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Azerbaijan: Video Campaign to Release Detained Activists · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

The recent detention of two cyber-activists and youth leaders in Azerbaijan this past week has caused consternation among bloggers and activists inside and outside Azerbaijan, and now a video campaign has been set off to call the Azeri government into action to release both youth movement leaders:  Adnan Hajizada and Emin Milli.
Previous Global Voices posts have been updating information: from the July 8th detention on charges of hooliganism, to reactions from the blogosphere to their detention and arrest. A brief summary of the alleged events is being offered at the Support Azerbaijani Youth Activists’ page where people can submit their support videos:
On 8th of July while Azerbaijani youth movement leaders Adnan Hajizada and Emin Milli were talking to their friends in a restaurant two unknown sportsmen attacked and started beating them. As a result Adnan's nose was broken and Emin's foot was hurt.
Despite the fact that they themselves went to the police so as to complain as victims, the police detained them as suspects. The sportsmen who attacked them were released. No medical assistance was provided to Emin and Adnan during 48 hours. They were not allowed to meet with their lawyers.
After these 48 hours, the court has ruled for 2 months’ detention for Emin and Adnan without any proofs and grounding. Further investigation will proceed during these 2 months pre-trial detention. The investigation is fake. The court has turned into a theatre.
We turn to the entire world today:
Do not let Azerbaijani youth alone. Please support us. Do not allow Azerbaijani youth fighting for democracy to be silenced.
The following is their shout out to video bloggers everywhere to make a video asking for the release of Adnan and Emin:
People have already complied to this request (including myself) and have uploaded their support videos:
From Taiwan:
From Azerbaijan:
and from Hawaii:
To send your own support message is easy:
1. Take a camera
2. Introduce yourself: My name is … I am from…
3. Send your support message to Adnan and Emin
4. Finish your video with the words: I call on Azerbaijani government to end this lawlessness.
5. Upload this video to Youtube with subject “Support to Adnan and Emin”
6. Send the link of the video to ol.azerbaijan@gmail.com

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Bermuda: Thoughts on Capital Punishment  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Due to the recent (and not so recent) spate of violent deaths, there has been much talk about the lenience of our laws pertaining to murder and manslaughter”: Bermuda Jewel advocates the reintroduction of capital punishment.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Brazil: Plaintiffs try to silence one of the country’s leading journalists · Global Voices
Paula Góes

At 59 years of age, over 43 of which have been dedicated to his career, Lúcio Flávio Pinto is a prize winning journalist from the Brazilian state of Pará who  independently runs the small biweekly  Jornal Pessoal [Personal Newspaper, pt]. Reporting as it does on drug trafficking, environmental issues, and political and corporate corruption, as well as media bias and domination, it is no news that Pinto has been subject to a number of lawsuits.
The last piece of news from the courts came on Monday, 7th July, when Judge Raimundo das Chagas Filho ordered the journalist to pay R$ 30,000 (approximately US$15,000) in damages in a civil libel suit to brothers Ronaldo and Romulo Maiorana Jr.,  principals of the powerful regional media company Organizações Romulo Maiorana, with a two newspapers, two radio stations and a TV channel, affiliated to Globo Network. They had argued that the memory of their father had been damaged by an article published in 2005 in the Jornal Pessoal newspaper, which has now been republished on many blogs.
According to the Committee for the Protection of Journalists, “the decision is part of a systematic pattern of legal harassment against Pinto, who faces more than 10 lawsuits from powerful plaintiffs”. The  CPJ Senior Americas Program Coordinator, Carlos Lauría, says: “We call on Judge Raimundo das Chagas Filho to overturn the sentence. By suing Pinto, the plaintiffs are trying to silence one of Brazil's leading journalists.” In 2005, Lúcio Flávio Pinto won the CPJ International Press Freedom Award, covering corruption in Brazil's lawless Amazon.
Rose Silveira from Observatório de Imprensa [Press Observatory, pt] brings Pinto's impressive achievements as an independent journalist into focus:
Lúcio Flávio Pinto, de 59 anos, em quatro décadas de jornalismo é um dos profissionais mais respeitados no Brasil e no exterior. Seu Jornal Pessoal resiste, de forma alternativa, há 22 anos, sem aceitar patrocínio ou anúncios, garantindo a independência de seu editor frente aos temas públicos do Pará, sobretudo na seara política. Por sua atuação intransigente frente aos desmandos políticos, às injustiças sociais e ao desrespeito aos direitos humanos, recebeu prêmios internacionais importantes: em 1997, em Roma, o prêmio Colombe d´Oro per La Pace; e em 2005, em Nova York, o prêmio anual do CPJ (Comittee for Jornalists Protection). Além disso, é premiado com vários Esso. É também autor de 14 livros, tendo como tema central a Amazônia; os mais recwentes são Contra o Poder, Memória do Cotidiano e Amazônia Sangrada (de FHC a Lula).
In four decades of journalism, Lúcio Flávio Pinto, 59,  has been one of the most respected professionals in Brazil and abroad. His Jornal Pessoal has resisted, in an alternative way, for 22 years, without accepting sponsorship or advertising, ensuring the independence of its editor when it comes to the public issues of Pará, especially in political matters. For his uncompromising action against misuse of politics, social injustice and disrespect of human rights, he has received important international awards: in 1997 in Rome, the Colombe d'Oro per la Pace prize, and in 2005 in New York, the CPJ (Committee for the Protection of Journalists) annual prize. Furthermore, he has been rewarded with several Esso prizes. He is also the author of 14 books, with the Amazon as the central plot: the most recent are Contra o Poder [Against Power], Memória do Cotidiano [Memories of Daily Life] and Amazônia Sangrada (de FHC a Lula) [Bleeding Amazon (from FHC to Lula)].
The Maiorana persecution of Pinto has lasted for 17 years and the news of the sentence imposed on him has shocked many, including Pinto himself. In a letter to his readers, republished on many blogs such as morenocris [pt], Pinto says he is perplexed at the punishment and the Judge's justification of it, which, according to him, has no correspondence with the facts and contemplates only the plaintiffs’ version of facts:
O juiz alega na sua sentença que escrevi o artigo movido por um “sentimento de revanche” contra os irmãos Maiorana. Isto porque, “meses antes de tamanha inspiração”, me envolvi “em grave desentendimento” com eles.
O “grave desentendimento” foi a agressão que sofri, praticada por um dos irmãos, Ronaldo Maiorana. A agressão foi cometida por trás, dentro de um restaurante, onde eu almoçava com amigos, sem a menor possibilidade de defesa da minha parte, atacado de surpresa que fui. Ronaldo Maiorana teve ainda a cobertura de dois policiais militares, atuando como seus seguranças particulares. Agrediu-me e saiu, impune, como planejara. Minha única reação foi comunicar o fato em uma delegacia de polícia, sem a possibilidade de flagrante, porque o agressor se evadiu. Mas a deliberada agressão foi documentada pelas imagens de um celular, exibidas por emissora de televisão de Belém.
The Judge argues in his sentence that I wrote the article driven by a “sense of revenge” against the Maiorano brothers. This is because, “months before such an inspiration”, I was involved “in a serious disagreement” with them.
The “serious disagreement” was the assault I suffered, committed by one of the brothers, Ronaldo Maiorano. The assault was behind my back, in a restaurant, where I was having lunch with friends, without any possibility of defense, I was attacked by surprise. Ronaldo Maiorano was covered by two state police officers, acting as his private security guards. He attacked me and left, unpunished, as he had planned. My only reaction was to communicate the fact to the police, without the possibility of catching him red-handed, because the offender had escaped. But the deliberate attack was documented on a mobile phone, and broadcast by a TV channel in Belém.
The article at the center piece of the disagreement was written for a book eight months after the said aggression, and only after publication in Italy was it re-published in Pinto's personal newspaper. Idelber Avelar [pt] pinpoints a more feasible reason for the lawsuit:
Alguns meses depois da agressão, Lúcio foi convidado pelo jornalista Maurizio Chierici a escrever um artigo para um livro a ser publicado na Itália. O texto, eminentemente jornalístico, relatava as origens do grupo Liberal. Em determinado momento, dentro de um contexto bem mais amplo, ele fez referência às atividades de Maiorana pai no contrabando, prática bem comum, aliás, na Região Norte na época. Como se pode depreender da leitura do artigo, nada ali tinha cunho calunioso, posto que – uma vez processado –, Lúcio anexou aos autos toda a documentação que provava a veracidade do que afirmava. (…)
A obra investigativa de Lúcio fala por si própria: veja a qualidade da prosa e da pesquisa que informa o trabalho de Lúcio e julgue você mesmo. O que ele oferece em seus textos, entre muitas outras coisas, é a documentação, história e raízes daquilo que é sabido até mesmo pelos mosquitos do mercado Ver-o-Peso: que n’O Liberal só se publica aquilo que é de interesse da corja dos Marinho.
A screenshot of Jornal Pessoal – Pinto's personal newspaper, only recently published online too
The judge also banned Pinto from publishing the names of the Maiorana brothers in Jornal Pessoal, and if he doesn't comply with the judge's decision he can be charged with contempt. Walter Rodrigues [pt] says the fee is surreal considering that Jornal Pessoal has a circulation of only 2,000 papers. He calls it plain censorship:
Segundo a sentença do juiz Raimundo das Chagas Filho, Lúcio Flávio pode muito bem pagar a indenização, por ser dono de um jornal “periódico de grande aceitação pelo público, principalmente pela classe estudantil, o que lhe garante um bom lucro”. O JP, na verdade, vive apenas da venda avulsa, sem assinantes nem anunciantes, praticamente não dá lucro e parou de circular várias vezes, nos últimos 15 anos, por falta de recursos.
A imposição de censura — vedada na Constituição — consiste na proibição de citar negativamente o nome dos Maiorana em matérias futuras, sob pena de multa de mais R$ 30 mil. Já o direito de resposta nunca fora solicitado diretamente ao jornalista, nem este jamais o havia recusado a ninguém.
The imposition of censorship – prohibited in the constitution – is the ban on mentioning the name of the Maiorano family negatively in future pieces, under penalty of a fine of more than R$ 30,000. However, the journalist has never been asked to publish a reply, nor has the opportunity to reply ever been denied.
Ana Célia Pinheiro [pt] agrees, and says that Judge Raimundo das Chagas seems to be “absolutely unprepared for the pursuit of the Judiciary”:
Não pode um juiz pisotear a Constituição e impor a censura prévia, como fez o senhor Raimundo das Chagas em relação ao jornalista Lúcio Flávio Pinto. (…)
Não pode um juiz simplesmente ignorar as provas trazidas aos autos, no afã de transformar a vítima em algoz.
Não pode um juiz esquecer a importância do serviço que presta à coletividade – e não, simplesmente, a alguns.
A judge cannot forget the importance of the service he provides to the community – and not simply to a few.
Marcus Benedito [pt] publishes the full text of the decision and points out a factual discrepancies:
O mesmo artigo 5º da Constituição Federal – CF, que deveria garantir o direito à informação, à liberdade de expressão etc, foi utilizado pela oligarquia Maiorana para condenar Lúcio Flávio Pinto.
Pinto can still appeal against the decision, but while the mainstream media has been incredibly quiet about the sentence, the blogosphere immediately started a campaign to help him to foot the bill (which should be paid in addition to legal costs) and to promote awareness of this example of yet another instance of harassment against independent journalists and bloggers. A new blog [pt] has been created by Lucia Gomes, primarily to gather signatures in solidarity with Lúcio Flávio Pinto. Over 200 people have signed so far. According to the blog:
Esse fato demonstra o que significa fazer jornalismo de verdade na capital do Pará: uma condenação.
Even for those who haven't got much money to donate, any help will do as a token, as Alex Castro [pt], a self publishing author, points out. He has donated the same amount as the price of his upcoming book, “Mulher de um Homem Só” [Woman of Just one Man, as of yet untranslated].
Façam suas contas e conversem com suas consciências. Pesem quanto podem dar e quanto vale uma imprensa genuinamente independente. E, se acharem que devem, ajudem.
Eva Maués [pt] takes on the suggestion from a comment and heads the “coinage” campaign. She explains:
Todos os solidários ao Lúcio, que já provou não ter condições de arcar com tal despesa, podem doar moedas para que os R$ 30 mil sejam pagos em moedas de R$ 0,10. Já gostei e reforço aqui no blog a campanha. Vamos todos juntar as 300 mil moedas necessárias ao troco para os Maiorana.
Luciane Fiúza de Mello [pt] summarizes the feelings of many bloggers:
Lúcio Flávio Pinto, estamos todos contigo e contra esta Justiça corrompida que envergonha a gente. Que este juiz absurdo sinta o peso da injustiça que está cometendo.
Global Voices has another post on the subject: Brazil: Judicial decisions, a growing threat to online freedom.

author: Paula Góes


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China: Fresh tensions in Xinjiang · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

James Leibold from the China Beats points out that both the Western and Chinese media have failed to explain the tensions happening in Xinjiang that lead to massive killing as the tensions are new.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Costa Rica: Launch of Promises 2010 Site · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Marcial Cambronero announces the launch of the Promesas 2010 (Promises 2010) site [es], which will help hold Costa Rican politicians accountable for their campaign promises.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Dominica: Investing in Women  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Dominica Weekly says that the island's “muted” celebration of World Population Day was an opportunity lost “to start to create meaningful change in the lives of our women”, but adds: “It’s never be too late to create a positive movement…”


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Egypt: Mounir Said Hanna found guilty of “Satire” · Global Voices
Marwa Rakha

Egyptian Mounir Said Hanna Marzuq has been found guilty of “satire” after a colleague reported him and his poem to the authorities. He has been sentenced to three years and was fined L.E. 100,000 for insulting president Hosni Mubarak.
Zeinobia called on Coptic human rights activist and the lawyer of the orthodox church, Naguib Gabriel and asked:
Where is Naguib Gabriel when you need him?
She also posted a translation of some of the verses that led to the man's downfall:
Shine, shine whom you shine on all of us
Shine, shine whom you shine wherever you go
No one can shine like you shine
You made people feel confused and lost
You made people feel happy and lost
Mounir Said Hanna was hoping that his lines would be turned into a ballad:
Zeinobia jotted down her frustration saying:
I am so angry for those who reported Mounir to the authorities !! Are we living the Nasserite era with reports writing again !!??
I wonder where are the human rights organizations in Egypt ?? Is not this an attack on freedom of expression ??
What did Mounir do for all that ??? So what if he mocks Mubarak !!?? Mubarak is not a God , he is just a president.
I wonder where is the Church from all this ??? Or now we are a secular country !!?
Speaking of the Church, Al Mowaten blogged it's reaction saying:
وأكد نجيب جبرائيل مستشار البابا شنودة للشؤون القانونية بأن المواطن لم يكن يقصد إهانة مبارك وأن ما قام به عمل أدبي لا يمكن التعامل معه على نحو غير ذلك.
Save Egypt Front posted the beginning of the story:
Furthermore:
The sentence has been appealed and the final verdict will be pronounced on July 18, 2009.

author: Marwa Rakha


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Egyptian Women and a Fresh Outlook on Divorce · Global Voices
Marwa Rakha

Divorce has always been a stigma in the Egyptian society. Today, the winds of change are blowing this away.
Blogger Shaymaa El Gammal blogged about  an online radio dedicated to divorced women. Quoting Mahasen Saber, the owner of I want a divorce blog and radio, she wrote:
Quoting Youm7 Newspaper Hayat blogs about the second program saying:
And about the third program she writes:
While the fourth one is:
Blogger Eman Hashim posted a coinciding article entitled “We are to blame”:
اللى ربى الراجل على ان المطلقة دى واحدة هاتموت و تبقى مع اى راجل و لو نص ساعة الست
و اللى قبلت انها عشان كبرت فى السن فمش من حقها تطلب اى طلبات و عادى انها تتجوز متجوز عشان تشتغ له شغالة ست
اللى ربت بنتها انها تقبل اى اهانة فى الخطوبة عشان تتجوز لحسن ده خلاص مفيش عرسان ست
و اللى انضربت قدام ابنها و بنتها و ما قالتش حاجة لحست تتطلق و المطلقة دى سبة … برضه ست
And finally Asser Yasser shared some recent statistics (September 2008) about Egyptian women lest the state of panic over finding a man resides:
Previously it was noted that the ratio was 1 male : 4 females.


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India: How History helped shape ‘Indian English’ · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

In this post, PNH at Desicritics reflects on the impact of Indian history and culture on the English language.

author: Aparna Ray


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India: Is divorce really the easy way out? · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

Aparna Singh at  Ultra Violet shares her view that despite the rise in the number of divorce cases in India, a divorce is never the easy way out of a marriage – never mind what some cynics may say.


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Iran: Armenian bloggers on plane crash · Global Voices
Artur Papyan

When a regular flight en route from Tehran to Yerevan crashed after takeoff yesterday, killing all 168 on board, many in Armenia and its Diaspora were distressed, and not least since there were 40 ethnic Armenians among the dead. Ianyan provides the background to why Armenians were so concerned.
A Russian-built Caspian Airlines plane crashed in Iran headed for Yerevan, Armenia on Wednesday after it caught on fire in mid-air and killed all 168 people on board when it collided into farmland near the city of Qazvin, just 16 minutes after take off.
Eight members of Iran’s youth judo team and many Armenians were among those killed, included two who were part of the flight crew. Iran is home to around 100,000 ethnic Armenians who usually fly between the two bordering countries to visit relatives.
Select details from local and international news reports were quickly spread by many on Twitter and Facebook, one of the most prolific being @unzippedblog.
Most comments on social networks and blog posts in the LiveJournal blogging community on the crash in Armenia were obviously limited to information taken from newswires and other media outlets.
However, Iranian-Armenian blog ՏՐԱՄԱԳԻԾ  [AM] not only posted photographs of the accident, but also Armenian-language translations of Iranian state TV reports.
The “Tupalov” airplane took off Tehran international airport and crashed 16 minutes later near Khazin area. […] Republic's president Ahmadinejad just spoke, conveying condolences and demanding those responsible, to conduct detailed investigations and find out the reasons of the crash and report back as soon as possible.
In another post, the blogger detailed one Armenian citizen, Harutyun Khalghatian, who was late for the flight.
Harutyun Khalghatian, 44 was visiting Tehran on business and was visiting Tehran and was saved by a miracle. In an interview with Khalghatian's friend…. we found out that he had a party last night, because of which he woke up late and couldn't make it to the flight.
Լճակ [RU] provided links and updates to news on the crash, while veteran dissident journalist-blogger Mark Grigorian offered his own opinion on the use of antiquated planes.
“Time to hand out all the Soviet planes as scrap metal, ” adding in the comments section:
Sadly, the soviet planes have worn out not only physically, but also morally. This particular machine, I guess, is a morally worn out one.
@Unzippedblog tweeted the question on everybody's mind:
Why on earth #Iran still uses that ancient Russian plane TY-154! They should be banned. #armenia #yerevan.
He posted an answer in a later tweet.
BBC confirmes http://bit.ly/BpFW9 that poor air safety record in #Iran is due to sanctions imposed by US. #armenia #yerevan
Если бы можно было жить в море… [RU] who blame the US embargo on Iran for the crash.
God give piece to their soal… there were two kids. They say catastrophes are frequent in Iran, because of the embargo which doesn't let them update the plane fleets and they mostly have TU's and old American jets.
Others, such as Words Blog, recounted how relatives knew some of those that died.
“There were two air-technicians in the plain who worked for the Caspian. I didn't know them, but my mother and aunt worked with them.”
“Was in the airport today… it hurts…” wrote 517 Design [RU], a blogger and photographer back from Yerevan's airport with an accompanying photo.
© PanARMENIAN Photo / Sedrak Mkrtchyan

author: Artur Papyan


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Iran: Online videos send messages to Joe Biden · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

About 100 Iranians, Americans and Iranian-Americans have posted short personal messages on YouTube to support the Iranian opposition movement that is calling the 12th of June presidential election a fraud. They are calling upon Joe Biden, American Vice President, and the U.S. government not to recognise the current Iranian government and to support the Iranian civil movement. The full set of films can be viewed here.
Joe Biden is asked not to negotiate with the Iranian regime:
The U.S. government is asked to take in consideration Iranian people's suffering
and not to engage with Iran:

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran: Opposition goes to Friday Prayers · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Several Iranian bloggers invited people to go to Friday Prayers in Tehran as Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi will attend this week's Friday prayers led by influential cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Iran Baan tweeted that “in this week's prayer, Rafsanjani will defend people's rights.”


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Iran: Protests prompt emergence of underground Internet newspapers · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

The recent emergence of internet newspapers in Iran is evidence of the will of Iranian citizens and opposition forces to continue to  communicate even as the Islamic Republic intensifies censorship, filtering and repression. By reading Internet newspapers we learn that the  Iranian protest movement is as diverse as is Iranian society and its blogosphere.
In the last two months, the Islamic Republic's security forces have tightened their grip on the media, this after Iran was swept by large-scale protests against the June 12 presidential election results, which declared incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner.
Dozens of journalists and bloggers have been imprisoned, pro-reformist websites have been filtered and a few not-yet-banned reformist journals such as Etemad Meli are under intensified surveillance. Under such difficult circumstances for the media, we are witnessing a new phenomenon inside Iran: the emergence of “underground” Internet newspapers.
At the end of June, at least two such newspapers were launched: Khyaboon (“Street”) and Kalam Sabz (“Green Word”) where the word “green” is a reference to Mir Hussein Mousavi's campaign colors. So far, Khyaboon has published 13 issues and Kalam Sabz has published 10. Khyaboon is available only by email and the paper has no website or blog. Kalam Sabz also uses email, but has a website. Both journals are distributed in PDF file format.
Khyaboon
Here are a few headlines from Khayaboon: “What is going on in the silence of Evin prison”, “While the blood drops from the regime's hands, Mousavi only writes a letter”, (first photo), “Is this a velvet coup?”, “Urban art is critical of established order” (second photo), “Stop forcing confessions”, “People came to confront the coup, but Mousavi did not come” (third photo), “War breaks out in the streets” (fourth photo), and “A campaign to defend imprisoned protesters has begun” (fifth photo).
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Kalam Sabz
Headlines in Kalam Sabz, include: “Mousavi presents his condolences to victims’ families”, “Neda is the most popular word in the world” (first photo), “Karroubi: Forces of repression were trained in Russia” (second photo), “This year, a worse disaster than 18 Tir” [the 1999 crackdown on student revolt] (third photo), “Khatami: It was a velvet Coup against people” (fourth photo).
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Political trends
A common point between two publications is that both of them are against the current president and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayathollah Ali Khamenei‘s decision to approve Ahmadinejad's victory.
While Kalam Sabz largely reflects the opinions and statements of reformist leaders and parties, Khyaboon criticizes Mousavi for being too soft to face to the authorities and call for more action. Kalam Sabz, as the reformists’ organ, does not question the legitimacy of Islamic Republic, while Khyaboon takes a different approach.
Khyaboon can be characterized as a radical-left journal, which criticizes even  Mousavi for his inaction. In an article entitled “Mousavi and his elites”, contributor Amir K. writes that Mousavi's actions demonstrate his reluctance to sacrifice his class interests, and that while his 9th Statement says Ahmadinejad is not a legitimate president, he falls short of proposing ways to defeat the coup and fails to demand that those who killed people be brought to justice.
Khyaboon publishes the poems of Said Soltani, a well-known Marxist poet who was executed in early 1980's when Ayatollah Khomeini, the spirtual Leader of Iranian reformists and conservatives, was at the head of the Islamic Republic. The views of the Workers’ Union and leftist students are published in Khayaboon as well.
Kalam Sabz in its first issue quoted a statement by the Iranian Leader from 30 years ago in which he criticized the Shah's alleged habit of following his own desires and not those of the people. If today somebody follows the same path, says Kalam Sabz, he commits an act deserving of similar condemnation.
Images speak louder than words
Khyaboon has published many photos of the protests, including some depicting security forces repressing protesters or protesters throwing stones. There are almost no photos of reformist leaders. Kalam Sabz, on the other hand, rarely publishes photos of the protest movement and usually runs a photo of a reformist leader on its front page.
Khyaboon, also in contrast to Kalam Sabz, publishes cartoons targeting Ali Khamenei and displays on the front page of its 13th issue graffiti (second photo in our Khyaboon album) of a monkey passing through various stages of evolution to become a man and finally a man with a gun.
Reading the new underground internet newspapers offers a sense of deepening crisis in Iran and the sad state of its media. Khyaboon and Kalam Sabz shed light on the divergent strains within the protest movement and the way in which one part of society radicalises its requests and slogans.
Zeitoon, an Iran-based blogger, describes a similar situation on her blog. At a Thursday demonstration she observed lots of “down with Khamenei”, “down with dictator” and “Allaho Akbar” slogans, but  there were only a few times that she heard Mousavi's name.
Kyaboon and Kalam Sabz are militant journals fighting against the strong influence of state-run newspapers, TV, radio and web sites. It appears that between the state's huge propaganda machine that portrays everything in the country as wonderful, and the “fight club”-style underground journals, independent media has lost its place. Independent journalists have found a place, however: the prison cell.


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Jamaica: Emmy Nomination · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp reports that “LIVEHOPELOVE.COM, a website about living with AIDS in Jamaica, has been nominated in the United States for a prestigious Emmy award.”


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Jamaica: Returning Home  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Francis Wade agrees that “the country you leave is not the country you return to”, advocating instead that returning Jamaicans come home “with a flexible, open mind that is willing to enter into an entirely new experience.”


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Japan: Unemployment in Japan by Region · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Curzon from Mutantfrog posts a map that shows unemployment in Japan by region.


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Puerto Rico: Playing the Princess?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“When things get tough, the Dream is what unites, what keeps an individual and a group moving forward”: Gil the Jenius is concerned that the Puerto Rican dream is to be rescued and throws out a challenge: “Show Me We aren't the princess. Go ahead, try to show Me Our dream isn't ‘Save Me’, that it is, instead, ‘Saving Ourselves’.”


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Taiwan: How Kaohsiung won the World Games · Global Voices
David Reid

The World Games open in Kaohsiung today. Blogger Claudia Jean writes about how former Kaohsiung Mayor Frank Hsieh got the Games for Kaohsiung despite many obstacles.

author: David Reid


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Africa: Blogging the trial of Charles Taylor · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor is facing 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the Special Court for Sierra Leone, which is being held at the Hague, Netherlands. The trial, which began two years ago, was moved from Freetown, Sierra Leone because of security concerns.
There are two blog specifically covering Charles Taylor trial: The Trial of Charles Taylor-International Criminal Justice in the Making, which is made up of a team of monitors from the global litigation practice of Clifford Chance LLP and the Trial of Charles Taylor blog, a project of Open Society Justice Initiative.
The blogs provide regular posts, expert commentary, daily, weekly and monthly summaries, trial reports and links to relevant documents. Let's see some of the posts and comments on the two blogs.
Taylor Alleges US Govt Helped Him Escape From US Prison:
In a dramatic day of testimony, former Liberian president Charles Taylor told of his 1985 escape from an American maximum security jail with alleged United States government help, only days before a failed US-backed coup attempt to overthrow the then Liberian government.
With his prison cell unlocked by a US prison guard late one night in November 1985, Taylor walked out of the maximum security area of the Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Massachusetts, he told the Special Court for Sierra Leone today.  Taylor said he was escorted by the same guard to the minimum security area.  Tying a sheet to a window, Taylor climbed out the window and over the prison fence, where a car containing two men was waiting to whisk him to New York, he said.
Taylor told the court that he believed the guard who set him free “had to be operating with someone else.”  Taylor also said he assumed that the car that took him to New York “had to be a [US] government car” because the men driving him feared he may be “picked up” if Taylor changed cars to be with his then wife, who had driven to meet the escape car with money to get Taylor out of the country.
Summary of the prosecution's case:
The Prosecutor alleges that Mr. Taylor bears individual criminal responsibility for the crimes on the basis that he allegedly participated in the commission of the crimes by planning, instigating, and ordering them; aiding and abetting them by providing military training and support to the RUF and AFRC; and participating in the execution of a plan to take control of Sierra Leone during which the crimes were committed. The Prosecutor further alleges that Mr. Taylor was a superior to perpetrators of the crimes and failed to take reasonable measures to prevent or punish the crimes while knowing or having reason to know about them.
Does Taylor's Point of View Matter?:
Former Liberian President, Charles Taylor, will take the stand next Tuesday amid a blaze of media cameras and lights. As the first sitting African head of state to be indicted and prosecuted for his alleged responsibility for some of the worst crimes known to humanity, the laser beam of international attention will zero in as he tells his side of the story. He is pleading not guilty to 11 charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law for his alleged role in a war which ravaged Sierra Leone for 11 years.
The media spotlight can have a downside.  For example, lawyers for Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, a Congolese militia leader on trial at the International Criminal Court for allegedly recruiting child soldiers, lamented on the second day of his trial in January 2009 that Lubanga had already been declared guilty by the media. “In the press he is already convicted, convicted before being tried. And in the eyes of a vast majority, as soon as there is an arrest warrant and as soon as the charges are confirmed and the matter is committed to trial, the presumption of innocence disappears,” said Catherine Mabille, Lubanga’s head defense lawyer.
With Charles Taylor, prosecuted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, speculation abounds about his role in the Sierra Leonean war and his alleged link to the crimes committed there. The prosecution spent 13 months bringing Sierra Leonean survivors to the stand whose limbs had been amputated, or who had been raped or sexually enslaved by groups allegedly under Taylor’s control. They also sought testimony from insider witnesses in an effort to link Taylor to the crimes which were so vividly illustrated by the victims themselves. We have, though, only heard one side of the story.
On Tuesday, we’ll hear Taylor’s side. This matters for reasons beyond the narrative he will tell us in court.
Charles Taylor is a peacemaker:
Charles Taylor is not a war criminal but a peacemaker turned scapegoat by the international community. This was the message put forward by Taylor’s defense in its opening statement today.
Charles Taylor’s lawyer told a packed courtroom today that his client will declare his trial “political” and “set the historical record straight”
Trial Chamber holds status conference:
9:30am: On Monday July 6, 2009, the Trial Chamber of the Special Court for Sierra Leone held a Status Conference in anticipation of the opening of the defence case in the Taylor trial. Both Prosecution and Defence counsel raised several issues bordering on the commencement of the defence case on July 13, 2009. Defence Counsel for Mr. Taylor, Courtaney Griffiths requested the court’s permission to have the defence opening statement delivered on Monday July 13 while Mr. Taylor would commence his testimony on Tuesday July 14, 2009. The prosecution had no objection to this.  Presiding Judge Richard Lussick informed Taylor’s defence counsel Mr. Griffiths that the defence opening statement should be confined only to the evidence that will be adduced in Mr. Taylor’s defence.
Prosecution Counsel Ms. Brenda Hollis informed the Court that there were a few issues that still remain unaddressed by the defence. These, she said, include;
No. of Witnesses to be called by the Defence: Ms. Hollis said that the defence has now filed updated witness summaries and the time esitmate for witnesses’ testimonies. She said that according to the updated witness list, the defence intends to call 256 witnesses, which is 3 times more than those called by the prosecution. She said that an estimate of the time for the testomonies of these witnesses will amount to 94 weeks or a period of 4 years. This, she said, is a diaproportionate number of witnesses and time for their testimonies.
Ms. Hollis also said that the prosecution would want a list of core and back up defence witnesses. She said that she was aware that the defence will give a more refined witness list by the conclusion of Mr. Taylor’s testimony but she wanted the Trial Chamber to order this in case it did not happen. She further said that the summaries of some defence witnesses remain inadequate.
Pre-trial conference:
9:30am: On Monday June 8, 2009, the Trial Chamber II of the Special Court for Sierra Leone hearing the Charles Taylor case held a Pre-Trial Conference to discuss matters relating to the commencement of Mr. Taylor’s defence which is set for June 29, 2009.
After parties for Prosecution and Defence announced their respective representations, Presiding Judge Richard Lissick asked whether anybody wanted to mention any new matter before dealing with items on the anenda for the pre-trial conference. Defence Counsel for Mr. Taylor Courtaney Griffiths informed the court that the Rule 73 motion that was earlier filed by the Defence was incomplete and that his team intended to file a complete version with exhibits as soon as possible.  He said that the exhibits pertinent to the commencement of the Defence Case will be filed.
Justice Lussick then went through the following as list of agenda items for the conference and asked for defence response to each item.
1. Length of Defence Opening Statement
Defence Cousel Griffiths responded that the defence opening statement will not last longer than the Prosecution’s opening statement that was delivered by the Chief Prosecutor Stephen Rapp at the start of the trial.
2. Defence Access to the Accused during his Testimony.
To this, Prosecution Counsel Ms. Brenda Hollis stated that as a general rule, once a witness commences his testimony in court, he should have no access to either party (prosecution or defence) but that this should be related with accused person’s right to have access to his counsel during the trial. She informed the court that she was in possession of an ICTY rulling which laid guidelines for such a scenario and was willing to share it with the court.
In response, Mr. Griffiths said that in most domestic jurisdictions, there should be no access to the accused once he becomes a witness in his own trial but that this case should be treated differently taking into account the circumstances in this case. He said there was need to take note that the  defence investigations are still ongoing and that counsel will need advice from the accused on some witnesses. Mr Griffiths said that there was need for:
a. Mr. Taylor to have access to all defence staff in order to make progress with his case. These, he said will relate to matters outside his testimony, and
b. He should have access to defence staff in relation to his testimony as far as content and length are concerned. He said that Taylor should be given all necessary assitance and that the accused will need to be in touch with some witnesses.
Ms. Hollis replied that she if the accused had access to counsel and witnesses during his testimony, that should be a suitable area of cross-examination in order to determine what his conversations with those witnesses are.
Here are some of readers’ comments on the two blogs:
David says:
IT is not ony mr. tayors who has commated this crime’s there are other people that need to be arested
too let me ask u people why it is ony him that had been arested what about thos people whos brought war in ur country liberia and kill so maney innocent people.
Liberia still loves Taylor:
Mr taylors need to be free and come black to his lovin country mama Liberia we stail love him please leave him along.
Noko4 writes:
Let the fireworks begins……
I pray and hope JUSTICE…..TRUE JUSTICE based on the MANDATE of this court and the MERITS of the testimonies and evidences are the FINAL verdict.
Aki responds to Noko's comment:
Noko4,
I agree with your thoughts. However I must say unless the Prosecution can really discredit Mr. Taylor’s testimony on cross examination the Defense seems to be in the drivers seat.
Osman says George Bush should be next after Charles Taylor:
after the charles trial the next trial should be George bush senoir and junior for crime committed in iraq and other parts of the world directly or indirectly
my question is what UN is waiting for thier arrest,they should be arrected immediatly before they do more harms
Kpakoja wonders whether George Bush and Tony Blair will be put on trial for crimes they committed in Iraq:
As you rightly put it, Taylor’s trial is a “milestones in international efforts to create a norm of accountabilty for mass crimes”. This a good precedence. My concern is that will leaders of and powerful nations be tried for mass crimes against humanity. Will George Bush, Tony Blair etc, be put on trial for their unjustified war in Iraq that led to killing of thousands of Iraqis? I have not heard any of the International human right group call for the establishment of a war crime court to tried leaders who bear the greater responsibility for the henoius crimes that is be committed against the Iraqis. This is why I had no qualms with the African Union’s decision against the arrest of Bashir from Sudan. Don’t only create war crimes for African leaders, create for Europeans, Asians and Americans also who commit crimes against humanity.
Clarence thinks the trial was politically motivated:
It appears to me that for all I see, this trial was politically motivated, a conspiracy against one of the few Pan-Africanist, who the west wants to silenced. It is apparent that a global media campaign has been staged to demonize and condemn the accused even before he is heard. As a powerful global tool, the international media seems to stress the claims of tragic crimes committed during the Sierra Leone war, but fail to blame the hands of those that directly committed those crimes, who themselves are Sierra Leoneans. As one who lived and experienced the worse of the Liberian civil crisis for 14 years, and a victim of violence I suffered and saw others suffered, with reasons to be infuriated with former President Taylor, am instead baffled at the shameless display of so-called justice. Sierra Leoneans must be made to take responsibility for the gruesome crimes they committed against their own people, whether out of frustration over internal politicking or ethnic dispirited or for gain of what is now referred to as the ‘infamous blood diamond’. Therefore, if the west have other reasons to apprehend former President Taylor, let them raise the charges and forget about the fiasco of “Taylor bears greater responsibility for the atrocities committed during the Sierra Leone civil war.” If they have no charge at all against personally, let to come and appeal to Liberians to raise an issue against former President Taylor on the basis of the Liberia civil war to which former president is directly connected.
Goyah says:
President Ghankay Taylor, Bravo to you. It is time for you to show Uncle Sam and others that you are a great leader and that their campaign to condem you to death or life time in prison is a failure. We are watching you day and night and please be yourself and defend yourself beyond all reasonable doubts. Freedom awaits you soon so that you can come back to complete your dream for Liberia. God bless you and your family.
Let the trial be free and fair:
Please let this trial be free and fair, Liberians did not sent their former president to the hague. Serria Leoneons sent the former president of Liberia to the hague, leaving their leaders out of the trial completely but Liberians are watching.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Bahrain: The Stereotype Of Expat Kids · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Ashish Gorde, who grew up as an “expat kid” in Bahrain, is always amazed at the negative generalisations people make about such children – and prefers to think of the positive: “Not having a place we can call our own is a blessing in disguise because it has protected us from xenophobia, parochialism and narrow loyalties to one's ethnic background.”

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Balkans-EU: Schengen’s leftouts and letins · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Eberhard Rhein of BlogactivEU writes about the EU's plans for visa deregulation to Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia. Gray Falcon presents some critical views from the perspective of Serbia and Bosnia-Hercegovina, and Albanian Blogger gives his version on why also Albania is left out.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


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Belarus: Arrests of opposition activists · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

LJ user ingannatore reports [RUS] on yesterday's arrests of some 50 opposition activists in Minsk and other cities in Belarus and goes on to comment the conduct of the authorities.


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Belarus: Europe’s only non-free country · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Bielar.us directs attention to the 2009 Freedom in the World Index, by Freedom House, showing Belarus as the only non-free country in Europe.


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Bombings kill nine in Indonesia · Global Voices
Juke Carolina

Another terrorist act happened again in Indonesia. Two bombs hit Indonesian capital Jakarta on Friday. Witnesses said that the first explosion was heard at 07:40 AM coming from the JW Marriott, and two minutes after a second explosion ripped a restaurant of the Ritz Carlton Hotel, located about 500 meters from the first blast's point, filled with people who are attending breakfast meetings. Both luxurious hotels are known to be frequented by western foreigners.
Local sources said that the current blasts claimed nine lives and injured many Indonesians who work in both hotels.
It's still fresh in many Jakartans’ memories how a suicide bomber set off a high explosive bomb in front JW Marriott hotel in 2003, which caused 14 fatalities and 156 injuries. The suicide bomber was accused to have a link with Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a splinter group of  Al Qaeda in South East Asia.
Twitterer Andre Siregar was staying at the Ritz when the blast occured, he said:
He also posted a picture taken from his room at the Ritz, and  another picture taken not long after the blast.
Recently re-elected President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that the blasts were initiated by those who wish to see a post presidential election chaos, while Vice President Jusuf Kalla blamed the Police and Indonesian Intelligence Agency (BIN) for slacking and overly focused to secure the Presidential election but failed to secure other things.
Quoted by the local news portal [id] detik.com, Jusuf Kalla who's popularly known by his initial JK, said that until it's realized as an act, bombing requires plenty of preparations which take months, couldn't happen in a mere week.
BIN chief Syamsir Siregar, who's currently in the hot water admitted the agency's negligence, told Kompas [id] that  they didn't pick up any clue that says that bomb blasts will be staged in Jakarta, he also add that this sort of national security breach can happen anywhere in the world even to superpower countries.
At the moment, hundreds of police and anti terrorism unit Densus 88 have been deployed to secure the premises and Jakarta is currently under Siaga 1 – highest security alert, which means that the police are still on hot pursuit of the culprits and searching if bomb threats remain imminent.
The US and Australian governments have condemned this act of terrorism and  have pledged to help the Indonesian government.

author: Juke Carolina


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China: Open Constitution Initiative has stopped operating · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Xu Zhiyong is a well-known rights lawyer. The Open Constitution Initiative (公盟) is a non-profit NGO established by Xu: they received a notice from the taxation bureau on July 14 asking for 1.42 million yuan in fines and profits received from donations, including from Yale University. (Via Danwei)


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China: When a gang rape scandal turns into state secrets… · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Yesterday (July 16) in early morning, twitterer amoiist sent out a mobile message to twitter saying: “I have been arrested by Mawei police, SOS.” And the second message is: “Pls help me, I grasp the phone during police sleep”. Since then, there isn't any update in his twitter.
Netizens arrested
His arrest was believed to be related to a gang rape scandal which the Fujian authorities have been trying to cover up. The sex scandal, titled as “Yan Xiaoling （嚴曉玲）much more miserable than Deng Yujiao（鄧玉嬌）”, was first posted in Kaidi forum in late June in re-posted in many major online forums. It tells the story of 25-year-old Yan Xiaoling who had been gang raped and killed by local triad, owner of a KTV, in Feb this year. The post also said that the KTV owner was connected with local authorities in Minxin province.
The death of Yan Xiaoling
As the post caught the attention of millions of netizens, local authorities made a public statement explaining that Yan was died from hemorrhagic shock caused by pregnancy bleeding. However, her mother said that hospital staff told her that her daughter was probably gang-raped by at least five people. When her body was delivered to the hospital, her underwear was nowhere to be seen and her uterus was torn and mutilated.
On 24th of June, Fuzhou police called a press conference and claimed that all the news concerning Yan were rumors. Apart from Amoiist, 6 other netizens have been arrested for posting the news. Fuzhou city police claimed that they were under the suspicion of “defamation” but yet to identify who exactly they are defaming.
From defamation into state secrets
On 15th of July, three human right lawyers, Lin Zhong （林忠）, Lin Hungnan（林洪楠）, Liu Xiaoyuan（劉曉原） tried to visit three of the arrested netizen Fan Yinqiong, You Jingyou in Mawei district police station but rejected. The accusation of “suspected defamation” has bee alleviated to involving “state secrecy issue” (cn).
Amoiist's real name is Guo Bofeng or Peter Guo （郭寶峰）, a professional translator lives in Xiamen city, Fujian Province. His regular blog is amoiist.com. Recently he has uploaded the interview of Yan Xiaoling's mother who explained that her daughter was under threat by local triad and local authorities’ attempt in covering up the issue:
Last night, Mawei police contact Guo's supervisor and told he that Guo was under criminal detention. Many reporters had called up the police station to have fact check on the 6 arrest cases but the police replied: reporters don't have the rights to fact check this case! Guo twitter friends continue to update the news via twitter search: @amoiist and #amoiist.
Blogger's suggestion to the authorities
Lianyue gives a number of suggestions to local authorities:
1、给马尾警方的建议：1、案件进入公众视野，被带走调查者虽然不开心，警方也会受到更严厉的监督，双刃剑；2、如果过度或不当使用警力将会使警方骑虎难下；3、不要与舆论为敌，否则事态将滚雪球一样变大。
2、给马尾警方的上级机关的建议：1、赶快介入控制事态，以防被下属拖进不必要的困局；2、对网络传播的责任认定，与时俱进，从宽不从严，否则网络舆论同仇敌忾，权力此时反将被动；3、别激网民就此事开始发声，那舆论将会如台风一样生成。
3、监督一件具体的事，我喜欢这些原则：1、盯事实，千万别辱及不相干公务员，更别扯所谓的体制问题。2、给对方退路。3、做自己认为该做的事，不鼓动他人，不指望他人。4、当事人权利第一位，别牺牲他们以成就悲情及批判。
Cancer growing
Some people believe that the case reflects the corruption of local government and expects higher ranking government officials or central government to step in and intervene. However, blogger Ren Yunfei disagrees:
由于极权的实质，中央政府与地方政府始终是利益同构的，中央政府再强大也不可能在越来越多的群体事件中，对地方政府整肃得“干干净净”，那样反而会使中央政府陷入困境，因为你不能事必躬亲。就算你有能力有公正之心事必躬亲，也会因为时间、精力、财力、物力诸方面而有所不逮。何况官场的官官相护是因为强大的利益链所致，县一级官员可能没有能力直接上通中央，但他们有省、市级政府官员的桥梁在其中暗通款曲，人人都有自身的保护伞。中央政府了为了地方的安靖且怕涉及更多的高层官员，也会睁只眼闭只眼，除非民愤大到危及一地的安宁
福建马尾警方在威胁民众而干坏事的效率上是非常高的，也是非常有作战能力的。他们持续不断地抓捕六名曝严晓玲被害案真相的发帖者，大有一种有多少抓多少的气概，完全不理会民意里面的正义吁请。他们为何如此蛮横呢？那就是当地警方视当地政府、当地官员、直接领导为国家，调查他们所犯过错，便是侵害国家，便是事涉国家机密。这种可怕的逻辑，在如今的中国各级政府那里蔓延，和维稳时滥用警力一样，已成为基层政治的毒瘤。
A shorter version of this post is published at globalvoice advocacy .


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Cuba: Independent Journalists · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense thinks that “whether by coincidence or coordination, a crackdown on Cuba's independent journalists seems to be underway, based on various recent reports.”


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Egypt: What’s good for the goose is NOT good for the gander · Global Voices
Marwa Rakha

When Marwa El Sherbini was shot dead in a German court Facebook users and the Egyptian blogosphere mourned her as the victim of the veil, the victim of racism, and the victim of her beliefs. But when a heap of bones wrapped up in a blanket named Ibrahim El Sayed Ibrahim was shipped back to Egypt from Libya – no one lifted a finger in his defense.
Ahmad El Badawy was among the first few to report the incident on his blog and on Facebook ; quoting Al Masry Al Youm Newspaper, Ahmad tells us his story:
Accustomed to the failing reaction of the Egyptian system, Ahmad said
What really enraged him was the contrast between how Islamists reacted to Marwa El Sherbini's assault in Germany and Ibrahim El Sayed Ibrahim's assault in Libya
Ahmad elaborates on his point saying
In A Space of my Own, Mona asks more questions:


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Estonia: Holes in the NATO-umbrella? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Itching for Eestimaa discusses whether Estonia's membership of NATO really is the security umbrella the country imagined when it sought entry into the organization.


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Fiji finds foreign friends?  · Global Voices
Michael Hartsell

Leaders of Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands will lobby the 15-member Pacific Islands Forum to consider lifting Fiji’s suspension to re-start dialogue with the country to provide its military backed government time to complete reforms.
The statement came after the three leaders met with Fiji’s military ruler Frank Bainiarama in a special session of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, a bloc of countries who self-identify as having  Melanesian populations, distinct from Micronesian and Polynesian peoples.
Bainimarama flew to Port Vila, Vanuatu to explain his “strategic framework for change,” the five-year plan to help remake Fiji’s ethnic-based constitution and voting system to take the country up to elections, scheduled by  Fiji's President for September 2014. (Discussion on that plan here.)
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare said the Bainimarama regime isn’t going away until 2014, and by keeping intact the suspension, the Pacific Islands Forum will have no leverage with Fiji’s government. Also, because Fiji plays an important role in the Pacific economy, its outsider status will undercut the current PACER trade negotiations. Finally, the group called on Bainimarama to engage with all Fiji’s leaders to implement a process of national reconciliation.
The Pacific Islands Forum voted unanimously in January to suspend Fiji from the group unless it scheduled elections in 2009 as once promised by Bainimarama. After going back on this promise originally made in October 2007, Bainimarama has stated that holding a vote without altering the country’s race-based voting system would further heighten ethnic tensions by rewarding parties that only appeal to a specific ethnic group.
The country’s population is currently made up of 60 percent indigenous (Melanesian) Fijians and roughly 37 percent ethnic Indians, the descendants of workers brought to the islands roughly a century ago by British colonial rulers.
To some success, Fiji's government has tried to paint its suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum as forced upon smaller countries by Australia and New Zealand. Bloggers and commentators debated how the MSG decision will affect the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Cairns, Australia.
Topasi at Real Fiji News
The stand taken by the MSG, in particular PNG and the
Solomon Islands in relation to Fiji lifts the stakes to new heights. The implications are enormous, far far beyond the tiresome calls for the return to democracyin Fiji.
What we are seeing today are two island nations with enormous economic clout standing up to imperialist bullying by the big two…
The MSG is no longer a feral dog feeding on scraps. The MSG carries more clout than all the Pacific island nations combined. That is a fact. ..
Forget about the rantings of Tonga and Samoa. They are just empty barrels with zero economic clout. They are just fresh-of-da-boat freeloaders who have nothing to offer Australia and NZ.
Fiji has some important allies in the MSG. The stakes have been raised to dizzying heights.
From commenter Vitivou:
This is what bloggers who hate Bainimarama do not understand.
The real motive of why Australia and New Zealand are sanctioning Fiji or trying to get Fiji out of the SPF is nothing to do with a return to democracy. It is to do with the fact that they see this as their best opportunity to get PACER implemented.
PACER will see the final and total control of the Pacific island economies by New Zealand and Australia. This will create far worse economic benefits to Pacific states.
On the other hand, from Soli Vakasama:
Ever since the fool [Organizer of Fiji’s first two coups – in 1987 – and later elected Prime Minister Sitiveni] Rabuka pushed for Fiji to be recognised (duh) as Melanesian, our Nation has become like the other Melanesian Islands, BACKWARD in every way as soon as the irrelevant military here becomes involved in politics that is much too overwhelming for them.
For that leka Somare to state that Bhainimarama is good for Fiji, is the biggest insult toward the citizens of Fiji and negates all that we strive for.
These Melanesian leaders are the most corrupt around, feathering their crummy nests by selling out their own people – as the saying goes, Birds of a feather flock together, Thick as thieves or it takes one to know one.
From Navosavakadua writing at Raw Fiji News.
The MSG gang don’t seem to understand what fools they’ve made of themselves by supporting a tin-pot dictator.
Fiji has a right to be represented in trade talks and other regional matters but Frank doesn’t represent Fiji. If they can’t understand this you’ve got to wonder what they think they’re doing in their regional meetings.
But what is their motive for standing up for a dictator? Are they on the payroll of a state that wants to see the Aussies and Kiwis pushed out of the Pacific?
Or do they have some secret dream of replacing Fiji as the hub of the Pacific? If we degenerate further into the status of a tin-pot dictatorship it’s true that Vanuatu could start to replace us as the hub but others may be hoping to pick up a share of regional activities which are currently headquartered in Fiji.
I don’t understand their motives at all, but I do know that when they say Frank’s roadmap to nowhere should be seriously considered, they have some other motive. The only thing that’s clear from the roadmap is that the dictator does not intend to share power with anyone for the next five years. If they can’t see that it means they’re blind or have some other secret, dirty motive.
In an untitled post at Raw Fiji News
The leaders of these Islands, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have done a back flip not for the good of the people but for their big egos, they need to agree with Fiji and together they seem to think they are bigger than Australia and New Zealand. Be good if they were, they would not have to rely on aid money from Aust and NZ for those that need it the most in these islands. For humanitarian reasons this will carry on so those that rely on aid money will not miss out.

The problem with Pacific leaders they glorify and feed off each other without any thought for its people. Leading a nation is not much fun without the recognition of the super powers and like Frank should also be isolated and not given what they want.
A commenter named mrx77 says:
In good times, we cry, piss and mourn of Australia and NZ’s “interference” in our affairs.
In bad times, we expect them to bail us out unconditionally.
What irony!!!
New Zealand author Crosbie Walsh writes that Australia and New Zealand could well lose this battle in the Pacific Islands Forum. From Fiji: The Way It Was, Is and Can Be:
It would seem that for all their well-meaning diplomacy and aid, Australian and New Zealand politicians (and, presumably, their advisers) have a lot to learn about their Pacific neighours. The Melanesian Spearhead Group decision does not bode well for the health of the PI Forum, unless Australia and New Zealand are prepared to back down. For the record, the population of the MSG totals about 7.5 millon; that of other Island Forum members well under one million; Australia 21 million and NZ 4 million.

author: Michael Hartsell


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Gabon: Gabon Election 2009 on Twitter · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Gabon Election 2009 in English and French on Twitter.  The page is maintained by a citizen journalist from Gabon: Young Gabonese, Citi. Journalist, DigitActivist,waiting 4 free elections, peace and prosperity in his homeland. Hoping that you'll help us to fight for this!!!


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Hungary: Economics opposition style · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Hungarian Spectrum writes about what economic policies the country's opposition might have to offer for the upcoming 2010 parliamentary elections.


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India: No shortcuts please, this is business! · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

The world is not Orkut, says Harini Calamur at POV, so people will do well to mind their language – especially when it comes to business communication.


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Indonesia: Bomb Explosions at Kuningan, Jakarta · Global Voices
Marisa Duma

Two explosions hit the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels in Mega Kuningan, Jakarta around 7:40 AM local time.
Local authorities confirmed that the near-simultaneous explosions are caused by high explosive bombs placed at Syailendra cafe, JW Marriott and Airlangga cafe, Ritz Carlton. There are around 52 victims being treated for injuries, both Indonesians and foreigners, and approximately nine killed in the blasts, Coordinating Minister for Law, Politics and Security, Widodo AS, stated.
Bomb exploded in JW Marriott during a breakfast business meeting that gathers business executives and political leaders to discuss Indonesian affairs, attended by 19 foreign business leaders. Timothy Mackay, killed shortly after the explosion, is the CEO of Holcim Indonesia and one of the meeting's attendees.
Associated Press reported four foreigners killed during the incident, and victims under critical condition have been evacuated to the nearest hospitals. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in a statement that the bombings were likely a terrorist act, as findings from national intelligence sources support the claim, however he warned the public to not speculate the motives.
Meanwhile, local social media users broke the story to the world, especially those among today's morning commuters. Share of news and information accumulated through the hashtag #jktexplosions, with Daniel Tumiwa as first to report from the scene.
Twitter user, Andre Siregar also shared first visual coverage on-site.
Users however are advised to double check the credibility and accuracy of information shared across the social media, knowing the sensitivity of the matter and how easily it can incite public paranoia.
Another explosion occurred at Muara Angke, North Jakarta. It's reported that the explosion came from a pick-up car, however not caused by a bomb or linked with the Kuningan blasts.

author: Marisa Duma


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Iran: “Death to Russia” at Friday Prayer · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Photo from Mehr news site in Iran
At a Friday prayer service today at Tehran University, former president Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani called for the release of the many protesters arrested since the disputed June 12 presidential election where Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner.
Rafsanjani is a firm supporter of Ahmadinejad's main contender Mir Hossein Mousavi. He led the Friday prayer for the first time since the election.
Members of the Iranian opposition movement took part in the prayer, some wearing green, the colour that has come to symbolize Mousavi's movement.
“Death to Russia”
Traditionally at Friday Prayer, people are encouraged to chant “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” but today, they defiantly shouted “Death to Russia”, in referring to opposition accusations that Russia has been involved in training repression forces of the regime.
In the following video, recorded from a short distance of the outdoor gathering, you can hear a male voice over the loudspeaker screaming “Death to America”, “Death to the hypocrites” and “Death to England”, while the crowd roars “Death to Russia!” in response EVERY time.
Saminejad refers [fa] to this incident, and says that new taboos were broken today.
Iraneema tweeted [fa] that protesters burned a Russian flag.
Security forces repressed green-clad protesters at the prayer by launching tear gas at them. After the prayer, protesters chanted “Allaho Akbar” (God is great) and “Down with the dictator”.
Here is a compilation of seven films from today's protest in Tehran:
Bittersweet victory
Iraneema tweeted [fa] that dozens were arrested by security forces today in Tehran.
Hadi Nili tweeted” (in response to @onlymehdi) “Police attacked the prayers! I think Iran is among very few governments who ever attacked to Prayers.”
ABC News correspondent Jim Sciutto tweeted that Rafsanjani's speech was not aired on Iranian state television.
Jomhour says Rafsanjani's speech was beyond expectations and criticized the way protesters were repressed… “Today was another victory for Iranian green movement,” he says.
Mollah Hassani writes [fa] that Rafsanjani was a little bit better than expected. “He did not praise Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, and did not say anything negative about the green movement.”


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Iran: ‘Down with Russia Slogan’ · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

GreenVote tweeted [fa] that Iranians chanted down with Russia slogan at Friday Prayer in Tehran University. Iranian opposition says that Russia trained Iranian security forces to repress the protest movement.


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Iran: Friday Prayer and a “video trick” · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Jadi tweeted that “TV is showing a 5 sec view of Friday Prayers. Many people are wearing a glowish blue shirts! Shoulb a video trick to convrert green to blue.” Iranian opposition uses green colour and was present at Friday Prayer.


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Iran: Protesters’ film in You Tube · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Protesters chanted down with dictator after Friday Prayer in Tehran. Watch the film here.


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Iran: Rafsanjani calls political prisoners to be freed · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Hadi Nili tweeted that Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani at Friday Prayer called Iranian authorities “to free [political] figures and not let enemy be happy of our behaviour.”


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Iran: Slogans after Friday Prayer · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Green Vote says that people chanted slogans to support Mir hussein Mousavi,opposition leader and against [fa] Ahmadinejad's government. One of the slogans was [fa] “my martyr brother I will take back your vote”.


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Iran: Video on Friday Prayer and Slogans · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Freedom Messenger has posted on FaceBook a video film on Friday Prayer in Tehran and people who chant slogans.


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Light Up Nigeria: Enough Is Enough · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Despite being a country rich in oil, Nigeria's electricity supply situation is insufficient. “In most parts of the country, darkness pervades and generators have taken over as the source of power”, says Adebayo's blog. “When the power shuts down – which it does all the time – people sit in the dark or, if they’re lucky, fire up generators that cost the country $140 billion to fuel (add a chunk more for capital and maintenance costs)”, says David Steven at Global Dashboard. Adebayo adds:
But to explain or fathom the reasons why it is so complex. From the cartels who import generators, the contractors who fail to complete power projects, citizens who vandalize power lines and installations, languid attitude of government up to the manufacturers of the generators (in developed countries); all these have a vested interest in the continued failure of power
provision in Nigeria.
Now Nigerians have started a massive online demonstration against this frustrating situation on social media sites, especially on Twitter with the hashtag #lightupnigeria. There's also a Facebook group, with the following description:
Are you tired of the constant excuses being given for the incompetence of PHCN, we are forming this group as a voice for our generation. It is time for something to be done,the 7th oil producing nation is one of the world's worst electicity providers. The time has come, Nigeria belongs to all of us and if we do not speak out now,its the same burden we will all have to bear. So join,tell your friends, family andybody you can, enough is enough. Our voice may be small now but as the group grows and the word is spread, the government will hear our words and something will be done. LIGHT UP NIGERIA so progress in all the other sectors can advance also.
Energy is the engine that drives industrialization, which improves communication, helps innovation in science and Technology, provides sound healthcare delivery system and improves citizens’ standard of living. Since energy is the engine that drives industrialization, a sound energy policy would indirectly create jobs even in unexpected sectors.
Archiwiz at To fit or not to fit? commented on the campaign:
The hashtag itself will not do much if the responsible parties don't take notice and do the right thing, but this is a good first step. Awareness is always important when it comes to movements of change […]
So you ask, what is #lightupnigeria? The words that make up the tag are self explanatory to any Nigerian, or anyone that has spent a good two weeks in Nigeria and has experienced firsthand the impact of lack of electricity in Nigeria. I can give you a long laundry list of what we lose because of lack of electricity, but several things surface: money, time & productivity.
[…] This movement needs to get to get to the media and to the ears of our Nigerian leaders. We cannot continue to wink at our lack of electricity.
Here's a selection of some of the things people have been saying on Twitter as part of the #lightupnigeria campaign:
Olufunmike
Nigeria's economy can't change until we #lightupnigeria
imab
#lightupnigeria so that her 140million nigerians can say goodnight and really look forward to having one
Naijanews
the only thing to known to be stable in nigeria is darkness #lightupnigeria
edeanijames
the money we use to buy diesel for a year can pay 10 years light bills, so pls #lightupnigeria
aliceronke
#LightUpNigeria so that people don't go to work on weekends to iron!
drdammie
#lightupNigeria Nigerians leaders love darkness, cos the works of their hands are so dark, it cant stand no light
ricdizzle
#lightupnigeria cos wen there is no light at nite & i need to pee… aiming for that bowl has to be intuitive!! damn!
pheonixforever
have not had power for 4days now… #lightupnigeria pls
Naijanews
i'm planning to relocate to nigeria soon but plans to visit london every week just to charge my phone #lightupnigeria
Ebukalashnikov
It's 11pm, which means it's another night without electricity. Hopefully we can #lightupNigeria so that ‘Goodnights’ can actually be good!
ohdichi
#lightupnigeria because that's my country & my country deserves light
lowla360
As we fight 4 dis to work,i know u r all tired, but think about your kids, how much u want them 2 grow in a good environment/nation #lightupnigeria
abiolaalabi
i would be mighty ashamed if in future my kids called me d generator generation & i did nothing #lightupnigeria
edeanijames
it ain't right that at this time and age we dont’ have regular power supply #lightupnigeria
damilola
#lightupnigeria cos constant power supply should NOT be a luxury in 2009
archiwiz
The pollution from generators is stunting the brains of Nigeria's youth. Now many of us are no longer imaginative. Please #lightupnigeria!
Olufunmike
Obama's campaign didn't stop until a day before elections. Our #lightupnigeria campaign won't stop until 24/7 electricity. Tell ‘em
Ezeani
#lightupnigeria because we have the resources – both natural & man-made..what are we waiting for??
zpixel
Nobody will listen to #lightupnigeria by just twittering,u hve 2 kill somebody&tell d police u mistaken stabbed the fellow cz it was dark…
bubusn
Our greatest challenge isn't in Abuja. It is in ourselves. It is that voice that says: “This will all amount to nothing” #lightupnigeria
eldeethedon
The idea is to make a video in the dark expressing to the govt “we have had enuff”!! : http://bit.ly/XEDX9 #lightupnigeria

author: Elia Varela Serra


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Lithuania: View from Vilnius on anti-gay law · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Lituanica raises the heated issue of the new anti-gay legislation in Lithuania, and explains that it is still some way to go before it enters into force, not least as it confronts opposition from most educated and liberally inclined Lithuanians.


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Out of Africa Emerges Digital Art and Animation · Global Voices
Njeri Wangari

‘Digital’ has become the latest buzz word not just in Kenya but in Africa where most things are still analogue. However, Digital Art is a rather new term to even the most seasoned art aficionados.
Digital Art most commonly refers to art created on a computer in digital form. In an expanded sense, “digital art” is a term applied to contemporary art that uses the methods of mass production or digital media. Digital technology has transformed traditional activities such as painting, drawing and sculpture, while new forms, such as net art, digital installation art, and virtual reality, have been recognized artistic practices.
East Africa Collective  is a wordpress design feed, a  side project of Barbara Muriungi Kenyan born designer, currently based in Boston, MA.
This is what he states as the idea behind EA Collective:
As an African living abroad I fan my passion for art, music and bits of fashion by staying culturally astute on happenings in and out of the African continent
EA Collective is about seeking fine content from humorous local designers.
Some of the interesting highlights on the blog are on Tinga Tinga – African Folk Tales that are soon to find a wider audience through animation, a project by artists in Kenya and Tanzania.
African Digital Art an online platform designed for digital artists, enthusiasts and professional  to seek inspiration as well as showcase their artistry and connect with other artists.
The blog was created and developed by Jepchumba, a Kenyan digital artist living in Chicago Illionis. Jepchumba confesses that she dreams in digital in her personal blog. Her amazing Africa collection of digital art is enchanting to say the least.
African Digital Art is the ultimate site for anyone who is into digital art. It has featured the likes of Wangechi Mutu, Jim Chuchu, Kenneth Shofela Coker among many other emerging excellent digital artists.
Tears – by Jepchumba
Jimmi Chuchu is a photographer extraordinaire`, film maker and the third member of Just a band.
He still hesitates to call photography his profession as he confessed to African Digital Art – but one only needs to sample his works from his website that also links to his blog.
Though his website features, his photo exhibits, music videos, recent projects and contacts, one has to go to his blog for news and other links about him. There one gets more intimate details of what he is currently working on, what he just finished and what his upcoming projects are.
Some of the videos featured on his blog might be a repeat of what is in the band’s blog but he does also give insights into his solo projects like song video editing
.
Kenneth Coker is a Nigerian by birth but currently residing in Memphis, He is currently seeking a Character Artist/Animator position in an animation or video game studio.
His blog ushers one into a world of where African digital art is headed.
An Animation from Kenneth Coker's blog
In an interview with African Digital Arts, Coker speaks about his love of animation, what inspired him to venture into Digital Art as well as how being an African has influenced the kind of animations that he does. Read the interview here.
Wikipedia describes Animation as the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. It is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in a number of ways. The most common method of presenting animation is as a motion picture or video program, although several other forms of presenting animation also exist.
Just a Bandwidth or simply Just a Band is a ‘an experimental’ Kenyan house/funk/disco band whose career was launched with their debut album, Scratch To Reveal, in 2008. Their music has explored various musical directions such as, but not limited to jazz, hip-hop, disco and electronica. Their blog has been running from March 2008. Their first posting was:
Greetings, Earthlings!
Hello everyone,
Welcome to our little space on the Net. We’ll use this particular section to keep you updated with what’s going on in our little world, and we’ll probably use this space to rant about random things.
Bear with us.
We’re always happy to hear from all of you, so feel free to send us a […]
And this is the avenue that they have been using for every new video, event, information or rants that they have – their blog. Recently they posted their first single from their coming soon second album “82” for their fans to sample. All their videos can be found on their Youtube Page
Look out for their album
What one will find quite unique about the videos produced by Just a band is their use of animations. This has set them apart from other music videos and has seen their videos receive a lot of airplay on local TV stations as well as on their page on youtube
African Painters on the other hand is a blog that hosts art collections from a host of African painters and a review of photography books on Africa. It was started in the year 2006. This is how they describe their blog:
Here is a blog about contemporary art on and off the continent of Africa. To push forward the concept of African cultural development I have created this blog but more importantly than that it's a place where we can blow-off steam and discuss the impossible task of defining a continent.
To show the art collections by artist, they have incorporated slide, an application that enables one slide through different images without leaving the blog and has a feature where one can also review the images and even rate them individually.
The blog also contains a list of other contemporary art websites and makes an interesting read for anyone interested in knowing more about African Art.
With all these emerging African Digital Artist, it is undeniable that  technology is redefining African Art in a way we never imagined possible.

author: Njeri Wangari


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Pakistan: The power of the Fatwa · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

The Karachi Electricity Supply Company (KESC) has reportedly obtained a fatwa [religious decree] from 12 senior Islamic scholars against the theft of electricity. Kalsoom at Changing Up Pakistan writes in this post how the idea of a major corporation using religious fatwas to give religious legitimacy to their cause is a little ironic.


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Palestine: Israeli Settlers Set Farmland On Fire · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

The Palestine Solidarity Project blog reports that Israeli settlers were seen setting farmland on fire near Beit Ummar in the West Bank.


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Palestine: Second Humanitarian Convoy Enters Gaza · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Gazan blogger DR – LION reports on the second Viva Palestina humanitarian convoy to enter Gaza, accompanied by the British MP George Galloway [Ar].


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Peru: Informing the Public About H1N1 Virus · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

El Blog de Que Tal Raza [es] writes about the recent deaths due to the H1N1 virus in Peru and hopes that the Health Ministry finds the right balance between informing the public about prevention measures without adding panic to the population.


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Philippines: An Internet-Savvy Grandmother · Global Voices
Karlo Mongaya

“Lola Techie” is very popular in the Philippines these days. “Lola” means grandmother in the Filipino language. “Techie,” on the other hand, needs no further explanation.
“Lola Techie” is the central figure in a Philippine telecommunication company’s marketing campaign which plays on the concept of an internet-savvy grandmother.
The Geeky-Guide tries to gauge the success of “Lola Techie”:
Viral marketing isn't all that new even in the Philippines, but this is probably one of the most successful and most interactive campaigns ever. While I can't determine if this advertising campaign has actually resulted in significant sign-ups for Bayantel's residential DSL service, I can talk about just how popular “Lola Techie” has become and what a great branding campaign this has become for Bayantel.
She's not only active on YouTube in order to release her new videos, but she's also on other social networking services like Twitter, Plurk, Multiply and naturally Facebook. Yes, she will add you as a friend and you can play games like Mafia Wars together. Of course she has her own website at http://www.lolatechie.com/ (which is really just a redirect URL), which acts as the central hub of the marketing efforts and naturally where you can sign up for their services as well.
Bloggers who’ve seen the Lola Techie on TV or the Internet love the video ad for many reasons. For down the rabbit hole, for instance,
The message was clear, showing us that hooking up with the Internet can bridge the gap between people, whether they’re a thousand miles away, or just like in the lola’s case—young and old.
Technograph gives us a glimpse of the new craze by sharing some of  Lola Techie’s Plurks:
LolaTechie says the faster internet gets the worm :-))
LolaTechie thinks that we do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing! Kaya maglalaro muna ako ng Plants Vs. Zombies. :-))
LolaTechie will now start adding you young people as Plurk friends before I go to sleep.
LolaTechie greets my pinakamamahal na Domingo a happy father’s day.  We did good…
LolaTechie bids all my new Plurk friends good night! Bukas naman ulit!
The Citadel lauds the idea of computer-literate grandmothers:
Its nice for them to finally feature the elderly in these commercials rather than just young adults. For a change, they brought somewhat a good message that even the elderly can still learn how to use the computer. And like I really would like to have a DOTA match with Lola Techie LOL The commercial gave us quite a lot of laughs every time it gets played on TV.
Crisboy wishes that his own grandmother is like the figure in the popular ad while Maruism is reminded by Lola Techie of her own mother:
Halos kasing-edad lang ng techie lola sa tv commercial ang nanay ko nung namatay. Sabi ko nga, siguro kung buhay pa si Nanay ko…malamang nagpa-install na rin yun computer na may internet connection para maka-chat kami at malamang nagtatampo na rin yun sa mga apo nya pag hindi sya nai-poke back sa Facebook!
Not everyone, however, are taken in by the craze. Jonas, for example, chose to unfollow Lola Techie on Plurk for the following reasons:
I’m getting tired of muting her plurks when her new grandsons and granddaughters are still on the hype. Lola Techie is receiving 50 replies at average.
She’s taking Facebook quizzes and applications and posting it on plurk! I’m keeping those type of statuses away from my news feed. And there you go! She’s now spamming my Plurk.
The trend is that she might have her own blogger event! Knowing her followers are mostly Pinoy bloggers.
And since Lola Techie is an imagination, I hope her creator should have been packaging her into more techie person. The reason I enjoyed Inday, ang Sosyal na Katulong, is that she and her manager are successful in leaving the audience with their nose bleeding. It should have been more Lola Techie if she had plurked that she’s able to secure a wireless router, to remove a virus from a computer, to use the Konami code and some other geeks stuff. Sana nilubos-lubos na nila.
Meanwhile, The P4TAL thinks that not all grandparents can be like Lola Techie:
…hindi ko magagawang hatakin ang nanay ko sa harap ng PC. Masyadong abala yun sa bahay, at mas gugustuhin pa niyang manood na lang ng sine sa SM kaysa magYouTube at magdownload ng torrent… Hindi na rin kasi niya gusto na matuto pa ng ibang mga kumplikado na bagay. Yun nga lang pagtetext e sapilitan pa naming itinuro sa kanya. Siguro dahil nga naman sa sobrang abala niya bilang ina, hindi na niya magagawa pang matuto nang bagong kaalaman na sa tingin naman niya e hindi niya mapapakinabangan sa pang-araw-araw naming buhay
Lastly, Mong, youth parliamentarian and GV’s very own Southeast Asia editor, draws attention to the ad’s bleak implication that we tend to overlook:
Through the ad, young and middle-aged Filipinos are given a glimpse of the kind of life they will have in the future. The ad is also a gloomy reminder that the future has already arrived. We are all like the Bayantel lola now: inevitably connected to the cyberworld but ultimately alone in the real world.

author: Karlo Mongaya


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Philippines: Error-Ridden Book · Global Voices
Karlo Mongaya

A Page Turner's Odyssey draws attention to the grave number of typographical errors found in a book by a prominent Filipino author.


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Philippines: Protest of KFC workers · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Filipino employees of KFC, a popular fastfood chain, staged a picket-rally to protest the “illegal” dismissal of many workers in the country.

author: Mong Palatino


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Puerto Rico, Cuba, U.S.A.: On Sotomayor · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Cuban diaspora blogger 26th Parallel urges people to consider Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court based on merit, while The Voice of the Taino People Online reminds the media that “there is no more a Puerto Rican race than there is an American one.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Russia: Birth of Pirate Party · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

LJ user savinkoff posts [RUS] the manifest of the recently founded Russian Pirate Party, following the pattern of protagonists for Internet freedom in the rest of Europe.


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Russia: History of kommunalkas · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

English Russia presents an abridged history of soviet kommunlkas – communal apartments – with accompanying pictures.


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Russia: Rocket science in reverse · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Streetwise Professor discusses the problems that the new Russian sea launched ballistic missile (SLBM), the Bulava, is still experiencing after years of testing.


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Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados: Plantation Governance  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“My thesis is that Caribbean governments today are run exactly like the plantations of old, the only difference being that there are fewer white people cracking whips; the overseers have taken over the Great House”: Barbados-based Trinidadian blogger B.C. Pires builds on the late Lloyd Best's Theory of Plantation Economy.


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Trinidad & Tobago: We Have A Problem · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

In anticipation of the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, Trinidad-based blogger This Beach Called Life thinks that Port of Spain has a problem.


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Turkey: Finding an Apartment as an Expat · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

Turkish Muse details her recent experience as an American trying to rent out an apartment in Izmir. “We were aghast. How could she ask for that much? That's ridiculous!, we thought. Then we were incensed. I immediately assumed she was asking for such a high amount — and in dollars, no less — because we were American. “

author: Deborah Ann Dilley


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Why did Thailand’s former PM travel to Fiji?  · Global Voices
Michael Hartsell

Bloggers are debating the significance of the recent trip of Thailand’s ousted Prime Minister to Fiji and Tonga.
Media reports claim Thaksin Shinawatra, one of Thailand’s richest men, departed Malaysia just ahead of arrest warrants and made his way by private jet to Fiji, where he entered the country under an assumed name known to authorities. He later met with Fiji’s leader Frank Bainimarama and advisors.
Fiji and Thailand have no extradition treaties, fueling speculation that Thaksin traveled to the Pacific looking for asylum. Before Thai officials asked Fiji to return the fugitive leader, Thaksin left for Tonga. Rumors persist he eventually made his way to Port Vila, Vanuatu while leaders of the four-country Melanesian Spearhead Group heard Frank Bainimarama’s five-year plan to write a new constitution and electoral law before holding elections.
The Vanuatu trip has not been confirmed. Thakin’s laywers claims he is not searching sanctuary; he is looking for investment opportunities.
First elected Prime Minister in a 2001 landslide, Thaksin's time in office was punctuated by allegations of serious corruption (often at high personal gain), authoritarianism, human rights abuses and electoral fraud.
A government body froze $2.2 billion of his assets in Thailand. In October 2008, Thailand’s Supreme Court convicted him (in abstensia) of abuse of power, mostly relating to pushing through laws aiding family members’ business interests. He was sentenced to two years, but has not visited his homeland since August 2008 to serve the sentence.
Earlier this year, Thaksin, who usually lives in Dubai, again ran afoul of Thai authorities when they accused him of directly supporting anti-government protests that turned violent. After protesters clashed with the military, the government revoked his passport, and Thaksin allegedly travels on a passport from Montenegro.
Fiji has been increasingly politically and economically isolated since April, when the country’s President annulled the constitution and provided the military leader (who himself came to power via a December 2006 coup) with a five-year mandate.
Since then, Fiji’s government has imposed a series of emergency regulations, aimed at controlling assembly and censoring the media. Thus, people inside and outside the country have come to rely on blogs for Fiji political information.
Cour Four Point Five reports:
[Thaksin] flew into Suva in his Learjet for a secret meeting with prime minister and military commander Frank Bainimarama on Monday.
The meeting – held in Bainimarama's office – was confirmed by Major Neumi Leweni, who said a business prosposal was discussed at lunch.
It's understood the Thai leader wants to invest $300million in Fiji.
In return, it's expected he'd be assured safety from extradition – authorities in Thailand are trying to get him back to Bangkok, where he faces two years in jail for abuse of power.
The blog Musings from Thailand wonders if Thaksin’s ends justify his means by meeting Bainiarama.
What a paradox. Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted by a coup in Thailand in 2006, flew into Fiji's capital, Suva, yesterday to meet another coup leader, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who staged a coup in the same year — only to be ruled illegal by the court there.
In some ways, when Thaksin shook hands with Bainimarama to talk about his plan to nvest $300 million in that South Pacific island, he must have been reminded of Gen Sonthi Bunyaratakalin, whose coup sent him out of the country almost three years ago. Both the Thai and Fijian military officers weren't supposed to be politically ambitious. Both had been living low-profile lives before they decided to push out the elected, civilian governments. Suddenly, they declared themselves defenders of their respectie countries’ political stability and to fight rampant corruption.
Thaksin has spoken vehemently against military coups in Thailand. He has called for the return of electoral democracy, even ready to stake his life on his determination to put an end to future coups.
Now, he has gone to Fiji to cozy up to one of the most controversial coup leaders in the region.
Soli Vakasama, from Fiji, offers guidance.
This is an advice to you Mr Thaksin as you are also a victim of military coup stay away from Bainimarama or you will suffer the cosequences.
The Thai blog Connecting the Dots questions whether the former leader would be able to refrain from politics – a common demand of those who grant asylum.
When it comes to the issue of asylum political or other, that option is off the table for him for the moment anyway. For him to accept asylum means clipping his wings, and for the moment that is totally unacceptable. Thaksin’s goal is to regain his position as Prime Minister of Thailand, then make his enemies disappear forever. Then followed shortly after by stuffing his pockets.
Political asylum requires a few sacrifices to be made on the asylum seekers part. The first one and most significant is not to leave the country that is granting asylum. Once the person leaves the country protection could not be offered as they would be out of that country’s jurisdiction.
The second thing is the asylum seeker must become politically inactive or the asylum could be withdrawn. Once again this is not an option for Thaksin.
For Thaksin to give up anything is not his style so for the moment staying one step ahead of the people that are pursuing him is the game of today. So to travel under a false name or to visit countries that leaders think like him are Thaksin’s only options at the moment.
Thaksin would only accept political asylum if he were truly beat, but even then it may be like his April 2006 I quit story pulling a fast one.
Thailand’s press – and the media throughout the Pacific – provided near daily accounts of Thaksin supposed narrow escape from police in Kuala Lumpur before jetting to Fiji. The blog Bankok Crimes speculates that countries hosting Thaksin are ignoring Thailand’s extradition requests because of the government's weak case.
Every 2-3 days, this fine newspaper's headline reads; Thaksin is in Malaysia, Cambodia, Fiji, ad infinitum. Each and every country knows that Thailand wants him to be arrested and deported to Thailand. Each and every country refuses to respond to Thailand's request. Seems like EVERY country knows how bogus his conviction is. Most in Thailand also know this. If the minority get thier way and Thaksin is arrested and returned, the majority will rebel and he will likely not spend much time in the pokey. Then the current government's real problems will begin.
The govt knows this and really don't want him to be returned, but they love the continual headlines. That way, thier lack of accomplishments stay out of the news.
Many, but certainly not all, Fiji’s bloggers oppose the Bainimarama government. A post from Fiji Democracy Now on the blog Raw Fiji News sums up allegations of government criminality.
This was the story about how our dictator, Frank Bainimarama, met secretly with the fugitive former Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.
There is something very unsettling about the news that an international fugitive of justice such as Shinawatra was officially received at taxpayer expense by the current government of Fiji.
It’s confirmation that our dictator, Frank Bainimarama, turns a blind eye to criminality. And it confirms that if criminality suits his purposes, he will happily embrace it.
The criminal acts of Shinawatra and his wife, Potjaman, while he was Prime Minister of Thailand have been well documented by Thai courts of law, which saw fit to sentence Shinawatra to jail for corruption.
Yet the dictator greeted the Thai criminal like a visiting dignitary despite the fact that Shinawatra was in criminal mode, travelling under an alias on a Montenegro passport, as criminals do.
It was a meeting of two criminals who couid help each other.
Thaksin began his career working in Thailand’s police. After earning a Phd. in Criminal Justice in the United States, he rose to become lieutenant colonel in Thailand. He left the police in 1987 to work fulltime in his business plans, which rose from abject failures to building one of the most profitable telecom companies in Asia. Fiji’s bloggers point out the financial incentive of their cash-strapped government courting such a person.
Here is where we enter allegation territory. Coup Four Point Five and Raw Fiji News report that Thaksin may be interested in developing the Grand Pacific Hotel, a colonial building constructed in 1912 on the sea front near the edge of Suva’s downtown. The building has long been slated for restoration, but plans have continually fallen through. It now houses a garrison of soldiers, who guard government buildings across the street.
From Coup Four Point Five:
It's understood a deal was struck for Shinawatra to buy the derelict Grand Pacific Hotel at the meeting.
The GPH was supposed to have been developed into Suva's top hotel by FNPF and Fiji Investment Corporation.
Coupfourpointfive has been told Shinawatra handed over a cheque for $250,000 to [Head of Fiji National Provident Fund John] Prasad, reportedly a deposit for the deal. But it's believed the cheque wasn't deposited into the FNPF account by Prasad until today.
From Raw Fiji News:
It appears Thaksin’s Fiji venture has a probable hidden agenda. Thailand press speculated   that Thaksin is bargaining for a safe haven for exile in Fiji and the final investment sum may never materialize given Fiji’s nose diving economy.


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Afghanistan: Dostum denies massacre · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Nick Fielding reports that General Abdul Rashid Dostum, who is believed to be a war criminal, but is about to getting rehabilitation in Afghanistan, gave a recorded statement to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, in which he denied that any Taliban or al-Qaeda prisoners were abused in November 2001 by troops under his command.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Afghanistan: List of Afghan Presidential candidates · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Nick Fielding continues to keep an eye on presidential campaign in Afghanistan, and sought a list of 41 candidates from the electoral commission, which he now publishes.


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Africa: Challenges for African language study in America · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A podcast from African Online Digital Library about challenges and possibilities for African language study in America.


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Africa: New date for African Bloggers’ Conference · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The new date for Kelele 2009 (first conference for African bloggers) has been announced: “We are now pleased to announce that the inaugural Kelele, Bloggers Conference will take place in Nairobi from 29th October– 1st November, 2009.”