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New Governor Elected in Puerto Rico · Global Voices
Ángel Carrión

All links lead to texts in Spanish, unless otherwise noted.
They were hard-fought elections and there never was a clear trend even into the night of November 6, the day of the general elections in Puerto Rico. Finally, in the early morning of the following day it began to become clear that Alejandro García Padilla (@agarciapadilla) of the Partido Popular Democrático (Popular Democratic Party) (PPD) was the candidate for Governor chosen by Puerto Ricans. The PPD won by a landslide in the House of Representatives and the Senate. As is customary, people turned to Twitter to react on the results of the elections:
@judith192010: @agarciapadillaFelicidades al Gobernador electo q dios te ilumine en este nuevo camino. Exito y con Puerto Rico en el corazon.
Congratulations to the elected Governor may god enlighten you on this new path. Success and with Puerto Rico in my heart.
@gofred26: @agarciapadilla SOY PNP, pero te felicito, espero que sigan adelante por PR, deseo que en estos 4 años sea de trabajo y no tiraera…
I’m for PNP (Partido Nuevo Progresista) (New Progressive Party), but I congratulate you, I hope that things move for PR (Puerto Rico), I want these 4 years to be about work and not thrown away…
@sylviamhndz: Felicidades a @agarciapadilla 10 gobernador de PR, Dios y la Virgen iluminen su camino
Congratulations to @agarciapadilla 10th Governor of PR, God and the Virgin illuminate your way
@sandy_live: @agarciapadilla@ppdpr Mis respetos y felicitaciones x ese triunfo arrollador, pero NO es ganar, es mantenerse.De corazon espero ver cambio
My respect and congratulations for that overwhelming triumph, but it is NOT winning, it is persisting. From the heart I hope to see change
Alejandro García Padilla, Governor-elect. Image in the public domain. Taken from Wikimedia Commons.
García Padilla’s victory was less than 1% over his main opponent, the current Governor Luis Fortuño (@luisfortuno51) of the Partido Nuevo Progresista (New Progressive Party) (PNP), according to the official results of the State Elections Commission. However, García Padilla’s running mate and candidate for Resident Commissioner, Rafael Cox Alomar (@coxalomar), did not prevail against his main opponent, the incumbent Pedro Pierluisi (@pedropierluisi) of the PNP.
Apparently, this result was due to the vote of the PNP supporters displeased with Governor Fortuño and last-minute backing from voters who sympathized with the emerging parties, Puertorriqueños por Puerto Rico (Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico) (PPR), Movimiento Unión Soberanista (Sovereign Union Movement) (MUS) and Partido del Pueblo Trabajador (Working People’s Party) (PPT). The latter three failed to attain 1% of the votes. The Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (Puerto Rican Independence Party) (PIP) managed little more than 2.5% of the votes. None achieved the minimum quantity needed to be officially registered as a party, so will have to restart the process of getting endorsements to stay enrolled.
@gypsy718: La gente dice q los partidos emergentes decidieron, pienso que fueron los mismos estadistas indignados, +20mil votos Pierluisi
People say that the emerging parties decided it, I think that it was the same outraged statesmen, + 20thousand Pierluisi votes
@KARENNYHERNANDE: AGP no olvides que un PAIS se levanta con el esfuerzo de TODOS.RECUERDA que los partidos emergentes confiaron en TI.Hay q contar con ellos
AGP don’t forget that a COUNTRY rises up with the effort of ALL. REMEMBER that the emerging parties relied on YOU. You must rely on them
@ecc101: Si Alejando Garcia Padilla derroto a Fortuño para el próximo cuatrienio los partidos emergentes tienen posibilidades.
If Alejando [sic] Garcia Padilla defeated Fortuño for the next four years the emerging parties have possibilities.
@aineKis: Si los partidos emergentes quieren ganar, serán necesarias las coaliciones y alianzas. #2016
If the emerging parties want to win, it will take coalitions and alliances. #2016.
@iranrodz: Si los partidos emergentes se unieran con el PIP bajo un nuevo partido sería perfecto.
If the emerging parties united with the PIP (Puerto Rico Independence Party) under a new party it would be perfect.
The user @latitanica went further to recall that it was this same PNP that with the recent amendments to the electoral code brought about the creation of the new parties. Some believe that the objective was to weaken the PPD and take away voters who traditionally vote in their favour through offering the possibility of beating the PNP, even though they do not necessarily share their ideology:
@latitanica: A los emergentes: no se desanimen. La creación de partidos fue con propósito vil. Trabajemos en hacerlo bien y darle mejores herramientas.
To the emerging parties: do not be discouraged. This creation of parties was despicable. Let's work to make it right and provide better tools.
In terms of the status plebiscite that was held along with general elections, the voters rejected continuing with the current relationship with the United States, winning the NO with slightly more than 50% of the votes. The favoured status option was the annexation to the United States (statehood), winning with more than 60% of the votes. The sovereign Commonwealth won little more than 33% and independence slightly more than 5.5%. It is the first time in the political history of Puerto Rico that statehood was favoured in a status referendum. However, it must be added that there was a very high number of blank ballots and ballots which voters damaged as a gesture of protest (486,080 in total, at the time of writing this article), so it is expected that the United States Congress will determine that the referendum does not decisively reflect a preference for the political status of the island. Of course, there were countless reactions on Twitter:
@miriampabon1: Un plebiscito es una encuesta. Las encuestas mal construidas producen malos resultados. El plebiscito de ayer tuvo mala construccion.
A plebiscite is a survery. Poorly constructed surveys produce bad results. Yesterday's plebiscite was poorly constructed.
@CarlosJSagardia: El resultado del plebiscito constituye un mandato claro del pueblo.Es menester atenderlo con la seriedad que amerita y elevarlo al Congreso
The result of the plebiscite constitutes a clear mandate from the people. We need to give it the serious attention it deserves and raise it to the Congress
@justo_y_franco: PPD toma resultado plebiscito livianamente. La noticia está regada por el mundo y no veo objeción de ellos
PPD takes the plebiscite result lightly. The news has spread to the world and I see no objection from them
@CJavz92: AGP que paso con tu slogan de “Primero la gente” ?Por tu bien mas vale que hagas tu trabajo bien con lo del plebiscito.
AGP what happened with your slogan of “People first”? For your own good it’s worth doing your work with the plebiscite well.
@AnaTeresaToro: Me llama la atención el hecho de que se pensó en el plebiscito como una estrategia para que el PNP afianzara su voto y, sin embargo…
I am struck by the fact that the plebiscite was thought of as a strategy for the PNP to reinforce their vote and yet…
@pjc1964: Mi pregunta es, si El PPD se niega a ejercer el mandato del plebiscito, se podrá demandar jurídicamente a que cumpla?
My question is, if the PPD refuses to exercise the mandate of the plebiscite, will it be legally possible to sue to enforce it?
@viachabs: Gente que ni votaron en el plebiscito quejandose de los resultados del estatus.Hubieses votado y quizas seria otro caso!!
People who didn’t vote in the plebiscite complaining about the results of the status. Had you voted, maybe it would be a different case!
@Maribelt2011: Vamos a hacer con este plebiscito lo mismo que los pnp's hicieron con el referendum de la unicameralidad #écharloalzafacón
We are going to do with this plebiscite what the pnp's did with the unicameralism referendum #écharloalzafacón
@lin091954: Las papeleta en Blanco del plebiscito,son votos de protesta!cuentan tambien encontra de estadidad!
The blank ballots in the plebiscite,are protest votes!count them against statehood as well!
@PRSURFF: Hagan un plebiscito asi: Estadidad SI o NO y observarán…
Do a plebiscite like this: Statehood YES or NO and they’ll see…
@BenjaminMorales: Por otro lado, el PIP parece haber cometido un serio error estratégico al apoyar el plebiscito. #elecciones2012
On the other hand, the PIP appears to have commited a serious strategic error by supporting the plebiscite. #elecciones2012
@yo_el: Me encanta como el PIP simplemente hace malavares con los resultados del plebiscito para crear la más mínima esperanza por la independencia.
I love how the PIP just juggles with the results of the plebiscite to create the slightest hope for independence.
@chris31jct: La papeleta del plebiscito será el nuevo papel sanitario en la Fortaleza a partir de Enero.
The ballot for the plebiscite will be the new toilet paper in the Fortress beginning in January.
@gret2090: Es más, el plebiscito no tiene ningún efecto, ni lo tendrá.Apúntenlo!!
Moreover, the plebiscite has no effect, nor will it have. Make a note of it!
And, finally, after 12 years as Mayor of San Juan, Jorge Santini (@JorgeASantini), of the PNP, lost to Carmen Yulín Cruz of the PPD (@CarmenYulinCruz) who only announced her candidacy seven months ago. In that time, Cruz managed to bring voters of diverse ideologies together and convince the people of San Juan that a change in the capital city is necessary.

author: Ángel Carrión


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German Chancellor Merkel Visits Portugal · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

The visit of German Chancellor Merkel to Portugal, on November 12, 2012, is being tweeted mostly under the hashtag #Merkel. Journalist Diogo Carreira livestreamed the speeches on Bambuser. The website Right Now I/O has a selection of pictures and tweets from the protests that are taking place at the same time.
“Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Austerity – All Paths Lead to Merkel”. Poster by Artº 21.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Sara Moreira


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An Online Project for Monitoring the State of Russia’s Roads · Global Voices
Teplitsa

The “RosYama” [ru] [literally “Russian Pothole”] project is a method of monitoring the state of the roads and their compliance with latest government standards. Anyone who notices a roadway that fails to meet these standards can use RosYama's service.
The coordinator of RosYama, Fyodor Ezeev, told Evgeny Voropai of Greenhouses of Social Technologies how he has long since stopped seeing the borders between the online and offline worlds, and why “targeted” projects are more effective than universal ones.
Fyodor Yezeev. Photo supplied by owner.
Fyodor Ezeev: I think that RosYama has three components which lead to its successes. First of all, the relevancy of the theme — potholes on the roads genuinely bother many people. Secondly, the influence of [prominent opposition blogger and activist] Navalny meant that a large amount of people found out about the project from the very start. Thirdly, RosYama differentiates itself from similar road projects by assisting users with composition of complaints and by taking on the legal aspects of the task.
Evgeny Voropai: How has the behavior of users changed since RosYama was first established.
F.E.: Our audience has decreased by about two or three times, but the number of registered potholes has increased at about the same rate. Which means that every visitor now registers about five times as many potholes as before. People have stopped visiting the site out of curiosity but there are more of those who use it as intended.
E.V.: RosYama is an automated service of submitting complaints with a significant number of active users. Tell us what the project team does in Moscow and the regions.
F.E.: RosYama isn't an automated service for forwarding complaints. User complaints must be submitted independently. The RosYama team works on the site and advises project users.
E.V.: When a project works on a model of cooperation that is “The user is in charge”, it is important to soberly appraise the active participation of your audience. What other indicators can tell you that your project is effective and working?
F.E.: The only indicator of the viability of any action is the presence or absence of tangible results. RosYama's tangible results are more than 8,500 fixed potholes.
E.V.: You've written on your blog that after the [recently organized opposition] debates, the number of visitors grew by 58%. Would you say that public management of internet projects is more effective than traditional management?
F.E.: The the effectiveness of any marketing, as a rule, is very short-term. I believe RosYama needs to pay more attention to the development of possibilities for our users and ease of use. These actions bring good long-term results.
E.V.: The blogosphere has actively responded to your participation in the elections of the opposition's Coordinating Council. Were there worries that this might negatively affect RosYama?
F.E.: No, there were no such worries.
E.V.: “Seven candidates for seven projects” [a voting block at Coordinating Council elections] is represented by the managers and coordinators of internet projects. If they were to start working in the offline world, how would this affect their online activities?
F.E.: I've stopped seeing the boundaries between the online and offline worlds a long time ago. The internet is only another means of transmitting information, a method of connecting people. Just like a phone, for example. One person uses a telephone to pointlessly yap for hours, while another orders his broker to sell a portfolio of shares worth millions of dollars.
E.V.: Before “RosYama” we already had [anti-corruption website] “RosPil”, after that “RosUznik” [a legal aid fund for arrested opposition figures] appeared and then [election monitoring website] “RosVybory”. Have you tracked the migration of a loyal audience from one project to another?
F.E.: I haven't. I'd suppose that it's zero or practically zero. If someone is interested in government tenders, he won't stop being interested in them because of RosUznik.
E.V.: In your posts on LiveJournal, you point out that the audience often doesn't see the connection between their immediate problems and free elections. But at the same time all these “Ros-projects” are very targeted and don't allow the audience to see these issues as part of a complex whole. Has there been any plan to integrate all these projects into one, but with larger scope?
F.E.: I believe that our projects achieve their success in large thanks to their “targeted-ness”. The idea “do a little, but well” works better than the idea “do a lot, but badly”. As for the link between the immediate problems of citizens and free elections — its participation in a project like RosYama that allows them not only to see, but to feel this connection, practically touch it.
E.V.: You've worked in a large internet company, then you began the civic project RosYama. Did it change your approach to work and task performance?
F.E.: I try to only take on tasks which I'm actually interested in solving. Other superficial factors have practically no meaning for me.

author: Teplitsa


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Street Children of Bangladesh Vulnerable to Abuse · Global Voices
পান্থ রহমান রেজা (Pantha)

If you are stuck for a few minutes at a traffic signal in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka, you will probably see children rushing up to the windows of your vehicle. Some of these children carry flowers; some have a stack of books in the crook of their arms, some carry bundles of newspapers and some have candy for sale. They try their best to earn sympathy from commuters to sell their goods. This painful scene is ubiquitous on the streets of Dhaka. These street children are known as Pothoshishu. The street is where they earn their living.
The total number of street children in Bangladesh is estimated at 400,000. Almost half of these children live in Dhaka city alone. A very large percentage of these children are young girls. These female street children are especially vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
Street girls Mili and Brishti earn their living by selling flowers. Image by Firoz Ahmed. Copyright Demotix (21/1/2012)
On March, 2012 Unnayan Onneshan published a report titled “social connection of the street girls in the context of Dhaka city, Bangladesh” [pdf]. The research shows that the majority of the street girls (37.50%) sell flowers for a living. 18.80% of these young girls are forced into prostitution, 6.25 % work in the clothing industry, 6.25% become beggars, 12.50% start as shopkeepers and 6.25% are paper-hawkers. Almost half of these girls have a measly daily income of Tk. 101-299 ($1.25-$3.75). The daily income of 43.75 % of the girls is Tk. 300 (US$3.75) and above. But they seem to be the lucky ones, because 6.25 % of the street girls earn less than Tk. 100 ($1.25) per day. Almost 45% of these girls do not receive any treatment from government medical facilities or clinics. 3 out of 10 of these girls have never been enrolled in any type of educational institution.
Most women in Bangladesh are vulnerable to fall victim to abuse such as rape, murder, eve teasing, dowry and acid attacks. But the street children who spend their childhood under the open skies of Dhaka face such risks on a daily basis. This graph is taken from the above report, which shows statistics of violences inflicted upon street girls:
Statistics on violence on street girls
Neelkabyo writes this about the helpless situation of the street girls at Addar Asor forum:
Where it is hard to guarantee the safety of our daughters inside our own homes, the thought of the 25.7% of female children who live on the streets is truly terrifying.
Nizam Kutubee writes in the Prothom Alo Blog:
Recently there has been a lot of discussion about sexual abuse laws. But no one is giving any serious thought on the issue of the safety of street girls. They constantly suffer sexual abuse because they have to spend their nights on the street completely unprotected. But no one in the authority seems to have any concerns about them.
Living under the open sky. Image by Auniket. Copyright Demotix (6/4/2012).
Blogger Maa cited the lyrics of a renowned Bangla song to draw attention to this issue and to request a safe home for these children:
Let a new sun shine across these green pastures, let this world be a safe haven
Let this world be safe for children, is it too much I ask for?…

author: পান্থ রহমান রেজা (Pantha)


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Student Dies in Protests in Dominican Republic · Global Voices
Pamela Martínez Achecar

In the wake of the Fiscal Reform submitted to the National Congress, which was met with strong disapproval by civil society, the business sector and trade unions, various movements in opposition to the bill have been organized [es]. Demonstrations have been taking place since the 4th of October, when the draft bill was announced. However, since Tuesday the 6th of November, citizens have increased the intensity of their protests, with daily numbers up.
On Thursday, the 8th of November, the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, the sole public university in the country, was the scene of one of these anti-government protests. But as is customary—and in spite of different regulations which prohibit it—students were confronted by a unit of armed police,  culminating in the death of 21-year-old William Florián Ramírez [es], a third-year medical student, hit by a bullet to the chest.
Killed student, Willy Florián, as he was taken away from the disturbances by hooded individuals. This image has been widely disseminated over the Internet.
The indignation took little time to be felt on social networks and on pirate radio. Civic leader Elizabeth Mateo, popularly known as the leader of the fight to get 4% of GDP spent on education, published the following on Twitter:
@ElizabethMateo: Condeno la muerte del estudiante de la UASD. Exijo justicia.
@ElizabethMateo: I condemn the killing of the UASD student. I demand justice.
Likewise, investigator, consultant and columnist Olaya Dotel, stated:
Young man calls for civil mobilization. Taken from the page of the Bonó Centre and reproduced with permission.
@OlayaDotel: Los corruptos que hoy controlan el Estado no valen una gota de sangre de nuestros jóvenes… Ni uno más!!!
@OlayaDotel: These corrupt individuals in control of the State are not worth a drop of the blood of our young people…not one more!!!
The controversy has spread so far that René, vocalist in the popular Puerto Rican group Calle 13, commented on the incident:
@Calle13Oficial: El mundo está mirando a República Dominicana esperando que se haga justicia por el asesinato del joven estudiante de medicina Willy Warden!
@Calle13Oficial: The world is looking at the Dominican Republic, hoping that justice will be done for the death of the young medical student Willy Warden!
All of these incidents have taken place as it was revealed that, during the precarious economic conditions and high social tension the country is currently facing,
Young people hold up signs outside the National Congress, in protest against the Fiscal Reform.Taken with permission from the page of the Bonó Centre and reproduced with their permission.
the Minister of Education, Josefina Pimentel, increased her own salary by 62% [es], from RD$185,000.00 to RD$300,000.00 a month, equivalent to USD $7,500.00.
The fusion of these and other trigger issues, far from discouraging protestors, has renewed their revolutionary spirit.  A group of around 100 people, including public figures and media, congregated in front of the buildings of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development [es] (FUNGLODE), an institution set up by former president Leonel Fernández Reyna, who is deemed responsible for having bankrupted the nation during his eight years in power (see video here) [es].
Protestors placed candles in the street and sang their condemnation in unison, at the top of their lungs. Twitter was the medium which gave the most coverage to the event, with Twitterers grouping themselves together under the hashtag #FrenteaFunglode. Reporter Maribel Hernández shared this from her Twitter account:
@MaribelNexos: Policía Nacional una banda criminal, vocifera la masa #FrenteaFunglode.
@MaribelNexos: The National Police, a criminal gang, shouts the #FrenteaFunglode crowd.
@MaribelNexos: La masa grita La Fundación Global verguenza nacional.  #FrenteaFunglode #FrenteaFunglode
@MaribelNexos: The crowd is screaming Global Foundation, national shame. #FrenteaFunglode #FrenteaFunglode
But things don't stop there. Both civil organizations and individuals have flooded the Internet with a grand display of creativity, via numberless ads and images against the pro-government party and the current administration, such as those displayed below. In the same vein, various mobilizations at all levels were planned for Friday, the 9th of November, as well as for the rest of the week. I leave you with some of the calls to protest and examples of graphical artwork focused on the events.
http://youtu.be/S6IskZCANfI

author: Pamela Martínez Achecar


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Tajik Police Explained · Global Voices
Alexander Sodiqov

We can criticize the law-enforcement agencies as much as we want and argue that police is not doing its job properly and that police officers are not to be trusted… But problems with the police are just a reflection of problems in our society as a whole.
Shukufa on Blogiston.tj explains [ru] how police in Tajikistan is staffed and why many police officers often break the law.

author: Alexander Sodiqov


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The Trouble With Russian Nationalism · Global Voices
Yulia Lukashina

In the first decade after Communism, Russia struggled to reframe one of the Soviet Union's biggest holidays: October Revolution Day [ru] (celebrated on November 7). After years of toying with new names for the celebration, the Kremlin in 2005 reinstituted November 4 as Unity Day to replace the problematic communist jubilee. Many criticized the government for (re)introducing yet another holiday with symbolic meaning that few contemporary Russians can appreciate.
This year, Unity Day lived up to its name, though in a rather unexpected way. In 46 towns and cities across Russia [ru], including Moscow, roughly 30 thousand people took part in far-right extremist rallies. While this is an infinitesimally small fraction of the country's total population, Unity Day's far-right groups have managed to attract supporters all over Russia. The geographic sweep of the demonstrations is impressive; they spanned Russia's western and eastern corners, crosscutting climates and demographics. The movement's organizers insist that their parades reached 70 towns and cities, drawing over 15 thousand people in Moscow alone.
Boy at nationalist march, Moscow, 4 November 2012, photo by RiMarkin, CC 2.0.
LiveJournal user sofia_vb_88 argues that far-right activism in Russia grows not only in numbers, but also in boldness. This year's march proceeded despite attempts by the authorities to curtail demonstrations. Indeed, several activists were arrested [ru] outside their homes in Pyatigorsk, before that's city's Unity Day parade ever started. That the movement continues to attract followers despite such police pressure suggests a widespread network capable of replenishing its ranks when targeted with arrests.
Far-right activists also launched a page [ru] on LJ, where moderators scrupulously collect posts sympathetic to the movement. The writing quality is remarkable for a grassroots campaign, in this author's opinion, and approaches something close to a volunteer-supported newspaper.
One of the most confusing traits of extremist Russian nationalists is their apparent obsession with Nazi symbols and aesthetics. When the USSR defeated Fascist Germany, it was a wildly diverse ethnic coalition that elevated the Red Army to victory. Why would anyone valorize the Great Patriotic War as a triumph for Russians alone, and why do so by waving the flag of the enemy?
The movement itself exhibits great confusion about what unites its adherents. Photographs [ru] from the parade include signs and insignia borrowed from fascists, czarists, and even Celtics. That said, the leaders of the march offer a fairly simple core idea: “Russia for Russians” — a concept that many netizens are far from against. Many are, however, skeptical about the individual nationalists keen on realizing the slogan. Particularly, the right-wing's proposed means and methods arouse fears.
Photobloggers didn't miss the chance to cover the Unity Day marches. Readers can find reports from mikle1, politrash-ru, zyalt, and viktorlevanov (to name just a few). Mikle1 comments:
Вот посмотришь на лица этих людей, послушаешь их лозунги, и понимаешь – это не борцы за Русский Мир. И не защитники русских и России. Это люди или психически неадекватные, или донельзя малограмотные, или желающие под красивыми лозунгами бить, резать, стрелять. […] Они не едут на Кавказ добровольцами, не записываются в контрактники. Они выходят на улицы русских городов с призывами гнать своего соседа-инородца. Или не инородца – просто рожей не вышел или фамилия неправильная.
Look at the faces of these people, listen to their slogans, and you'll understand that they're no defenders of the Russian World. And they're no defenders of Russians or Russia. These people are either mentally handicapped, utterly illiterate, or they [just] want to go beating, cutting, and shooting [people] to the tune of pretty slogans. […] They don't volunteer [to serve] in the Caucasus, and they don't volunteer for the army. They go out into the street, trying to drive out their non-Russian neighbors. Or [sometimes] it's not even a non-Russian, but just someone with a suspicious mug or the wrong surname.
Filming with a hidden camera, blogger viktorlevanov was especially sarcastic in his comments:
Когда попал вчера на Русский Марш, подумал, что на Хэллоуин пришел – столько колоритных персонажей и все в масках.
When I got to the Russian March yesterday, it occurred to me that I'd arrived at a Halloween party — so many colorful personalities, all wearing masks.
At the nationalist march, Moscow, 4 November 2012, photo by RiMarkin, CC 2.0.
Levanov went on to joke that demonstrators were battling an influenza epidemic, making light of that fact that many protesters wore hospital masks to disguise their identities and project an atmosphere of danger.
Blogger avmalgin questioned the capabilities of Russian nationalist extremists, remarking that Europe's better developed societies have struggled with their own ‘Muslim problem,’ so far unsuccessfully:
В Европе умные люди не могут сдержать исламизацию, а в Москве идиоты – смогут?
Smart people across Europe can't contain Islamization, but these dummies in Moscow will succeed?
Commenting on Malgin's post, non-Russian blogger tovbot described his experience as an ethnic minority in the USSR:
Я учился в советской школе в национальной республике и знаете – у нас даже не было урока родного языка, мы учили только русский язык и литературу. Мы не учили историю своего народа, мы учили историю России и русского народа.
I studied in a Soviet school in one of national republics of the USSR, and, you know, there wasn't even a single class on our native language — we studied only Russian language and Russian literature. We didn't learn the history of our own people — we studied the history of Russia and of the Russian people.
In their attemps to unite supporters around the idea of Russian superiority, the leaders of nationalist groups seem intent on turning back the clock and adopting a fundamentally Soviet approach to history, whitewashing a record of complex multiethnic accomplishments and setbacks, in order to uncomplicate and simplify the past. Therein lies the nationalists’ greatest problem: like so many other factions in Russian society, they have been unable to bridge the nation's Soviet heritage and post-Communist present. The confusion about nationalist symbols is just one of innumerable symptoms that still plague Russia. Before any social movement can pose a serious political threat to the country's ruling elite, it will have to distinguish itself on this pivotal question.

author: Yulia Lukashina


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Thousands Celebrate Malala Day & Sign Nobel Peace Prize Petition  · Global Voices
Kumail Ahmed

15 year-old Malala Yousafzai was shot on 9 October 2012 by members of TTP (Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) [The Pakistan Taliban Movment] because she was a fearless activist of girl education in Swat. Malala is slowly recovering. She is not totally out of danger, and a complete recovery will take sometime.
Petition for Nobel Peace Prize
A petition has been placed by a Pakistani-British woman living in Birmingham, Shaida Choudry, to nominate Malala Yousufzai for a Nobel Peace Prize. Nominating Malala for the Nobel prize can be achieved if ‘national politicians’ take interest. Shaida Choudry wants William Hague, David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband to go forward with this task.
Till now more than a hundred thousand people have signed her petition. The reason why a Nobel prize must be presented to Malala is stated here:
A Nobel Peace Prize for Malala will send a clear message that the world is watching and will support those who stand up for gender equality and universal human rights, including the right to education for girls.
The #Malala hashtag has been shared by more than five thousand people over twitter. The #Nobel4Malala hashtag has been shared by approximately nine hundred people just in nine days. Expressing her reason for signing the petition, Farina Alam writes:
…Malala gives me hope
Stephen Furlong comments:
“Such bravery and belief at such a young age should be recognised and serve as an inspiration and as a beacon of hope to people young and old across the world”
Celebrating Malala Day
The United Nations has announced celebrating November 10 (Saturday) as Malala Day. People around the world celebrated Malala as a beacon for 32 million girls who can not go to school. In Pakistan, demonstrations in support of Malala were held in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. This day was celebrated in more than 100 countries across the globe.
But in Malala's hometown open house events couldn't be organized out of fear of possible terrorist attacks.
The UN special envoy on global education growth, Mr. Gordon Brown was in Pakistan on Friday (9th November) in order to discuss the future of girls education in Pakistan. Speaking to AFP he said that a country can not prosper if only 2% of the economic budget is spent on education.
Political party MQM (Muttahida Quami Movement) [United National Movement] officially celebrated Malala Day at their headquarters in Karachi called nine-zero:
MQM celebrating Malala Day. From Twitter @SahilMQM
Kainat – Malala's friend who was with her during the attack- said that she's still terrified and cries whenever that incident comes in her mind. Unfortunately, no celebration took place in Swat due to possible terrorist threats.
For to express her love for Malala, 11 year-old girl, Bushra Siddique, writes on her blog:
In my view Malala is the ray of light and hope for Pakistan. May Allah Save Her!
Twitter response
Salman Ahmed tweets:
@sufisal: “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” ― Aristotle#Malala Day
Somuya Singh tweets:
@soumyasinghs: #Pakistan marks Malala Day.. Poor#children will get cash if they'll attend school… Just hope they actually go nd#learn something..
Ali Salman Alvi comments that the Terrorist apologists are trying to belittle Malala's act of valour:
@alisalmanalvi: On social media it was Malala vs Al-Qaeda & Co (its apologists) on Malala Day. #Pakistan

author: Kumail Ahmed


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Arab World: What will Change with Obama’s Re-Election?  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Barack Obama has won a second term as US President but how does he fare among netizens across the Arab world? Here's a snippet of the conversation on Twitter following his re-election. Reactions were divided and while many were not pleased with the US foreign policy in the region, others were happy Obama won.
Saudi Essam Al Zamil pulls the conspiracy theories from the hat. He writes [ar]:
إسرائيل كانت تفضل فوز رومني. رغم ذلك خسر. غريبة!! ما كانوا يقولون إن إسرائيل والصهاينة يتحكمون العالم ويحركوننا كأننا بيادق على رقعة شطرنج؟!
@essamz: Israel preferred [Mitt] Romney winning. Despite this, he lost. Strange!!! Weren't they saying that Israel and the Zionists controlled the world and moved us as if we were chess pieces?
Egyptian Gigi Ibrahim wonders how Obama's reaction [praising his wife and daughters] after his win would be received has he been an Arab president:
@Gsquare86: Obama telling Michelle how he loves her publicly and speaking to his daughters haha imagine Morsi or any egy pres doing that
And Kuwaiti Al Saqar shares a similar thought:
اوباما يحتضن زوجته بعد الفوز بالرئاسة وربعنا يفوز بانتخابات جمعية يتزوج على مرته !! هههههههههههه
@alsaqar_87: Obama hugs his wife after he wins the presidential elections while our friends take a second wife if they win a society election!! haha
Kuwaiti politician Dr Aseel Al Awadhi pays tribute to Obama's victory speech:
خطاب اوباما بعد اعلان فوزه يجب ان يدرس كمادة اساسية لكل القيادات العربية. نستورد منهم كل شئ ليش ما نستورد نوعية خطابهم السياسي؟
@AseelAlawadhi: Obama's speech after his victory was announced should be taught as an essential subject for all Arab leaders. We import everything from them so why don't we also import their political addresses?
And using tongue in cheek, Syrian Bint Al Rifai pays tribute to Obama's administration:
@BintAlRifai: Obama admin… Mastering the art of lip service
Egyptian Raafat Roheim tries reason, saying the US foreign policy does not change with the change of a president:
الناس العبيطة اللي مفكره أن سياسة أمريكا الخارجيه هتتغير لو رومني فاز، والنبي آتوكسو. لو كيم كارداشين بقت الرئيس السياسه مش هتتغير يا مواشي
@Raafatology: Stupid people think the US foreign policy would have changed had [Mitt] Romney won. Even if Kim Kardashian became president, their policy won't change.
Egyptian journalist Ayman Mohyeldin remarks:
@AymanM: 2 years of campaigning, billions of dollars spent, obama wins, democrats control senate, republicans run house but will it change anything?
While Jordanian Naseem Tarawnah jokes about Obama's Islamic links:
@tarawnah: If President Obama thanks Allah during his victory speech he will freak everyone out. EVERYONE.
Meanwhile, Jordanian Fadi Zaghmout offers his support to Obama:
@ArabObserver: As a world citizen, I would vote for Obama in the #USElection #ivoted
He adds:
@ArabObserver: Thank you my Americans friends who voted for sanity yesterday. This is a win for all of us. Congratulations!
And Egyptian Nadia El-Awady wishes America good luck:
@NadiaE: Nice to wake up this morning to the news of #Obama's win. Good luck, America.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Assault of Female Radio DJ Ignites Zimbabwe Gender Violence Debate · Global Voices
Madalitso Mwando

The assault of a popular radio DJ has brought debate about violence against women in Zimbabwe. Tinopona Katsande, a DJ with privately owned ZiFM, posted pictures of herself on Twitter and Facebook after she was assaulted by her boyfriend.
The pictures showing her swollen face were both praised and criticised on social media, bringing into focus what is a growing social problem in Zimbabwe.
Tinopona Katsande, a DJ with the privately owned ZiFM, shared this photo online showing how her boyfriend brutally assaulted her. Photo courtesy of Tinopona Katsande.
Popularly known as TinTin, Katsande who is also a former actress in a popular TV soap shown on the national broadcaster, posted a statement on her Facebook page:
On Sunday the 11th of November 2012, I joined an alarming and ever increasing group of women who are victims of GBV in Zimbabwe.I speak to you now with chipped teeth, bruised ribs, swollen face, blood shot eyes, patches of uprooted hair from the pulling and a heavy heart BUT, I will also hasten to say that I write this statement because I’m alive. I’m a survivor but unfortunately that can’t be said for a lot of women. Im not an exception, I have unfortunately become the norm. According to the 2005/6 (Zimbabwe Demographic and health survey) ZDHS nearly 6 in every 10 women surveyed reported having experienced some violence perpetrated against them. I want to thank everyone who is standing by me during this terrible time but I also ask you to not make it only about Tino.We are on the precipice of the beginning of the 16 days of activism against gender violence. Lets band together and SAY NO TO VIOLENCE. Some people keep telling me not to talk about it. Some said keep it at home and ma”domestic”.Someone even said “Chakafukidza dzimba matenga [What you see ain’t what you always get] and I must keep it quiet. I will not keep quiet, I will never keep quiet.
Online reactions
Twitter user @nqabamatshazi explained the cause of the conflict:
@nqabamatshazi: Former Studio 263 actress Tino Katsande, known as Joyce, was beaten to a pulp after she asked her man to do dishes, while she cleaned.
Netizen Elizabeth Gandah's initial reaction was that it was wrong for Tino to share the story with the world. However, she later changed her mind and congratulated her on Facebook:
When i first saw this i thought oh Tino she shouldnt have shared this with the world coz people will share both good and bad comments but i have realised i was wrong, she was courageous enough to represent the countless women and men who are being abused in relationships. Whatever happens in your relationship wether one is wrong or correct , wether provoked or what no one has a right to lay their hands on another. Just this year we saw Monalisa Chinomona's gruesome murder due to this kind of anger. We need strict measures to fight this evil that has come into our relationships. Love is a wonderful thing akomana, lets not abuse it. To Tino i say welldone girl u r a hero let them judge u or wateva but above all you have played ur part in the fight against domestic violence. May God heal you physically and emotionally.
Bongzmotswana Vincent said Tino's boyfriend deserves to rot in jail for the attack:
I hate males who abuse female checkout this picture lyk how can u lift your hand 2beat up a woman who ever did this deservs 2rot in jail lyk if u agains woman abuse @TinTin263: pic.twitter.com/ITVMoVZK
Whilst Tumai Chitava Nyasuro wrote:
There's no excuse for violence against women.
Sarah Chishiri-Bosha saluted Tino for not sharing her story publicly:
Tino you are a strong woman and I salute you for not cowering or hiding you have nothing to be ashamed of, the abusive guy should be ashamed!
Chris Nyamandi noted that many women suffer in silence:
Tino is a really strong woman… many just suffer in silence whilst being brutalised beyond measure!
Meanwhile Watson Chiyangwa challenged Tino's boyfriend:
Get well soon Tin tin if u can give me a one on one fight with your man I will teach him a lesson . Tell him to come a pick up someone of his size and surely I will give him a good size .TK my man tell me you r going to let this pass .Get well soon my TinTin.
But not everyone was sympathetic.
Nyasha Chaps thought asking a man to do the dishes was alien to African culture:
Tinopona … Unowanza chiSALAD!!! pasina futi like foreal. [You are too Americanised] i like you but girrrrrrrl….!! my parents have been married 28yrs not once did i ever hear my mom ask my dad for help! and he is the sweetest person im sure he would oblige but c'mon chero ndiwewo. Momz ndopavachazo kumbira mdara kusuka maplates like TF ?! [Come on even you. My mother surely cannot ask my dad to do the dishes?] you have no home training!! He really went ham on your ass [attacked you badly], and i dont condone any form of domestic violence in any way shape or form, but i sense that since youve appeared on 263 [film studio], and youre on national radio, you think you have “arrived”. NO MAAM. zvana miss independent bla bla bla has its place too dear and thats not in a home where you as a woman should manage with simple household chores, besides you shoulda known your man darling. Get well soon tho but chisalad chachibhadhare !!! [Being American does not work] point blank and the period [full stop]!!!!!!!
Norman Mpofu added in the local Shona language:
beaten by a boyfriend…..kikiki …mapoto muchinyanyawo vana sister. unogarirei nemunhu asina kuroora [Too much of these live-in relationships. Why do you stay with someone you are not married to].
According to UNICEF, Zimbabwe's increase in gender-based violence appears to have arisen from traditional practices and principles that include the subjugation of women, whereby it is culturally permissible for a man to physically “discipline” his wife and children.

author: Madalitso Mwando


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At the Edge of the Stone Forest of Bemaraha in Madagascar  · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

The Stone Forest a.k.a Tsingy in the Strict Nature Reserve of Bemaraha in Madagascar on wikipedia CC-license-3.0
The Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its unique geography, preserved mangrove forests, wild bird and lemur populations. The Sakalava people who live in the Bemaraha region have a culture that puts emphasis on protecting the environment [fr].

author: Lova Rakotomalala


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Blogging Contest Focuses on Child Development · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has announced its first contest for bloggers, which will focus on issues related to child development.
Now is your chance to share your ideas! You can tell us about a child development success story in your country or analyze various innovative methodologies. The topic is open. In order to participate, you just have to get your creative juices flowing and share your winning idea with us.
Bloggers from IDB member countries who write about child development in Latin America and the Caribbean are invited to participate before December 15, 2012 at 2pm (EDT). Read more contest guidelines on the IDB website.

author: Silvia Viñas


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Blogging the Earthquake’s Aftermath from Huitán, Guatemala  · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Rural communities in Guatemala were severely affected by the strong 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the country's Pacific coast on November 7, 2012.
The blog [es] for the community library Mi Nuevo Mundo (My new world) -part of the Rising Voices grantee project Xela Civic Libraries, located in the Huitán village in the Quetzaltenango department- has been sharing photos and reports of the earthquake's impact on the families living in this rural area of Guatemala.
In a post [es] published on November 10, community librarian Roman Díaz Castañón reported that several houses collapsed and families were left homeless in an area called Huitancito in Huitán:
las familias lloran por ese desastre,ellos están en extrema pobreza y están pasando una situación alarmante, no han llegado ayudas de instituciones como víveres, alimentos, necesitamos de su ayuda.
the families cry because of this disaster, they are in extreme poverty and are going through an alarming situation. Help, such as food, has not arrived from institutions, we need your help.
Family from Huitancito, Huitán, photo from blog Biblioteca Comunitaria Mi Nuevo Mundo.
House destroyed in Huitancito, Huitán, photo from blog Biblioteca Comunitaria Mi Nuevo Mundo.
Rubble after the earthquake in Huitancito, Huitán, photo from blog Biblioteca Comunitaria Mi Nuevo Mundo.
Two days later, Roman reported [es] that on Sunday, November 11, Riecken Foundation Guatemala and the community library had provided aid to ten families affected by the earthquake in Huitancito, Huitán. The post highlighted that the village still needed help with food, kitchen utensils, blankets, and building houses. Furthermore, Roman added that 100 families were affected by the earthquake, and 20 lost their houses.
Residents of Huitancito, Huitán receive aid from Riecken Guatemala and community library Mi Nuevo Mundo, photo from blog Biblioteca Comunitaria Mi Nuevo Mundo.
Later that day, a short post [es] announced that help from the government had arrived on November 12. The blog will keep readers informed about the distribution of food and other aid.
Government arrives with food for families affected by earthquake in Huitán photo from blog Biblioteca Comunitaria Mi Nuevo Mundo.
Guatemala has been hit by several aftershocks since November 7, including a 6.5-mangitude earthquake on November 12. The official death toll for the whole country is currently at 42 casualties.


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Colombian Hip-Hop Artists, Victims of Medellín’s Wave of Violence · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Two hip-hop artists have been killed in the last two weeks in Medellín‘s Comuna 13, a neighborhood infamous for its high levels of insecurity. The killing of Elíder Varela, “El Duke,” on October 30 2012, and of Roberth Steven Barra, “Garra,” on November 9, have set off alarms among residents and organizations from Medellín and Comuna 13.
Adriaan Alsema from Colombia Reports translated a letter given to him by residents and organizations from Comuna 13 after the killing of “El Duke”. He writes:
While the local police extort and intimidate the inhabitants of the western Comuna 13 and actively worsen the citizens’ sense of security.
And while local media are too in bed with local politicians to show the inconvenient side of the story, I beg you to pay attention to what the community has to say.
The letter describes the current state of Comuna 13:
The Comuna 13 undergoes a really serious situation; the presence of armed groups, the practices of territorial control, forced recruitment, and the assassinations and forced displacement are situations that day after day become more visible in the majority of the neighborhoods in the Comuna and show the serious situation of violence the Comuna 13 has sunk into, contrary to what the municipal and national authorities want to show on different international stages. It shows that the Comuna 13 in Medellin, being the most militarized urban territory in the country, still has not been able to live one day in peace.
Comuna 13, Medellín. Photo by Flickr user MattyRawrs (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Furthermore, on November 7, Colombia Reports published a translation of a “statement on the security of youth and cultural organizations in Medellin's Comuna 13″. The authors of the statement -a group of 60 members of cultural organizations from Comuna 13- highlight that they left the area “temporarily and voluntarily” after receiving a threat from an illegal armed group following the killing of “El Duke.” The statement also reads:
[…] despite the fact that the Comuna 13 is the most militarized urban district in the country, several battles, assassinations, threats and arbitrary detentions have taken place in several neighborhoods and sectors of the comuna, which demonstrates the lack of capacity of the security forces to guarantee security conditions for the citizens and the lack of conditions that allow for the return of young leaders who have been victim of the threat.
Hip-hop artists like “El Duke” frequently denounce violence and militarization in their songs.
“El Duke” was also an active member of his community, working with children and youth from Comuna 13, as Otramérica [es] points out:
El conocido hi hopper de la Comuna 13, gestor del Festival Revolución Sin Muertos, es el séptimo cantante de este género asesinado en Medellín desde 2010. El músico era hijo de un conductor de autobús de la Comuna 13, donde creció y donde se destacó como un reconocido gestor de la paz y creador de la escuela de hip hop La Kamada, donde a través de la música alejaban a niños y jóvenes del entorno violento.
The well-known hip-hop artists from Comuna 13, responsible for the Revolution Without Deaths Festival, is the seventh singer of this genre killed in Medellín since 2010. The musician was the son of a bus driver from Comuna 13, where he grew up and where he stood out as a recognized promoter of peace and creator of the hip hop school La Kamada, where, through music, he kept children and youth away from the violent environment.
Children from an outreach project by Élite Hip-Hop, a group of rappers from Comuna 13 which El Duke belonged to. Photo by Agencia de Prensa IPC on Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Considering the outreach work carried out by these hip-hop artists, Helen Berents from the blog Cuentos de Colombia (Tales from Colombia) argues that these killings “should be seen as a campaign against artists who promote peace.”
The fact that this is not commented on, but the danger and violence of the Comuna 13 is mentioned in every news report, examplifies the re-inscription of violence.
These areas are discussed as if the problem originates there with no other context. These young people are written off as if they are somehow innately violent or delinquent. So often these conversations rest on these deliberate acts of ‘unknowing’ which actively ignore the systems of exclusion and the realities and struggles of those who live each day amidst violence and stigma, and live with dignity.
Cuenta La 13 [es] (@CuentaLa13) [es], a local radio website and blog from Comuna 13, tweeted on October 31:
@CuentaLa13: Ya dejamos los restos del Duke. Lo enterramos, pero no enterramos nuestras ganas de vivir y de gritar que queremos paz.#La13CantayResiste.
@CuentaLa13: We've left Duke's remains. We buried him, but we have not buried our will to live and to shout that we want peace. #La13CantayResiste (Comuna 13 sings and resists).
On that same day, and using the same hashtag, fellow hip-hop artist Jeison Alexander Castaño (@Jeihhco) [es] shared a video by “El Duke's” group Comando Élite de Ataque (CEA). The song is called “Maquinas de guerra” (war machines):
[Note: You can watch more videos by hip-hop artists from Comuna 13 here and here]
Jeihhco [es] has been actively tweeting on this growing insecurity affecting artists in Medellín; he also reported [es] the killing of Roberth Steven Barrera (“Garra”) on November 9. Other Twitter users have reacted to the news, like Luisa Fernanda (@luisiferp) [es]:
@luisiferp: Paz para el alma de #Garra de #AltoRango y para todos los jóvenes que han muerto en #Medellin tratando de generar un cambio cultural
@luisiferp: Peace for the soul of #Garra from [group] #AltoRango and for all the youth who have died in #Medellin trying to generate a cultural change
And Alex Macias (@alextinta) [es] writes:
@alextinta: Pese al conflicto armado en la comuna 13, muchos de sus jóvenes le apuestan a la vida, la paz, el amor y la cultura @elcolombiano
@alextinta: Despite the armed conflict at Comuna 13, many of its youth are betting on life, peace, love, and culture @elcolombiano
Paulo Cepeda (@pacepe) [es] says that the situation in Comuna 13 and other neighborhoods is just the tip of the iceberg of Medellín's “urban war.”
Anthropologist and conflict resolution expert Aldo Civico (@acivico) linked to one of his columns in newspaper El Espectador, where he writes about the issue of violence and militarization in Comuna 13:
@acivico: Comuna 13 in Medellin. The state needs to change. Militarizing has clearly not worked. We need a new approach. http://ht.ly/f5LCy [es]
However, as Adriaan Alsema recently pointed out, Colombia's Minister of Defense Juan Carlos Pinzón announced [es] that he would send 1000 police officers to improve security in the city. Meanwhile, netizens [es] are asking for action, not just words, from the mayor of Medellín, Aníbal Gaviria:
Gaviria is facing increasing criticism over his response to a rapidly deteriorating security situation in the city that has led to the killing of five policemen over the past month, the detention by a gang of a government official in the Comuna 13 on Friday and reports of combat between gangs in four of the city's 16 districts.


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From Bosnia to Mecca: “A Pilgrimage on Foot” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

An Aussie in Bosnia wrote about Senad Hadzic's walk from a town in northern Bosnia all the way to Mecca – here and here [en]; a Facebook page devoted to this “pilgrimage on foot” is here [bs].

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Lagos to Host Social Media Week in 2013 · Global Voices
Nwachukwu Egbunike

Lagos will become the first city in the African continent to host the Social Media Week (SMW Lagos) co-produced by Dragon Africa and AFRIKA21 in February 18 – 22, 2013.
Other host cities for the February event, powered by Nokia, include Copenhagen, Doha, Hamburg, Lagos, Milan, New York, Paris, Singapore, Tokyo, and Washington DC. In 2012 more than 66,000 people attended Social Media Week in twenty-six countries around the world.
Obi Asika, Founder of Dragon Africa and SMW Lagos Chairman is elated:
I am truly excited to have succeeded to bring this event home to Lagos, the largest black city in the world, I believe that we Nigerians are viral in social media and this event will showcase all the innovative ways we are using social media to impact our daily lives, it is only proper that this event should be coming to Lagos as it’s first African destination.  We are reaching out to people all over the continent to get involved and come over to Lagos.

author: Nwachukwu Egbunike


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Petronas’ Deepavali Ad Angers Malaysian Indians · Global Voices
Jerrenn Lam

In conjunction with the Hindu festival of lights, Deepavali, Malaysian oil company Petronas aired a controversial advertisement on YouTube that enraged many Malaysian Indians as it allegedly portrayed Indians in a bad light.
Petronas originally refused to remove the ad, ‘Do the Dappan,’ but following intense bombardment the ad has been removed from its official YouTube channel, however others have posted it online. The clip can be seen below:
According to Aisha:
‘The Dappan is a dance or a form of song and dance performed during funerals in India to cover up the sounds of mourning and also as a way to inform the community of a death… the Dappan also has little to no relation to how Malaysian Indians celebrate Deepavali!’
Hemashree Krishnan, was one of those who felt offended by the ad:
The ad proclaims that the Dappankuthu is an energetic dance prominent in Tamil cinema. Pray tell, do any of our local movies have dappankuthu dance slots included? Our youngsters don't even dance this kind of dance in dancing competitions like Aatam 100 Vagai. Since when did dappankuthu became Malaysian Indians’ culture? This genre of dappankuthu dance is exclusively confined in Tamil movies from India and if Petronas advertising team thought that dappan dance will hit the right chord with Malaysian Indians and Malaysians at large, well, sorry to burst your bubble but you are sorely mistaken. WE ABHOR IT!! Well, most of us..
What is the message that this ad is trying to convey and what is the nexus of it with Diwali? Diwali marks, good triumphing over evil, light, overcoming darkness but what this ad is depicting is that Indians are still stuck in the Dark Ages. A great insult to our culture and history.
To amend their major blunder, Petronas should withdraw the advert forthwith and stick to producing value-based adverts that Petronas traditionally do.
Petronas has been famous for its heart-warming advertisements during important national celebrations.
Xu Vin, however, was unaware of the cultural significance of the dance.
Forgive me for my ignorance. I initially watched it and thought it was great! the dancing, catchy music, colours and people. loved it and thought it was a twist to previous Petronas adverts that usually tweak our emotions if not bring tears to our eyes. I even shared it on my wall. Upon further insight, I found out it actually angered a lot of ppl, esp Hindus who felt it was a misrepresentation of the true meaning of Deepavali.

author: Jerrenn Lam


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“Self-Defence is No Offence”: Nigerian Student on Trial in Ukraine · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

“Let's support Olaolu Femi” (screenshot of a Facebook community).
On Nov. 5, 2011, Olaolu Femi, a Nigerian student in Ukraine, was attacked by a group of young people in the city of Luhansk; he was detained the next day, and his alleged attempt to defend himself and a friend was interpreted by the Ukrainian prosecutors as attempted murder, for which he is now facing a minimum of 10-15 years and up to life in jail. He has spent the past year in a pre-trial detention center. “Self-defence is no offence” is the slogan of the campaign in his support [en].
More on the campaign: Free Olaolu on Facebook [ru, en]; information on the case at Justice for Olaolu Femi blog [en, uk]; an online petition demanding Femi's release and a fair trial for him (1,118 signatures so far).


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Sri Lanka: The Trouble In Putting A Child Into A Local School · Global Voices
Rezwan

Ratmale shares his experience of putting a child into a Sri Lankan local school. Without purchasing or political power “one has to go through a minefield of hurdles,” he thinks.

author: Rezwan


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‘The Door to Hell’ in Turkmenistan · Global Voices
Alexander Sodiqov

‘The Door to Hell’ as seen at night, via Wikipedia.
In the middle of the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan, there is a huge flaming crater. Known as ‘The Door to Hell’, it has been burning since 1971. Bakhrom Mananov on Central Asia Notes has more on this, including magnificent photos and videos.


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The Present Status Of Maternal Mortality In Bangladesh · Global Voices
Rezwan

Amader Kotha (Our Stories) analyzes the present status of Maternal Mortality in Bangladesh and things are looking promising for Bangladesh.


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US Presidential Election Resonates in Zimbabwe · Global Voices
Madalitso Mwando

Barack Obama is Re-elected after winning key swing states. Image byLaura Fong, copyright Demotix (7 Nov 2012)
The just-ended United States election has got Zimbabweans excited as they face their own elections next year. Citizens are marveling at the speed the election results were announced, how presidential hopeful Mitt Romney “quickly” accepted defeat and how smooth the whole process seemed to them. Because of Zimbabwe’s own history of disputed polls, citizens took to social media platforms to create online conversations about what is missing in their own country and how Zimbabwe could benefit from a similar electoral process.
On Facebook, Chris Gande posted:
I wish Zimbabweans would put the same passion and interest in their politics like they are doing to the US elections.
Frank Wekwa Chikowore joined the conversation and posted on Chirs Gande’s wall:
The problem is that some, if not many, Zimbabweans do not have faith in the electoral system.
Wellington Magaya  wrote:
Our politicians are thieves all they know is lining up their pockets,grabbing private property,divorcing, marrying and remarrying,trading insults,hate speech ……………..
Jeff Mwakaluka Jnr   noted:
The problem is that most people in Zimbabwe are self centred hence they betrayed each other into the hands of the ruling party agents when they unleashed the terror on those who have divergent views…
Chris Gande  responded to Jeff’s post:
I agree with you Jeff but still I think if we were to translate our obsession with US politics into our own local politics we would stem the rot. The obsession with US politics is so overwhelming. Even Americans themselves are not as obsessed as some of us both here in the US and at home.
Esnath Kapito added her own spin:
Gande sir I think after being emotionally brainwashed into thinking the CIO are everywhere&can hear everything negative u say about the gvmt&the past trauma&horrific rapes&killings Zimbabweans went thru,has left a sour taste in most pples mouth&indelible images in their minds to dare speak openly,or openly be politically active.wats more how can u be interested in politics where the voice&will of the populus is ignored thru riggings,&intimidation!those who dare show an interest albeit in the opposition are doing so outside Zims border using pseudomn names!!at least with Americans there's an unpredictableness of the outcomes,whilst Zim ppl have been voting since 1980 with the same outcome,u can't blame pple for showing lack of interest,there's nothing fresh,no transparency,no media freedom,opposition is stifled&frustrated to pittance&no or little platform to communicate&garner support thru media!I would rather be caught up in action packed American politics,than the 1980 soapie that is Zim politics!sorry for not be patriotic!
Barbara Bhebhe joined in and posted:
i think there is a significant number of Zimbabweans interested not only in our local elections but politics. Our acquaintance to politics at a local level is what gives us interest in global politics. Contrary to the sentiments expressed by others – i think interest in the US election by Zimbabweans is just an indication that we are yearning to see democracy at home. And Yes! come election time – we will be looking forward to a free and fair race.
Dominic Muntanga observed:
In Zimbabwean elections, people who participate are the party loyalists and the majority of people do not vote, in part because of the violence associated with our politics. Most people who volunteer in the US elections are students, retirees and others who believe in civic participation. It is part of the social fabric to give back and participate in elections. At home, we do not yet have a strong sense of civic engagement, except when it involves churches. Philanthropy is directed at the church and the nuclear and extended family and the village. These are the social and cultural facets that underpin the politics of our nation. If someone lives in the USA they should be interested in US politics in part because it is what people do here. Secondly, people here know the stats because they are readily available and information is right there on your screen. Elections in the USA are an industry and they create jobs. In this one alone, more than $3 billion has been spent. This adds to the interest. In Zimbabwe, this is not much of an industry. Campaigns are not run by strategists and experts, but by the party loyalists who sometimes resort to violence if things do not go their way.
Sikhulile Consummate Dube had a warning:
passion = button stick in Zimbabwe.
On Twitter, Zimbabweans were not quiet either:
@joeblackzw: And media is allowed to predict. You can be arrested in Zimbabwe for predicting Bob (President Robert Mugabe)’s loss on national media.
Education Minister David Coltart tweeted:
@DavidColtart: It takes an election in such a vast country and so close to show us #Zimbabweans what we need to do if we are to respect our right to elect.
Minister Coltart also tweeted:
@DavidColtart We #Zimbabweans need to ask ourselves why it is that a close election in the USA can be called within hours whereas in #Zim it takes weeks.


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Zambia’s Intelligence Agency Rates Watchdog Website as “Most Influential” · Global Voices
Gershom Ndhlovu

Citizen news website, Zambian Watchdog, has received “endorsement” from the most unlikely source, the Zambia Security and Intelligence Service better known as the Office of the President (OP) which has described it as the most influential news source in the country.
A story on the Zambian Watchdog website which normally receives tips from a variety of sources, most of which turn to be true, quotes a leaked monthly intelligence report saying that its popularity is due to the critical stance it takes on the current government and the up-to-the-minute latest news coverage found on the website.  The leaked report cannot be verified.
Zambian Watchdog logo
The website, which has been embroiled in a war of words with the Patriotic Front (PF) government, in office since September 2011, was once hacked, allegedly by government agents. The story reads:
The report shows that the Watchdog is usually the first to break news on any event in Zambia and that the news reaches the four corners of the country within minutes of being published on the site due to internet on mobile phones.
The story also says:
MPs are said to be using the Watchdog as a research facility. The MPs sit and read each and every comment passed on the site and some of them use the comments they see on the site to go and debate in parliament. They adopt the comments as their own thoughts. A number of MPs have assigned assistants, in some cases their children to read and summarise the comments on the Watchdog for them.
As to who accesses the website, it says:
The survey further shows that most civil servants and other workers in government offices start their working day by checking what is on the Watchdog. A lot of people are said to be printing articles from the site and giving tho[s]e who have no access to the Internet or those with slow internet, print to go and read at home. The report says that almost every government computer from State House to Luwingu that has internet shows on its browser history that someone was on the Watchdog.
Quoting Google Analytics, a tool that measures website accessibility statistics, the story said:
For example, of the 1,264,690 people who visited the Watchdog in the last five days, 831 478 were browsing from Zambia while 88,430 were from UK, 76,818 from USA, 40,478 from South Africa, 20,317 from Namibia, 18,360 from Israel, 10,963 from Australia, 9,368 from Canada, 8,071 from Botswana. Other statistic are: Germany 6,919, China 6,328, Nigeria 6,248, Russia 5,610, Kenya 5,01, Netherlands 4,051, Denmark 3,566, Italy 3,411, France 3,385, Switzerland 3,291, Tanzania3,181, Norway 3,083, India 3,036, Belgium 2,652, Zimbabwe 2,441, Japan 2,300, Malaysia, 2,244, Ethiopia2,061, United Arab Emirates 1,976 Congo [DRC] 1,921
Readers’ comments varied from praise to ridicule. Pankolobwato had this to say [the site does not have permanent links for individual comments]:
I’m proud of these stats and growing. Guys keep printing these for your relatives. We need our fellow citizens literate or not to KNOW who’s who in the zoo. lastly a suggestion to ZWD, please have atleast three of your leading articles in 3 or 4 languages so my grand mother in the village can also be informed. Viva Watchdog for filling the space left by[the Post owner, Fred] mmembe
A contrary view by a reader calling himself Bronze read:
most useless online publication in the History of Zambia ZWD….Sata has collapsed in Nalolo, Fisher to become [Central Bank] Governor, Zambia will not sell the Euro-Bond because of poor governance record……and many more uselessness. jst ask me i will tell u more. 20% facts…yes yes we do read ZWD every second hour to laugh about your lies and foolishness……
Zambian Watchdog has faced threats of closure from the government. Two government ministers were recently caught on camera browsing the site during an official meeting.

author: Gershom Ndhlovu


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Cairo’s Metro Strike a Success  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The metro is back in Egypt – after a four hour strike. Train services, which ferry up to 2 million people across Cairo daily, came to a standstill as drivers stopped work in protest against the chairperson of the metro board of directors, who is being accused of corruption. The workers are also demanding better salaries and working conditions.
Sadat Metro in Cairo, by Peter Morgan (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
On Twitter, netizens cheered on the strike, lending their support to what they described as the workers’ legitimate demands.
Salma El Tarzi salutes the metro workers on the success of their strike. She writes [ar]:
تحية لاضراب المترو! والمواطنين المتضررين مشكلتكم مع الحكومة مش مع العمال اللي مضربين عشان حقوقهم
@Salma_El_Tarzi: Congratulations to the Metro strikers! The people effected by the strike should have a problem with the government and not with the workers who went on strike to demand their rights
Mona Seif shares a similar thought:
اللي متضرر من اضراب المترو يشوف طريقة تساعد في تحقيق مطالبهم فيرجعوا يشتغلوا.عيب يا بني ادمين يبقى طلبكو الناس تتقهر في صمت عشان تكمل خدمتكو
@Monasosh: Those effected by the metro strike should go find a way for their demands to be met so that they can return to their work. It's shameful for people to expect others to get exasperated in silence while they continue to serve you.
And Ola Shahba calls for more support for the metro workers:
#اضراب_المترو نموذج لعمال عارفين منين يوجعوا الحكومه ويجبروها تتفاوض.لادركهم ان الخدمه ال بيقدموها مينفعش تتوقف كثيرا,لازم ندعمهم ضد الضغط
@OlaShahba: The metro strike is an example of  workers who know how to hurt the government and force it to negotiate as they realise that the service they provide cannot be stopped for too long. We should support them so that their don't cave in to pressure
Dina Samak compares the success of the metro worker's strike with the lack of attention the on-going doctors’ strike is facing in Egypt. She tweets [ar]:
اضراب المترو نجح بسرعة لان تعطيل النقل بيوجع الرأسمالية واضراب الاطباء مستمر لسه لان الحاكم مش فارق معاه الغلابة.. الحل تضامن الكل مع الكل
@dinasamak: The metro strike was an immediate success because halting transportation hurts Capitalism. But the doctors’ strike continues because the Ruler still doesn't care for the poor. The solution is in solidarity between everyone.
Egyptian doctors have have been on partial strike since October 1. Their demands include increasing the share of health care spending in the government's budget from 5 per cent to 15pc, an increase in their salaries and better security at health facilities.
And Nermeen Bedair adds:
اصحابي الأطباء على فيسبوك (سواء مع او ضد اضراب الأطباء) بيقترحو الأطباء يطلبو من عمال المترو يضمو مطالب الأطباء لمطالبهم وينصصو ف الكادر :))
@Nermbed: My doctor friends on Facebook (those with and those against the strike) suggest that doctors request the metro workers to add the doctors’ demands to theirs
While Mohammed Shawkuy remarks:
سواقين المترو عملوا اضراب و البلد وقفت وبعدها بـ 4 ساعات الوزارة بتتغير! الأطباء بقالهم 45 يوم عاملين اضراب وعشان محدش مات محدش معبر أهلهم!
@shawkination: The metro drivers held a strike which brought the country to a standstill. After four hours, the ministry changes. Doctors have been on [partial] strike for 45 days and no one is paying attention because no one has died


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Call For De-weaponization of Karachi · Global Voices
Rezwan

Journeys To Democracy reports that some Pakistani activists have sent out a petition for peace and de-weaponization of Karachi city to the Chief Justice of Pakistan. The brutal violence, armed robberies, kidnapping and extortion in this Pakistani port city have claimed lives of around 8000 people in past four years.


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Côte d’Ivoire:  Surprise Government Overhaul to Be Announced Today   · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

Upon hearing that a government reshuffle [fr] will be announced today at 12h30 local time, blogger MacMady invites her readers to speculate on who stays and who will be let go [fr]. The government is also engaged in a vigorous debate on social networks [fr] on multiple office tenures by political leaders.


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Freedamn is Just Another Word With Chinese Characteristics · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A list of “English terms” has been circulating in Chinese social media in the past few days. The list is distributed in image format under the title, the hottest English terms in Twitter, first in Sina Weibo, then Facebook (via Co-China) and other social media platform. The intentional mis-spellings of the English terms are used as satires to describe the political culture in China. Below is a translation and brief explanation of the newly invented words:
Freedamn 中國特色自由 – Freedom with Chinese Characteristics.
Smilence 笑而不語 – Smile without saying anything [A facial expression of self-censorship]
Togayther 終成眷屬 – Homosexual rights to get together [marry].
Democrazy 痴心妄想 – Crazy desire [for democracy].
River crab is a common term for describing censorship in China. Image by inmediahk.net. Use with permission.
Shitizen 屁民 – People who only have the right to shit [without citizen rights].
Innernet 中國互聯網 – Chinese internet [which is for internal connection].
Departyment 政府（有關）部門 – [Chinese Communist] Party within government department.
Chinsumer 在外瘋狂購物的中國人 – Chinese consumers who shop like crazy outside the country.
Emotionnormal 情緒穩定 – stable emotion [often used to describe the emotion after interrogation].
Sexcretary 女秘書 – Woman secretary [who also provides sexual service to the boss].
Halfyuan 五毛 – Fifty cents [online commentators hired by the government to channel public opinion].
Canclsensor 審查 – [A type of] censorship by deletion.
The hottest English words from Twitter. By Gao Xiao Song from Weibo
Wall-e 防火牆 -
Yakshit 亞克西 – Yakexi [In Uyghur Yakexi means happiness. The Chinese Central Television Station broadcast the song Yakexi during Spring Gala Show in 2010, just a few months after the crackdown of Urumqi. The new spelling Yakshit means eat shit.]
Animale 男人天性 – Man's animal nature
Corpspend 撈屍費 – fee for taking the corpse out of the river. [When someone is drowned in China, no one will handle the corpse unless you pay for the cost, which is extremely high. Occasionally, there is news about family members jumping into rivers or lakes to look for their drowned relatives because they could not afford to pay the fee.]
suihide 躲貓貓 – hide and seek [violence during police custody. There are many unnatural deaths taking place in police stations, labour re-education camps etc. In 2009 a youth died in police detention in Yunnan, and the police station said he had an accident when playing hide and seek. Since then the term has been used to describe police violence.]
Nuibility 牛逼 – Fxxking strong [Chinese slang].
Antizen 蟻民 – people who are like ants [being stepped upon].
Gunverment 槍桿子政權 – government rule by means of guns.
Propoorty 房地產 – a property market that leads to poverty.
Stuck Market 股市 – a stock market that is stuck.
Livelihard 生活 – a hard living.
Stupig 苯豬 – stupid pig
Z-turn 折騰 – Going Zip-zap [In 2009, Chinese President Hu Jintao used the term Bu-Zhe-Teng to describe his policy. Many translate the term as “don't be sidetracked”, which is not exactly accurate.]
Don'train 動車 – High speed train [There have been quite a number of scandals related to high speed trains in China. The Wenzhou train accident revealed the fact that the locally developed signal system has some major defects and many people have lost confidence in taking the Chinese train.]
Foulsball 中國足球 – Chinese football [usually badly performed].
Gambller 干部 – Chinese government officials [The sound Gambler is similar to the Mandarin pronunciation of 干部 or Gan-Bu. The new word, gambller, is used to capture the corrupted character of the officials.]
Goveruption 政府 – Government in combination with corruption.
Harmany 河蟹 – The original word is harmony, new meaning is censorship (river crab).
Profartssor 叫獸 – The original word is professor. New term refers to monster who only knows how to talk loudly.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Guinea-Bissau: International Arrest Warrant Against Blogger · Global Voices
Mário Lopes

The most visible face of Guinea-Bissau's blogosphere, António Aly Silva, wrote [pt] that he is being accused of “the crime of incitement to war” and that an international arrest warrant was issued against him by the regime in power since the coup of April 2012. In an interview [pt] for the blog O Informador (The Insider), Aly talks about his escape to Dakar and current exile in Portugal.

author: Mário Lopes


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Hong Kong Gay Rights Parade · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Screen capture of GdotTV's video on the Gay Parade in Hong Kong.
Beijing Cream has a collection of videos and photos from the Hong Kong Gay Rights Parade which took place in last weekend. GdotTV, a local LGBT video production team has also uploaded a video at Youtube on the parade.


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Interview with Salvadoran Indigenous Leader · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

“Our philosophy as indigenous peoples is to have our land, as she is our mother”, Shandur says. “We need to have our land, to have our fruit, rather than money.”
Robin Llewellyn interviewed Salvadoran indigenous leader Shandur Kuátzin Makwilkali for Intercontinental Cry. Shandur is the President of the National Federation of Indigenous Peoples of El Salvador.


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Is Expired Tear-Gas being used Against Protesters in Jordan?  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

@_AHA shares a photograph of what he describes as an expired tear-gas canister used against protesters in Jordan
Protests continue across Jordan for the second night, after a hike in fuel prices. Jordanian Ali posts a photograph of what he describes as an expired teargas canister used against the protesters.
Ali tweets:
@_AHA: A tear gas canister used to dispraise protesters are Jabal Al Hussein area, it's expired!


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Israel and Alqassam Brigades Exchange Threats on Twitter · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Israel and Alqassam Bridages exchange threats on Twitter. Screenshot shared by @AlexYudelson
Alex Yudelson shares a screenshot of tweets in which the account of the Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson and Palestinian Alqassam Brigades exchange threats – on Twitter.
The @IDFSpokesperson's tweet reads:
We recommend that no Hamas operatives, whether low level or senior leaders, show their faces above ground in the days ahead.
The @AlqassamBrigade responds:
Our blessed hands will reach your leaders and soldiers wherever they are (You Opened Hell Gates on Yourselves)
Yudelson reacts:
@AlexYudelson: Israel and Hamas exchange threats over Twitter. 2012, everybody.


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Jordanians Want to Overthrow the Regime  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

On YouTube, ThePrbj shares this video of a protest in Amman, Jordan, last night, in which protesters are chanting: “The people want the downfall of the regime.”
He explains:
Riot police attack peaceful protestors at one of the entrances of Dakhiliyya Rundabout, Amman, November 14, 2012. This was repeated again and again the following hours as the youth regrouped, was violently dispersed, and regrouped again – mostly without even trying to fight back.


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Kenyan Elections 2013: What Has Changed since 2007 · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Mzalendo looks at Kenyan elections 2012:
Though Kenya has recovered somewhat since the 2007/2008 post election violence. Somewhat because there are still several internally displaced persons. The economy though better than in the aftermath of the 2008 election is still in a slump. Ethnic tensions are still high as evidenced by violence parts of Coast, North Eastern, and Nyanza, and though we have a new constitution there have been several attempts by parliament to water down the provisions.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Latin American Youth Against Corruption · Global Voices
Silvia Vinas

During November 5 and 6, 2012, over 100 young journalists, leaders, and experts in social media and information and communication technologies (ICTs) participated in the Third Global Voices Against Corruption Forum, organized by the Global Youth Anti-Corruption Network (GYAC) in Brasilia, Brazil.
Global Voices contributor Andrea Arzaba reports about the Latin American youth session for Animal Político [es]:
Libertad de expresión, falta de unión regional y miedo a hablar de temas en materia de transparencia gubernamental fueron algunos de los temas más discutidos en la sesión juvenil Latinoamericana […]
En el encuentro se tuvo una visión común en cuanto al poco uso de tecnología para el desarrollo ético de la región y, sobre todo, la falta de capacitación de jóvenes en materia de anticorrupción. También se habló del tema de educación, en donde se discutió la importancia para generar un cambio a través del trabajo con jóvenes, ya que ellos estarán próximamente en puestos importantes de trabajo, vulnerables a la corrupción.
Freedom of expression, lack of unity in the region and fear to talk about issues regarding government transparency were among the topics discussed at the Latin American youth session […]
Participants in the meeting shared a common vision regarding the limited use of technology for the ethical development of the region and, above all, the lack of training for youth in anti-corruption issues. They also talked about education, where they discussed the importance of bringing about change by working with the youth, since they will soon be holding important positions, vulnerable to corruption.
Andrea also shares a video where she showcases some projects in favor of transparency and accountability led by Latin American youth. With Piero Locatelli, Andrea interviewed Margarita Valdés from Xpressate [es] (El Salvador), Caio Monteiro from Marília Transparente [pt] (Brazil), and Andrea Benavides from Ocasa [es] (Colombia):
You can follow GYAC on Facebook and Twitter (@GYACNetwork). Furthermore, you can read reports and reactions shared from the forum under the hashtag #GYACBrasilia.

author: Silvia Vinas


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Lenin in Tajikistan: ‘Better Hitler’ or ‘Real Hero’? · Global Voices
Alexander Sodiqov

On September 21, 1991, less than two weeks after Tajikistan proclaimed its independence from the Soviet Union, angry crowd toppled a monument to Vladimir Lenin in the center of Dushanbe. The removal of the monument symbolized the desperate rush of the nationalist intelligentsia and some politicians to rid themselves of all reminders of their communist past.
The civil war that broke out soon afterwards delayed the demolition of many other monuments to the leader of the Bolshevik Revolution in the Central Asian republic. Only in the 2000s, when the leadership of Tajikistan embarked on a new nation-building project, Lenin's monuments began to fall all over the country. ‘Grandfather Lenin’ disappeared from the central squares of major cities and towns in Tajikistan. His monuments were replaced with newly sculpted statues of Ismoili Somoni, a ruler who is credited with creating a Tajik empire in the tenth century.
In most cities and towns of Tajikistan, Soviet monuments to Lenin were replaced with statues of Ismoili Somoni. This monument to Somoni stands on Dushanbe's central square, right where Lenin's statue was toppled in 1991. Photo by Alexander Sodiqov (2010).
A ‘better Hitler’
The government's rush to take down Lenin's sculptures has provoked heated debates among the country's bloggers. Some have argued that the monuments of the Soviet period should be destroyed and forgotten because of all the pain and suffering that the Bolshevik conquest inflicted on the region.
In December 2011, journalist Salim Aioubzod explained [tj] in his blog why there is no place for Lenin's statues in the new Tajikistan:
Ленин дар моҳи ноябри соли 1919 Михаил Фрунзеро ба ҳайси фармондеҳи Ҷабҳаи Туркистон ба Осиёи Марказӣ фиристод. Бо ин шиор, ки “мақсад ишғоли қаламрав нест, мақсад нобуд кардани ҳариф аст.” Барои ман инҳо далели кофиянд, ки ҳама чизи марбут ба Ленин ва шайкаи ӯ дар гулхан сӯзонида шавад. Пайкараҳои ӯро бояд барчид ва нобуд кард. Онҳо таърих нестанд, дарде таърих аст, ки аз он замон то ҳоло ва боз ҷовидонаҳо мардуми ҷаҳонро азият медиҳад.
In November 1919, Lenin appointed Mikhail Frunze the commander of the Turkestan Front and sent him to Central Asia. The [reason for Frunze's dispatch] “was not to conquer the territory, but to eliminate all enemies”. I believe this provides enough justification for burning everything related to Lenin and his gang. His sculptures should be collected and destroyed. They [sculptures] are not history; history is the pain that has tormented so many people ever since and will always continue to do so.
After 21 years of Tajikistan's independence, there are some statues and busts of Lenin remaining in the country. This photo depicts a big sculpture of Lenin in Istaravshan, northern Tajikistan. Image by Sergey Abashin (2012), used with author's permission.
The blogger also compared [tj] Lenin to Adolf Hitler, the leader of the fascist Germany:
Агар пайкараҳо таъриханд, чаро дар Олмон пайкараҳои Адолф Ҳитлерро аз ҳама ҷо бардоштанд? Оре, Ленин Ҳитлери каме беҳтар буд, ҳарчанд шояд дар шумораи қурбониёни ҷангу террори онҳо тафовути зиёд нест. Миллионҳо нафар.
If sculptures are [important for historical reasons], then why did Germany remove all statues of Adolf Hitler? Yes, Lenin was a slightly better Hitler, although there isn't probably much difference in the number of people killed in the wars and terror the two individuals led. Millions of people [were their victims].
More recently, on November 1, Tojikzamin continued the discussion. Perplexed by an observation that Lenin's statues can still be found in schools across Tajikistan, the blogger claimed [tj]:
Мо набояд аз он фаромӯш кунем, ки ҳайкал ин чизи безарар нест. Кӯдаконе ки дар муддати 11 соли хониш хар рӯз Ленинро мебинанд ҳеҷ гоҳ ватандӯстону миллатдӯстон намешаванд. Онхо доимо фикр мекунанд ки мо дар давлати Шуравӣ зиндагонӣ мекунем, яъне давлате ки аз тарафи Русия “матушка” роҳбарӣ мешавад. Ин кӯдакон доимо фикр мекунанд ки “бобои Ленин” кахрамони бузургтарини халқи тоҷик мебошад, ва аз кахрамонҳои аслии миллатамон бехабар мемонанд. Хузури даҳҳо ҳайкалхои Ленин дар ҷумҳурии соҳибистиқлоли мо барои тамоми тоҷикони ҷаҳон айб аст!
We shouldn't forget that statues are not harmless objects. Children which see Lenin every day during the 11 years of school will never love their Fatherland or their nation. They will always think that we still live in a Soviet state, the state that is governed by ‘mother Russia’. These children will always think that ‘Grandfather Lenin’ was the greatest hero of the Tajik people and will not know the real heroes of our nation. The continued presence of tens of monuments to Lenin in our independent republic disgraces all of the world's Tajiks.
This statue of Lenin long stood on the central square of Khorog, eastern Tajikistan, before being replaced in 2010 by a monument to Somoni. Photo by Alexander Sodiqov (2009)
A ‘real hero’
But some netizens think differently.
Commenting on the removal of Lenin's monument in Khujand, the northern Tajik city that had been called ‘Leninobod’ (the ‘City of Lenin’) between 1939-1992, Alexey Somin wrote [ru] in his blog:
Разве этот памятник кому-то мешал? Разве мешал он нам строить новое государство, с новыми принципами и ценностями? Почему он просто не мог оставаться там, где стоял, и служить в качестве исторического памятника?
Самое обидное, что памятники и бюсты Ленина убирают по всей стране, заменяя их памятниками Сомони. Зачем? Что такое сделал Сомони, что он заслужил стоять на месте Ленина? Да, когда-то давно он основал империю, в которой таджикский язык был государственным. Но эта империя никогда не называлась “Таджикистаном” и она развалилась через 100 лет. После этого у таджиков не было своего государства, они жили под гнетом тюркских народов. А при Ленине это государство появилось. Так кто же тогда сделал больше для таджиков и для Таджикистана?
Did the monument disturb anyone? Did it prevent us from building a new state, based on new principles and values? Why couldn't we just leave the monument to be where it was and to serve as a historical monument?
The most offensive thing is that Lenin's monuments and busts all over the country are replaced with monuments to Somoni. Why? What did Somoni do to deserve to replace Lenin? Yes, he did found an empire a long time ago where Tajik was the state language. But his empire was never called ‘Tajikistan’ and it collapsed after only 100 years. After that, the Tajiks did not have a state of their own, they lived under the yoke of the Turkic peoples. And in Lenin's period [the Tajiks] got a state of their own. So who did more for the Tajiks and Tajikistan?
A massive statue of Lenin long dominated the landscape of Khujand (previously ‘Leninobod’), in northern Tajikistan. Photo by Alexander Sodiqov (2003).
Commenting under this blog, Dalnoboyshchik wrote [ru]:
Полностью согласен! Памятники Ленину нужно оставить! Это наша история, её нужно уважать. Пусть ставят новые памятники, кому угодно, но и Ленина пусть не трогают. Одно другому не мешает. История рассудит кто был настоящим героем и больше сделал для нашей страны.
I fully agree! Lenin's statues should be left where they are! This is our history, it should be respected. Let them erect new monuments, to whomever they like, but they shouldn't touch Lenin. History will show who was a real hero and who did more for our country.
The last days of Lenin's statue in Khujand. Image by Asia-PLUS, used with permission.
What to do?
These ongoing debates over monuments are representative of larger battles over values and interpretations of history within Tajik society. Meanwhile, some Tajik netizens also discuss what to do with the Soviet sculptures taken down by the authorities.
Underneath Somin's blog, Beparvo proposed[ru]:
Да я согласен что Ленин исторический памятник. Но тогда он не должен стоять в центре каждого города и поселка в Таджикистане. Он должен быть в музее. Да не нужно выкидывать эти памятники или разрушать их. Это история. Нужно их акуратно и спокойно перенести в музей.
I agree that Lenin's statue is a historical monument. But in this case, this monument should not remain in the center of every town and village in Tajikistan. It should be in the museum. These monuments should not be disposed of or destroyed. They are history. They should be carefully and quietly taken to the museum.
Temur Mengliev has a different opinion:
Нужно поступить умнее. Наиболее важные с исторической и эстетической точки зрения памятники Ленину нужно перенести в музеи. А все остальные – а таких по Таджикистану сотни – нужно продать посредством аукциона. Есть ведь граждане, для которых Ленин много значит. Вот пусть и покупают эти памятники и устанавливают у себя во дворе или на даче.
We should be smarter. The most important of Lenin's statues – from the historical and aesthetic points of view – should be taken to the museum. And the rest of the statues – of which there are hundreds across Tajikistan – should be auctioned. There are citizens for whom Lenin means much. Let them purchase these monuments and place them in their yards or in dachas.
21 years into independence, some Tajiks still revere Lenin. In Varzob, some 40 kilometers north of Dushanbe, a granite bas-relief of Lenin decorates a newly-built mansion. Photo by Christian Mark Bleuer (2012), used with permission.