scandalous piece of citizen media has left a sour taste in the mouth.
On November 26, a day after the elections, a netizen named myrkkk posted [ru] a sensational video on a popular video-sharing service blive.kg, depicting a woman offering instructions on “carousel voting” to voters in the capital, Bishkek. The woman, Nargiza Azhibaeva,  coordinator of the youth wing of the opposition party ‘Respublika’, is shown giving instructions to young people on how to cast ballots multiple times.
A demotivator picture of Respublika youth wing members depicted as ‘carousel’ voters. Carousel voting is a form of vote rigging popular in the former Soviet Union. It involves groups of voters being bussed from one polling station to another to cast multiple votes (taken from Kloop.kg).
For her part, Azhibaeva, whose party is headed by former Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov (featured in Global Voices reports here and here) has claimed [ru] in a subsequent interview that the video tape was designed to discredit Respublika, and that the country's secret police, under the control of President Almasbek Atambayev, had intimidated her into doing it.
In the video itself, Azhibaeva is filmed saying [ru]:
Сейчас в первую очередь необходимо, чтобы вы были психологически к этому готовы. В принципе, до пяти часов мы максимально пытались работать честно, но уже ситуация выходит из-под контроля — в 7 часов УИКи закрываются, и мы сейчас будем пропускать своих людей.
Now first of all it is necessary for you to be mentally prepared for this. We tried to work honestly up until five o'clock, but the situation is already getting out of control -the polling stations are closing at 7, and we are going to send our people in.
The woman then tells [ru] the young people to prove that they can erase ink from their fingers and notifies them of the “friendly” official they should present themselves to at the polling station prior to casting multiple votes. She also tells them the secret password to tell the official:
Во сколько закрывается УИК?
What time do the polling stations close?
The video soon became popular among netizens, who incorporated the “What time do the polling stations close?” meme in a series of demotivator pictures:
In this demotivator, President Atambayev teases his younger rival, former PM Omurbek Babanov. In a mix of Russian and Kyrgyz, Atambayev says “Ay! Little Omurbek!” to which Babanov replies: “What?” Atambayev then moves in with the punchline: “What time do the polling stations close?”
If found guilty Azhibaeva could face [ru] up to seven years of imprisonment, although Pamir Asanov, the country's Deputy Police Chief, reminded [ru] people that the video clip did not reveal carousel voting itself, just an apparent preparation for it.
At any rate, the incident once more showcased the wry sense of humour of Kyrgyz netizens and the tendency to view everything related to political life in the country with healthy cynicism. Among a host of comments congratulating the person who filmed the video (whether a KGB agent or just an ordinary citizen faking fake voting) Doto's observation stood out [ru] as the embodiment of this cynicism:
Да молодой состав Республики спалился,не зря говорят опыт прежде всего……..))
Naturally it was the youth wing of Respublika that messed up – experience counts for everything in this game…..))
Another MP, Shirin Aitmatova, suspected [ru] that rumours the video was made on the orders of the ruling party may have something to it:
Я не знаю, правда это или нет, в этом нужно разбираться. Но если это правда, и видео заказное, а снимали его представители спецслужб, то я думаю, мы возвращаемся в бакиевские времена. Когда спецслужбы занимались не своими функциональными обязанностями, а исполняют приказы власть имущих.
I am not sure whether this is true or not, it should be examined. But, if it's true and the video was ordered and made by the representatives of intelligence agencies, then we are truly going back to the [former President] Bakiyev era, when intelligence agencies executed the orders of those in power instead of carrying out their functional duties.
As the vote in Bishkek finished, it became clear that it was President Atambayev's Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan that had won a clear victory, with almost twice as many votes as Respublika, the second placed party. Tensions over the vote threatened [ru] the collapse of the parliamentary ruling coalition, a fairly regular occurrence in Kyrgyzstan's young parliamentary democracy. (Global Voices has covered the politics of coalition-building/breaking in Kyrgyzstan here, here and here)
N.B Campaigns for the municipal elections proved a topic that was of much interest to Kyrgyzstani bloggers. In this blog Ilya Lukash complains [ru] about one party's attempt to forward a candidate with acknowledged criminal ties to the southern city council of Jalalabad. As part of Kloop's news coverage of the campaigns, Russian PR specialists dissected [ru] the advertising strategies of the various competing parties. The PR specialists didn't pull any punches….

author: Saikal Nogoibaeva