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Philippines: Anti-Cybercrime Law Denounced as ‘Cyber Martial Law’ · Global Voices
Karlo Mongaya

More voices in the Philippines are questioning the Cybercrime Prevention Law as the oral arguments on the petitions against the law are being heard in the Supreme Court (SC) starting last January 15, 2013. The next schedule for the oral arguments will be held on January 22.
The controversial law was signed by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III last October despite massive protests and questions on its constitutionality.
Fifteen petitions were filed against the law last year, hence compelling the Supreme Court to issue a 120-day Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on its implementation. The said TRO expires on February 6 of the present year.
Hackers from the Anonymous group joined the protest against the Anti-Cybercrime Law. Photo from @chantaleco
Arguing that the anti-cybercrime legislation will curtail freedom of expression and is equivalent to “Cyber Martial Law,” critics have stepped up both online and offline actions for the junking of the law. Hackers also vandalized several government websiteslast week to protest the Cybercrime Law.
They say that the law significantly raises the penalty for libel committed online and provides the government overwhelming “draconian” powers to clamp down on critics and conduct online surveillance, as in the case of a 62-year old anti-mining activist who was arrested for a ‘libelous’ Facebook post last November 2012.
Twitter Reactions
A police car was ‘painted’ by protesters. Photo from @micaelapapa
Social networking sites have become venues for posts, memes, and heated discussion against the law. Here are some of the conversations on Twitter:
@tribong_upos: I am for a #cybercrimelaw, but I am against libel as a crime, warrant-less searches, and unauthorized collection of cyber data.
@bisdakpride” The internet is a powerful venue for LGBTs to freely express gender/sexual rights but not at the expense of other people #notocybercrimelaw
Alay Sining a group of artists based in the University of the Philippines, released an Infographic on the dangers of the Anti-Cybercrime Law.
Cyber Freedom Law
‘Mas Miserable’ means ‘More Miserable’ in Filipino. The person in the photo is President Aquino. Photo shared by @venzie
A milestone in Philippine legislative history involved the crafting of a “Magna Carta for Philippine Internet Freedom” (MCPIF) through crowdsourcing. This is proposed by netizens as an alternative to the Anti-Cybercrime Law.
Youth legislator Raymond Palatino, also Southeast Asia Editor of Global Voices Online, also filed an Internet Freedom Bill in the Lower House last October 2012. The bill was drafted in a public consultation with netizens, IT experts, and legal pundits held at the UP College of Law last year.
The Center for Media Freedom and Response (CMFR) issued the following Question of the Week: Is it better to encourage observance of a cybercode of ethics vs cybercrime law? Here are some of the reactions to the CMFR Question of the Week:
Alfie Smith: There are aspects that need to be legally enforcable such as sexual exploitation of children at home or abroad. Also other dodgy trading on line … the bill is necessary but not in it's present form which prevents freedom of speech.
Nonoy Espina: There is no doubt about the need for a cybercrime prevention law. The problem with the one we are contesting is that it seeks to classify perceived abuses of free expression as crimes instead of what they rightly are, lapses of ethics and good manners. Personally, I see this as deliberate, part of the efforts, not just of an administration but of a whole political system notorious for its intolerance for criticism, to limit free discourse, much as the refusal to pass the Freedom of Information Act. Although the speed with which the Internet has evolved and the proliferation of social networks may seem to be overwhelming, they are, in fact, still in the early stages and the culture/s and ethics that inform our online behavior are just starting to evolve.
Julius Mariveles: The law is prone to abuse especially with the kind of government officials that we have, a substantial number of them are onion-skinned. Besides, responsibility must become a force of habit, not something that must be forced upon someone.
Len Olea: Journalists, netizens must not be punished for exercising freedom of expression and press freedom. A code of ethics is most welcome.
E-VAW
Rally against Anti-Cybercrime Law infront of the Supreme Court. By @CristinaTabbs
Meanwhile, two women legislators of the women's party Gabriela proposed amendments to the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Law to include E-VAW or VAW using information and communications technology.
This is in response to those who justify the cybercrime law as necessary to protect women and children against online prostitution, pornography, and other forms of violence in the internet.
“Kontra pa nga sa kababaihan ang Cybercrime Law na ginagamit ang maling depinisyon ng prostitusyon sa Revised Penal Code. Tinatrato nito ang prostituted women bilang mga kriminal, at hindi bilang mga biktima ng kahirapan at iba pang inhustisyang panlipunan,” said Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus.
“The Cybercrime Law is even against women by using a wrong definition of prostitution in the Revised Penal Code. This treats prostituted women as criminals and not as victims of poverty and other social injustices,” Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus said.

author: Karlo Mongaya


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Slovakia: Social Benefits for Roma · Global Voices
Tibor Blazko

Lucia Kureková, in her blog analysis [sk], shows that in Slovakia the majority of those who receive the Benefit in Material Need (BMN) are not the “typical” Roma families with many children, but are single, of any ethnicity, and childless (62%), often young and unemployed. About two-thirds of the Slovak Roma households receive child support and other family benefits; about half of them receive BMN, but here they make up about one-third of all benefit-receiving families (while officially there are just about 2% of the Roma population in Slovakia).

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Tibor Blazko


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South Korea’s Four Rivers Project is a Train-Wreck · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

In South Korea, the highly controversial Four Major River Project has proven to be a train-wreck. Despite strong public opposition, the current President Lee Myung-bak, has been pushing this project since the start of his administration.
The Korean Board of Audit and Inspection released a shocking report [ko] on Jan 17, 2013 claiming that the government's nation-wide construction project has proven to be a total mess. The current administration has been touting it as a Korean version of the New Deal policy, an American economic growth strategy from the 1930s. They even pushed bills through the National Assembly despite growing environmental concerns. The government has asserted that it will create new jobs and improve water quality.
Image of river in Gyeongsang Province in South Korea, taken on August 10, 2012 by Flickr User 습지와새들의친구(Wetlands & Birds Korea) (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Image of Upstream River in Daegu city, South Korea, taken on August 10, 2012 by Flickr User 습지와새들의친구 (Wetlands & Birds Korea) (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
However, mass algae-outbreaks have been reported in several rivers in 2012, which many believe somehow correlate to the construction.
An unprecedented 22 trillion Korean Won (about 20 Billion USD) has been spent and more is expected to be spent for maintenance work since 15 out of 16 water reservoirs have proven to be defective. As warned by environmental groups, it has had a detrimental effect on the environment; the COD index (Chemical Oxygen Demand) has increased by 9 percent and the algae level rose 1.9 percent.
Sadly once the damage has been done, it cannott be undone. Influential net user @kennedian3 lashed out at the report in his series of tweets, blaming the concerned government departments and the president for inflicting irrevocable damage [ko]:
4대강사업 단군 이래 최악의 국책사업이었다. 그 국토부 관료들과 정치인들, 학자 등 각 분야 추진 세력과 이명박대통령에게는 반드시 법적 책임을 물어야 한다. 그들은 이 땅 백성들과 강토에 씼을 수 없는 죄를 저지른 자들이다.
The Four Major Rivers Project is the worst government project ever done since the beginning of our nation's history. The Ministry of Land government officials, politicians and scholars who pushed the project and President Lee Myung-bak should be held legally accountable. These people have committed an irrevocable crime to our homeland and against our people.
Image of the Four Rivers Construction Site, in Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, Uploaded by Flickr User 습지와새들의친구(Wetlands & Birds Korea) (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
He also assailed the audit board [ko] for not releasing the report till now, just a month before the new president will be sworn in. It has been reported that the audit board had already finished their second round of auditing [ko] last September.
감사원, 4대강사업이 총체적 부실이었다고..참 일찍도 밝혀냈다. 말도 안 되는 시대착오적 사업에 막대한 혈세를 쏟아붓고도, 우리는 이를 추진한 세력을 심판할 기회를 잃었다[…]
The Audit Board has disclosed that the Four Rivers Projects is a total mess. (Sarcastically) How promptly they have came up with that result? Thanks to their belated reports, we have lost the momentum to punish those people who hemorrhaged tremendous amounts of taxpayers’ money in this anachronistic project.
The opposition party and environmental groups now strongly demand [ko] the current administration and ruling party to take responsibility for this catastrophe. @wspark from the opposition wrote [ko]:
감사원의 감사결과는 4대강 사업이 총체적 사기극이었음을 입증한다. 국회청문회와 국정조사가 불가피하며, 정치적, 사법적 책임 또한 면할수 없다[…] 해외나가 녹색성장 운운하고 다녔던 것 생각하니 피가 거꾸로 솟는다.
The Audit board's report has proven that the Four Rivers Project has been a total scam. The National Assembly hearing and probe are inevitable and they (concerned people) cannot escape from political and legal liabilities[…] I feel my blood boiling when I think of President Lee who has been touting himself for leading so-called ‘green-development’ when visiting foreign countries.
Image of Four River Project Construction Site in Gumi City, South Korea, Uploaded by Flickr User 습지와새들의친구 (Wetlands & Birds Korea) (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
The major conservative newspapers have also been blamed for being Lee's poster boy during his term. @mattayoon explained [ko]:
4대강사업을 반대하는 사람들을 공격하는 기사는 물론이고, 정부 홍보성 여론조사 기사를 그대로 진실인양 올렸던 조선일보가 왜 이제야 4대강사업을 반대하고 비난하고 나설까요? 대통령이 바뀌기 때문입니다.
The Chosun Newspaper used to slander the project's oppositions and merely delivered the government's press release in their papers as if it were true. Why have they suddenly changed their tone and started assailing the four river project? It is because we will have new president.
@kyung0 lamented [ko] the sad reality that despite the mess, no one from the power house will ever be fully held accountable. President Lee will be awarded the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, the highest decoration awarded by the Korean government when he retires:
4대강사업 총체적 부실이란 감사원 발표.그럼에도 이명박은 대훈장 받을것이다.사업 잘했다고 상훈 받았던 공무원들도 그대로 영달할것이다.4대강 자전거길부터 보 준공식까지 생중계 난리쳤던 KBS 고위직 누구도 책임지지 않을것이다.
Despite the Audit board's dismal report on the Four Rivers project, Lee will still be awarded the top government honor. And those government officials who were awarded for driving the project, will continue to live with their (amassed) fortune. No one among the KBS TV network executives who directed live-broadcasts of the opening ceremonies of bicycle lanes alongside the river and the reservoirs will take responsibility either.
The president-elect Park Geun-hye seems to distance herself [ko] from this failed project, but one Twitterer warns [ko] that Park, who is from the same conservative ruling party, cannot be totally free from the liability and added it could be a scarlet letter haunting Park in the future.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


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Symbolic State Burial in Kenya’s #BallotRevolution Protests · Global Voices
Collins Mbalo

On 16 January 2013, peaceful protests under the banner State Burial #BallotRevolution took place in capital city Nairobi. The protesters burnt over 200 coffins to symbolically represent “the death of impunity & bad leadership” of Kenya's Members of Parliament (MP), who recently increased their own salaries and benefits.
They called upon their fellow Kenyans to refrain from reelecting these MPs in the upcoming general elections, set for March 4.
Poster for the #BallotRevolution: Uploaded by Twitter user @bonifacemwangi
The blog Njathika explains:
Last week members of parliament secretly passed a controversial KShs 9.3 million golden handshake. The MPs also approved that each of them gets an armed bodyguard, a diplomatic passport for the retiree and his wife and unlimited access to the executive lounge for Very Important Person in all the airports within Kenya.
President Kibaki declined to assent to the Retirement Benefits bill enacted by the National Assembly on Thursday 10th January 2013.
Parliament officially closes on Tuesday 15th and the following day we shall deliver 221 coffins one for each outgoing Member of Parliament.
The non violent, peace procession will be from Uhuru Park to parliament with thousands of Kenyans anti-vulture flags while carrying the coffin. We are holding our leaders responsible for their actions hence the coffins symbolising death to impunity & bad leadership.
This protest will signify the end of five years of impunity by the 10th parliament. The protest will also be a reminder to the leaders that Kenyans are ready for a peaceful ballot revolution.
The protest was well covered by traditional media with massive presence on social media channels Facebook and Twitter under the hashtags: #StateFuneral #LoveProtest and #KenyaniKwetu (Note: Swahili saying which means “Kenya is Ours”).
@KenyaNiKwetu made this rallying call on Twitter:
join #KenyaNiKwetu at Freedom Corner Uhuru Park at 10am and let's initiate a Ballot Revolution #StateFuneral #BurytheVulture
@KanjiMbugua tweeted:
Still puzzled about that insane MP send off package! I Pray that we don't forget these actions in march. #ballotrevolution
The blog Sunwords which among other things highlights:
The time for Kenyans to select new leaders is upon us again. We go to the polls in just a few weeks time. Will we choose wisely?
The precedents are not good. We know very well that most Kenyans do not choose leaders on merit. They choose them mostly on tribe. Your kinsman is your kinsman, and will get your vote. That your kinsman is also a rogue doesn’t seem to come into it; he’s your kinsman, and that is enough for you. “Your rogue” trumps “their candidate,” no matter how credible, because you believe everyone steals anyway.
This kind of thinking ensures that we remain backward. It ensures that elections in Kenya are decided by tribal voting blocs. It ensures that whoever gets the most populous tribes on his ballot becomes the overall leader. It ensures that issues such as intellect, credentials and character never come into consideration
Let’s be in no doubt: this situation is not about to change anytime soon.
@geekmsanii tweets:
#BallotRevolution could fail because of one thing. It's a broken revolution. Too fragmented, among too many parties.
@gothrockstar80 expressed a contrary opinion:
The reality is #BallotRevolution or not, we'll vote the #Mpigs (pun for Mp’s)back in http://wp.me/ptBPN-6X  via @Tribe46thKenyan
Wanjiku Revolution with a sigh of relief states:
Kenyans have just burried the vultures in a fiery furnace mass grave right in front of . The #BallotRevolution is on!
Most of the protesters were relatively young, an indication of an increasingly active young generation in Kenya that is bent upon keeping executive and legislative excesses in check.
However, the jury is still out on whether Kenyans will not re-elect the Members of Parliament who selfishly endorsed their hefty salary hikes and perks.

author: Collins Mbalo


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The Cultural Aspect of Wildlife Trade in China · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Terroir from Beijing Cream criticizes professional photojournalist Patrick Brown's photographs series, Trading to Extinction for being over simplified in the explanation of wildlife trade in China as “naive” and “greed”:
this is a way of life for some Chinese as well. It doesn’t mean it’s right – it just means that the culture here deserves to be equally acknowledged before it is so easily dismissed and condemned…Chinese culture does change, but it won’t do so to appease the self-righteous criticism of everyone else.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Traditional Hutsul Celebration of Epiphany in Ukraine · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Photographer Maxim Balandyukh posted a photo report [uk] from the traditional Hutsul celebration of Epiphany (a religious holiday commemorating the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River; Vodokhreshcha in Ukrainian) in the Carpathian village of Kryvorivnya in western Ukraine.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Venezuela – Colombia: Is There a Homeland? · Global Voices
Cati Restrepo

Due to most recent news about the health condition of Venezuelan President, Hugo Chávez [es], who is currently in Havana, Cuba since December 11, 2012 for the cancer that is afflicting him, Juan Mosquera posts his personal reflection about the political landscape in Venezuela [es]:
-Tell me, boy, what's the capital of Venezuela?
-Havana!
-Very good, boy.
His words echoed in two Colombian netizens, Iñigo Montoya and Alejandro Calle Cardona, who respectively replied:
And according to this, what's the capital of Colombia?
If there's not a homeland, let alone a capital.
We expected for news from Venezuela, as Hugo Chávez was to take over as president on January 10, 2013 [es].

author: Cati Restrepo


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Inside the Audacious Assassination Attempt in Bulgaria · Global Voices
Ruslan Trad

On January 19, 2013, a gunman attacked Ahmed Dogan, the founder of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), described by some politicians as Bulgaria's “Turkish party,” as he was delivering a speech at a televised party conference in Sofia. No shots were fired, and the gunman was beaten by MRF members, while security guards acted slowly.
The politician
In 1985, Dogan was among the founders of the National Freedom Movement, which reacted against the “Process of Rebirth” (Възродителен процес), a campaign by the Bulgarian Communist Party to assimilate the Turkish minority by forcing the Pomaks and Bulgarian Turks to adopt Slavic-sounding names. Over 300,000 families were forced to leave Bulgaria back then. There are 67,000 Pomaks in Bulgaria now, and the Turkish minority is the country's largest ethnic minority.
After the incident, Dogan resigned as MRF's leader, the post he had held since 1990.
The failed assassin
The attacker, Oktay Enimehmedov, is an ethnic Turk who purchased a gas gun a few days earlier. Later it became known that he had written a suicide note to his mother, in which he suggested that he might be killed. Enimehmedov's friends told the media he was a good man who never caused problems to others. However, the attacker is well-known to the police in the coastal city of Burgas as a perpetrator of minor crimes.
A screenshot of the footage of the Jan. 19 televised attack on Ahmed Dogan.
Was it staged?
The assassination attempt has provoked many reactions by Bulgarian politicians and netizens – and some of them seem convinced that the attack was staged.
A leftist journalist, Alexander Simov, wrote this [bg] on his blog:
I'm not sure if people realize just how dangerous what happened at the MRF conference really was.
[…]
Everything in Bulgaria is a big stage play – a stage play of democracy, of political parties, of normalization and decency.
[…]
We've witnessed an assassination attempt on an acting Bulgarian politician, for the first time since the dreadful date of October 2, 1996, when the ex-Prime Minister [Andrey Lukanov] was shot dead in front of his home. This raises the question of whether these past 17 years of transition have actually happened at all. The murder in 1996 and the assassination attempt today will surely be linked in all political analyses, which demonstrates in practice how the transition is still stuck at its starting point.
[…]
Some people actually felt sympathy towards the (would-be) killer – it's as if they felt he was pointing a gun at the transition itself. […]
Simov continues, asking this:
Where was the Interior Minister this whole time? Why did it take so long for him to make a statement? Why didn't he make one immediately? Was the National Service for Protection asleep this whole time? Why did they mix up their stories so badly? How was someone with a criminal record ever allowed to come up on the stage?”
Bulgarian blogger Konstantin Pavlov (@Komitata) wrote [bg] on his blog:
Who benefits and who loses from the whole ordeal?
The MRF will benefit – its hundreds of thousands of supporters will once again feel threatened and under siege, and the party ranks will be brought into line for the upcoming elections. It won't be a surprise if we see a record turnout.
The [far-right Attack Party] and similar formations will benefit, because they now have new arguments against the vicious nature of the MRF and the degradation of its leadership.
The police state, the cops and similar political-economic elements will benefit as well.
The biggest loser in all of this is the National Service for Protection and the political leadership of the country, which has shown its full inadequacy in the tasks it should perform.
The big picture
Nelly Alexieva commented [bg] that the attack might have an effect on Bulgaria's image:
No one bothered to ask what motives this young man would have to shoot Dogan. That's because no one believed his stated motives to begin with. The performance was all too theatrical. But it did draw public attention to the MRF and its Conference.
Comments and opinions have been pouring all day on who benefits from this stage play.
One thing is for certain – Bulgaria's image stands to lose from all this.
The author of “Rusensko vareno” blog described [bg] what happened as a “circus”:
[…]
1. A few days ago Dogan declares that people are to expect big surprises on Saturday, i.e. today.
2. On Saturday, i.e. today, a would-be punk-thug stages an assassination attempt on Dogan.
3. Ahmed Dogan resigns.
4. [Lyutvi Mestan] is elected chairman of the MRF with 100% of the votes.
5. Dogan is appointed honorary president of the party for life.
Alexander Lyutov wrote [bg] on his blog:
Much like the Gulf War, we saw a real action movie unfold before our eye, shot by a camera that no one seemed to get in the way of, not even accidentally, as security guards, but mainly MRF delegates were starting to maul the assailant. […] The European observers at the MRF conference evidently couldn't stand the barbaric display and seemed to have lost their sound and picture.
It's clear that the upcoming [Jan. 27 referendum on building a new nuclear power plant] is no longer on our minds.
User Stoyan wrote this [bg] on The Other Truth blog:
[…] It's my opinion, and a lot of people seem to share it, that the idea behind this staged attack was to bring the ranks of the party into line. If you remember, the MRF lost many municipalities in the last elections, as a big portion of their supporters broke away from the party. Clearly, the season of negative campaigning starts today. MRF delegates were shouting for the resignation of [Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov], and other things of that kind. In other words, the MRF will be blaming the Prime Minister for what happened, he in turn will be blaming [Sergei Stanishev, the leader of the socialists], perhaps Stanishev will start blaming Dogan, and so on. […]
On Twitter, some of the reactions were as merciless.
@therealgenadi wrote [bg]:
the next assassination attempt against Dogan will be more serious – with a Star Wars sword bought at a toy store.
@DidiGK wrote [bg]:
I bet Dogan has organized this attack against himself. Like Berlusconi. Garbage next to garbage.
@asengenov wrote [bg]:
The janissaries who kicked and jumped on the head of Dogan's “attacker” must to be sued for moderate and severe injuries and attempted murder.
Jonathan Allen, the British Ambassador to Bulgaria, tweeted this comment [bg] about the attack on Dogan:
I hear that someone has attacked Mr. Dogan. I hope he feels okay. Democracy means disputes, but with words and ideas.

author: Ruslan Trad


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China: Viral love diary of mistress ends career of a senior propaganda official · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Another sex scandal exposed online by the mistress of Yi Junqing, a senior propaganda official has brought Yi down. Ministry of Tofu has the full story.


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China’s Resistance Art Beyond Ai Weiwei · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Despite high-handed repression, resistance in the form of action art is getting popular in China. While Ai Weiwei is the most internationally known Chinese art-activist, there are many similar initiatives unknown to the western world.
Li Ning (李凝) the Body Art Guerrilla Group, Made-in-J Town (凌雲焰肢體游擊隊), are among one of the most interesting groups. Recently, they released three action art performances from 2008 through Youtube. The year of the Beijing Olympics – 2008 – dissent voices in the country faced the harshest repression. The 11-year imprisonment of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, because of his Charter 08 initiative, is the most well-known example. These videos from 2008 give a glimpse into the resistance culture among young people in China.
The first one, Shandong: Olympic + Demolition (山東：奧運＋拆遷), criticizes the 2008 Olympics from a humanistic point of view:
Acopy.net has a brief explanation of the video:
2008 is the year of Beijing Olympic. In order to show the strength of the country, demolition had taken place in all major cities. Even though Jinan was not the hosting city, the scale of demolition and re-development had been huge. Li Ning and Body Art Guerrilla Group, Made-in-J Town, produced a short video showing the Olympic Torch relay in Jinan and the demolition. In the video, Li Ning performs the flesh and blood in the demolition scene, which creates a sharp contrast with the propaganda of the torch relay.
The second one, Fee for selecting school (擇校費), shows a body protest:
Below is acopy.net's description:
Li Ning and Body Art Guerrilla Group, Made-in-J Town, is frustrated with the extra fee for selecting the schools imposed onto the parents by elementary schools. They believe it is a form of corruption and want to protest against it with action art. In 2008, Li Ning wrapped himself with red tape and tied an amplifier on his body, playing slogan in front of a school. Police officers appeared accusing him of moral corruption…
The third one, Currency at the intersection leading to the underworld (冥幣路口), is an action art performance that shows the negative power of money:
Explanation of the video via acopy.net:
Li Ning and Body Art Guerrilla Group, Made-in-J Town planned an action art in a Jinan highway in 2008. They wanted to create a fuss by spreading paper money in the highway. They had successfully escaped from the police and recorded their performance on tape.
(The thumbnail image is captured from the video: Shandong: Olympic + Demolition)


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Colombia: Was There a Ceasefire During Peace Conversations? · Global Voices
Cati Restrepo

On his personal blog, Colombian journalist Javier Contreras wonders [es] if there really was a ceasefire during the Christmas and New Year truce between the Guerrilla group FARC [es] and Colombian government, in the context of peace negotiations ongoing since late 2012:
According to figures from the Ombudsman Office, during the month-long unilateral truce granted by the Farc amidst the peace negotiations with [President] Santos administration, there were 57 terrorist attacks.
So, things have to be told just as they are: there was no truce. If there were nearly two terrorist attacks per day during that period, there was no real cease of actions against public force or civil population; this was really a ploy to Colombians and a demonstration that believing the Farc, even during the Havana negotiations, generates a lot of scepticism.


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Flashmobs and Citizen Classrooms – Spain’s Creative Protests Channel Discontent · Global Voices
Elena Arrontes

Spain's anti-crisis movement has been characterized by creative and constructive protests since 2011. Among the most well-known are organizations like the 15M (May 15 Movement) with its “occupation” of public space, demonstrations against austerity cuts (education, health, housing, etc.) by various affected sectors and their communal response, the 25-S protest that literally surrounded Congress and has repeated the act many occassions since, and marches that have swept the country.
The true genius of these protests, however, is found in the details of their slogans, their marketing, and the reforms to society they propose. One example is how groups use a flashmob, a sudden and unexpected assembly of people in a public place that  give a performance and then quickly disperse. The most recent flashmob pertaining to the crisis – which was organized on social media sites- took place in Madrid's Office of Employment after the new unemployment numbers revealed a staggering 6 millon [es] are out of work. A musical interruption offered a message of hope:
Flamenco group Flo 6×8 is also popular for singing and dancing performances in banks as a means of denouncing recently adopted economic policies:
The university sector has also been affected by the austerity measures.  Professors and students at Universidad Complutense launched a movement called “Complutense in the streets” that holds free classes outside as a means of protest. On November 28, the initiative converted a number of public spaces into “citizen classrooms.” The group maintains a blog [es] to communicate its happenings.
A university class given on the street. Photo credit: David Fernández (Periódico Diagonal)
The fight for healthcare, a sector that until recently has not been known for its activism, organized efforts to prevent the privitization of heathcare centers currently proposed by the government. As a sign of solidarity against the reform, protesters asked the public to hang white bedsheets in their windows until an alternative was found.
A campaign for support of public healthcare
Chatter on the social media site Twitter birthed a three-day strike on trash collection under the hashtag #Tubasuraalbanco. In response, the Madrid City Council requested people to limit their trash output. However, the request yielded an unexpected response: large numbers of trash bags were found piled at the entrances of bank branches. The demonstration quickly became a trending topic on Twitter.
@retuitator: “@Casillero90: New landfills in Spain! Now return our mortgages! #TuBasuraAlBancopic.twitter.com/OL9jfdyz“”
#Tubasuraalbanco. Photo published on Latri.ca
It doesn't end there either. Prompted by nearly universal cuts of Christmas bonuses, organizers planned an austerity Christmas dinner. The event was free and open to the public and requested attendees bring a sandwich to enjoy together. The event took place in Puerta del Sol, the center of Madrid, where all Christmas activities are celebrated.
The Community of Madrid recently implemented a one euro tax per prescription at pharmacies. In protest, the Chamberí branch of the 15M distributed a pamphlet advising the public to refuse paying the tax because pharmacists are obligated to dispense prescriptions. Their mantra is “Your debt… the sick are not going to pay it.”
To circumvent the IVA tax hike (from 8% to 21%), a small town theatre director decided to sell carrots and “gift” patrons a free theatre ticket with each purchase. His reasoning was simple: the vegetables are taxed at a 4% rate compared to the new 21% rate for theatre tickets.
Theatre owner's sign claiming “The poor are not going to pay for IVA”

author: Elena Arrontes


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Cuban Filmmakers Take Over Digital Technologies · Global Voices
Elaine Díaz

A new era of filmmakers are finding their feet in Cuba, according to an article published in The New York Times [en].  The article tells the story of Sebastián Miló, a Cuban director that “hardly had enough money to put petrol in the old bus that took his team to film the series everyday, let alone enough to pay the salaries of the actors.”
But Mr. Miló, a 33-year-old Cuban filmmaker, had a Canon 5D digital
camera and a story to tell. So, during one frenetic week in May 2011,
he shot “Truckdriver,” a tense 25-minute film about bullying at one of
the vaunted rural boarding schools where millions of Cubans used to
spend part of their high school education
The blogger and film critic Juan Antonio García Borrego in August 2011 reflected [es]:
No se trata solo de enseñar a las personas a manejar una computadora, sino impulsarlos a que mantengan con esas tecnologías un espíritu creativo y liberador. ¿Cómo lograrlo? Ahí está el detalle, como diría ese gran filósofo de la vida que fue Cantinflas.
It is not just about teaching people how to use a computer; it is about making them use these technologies with a creative and free spirit. How to do it? Therein lies the problem, the great life philosopher Cantinflas would say.
It seems that acclaimed filmmakers and new directors have started to take over new technologies to keep down the costs of production of audiovisual effects and to tell stories that would otherwise not have seen the light of day.
During the premier of the 2010 film “El Benny”, the director Jorge Luis Sánchez, said [es]:
Con el desarrollo de la tecnología digital es posible tener más acceso a cámaras y computadoras donde se puede editar y, en la medida que tenemos más acceso, podemos soñar y sacar a la luz al director que llevamos dentro.
With the development of digital technology it is possible to have more access to cameras and computers where one can edit, and by having more access, we can dream and all let loose our inner directors
The article in The New York Times also refers to Carlos Lechuga, a 29 year-old filmmaker and director of the independent film “Melaza.”  The film was judged by the Cuban critic Dean Luis Reyes [es] to tell “a new story of typical survival of national cinema.”
Melaza, directed by Carlos Lechuga.
Aldo y Mónica sobreviven a todo poniendo su relación por delante. Son una pareja hermosa y lozana que defiende una convivencia donde falta de todo, menos cariño. Su esfera social es parte de ese universo inane: ella hace inventario y revisa el funcionamiento de las maquinarias del central, adonde va a “trabajar” cada jornada; él enseña a un puñado de niños en una escuelita desconchada y da clases de natación en una alberca vacía.
Aldo and Mónica survive everything by putting their relationship first. They are a beautiful couple and strongly defend a coexistence lacking in everything except love. Their social circle is part of this inane universe: she makes inventories and checks that the machines are working in the power station, where she goes to “work” every day; he teaches a handful of children in a small crumbling school giving swimming classes in an empty swimming pool.
The project won various awards, including the Hubert Bals fund for script development, the Cinergia fund for a debut production, and the Ibermedia programme that allowed him to “somewhat face his financing issues”, declared [es] Lechuga.
“The Cubans are making feature length films, shorts, documentaries and animation films often with nothing more than a few friends and some budget teams – and with little help from the state and the Cuban Institute for Film and Film Industry,” concluded The New York Times.

author: Elaine Díaz


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Guatemala: Audience on Genocide Case  · Global Voices
Gabriela García Calderón Orbe

From Guatemala, blog Coordinación Genocidio nunca más [es] urges citizens to attend the historical court audience, where José Efraín Ríos Montt and José Mauricio Rodríguez Sánchez face trail for abuses against human rights during military rule in that country.

author: Gabriela García Calderón Orbe


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Guyana: Modern Architecture and the State of The Nation · Global Voices
Matthew Hunte

Now why would the toga wearing Vitruvius have anything relevant to say about modern day Guyana architecture …until one considers the proliferation in this far away land of Roman columns.
Guyana Mosquito thinks the trends in modern Guyanese architecture are indicative of the state of the country.

author: Matthew Hunte


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Iran: A Crime on YouTube, an Execution in Public · Global Voices
Hooman Askary

Two young men, Alireza Mafiha and Mohammad Ali Sarvari, were executed by hanging in Tehran, Iran in the early hours of January 20, 2013 before the eyes of public spectators [warning: graphic photos] who had gathered to watch, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
Crime and YouTube
The hunt for the alleged muggers was given top priority after security camera footage was posted on YouTube towards the end of 2012 showing four youths on two motorbikes who ambushed a pedestrian, threatening him with a knife and taking his belongings.
Four men were soon arrested and tried. Mafiha and Sarvari were sentenced to death, and the other two were each sentenced to 10 years in prison, five years in exile, and 74 lashes.
Over a fistful of dollars
One of the powerful images (above) from Sunday's execution is from ISNA and shows one of the young men before his execution apparently resting his head on the shoulder of his executioner, while the hooded man appears to be consoling him with a hand on the shoulder.
Amirhadi from Tehran writes about this photo in his blog [fa]:
Look at this photo, it is as if the accused has laid his head on the shoulder of the very agent who is to carry out the [death] sentence. Do you see fear in his eyes? I find this image rare. Because of an agent who allows the head of an accused to rest on his shoulder. Because of an accused who is to die in a few moments finds no shelter, other than the shoulder of his executioner.
[…]
These kids, yes “kids” since the oldest was 24 and the youngest only 20. They were not professional thieves and muggers. Had they been, they wouldn't have mugged for a petty 70 or 30 thousand Tomans. [approximately 20 and 10 dollars].
They worked too. Their bios show that they did courier jobs and…. but when the value of the national money depreciates on a daily basis. When a clerk's salary does not even suffice to feed three people with only yoghurt and bread. In a society where there is no hope for tomorrow. What should they do?
The collage compares the two alleged muggers executed on Sunday with the fugitive former managing director of the Iranian National Bank: “One stole 20 dollars and ended up in the gallows, in his early 20s. The other stole 2.6 BILLION dollars and is enjoying his time in the Caribbean and Canada.”
Reposting the same photograph next to a portrait of the fugitive former managing director of the Islamic Republic National Bank, Mahmoud Reza Khavari, who is suspected of embezzling, an Iranian dissident page titled “Seeking Compensation from Those Who Organised the 1979 Revolution” writes [fa]:
Kill us. Kill the youth who have no money to buy their daily bread. This reminded me of the Le Miserables novel where a person is executed for having stolen a loaf of bread while they have robbed us of billions of dollars and laugh in our faces. Rest assured this is fire under the ashes and these poor and unemployed youths who have been persecuted and discriminated against all their lives will one day bring you down.
Spectator sport
Reacting to the news, Dara writes in his blog called [fa] ‘Words from the depth of my heart‘:
We must be terrified of a day when people go to watch executions for fun instead of going to cinemas, parks and mountains… the government executes people in public to make everybody scared, but the important thing is the people's reaction. They welcome such an execution. A dying person becomes an entertainment.

author: Hooman Askary


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Is Japan Leaning Towards the Right?  · Global Voices
Keiko Tanaka

Image captured from http://zzhh.jp/questions/129, modified with English caption YES/NO
In an online poll on the platform zzhh.jp [ja] 400 Twitter users (57%) answered “no” to the question “Do you think Japan is leaning towards right-wing? [ja]” as of January 22, 2013. Users can answer online polls on zzhh.jp　by connecting to their Twitter account. The results may change over time since this question is still open.

author: Keiko Tanaka


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Kuwait: Stateless Activist Goes on Hunger Strike · Global Voices
Mona Kareem

On January 16, stateless activist Abdulhakim AlFadhli entered hunger strike in prison right after getting a two-year jail sentence. The court charged the activist with attacking a policeman in a protest last March. The activist stated that this charge, among others, is fabricated against him because of his political activism in demanding the rights of Kuwait's stateless community. AlFadhli was arrested earlier last month with his brother Abdulnasser AlFadhli, who was acquitted in the same case and released. Here is a translated excerpt of his statement, as published by Jadaliyya:
At 7p.m. on 16 January 2013, I officially announce from this freedom cell in Kuwait's Central Jail that I will go on an indefinite hunger strike in protest of the injustice and the cases fabricated unfairly against me by the security system. They are trying to destroy my life, reputation, future, and freedom. They are torturing me to force me to stop my activism for the cause of the stateless of Kuwait. I will not stop my hunger strike until: 1) I am released;
2) Cases fabricated against me are dropped; 3) The formation of a national nonpartisan committee to investigate cases of kidnapping, arrests, torture, and fabrications against activists, including my own case.
Most probably, this will be my last message to you for the time being as I am sure there will be repercussions after this message is released to the media and the public. I know I will be put into solitary confinement, away from the light of the sun and people, to punish me for exercising my right to defend my freedom through a hunger strike.
Right after his statement, the community protested in Taimaa area against the jail sentence. Here are some photographs from the protest shared on Twitter:
(Posted by @HumanRightsKW)
(Posted by @a_miyah)
A protester wearing a T-shirt with the activist's picture and his famous line “Do not give up your right” (posted by @robn_hod)
Twitter users in Kuwait have been posting messages of solidarity with AlFadhli. An account dedicated to human rights in Kuwait posted the following video in which AlFadhli was interviewed:
لهذا سجن عبدالحكيم الفضلي سنتين… تقرير عن قمع الكويتيين البدون وحديث لعبدالحكيم…
@rightskw: This video is why AlFadhli got two years in jail. It is a report about repression of Bedoon [stateless] in which Abdulhakim was interviewed
Stateless activist Ahmed AlAounan wrote:
يدخل معتقلنا البطل عبدالحكيم الفضلي يومه السادس من إضرابه عن الطعام وسط تردي وضعه الصحي وصمت مؤسسات المجتمع المدني صمود ياحر
@ahmedal3onan: Our detainee the hero Abdulhakim AlFadhli is entering his sixth day in hunger strike as his health condition gets worse and NGOs keep silent. Solidarity with this free man.
Another activist reported AlFadhli's health condition:
للتو تأكدت أن عبدالحكيم الفضلي سقط مغشياً عليه داخل الزنزانة وقام المساجين بطلب الامن وتم اسعافه الى عيادة السجن لاضرابة لليوم الخامس
@alnssar1: I just got confirmed news that AlFadhli fainted in his cell, other prisoners called the security, and he was taken to the prison clinic after 5 days of hunger strike.
وهو يعاني من آلام بسبب الاضراب الحاد وتحديداً في الكلى اليسرى وهو الان في عيادة السجن
@alnssar1: He suffers because of his hunger strike especially in his left kidney. He is still in the prison clinic.
Several others, reacting to the activist's health condition, called on him to stop his strike:
أنا فلاح الثويني .. أناشد عبدالحكيم الفضلي أن يتوقف عن الإضراب عن الطعام
@althuwaini: I am Falah AlThuwaini. I call on Abdulhakim AlFadhli to stop his hunger strike.
أناشد عبدالحكيم الفضلي أن يتوقف عن الإضراب عن الطعام نحتاج لأمثالك للدفاع عن القضية الانسانية الاولى
@Fatma_alhayyan: I call on Abdulhakim AlFadhli to stop his hunger strike. We need people like you to defend the no. 1 human rights cause here.
Another Twitter user wrote in solidarity:
كم موجع هذا الصمت ياشعب الكويت ! كم موجع هذا الصمت يامن تقرأ هذه التغريدة ! #عبدالحكيم_الفضلي في السجن ويؤلمه هذا الصمت وهو مضرب عن الطعام
@Nietzsche69k: How painful this silence is, Kuwaiti people! How painful this silence, you who read this tweet! Abdulhakim AlFadhli is in jail and is suffering in pain because of this silence as he hunger strikes.
After a few days, a Twitter user named “Anonymous Stateless” started a hashtag for AlFadhli's case:
@AnonStateless: #Kuwait #stateless activist @Hakeemq80 lost consciousness after 5 days of hunger strike. spread hashtag #SaveHakeem

author: Mona Kareem


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Macedonian Sports Journalist Protests Harassment · Global Voices
Filip Stojanovski

A prominent Macedonian sports journalist Igor Filevski, who works as a correspondent from Spain, announced [mk] on his blog that he will no longer cover Macedonian sports in order to protest the silence of his colleagues and relevant institutions, who have been patiently ignoring the harassment inflicted on him for daring to cover the malfunctions within the Macedonian Handball Federation, including nepotism and a recent hushed-up scandal of disorganized transportation of the National Team [mk] to the World Men's Championship in Seville and Barcelona.
Filevski points out [mk] that in the past few weeks he has received death threats from officials online [mk] and by the Macedonian delegation members at the event. The only two expressions of concern so far came from the Association of Journalists [en, mk, sq] and activist & media expert Petrit Saracini, who wrote [mk] that the “democratic” silence instead of public outcry and resignations illustrates the state of media freedom in the country, resulting from the implementation of the right-wing “rebirth” on all pores of society since 2006.
A ticket for the 2013 World Men's Handball Championship from Filevski's blog. Photo used with permission.

author: Filip Stojanovski


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Myanmar: Barcamp Yangon 2013 · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

More than 6,000 people, both online and offline, attended Barcamp Yangon 2013 in Myanmar.
Barcamp Yangon in Myanmar

author: Mong Palatino


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On Inauguration Day, US Drones Strike Yemen · Global Voices
Noon Arabia

Barack Obama was sworn in for a second term as President of the United States yesterday [Jan 21, 2013]. Ironically while the crowd was cheering his inauguration line “A decade of war is now ending”, more than three drone strikes hit Yemen, killing suspected militants and what Reuters described as “Qaeda-linked militants” (whatever that means), some of whose bodies were charred beyond recognition.
Adam Baron, a freelance journalist based in Yemen, tweeted:
@adammbaron:
the same day barack obama proclaimed that “a decade of war is now ending,” #yemen's mareb province saw its 4th drone strike in 3 days.
Gregory D Johnsen, author of the book The Last Refuge: Yemen al-Qaeda and America's War in Arabia, tweeted:
@gregorydjohnsen:
Hard to square this: “A decade of war is now ending” http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/21/16626094-obamas-inaugural-speech-the-full-text?lite … with this: Drone strike in #Yemen (Ar) http://almasdaronline.com/article/40678
He added:
@gregorydjohnsen:
Current US strategy in #Yemen seems to be predicated on idea that US can kill enough AQAP members to dissuade others from joining
@gregorydjohnsen:
Two of those targeted in weekend drone strikes by US in #Yemen were brothers of AQAP fighters who had already been killed
@gregorydjohnsen:
@nk Since US has started bombing #Yemen in De. 09 – AQAP has more than tripled. Drones aren't, in my view, only reason but a major one
Managing editor of Foreign Policy magazine Blake Hounshell also tweeted:
@blakehounshell:
“A decade of war is now ending.” Applause. (Drone strike earlier today in Yemen.)
Web artist Josh Begly tweeted:
@joshbegley:
“A decade of war is now ending.” (With a long weekend, in honor of Dr. King, constellated by four US drone strikes in Yemen.)
Writer and photojournalist, Dustin M. Slaughter tweeted in dismay:
@DustinSlaughter:
As @BarackObama is being sworn in, here's a list of children in #Yemen, #Pakistan killed by US #drones: http://ow.ly/gZL5S #MLK #Inaug2013
With Obama's inauguration on MLK Day, I find it important to note how much King would be protesting our nation's first Black President. From drone bombings to Guantanamo to warrantless wire-tapping, surveillance of U.S. citizens, and increased deportations, the Obama administration is not the change we want to see in this world, it is the problem, writes Jonathan B. Tucker on Facebook
Monday, January 21, was also Martin Luther King's Day – the great man who in 1967 said “When scientific power outruns moral power, we end up with guided missiles and misguided men.” Many tweeps shared the tweet saying that while King had a dream, Obama has a drone.
Immortal Tech drew the analogy between the two leaders:
@ImmortalTech:
Dr. King said “I have a dream.” Not, “I have a Drone & a Kill list with Americans on it but you can't see it or know how you there.”
Although Obama pledged to end the “war on terror” and to restore respect for the rule of law in US counter-terrorism policies, the use of drones has dramatically increased during his time in office.
Glenn Greenwald, a columnist and blogger for the Guardian, tweeted:
@ggreenwald: Many suggested that when Obama said “a decade of war is now ending”, he meant to add: “and a new one is beginning” http://is.gd/sLFwpz
Micah Zenko, Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, tweeted earlier:
@MicahZenko:
Panetta on drone strikes today: “The reality is its going to be a continuing tool of national defense in the future.” abcn.ws/WmU4Oi
Just a day after Obama had won the re-election, US drones hit Yemen – a move which was translated as four more years of drones for the country. With the nomination of the Drone Czar John Brennan to head the CIA, the drones are likely to increase as well. It is worth pointing that their effectiveness has been greatly debated in eradicating Al-Qaeda in Yemen, whose members have increased since 2009. US drones have certainly been breeding anger and resentment towards the US administration.

author: Noon Arabia


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An “OMG Law” for Lebanon During Election Year? · Global Voices
Nada

2013 is a parliamentary election year for Lebanon and this means that once again, electoral law debates are making headlines in a country marked by institutionalized sectarianism.
The local context can be tricky to understand: Members of Parliament are elected in each district by universal suffrage, but parliamentary seats are distributed between the different religious communities. Christians get 50 per cent of seats and Muslims are allocated the other half. In theory, this aims at minimizing discord between the country’s 18 religious confessions and ensuring proper representation of all communities. In practice, members of underrepresented communities accuse the system of gerrymandering.
Image from Lebanon's 2009 Parlementary Elections, by Sana Tawileh on Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)
In the heated squabble for a fair application of democracy, a draft law dubbed the “Orthodox Gathering Election Law” was the topic of a recent controversy. It suggests that instead of dividing Lebanon into electoral districts, all citizens in the country vote as members of a single district, and each community will be electing their own MPs. This means that people would only be able to vote for representatives of their own sect. You can read the full text here [ar]. While some support the proposal, arguing that it would allow a proper representation of all Christian communities, others strongly rejected it; but the law could also have unexpected results according to commentators online.
@Paul_Salem expressed fears that such a law would only exacerbate sectarian divisions in the country:
@Paul_Salem: So-called #orthodox election law proposal suggests each religious community elect its own deputies; would be ‘great leap backward’.
On A Separate State of Mind, blogger Elie Fares states he strongly rejects the sectarian arguments:
I believe that what the Orthodox Law is telling me is unacceptable. But I’m a Christian minority in thinking so. Most Maronites and Christians, especially some of our politician who double as Christian saviors-wannabes, want you to believe that what I believe is wrong. They are telling you that their way is the only way for you to get your rights. They want you to believe that if Christians don’t elect every single Christian-designated MP, then they’re being persecuted.
The Orthodox Law isn’t the way we get back our “rights.” We get back our rights by voting to people who can fight for those rights without turning it into a media propaganda as they kickstart their 2013 election prospects. We get back our rights by actually knowing what our rights are. And let me tell you, those rights aren’t Lebanon’s Christians selecting half of its parliament all by themselves.
It's also worth noting that, as always, the Lebanese election law marginalizes the many who simply don't identify with any recognized religious communities. @LeNajib wonders :
@LeNajib: If you're an atheist or agnostic, who do you vote for under the Orthodox law? #JustAsking
On the other hand, some argue that the law proposal is justified. @maidenrose1 tweets:
@maidenrose1: Orthodox Electoral Law is similar to Robin Hood; sometimes you should do Bad things for Good reasons #LebanonSectarianSystem #TaefAgreement
Interestingly enough, according to some, this could also be an opportunity to be seized for liberals. Elias Muhanna explains on his blog Qifa Nabki that if implemented, the law could have unexpected effects. The proposal (he calls it the OMG Law) could, in a way, help dismantle sectarianism by mobilizing the many citizens who are frustrated by the country’s sectarian system. He adds that, if passed (although he doesn’t believe it will), the law could pave the way for a senate, and also be an opportunity for liberals to get elected:
Under the OMG law, there will be no hiding the fact that Lebanon’s “consociational democracy” has devolved into nothing more than a constellation of sectarian communities who coexist in uneasy and suspicious alliances. The myth of inter-confessional harmony will be shattered.
(…)I think it’s worth noting that a Lebanese parliament elected on the basis of the Orthodox law is nothing more than a senate, at least as it is envisioned by most of the people who have thought about it at any length.
(…) It would seem to create unprecedented opportunities for reform-minded candidates to get elected. By implementing proportional representation in a single national district, the law drastically lowers the barriers to entry for candidates outside the mainstream political parties.
In a similar perspective, blogger Karl Sharro highlights four unintended consequences of the law:
1-Should the Orthodox proposal be adopted, it will be the first time under any election law that secularists will be able to pool their votes nationally, albeit under sectarian groupings. (…)
2- Sectarian mobilisation will be weakened if there is no threat from other voters ‘distorting’ the process. (…)
3- Paradoxically, sectarian credentials will become less important than competence and political credibility. (…)
4- Local zo’ama (leaders) will eventually lose their power. (…)
On Beirut Spring, Mustapha adds:
If the Orthodox election law is in effect and the existential fears of Christians was reduced, what excuse will people use to prevent Lebanese women from granting their children the lebanese nationality, to treat Palestinian refugees with dignity or for that matter to have a decent demographic census in the country to properly allocate development funds?
The question is: Should we lose respect for the liberals who decide to endorse this law for the aforementioned reason? Should we admire the fact that they’re finally thinking tactically? Or would we rather they languished in high-minded hell than endorse such a morally questionable law?
The proposal was promoted online and on television with this video [ar], where people from different Christian sects state their religion and hometown, then express their concern over the fact that they don’t feel represented in Parliament with the current electoral law.
In the days that followed, clever parodies of the TV advert appeared online, with people stating random identity markers, from their blood type to being a hipster. Don’t miss the YouTube video [ar] by Ali Zakaret, and Karl ReMark’s take on his blog [ar].

author: Nada


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Peru: Government Renews Concession Agreement with Telephone Operator · Global Voices
Gabriela García Calderón Orbe

The blog Globalizado [es], by Global Voices in Spanish editor Juan Arellano, collects different reactions following the announcement of the renewal of the concession agreement with Telefónica for an additional period of 18 years and 10 months. The government highlights [es] that “they have managed to triple the benefits of the negotiation” and Telefónica del Perú, through a release, notes that “ they finally agree upon what the Ministry of Transports and Communicationes demanded, in spite of unprecedented harsh conditions”.
But there are also dissenting voices. In the National Congress, some people are asking the Minister for an explantion [es] for this “embarrassing and illegal decision”. Associations such as CONACUP (Peru National Council of Association of Consumers and Users) declare [es] the renegotiation process hasn't been all the crystal clear if could have been. The blog de DN Consultores points out [es] several aspects they disagree with, such as: “The terms of the agreement exacerbate the concentration in the telecomnunications market”.
On Twitter, the hashtag #TelefonicaNuncaMas [Telefonica never again] collects opinions from Peruvian netizens.


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Video Footage of War in North Myanmar · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

A video footage uploaded by The Irrawaddy shows some battle scenes between Myanmar army forces and Kachin rebels in the north part of the country. The fighting intensified last December.
War footage between Burmese troops and Kachin rebels


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Acid Violence: A neglected issue in Bangladesh! · Global Voices
Rezwan

Amader Kotha provides some statistics of Acid violence in the past decade in Bangladesh and points out that despite introduction of tough laws, lack of awareness results in repetitions of the offence.

author: Rezwan


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Air Pollution In Bhopal · Global Voices
Rezwan

Bagchiblog sheds light on the rise of air pollution in Bhopal, the capital of the the Indian State of Madhya Pradesh. The degradation in the air quality has primarily been caused by an increase in cars and two-wheelers in the cities and rural areas.


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Apostasy Case against Saudi Activist Dismissed  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

‘The apostasy case against Saudi activist Raif Badawi has been dismissed, his lawyer Waleed Abu Alkhair said on Twitter today. “It was not proven to the judges that the accused has insulted God or the Prophet,” Abu Alkhair added.,’ reports Ahmed Al Omran on Riyadh Bureau.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Bolivia: 2012 Census Initial Data · Global Voices
Pablo Andrés Rivero

Bolivian President Evo Morales announced the initial official data from the Census of Population and Housing 2012, carried out last November. According to the results, Bolivia has a population of 10.3, with the two most populated departaments being Santa and y La Paz, each with 2.7 million people. Netizens are commenting on Twitter using hastags #CensoBo [es] and #Censo2012 [es].

author: Pablo Andrés Rivero


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China: Uyghur Pizza · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Uighurbiz.net has a photo feature story on Uyghur Pizza at Kashgar city, Xinjiang

author: Oiwan Lam


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Côte d’Ivoire: Charles Blé Goudé Charged with War Crimes · Global Voices
Rakotomalala

Ivorian political leader Charles Blé Goudé, nicknamed the Street General, has been arrested in Ghana. A close associate of former president Laurent Gbagbo, he was charged with war crimes [fr] on January 21, 2013. Goudé had already been sentenced by the United Nations for, among other things, “repeated public statements advocating violence against the facilities and staff of the United Nations, and against foreigners” during events of 2004. His lawyer, Nick Kaufman, believes that his extradition from Ghana to Côte d'Ivoire did not follow regulatory procedures.
His arrest caused heated debate in the Ivorian blogosphere due to its taking place against a backdrop of attempts at national reconciliation in Côte d'Ivoire.
Screen capture of Charles Blé Goudé being arrested – video courtesy of Grigri international
An arrest that got people talking
The arrest of Charles Blé Goudé, former Youth Minister and leader of the Young Patriots, leaves no one indifferent. On learning of his arrest on January 17, the Ivorian biosphere came to life. More than 1750 mentions of him appeared that day on twitter according to the Topsy website.  The opinions expressed on Blé Goudé are symptomatic of the polarisation of Ivorian society and underline the need for a sustained effort for real reconciliation after a crisis which still leaves traces and significant resentment.
Some welcomed the surprise arrest, like Roch Tieh, who stated [fr]:
C'est une très bonne nouvelle dans cette ambiance de tension au Mali et en Algerie. Les extrémistes doivent comprendre qu'ils n'auront jamais le mot final.
Others such as Blé Felix reacted with moderation to his arrest [fr]:
J'espère qu'il sera jugé de façon juste et objective.Et puis à quand les arrestations dans l'autre camp? car des crimes et des exactions on été aussi commis de ce côté là. Ou bien on a peur de scier la branche sur la quelle on est assis de peur qu'on ne tombe avec?
Supporters feel that Charles Blé Goudé has been unfairly charged, including at Infodabidjan [fr]:
Le seul crime que le leader de la galaxie patriotique a commis c’est d’avoir choisi, au contraire d’autres jeunes qui servent les intérêts des impérialistes occidentaux, de défendre son pays et son continent depuis sa tendre jeunesse, sans se compromettre.
Charles Blé Goudé and Laurent Gbagbo held a meeting in Marcory-Abidjan, Ivory Coast, 21/12/2010. Photo by Stephane Meisel from Demotix
What can be expected during the trial of Charles Blé Goudé?
His supporters still want to believe that they will succeed, if they mobilise themselves.  Balie Topla wrote about this in la Dêpeche d'Abidjan [fr]:
Pour moi, un des nôtres est tombé, un grand combattant des libertés a été fauché par l’intolérance. C’est pourquoi, aux côtés de tous les autres à travers le monde, je jouerai à fond ma partition pour sa défense et pour sa libération. Je vous invite à rejoindre la grande mobilisation qui se met en place pour que Blé Goudé ne soit pas seul devant l’adversité.
The acts Charles Blé Goudé has been charged with are well known to the general public. In the middle of the Ivorian crisis in December 2010 he had said, notably [fr]:
“Sarkozy et l'ONU préparent un génocide en Côte d'Ivoire”
and:
“L'ONU a un mandat souterrain, ils veulent enlever Gbagbo du pouvoir (…) Vous allez devoir en tuer beaucoup. “
Incitements to violence on political opponents and the United Nations attributed to him will not stand in his favour during the trial.
The Human Rights Watch organization said that the Young Patriots have been implicated in the killing of hundreds of Ivorians and West African immigrants since the beginning of the conflict.
Allain Jules wondered however whether this arrest could lead to a process of national reconciliation [fr]:
Charles Blé Goudé est détenu en Côte d’Ivoire par les services de la police dans le cadre de la poursuite des procédures judiciaires déjà ouvertes contre lui » disent les autorités. Soit. Mais, si vraiment on veut faire la paix, il faut proscrire cette chasse aux sorcières. La justice des vainqueurs n’a jamais été bonne conseillère, la vengeance aussi…

author: Rakotomalala


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Decades-old Banned Song Inspires Many in Japan · Global Voices
Mari Wakimoto

The Annual New Year's Eve music show called Kōhaku Uta Gassen by Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) intrigued many because of the performance of a previously blacklisted song by Akihiro Miwa. His song Yoitomake no Uta (Song for the Yoitomake) [ja], has been banned from broadcasting in Japan for decades.
The word “Yoitomake” [ja] was originally yelled by construction workers as they leveled the ground with a heavy hammer. Later the same word was used to describe construction workers, miners and all blue-collar laborers.
It was while keeping coal miners in mind that Akihiro Maruyama (now named Akihiro Miwa) composed the music and wrote the lyrics back in 1964. However, after the release of the record, this popular song was banned  because back then calling construction workers “Yoitomake” or “Dokata” [ja ](which is also in the lyrics) was considered prejudicial and discriminatory.
The Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association (JBA) added the song to a blacklist so that broadcasters would not put it on air. The blacklisting system [ja] was formally abolished in 1983, but it has been virtually maintained through self-censorship [ja].
The lyrics are in narrative form and tell the story of a young man brought up in an underprivileged environment. The man gets bullied in elementary school for being poor but patiently continues to study with gratitude to his mother who works her fingers to the bone for her family. At last he became an engineer, with a successful career and wistfully recalls the song which his mother used to sing while she was alive. The following video captured the performance of “Yoitomake no Uta” by Akihiro Miwa uploaded in 2006 by user ganbaganba.
As soon as Miwa sang it on the last day of 2012, many commented on Twitter with thanks and applause for his performance.
@manbouyashiro 美輪明宏さん『ヨイトマケの唄』こういうのを待っておりました！ありがとうございますm(__)m日本の心の日だ
@manbouyashiro On Akihiko Miwa's “Yoitomake no uta”, I've been waiting for a song like this! Thank you. This is the very day Japanese spirit was shown.
@genishi ヨイトマケの唄に放心。「土方」の言い回しだけで放送禁止にした民放はバカだ
@genishi “Yoitomake no Uta” rocked me and I'm now still dazed. What an idiot The Japan commercial broadcasters had been, who blacklisted the song just of the word “Dokata”.
@takinamiyukari ヨイトマケの唄、はらわたにズンときたよ。腑抜けのまま年を越すところだったけど美輪さんに救われた…
@takinamiyukari “Yoitomake no Uta” struck my guts heavily. I was about to see 2012 end as I stayed spineless, but was saved by Miwa.
@mundburg's illustrates the six minutes that she shared the song with the people around at a pub.
『紅白歌合戦』。帰り道の一杯飲み屋。美輪明宏。「ヨイトマケの唄」。店のおやじが、テレビの音を最大にする。会話が止まる。息を飲む。溜め息。歓声。拍手。ホッピーで乾杯。お客全員に、おやじのおごり。となりの革ジャンの下に、パジャマのおじさんの涙が止まらなかった。有り難い体験だった。
@mundburg Kōhaku Uta Gassen. At a pub on my way home, [THE television broadcast] Akihiro Miwa's “Yoitomake no Uta”. The pub owner maximized the TV volume. Conversations stopped. Our breaths were taken away. Sigh, cheers, claps and toasts with glasses filled with Hoppy [mixed with Shōchū, a popular substitute drink for rather expensive beer.] The owner treated us all. The old man next to me with his pajamas underneath his leather jacket couldn't help but cry. A great night.
Japanese style pubs
Image by Flickr user naoK under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
At the same time, some called for a cautious view on its interpretation.
@crazy45age
紅白歌合戦でヨイトマケの歌に感動している多くの日本人が知らないところで現代版のヨイトマケ深夜労働は行われている
@crazy45age Modern versions of late-night Yoitomake labor continues while many Japanese viewers moved by Kōhaku Uta Gassen do not have slightest idea of them.
@tomoyukix 自己犠牲的な母親を賛美している歌ととるか、そのように自己犠牲的にでもならないと子どもを養育できない（そしてその家庭を差別する）社会を告発する歌ととるかで、ヨイトマケの歌の評価はだいぶ変わってくる。
@tomoyukix The evaluation of “Yotimake no Uta” depends on whether one listens to this song as a glamorization of self-sacrificial mother, or as a protest song against Japanese society (that discriminates against such families) where people can't raise children without many self-sacrifices.
@nishiharamanabu「ヨイトマケの歌」を歌うことはリスクを伴うと思う。日本の企業はそれを「やりがいの搾取」の為に転嫁・正当化する。だから、歌うべきでなかったと思う。#ヨイトマケの歌　#紅白歌合戦
@nishiharamanabu To sing “Yoitomake no Uta” involves taking risks. Japanese companies take advantages of the song to justify their exploitation of workers under the name of fulfillment of labor. So he shouldn't have performed the song. #Song of Yoitomake #Kōhaku Uta Gassen [translated hashtag]
When this song was composed, about half a century ago, engineering were regarded as a symbol of a  successful career, but tweets of @atkamano looked to the word “engineer” and refered to the system engineers of today who are busy blue collar workers. Engineers today are sometimes called “IT Dokata [ja], like the construction worker but instead they are laying the foundation for an information highway.
@atkamano 半世紀すぎたらIT土方の歌が出来てるんだろうか
@atkamano I wonder if a song for “IT Dokata” will appear in half a century.
Image by Flickr user mark leichliter under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
A blogger named Yankee minister [ja] raised the fact that a singer named Miwa had been discriminated after  he came out of the closet and revealed that he was not hetro-sexual. The blogger stressed [ja] that the power of this song is that it attracts many people and inspires discussions [ja]:
「ヨイトマケの唄」とは、差別される痛みを身を持って知っている歌い手が、差別される炭鉱労働者ら貧しき底辺労働者のために、差別されていた土方、ヨイトマケの親子のことを歌った歌だと私は考えます。この歌は、「被差別者による」「被差別者のための」「被差別者の」歌でありましょう。そして、これまでの経緯と共に後世に伝えられていく価値ある作品であると確信しています。
I think “Yoitomake no Uta” is a song produced by a singer who understands the pain of discrimination, and produced for the poor workers at the bottom of society, to talk about an underpriviledged mother and child. I would say this is a song by the discriminated, for the discriminated, of the discriminated. I'm convinced that this song is a valuable piece worth of handing down to our children with its stories behind.

author: Mari Wakimoto


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Guyana: Minimum Wage and Inflation · Global Voices
Matthew Hunte

The welfare of the working poor who have seen their purchasing power steadily eroded in the past ten years, or what one must consider, after reviewing the facts, as phantom concerns over inflation? Or is there something more than money involved?
Guyana Mosquito responds to Ralph Ramkarran's argument that increasing the minimum wage for public servants would lead to inflation.


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Haiti: Like a Phoenix from the Ashes?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Haiti Grassroots Watch examines the pros and cons of the Phoenix Project – a “massive public-private business deal [involving] a factory that would transform garbage from the capitol into electricity, a resource so rare in Haiti, only 30 percent of the population has access.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Jordanians Elect New Parliament  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanians went to the polls today [Jan 23, 2013] to elect a new Parliament. 7iber provides updates in this live blog post.


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Journalism Grants for Innovations in Development Reporting · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

The European Journalism Centre is calling for grant proposals for reporting projects related to global development and the UN Millennium Development Goals that make use of entirely new and experimental reporting and presentation methods. Grant applications are open to journalists, editors, and development stakeholders.

author: Solana Larsen


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“La Movida” – Revival of Spanish Language Comics in Brazil? · Global Voices
Luis Henrique

[This is a cross-regional post on comic books and cultural interchange, in two parts, brought to you by GV Latin America and GV Portuguese.]
Volume I: Invisible stories
What lies beneath the greater interest within the Brazilian comicdom for comic books written in Spanish? While the country is surrounded by Spanish speaking neighbors, it is strange that their artwork goes largely unknown in Brazil.
A comic strip by Argentinian Liniers posted on Pós-Pop, a blog about pop culture. “(1) Learning to fly (2) isn´t easy. (3) Learning to fall (4) neither. (5) but living on the ground is boring”.
The Brazilian market in the 1980-1990s looked quite different. Foreign material in the local language, other than US comics, used to be available through magazines such as Animal and Heavy Metal. There were not many specialized stores outside of major cities then. Monica's Gang, a famous comic strip turned into comic series did great among children and is republished in various languages now, including one in Spanish – Monica y su pandilla [es].
A few underground national comics in Portuguese were easier to find at that time, and names like Angeli, Glauco and Laerte [pt] come to mind. Funny enough, at some point they worked on a comic strip called Los 3 Amigos, in which they adopted Portuñol as the main language.
Currently, the comics market in Brazil has gained scale in terms of variety. Online strips fostered a whole new scenario for artists like Andre Dahmer, the creator of Malvados [pt].
And twins Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá [pt] made the spotlight with their acclaimed work Daytripper.
Emerging markets, yet invisible to one another
Shaken by major changes in the comicdom, brought on by the internet and greater access to content from all over the world, Brazil is also experiencing a moment of greater exchange from a variety of cultures.
Poster of the comic book festival Viñetas con Altura 2012 (Comics in the heights), promoted in Bolivia.
The reasons why Latin American cultural products, in this case, comic books, are not known in Brazil is not a new concern. Such questions have been asked before by people like artist Gabriel Bá, in a blog post in 2010 [pt]:
Qual será o problema do Brasil com o resto da América Latina? Será que é a língua? Por que só queremos saber dos Quadrinhos Norte Americanos, Europeus e Japoneses? Porque nos encanta tanto as culturas mais distantes, enquanto há tanto a ser descoberto logo aqui ao lado? Será que é só com a gente, ou do outro lado acontece a mesma coisa?
What is the problem with Brazil when it comes to Latin America? Is it the language? Why do we only want to hear about comic books that come from North America, Europe or Japan? Why are we so amazed by so distant cultures while there is so much to be uncovered right by our side? Is it just us, or does it go both ways?
And Paulo Floro, in a 2011 post for O Grito [pt], a pop culture site wrote:
[Danilo] Beyruth, um dos quadrinhistas presentes na Fierro [es, mas o comentário refere-se à edição brasileira], esteve na Argentina recentemente. “Achei curioso eles terem um mercado de quadrinhos tão rico e tão desconhecido da gente. Um é completamente invisível do outro”. O oposto também acontece. “Eles não conhecem Laerte, Henfil, do mesmo modo que não conhecemos os autores deles”.
Danilo Beyruth, one of the [Brazilian] artists published in the Fierro magazine [es, though the comment refers to the Brazilian edition], has been to Argentina recently. [He said:] “I found it curious that they have such a rich comic book market and yet it remains unknown to us. Completely invisible to one another”. The opposite also occurs. “They don´t know artists like Laerte, Henfil, the same way we don´t know their authors”.
Quino and Maitena enjoyed some success in Brazil, but what about other authors?
Cover art of Fierro Magazine [es], published in Argentina and now, also, in Brazil.
Garota Sequencial [pt], blogger and comic book editor, is also intrigued by the awkward feeling of knowing so little about Brazil's neighbours: “the richness of Latin America's comic book materials are barely known in Brazil”. She comments:
(…) são raros os casos de quadrinistas argentinos que chegam ao Brasil – e também de outros países do continente.
(…) comic books produced by artists from Argentina seldom get to the Brazilian market – and it also takes place with other countries within the continent.
And adds a mea culpa:
Se há algo pelo qual me recrimino é o total desconhecimento sobre a produção quadrinística dos outros países da América Latina.
If there is one thing I blame myself for is my total unawareness of comic books from other Latin American countries.
To Garota Sequencial, the unawareness issue goes both ways:
E isso é meio que recíproco: na entrevista que linkei (…), Liniers diz que Angeli é quase desconhecido na Argentina – O ANGELI!
This is reciprocal: I've put a link to an interview [pt] (…) in which Liniers states that Angeli is almost unknown in Argentina – THE ANGELI!
There are two great business factors that create trouble for indie publishers: “a bad distribution chain for sales and high end prices for customers”. As an ending, she adds:
Agora que as fronteiras não são mais tão impossíveis de serem atravessadas, considero importante que voltemos os olhos para o que ainda não conseguimos enxergar, seja por leniência (no meu caso) ou simples inadvertência.
Now that frontiers are not so impossible to be crossed anymore, I deem it important for us to focus on what we still cannot see, either for being lenient (which is my case) or simply because it went on inadvertently.
As stated by Gabriel Bá in a review [pt] of the year 2012:
O bom trabalho precisa de tempo pra amadurecer, o autor precisa de tempo pra ter o que falar. Não precisa ter pressa. O mundo não vai acabar.
Good work needs time to mature, the artist needs time to have a say. No need to rush. The world is not going to end.
Indeed. And maybe even readers, as audiences, need some time to mature. Maybe we are finally figuring it out.
Follow us to the next post, when we´ll meet some Latin American artists and some of the bridges between their worlds. In the meantime, acknowledging that an exhaustive list is an unfeasible task, we would rather ask for your helping hand – what Latin American comic books do you recommend?
Quase Nada 191 (Almost Nothing 191). Comic strip by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá, published on their blog [pt]. Used with permission. “(1) Thank you for helping me out in this journey. (2) You´re welcome. (3) I wish I were like you, to feel everything on the edge. Stop hiding myself. (4) I can help. You´re not alone. (5) And what if I stay alone? (6) I will look for you till I find you”.

author: Luis Henrique


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Mainland China’s Demand on Infant Formula Milk Becomes a Global Issue · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The news about anti-Chinese sentiment in Australia, Germany and the Netherlands as a result of the shortage of infant forumla milk is widely discussed in Hong Kong. Dictionary of Politically Incorrect Hong Kong Cantonese has collected the reports and the online discussion on this anti-Chinese sentiment.


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Philippines: US Navy Ship Damages ‘Protected’ Tubbataha Reefs · Global Voices
Karlo Mongaya

Filipino netizens, environmentalists, and nationalists are angry after a United States Navy minesweeper, the USS Guardian, caused damage to the corals of the Tubbataha Reefs in the Sulu Sea. According to the US Navy website, their ship
ran aground on Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, a World Heritage Site in the Sulu Sea, 640 kilometers (400 miles) southeast of Manila at 2:25 a.m. local time, January 17.
The Tubbataha Reefs was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. It is a protected marine area that is off-limits to ships.
However, the USS Guardian entered the marine park without prior authorization. The US naval personnel of the ship also allegedly prevented park rangers from inspecting the marooned ship. The rangers were instead told to just call the US embassy in Manila.
The US Navy claims that the ship ran aground because of “inaccurate navigation” and that it was investigating the incident.
‘Justice for Ruined Reefs’, the call of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Management
Twitter Reactions
Many reactions on Twitter and other social networking sites poke fun at the US Navy.
@theblue_iguana: Why did the minesweeper enter the Tubbataha restricted zone? Was it for recreation or siga lang talaga sila? [or they really just rash?]
@carloshconde: Damn you, Apple Maps! “@djstaana: US Navy: map error eyed as possible cause for USS Guardian running aground at Tubbataha Reef”
@venzie: It's the fault of the Coral Reef, they did not step aside. #SaveTubbataha #USTroopsOut pic.twitter.com/ohj2Rrfa
Shark at Tubbataha. Photo by Simon Hefti, Schweiz, Wikipedia
Some tweets centered on the damage inflicted by the US navy ship on the protected reefs and the environment.
@camylbee: On other news, the Tubbataha reef is bleeding. No amount of fines will bring it back to its former glory, at least in, oh say, 20,000 years.
@arnoldpadilla: after dumping toxic wastes in subic, a us ship runs aground in tubbataha reef. crimes of us troops in ph are rising http://shar.es/4B1XV
@akosiays: From minesweeper to coral-destroyer and reef-destroyer! #SaveTubbataha #Tubbataha
There are also those who condemn the violation of Philippine sovereignty by ‘arrogant’ US military forces in Philippine territory.
@tonyocruz: If Filipino tourists accidentally damaged Mount Rushmore or crashed into landmarks at The Mall, there would surely be grave repercussions.
@atomaraullo: Adding insult to injury, the crew of the USS Guardian have allegedly not been cooperative with park rangers. Naman. #Tubbataha
@natoreyes: US Navy should be held liable for unauthorized entry and damage to reef
Others question the administration of President Benigno “Noynoy Aquino III for its silence on the issue and alleged puppetry to US political and economic interests in the region.
@edikdolotina: Bakit walang statements sina Valte at Lacierda re US warship stuck in our #Tubbataha ? #SaveTubbataha
@edikdolotina: Why don't [Presidential spokespersons] Valte and Lacierda issue statements re US warship stuck in our #Tubbataha ? #SaveTubbataha
@thejaqpot: Ano PNoy, NGANGA na lang? Kung maka-putak pag may incursions ang China. Pero pag US, ok lang?#TUTAmuch #SaveTubbataha
@thejaqpot: What now [President Noynoy]? How you squawk when there are Chinese incursions. But if its the US, it's just okay? #PUPPETmuch #SaveTubbataha
@tonyocruz: When Chinese ships entered PH waters off Panatag, Malacanang went nuts. When US warship crashed at Tubbataha reef, Palace became blind.
Some also point out to the need for the immediate scrapping of the Visiting Forces Agreement, which allows the presence of US troops in the country in violation of the Philippine Constitution.
@jc_naguit: Ang epekto ng VFA sa ating teritoryo! #SaveTubbataha! #JunkVFA! #Hypocrisy! pic.twitter.com/W5bpaI6I
@jc_naguit: This is the effect of VFA to our territory! #SaveTubbataha! #JunkVFA! #Hypocrisy! pic.twitter.com/W5bpaI6I

author: Karlo Mongaya


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Police Use Pepper Spray on Bangladesh’s Teacher Protesters · Global Voices
পান্থ রহমান রেজা (Pantha)

For the very first time in Bangladesh, the police used pepper spray to disperse protesters. Hundreds of teachers and employees from private schools were sprayed. They were protesting and demanding that their institutions qualify for the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) facility from the government. Blogger Amrito Shudha reported that a teacher named Sekandar Ali, died from reactions to the pepper spray.
Later, pepper spray was also used on leftist protesters who were demonstrating against rising oil prices.
The use of pepper spray has sparked an intense debate in Bangladesh. Politicians, members of the media, civil society, netizens and ordinary people have criticized the government’s decision to use it.
Police used pepper spray to stop a siege by teachers from private schools. Image by Rehman Asad. Copyright Demotrix. (8/1/2013)
In the Sachalayatan blog [bn] Mehedi Hasan Khan explains the use of “pepper spray” in other countries, its side effects and where it is banned.
Blogger Dikdarshan wrote [bn] on somewhereinblog:
সকল রাজনৈতিক পক্ষকেই বুঝতে হবে, দমন-পীড়নের নামে দেশে কখনও এমন কোন ক্ষতিকারক কালচার তৈরী করা ঠিক হবে না, যা বুমেরাং হতে পারে।
All political parties need to understand that they should be careful not to allow a culture and atmosphere of violence on protesters; otherwise it may backfire on them in the future.
Blogger Tawhid called [bn] for the spray to be banned:
সরকার কোন বিবেচনায় এটা আমদানি করেছে, তা বোধগম্য নয়। গণতান্ত্রিক আন্দোলন-সংগ্রাম দমনে এ ধরনের ক্ষতিকর তরল গ্যাসের ব্যবহার অবিলম্বে বন্ধ ও এটি নিষিদ্ধ করতে হবে।
I don't understand why the government thought it would be a good idea to import this pepper spray. This harmful liquid should be banned during any democratic protest.
Alor sandhane expressed [bn] his concern about the banning of pepper spray:
আইনগতভাবে নিষিদ্ধ করবে কিভাবে? যাদের তা করার দায়িত্ব তারাই করছে এর অবাধ ব্যবহার।
How can it legally be banned? The authorities who are supposed to enforce the ban are the ones who are its most frequent users.
Blogger, activist Kallol Mustafa wrote [bn] in a Facebook note:
জনগণের আন্দোলন সংগ্রাম দমনের কাজে এই স্প্রে ব্যাবহার করে সরকার জনগণের বিরুদ্ধে রীতিমত রাসায়নিক যুদ্ধ ঘোষণা করেছে। আর কতজন মরলে, কতজনের চোখ নষ্ট হলে এই যুদ্ধের অবসান হবে?
It feels like the government has declared a chemical warfare on the people by using this substance on a democratic protest. How many more people need to die or get blinded before this war comes to an end?
Shapnocharini jokingly remarked [bn] about the issue on twitter:
@স্বপ্নচারী: মরিচের গুঁড়া স্বাস্থ্যের জন্য ক্ষতিকর, স্বরাষ্ট্রমন্ত্রীর জন্য হাতিয়ার।
@shapnocharini: Too much chili powder is bad for health. Maybe that’s why the home minister chose it as a weapon.
Ali Asif Shawon [bn] also had the same tone on Twitter:
@ওআরকেআসিফ: ভালোবাসার পিপার স্প্রে চারপাশে, বাঁচতে চাইলে মাস্ক লাগিয়ে চলাফেরায় উত্তম…!
@orkasif: The air is full of love and pepper spray. Better put on a mask.
Aho pointed [bn] out a few positives about the use of pepper spray:
বেসরকারি নন-এমপিও ভূক্ত শিক্ষকদের বিরুদ্ধে পেপার স্প্রে ব্যবহার না করে যদি পুলিশ লাঠি চার্জ করত তাহলে শিক্ষকরা আহত হত, হাসপাতালে যেত এবং তাদের কেউ কেউ মারাও যেতে পারত। পেপার স্প্রে তাদের এই অবস্থা থেকে বাঁচিয়েছে। আর পুলিশ তথা সরকারও বিব্রতকর অবস্থায় পতিত হয় নাই। অতএব, এই বিষয়ে অহেতুক বিতর্ক করা অবাঞ্ছনীয়।
If the police chose batons instead of pepper spray on the protesters, some of the protesting teachers could get fatally injured and could even die. The use of pepper spray can help prevent these kinds of dire incidents. The government and the police also spared themselves any embarrassment that might result from the use of batons. So any debate on this issue seems somewhat pointless.
The question has been raised whether or not this spray is approved by international conventions. Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir stated that pepper spray has been approved by all international conventions and are used as a tool to prevent riots all around the world. However, a Supreme Court attorney has issued a legal notice to the government demanding that the use of pepper spray be discontinued within the next 24 hours. Blogger Mehedi Hasan Khan writes [bn]:
সন্ধ্যার খবরে জানা গেল ২৪ ঘণ্টার মধ্যে পেপার স্প্রে বন্ধ করার জন্য স্বতঃপ্রণোদিত হয়ে সরকারের কাছে লিগ্যাল নোটিশ পাঠিয়েছেন সুপ্রিম কোর্টের এক আইনজীবী, কৃতজ্ঞতা থাকলো তার প্রতি। সেকেন্দার আলী আর ফিরবেন না, হতভাগা এই শিক্ষক মরে গিয়ে শেষ শিক্ষাটা দিয়ে গেছেন এই দেশের চোখ বুজে থাকা নীতিনির্ধারকদের। তারপরও কি আরো বেশি ক্ষতি হবার জন্য বসে থাকবেন তারা?
Heard in the evening news that a lawyer of the Supreme Court has sent a legal notice to the Government asking to stop use of the spray within next 24 hours, my gratitude to him. Sekandar Ali will not come back. This teacher has taught his last lesson to the policy makers by giving his life. Will they wait for more damage?

author: পান্থ রহমান রেজা (Pantha)


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Waving Different Flags, Ethiopians Celebrate their Fight at AFCON 2013 · Global Voices
Endalkachew Chala

Ethiopians across the world are celebrating TeamEthiopia, their national Soccer team, who fought a hard draw against defending champions Zambia in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in Nelspruit, South Africa.
Besides the beauty of the Ethiopian game and the composure the players showed after a long absence from the AFCON tournament, Ethiopian politics was at the centre of online discussion. Ethiopian fans in the stadium displayed various placards and flags representing different political interests.
Ethiopian Muslims protest the Ethiopian Government while supporting the Ethiopian Team in South Africa at The Cup of African Nations 2013. From the Awolia School Support Page Facebook Page
In a bid to create a sense of deja vu for Ethiopians the blog Addis Rumble published a few historical photos from old AFCON tournaments in which Ethiopia had participated.
In the pictorial post titled, The Ethiopian comeback it wrote:
This week Ethiopia is making a surprise comeback at the 2013 Cup of Nations in South Africa after knocking out neighboring rivals Sudan through an aggregate 5-5 draw in the final qualification round. In the days after the qualification was secured in October last year, Addis seemed like a transformed city. Previously you would hardly notice any football celebrations in the cityscape (other than of the usual English Premier League teams) but following the qualification most of the capital’s blue taxis and mini-buses – usually the best way of distilling public opinion – started displaying posters of the national team with a ‘Yes We Can’ text added.
The occasion was also packed with interesting Ethiopian political tidbits. Mohamed Ademo, a blogger based in New York wrote on Facebook about how different groups stood behind one team despite their variation on the political and cultural spectrum:
Sport brings people together. The cheerful Oromo crowd in South Africa today is a good example of that. In the states, rarely do we see both sides (Oromo and other Ethiopians) cheering for the same team. We have separate sporting tournaments and federations.
For Ethiopia's football fans in South Africa, the choice today was between OLF flag, the defacto Oromo flag, and the EPRDF (Ethiopia's ruling party) flag. As you have said so eloquently, whether the Oromo and non-Oromo fans of Team Ethiopia displayed different flags didn't matter. They both supported one team.
For far too long, at international sporting events and bazaars, a monolithic image of Ethiopia have been presented to the world. An Ethiopia with 3000 years of history that is still a christian island, has one flag, and speaks only Amharic.
But in reality, Ethiopia is a truly diverse nation with divergent aspirations and historical experiences. As a result, contending national sentiments (isms) have emerged. Under previous Ethiopian regimes, for example, the use of Afan Oromo in public spaces and government offices was banned.
In EPRDF's Ethiopia, while linguistic and cultural rights are – at least in theory – respected, wearing or displaying an OLF flag amounts to an act of terrorism. What you saw today (the bitching and moaning about Oromo flag from those who still want to control the narrative of Ethiopia) is an extension of that false sense of unity. I concur with you that, at the absence of “national” consensus, the way forward is to recognize our differences and respect people's rights to identify however they see fit.
In the same vein, our Oromo activists should also stop pouncing on every chance to question the nationalism of those who are passionate football fans – and chose to look beyond politics.
All the while, it's imperative to stay civil and use this opportune moment to ask: who is Ethiopian, what's the Ethiopian identity, does the EPRDF flag represent the aspirations of the diverse people of Ethiopia, does waving OLF flag automatically make one a secessionist, why do Oromos love the OLF flag, why are non-Oromo Ethiopians so scared of assertive Oromo nationalism etc.
Shared by Ermias M Amare on Facebook
On Twitter, under the hashtags of #TeamEthiopia and #Eritrea, there was also a great deal of discussion about sport and politics! Kweschn Media tweeted:
While #Zambia's fans waved only 1 flag, #Ethiopia‘s side had more than 2 flags. Politicized soccer – Reflection of unresolved issues.
But for Zerihun it would have been great for Eritreans if Eritrea was still a part of Ethiopia. Mentioning the alleged failed coup attempt by Eritrean rebel soldiers, he tweeted:
If you hadn't been allowed to secede, you could have enjoyed the game with us :) #Ethiopia makes fun of today's #Eritrea Coup #TeamEthiopia
Ethiopia will face Burkina Faso in the second match of group C of the AFCON tournament while Zambia will play Nigeria. The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, also known as the Orange Africa Cup of Nations, is ‘the’ football championship of Africa organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).  This is the 29th Africa Cup of Nations, and is being held from 19 January to 10 February 2013.

author: Endalkachew Chala


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Russia’s Siberian State Within A State · Global Voices
Kevin Rothrock

Roughly 90% [ru] of Russian gas production (and 22% of worldwide gas output) originates in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, located in the northwestern corner of Siberia. In recent months, bloggers and Russian netizens have reacted to the latest in a series of changes to internal migration laws inside YaNAO. Places in the Okrug like Novy Urengoy and Salekhard, home to major gas fields now owned [ru] by Gazprom, were “closed cities” during the Soviet era — meaning that citizens required special permission even to pass through the area.
Those restrictions are back. In fact, strict migration limits were in place between 2006 and 2012, but local branches of the federal police did not enforce them. Last year, the FSB briefly abrogated the statute [ru] that establishes the rules for “boundary regimes.” Simultaneously, however, local police created a 24-hour boarder control post outside Novy Urengoy, requiring anyone without a worker's permit or an invitation from a resident to apply for a special permit (which takes a month to process).
With local policies seemingly at odds, Vladimir Putin was asked to weigh in last month during his hours-long press conference [ru] in Moscow. Putin told a Vologda-based reporter that an unmanageable influx of migrant workers and illegal drugs has necessitated stricter border control measures. Russia's President then insisted that the local population also supports the return of limitations on migration to and through YaNAO.
Yamal Peninsula, Siberia, 21 July 2009, photo by Cliff Hellis, CC 2.0.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev visited the Okrug and reiterated Moscow's support for the lockdown, prompting an article [ru] in Ekaterinburg-based online newspaper Znak.com. That piece caught the attention of anti-Kremlin LiveJournal user svobodoff, who then blogged [ru] somewhat sensationalistically that “the FSB is closing off Yamal to all Russians!” Svobodoff argues that Putin's support for the initiative is illegal, explaining that the YaNAO special boundary regime violates the Russian Constitution's Article 27 [ru] (which guarantees citizens the freedom to move within the country).
According to svobodoff, the Kremlin's support for the migration restrictions is related to the prominence of the gas industry in YaNAO. He specifically cites [ru] a recent liquified gas co-production agreement between Alexey Miller's Gazprom and Leonid Michelson's Novatek — brokered by Putin:
Кремлядь считает этот газ своим, а не граждан РФ. Поэтому Путин, Миллер и Михельсон обо всём договорились и газ уже поделили, не спрашивая граждан. Путин обеспечит закрытие региона-кормушки от лишних любопытных глаз, а Миллер и Михельсон обеспечат наращивание добычи.
These Kremlin whores [kremliad] think this gas belongs to them, and not Russia's citizenry. That's why Putin, Miller, and Michelson agreed about all this and already divided up the gas, not asking any of the citizens. Putin closes off the regional-gravy-train from prying eyes, and Miller and Michelson furnish the increased production.
Ekho Moskvy reposted the Znak.com article, attracting many reader comments that resonate svobodoff's skepticism about the border measures. Vladimir Shilak, for instance, declared [ru] that the Kremlin is preparing a nationwide “embargo,” in order to sever ties with the United States and European Union and institute a new “iron curtain.”
In early December, however, far more supportive reader comments appeared on a Komsomolskaia Pravda article [ru] about Novy Urengoy's border regime, made stricter after a late 2012 report from the local MVD police branch revealed that regional crime rates were up 64% on the year. KP readers, naturally a less liberal-leaning crowd, were often eager to endorse the authorities’ tactics, even voicing openly racist sentiments against Central Asian migrant workers.
One less-racist commenter, for example, wrote the following in poorly spelled Russian:
В Москве тоже надо так сделать. От приезжих только проблемы, и не только от кавказцев и азиатов, но и от русских из других регионов проблем не меньше. А пускать правелно толко по преглошению работодателя [sic].
We need to do the same thing in Moscow. Migrants only bring problems, and I don't just mean Caucasians and Asians — Russians from other regions are no less a problem. We should allow in people only by employers’ invitations.
In the spirit of Russian chauvinism, user Vasya responded to the above comment with a quick insult, writing:
Судя по грамотности вы сами из гастарбайтеров. А кто у нас громче всех кричит «Держи вора»?!
Judging by your grammar, I'd say you're a migrant worker yourself. It's always the guilty party who yells loudest “catch the thief!”
Commenting on svobodoff's post, LJ user Igor Eidelman wrote [ru] that he recently visited YaNAO. According to his experience, the only foreigners in the area are highly skilled “drillers,” “installers,” and “welders.” Because the gas industry can afford to pay higher-than-average wages for menial labor, the need for cheap migrant workers is lower in YaNAO, according to Eidelman, and businesses prefer to hire Russian citizens.
Whatever the legality of internal borders or the actual “narco-threat” from migrant workers, one thing is clear: RuNet outrage about a potentially unconstitutional crackdown on the freedom of movement shares the stage with an equally (or maybe even more) vociferous phobia [ru] of dark-skinned laborers from the South. Whether or not migrant workers are actually responsible for growing crime rates, it's hard to deny a populist tendency to blame outsiders. Perhaps it's this phenomenon — more than any gas deposits — that local authorities are most hoping to exploit [ru].

author: Kevin Rothrock