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Saudi Arabia: Municipal Elections Put off for Two Years  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Saudi blogger Saudi Jeans notes: “It’s official now. The municipal elections will be put off for two years, but instead of saying we are delaying the elections they came out today saying they will extend the mandate of municipal councils by two years. Classic.”


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Sri Lanka: Prabhakaran, The King Maker Is Dead · Global Voices
Rezwan

Ajith P. Perera at Dare To Be Different writes about the life of the slain LTTE rebel chief: “Prabhakaran is no more a hero than Hitler or Pol Pot, but he is a legend that will live on. I am sure for centuries to come mothers use his name to scare little children.”

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Rezwan


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Sri Lanka: Bloggers react to the death of the LTTE leader · Global Voices
Angilee Shah

The government of Sril Lanka announced via state media and SMS today (Monday, May 18, 2009) afternoon that the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Vellupillai Prabhakaran, is dead. News media are reporting that Prabhakaran, who was at the helm of one of the world's most violent rebellions, was killed by rocket grenade while in a van with the head of the LTTE's navy, Soosai, and the LTTE intelligence chief, Pottu Amman. The body of the rebel leader will undergo DNA tests to confirm identity. About 250 members of the Tamil Tigers were reportedly killed in the final surge of fighting in the country's 26-year-old war.
Obituaries of Prabhakaran note that he was a hero to some and a ruthless killer to others. The BBC writes, “To his followers, Vellupillai Prabhakaran was a freedom fighter struggling for Tamil emancipation. To his adversaries he was a secretive megalomaniac with a complete disregard for human life.” The Hindu in India says, “A ‘freedom fighter’ for his supporters and a dreaded terrorist for others, Prabhakaran was wanted by Interpol and many other organisations since 1990 for terrorism, murder and organised crime.” Long before the world was aware of Osama Bin Laden or Al-Qaeda, Prabhakaran started to use a new method of guerrilla warfare, suicide bombing. This cover story on Tehelka magazine reveals a lot about this war lord.
The Blogger of Beyond Skin explains it this way:
First reaction: WHAAA! [goosebumps and jaw-drop and an overwhelmingly contradictory feeling of both dread and relief.]
Second reaction: Now what? After 26 years of fighting, after displacing and killing hundreds of thousands, after silencing those who dissent against both the government and the LTTE through assassinations, torture and disappearance, what now of the Tamil people?
United National Party organizer Ajith P. Perera wrote in his own obituary for Prabhakaran in his blog, Dare to be different: “He was a terrorist, no doubt, but Prabhakaran deserves an obituary, even in a language he barely understood,” Perera wrote.
Did he achieve anything worthwhile for his community? The answer is a big NO. Ethnic (Jaffna) Tamils are worse off than they were in 1970s. More than half of the Tamil population has already left for good. Thousands of Tamil families had to live with eternal grief of losing one or more family members. Ethnic Tamils, the largest minority in Sri Lanka then, has now reduced to the pathetic third place after Muslims and Indian Tamils. Jaffna, the second most advanced city in Sri Lanka, with its famous education system, is now far behind. As a community Tamils, at least the unfortunate ones to still remain, have moved ten or twenty years backward. They were termed as terrorists across the world. North and East have become more and more economically dependent on Colombo. At least for the next few years, till a UNP government implements a political solution, they will be remotely controlled from Colombo. All thanks to Prabhakaran.
Sri Lankan Tamil activist and former LTTE member Nirmala Rajasingam explains in an opinion piece in The Independent that her sister was murdered by the LTTE 20 years ago.
For that reason, the news of the demise of the LTTE's top leadership – which ordered her killing and the killings of many other Tamil dissenters – brings overwhelming relief. The war and carnage has at last stopped and the insistent bloodletting of Tamil dissent is now over.
But she cautions:
The continued refusal of full access to humanitarian agencies does not allay suspicions about the government's intentions toward the refugees and the LTTE cadres who have surrendered. The last three years have seen a large number of abductions, extrajudicial killings and disappearances, almost exclusively targeting the Tamil community as the government of Sri Lanka relentlessly pursued its military campaign. The militarisation of state and society has been able to suppress dissent in the south, even mounting attacks on journalists. We wait to see whether the government will reverse this downward spiral in democratic governance.
Blogger and columnist Indi Samarajiva used Twitter to discuss the death of Prabhakaran while he was traveling. He posted messages to his Twitter page on Monday afternoon:
is in Hambantota. Fire crackers. Seems Prabhakaran is dead. No glory in death, but, well, good. May Sri Lanka rebuild #fb
they're lighting firecrackers literally meters from the gas cylinder depot. The fishmongers are yelling to get back to work.
Hambantota town is mostly Muslim, back to business. Flag convoys thru Ambalantota. War's over, Prabha's dead. Long live Sri Lanka #fb
Prahalathan KK, a blogger in Chennai, India, says that rejoicing in Prabhakaran's death is a diservice to the civilians killed in order to make the LTTE's defeat possible.
“So Prabhakaran the Terrorist has been killed. Happy? Rejoicing? Ever thought of the thousands of innocent Tamils who were slaughtered by the indiscriminate use of artillery and chemical weapons by the Sri Lankan army during the Genocidal war?”
According to the Ministry of Defence website, the almost 150,000 civilians who have fled the war zone in less than a month are being cared for by the army. But The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the only independent organization that has had access to civilians in the conflict zone, called the situation “nothing short of catastrophic.” Today, they in a news release that the they have not had access to civilians in the north-east for nine days. “This is all the more urgent since no humanitarian aid has reached those who need it for over a week,” said director of operations, Pierre Krähenbühl. Selvarasa Pathmanathan, head of the LTTE’s International Diplomatic Relations, released a statement on Sunday announcing that the Tigers will “silence our guns to save our people.” He said that 3,000 civilians have died and 25,000 are injured.
Prominent South Asian diaspora blog Sepia Mutiny reports on continuing protests in Canada. In a post about a gathering in Winnipeg. Melvin writes:
They held candles, signs, black flags and pictures of children whom they see as victims of the Sri Lankan government’s assault on civilians. While people in Colombo and elsewhere celebrated the apparent end of the 25-year civil war, those at the vigil mourned the deaths of innocent people and wondered what, if anything, had been solved. “It doesn’t solve anything,” Singarajah said. “People’s grievances aren’t going to be over. This government is so ruthless. They don’t want to give us our rights. As long as that is the case, the problems will go on.”
Protests have been ongoing in London, many parts of Canada and more recently in Australia. But activist Rajasingam cautioned in Foreign Policy magazine that the Tamil diaspora has taken a misguided approach to its message:
As Sri Lanka's humanitarian crisis unfolds, the international community must make its message clear and forthright. The Tigers and the diaspora that supports them have no claim as the “sole representation” of the Tamil people. Nor is secession a reasonable option. Anything more superficial than this firm engagement will play into the hands of the LTTE lobby in the West — and inflame Sinhala nationalists in Sri Lanka. Only this firm message will serve the cause of peace and democracy.
At Moving Images, Moving People! blogger Nalaka Gunawardene says that he wants to believe that the war is truly over:
Sure, there is no independent verification – it has been a war without witnesses for the last few years. But I am willing to take an unusual leap of faith if that’s what it takes to usher in the long-elusive peace. I will go to the ends of the earth, and suspend disbelief if I have to, in return for lasting and meaningful peace.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to address Parliament and the nation on Tuesday morning.

author: Angilee Shah


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Sri Lanka: Is It Really Over? · Global Voices
Rezwan

The LTTE rebel leader Velupillai Prabakaran is dead and many Sri Lankans are rejoicing. Portrait describes how does it feel when the war is won. However Scourge! asks whether the Sri Lankan civil war is really over.


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Taiwan: Media mixes up history · Global Voices
David Reid

Taiwanese Identity points out a mistake in a news article which demonstrates confusion about Taiwan's history. They argue that these kind of mistakes are common and the media needs to find new ways of writing about Taiwan.

author: David Reid


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Trindad & Tobago: Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Trinidadian bloggers This Beach Called Life and Jumbie's Watch take issue with the President's “apology” over the Integrity Commission debacle.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Uruguay: The Passing of Writer Mario Benedetti · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Uruguayan writer and poet Mario Benedetti passed away on May 17 at the age of 88. He had written more than 80 novels, as well as many more poems, essays and short stories as part of his body of work, which has been translated into approximately 20 languages. Benedetti is extremely important to Uruguayan society, especially because of his history as an exile and as an outspoken critic during the military dictatorship in the 1970s and 1980s.
With news of his death, many Uruguayan bloggers have been reflecting upon what his work has meant to them over the years. The blogger at Psicosesion [es] describes what one might find in Benedetti's writing in the context of the turbulent time in the region's history:
Su escritura refleja los tiempos más difíciles de una Latinoamérica oprimida, por el autoritarismo, donde no se respetaron los derechos humanos, donde deja ver el sufrimiento humano a flor de piel, opresión que hizo que Mario se mantuviera durante largo período exiliado del país.
Pero siempre Mario desde donde cualquier lugar, hacia sentir su voz….jamás lograron callarle.
His writing reflects the most difficult times for Latin America oppressed by authoritarianism, where human rights were not respected,  where he shows human suffering with great sensitivity, oppression that forced Mario to remain exiled from the country for a long period of time.
However, Mario always let his voice be heard no matter where he was…they never silenced him.
Gaba en Montevideo [es] also writes about the personal meaning and how Benedetti's words had accompanied her throughout life:
Murio benedetti, asi, con solo dos palabras se fue su inspiracion y dejo mil poesias. Mil poesias y una historia que se repetia una y otra vez, como marcada en fuego, en la vida de muchos uruguayos, en mi vida. Benedetti formo parte de mi memoria. Con Benedetti pase noches y dias y encuentros leyendo sus vivencias, su audacia, su historia de hombre comun. Su literatura ha sido parte de mi sangre, de mis entrañas, ha sido como el aire que he respirado para crecer. Y desde siempre mi brujula.
Beneditti died, and like that, with only those two words my inspiration has left and left behind a thousand poems. A thousand poems and a story that repeated over and over, as if marked by fire in the lives of so many Uruguayans and in my own life. Benedetti formed part of my memory. With Benedetti, I passed days and nights reading his experiences, his audacity, his story of a common man. His literature has been a part of my blood, of my insides, and has been like the air that I breathed in order to grow. And it has always been my compass.
Another Uruguayan blogger, Mario Blanco, recalls the time when he met Benedetti and received a dedicated inscription signed in one of his books [es]. Blanco is also especially proud of being Benedetti's “tocayo,” which is a term used when two people share the same name. In addition, they also both share the same initials “MB”
As an exile for ten years, Benedetti spent time in Spain, Cuba and Peru. It was not only the fact that he lived in other Spanish-speaking countries that made him popular throughout the region, but it was the words and convictions that resonated with citizens of other Latin American countries experiencing the same hardships under their own authoritarian regimes.
His literary works transcended borders, and other Latin American bloggers shared their experiences such as Modestamente Humano [es] from Guatemala who wrote:
por dedicar un poema de él que a fin de cuentas decía las cosas tal y como uno hubiera querido pero tal vez no tenía el talento para decirlas de una forma tan clara, tan franca, tan sencilla y tan bella.
From the Dominican Republic, Alexéi Tellerías of Catarsis Diaria [es] writes “Mario, we say goodbye to you (only) physically, because you are staying with us.” Zenia Regalado mentions that Benedetti spent time in Cuba when in exile [es] and when he worked at the House of the Americas in Havana.
Another blogger from a country where Benedetti spent time during his exile, Peruvian Juan Carlos De La Fuente of Noticias del Interior [es] writes that the Uruguayan author lived his life to the fullest:
A estas altura de mi vida, después de tantas muertes y tantos renacimientos, sé que Mario Benedetti vivió de lo que escribió y escribió de lo que vivió. Y sé que fue feliz, por más sospechosa que pueda parecerle esta palabra a algunos despiadados críticos, es decir –como decía Borges y lo repite mi amiga Luz María Sarria- no pasó un solo día sin estar un instante en el paraíso.

author: Eduardo Avila


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USA: National Ethnic Media Awards Winners 2009 · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

New America Media in the United States announces the winners of the 2009 Ethnic Media Awards. Pro-migrant blog The Sanctuary takes best ethnic blogger award.

author: Solana Larsen


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Azerbaijan: Nationalism fatigue · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Fighting windmills? Take a pill, a new English-language Azerbaijani blog, comments on last weekend's Eurovision Song Contest held in Moscow. The blog laments the nationalism and petty antics displayed by both Armenians and Azeris towards each other during the international music competition.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Bahrain: Activism Widget Generator Launched · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Mideast Youth has launched a widget generator to raise awareness on imprisoned bloggers, journalists and activists. “Setting up campaigns is not an easy task if you don’t have the right tools. There was one tool that we at Mideast Youth always felt was missing, and that was the ability to easily create and embed a widget to help spread the word on imprisoned bloggers, journalists or activists. So we simply felt the urge to build one! And we did,” explains Bahraini activist Esra'a.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Bahrain: Message to Greedy Dealers: Let them Rust  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif lends his voice to the Let Them Rust campaign, which aims to “force greedy car dealerships to reduce their prices.”
“The essence of this campaign is to not buy cars, let the stock rust if need be, until dealers take active steps to make car prices in Bahrain comparable to world markets,” he notes.


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Bahrain: Possible Pay Rise for MPs · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Bahrain-based blogger Coolred38 cannot believe her ears: “This can only be a late April Fool's joke being played out to the masses…MP's might possibly be getting yet ANOTHER pay rise!!!”

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Bangladesh: Ban Religious Parties? · Global Voices
Rezwan

Chowdhoury Mohibul Hassan Nowfel raises the question at E-Bangladesh whether the religious parties should be banned in Bangladesh.


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Barbados: Budget Speech Reactions · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbadian bloggers weigh in on the Prime Minister's much anticipated 2009 Budget Speech.


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Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago: Crop Over · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Repeating Islands, Trinidad Carnival Diary and Islandista are getting into gear for Barbados’ 2009 Crop Over festival.


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Caucasus: Mutual self-destruction · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Security in the Caucasus and beyond… comments on the tendency of Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian nationalists to selectively use and manipulate history to justify territorial claims on each other as well as to perpetuate ethnic hatred. The specialist blog concludes that its time for the South Caucasus to decide between a “self-destructive path of mutual recrimination” or “an alternative view that rejects a black and white vision of the region in favour of colour and complexity.”


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China: Future school safety, but not the past · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

David Bandurski from China Media Project looked into the education ministry's recent project on “secondary and primary school safety” and noticed that there was no mention at all of the collapse of shoddily constructed schools in last year’s Wenchuan earthquake.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: The democracy movement since 1989  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

During the last mother's Day weekend on May 10th, a number of intellectuals in Beijing organized a seminar discussing 20 years of the democracy movement in China. This is a very significant event in breaking the long silence among intellectuals on the June 4th student movement, as well as in countering the official position on the incident as a ‘riot.’
The speeches at the conference were published online in the past few days via China in Perspective. An anonymous article on ‘China in Perspective’ gives a detailed account of the discussions in the seminar..
There were about 19 participants in the seminar, including: Xu Youyu (徐友渔), Mo Zhixu (莫之许)、Cui Weiping (崔卫平), Hao Jian (郝建), Xu Xiao (徐晓), Zhou Duo (周舵), Liang Xiaoyan (梁晓燕), Qin Hui (秦晖), Guo Yuhua (郭于华), Li Hai (李海), Liu Zili (刘自立), Qian Liqun (钱理群), Teng Biao (滕彪), Tian Xiaoqing (田晓青), Wang Junxiu (王俊秀), Xu Yinong (许医农), 、Yan Yusheng (殷玉生), Zhang Boshu (张博树) and Zhang Yaojie (张耀杰). The seminar began with 3 minutes silence showing the participants’ respect for the Tiananmen mothers and the victims of the June 4th incident.
Qian Liqun started the discussion by explaining the background of the meeting:
一是出于教师的良知，20年前，许多学生为中国民主事业献出了生命，他作为教师，未能保护他们，一直心怀内疚，因为保护受难学生是教师的天职，也是北大的传统。90年前的 “五四”，当学生被捕，挺身营救的就是蔡元培校长。学生牺牲而不能保护，已经欠了一笔债；学生蒙冤至今不得昭雪，如果再不说话，就是愧为人师。其次，是出于学者的良知。政治家可以不为六四平反，而学者却必须将六四写入历史，进行学理的讨论与研究。
Qian presented a paper, ’An incomplete historical mission’, in the seminar reviewing the democracy movement since the 1940s when the Communist Party challenged KMT's authoritarian rule. However, soon after the CCP took control over the State they betrayed the constitutional promise of granting people freedom of speech, expression and assembly etc. The repression of the anti-revolutionary and anti-rightist factions in mid 1950s fully established the CCP's control over all media and publications.  A new wave of the democracy movement took place in mid 1970s with the emergence of underground people's publications. This movement was again repressed in 1981 by Deng Xiaoping. Upon reviewing the pamphlets and publications in 1989, Qian pointed out that the Tiananmen student movement is a legacy of democracy movement in China that informs and inspires future quests for political transformation:
中国的改革，必须走一条自上而下与自下而上相结合的道路，中国的政治体制改革必须以人民行使宪法赋予的以五大自由为核心的民主权利，实行广泛政治参与为基础。将各阶层人民，特别是工人，农民，知识分子（包括青年学生），市民排斥在外的，由国家与党掌控一切的，单一的自上而下的，以巩固一党专政为目的的改革，必然走向歧途，必然导致政治、经济、社会、道德的全面危机。这就是1989年的民主运动给我们的最大启示，也是1989年的民主运动被镇压以后的中国历史给我们的最大教训。
Zhou Duo presented his personal account of the happenings from mid April to June 4, 1989. Zhou was a reporter who helped organize media workers rally in support of the student movement and tried to persuade the students to leave Tiananmen before the PLA marched into the square.
Cui Waiping pointed out that the collective silence on the June 4 Incident has demoralized our society and it is now time to end that silence:
在“六·四”二十周年之际，我愿意公布这封信，向周围所有朋友提出这样的问题：二十年来的沉默和隐瞒，给我们社会带来的负面影响是什么？给我们民族的精神和道德带来怎样的损害？而我们自己在工作、生活中所受的损失又是什么？我们还打算继续沉默吗？
这个秘密实际上象一种毒素一样毒化着我们身处其中的周围的空气，影响我们全部的生活和精神。当我们选择阻力最小的那些方面释放自己的能量时，实际上我们都被迫参与了隐瞒真相，被迫和某种东西“保持一致”，参与那种权力游戏。如果说十年前那桩流血的罪行不是我们造成的，但十年来我们对此不置一词（尽管有太多可以解释的理由）已经使得我们对这件事负有了某种责任。
A number of presenters such as Xu Yaoyu and Yan Yusheng pointed out that the June 4 incident challenges the legitimacy and ethical grounds of the State’s claim on power. The Party-State has become an interest bloc which must be constantly challenged by the grassroots in the form of mass incidents.
Xu Yaoyuexplained how the June 4 incident has shattered people's hopes for the CCP and the authorities.
人们预料到了镇压，但完全没有预料到屠杀；人们对政府有批评和抗议，但决没有把政府当成死敌。也许可以作这样的比喻：人们把当政者看作顽固、专横，习惯于包办一切的大家长，但万万没有想到这个家长要杀自己的儿孙。一家人的幻觉瞬间灰飞烟灭，既然政府把人民当敌人，人民也只能把政府当敌人。
Zhang Boshu criticized the antagonistic rationale and persecution paranoia of the oppressor and ruling oligarchy who see all criticism as ‘conspiracy’ and a threat. On the other side of the coin, Hao Jian pointed out that people also tend to overestimate and exaggerate the irrational aspect of the oppressors.
Zhang Boshu pointed out agreed, saying that:
“敌对思维”是极权主义政治文化的一种表现。发生于20年前的中国共产党政府当局对1989公民维宪爱国运动的镇压，从镇压者一方来说，即典型地体现了这种“敌对思维”逻辑。它把对当政者的善意批评，解读为居心叵测的“阴谋”；把对现存体制的质疑、分析，解释为对现存政权的恶意否定。这是邓小平等中共领导人铸成历史大错的开始。
Xu noted that after June 4, people turned to the constitution for the citizen rights movement. In order to gradually transform the political system, Xu stressed the need for upholding universal values and peaceful means.
Wang Junxui and Tieng Biao highlighted that since 2003 the citizen rights movement has opened a new direction in the democracy movement and Liang Xiaoyin also saw the emergence of volunteer culture in recent years as a positive development of social awareness. Mo Zhixu pointed out that the Internet has been effective in fighting the collective apathy and he believed that more people will join the movement for freedom and democracy.
Edited by Bob Guy


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Ecuador: The Legacy of Indigenous Leader Mama Tránsito · Global Voices
Milton Ramirez

Indigenous communities, civil rights activists, and other Ecuadorians are mourning the passing of one of its social leaders, Rosa Elena Tránsito Amaguaña.  As a “Creator of a new Ecuador,” she was one of the fundamental pillars of the Ecuadorian Indigenous Movement, alongside Dolores Cacuango [es], also known as Mama Dulu, and the writer Nela Martínez [es].
“Mama Tránsito” as she was also known, died on the special day in Ecuador, Mother's Day. As a member of the Kichwa indigenous community, their belief is that she passed from the Pachamama (Mother Earth) to the Samay Pacha (Spiritual World) and that death should not bring sadness, but rather a joyful and colorful celebration. Mama Tránsito is said to be lived almost a century but as usually happens with some Ecuadorians families, her biography says she was born on 1909, but she maintained that she was born six years earlier.
Ecuadorian bloggers are saddened by her passing and commemorate the legacy Mama Tránsito has left to the contemporary Ecuadorian indigenous movement. Vamos a Cambiar el Mundo [es] republishes an article written by Silvia Cuevas-Morales. The article recounts Mama Tránsito's childhood in Huasipungo and how her mother wanted her to attend school so that she would not be illiterate. However, she soon had to work as a domestic employee for the hacienda owners.
The poor treatment and inequality that she witnessed firsthand motivated her to become involved fighting for the rights of indigenous communities. As a result, she became heavily involved with unions and she helped establish the first agrarian syndicates in Ecuador. In addition, she was a founding member of Ecuadorian Indians Federation (FEI) and the first Ecuadorian bilingual schools.
Photo of President Rafael Correa attending the funeral. Used under a Creative Commons license. http://www.flickr.com/photos/presidenciaecuador/3529551826/
During her visits to Cuba, she learned to read and write during a time when education for the indigenous was prohibited at the time. As a member of the Communist party, Mama Tránsito is remembered as a ‘comrade’ and the blog of the Communist Youth of Ecuador [es] honors her life's work because the indigenous sectors were opressed and expoited and how they “did not make decisions over their own lives like work animals.”  They are also hopeful and write:
Pero estamos seguros al igual que “Mama Tránsito” que “Llegará el día en que los indígenas, negros, blancos, mulatos, mestizos comeremos en un solo plato, todos y todas”.
She was an inspiration to many, and university student Nati Wolf of La Chica de la Luna [es] chose Mama Tránsito for her class assignment about a person of history.  With her classmates, Wolf visited the community of La Chimba to meet her in person. This blogger writes about what she calls the ‘other side’ of Tránsito Amaguaña and the conditions she saw in which the indigenous leader lived. Wolf stresses that even with relative progress that many of Tránsito's concerns remain unsolved:
Sus ojos llorosos y cansados, sus arrugas y las venas abultadas por donde se expresaba toda una vida llena de experiencia y de lucha, me hacían ver que aún hay mucho camino por recorrer, aunque ella haya logrado cierta estabilidad en varios ámbitos. La pobreza aún existe, la discriminación es pan de cada día y cada segundo de nuestras vidas, nuestros derechos siguen siendo violentados.
Estoy segura que quiénes fuimos a conocerla, nos marcó la vida. El destino quiso que la conociéramos antes de que partiera de este mundo. Nos regaló la semilla de la perseverancia y valentía con que se debe seguir luchando. Y sabemos que cuando estamos unidos se puede lograr muchas cosas..
Her teary eyes were tired, her wrinkles and thick veins as a result of expressing a lifetime of experience and struggle, they make me see that there is still a long way to go, even though she has achieved some stability in several areas. Poverty still exists, discrimination is a daily concern, and every second of our lives, our rights are still violated.
I am sure that she had a great impact on the lives of those who met her. Destiny called for us to have met before she left this earth. She gave us the seed of perserveance and courage with which one should keep fighting. We know that when we are united that many things can be accomplished..
For photos of Wolf's visit, please visit her Flickr page.
There are two videos (I & II) in  YouTube that help us understand better the life of Transito Amaguaña.  El Universo [es] also has a photo gallery with pictures.

author: Milton Ramirez


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Egypt: El Korba Annual Festival Allows City’s True Beauty to Shine · Global Voices
Nermeen Edrees

Talk about positive energy.  Last Friday (May 15), El Korba, one of the oldest Cairene districts, celebrated its fifth peace festival.  Many Heliopolis and Cairo residents from different districts await this annual event, where they can enjoy themselves and indulge in the beauty of the all time over crowded Heliopolitan district  – which is closed to traffic on the day.
Entertainment and cultural activities are the order of the day, when peace and diversity meet in one place.
In her blog post on the festival, Fattractive says:
Korba is one of the oldest districts in Heliopolis. All these gorgeous old buildings. Sadly, it’s become extremely crowded and annoying, but on one day every year, it becomes a pedestrian street, and it’s true beauty shines through
She then continues:
All the cafes set their tables outside, bands entertain us up on a stage, kids draw on the street with chalks, and companies fall all over themselves to market their products in the most innovative ways. Entertainment is varied: the traditional tanoura/ oriental dances, and then guitar/ jazz bands. It got way crowded at night, but still very fun
After the event people came back with lovely picture perfect moments and shared them on the event's Facebook Group.
The group describes the day as:
For Heliopolis residents and admirers and guests from across Cairo, this is the day we celebrate peace in Cairo's oldest and vintage quarter “korba Heliopolis”.
And here are some more pictures from the festival:
Photo credit: Photos 1 and 2 by Nermeen Edrees

author: Nermeen Edrees


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Egypt: President’s Grandson Dies · Global Voices
Tarek Amr

Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak's eldest grandson, Mohammed, has died at a Paris hospital after a brief illness.
Bloggers were quick to react to the 13-year-old's death – which was met by silence in the Egyptian official media when the story first broke.
Zeinobia wrote here:
Now it was announced he was dead and he died there after an operation or even  may be in the operation room. May be he suffered from a tumor that no one noticed except when it was too late and was spread :(
It has not been announced on the Egyptian TV yet strangely,the TV is acting as if nothing has happened, may be they have not receive the orders yet .
I feel so sad for him.
May Allah bless his soul , he was just 13 years old and it is enough that he is in heaven now. My condolence to his family regardless of what I think about them.
Also Nawara wrote a blog post here about it:
Finally, nowadays, it's not enough to follow the blogs only. Twitter has got its share of reactions too.
@NoraYounis said:
Mubarak's grandson, Mohammed 13years, dies of brain hommerage!
@ShadySamir added:
Everyone. If you're against Mubarak please don't take it out on a dead 13 year old boy. This makes you worse than a tyrant.
@BentMasreya agreed:
I'm sorry for that too :( Allah yer7amouh) [May God have mercy on him].
And @tercowas said:
A child death breaks any heart :-(

author: Tarek Amr


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Guyana, Cuba: Day Against Homophobia · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“What did it mean that there were no openly lesbian women where I lived in Guyana, a little over 20 years ago?” asks Signifyin’ Guyana, as she acknowledges the recent International Day Against Homophobia; Repeating Islands, meanwhile, notes that the occasion was recognized in Havana.


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Haiti: Minimum Wage Increase · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Wadner Pierre says that “Haitian labor activists applauded the Preval administration's decision to raise the minimum wage in Haiti from 70 to 200 gourdes ($5.50 USD) per day”, but notes that “the increase has been strongly opposed by Haitian industrialists.”


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Honduras: Punta Izopo National Park · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Raquel of Un Año Sin Invierno [es] recommends visiting Punta Izopo National Park in Honduras where one can spot crocodiles and take part in other ecotourism activities.


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Honduras: Trusting Congress to Reform Constitution · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Some opponents of the proposal to rewrite the Honduran Constitution say that Congress can instead reform the document to meet the current needs. However, Mundo J [es] asks whether citizens trust Congress enough to be able to fix the Constitution.


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Jamaica: Dead and Gone…Where?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“You know crime is bad when there’s nowhere to put the bodies”: Jamaica Salt explains.


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Japan: Harvest Time In Satoyama · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Martin J Frid from Kurashi introduced a video, Harvest Time In Satoyama, which explains the links between satoyama landscapes and food and fuel security. The video is produced by  Kaori Brand at the UNU Media Studio.


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Jordan: Calling a Spade a Spade in War on Child Abuse  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Jordan, Kinzi notes her admiration for Queen Rania's efforts on curbing child abuse. “It’s not too late to highlight her amazing ability to both take responsibility for temporary failure, point out the problems, call a spade a spade, and inspire leaders to attack the problem with renewed vigor,” writes the blogger.


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Kuwait: Election History: Four Women Win Parliament Seats · Global Voices
Amer Al-Hilal

Election fever has swept Kuwait, culminating in a historic and momentous event for the nation! Kuwait was expecting at best one or two women to make it to Parliament but we got four (Dr. Aseel Al-Awadi, Dr. Rola Dashti, Dr. Salwa Al-Jassar and Dr. Masouma Mubarak)! Amer Al-Hilal here with an extra-large ‘Special Edition Election’ post from Kuwait with reactions from the Kuwaiti blogosphere.
We kick-off our coverage with The M Code in a post titled ‘Freedom and Democracy,’  in which the blogger (prior to the Election results) regrets the misuse of democracy in Kuwait:
I don’t believe that freedom and democracy is to please the majority and disregard the minority, and I don’t believe it’s to please the minority and disregard the majority. I believe that it’s to please both the minority and the majority, to provide all options and not only one option for the people. For example, instead of enforcing segregation in all colleges there must be colleges with segregation for those who want segregation and colleges without segregation for those who don’t mind having no segregation. But the question is, is there any hope left for anything anymore? I don’t believe so. It’s all downhill from years ago and for years to come. The voices of freedom and democracy and whatever we say are like mortal winds, making papers fly and leafs move for a while then dieing away. It’s really depressing to know without doubt that there is no hope for anything at all. There is a future for the dictatorship of the majority over the minority, but no future for real freedom and democracy.
Hilaliya, in a post entitled ‘Congratulations Kuwait‘ reacts to the election results:
Our faith in the system and people of Kuwait was reaffirmed today.
Following years of uncertainty and gridlock, the people of Kuwait have voted for change. I am certainly in high spirits, and relieved. We were hoping one or two women would make it in, we got four!
Some newcomer independents also won and ‘Hadas’ took a big hit in the 3rd District (my district). The ‘fatwas’ and mudslinging by xenophobic elements towards women and progressive candidates backfired, reenergizing and intensifying support for them.
Congratulations to the qualified ladies and newcomers.
The popular culture blog 4th Ring Road  took a rare detour into political territory by offering an interesting analysis on the recent election results:
The elections came and went but its results will stick in our minds forever. His Highness the Emir said to help him by choosing wisely. The Kuwaiti voters responded and the change we saw today morning is greater than it looks.
It might seem obvious that 4 female MPs, a great moment in Kuwaiti history, is change enough but we must look more closely to see even more change. The fall of Islamic MPs was in my opinion a sign that Kuwaiti voters were very disappointed at what they achieved in the past. Hadas now only has Jum’an Al Hirbish to represent them and Khalid Bin Essa along with Ali Al Omair representing the Salafi movement. Other independent Islamists managed to win but their popularity decreased significantly. In the third district, Waleed Al Tabtabaie did not do as well as last year and so was the case with Al Omair, Al Meslim and Al Sara’awi. I worried about Al Sara’wi the most because he could not be classified as Islamic, his proverbial beard was never used to promote his agenda. The voting numbers of the Islamic candidates might be a warning sign to them and they should keep a low profile, no more dancing and shoe lifting!
The smear campaign aimed at Aseel and Al Meslim did not stop them from being MPs and that proves that the voters are now more aware of who were behind these dirty tactics and what was the purpose behind it. Hadas also had suffered from bad press but there is no reason to dwell further…
DixieBedouin's post ‘Congrats Women!’ had this to say:
What does it mean to Kuwait to have women in the government? Actually, what does it mean in any government? I think there is reason to hope. All of the things that I have complained about could be addressed with women in power (education, environment, lawlessness, etc.). Not that men can't address the issues, rather that they haven't. Too much testosterone seems to lead to progress constipation, so my hope is that the women will be true to their nature and give this country some long needed nurturing. I know, I know, not all women are the same, but let's face it, that is what we need here in Kuwait, a mother's eye for prioritizing, organizing, and getting things accomplished!
An elated post in CAPS (‘Change Has Come!‘) by Eshda3wa praises the election results, stating that she is proud of Kuwait and the way it voted this time, regretting Salafist MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaie's win:
AHAL ELKUWAIT (People of Kuwait) IM SO DAMN PROUD OF YOU!! FOUR WOMEN IN THE PARLIAMENT! MA39OOMA LIMBARAK WALAH MOO HAYNA (Masooma AlMubarak is not easy) AND IM SO PROUD TO SEE THE PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO TAKE ASEEL DOWN DID NOT SUCCEED! BS THAG KHELGEE 6AB6ABA2I (But I feel uneasy that Al-Tabtabaie) MADE IT SO CLOSE TO TAKING HIM DOWN! BUT IT MATTERS NOT SALWA & ROLA .. MAKE US PROUD
AHAL ALKUWAIT (People of Kuwait)- YOU ROCK!!!!
Windowless’s ‘Yes To Democracy!’ post was ecstatic in its reaction to the election results. Windowless states:
Sometimes I have difficulties falling asleep I can’t seem to shut the mind off! Last night, I had difficulty falling asleep, so I was tuned into quite a bit of election coverage while attempting to pass out. I know, I know… bad idea! How are you supposed to fall asleep while watching election coverage! While I was in bed I just realized what had happened And I’m well aware that Kuwaiti voters scored a historic breakthrough by electing the first women MPs. I know that represents the change the Kuwaiti needs, In particular she become a strong competitor not because she is a woman; because she possessed talent and efficiency to enter the parliament and this is a major leap forward.
Rants and Ramblings, in a post entitled ‘Kuwait's First Female MP's’ lauds the results of the election:
I am so beyond elated right now!! Soooo proud of everyone who made the right choice yesterday!! If only we had known that these are the results that we would get when only half the people vote, right? To those who didn't vote, malat 3alaikum [shame on you]! You have let your country down big time. Bas [But] you know what? Thank God that there are still people who have not given up on their country. Thank God that there are still people who went and voted for the right people and didn't think “why should I bother? they won't win anyway”. Thank $#%#^ God! To those who have lost hope about ilwath3 ilsiyasi [the political situation] in the last few years: maybe what happened yesterday is what's going to make you be more optimistic about what what we can really do for our country instead of letting ilmutakhalifeen [the backward people] run it! First Obama and now this! Politically-wise, '09 has got awesome written all over it! We all went to congratulate Aseel @3am min ilfar7a [out of happiness]. I'm so incredibly proud of her, it's ridiculous!
Organic Kuwait in the post ‘A New Kuwait‘ is also ecstatic at the election results, following the election of four women to Parliament.
i knew it i knew it i knew it i knew it !! i knew kuwaitis wont let baba Suba7 [father Subah – in reference to Kuwaiti Amir Shaikh Subah ] AL Ahmed Al Jaber] down.. i knew WE WERE READY FOR CHANGE..
this is a good morning! a REALLY GOOD MORNING :”)
Chillnite, a technology analyst and blogger, praises the election results in Kuwait, stating we are finally moving towards a ‘gender bias-free democracy,':
Kuwait broke the rusted tradition, where the population voted overwhelmingly in May 16th elections for 4 women candidates and voted them into the parliament. Even the general results point towards a more liberal movement in thought process of the electorate.  Lets hope that the elected officials leave behind the constant bickering on trivial issues and concentrate more on pressing issues like economy, labour, and general welfare.
Kuwait Times front page celebrating the new women MPs taken by blogger Intlxpatr
Popular expatriate blogger, Intlxpatr from ‘Here, There and Everywhere‘ rejoices with her progressive Kuwaiti brothers and sisters in a post entitled ‘Joy In Kuwait,’:
You might think it is the inner feminist in me that is rejoicing, and you would be only half right. The Kuwait elections brought me a lot of joy, for many reasons. First, as an equal opportunity woman, you need to know that I believe women are every bit as capable of veniality and stupidity as men, and that not being in power has only meant not having equal opportunity to abuse that power. And then – you take a look at the women who were elected – smart women. Capable women! Not-your-shy-shrinking-violet kind of women! Women who know how to organize, how to delegate, and how to discuss and resolve differences.
My joy is in the renewal of their spirit. It’s not my election. But oh, I dance with joy for your joy, Kuwait, and I celebrate your commitment to the future.
PS For our non-Kuwaiti readers – early in the election campaigns, one party announced a religious fatwa (edict) saying that it was forbidden to vote for women. I think it outraged people badly enough to create a huge backlash.
LOFT965 offers his usual cynical, sobering but sharp take on the recent election results:
Don’t mind the late-news headline, but I couldn’t resist the “News Of The Day” aura. So, yes Kuwait finally did it. The people of Kuwait broke another barrier in the on-going war on sexism and discrimination. And when it rains, it pours. Not one, but four. One of which was the first in her district and another the second. It’s hardly a liberal uprising and, to tell you the truth, some of them could might as well pass for the piety bloc. But, complaining is so 2000 and late.
Even as the beardist ghouls are still lurking and will probably be watching all the female MPs for any minor slip-up, the social outpouring for such a victory is proof of the women have public popularity and that means staying power. The general reception of the election results is nothing but an indication of the need to break the routine and reassess the state of the nation. All these lies and the propaganda seem to be not convincing anymore and that’s why we see these changes.
The liberal gain, aside from the inclusion of women in parliament, is really not the prominent. The fundamentalist loss is considerably better. But the fight on tribalism, corruption, favoritism, discrimination and even sexism is far from over. In fact, it barely started. In congratulations, people are still referring to these women as ” حريم”. A word that is drenched in objectification of women as forbidden beings. Not to take this post into a rant on feminist theory, but just an indication of how far we have to go.
Positively, though, it’s a good day not just for Kuwait but all of humanity and a sign that there is room for change. Now these women will enter as a foursome and the religious fascists will have to deal one-on-one with them if they want to get votes to have their bills passed. Moreover, they will have first-hand experience as to what it feels like for a women to live in Kuwait. Stone-Age laws like segregation, the ban on Kuwaiti women to bestow citizenship, marriage issues, unequal inheritance and divorce will definitely be get a revisiting, if not a rehashing.
American expatriate blogger Desert Girl praises her former Washington DC colleague Dr. Rola Dashti's win (‘Mabrook Rola!‘) [Congratulations Rola]:
All your struggles and perseverance have finally paid off.
I remember when you slept next to your desk in the Kuwait Reconstruction Office in DC in 1991, working so hard that your mother shook her head in worry over you.
I remember seeing your brothers meet in the street in Kuwait on Liberation Day 1991: Salah in the Resistance and Jamal as an interpreter with the US Army. CNN captured the moment and showed your mother watching it happening live from Washington, DC and finally knowing that both of them were ok – with tears running down her face.
I remember sitting with ne're do well men who skoffed at the idea that you could make it in politics and I remember thinking that they were idiots – as they chose to rape Kuwait working for personal benefit in politics.
To those people said you were “too Lebanese”, not married, not belonging to any major group, “too this” and “not enough that” – I say ‘IN THEIR FACE!’
I have met very few people who have Kuwait's best interest at heart the way that you do – who are willing to fight for what they believe in – even in the face of strong opposition on different sides. You fought when others gave up.
Finally, Kuwait is voting for QUALIFIED candidates – not just by who their family members told them to vote for or who paid the most for a vote. Someone who has been Chairperson for Kuwait Economic Society with a PhD in Economics from Johns Hopkins is qualified.
Good on you, girl! Time to take it all to the next level – give them a good run! We are so so so so proud of you.
Lastly, Drunk'n'Gorgeous offers her own recollection as a campaign volunteer for MP Dr. Rola Dashti:
I'm elated that several women won. That Dr Rola Dashti was among the winners… well that just rocks!
I joined her camp about a month ago with the illusion that I was going to be doing some real work instead of just showing up, sitting there, and looking purdy. On the plus side, I had so much fun and made even more friends. The last few days especially were awesome! That said, yesterday was brutal! We had to wake up at the crack of dawn, hotfoot it to the schools we were allocated to, man our positions, and “work it”. What was even more refreshing was the fact that the chicks, young and old, the one's that came to vote and the ones who were working, like us, were all so freakin nice! That seriously blew me over. No matter how many times I see it, feel it, experience it. I still can't believe it. The women that came to vote were all “ya36eekum il3afyah” [may God bless you]. The younger chicks that were “workin’ it” were super-friendly to each other and to the girls in other camps. Four different chicks from different camps tried to feed me. Apparently, I can be tamed with food.
At night, everyone let their guards down and completely relaxed. There was singing, clapping, and some weird dancing. The jovial mood spread like wildfire. Pretty soon, everyone seemed drunk. I felt a certain fondness for all these crazy, happy, hard-working, good people. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they're my people.

author: Amer Al-Hilal


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Kuwait: On Angels and Demons  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Kuwaiti blogger ZDistrict reviews Dan Brown's blockbuster Angels and Demons in this post. “I really recommend this movie, but I’m assuming if watched in Kuwait it will be really chopped up because it has so many religious references,” he notes.


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Malawi: Listen to Malawi Election Bloggers   · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Malawians are currently voting in the presidential and parliamentary elections. A group of Malawian bloggers were trained by PenPlusBytes, an International Institute of ICT Journalism in collaboration with New Media Institute to monitor and comment on the elections using blogs, twitter and mobile phones.
Let's take a look at their blogs, which are hosted on The African Elections Portal. The African Elections Portal provides comprehensive election related information on the various countries in Africa.
According to blogger Eric Chilenje, the 2009 elections in Malawi will be heavily contested:
The 2009 General Elections will be one of those elections that appear to be  heavily contensted.In the first place, we have  seen the former head of state Dr Bakili Muluzi, being stopped by  Malawi Electoral  Commission from contesting    for the third time as president.This was done in accordiance with the Malawi Constitution  whiuch stipulates that a presiednt shall only serve two consecutive terms.
One other interesting aspects  during the 2009 General Elections is that we have seen United Democtracti Front , a party being being led by Dr Bakili Muluzi  forming a ‘coalition’ with  Malawi Congress Party  of John Tembo.
Norman Fulatira makes a similar observation:
The 2009 Elections in Malawi seem to be the first since the country attained multiparty democracy.  The hype that is there perhaps suggests that this time around the contest is high.
I percieve that the 2009 elections in Malawi hangs around the issue of greed among the leaders.  None of the leaders is mentioning about an ideology to follow once elected into power save for pressidential independent candidate Mr. James Nyondo.
McDonald Bamusi argues that what the decision of two political parties, UDF and MCP, to support a single candidate has made the race very tight:
This year's general elections in malawi have been one of the most closely contested. This has been the case especially because of the agreement of UDF and MCP to support one candidate in the name of John Zenus Ungapake Tembo.
Michael notes that rural voters will not be taken for granted in this year's elections:
This year's race for Malawi General Elections will be tight. All major political parties are concentrating their campaign in the rural areas. These are the people that are in majority. The rural masses may not be taken for granted this year as they now know and appreciate who the good leader is.
The Civil Society, Media and Religious Institutions are playing a vital role in making sure that the Electorate have the right information concerning the elections. This will help the public to make an informed decision on who to vote for on May 19.
Wesysylas reports that the a Democratic Progressive Party bus was stoned in Machinga Distrtict:
Barely a day after some some nasty scenes occured at a rally organised by united democratict front national chairman Dr Bakili Muluzi at Goliati in Thyolo district, the scenerior wore a new face when a Democratic progressive Party Bus was on Wednsday stoned in machinga District.
The good news is that, according to the Human Rights Consultative Committee, the levels of violence during the 2009 campaign period have decreased compared to the 2004 elections:
Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) has said levels of violence during the 2009 campaign period in preparation for the 19 May general elections have decreased compared to what was experienced in 2004.
The campaign period has ended today at 6 o’clock in the morning. HRCC vice National Coordinator Cecilia Mussa said the development is a clear demonstration that Malawians have realized that power is not a tool to bring personal agenda.
The 2009 elections according to Nicolas Mbonela is one of its kind:
Malawi's fourth coming general election on 19 May 2009 will be of their own kind looking at the political developments that are transpiring in the country.
The political rivals are busy castigating each other just to make sure that they woo support from most illiterate Malawians that form the majority of the country's population and electorate.
Malawi Elections Breaking News reports that property owners in Malawi are demanding money for campaign posters places on their property:
Some small scale property owners in Blantyre are demanding, at least, K500 for political posters placed in their area of business or enterprise, it has been learnt.
The development has prompted some property owners to openly advertise for their places, as one poster at Blantyre Old Town indicated Sunday morning.
One of the places where politicians are said to have paid for a place is at the Curios centre, near Malawi Savings Bank in Blantyre .
One of the curios’ sellers disclosed in an interview the posters now selling themselves at the place were paid for, and that each did cost K500 for the depicted political parties. The posters there include the faces of Bingu wa Mutharika and one for John Tembo, Malawi Congress Party’s torch bearer in the May19 polls.
Jessie Puwapuwa observes that in 1994 Malawians voted in order to get rid of Kamuzu Banda who had ruled Malawi for 30 years:
Election time as it is people cast their votes inorder to put into or remove people from positions.
This is the third time Malawians will be going to polls to choose a leader after their hearts. In 1994 Malawians were eager to go to vote just to get rid of Malawi Cogress Party which had ruled the country for 30 years under what they called ‘Dictatorship of late His Excellency Ngazi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda.’ this was the beginning of democratic dispensation and the United Democratic Party President Dr. Bakili Muluzi was the first leader to be elected and re-elected in 1999.
In 2004 Dr. Bingu Wa Mutharika was elected to this honourable office on a UDF.
In his post titled “Malawi: The Economy, Stupid?,” Mujo writes, “Despite facing a strong alliance of the main opposition leader and a former president, the incumbent is expected to win on the back of an economic boom”:
On May 19, voters in Malawi will go to the polls to elect their next president. The Democratic Progressive Party has been in power for the last four years and is fielding President Bingu wa Mutharika as its candidate once again.
Despite facing a strong alliance of the main opposition leader and a former president, the incumbent is expected to win on the back of an economic boom.
Though critics accuse Mutharika of rigging his way into office, he is credited with helping to improve Malawi’s economy. Since he took over, the country has experienced an average economic growth of 7 percent.
“He inherited a very politically and economically mismanaged legacy … and it was a very tall order to get the country running, to try to get the confidence of very important external players in Malawi,” said Dimpho Motsamai, a political analyst at the Institute for Global Dialogue in South Africa who specializes on Malawi.
“So his vision was one of economic rejuvenation, stricter physical management of economic resources — very prudent management of economic resources — and one that would deal with socio-economic inequalities in Malawi,” she told Reuters Africa Journal.
George Kanyange expects the 2009 elections to be one of the most exciting elections in the history of Malawi:
This year's elections are promising to be the most exciting ever in Malawi. There certain factors that make our elections unique. First is the fact that one of the key political parties contesting in the elections is the ruling party, the Democrartyic Progerssive Party (DPP), that was never ever eleected by the electorate for it to be in power. Another interesting aspect is that the former ruling party, the United Democratic Party (UDF), is not fielding a presidential candiate after its leader, Bakili Muluzi, was rejected by the Electoral Commission, which has forced the party to go into an alliance with another leading positiion, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) which is also the oldest party in the country.
Media not considered in Party Manifestos, writes Big Up:
All seven presidential candidates, in next week’s general elections, have come under fire, for not incorporating anything tangible, to do with media in their manifestoes.These include, MCP/UDF’s John Tembo, DPP’s Bingu wa Mutharika, Aford’s Dindi Gowa Nyasulu, NARC’s Loveness Gondwe, RP’s Stanley Masauli, PETRA’s Kamuzu Chibambo and Independent James Nyondo.This has since prompted some journalists, to question the country’s political officials, on whether they indeed regard the media, as the fourth estate or not, in line with the constitution.
Will the elections be free and fair? Blogger Arnold Munthali answers:
So much has been said and written about Malawi's 2009 elections. According to some commentators, it will be the most foul, unfree and unfair. And those fears are not without a basis and are too far from the truth.
The voters roll remains a mess days before the elections are held; the opposition is yet to get over its grudge that the  government shortchanged it in apoointing commissioners to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC); the state broadcasters, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation and Malawi Television, remain largely closed to the opposition and they are heavily manipulated in government's favour; the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is using (read abusing) government resources to campaign… With such a situation, can anything ever be right with these elections?

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Malawi: Twittering Malawi Elections 2009 · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Seven candidates are running for president in the fourth presidential elections in Malawi, including the incumbent Bingu wa Mutharika for the Democratic Progressive Party and the main opposition figure John Tembo, standing for the opposition coalition. Voters are also choosing their members of parliament. Anyone interested in the elections can follow updates from Malawian micro-bloggers.
MalawiVotes 2009 is a twitter run by the African Election Project. Their latest tweets read:
# Malawi elections nos. 5.9m voters, 3,900 poll booths Seven presidential contenders 1,100 candidates for 193 seats28 minutes ago from web
# Malawi votes in knife-edge poll http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/…28 minutes ago from web
# Minorities turn up to vote http://bit.ly/GBqEX34 minutes ago from web
# Malawi: Listen to Malawi Election Bloggers http://bit.ly/qA7cAabout 1 hour ago from web
# @commonwealthsec follow us at www.twitter.com/malawivotes… from www.africanelections.org/ma…about 1 hour ago from web in reply to commonwealthsec
# malawi elections 2009 : Vote Counting Begins www.africanelections.org/ma…about 1 hour ago from web
# Voting process peaceful: EISA http://bit.ly/UFh3Babout 1 hour ago from web
# embo votes, upbeat to win. http://www.nyasatimes.com/about 5 hours ago from web
# Arrest Muluzi, Bingu orders as Joy radio is closed. http://www.nyasatimes.com/about 5 hours ago from web
# @RFI_English www.africanelections.org/ma… follow us at www.twitter.com/malawivotes…about 6 hours ago from web in reply to RFI_English
# Police arrest voter certificate seller. http://africanelections.org…about 6 hours ago from web
# EC says late centres may close late. http://africanelections.org…about 6 hours ago from web
Kumbu of Mobile Technology blog is also twittering on Malawi Elections '09. His latest tweets read:
# Salima man caught by Police for selling registration certificate at K2,000.00about 8 hours ago from web
# Mzimba Luwelezi is the centre that had its materials arrive late – no road. had 2 use helicopter.about 8 hours ago from web
# Bees disturb people in Lilongwe at Civic centreabout 8 hours ago from web
# Bingu voted at Goliati in Thyolo, Muluzi in his home and Tembo in Dedzaabout 8 hours ago from web
# Polling staff instructed to conter sign ballot papers at the back.about 8 hours ago from web
# Poll closes at 6pm for those that started at 6am but some will close late if they opned late as well.about 8 hours ago from web
# Mzimba centre receive materials as late as 9amabout 8 hours ago from web
# Voters start queing as early as 4am and people still coming in – large numbersabout 8 hours ago from web
# Few incidences of problems with transfered voters so far – in Blantyreless than 5 seconds agoabout 8 hours ago from web
# Few incidents of problems with transfered voters so far – in Blantyreabout 8 hours ago from web
The Commonwealth, which has a team of election monitors in Malawi, has information about the elections on its twitter page and Malawi election photos on its Flickr page.


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Morocco: The Secret to Making Mint Tea  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Morocco, The View from Fez shares the secrets of making the “perfect Moroccan mint tea” in this photo post.


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Pakistan: Use of Soical Media Tools In Activism · Global Voices
Rezwan

Tamara Palamakumbura of DigiActive took an interview of Pakistani blogger Dr. Awab Alvi where they discussed the use of social media tools in Pakistan by citizen journalists in reporting the 2009 long march protests.


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Paraguay: Skateboarding Day in Asunción · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Guri is looking forward to the activities of Skateboarding Day in Asunción, Paraguay [es] on June 21.


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Saudi Arabia: Why domestic violence will continue? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Saudi Arabia, Nzingha shares her thoughts on why domestic violence will continue in the kingdom – where laws have remained unchanged despite the opening of shelters for women and the numerous conferences and meetings held to address this issue.


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South Korea: May 18 · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

May 18 is the 29th anniversary of the Gwangju Democratization Movement. Ask a Korean! translated a review on a movie, May 18, which touches upon the media representation of democracy movement in Korea.


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Sri Lanka: Priorities After The War · Global Voices
Rezwan

A Voice In Colombo discusses about the two priorities Sri Lanka needs to address after the end of civil war; helping the IDPs and taking care of the injured veterans and families of the deceased.


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Sri Lanka: The Body Of Prabhakaran Creates Controversy · Global Voices
Rezwan

The statement by Sri Lankan government yesterday was that LTTE leader Prabhakaran was killed, and burnt beyond recognition when he was trying to flee in an ambulance. The End, Rising from the ashes notices when the body was shown on TV: “nobody from the Government had yet clarified how the burnt body of Prabhakaran miraculously became fresh, with a single gunshot wound on his forehead.”


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The IndiBlogger.in State of the Indian Blogosphere 2009 · Global Voices
Gaurav Mishra

Renie Ravin of IndiBlogger.in recently shared some interesting data with me from the 7895 blogs that IndiBlogger.in crawls. IndiBlogger.in is a vibrant community of Indian blogs with some excellent features like a topic-wise directory with ranks (IndiRank) and a meme-tracker (IndiVine).
I have put together the highlights in an IndiBlogger.in State of the Indian Blogosphere Dashboard –
You can also have a look at the full State of the Indian Blogosphere report at SlideShare –
Here are the highlight of the report –
- More than three-fourths of the blogs in the IndiBlogger.in community are written by men.
- The top five languages are English, Hindi, Tamil, Marathi and Telugu. 92% of the blogs are in English. Renie believes that Indic languages are under-represented in the IndiBlogger.in community, but the distribution between various Indic languages should be representative.
- The top five cities are Bangalore, Chennai, NCR, Mumbai and Hyderabad, which together account for almost three-fourths of all blogs. The city-wise distribution should be fairly representative, but the metros might be over-represented in the sample because these blogger may be more aware of IndiBlogger.in.
- The community is fairly active with 8% posting daily, 47% posting at least weekly and 88% posting at least monthly. In terms of recency, more than 80% blogs have been updated at least once in 2009. Both the frequency and recency data should be fairly representative.
- About 19% of the blogs have a Google PageRank or 3 or above and about 18% have an Alexa Traffic Rank of 3,000,000 or lower. These stats should also be representative.
- The Indian National Interest, Digital Inspiration and Gauravonomics are the three tops blogs in India, as per IndiBlogger.in's IndiRank algorithm. Rankings are always controversial, and IndiRank certainly is, because many important Indian bloggers haven't registered their blogs on IndiBlogger.in yet. I think IndiBlogger.in should not limit itself to submitted blogs and include as many Indian blogs as possible, starting with all the blogs in Amit Agarwal‘s directory of Indian bloggers. The blog owners can claim it later, if they are interested. This will quickly fix the issue of credibility of the rankings. Also, I think that there's value in being totally transparent about the ranking formula, like the AdAge Power 150 Ranking. Let's see if I can convince Renie to make these changes.
Maneesh Madambath at WATBlog has also written a blog post on the IndiBlogger.in statistics.
In the next IndiBlogger.in State of the Indian Blogosphere report, it might be interesting to do an analysis of how these stats have changed over time. It might also be interesting to use the IndiBlogger.in databse for network analysis using a tool like Linkfluence.
If you want more details of the study, or have suggestions on what other data might be interesting, or want to help us out with new types of analysis, contact Gaurav Mishra or Renie Ravin, or leave a comment below.
Cross-posted at Gauravonomics, my blog on social media and social change.

author: Gaurav Mishra


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Trinidad & Tobago: Why the Enquiry? · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Trinidad & Tobago diaspora blogger Jumbie's Watch has his eye on developments with the Commission of Enquiry into the local construction sector, and fears that nothing with come from its findings: “Why then are we spending millions of dollars for this enquiry? Is the report to be used in place of toilet rolls, as so happen to be frequently in short supply in various Government offices?  Won’t it have been easier to spend the money on toilet rolls in the first place?”


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Ukraine: 65th Anniversary of the Crimean Tatar Deportations · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

May 18 marked the 65th anniversary of Sürgün, the 1944 deportations of Crimean Tatars from their homeland in Crimea.
J. Otto Pohl wrote about the history of the deportations, and here is an excerpt from his post:
On 18 May 1944, the Soviet NKVD began the systematic round up and deportation of nearly the entire Crimean Tatar population from their ancestral homeland to Uzbekistan and the Urals. Early in the morning armed troops of the NKVD started knocking on the doors of Crimean Tatar houses and informing the inhabitants that they were to be deported. The official explanation given for this mass uprooting of women, children, elderly, Red Army veterans and even members of the Communist Party was the false claim that the Crimean Tatar nationality had collectively betrayed the Soviet Union and collaborated with the Nazi occupiers. […]
On the first day of the operation, the Soviet security organs took 90,000 people to train stations of which 48,400 began their journey eastward (Bugai, doc. 11, p. 138). The following day the number of Crimean Tatars transported to rail stations increased to 165,515 of which 136,412 had been loaded onto train echelons bound for Uzbekistan (Bugai, doc. 12, p. 138). Finally on 20 May 1944, the NKVD completed the operation. They reported loading a total of 180,014 Crimean Tatars into 67 train echelons of which 63 with 173,287 deportees were already on their way to their new destinations (Bugai, doc. 13, pp. 138-139). On the same day the NKVD also reported mobilizing 11,000 Crimean Tatar men for forced labor, bringing the total number of Crimean Tatars removed from Crimea to 191,014 (Ibid.). A total of 23,000 soldiers and officers of the internal troops of the NKVD and 9,000 operative workers of the NKVD-NKGB participated in this operation (Bugai, doc. 21, p. 144). The NKVD succeeded in ethnically cleansing Crimea of its indigenous population in a mere three days.
[…]
Maria Sonevytsky of My Simferopol Home posted photos from the memorial event that took place in Simferopol on May 18 – and described the current plight and the attitudes of the Crimean Tatar who have returned to live in Ukraine:
Over dinner in Simferopol with my adopted Crimean Tatar family last week, Ayder, a veteran of the Crimean Tatar human rights war against the USSR, used the term “genocide” to describe the present Ukrainian non-policy towards Crimean Tatars. He cited the attacks by militia groups on Crimean Tatar businesses and homes over the last twenty years, the inadequate implementation of protections for the indigenous people and the minority population, the alarmist attitude towards their Muslim minority group, framed without cause for extremism and denied land permits to build a new sobornaya mechet’, and so on. In my cautious academic way, I suggested that genocide was perhaps too strong a term: as careless and irresponsible as the Ukrainian government has been towards the Crimean Tatars, an indigenous people of Crimea, genocide implies a systematic, violent destruction of an entire ethnic group. It is more sinister than the bumbling indifference of the Ukrainian state. No, he asserted: “we are uncomprehending witnesses to a subtler form of genocide. The Crimean Tatars are being choked out of existence.” […]
Here is what Maria writes about the changes that must occur for the situation to improve:
[…] A multi-ethnic Ukraine must exist, and its ideal should not be for stalemate, a platitudinous tolerance; Ukraine must seek a deep acceptance and respect for its diverse minority and indigenous groups. A propos to the Crimean Tatar situation, the Ukrainian government should finally approve a law to grant the indigenous people of the Crimean peninsula rights and protections as a threatened, indigenous people of their ancestral homeland: land rights, education in the native language, an end to religious discrimination, and ultimately, a right to self-determination within the territory of Ukraine.
We can learn from a [Hutsul] musician who I spoke to a few weeks ago, during the Easter holidays. We sat in his ancient Volga as he played me old cassette tapes and told me his deportation story. His family had been deported to Siberia during the war and not allowed to resettle in the [Ivano-Frankivsk] oblast until the 1970s. Reading about the Crimean Tatar non-violent resistance of the 20th century, their fierce support of the Orange revolution in 2004, and their annual celebration of Taras Shevchenko's birthday, he asked me for a recording of a Crimean Tatar violinist from whom he could learn some traditional melodies. I asked him why, and he said, “to show my respect, as they’ve been showing it to us.” In place of fear, respect. In place of dim hostility, a desire to understand. In place of ignorance, education. […]

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Yemen: A visit to Tarim  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Yemeni blogger Omar Barsawad takes us on a trip to Tarim in this post, which is dotted with photographs.


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Zambia: Groundbreaking HIV case in court · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Priti Patel is following a groundbreaking HIV case in Livingstone, Zambia: “On Wednesday, 20 May, the Livingstone High Court will hear a ground-breaking case determining whether mandatory testing for HIV and discrimination solely on the basis of HIV status is constitutional in Zambia.”


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Zambia: Live-Blogging a Groundbreaking HIV Discrimination Case · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Priti Patel, project lawyer (HIV/Aids) for the Southern Africa Litigation Centre is in Livingstone, Zambia to live-blog a groundbreaking HIV discrimination case in the country.
The case, Kingaipe and Another v Attorney-General, involves two former Zambian Air Force (ZAF) employees, Stainley Kingaipe and Charles Chookole, who were allegedly subjected to mandatory testing for HIV without their knowledge and dismissed due to their HIV status. The two men are seeking reinstatement and damages for mental and emotional anguish. Both applicants in the case worked with the ZAF for over 13 years, having joined when they were 21 years old. They held non-combat throughout their career at ZAF. In 2001, they were allegedly subjected to an HIV test without their consent or knowledge and given anti-retroviral treatment without their knowledge.
In October 2001, without their knowledge or participation, a Medical Board reviewed their medical records and declared them permanently unfit for service. They both continued to work at the ZAF for a full year after the Board decision, performing so well in their job that one of the applicants was promoted during that time. Neither of them took a day of sick leave during that one-year period. In October 2002, they were both dismissed.
The Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) is an organisation based in Johannesburg, South Africa working on human rights issues in Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The organisation engages in litigations advancing human rights and provides legal support through training.
In one of her posts from Livingstone, Zambia, Priti writes, “…I also am hoping to give folks a sense of what happens inside a courtroom especially in a groundbreaking trial; a lot of that is less about the law itself and more about people and their stories,”
I arrived in Livingstone, Zambia on Monday for the first ever case in Zambia to determine whether discrimination by the military on the basis of HIV violates the Zambian Constitution.  The case goes to trial tomorrow, Wednesday.
So a few things to know before Wednesday:
* I expect the trial to last 3 or more days.  During that time Paul Mulenga, the passionate lawyer for the two former employees, expects to call the two men, their former colleagues, a psychologist, psycho-social counsellor, an HIV expert, and a medical doctor to testify.
* I don’t know how many or who the Attorney-General’s office is going to call to testify.
* A number of other countries in the region,  including Nambia and more recently South Africa, have rejected HIV discrimination in the military noting that there is no medical or policy reason for such a practice.
* I will try to provide regular updates of what is happening in the courtroom, but that will depend on internet connectivity in the High Court.  At the least, I can promise to post at the end of the day on the day’s happening.
Finally, we (SALC) are a legal organization and I am a lawyer so there will be discussion of the legal issues and strategy involved in the case.  But I also am hoping to give folks a sense of what happens inside a courtroom especially in a groundbreaking trial; a lot of that is less about the law itself and more about people and their stories.
In another post titled “Early coverage of the trial,” she writes:
So the Lusaka Times Online is carrying a wire story on the case. The story itself is basically a rehash of our press release but the comments to the story make interesting reading.
Zambia Watchdog coverage has also generated intense discussions.
Priti Patel spoke with Global Voices Online about their intention to liveblog/semi-liveblog (depending on Internet connection at the High Court in Livingstone) the trial.
Question: Let's start with the case. Why is this case important?
Answer: This is obviously a public interest case. It is the first case in this country that will decide whether the Zambian constitution protects people living with HIV/AIDS from discrimination and unfair dismissal from work.  The other reason is that it is pretty clear that strengthening human rights in society helps mitigate the effect of HIV/AIDS. This case will basically decided the extent of rights guaranteed by the constitution for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Q: Your organisation works in 10 countries in Southern Africa. Is this the first case of this kind in the region?
A: There was a similar case in Namibia. Namibia had in a place a pre-employement HIV testing policy. The military was refusing to hire anybody found to be HIV positive. The policy was successful challenged in the Labour court.
Q: Generally speaking, how is the human rights situation in region?
A: It differs from country to country. For example, you have countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe where the human rights situation is very bad and then you have Botswana where the situation is much better. When it comes to HIV human rights situation there is a lot of work to be done throughout the region.
Q: I believe this will be the first time in the region for a trial to be blogged (live or semi-live). Why has SALC decided to blog this case?
A: One of the primary reasons is that most people don't get to see inside a court room. They don't know what happens at a trial. So we are hoping to provide a window into what happens in a trial. Another reason is that some of these cases take place in towns where the mainstream media do not pay attention to. Blogging this trial will also help people in the region to learn more about HIV and human rights issues. We don't intend to focus too much on legal technicalities but on the people involved in the trial and their stories and experiences, which I know will resonate with many other people in Southern Africa.
Q: Has blogging being part and parcel of SALC communication strategy?
A: Our blog has been around for sometimes but this will be our first attempt to blog regularly and engage more people in the region on issues relating to human rights. We intend to use our blog as a space for discussions and conversations about legal and human issues.
Q: How is the relationship between the mainstream media and human rights organisations in region? Is it easy to get your voice out through the mainstream media?
A: The mainstream media try to cover human rights issues. However, these issues are not covered adequately in many countries we work in. This is why we see an opportunity and a need for alternative media to cover human rights issues. Alternative media tools such as blogs, twitter and videoblogs will certainly help to fill the gap.
Q: What else do you have in mind in terms of using new media to report and discuss human rights issues in the region?
A: We are currently thinking about using Twitter to tell people, for example, about cases going to court in different countries in Southern Africa, when decision are issued, etc. We think that it will be useful to explore these new forms of communication in the work that we do. I know that in this process we will encourage other organisations to start thinking about being part of conversations taking place in cyberspace. We are a small organisation, so if we can use new media successfully other organisations will get motivated and hopefully individuals working on human rights issues will also take new forms of media seriously.
Q: Are there spaces online at the moment where there are vigorous discussions about human rights issues in the region?
A: Most of the discussions going on in these new media spaces are about politics and technology. We hope to provide a forum for people to learn, discuss and ultimately get involved with human rights issues in their countries.
Q: What did you learn from your first experience using new media during the Guantanamo trials?
A: That experience gave me the sense that a blog could be a real useful way of letting people see and follow a trial without being physically present in the courtroom.
Q: Lastly, do think new media tools and practices such as blogs, twitter, social networking, etc, will lead to tangible social and political change in the region?
A: New forms of media are good in terms of getting the word out faster with limited resources, raising awareness, eliciting opinions, comments and feedback. In Southern Africa, we are in the first stage, which is about raising awareness and reaching out. I hope we will soon move to the second stage where people will take these issues to policy makers. This is when we will move past discussions and decide to do something about the information we receive.  But this first stage is very important because we need to have the knowledge of what is happening and a sense of what should not happen, then we will be able to act.  We are not there yet.
* Follow the trial on SALC blog.


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Azerbaijan: Respect · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Fighting windmills? Take a pill comments on the system of Hormet or “respect” in Azerbaijan. In a post which defines how corruption and connections work in the countries of the South Caucasus, the blog gives just one example of how a system meant to show respect to some means those actually deserving of it are usually ignored.


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Bangladesh: WiMax And Internet Service · Global Voices
Rezwan

ME, Myself, and My Country discusses about the latest developments in the WiMax and Internet services in Bangladesh.

author: Rezwan


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Bhutan: The Net Generation · Global Voices
Rezwan

Dorji Wangchuk was surprised to see TV and internet savvy Bhutanese kids doing well in international knowledge in a quiz competition but lacking knowledge of their country's culture and history.


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Cuba: Blossoming Blogosphere · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“A lot has changed in the ‘Made in Cuba’ blogosphere,” reports Generation Y, for whom there is “no greater happiness than to see the rise of so many plural, different and free spaces.”


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Cuba, U.S.A.: In Solidarity  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Blog for Cuba and El Cafe Cubano support Cuba Solidarity Day.


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Dominica: Brain Drain  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“When are we going to realize that knowledge is a wealth-creating asset to our country’s development?”: Dominica Weekly is concerned about the island's brain drain.


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Guyana: R.I.P. · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“An era has quietly passed and hardly anyone has paid any notice”: Imran Khan pays his last respects to the Guyanese tradition of broadcasting death announcements.


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India: Election Analysis · Global Voices
Rezwan

Law and Other Things posts some contrasting interpretation of the results of the recently concluded parliamentary elections in India.


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India: Picking The Right Cabinet · Global Voices
Rezwan

Supriyo Chaudhuri at Sunday Posts says that the popular pastime in India now is picking a cabinet for the newly elected government and he indulges himself by listing one of his own choice. What's your choice?


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Indonesia: Army plane crash · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

An Indonesian army plane carrying more than 100 passengers crashed in East Java. Twitter user ari197 comments: “Indonesian soldier is dying not because of war but because of old device/weapons/planes/ships.”

author: Mong Palatino


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Jamaica: Big Money?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“It is a sign of the times, showing how Jamaica’s economy is suffering, devalued you could say”: Jamaica Salt says that the country's new 5,000 dollar bank note is “not much to celebrate”.


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Jamaica: Thief! · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Some police, no wonder why the crime rate in Jamaica is so high. When you call them you can't get an answer and when they do finally arrive…they are basically of no use”: Stunner recounts the details of an attempted robbery.


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Jordan: The Pope’s Visit to the Middle East  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Ali Dahmash assesses the Pope's visit to the Middle East in this post.


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Macedonia: Seasoned Journalist Talks About New Media · Global Voices
Filip Stojanovski

NGO New Media Center provided a video recording of the presentation entitled “New Media Vs. Old Media” given by retired Time journalist Barry Hillenbrand on May 5, 2009, at American Corner in City Library “Braka Miladinovci” in Skopje [MKD], Macedonia. The video is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

author: Filip Stojanovski


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Madagascar: Protester Freed, Journalists Demonstrate Against Censorship · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

The Malagasy online community was relieved to hear the news that Razily, a protester who was arrested in late March, was seen in public (fr) and he seems well and about. While much is still unknown about the circumstances of Razily's release, many bloggers hope  that this  event signifies the  beginning  of  a return to normalcy with respect to the conduct of the country's security forces.
Recent weeks have seen an increase in acts of censorship, with in the arrest of  reporter Evariste Ramanatsoavina,  jailed on May, 5th, and the firing of  Ravoajanahary Johary, director of  National Television on May 19th. Journalists demonstrated for freedom of speech on May 15th, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters without Borders (fr) reported
Mohamed Hassim Keita of CPJ explains:
The protestors were showing solidarity for Ramanatsoavina, a presenter held in Antananarivo's Antanimora Prison on charges of “incitement to rebellion” and “civil disobedience,” according to defense lawyer Fidele Rakotondrainibe. The journalist, who denies the charges, is expected to appear in court for sentencing on Wednesday.
( video credits to pakysse )
Reporter Without Borders has further details on the arrest of Ramanatsoavina:
He was arrested at his home at 5 a.m. on 5 May by masked soldiers as his daughters looked on, and was taken to the National Mixed Committee for Investigations (CNME), which is located in the suburb of Ambohibao, in premises that used to be the headquarters of the former domestic intelligence service, the DGID [..] The decision to bring charges against Ramanantsoavina contradicted an initial statement by communication ministry secretary-general Charles-Aimé Randriamorasata that the authorities had arrested him simply to find out where Radio Mada was broadcasting from.
Razily's Release
For its part, the Malagasy blogosphere was buzzing about the good news of Razily's release. Ndimby on fijery blog explains the key role bloggers played in pressuring the government and what his release means for the online community following the Madagascar crisis:
Devant la démission des médias traditionnels sur le sujet, et il faut bien le dire, de l’opinion publique nationale devenue par la force des choses blasée, ce sont les blogueurs qui ont mis la pression. Alors qu’on n’a jamais vu un article de la presse écrite malgache poser la question, les internautes malgaches se sont mobilisés aux quatre coins du monde. Des gens qui ne se connaissaient pas, qui ne se parlaient pas, qui ne connaissaient pas Razily, en ont fait le symbole de leur lutte pour la démocratie et les droits de l’homme. Rappelons que suite à la mobilisation de la société civile et des blogueurs, le haut-commissaire des Nations unies aux droits de l’homme a envoyé discrètement un émissaire discuter avec le pouvoir de transition. Ce diplomate a rencontré à plusieurs reprises le Colonel Rakotonandrasana, le chef des mutins devenu Ministre de la défense
Blogger Avylavitra wonders why there is so much mobilization now and where everyone was earlier in the conflict (mg) ?
Fanamarihana kely avy amiko fotsiny ny hoe: fa maninona moa no tsy nihetsika toy izao ny mpanao gazety fony nitranga ny fahafatesan’i ANDO (RTA)?
demonstration photo by http://gazetyavylavitra.wordpress.com/
( March against censorship by Avylavitra)
A prominent Malagasy, website TopMada, notes that the committee of journalists in Madagascar is weary of the increased partisanship of journalists in the Malagasy political landscape:
Selon le comité des journalistes, l’image du journalisme est fortement ternie suite à la participation active de certains de leurs confrères dans les actions et activités politiques. Les journalistes veulent revenir à la déontologie et à l’éthique de la profession

author: Lova Rakotomalala


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Malawi: Bingu wa Mutharika Leading · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Bingu wa Mutharika is leading in the presidential election in Malawi: “Partial Electoral Commission (EC) results announced at 10:30am today show Bingu wa Mutharika, presidential candidate for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the May 19 elections, leading against hottest contender John Tembo.”


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Maldives: The First Free Parliamentary Election · Global Voices
Saffah Faroog

The Maldives has witnessed significant political changes in the last five years: introduction of political parties in 2005; ratification of an amended constitution in August 2008; and the first multi-party election held in October 2008 which brought a democratic government. Hence, the parliamentary election held on May 9 was crucial as the new parliament will be entrusted with the task of passing key laws that will be a milestone in the country’s transition to democracy.
In a heavily fought battle for 77 seats, based on new constituencies drawn by the amended constitution, more than 400 candidates contested. After the election fever has calmed down, with the campaign songs off the airwaves and candidates’ posters slowly peeling off the walls, the country is slowly returning to normal. However, the outcome of this election will have an impact that will last for a few years.
The results show the dominance of the two major political parties; Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) which came to power in last year’s presidential election and Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) which is controlled by the former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. While some see this as the integration of party politics in Maldivian society in what was the first real test of party system in the country, others fear a two-party dominance that will suppress minority views. Surprisingly the election results also showed some MPs who had been involved in the process of democratic losing their seats to newcomers.
Blogger Abdullah Waheed gives some reasons for the failure of some veteran parliamentarians in this election, in his blog post ‘Some big guns misfire.’
Waheed also writes about lessons that major political parties and players have learned from this election and concludes that the electorate has widely accepted the party system in the Maldives.
The electorate has given a strong thumbs-up signal to the party system, as indicated by the overwhelming success of party candidates, many of who were unknown and would have ended with 2 digit results without party backing. While it is true that 13 independents won, some of them are not really independents in the usual sense of the word.
Mohamed Nasheed, the former Minister of Information, and an MP-elect, who won a constituency running as an independent despite being a member of DRP, echoes the same view in his blog.
The picture that seems to come out of the recent parliamentary elections is that the Maldives is primarily consumed in the novelty of party politics. The larger part of the country seems to be religiously engulfed in the political euphoria created by two main rival parties: MDP and DRP. There does not seem to be space for any other party or political view to flourish.
Nasheed is also of the view the outcome of the election will be beneficial for the Maldives as neither of the two major parties won a controlling majority of the parliament.
I am happy that the parliament that has been created out of these recent elections is neither controlled by MDP nor by DRP. Although DRP together with its ally PA has earned slightly more seats than MDP, they fall short of a controlling majority.
None of the parties in the upcoming parliament should be able to run the show as it pleased. Decisions in parliament should be made through an inclusive process of dialogue and deliberation. A nation divided by its politics, and polarized by its personalities, requires at these crossroads, a consensual approach to governance. A parliament of one party would deny the room for such a deliberative process.
Both MDP and DRP are trying to woo the independent candidates who can change the parliament’s direction to some extent by aligning with a party. Nasheed’s blog post has generated some very interesting comments. Among them, a commenter Fayaz shares his view on the parties’ rush to win remaining independents elected for the parliament, although his criticism is focused on MDP.
MDP supporters, still smarting from this huge loss and unable to digest the reality may continue to kid themselves that their performance was fantastic. There is an all out effort by MDP to buy MPs at whatever cost, especially those independent MPs. Now isn’t this this just too pathetic? I mean for a political party whose middle name is “Democratic” – to resort to this sort of tactics to over turn the will of the people speaks volumes about the principles of MDP and what they stand for.
Blogger Iddu laments about candidates he describes as ‘young and patriotic’ losing to candidates who are rich and powerful.:
Some candidates who won the seats were alleged for corruption and yet swept away a large majority and won their seats. This shows our public being blindfolded by a group of influential people in the society for financial gain from such candidates.
He also notes that some candidates were not in touch with the real issues affecting the constituencies.
Some candidates who won the seats have hardly put their feet on the soils of their constituencies and others who claim to belong to them have never seen the sunrise on their constituencies. We may be highly educated, rich and influential and belong to a strong political party, but understanding the aspirations and dreams of local communities is not something one can earn by just visiting their constituency once in a blue moon.
The scale of this election was overwhelming for the Elections Commission and the public grew increasingly frustrated as there were delays in announcing the results. Simon thinks the delay in announcing the results could be attributed to lack of preparedness of the Elections Commission as well as other stakeholders.
I feel the responsibility for the crude and utterly ridiculous speed of processing of the ballots must be shared between the EC, the media, the voting public and the parties involved.
The EC totally underestimated the complexity and size of the task. Which is why, according to EC, they failed to release the results sooner raising suspicions in public and party circles. But I did not realize the level of their ignorance of secure, high-tech tools available today until I saw the arrays of fax machines lined up at the EC headquarters. Fax machines and faxes are old and unreliable technology. A member of the advisory committee for the EC even admitted that some faxes were not clear. What did they expect from faxes?

author: Saffah Faroog


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Myanmar: Facebook campaign for Aung San Suu Kyi · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

A Facebook page was created by pro-democracy activists who are demanding the release of democracy icon and Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Almost 50,000 people have registered their support in the website.


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Nepal: Hindrances In Forming A New Government · Global Voices
Rezwan

Neil's Nepal reports of a showdown by the Maoists, who are obstructing parliament and holding massive rallies in Nepal until their demand to sack the army chief is met. They are possibly trying to hinder the formation of the new government.


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Saudi Arabia: Tweetup Planned for June 4  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is gearing up for its second Tweetup, which aims to bring together people located in the Saudi capital who use Twitter to socialise and meet face to face. The segregated event, will be held on June 4, from 8.30pm to 10pm. More details are available here.


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Sri Lanka: Concern For The IDPs · Global Voices
Rezwan

Musings from Toronto comments: “Whether the pro-LTTE diaspora's fear of the Sri Lankan Government is ludicrous or otherwise; their concern for the displaced civilians is certainly one I support.”


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Taiwan: Minister encounters protest at WHA · Global Voices
David Reid

Some Taiwanese students protested against the Taiwanese Health Minister Yeh Ching-chuan (葉金川) who is attending the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva. The students claimed he was selling out Taiwan by allowing the use of the designation Chinese Taipei at the WHA. The View from Taiwan looks at how the media drag former President Chen Shui-bian's family into the issue. The Far-Eastern Sweet Potato looks at how the government tries to play down the criticisms of the protesters.

author: David Reid


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Wrong definition of Lao in Webster’s dictionary · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

According to Webster's dictionary, Laos is the “thai language of the Lao people.” This is wrong. Blogger JRM writes that Lao is the “official language of the country of Laos”


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Zambia: HIV discrimination trial postponed · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The HIV discrimination case that was going to be live-blogged from the High Court in Zambia has been postponed: “So the judge has spoken and postponed the trial until 15 July 2009.  She says that she doesn’t have any dates available until then.  This is unfortunate given that both of the men have been waiting for a trial date for over a year and a half and in many ways have put aspects of their life on hold for this trial.”


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Zambia: Support a Zambian filmmaker in an online film contest · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Support a Zambian filmmaker in an online film contest: “Zambian filmmaker Chansa Tembo has been named a finalist in the U.S. Embassy’s inaugural Democracy Video Challenge online film contest. Mr. Tembo will compete with two other African filmmakers for the chance to win an all-expenses trip to Washington, DC, New York, and Hollywood to represent the continent of Africa in the worldwide contest.”


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Aruba: Election Season  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As Aruba gears up for this year's national elections, Arubagirl says: “I don't mind campaigns. What I do mind is that pronunciations made by politicians who are clearly campaigning are presented as ‘fact’.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Bermuda, Cayman Islands: Referendum  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Bermudian bloggers Vexed Bermoothes and Catch a fire are paying attention to the Cayman Islands’ recently-concluded elections and citizens’ participation in a referendum vote on the country's new constitution.


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China: Sophie Beach from China Digital Times · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Kai Pan from CNreviews interviewed Sophie Beach about the development of China Digital Times.


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Colombia: Two Years of Hiperbarrio · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

After two years since Hiperbarrio was founded in Medellín, Colombia, Catalina Restrepo of Cosas del Alma [es] looks back on the activities of the citizen media project.

author: Eduardo Avila