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The Gurkhas: Long History Of Discrimination · Global Voices
Bhumika Ghimire

Gurkha soldiers in the remebrance day parade, image by Flickr user Rodderz
The Gurkhas, young men from Nepal who serve in the British military, have served the Queen and the United Kingdom for almost two centuries. Unfortunately, the British government has been less than fair when it comes to honoring their service and sacrifice.
Last week, British press and blogopshere were buzzing about the new government proposal that is prejudiced against the veterans of the Brigade of Gurkhas. Anna Raccoon writes about the proposal:
“To learn that five MPs, who represent the political wing of the IRA, have not even taken up their Parliamentary seats and yet have claimed £500,000 for second homes in the same breath as we are told that we ‘cannot afford’ to allow some 1500 Gurkhas, who have fought in every major theatre of war, from the first Afghan war through to Bosnia, the Falklands and more recently Iraq, on behalf of the British Army, to settle in the UK, and yet we can ‘resettle’ the old ‘soldiers’ of the IRA in London, complete with ‘Samson’ 28-inch wide televisions, and DVD Sony cinemas surround systems, in a £5,400 a month – a month! – house in London.
Truly, the Gurkhas must this morning be wondering whether they were aiming their guns at the wrong soldiers. Gordon Brown used a ‘fabric of falsehood and fantasy’ in claiming that it would cost taxpayers 1.4 billion pounds to let Gurkhas live in Britain, according to campaigners.”
Paul French from Shanghai is “disgusted with the British government's attitude to the Gurkhas”. He voices support for the ongoing campaign by actress Joanna Lumley for the Gurkhas:
“There is a campaign currently running to support Gurkhas and pressure the UK government into giving more help and equal treatment to Gurkhas, called Gurkha Justice that has caught the public’s imagination and widespread support. A motion was voted on in the House of Commons on the 29th April 2009 by the Liberal Democrats that all Gurkhas be offered an equal right of residence in the UK. This resulted in a defeat for the Government by 267 votes to 246, the first, first day motion defeat for a government since 1978. The Commons vote is not binding, but it represents an embarrassment for the government. Yet Phil Woolas, the immigration minister (and, as I well remember a nasty little self-centred careerist when he was head of the National Union Students in my college days – a real horrible little greasy pole climber who obviously hasn't changed one jot) continues to prevaricate and pettifog.”
While the right of Gurkha to settle in Britain and fair pension are the focus of discussion, the issue of race and racism is also being raised. At Spiked  Brendan O’Neill writes:
“The Gurkhas have always been treated as second class, as loyal but peculiar, as a race apart, as less intelligent than the white leaders of the British Army but a bit more trustworthy than the everyday wogs of Nepal, Burma and India. Indeed, the Gurkhas have long been an institutional expression of inequality: they were made and sustained, not by British decency, but by British racism.
But not everyone is supporting the Gurkhas. At New Statesman Peter Wilby says that “the Gurkhas are mercenaries” and:
” They don’t fight “for love of Britain and Her Majesty” (to use a soundbite favoured by their supporters), any more than South African cricket mercenaries play for, say, Leicestershire for love of the county’s fox-hunting denizens and rolling countryside.The Gurkha regiment was formed two centuries ago when British troops invaded Nepal but found the fighters too much of a handful and therefore paid them to join our army. A 1947 agreement stated that a Gurkha soldier, if he joined the British army (many joined newly independent India’s army instead), “must be recruited as a Nepali citizen . . . serve as a Nepali citizen and [be] resettled as a Nepali citizen”. They were paid less than British-born soldiers – an obvious attraction to the Ministry of Defence – but the money was high by local standards.”
Some British citizens are voicing their opinion at You Tube too about the Gurkha issue. Here are some voices supporting the Gurkhas:

author: Bhumika Ghimire


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Trinidad & Tobago: Integrity Please  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As the last remaining members of the Trinidad and Tobago Integrity Commission resign, This Beach Called Life cannot resist posting an imaginary conversation he had with the President, in which he is called upon to be the Commission's newest member.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Turkey: Female-designed Mosque Opens  · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

Turkey's first mosque designed by a woman was opened in Istanbul, writes Emre Kızılkaya.

author: Eman AbdElRahman


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Uzbekistan: Uzbek regime again named among most oppresive ones · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Musafirbek wonders whom he should thank for such a popularity of Uzbekistan in the list of totalitarian regimes published by The Guardian newspaper.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Yemen: Touring Seiyoun · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Yemeni Omar Barsawad takes us on this photo tour of Seiyoun, the largest urban centre and capital of Wadi Hadhramout. “It's famous for its splendid, intricately built mud bricked houses; and its palm trees and wonderful souqs in narrow streets, where: frankincense, myrrh, antique silver and authentic Hadhramy souvenirs are sold,” he explains.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Azerbaijan: Bloggers published · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Fighting windmills? Take a pill, a new English-language blog from Azerbaijan, is pleased to announce the publication of a book by bloggers in Baku. The blog commends a local bookshop owner and prominent blogger for coming up with the idea.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Bangladesh: Adopting Solar Energy To Tackle Energy Crisis · Global Voices
Rezwan

An Ordinary Citizen talks about the potential of an alternative energy source for the rural Bangladesh – sustainable solar energy.

author: Rezwan


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Bangladesh: NSU Students Protest Against Tution Fee Hike · Global Voices
Rezwan

Hussain M. Elius writes in details about the unjustified tution fee hike of one of the leading private universities in Dhaka, Bangladesh and the protest of the students.


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Cental & Eastern Europe: Crime Fiction · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Jost A Mon posts a “roundup of translated crime fiction consumed in April” – which includes a few books by writers from the CEE region.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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China: 1st Anniversary Of The 5.12 Sichuan Earthquake · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Today is the 1st anniversary of the May 12 Sichuan earthquake. Kai Pan from CN review has selected 6 popular online videos for commemoration of the disaster.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Gay wife · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Li Yinhe blogs about the situation of the wife of homosexual male in China [zh]. There are around 20 million homosexual male in China and 80% are married.


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Colombia: Day of the Internet Activities in Bogotá · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Carolina Botero writes about some of the Day of the Internet activities in Bogotá [es], Colombia.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Cuba: Blogging from Prison · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Uncommon Sense reveals that “Cuban independent journalist Pablo Pacheco Ávila…has started a blog”, while Octavo Cerco fills in the details on how he's managing to get his voice heard from behind prison walls.


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Cuba: First Case of Swine Flu · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Both Havana Times and Repeating Islands report that Cuba has identified its first case of the Swine Flu.


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Cuba, Jamaica: Examining the Revolution · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“What has the Cuban Revolution achieved for the people of the country, the Caribbean and the wider world after 50 years in power?” Jamaican diaspora blogger Mark Lee, writing at Abeng News Magazine, attempts to find out.


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Dominican Republic: Number of Twitter Users in the Country · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

There are more than 1,000 Dominicans currently using Twitter and it is growing in popularity according to Joan Guerrero of Duarte 101 [es].


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Egypt: Obama to Address Muslim World from Egypt  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The date is all set. US President Barack Hussain Obama will deliver his much anticipated speech on relations with the Muslim world in Egypt on June 4 and the Egyptian blogosphere is as divided as ever, with some questioning whether Obama will turn a blind eye to the country's human rights record.
And although the speech and its content and impact on relations with the region are taking a backseat for the moment, the pressing question on many bloggers’ minds is: “Why Egypt?”
Rantings of a Sandmonkey doesn't hide his excitement, taunting other countries which have not been selected for the ‘honour’ in the process. He writes:
So, the one has chosen the land of the Nile to make his appeal to the muslim world, choosing it over options like Saudi (the birthplace of Islam), Jordan (Hey America, we will do anything for you to like us), Turkey (The Secular Muslim people, and part ally who likes to put its nose in everything) and Indonesia (They housed Obama when he was still an innocent muslim baby, before the evil Cross worshipers got to him..Boo on them).For practical reasons, the choice is brilliant, because in order to appeal to the muslim world, you have to do it from an arab country, otherwise the arab muslims won't respond. It's a chauvinism thing. The first muslims and all. So, yeah, Turkey would've been a bad choice for that reason, if not also due to its safety (yeah go to the muslim country that actually shows sex on TV). Ditto for Indonesia and any southasian countries, who, regrettebly, all of the arab countries regard as subhumansand thus an insulting choice. Saudi would've been too on the nose, especially after “the bow”, and Jordan, well, they are too small and too eager to please really. So, yeah, Egypt, as a choice makes sense (biggest arab islamic country, women can drive here, we are secular but not really, and no bowing has occured between Obama and Mubarak…yet). And for Personal reasons, I like it, because it's like the ugly girl getting picked to go to the prom by the school's top hunk.
On the lack of support the visit is getting from some circles in Cairo, Sandmonkey notes:
Lots of democracy activists are not happy, especially leftists ones. They are considering the visit as cowering to a dictator and giving him undeserved prominence. This is incredibly funny to me personally, because I always thought their position on America's push for democracy and rights in Egypt as “unwanted imperialistic interference in Egyptian affairs, and anyone who wants it is a tratorous stupid ignorant zionist jew spy dog”. At least this was the case the Bush years. How time changes things.
Moh@lyics poses several questions on the upcoming visit, among them:
What does it mean that Obama after more than 100 days of thinking choose Egypt to address and reconnect the Muslim world?
Does this mean that the US see a potential in Egypt to rise and take its abdicated role again?
Does this mean that the US will ignore the authoritarian ruling issues that were the main point of conflict with the Bush admin.?
For more of Mohaly‘s questions and responses from his readers, click on the link above.
And Zeinobia, who writes at Egyptian Chronicles, is also excited with the choice and says:
Cairo is the true choice as the heart of the Arab world indeed with its weight and history in the region ,it would be the prefect place to address the Arab Muslim world despite the fact that its regime is considered Pro-American but on the other hand Obama can’t say that speech in other countries in the region whether for security measures or for political measures “French influence zone” or for influence measures.
Moving on the practical matters, Zeinobia starts thinking out aloud about the venue of the speech:
But I wonder how the security will be in Cairo then and where he will say that speech taken in consideration it will not be like his speech in Germany. Will it be from the parliament or from Al-Azhar or from the Presidential palace or even Abdeen Palace which only is opened from VIPs guests when Mubarak wants to impress them.
Zeinobia also shares more of her thoughts on the visit in other post here.
Meanwhile, writing at Foreign Policy Passport, Marc Lynch casts doubt on Cairo as a venue and then notes:
I imagine that the choice of Cairo came about by process of elimination. They probably wanted it to be a core Arab country, since he already spoke in Turkey and presumably will go on a homecoming trip to Indonesia down the road. Saudi Arabia is a non-starter, the other Gulf states are too small to carry the weight, and no North African states really fit the bill. Lebanon has an election coming up and a host of its own issues. Tehran… wouldn't that be a corker, but no.   I had been hoping for Jerusalem — talk about high impact — but that would have been a security nightmare, a political football, and at any rate would have turned it into an “Israeli-Palestinian” event instead of a Muslim world event.  Ditto for Baghdad — security, plus it would become an “Iraq” event.  Jordan would have been good, I think, but Egypt is a weightier and richer location in Arab political and cultural terms.  So there you go.
For more on Lynch's insight, click on the link above.
Writing in Arabic, Wa7da Masrya, says:
Despite all this, the Alexandria-based blogger remains hopeful:
Muslim Brotherhood blogger Abdulmonem Mahmood, who writes at Ana Ikhwan, wonders whether Obama would interact with the brotherhood during his visit. He writes [Ar]:


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Guatemala: Tenor Mario Chang to Star in European Opera · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The Guatemalan tenor Mario Chang recently won a contest in Italy and will star in the opera “Love Elixir” writes Guate 360 [es].


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Guyana: There Goes the Community  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“As we, as a nation, strive to put food on tables and to build, renovate or spruce up our homes we have developed a culture of neglecting our wider environment and particularly places of recreation”: Guyanese blogger Imran Khan calls the neglect “a sad and sorry state of affairs.”


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Haiti: Lamothe, Classical Composer  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

AfriClassical profiles Ludovic Lamothe, one of Haiti's most renowned classical composers.


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Help Global Voices Advocacy win $3000 by writing one post · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

Help  Global Voices Advocacy win  $1200! The prize money would help us continue to raise awareness of attacks on online freedom of speech, and share tools and tactics with activists and bloggers facing censorship on different parts of the globe. All you have to do is write a post in your own blog, including the following text…
“I vote for Global Voices Advocacy, because… (put your own words here).
And… very importantly, you must also copy and paste this text into your post.
This blog post is part of Zemanta's “Blogging For a Cause” (http://www.zemanta.com/bloggingforacause/) campaign to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes that bloggers care about.
Zemanta is a cool new add-on blogging tool. They have issued this competition in order to encourage blogging for charitable causes. The five blogs to get the most votes will each win a prize of $1200.
The deadline is JUNE 6, 2009.
There are so many blogs and causes online, but at Global Voices we feel it's important for bloggers to stick together and support each other when bloggers in many countries still risk harassment, prison or even torture for the work they do – not to mention having their blogs filtered or censored by authorities who object to their opinions.
Freedom of speech on the web affects everyone, not just bloggers. It is a human right to both say and read what we wish. Global Voices Advocacy keeps track of online censorship worldwide in daily posts, and maintains a map of web 2.0 censorship. There are also guides like Anoymous Blogging with WordPress & Tor or Blogging for a Cause that many bloggers appreciate.
And finally…
….if Global Voices Advocacy is to have any chance of winning, we need your help asking others to help support freedom of expression. It would be great if you could treat this as a meme and pass it on/appoint 3-5 of your fellow bloggers to join.
You've probably heard about bloggers being arrested or tortured in different countries, or websites being censored unjustly. It's something I feel we really need to take a stand against as bloggers.
One of the few groups that works directly with global bloggers on the frontlines of free speech is Global Voices Advocacy. It's a blog run by Sami ben Gharbia, who is himself a blogger in exile, together with a great community of authors.
We have an opportunity to help Global Voices Advocacy win $3000 simply by writing a post in our own blogs and inserting the short text you can copy on this page:
Let's do it!?
Best,
Your friend
Tweet, link, and love?

author: Solana Larsen


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Jamaica: Dealing with Crime?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaica Salt is not convinced by the National Security Minister's approach to solving crime.


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Japan: Opposition leader’s resignation · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

At his blog, essayist Takeyo Shimura (志村建世) discusses  [ja] about the resignation of Japan's opposition leader Ichirō Ozawa (小沢一郎).

author: Scilla Alecci


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Japan: What a marker can do  · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

Minimal, beautiful drawings of women by Yutaka Onozawa at his blog 11 nines.


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Latvia: “Personalities” in Riga Election · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

All About Latvia writes about the people who are “driving the vote” in Riga's local election next month: “The June 6 contest is about personalities more than about party platforms or programs.”


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Maldives: Parliamentary Elections · Global Voices
Rezwan

The first multiparty legislative elections of Maldives have ended and “the party of the Maldives’ dissident-turned-president has likely won the most seats in the country's first multiparty legislative elections, but not enough for an outright majority,” reports Maldives Live.


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Paraguay: Mala Visión in Guaraní Mythology · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Mala Visión is a nocturnal spirit that lives in the forest and is part of the Guaraní mythology in Paraguay. Al Paraguay [es] tells about the beliefs held by his wife's family and her uncle's experience with the spirit.


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Predictions and Opinion Polls for the Indian Elections 2009 – Update · Global Voices
Rezwan

Gaurav Mishra posts an updated summary of opinion polls and predictions for the 2009 Indian Lok Sabha elections. It seems that the gap between the Congress and the BJP may be less than 10 seats and “almost nobody can say for sure what the coalition will look like”.


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Russia: Translation of Baymurat Story · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Jost A Mon translates Roman Gruzov's Bolshoi Gorod text (RUS) about Baymurat, “an unlikely star” of the Russian internet, mentioned on GV back in April – here: “… a poorly dressed Tajik gastarbeiter who brilliantly performed the song ‘Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Aaja’ from the Hindi film ‘Disco Dancer’ with such verve that he was a hit on YouTube. Soon his fame spread into the world at large, and Roman Gruzov located him in Kolomna, a little town in the Moscow region. Roman found out that the Tajik was not a Tajik, and, wholly unexpectedly, ended up helping the singer along his career in show-business.”


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Russia: Visa Application Process · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

White Sun of the Desert writes about the Russian visa application process: “Then at the beginning of this year they decided that all applications had to come with a notarised translation of every page of your passport, including all visas and stamps therein.  I have a 48-page passport with stamps and visas from Kuwait, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan.  Some poor soul has to translate this lot at horrendous cost to my employer, then take the translation to a notary public.”


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Serbia: Skull Tower · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Gray Falcon writes: “If there was just one thing I could show someone seeking to understand the Serbs, I would take them to a hill northeast of Niš (Ниш), and show them the Skull Tower.”


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Azerbaijan: Shameful… · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Fighting windmills? Take a pill, a recent addition to the English-language Azeri blogosphere, comments on the notion of “Ayibdi,” or “shameful.” The blog wonders why the word is used in connection with limiting individual freedoms but not to decry corruption or the lack of democracy in the country.


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Bahrain: Thoughts on Activism  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Activism isn't just about justice. It's an effort to provide the freedom necessary to build a sustainable civilization,” writes Esra'a at Mideast Youth. Read more of the young Bahraini activist's thoughts on activism in this post.


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Cuba: Cultural Events on World Day Against Homophobia · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Bloggers Cuba [es] publishes information regarding the cultural events to take place on the World Day Against Homophobia on May 16 and 17.


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Guyana: Telling Tales  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“If flu does spread from animal to people and kill people…we better look out for mini-bus drivers flu starting in Guyana”: Guyana-Gyal has a tale worthy of the Grimm Brothers.


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India: Live Results of Indian Elections Via Crowd Sourcing · Global Voices
Rezwan

Offstumped has launched a crowd sourcing initiative to inform the world readers about the results of the Indian Elections 2009 live.


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Jamaica: Screwed?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

While Life, Unscripted, on the Rock is “fully aware that everything is certainly not copacetic here in Jamaica”, she takes issue with an international mainstream media article that she describes as “a totally skewed portrayal” of the island.


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Japan: Akihabara Aftermath · Global Voices
Tomomi Sasaki

Almost one year after the Akihabara massacre (covered by GV here, here, and here), Fumi Yamazaki at “What's Happening in Japan Right Now?” gives a comprehensive recap[EN] of the happenings, coverage, and aftermath of the terrible tragedy.

author: Tomomi Sasaki


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Japan: Marriage Hunting! · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

Since autumn of last year, in Japan, a new term has been floating in the air. It is konkatsu 婚活 (an abbreviation of kekkon katsudô 結婚活動), based on the popular phrase shûkatsu (就活 job hunting), it may be roughly translated as ‘marriage hunting’.
Konkatsu is not merely a new word, it is a social phenomenon that has emerged lately to the point that Japanese have felt the need to ‘name’ and recognize it, also representing it in many TV series  [ja] and shows [ja].
Known as one of the countries with the lowest birth rate in the world, Japan has also been facing another problem, probably because of a wealthier lifestyle: the increasing number of unmarried people, who have no intention to give up their working ambitions and personal whims to create a family.
According to a survey on ‘the state of country’ [ja] by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, in fact, in the decades from 1970 to 2000, the percentage of unmarried women (20-30 y.o.) has tripled from 18% to 54% and, similarly, the percentage of single men (30-40 y.o.) has grown from 12 % to 43%.
Thus, marriage hunting would seem to be going against the trend but, perhaps because of the economic crisis or perhaps because of the social pressure that still today weighs on those unmarried, especially women, relatively more mature men and women seem to have decided at this point in their lives to roll up their sleeves and find someone to live with.
more
Konkatsu@net, a website specialized in konkatsu explains the guidelines for a successful ‘marriage hunting’.
By Flickr user Kalandrakas
『就活』には「会社説明会の参加」や「面接」などの会社との接触だけではなく、「資格を取る」「自分の長所・短所を探す」「情報を集める」「SP対策を行う」といった前段階の活動が含まれますよね。
それと同じように、『婚活』にも様々な活動が含まれます。
男性なら「体を鍛える」「服選びのセンスを磨く」「話題を増やす」「メンズエステに通う」、女性なら「エステやネイルサロンに通う」「料理の勉強や習い事」まで、全てが結婚活動の一部と言えます。
しかし、『婚活』において最も重要な活動は「出会いを増やすこと」です。
Chii, a 37 y.o. office lady tells on her website  of her experience as marriage hunter subscribed to a ‘marriage counseling agency’.
In her introductory lines she explains why she decided to enroll in a konkatsu programme. (In particular, she displays a sense of humour in the page where she analyses and draws a picture of some of the odd characters that the marriage counseling agency introduced her to, and who all disappointed her hopes of finding ‘the one’.
27歳から32歳まで付き合っていた彼氏にまさかの別れを告げられ、その後は「何とかなるか・・・」という気持ちを心の拠り所に独身生活を続けています。
今の職場もかれこれ10年以上勤めているのである意味お局様状態なのですが、私よりも大御所が何人かいるのでプチお局様程度のキャリアです。
そしてこんなままではあの大御所に追いついてしまう！（追い越すことはありませんが・・・）という危機感から、一念発起して『結婚相談所』に入会したという訳です。
[…]
確かに結婚相談所では私の条件に見合った男性を毎月紹介してくれます。
でも・・・、でも違うんです。
データ上の数字（年齢・年収・体型）は合格なんです。
でもでも・・・違うんです。
別に高望みはしません。普通の人でいいのです。
そう・・・普通の人。
Nowadays, advertisements of marriage counseling agencies appear also in the public offices, as Bon lets us know.
区役所で結婚相談という広告が目に入る
戸籍謄本が必要で発行される間、多くの広告が目に入る中で１ヵ月過ぎた先日、ふらっと広告を貰いに
そして、電話してみた
来週、登録へ
But regarding to those kinds of agencies and the phenomenon in general, criticizing words come from a Japanese mother writing in English:
They have got to take interviews and exams to meet their partner?  They have to dress up to pretend like good person?
The people who make up these new words must have a plot.  They try young people to feel rushed to get married and persuade to join the marriage agencies [ja]!
Don’t be deceived, ladies and gentlemen! Don’t be rushed and don’t fake yourself!


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Kazakhstan: Kazakh bloggers against online censorship · Global Voices
Askhat Yerkimbay

The Kazakh Internet regulation amendments which were sent to the Parliament last week have woken up the Kazakh language bloggers’ activism. A lot of posts in Kazakh language tried to analyze the influence of the draft law on the future of Kazakhstani segment of the Internet. Some are full of harsh criticism, while the other are not to surprised with the developments.
Janarbek Matay, one of the founders of the popular Kazakh website “Massagan.com” agrees that the Government should regulate the Kaznet, but believes this draft law is a rush project [kaz]:
“This is not the law that I was expecting. It will put barriers to blogs or sites even if they misspell a word. I doubt that it will be able to ban really dangerous sites. We need a law, which will filter porn and pirates”.
“They are going to kill blogs with one bullet”, say Urimtal and Symbat [kaz]:
“I have expected this… Did bloggers say that there is a need in Internet regulation? They did. Well, dreams come true…”
Nurgisa interviewed several bloggers on his own blog regarding this draft law. Most bloggers said that if we plan to regulate the .kz zone, we must focus on the sites which feature extremist propaganda or have offensive content.
Admin of the “Massagan” portal Bakytnur says [kaz]:
“If they are really going to regulate the online content, first of all, I suggest them banning nazist and xenophobia sites, while Kazakh web-sites need a hidden support from the government”.
Unfortunately, there is nothing of a kind in the draft law. The bloggers's major concern is that it considers blogs, social networks and chats as mass media outlets. Arsenal says [kaz]:
“The government wants this law to ban “bad” sites under tricky pretexts”.
Ansar agrees with Arsenal’s point and adds [kaz]:
“Majilis has so many bad ideas. It's a pity that there are not many intelligent persons there. How we can trust the nation's destiny to the person who can't see the difference between web-site and blog”.
“Mylzhyn professor” shares his point. He says that there is a lack of information around the draft law [kaz]:
“If owners of web-sites were responsible for the online content and excercised self-regulation themselves, we wouldn't need this amendment. But every user has different intentions”.
Baurzhan thinks about the future developments, should the president sign this law into force [kaz]:
“I think this law is aimed only at the opposition's content. The government doesn’t care about the Kazakh language content. If they implement it, I will register my blog on .com and will say that it is run by a Kazakh from the U.S.”
In brief, the Kazakh language bloggers’ main disagreement is that this draft law would make it possible to ban a blog for any reason, while bloggers would have no rights.
Also posted on neweurasia.

author: Askhat Yerkimbay


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Korea: Previous President and Money · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

Previous president Roh Moo Hyun who is famous as the ‘president for citizens’ and still keeps his popularity after his retirement due to his humble life in his hometown and to citizens’ dissatisfaction with the current government has been involved with bribe scandal in May. Sudden but exhaustive investigation regarding bribes during his governance covered major media and he was summoned by the prosecuton authority because of the money that his wife was supposed to have received. The internet is full of various opinions.
1:
[…]그 동안 내가 보아온 대통령들은 우리의 대통령이 아니었던 것 같다. 그들은 우리를 내려다 보고 있었으며 그들의 일신을 위한 도구 정도로 생각했었다. 사람 죽이기를 칼로 무 베듯이 하고 구린내 나는 뒷주머니는 그들의 기름진 뱃살 보다 더 튀어 나와있었다. 정권이 바뀌고 그들이 잡혀 들어가면서 통쾌함을 느꼈던 것은 나뿐이었을까? 그들은 응당의 댓가를 치러야 했지만 정권예우라는 차원에서 비교적 순탄한 노년을 보내고 있다. 좋다. 그 정도는 인정하겠다.
하지만 노무현 대통령 사건은 도대체 무엇인가? 그를 잡아들이는 이유는 누가 만들었고 왜 이토록 집요하게 해야 하는가? 노통이 정말 예전의 대통령들처럼 국민의 고혈을 빨아먹은 사람인가?
그래…나는 모른다. 저 위 쪽에서 벌어지는 일은 잘 모른다. 미디어에서 보여주는 영상과 이미지만 가지고 노통을 판단하는 지도 모른다. 하지만 나는 그의 말에서, 눈빛에서, 손짓에서 희망을 느꼈고 믿음, 신뢰를 느꼈다. 나름 미디어 언저리에서 일하면서 보고 느끼고 들은 바에 의하면 이번 사건은 ‘보복’, ‘마녀사냥’ 그 이상도 이하도 아니다.
노통의 말이 생각난다. ‘모난 돌이 정 맞는다'는 어머니의 말을 듣기 보다는 자신의 길을 택하겠다는. 예로부터 새로운 희망을 가진 사람은 정권이 볼 때는 반역자에 지나지 않고 그의 삼대가 절멸된다는. 하지만 그렇기에 우리가 일어서야 한다는. 그 연설을 잊을 수 없다. 진실함을 느꼈기 때문이다.
난 그냥 평범한 대구 출신 사람이다. 지난 번 투표에는 노무현 대신 이회창을 찍었고 이번에는 이명박을 찍었다. 그 선택을 후회하지는 않는다. 하지만 노통은 재임기간 동안 내게 신뢰를 준 대통령이다.[…]
However, what is going on about Roh Moo Hyun? Who decides to arrest him and why are they so persistent? Did he really suck blood out of us as previous presidents did?
I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going on up there. Maybe I judge Roh Moo Hyun with images that the media shows. However, I felt hope, belief, and trust with his speaking, his eyes, and his gestures. To me, this scandal seems ‘revenge’ or ‘witch hunting.’
I remember what he said before. He would choose his own path rather than listening to the old saying, ‘a stone of different shape will be hit by a hammer’ (envy will pursue merit as its shade). From the past, people who have hope can be just regarded as traitors in terms of the powers’ perspectives and their three generations will be demolished. But due to this reason, we have to stand up together. I can’t forget his speech because I felt sincerity.
I’m just an ordinary citizen from Daegu. In the Presidential Election last time, I chose Lee Hoe Chang instead of Roh and chose Lee Myung Bak this time. I don’t regret my choice. But Roh was the president who gave me reliance during his governance.
2:
[…]그가 단지 검찰로부터 포괄적뇌물혐의를 받고 있기 때문이 아니라 이번 박연차 게이트를 지켜보면서 이번 노무현 전 대통령의 소환조사가 너무나도 빠르게 그리고 계획적으로 흘러갔기 때문이다. 마치 구속하기 위해 짜맞추는 듯한 느낌이 든다고 해야 적당한 표현일까?
물론 노무현 전 대통령이 뇌물을 받았다면, 그에 따른 처벌을 받아야 한다.뇌물을 받았다는 증거가 확실하다면 전직 대통령이라도 온당한 처벌을 받아야 하는 것이 이 나라 법치국가에서 행해져야 할 정당한 절차일 것이다.
하지만 지금 우리나라에서 ‘그 절차가 잘 지켜질 것인가'라고 물어본다면 할말이 없다. 만일 검찰이 당당하게 이번 사건을 인지하고 조사했다면, 나는 정말 검찰에게 박수를 쳐 줬을 것이다. 하지만 너무나 뻔하게 박연차 게이트 사건은 초기부터 누군가를 겨냥하듯 시작됐다. 이는 검찰이 비판받을 수밖에 없는 부분이기도 하다. 그렇기에 검찰에게 부탁하고 싶다. 어떤 의도에서 수사를 시작했는지 모르겠지만, 이미 시작했다면 어떠한 외압에도 굴하지 않고 제대로 이번 사건을 조사해 달라고 말이다. 또 노무현 전 대통령의 기존 진술을 깰 수 있는 펙트가 있는 증거를 가지고 대응할 것을 아울러 주문하고 싶다. 이번 박연차 게이트는 ‘분명 노무현 전 대통령에서 끝날 문제만은 아니다'고 생각되기에 말이다. 만약 이번 박연차 게이트에 현 정권 인사도 개입돼 있는 것으로 나타난다면, 그 부분도 철저히 조사해야 할 것은 누가 봐도 당연한 일일 것이다. 그래야 공평하고 당당한 조사이며, ‘기획수사'라는 비판을 받지 않을 것이기에 말이다.[…]
However, if someone asks me ‘is the process logical,’ I don’t have anything to say. If the prosecution authority acknowledged this event and investigated with justice, I would praise them. But this ‘Park Yeon Cha Gate’ seemed to target the specific person from the beginning. That’s why the prosecution authority is criticized. Therefore, I would like to ask the prosecution authority. I don’t know what intention they have behind this investigation. Anyway they started and then they should conduct investigation objectively without any external pressure. In addition, they need to tackle this issue with evidence. I don’t think that this Park Yeon Cha Gate should finish with only Roh Moo Hyun. If the current politicians are involved, they should investigate thoroughly. Then it is fair and justicable investigation and the prosecution authority will take off the dishonor of their action as the  ‘planned investigation.’[…]
Here are short opinions
이미 퇴임한 대통령을 견제하는 정부가 한심하다는 생각이듭니다
선거용 쑈 아니었겠습니까. 노무현을 어떻게든 끌어내리고 북한이 당장이라고 쳐들어 올것 처럼 언론 플레이 하면 재보궐 선거에서 이길줄 알았겠죠 오히려 반감만 더 샀으니 쯧쯧쯧 ㅋ 솔직히 노무현이 그게 먹은겁니까 맹박이가 눈에 불을 켜고 털었는데 그 것 밖에 안나왔으면 진짜 깨끗한 거지,,,
노대통령이 고생은 하셨지만, 오히려 그 분의 입지가 더 강해진것 아니겠습니까? 이렇게 털었는데도 안 나오면 얼마나 청렴결백하신 정치인이십니까!
노무현이고 맹박이고 죄있으면 죄값을 받으면 되지 먼 말들이 많소, 우선 노무현, 권양숙이, 그아들,딸, 조카사위 모조리 법대로 처리하고, 명박이도 불법이 있으면 잡아넣고, 그 졸개들도 법대로 하면되지…..
누가 받았건 돈을 받았으면 전대통령이든 그 부인이든 반드시 벌을 받을 건 받아야 한다고 생각한다 하지만 누구는 미친듯이 아주 열심히 조사하고 누구는 하는 둥 마는 둥 이건 정말 아니지
서민대통령으로써 서민의 바램을 저버린 노무현 이지만 뇌물 사건은 본질이 없다고 봐야 겠네요,20여년의 후원자로 박연차.정상문이 등장 했지만 달ㄴ기업에서 돈 받았다는 증거는 하나도 없네요그것도 남편몰래 돈 받았다는 사실도 입증 되는것 같고 .. 우리집 사람도 나몰래 돈 빼돌려 자식들 한테 부모님들 한테 용돈 줍니다 나중에는 알지만,,,,,
잘못이 있다면 노무현을 구속시켜야 마땅하고, 정치검찰이라는 오명을 벗으려면 현 권력에 대한 수사도 진즉부터 병행해서 같이 고강도로 이뤄졌어야 한다는 말입니다…

author: Hyejin Kim


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Maldives: Surprise Results · Global Voices
Rezwan

According to the provisional results of the recently concluded parliamentary elections the opposition party DRP won 2 seats more than the ruling MDP. Mohamed Bushry calculates how the MDP can still get a majority and comments that the ruling party should take a lesson from this results.


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Morocco: How to use Twitter · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Moroccan blogger Mohammed Saeed Hjiouij [Ar] discusses different ways in which Twitter can be used for his Arabic language readers.


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Pakistan: Information About IDPs · Global Voices
Rezwan

A new website has been launched documenting reliable information, including pictures and videos about the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) from FATA, Swat, Dir and Buner in Pakistan.


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Pakistan: Prachinar, The Valley Of Death · Global Voices
Sana Saleem

Parachinar is the capital of Kurram Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. The area jutting into the Afghan Province of Paktia once served as the summer residence for the Mughal emperors. However the scenic beauty has been overshadowed by the fears of Taliban insurgency after the long Afghan war during the 80s and 90s. Today the Taliban insurgents have possessed the land with a reign of terror, forcing the locals to evacuate in fear.
The insurgency is not a recent event. Blogger Razz provides a quick peek in the past at Waking Life:
Parachinar and Pakistan's other frontier regions have been the victim of a Taliban insurgency ever since the Americans invaded Afghanistan. The ensuing conflict has literally obliterated the tourism industry of that region, and such beautiful places and others (Swat etc.) have sadly been marred by conflict for months now.
Ali Hassnain takes a deeper look at the history of sectarian clashes in the area:
Parachinar is the main city in the Khurram Agency, the only (slim) Shia majority agency in FATA. Total population of the region is about 500,000, with the Shia-majority city of Parachinar home to 55,000. Parachinar and the agency were predominantly Shia until a large influx of Sunnis started with the US-Russia war in Afghanistan, when the Mujahideen used it to raid Afghanistan. With the rise in Sunni numbers, there was also a rise in sectarian violence, but this it seems was qualitatively and quantitatively at far lower levels than what was to come.
The media in Pakistan has been accused of not providing adequate coverage to the event. According to Press TV:
A recent summit held in Iranian city of Qom under the banner “Holocaust of Shias in Parachinar,” came in the wake of the killings of hundreds of Shia community-members over the past six months in Parachinar and Hangu.
Pro-Taliban and al-Qaeda-linked militants, who are reportedly behind the killings, have imposed an economic blockade against the Shia-dominated population areas.
Ammar Faheem at Ammar 360 is dismayed at the silence of the media as he terms the event a ‘Holocaust against Shia's':
We all have been receiving pictures of beheaded bodies and acts of barbarianism from both Sunni and Shia friends. We all know that dozens of people are violently subjugated to sectarian hatred everyday in this once beautiful tribal area of Pakistan.
What I fail to understand is that the media is absolutely silent on this issue of enormous importance. Where is the justice we talk about? Where are the voices who stand up for human rights? Or are they busy organizing concerts and fashion shows?
The Blogosphere has resolved to take the matter into their hands and spread the word. The media has so far stood silent on the massacre. Further silence on the issue can lead to worsening of the situation and break out of sectarian clashes. The hollers of the victim’s family shouldn’t go unheard. The Blogging community joins hand in hope that their voices will be heard.
In one of my own articles at Pro-Pakistan, I proposed a petition urging people from other sects to join hands with  the humanitarians to drive attention to the crisis at hand:
For decades innocent lives have been taken on account of their beliefs. No one has the right to punish anyone for their beliefs. It is not for us to judge others in matters of religion. For once we should condemn those who act like God in their ways and kill people. The silence of media authorities is condemnable. However this shouldn’t stop us from spreading the word. I urge all those in the Blogosphere to spread the word on the blog. You can repost or link back but keep spreading the word.
Our Shia brothers have equal rights to exist and believe. The Muslim majority respects co-existence. We condemn those who justify their actions in the name of Islam. For Islam teaches us tolerance and Unity.
A campaign blog titled Support Parachinar has been put up to highlight the pleas with suggestions and ways to help:
Educate yourselves and people around you about the situation.
Organize prayers, vigils, and workshops in your localities (school campus, public libraries, Friday prayers, mosques and community centers, embassies and press clubs). Prepare large posters with images and concise information.
Write op-ed columns and letters to your local and national newspapers with an informed perspective. Also write to your governments and local and international human rights groups. Hold poster and letter writing sessions in your communities.
The land dubbed as Pakistan’s heaven by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (ex-prime minister of Pakistan and founder of PPP -the party currently in Power) has been transferred into the valley of death. The Global community needs to be aware of the situation and address the pleas of the silent victims of the Taliban brutality.

author: Sana Saleem


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Pakistan: Swat Crisis Via Live Blog · Global Voices
Rezwan

The Swat Plea is a platform to support the Internally Displaced Persons [IDP's] of northern Pakistan. It has launched a live blog to collate all the buzz from blogs and twitter accounts monitoring the Swat crisis.


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Paraguay: Short Film “Sebastian’s Voodoo” Finalist at Cannes · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Paraguayan animator Joaquín Baldwin is a finalist for his film “Sebastian's Voodoo” in the category “Short Film Corner” at the Cannes Film Festival. Mike Silvero of Sin Ánimo de Ofender [es] shares the film and information about his past awards.


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Saudi Arabia: Thoughts from a London Trip  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Saudi blogger Prometheus [Ar] is just back from the UK and shares his impressions from his visit and the people he saw there in this post.
Like many Arabs who visit the UK, Prometheus is surprised with the large Arab and Asian communities in the British capital:
He continues his observations saying:
Prometheus continues his explorations on a bus, where he overhears other Saudis comparing between life in the UK and in their home country:
The blogger is also impressed with the open dialogue between politicians and the media and may even be surprised that such discussions, even when heated, are beamed on television screens:


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Sri Lanka: Satellite Image Proves Shelling Of Civilians  · Global Voices
Rezwan

ICT For Peacebuilding (ICT4PEACE) posts an image from a commercial satellite and quotes a Human Rights Watch report, which claims that indiscriminate shelling of civilians is going on in the North of Sri Lanka.  The blog comments: “Unless the argument is made that commercial satellite imagery is also pro-LTTE, this is irrefutable evidence that both sides are still engaging in shelling despite promises to the contrary.”


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St. Lucia: Walcott Withdraws · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Repeating Islands reports that St. Lucian Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott “has withdrawn his candidacy for the post of Oxford Professor of Poetry citing a smear campaign designed to sully his reputation.”


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St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Police Power  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As “charges of police brutality have again taken centre stage with more public protests” in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Abeni says: “It is important for them to work towards fostering a better relationship and not operate as being above the law.”


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Trinidad & Tobago: Progress & Social Media  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Trinidadian blogger KnowProSE.com shares his thoughts on ways in which people do not help the world progress via social media.


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UAE: Susan’s in Saudi Arabia  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Susan, a Dubai-based blogger, visits Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on a business trip. Read her impressions and watch her video at amazingwomenrock.com.


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Ukraine: Victory Day 2009 · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Lots of photos and video from the celebration of Victory Day in Kyiv – at Ukrainiana.


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Arab World Reacts to Jordan’s Twittering Queen Rania · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

After her debut on YouTube, Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan is now courting microblogging service Twitter, allowing the world to catch up with the 140-character messages of the self-described mum and wife “with a real cool day job.”
One of Queen Rania's Tweets
Not only is she giving us a sneak preview of her private life as a Queen and mother with messages like this and this [see image above], but has also agreed to conduct her first Twitter interview, according to the World Economic Forum Blog:
On the occasion of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East held at the Dead Sea in Jordan from 15 – 17 May 2009 Her Majesty has agreed to answer five questions from the general public via her Twitter account. Since she will not be able to answer all questions we put the questions to a public vote and Her Majesty will reply to the top five questions. Vote on the questions below to be put to Queen Rania here.
With 41,217 followers so far (she is only following 31), reactions from around the region on the Twittering Queen's adventure pour in.
Observations of a Jordanian praised the move, saying:
I have a LOT to complain about when it comes to how our country is run, but one thing I love is how the Royal Family are humble and try to stay connected with the people, especially technologically speaking. First a YouTuber, now Queen Rania has moved on to the next popular internet craze, Twitter […] It's the real deal, in case you're wondering, her account has been confirmed by the Royal Court.
The Arab Observer is evidently ecstatic and writes:
Isn't Queen Rania the coolest Queen ever?
First she establishes herself as a stylish elegant highly regarded Queen among the world leaders, then she creates a youtube channel to address the stereotypes against Arabs in the west and try to open a dialogue among the two sides, then she APPEARS on Oprah and gives a great interview and impressions about Jordan, and now she seizes the change of the Pope's visit of to Jordan to start her twitter account that instantly became an industry news that would give a bigger volume to the visit and to Jordan as a country.
We can listen now to 140 character wisdom messages from our Queen. A great tool for the leaders of the 21th century to use and build on. Well done Queen Rania, we are so proud of you, really so so proud :)
And ArabCrunch, also from Jordan, follows suit:
It seems the Queen is personally who is tweeting, since we are seeing personal tweets like this one, she is also using twitpic where she posted a pic of her and her son.
Moving over to neighbouring Syria, Sasa, from the Syria News Wire, takes the opportunity to draw a comparison between the Queen and Syria's first lady Asma Al Assad:
Queen Rania is on Twitter (@queenrania). She’s been flying around in her husband’s helicopter, meeting the Pope, talking about changing the world. But Syria isn’t far behind.
First Lady Asma Al-Assad may not be on Twitter, but she’s on Facebook. While her southern counterpart has been having fun doing acrobatics in helicopters and calling her husband a “real life action hero” (tell him to put the Playstation down then), Asma has been doing charity work.
She’s just launched the Massar-E project, which helps disadvantaged children learn about technology.
We know which of the two can be seen wondering around their city without hundreds of bodyguards.
I know Rania has just signed up for Twitter so maybe it’s not a fair comparison – but if numbers mean anything, Asma has 9000 fans, Rania has 4000.
And US-based Lebanese Dr Asa'ad Abu Khalil, at the Angry Arab News Service, is just that … angry. He rants:
“Thank u 4 followin! Looking 4ward to hearin ur thoughts and ideas on using social media 4 social change.” Oh, you want ideas for social change? I want to use social media (whatever you mean by that) in order to overthrow the Jordanian government and send you and the Hashemite royal family to exile in some remote European city. You may then chat with exiled survivers of the Egyptian or Iraqi royal families. And please use twitter in exile to amuse me. And somebody on your staff who writes your twitter and youtube texts for you need to tell you how uninteresting and uninspiring you are. Somebody needs to tell you that they only like you in the West because Israel approves of your PlayStation husband.
Egyptian activist and blogger 3arabawy shares similar sentiments, and here are messages (click on image below) he Twittered to the Queen:
Tweets by Egyptian blogger 3arabawy
And that is not all. A controversy is also brewing in the background regarding a fan page created by an Egyptian blogger for Queen Rania on Facebook.
TripleM claims that he has been kicked out as an admin of the page he has created for the Queen. He says:
I was surprised to find out that I’m no longer the admin of the Queen Rania’s fan page on Facebook. The fan page “Queen Rania” is the largest fan page for the beautiful Rania Al Abdullah the Queen of Jordan. The page I created two month ago, attracted more than 17 thousand fans and it has one of highest hit rates among Fb fan pages…
…Anyways, I was a bit shocked to find out that I’m no longer able to edit or share information on that page, that’s when I decided to tweet about it. By the time I tweeted everyone I know was talking about how successful the page is and that they didn’t know that I was the mastermind behind the page.
Jillian at American-Palestinian group blog KABOBfest picks up the story saying:
Queen Rania of Jordan (or as I tend to call her, Queen YouTube) seems to be taking the social media world by storm…and by force. Shortly after joining Twitter, the Jordanian royal hopped on Facebook, having the admin rights of the user who created her fan page taken away.
She also quips:
I guess it's only a matter of time before Qaddafi finds the fan page I made for him and takes over…
And, at Kermit the Blog 2.0, Kamel Al Asmar notes:
After 14 months on YouTube, I was wondering if Queen Rania wants to discover the power of social media and networking tools on the web one after the other when I saw her on Twitter a week ago (now with more than 40,000 followers). Apparently I was mistaken, Queen Rania is working on her online presence using more than one social media at once.
Al Asmar adds:
When I checked HM’s page on Facebook, I figured out that I was missing something that’s happening on the background. A page with more than 21,000 fans who are increasing rapidly. In addition to adding her twitter updates on the page’s status, Queen Rania is starting discussion topics there, mentioning on of them: “How can we build and broadcast cross-cultural dialogue?”. She also uploaded and still uploading some collections of photos on that page.
The interactivity factor on the Facebook page is impressive, and I’m regretting the couple of days I missed without being there. But the question that I and the people around me are asking; who is updating those media tools?! Is she Queen Rania personally who’s doing so or there is a team that is taking care of it, I’m really curious about it and I hope to have the answer one day.
On a different note; today I realized that the Queen’s page on Facebook was owned by my cyber friend, Mohammad Mansour AKA TripleM and one day he found that he’s no longer the admin of that page. Basically Queen Rania stole her page as it’s supposed to be her property


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Armenia: Eurovision Reaction · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Ianyan rounds up the reaction to Armenia's entry in this year Eurovision Song Contest currently under way in Moscow. The blog says that the two singers, Inga and Anush, could be described as “traditional Armenian wear meets Star Wars meets Diva Plavalaguna from The Fifth Element.”


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Armenia: Online insult leads to tragedy · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Blogian comments on the killing of a teenager in Armenia's second largest city of Gyumri after he reportedly insulted a local girl on Odnoklassniki, the Russian equivalent of Facebook. The blog says that the story is indicative of a culture of violence, relationships between men and women, and a failed police system in the country.


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Bolivia: First Impressions of Bolivian State Run Airline · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Jose José of A Pesar de Ser Abogado [es] writes about his first impressions using BOA, the new state-run airline in Bolivia.


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Cambodia: Activist Parliamentarian May Drop Lawsuit Against Prime Minister · Global Voices
Chhunny Chhean

Mu Sochua is an internationally recognized activist and Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) member of the Cambodian National Assembly.  She recently filed a lawsuit against the country's prime minister, Hun Sen, for defamatory comments he made in April 2009.  Subsequently, Hun Sen filed a countersuit against Mu Sochua, also for defamation.
KI Media posted an article from the Phnom Penh Post detailing Hun Sen's countersuit:
[G]overnment lawyer Ky Tech, representing Hun Sen, filed a countersuit. Ky Tech claims he might seek as much as 10 million riels (US$2,427) in damages from Mu Sochua and other, unspecified involved persons for the defamation of his client in the press conference last Thursday.
In contrast, Mu Sochua seeks 500 riels in her lawsuit.
Cambodian Bright Future posted a letter in which  Mu Sochua writes:
Within days my parliamentary immunity will be lifted so the court can “investigate” my case. This is normal procedure for politicians from the opposition party or human rights activists or the poor who cannot bribe court officials. I will be detained in the notorious prison of “Prey Sar” for as long as the courts wish to take…Is the world still watching in silence while Cambodia is now ruled by one man?
Details are Sketchy echoes Mu Sochua's thoughts:
Considering that Prime Minister Hun Sen owns the courts, [a defamation suit] seems unlikely. But good luck. It would make for an interesting two seconds — about how long the court is likely to take before it throws the case out.
Mu Sochua was recently a guest on VOA Khmer, where she announced that she would consider dropping her lawsuit.
“To protect the country, if both sides agree to withdraw the complaints, I agree,” Mu Sochua said.
Human Rights Watch supports Mu Sochua and is calling for more support worldwide.
Mu Sochua was recently interviewed by Equitycam.tv on the status of women in politics in Cambodia.  Her interview is second, following an interview with fellow female lawmaker Men Sam On.

author: Chhunny Chhean


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China: Angry Youth · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

China Beat posted Teresa Wright's observation and view on angry youth phenomena in China presented in a roundtable at Brookings Institution.


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China: Crisis seen from the Sinosphere · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Uln from chinayouren looks into various schools of opinion from the Sinosphere on the China Crisis. The blogger sums up the discussion into: time, markets, people, government, package, chest, riot and inflation/deflation.


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China: Guangdong street violence · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ChinaSMACK translates a netizen discussion on girls street violence in Guangdong.


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Colombia: Where is the Water? · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Angelgoth asks “where is the water? [es]” and writes about the difficulties of receiving water in the area of Bellavista near La Loma in Medellín, Colombia. Residents had the chore of finding water or asking friends and neighbors to share.


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Cuba: Human Rights Council · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Havana Times reports that “Cuba has been re-elected for a second three-year period as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council” in a move that Cuba Journal calls “a rebuff to the policies of the United States” by UN members.


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Ecuador: Bilingual and Intercultural Education in Loja · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

A bilingual and intercultural education conference [es] was recently held in Loja, Ecuador. Angel Gualán also introduces the blog [es] that will report on issues pertaining to this type of bilingual education.


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Fiji: Convicted soldiers freed on supervision plan · Global Voices
Michael Hartsell

Fiji’s government admitted that eight soldiers and one policeman who had been found guilty of manslaughter have been released from prison, two months into their four-year sentences.
A government spokesman said the Minister of Justice ordered their release under a compulsory supervision order, which allows certain criminals to serve the remainder of their sentences outside of prison. Fiji Law states the Minister of Justice may have a prisoner released on compulsory supervision granted the prisoner has (1) not been imprisoned twice before; and, (2) is serving a sentence longer than three years.
In January 2007, the eight soldiers and one policeman suspected that Sakiusa Rabaka and three other youths were trying to purchase marijuana. They took the young men to a nearby military camp, told them to strip to their underwear and subjected them to difficult physical exercises. When the men started to stumble, they were beaten and kicked. In court, the young men later testified Rabaka was groaning in pain, but the group continued to torture him. Rabaka eventually passed out; members of the military group forced two of his friends to perform oral sex on the unconscious Rabaka.
After the young men were released, Rabaka continued to have medical problems, complaining of headaches and a swollen head. His mother testified her son had “visible straight marks and boot marks” on his back. Two weeks after the incident, Rabaka was admitted to the hospital in Nadi, Fiji, where doctors operated on him. The pain continued after leaving the hospital. A week later Rabaka collapsed in front of friends at his home. He died shortly thereafter. He was 19-years-old.
The incident took place a few weeks after military commander Frank Bainimarama dissolved Parliament and deposed the government of Lasenia Qarase, which he said was corrupt and racist.
A High Court judge convicted the nine men in March 2009 and sentenced them to four-year prison sentences.
From the blog at Soli Vakasama Worldwide site
We feel the utmost disgust that the guilty men are allowed to walk free while the families of the young man killed and the other men tortured are left to suffer in silence and despair.
Our heart breaks at the suffering of the Rabaka Family and the men that were tortured.
We hope the healing process is swift and we wish them peace and goodwill forever.
It is so hard to believe that the stories we read of killings and tortures that happen overseas are actually happening in Fiji and has only occurred since the hijacking and rape of this Nation Fiji on 5.12.06. One wonders what type of upbringing these guilty but illegally freed so called soldiers and police personnel had and just how the Fiji military has gone from a respected institution to the most appalling example of the vilest disgusting atrocities that another man can heap upon another.
No Right Turn in New Zealand.
And so the Fijian military protects its own. It's not the first time – Bainiramarama himself ordered the release of his son-in-law, Francy Kean, after he had been convicted of manslaughter for beating someone to death at a wedding. But the precedent it sets is astounding. Thanks to the coup, Fiji's military thugs are now above the law, able to beat, rape, torture and kill with impunity.
Fiji Today agrees.
This follows the pattern of any criminal associated with the military having special privilages as the  Commander  shows  the rank and file soldier that they above the law and are protected in all their actions
The use of the yellow ribbon program and CSO to override the decisions of the court is corruption plain and simple.
Fiji Today argues this could be a long-term problem for Fiji’s government, which is still searching for judges to fill its High Court more than a month after the country’s president annulled the constitution, fired the entire judiciary and appointed the government of Frank Bainimarama to a five-year mandate.
One of the reasons the dictatorship is having problems finding senior judges to appoint because of  the decree allowing no legal challenges to any decrees of the President.
The  judges are scared they would be seen as puppets of the regime as they realise that the courts would be neutralised with any contraversial cases having a decree  issued before the case came to court.
The release of the soldiers was widely expected after the abrogation of the consitution, argues Coup And A Half.
Ironically, one of the reasons given by Frank Bainimarama for carrying out a military coup and toppling Laisenia Qarase’s Multi-Party government was that the administration was allegedly abusing the criminal justice system and interfering in the judiciary, with the then Attorney-General Qoriniasi Bale liberating high profile chiefs Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu and former Vice-President, Ratu Jose Seniloli from prison under the Compulsory Supervison Order (CSO).
The two were jailed for their roles in George Speight’s coup against Mahendra Chaudhry’s government in May 2000.
Qarase was also accused of approving Seniloli’s salary while he was in prison.
In another case similar to Bainimarama’s accusation of Qarase, Bainimarama’s brother-in-law Francis Kean jailed in 2008 for bashing to death a guest at a wedding in December 2006. He was out of prison after an year, serving the required two-thirds of his jail term.
Victor Lal, writing in Raw Fiji News, offered a dark reason for the early release.
The murderers have been released to appease the military and to warn critics that if they open their mouths, they will be murdered by the military goons with impunity.
Fiji: The Way it Was, Is and Can Be argues the group’s release “raises serious doubts about the sincerity of the Fiji Government, and does nothing for its credibility.” The blogger called on Fiji’s Attorney General to “correct this wrong.”
No government purportedly intent on justice can condone the unecessary, brutally prolonged and cowardly assault on 19-year old Sakuisa Rabaka, in January 2007 (yes, it took that long to come to court). But the early release of his assailants does just that. The assault may be “written off” as a one-off abuse of power by nine over-zealous or sadistic individuals; their release — uncorrected — can only be attributed to one huge misuse of power by the State.

author: Michael Hartsell


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Global Shanghai, 1850-2010 · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Xujun Eberlein from Inside-Out China wrote a book review on Global Shanghai, 1850-2010.


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Grenada, Taiwan: Loan Repayment · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As Taiwan takes Grenada to court over the non-payment of a loan, Blah Bloh Blog comments: “Cynical Grenadians like myself are wondering if we can’t offer up former Prime Minister Keith ‘Is me damn money’ Mitchell as a form of restitution…”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago: Gayle Reactions  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Reactions to controversial comments made about Test Cricket by West Indies captain Chris Gayle, from Guyanese blogger Imran Khan and Barbados-based Trinidadian B.C. Pires.


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India: Exit Poll Figures  · Global Voices
Rezwan

HarshadOak.com posts a summary of exit poll predictions for India Election Results 2009 which suggests that India could be heading for a weak coalition government. The blogger adds: “however, looking at the dismal record of opinion and exit polls in India, we need to look at these numbers more as entertainment than information.”


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India: What The Election Symbols Mean · Global Voices
Rezwan

Let's Put Da deconstructs the election symbols of the Indian political parties to find out what to expect from them.


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Indonesia: Central Bank Chief, the next VP? · Global Voices
Juke Carolina

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) is set to announce the Central Bank chief Boediono as his running mate in a couple of days.
Indonesians are divided with the candidacy of Boediono. Some cheered at the decision, but the president's decision is unpopular among some parties who priorly bid coalition with Yudhoyono's Democratic Party (Partai Demokrat – PD [id]).
Ahead of the presidential election, four parties, namely the National Mandate Party (PAN), Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), United Development Party (PPP), and the National Awakening Party (PKB)  are preparing to have coalition with PD. The plan is now in jeapordy, as parties’ officials threatened to pull out from the coalition if SBY goes ahead confirming Boediono's candidacy.
Speaking to local English newspaper the Jakarta Post, PD deputy chairman Andi Mallarangeng said that since the begining, coalition parties had agreed to practice his executive right to choose his VP.
Former  Chief Presidential Spokesman Wimar Witoelar, on his Perspektif blog said that Boediono's candidacy could be a sign that the country is actually reforming its political system.
The choice of Boediono as vice presidential candidate on the SBY ticket could awaken middle-class moderates to the fact that they are a real factor in the direction of the nation. […] The results of the parliamentary elections allay fears of fundamentalism as the secular parties outnumber the sectarian by a wide margin.
[…]
The nice thing about political predictions is that you do not have to argue against them. If you don’t like pessimistic outlooks, just make sure they do not come true. Otherwise they become self-fulfilling prophecies.
[…]
Although Indonesian voters time and again vote for secular parties, the PKS keeps inching forward while Golkar and PDIP keep receding. My own thoughts are more optimistic..The choice of Boediono as vice presidential candidate may be seen as a signal that SBY is closing ranks with the secularists. Remember that while SBY-JK has been weak against the anti-pornography bill and other pet issues of the Islamist right, PDIP has been strong and consistent in defense of pluralism and secularism.
[…]
The choice of a non-party clean person will help strengthen the true base against sectarianism, the middle class moderates.
Arya, wrote a posting on Politikana, one of Indonesian political platforms, saying that as non-partisan, Boediono has a strategic meaning to PD. He elaborates [id]:
Status Boediono sebagai orang non-partai politik (setidaknya saat ini) memiliki arti strategis bagi PD. Karena nantinya, tidak akan ada satu pun partai yang bisa mengklaim kinerja pemerintah periode 2009-2014 sebagai hasil kerja mereka.
Seperti kita tahu, posisi seorang incumbent sangat berpengaruh ketika seseorang atau sebuah partai mengikuti pemilu berikutnya. Dengan segenap keuntungannya, seorang incumbent sudah satu atau dua langkah di depan dibanding rival yang berasal dari ‘luar’.
Coba bayangkan kalau misalnya Wapres SBY adalah Hidayat Nur Wahid atau Hatta Rajasa? Pasti nanti PKS dan PAN akan dengan mudah mengklaim hasil kerja SBY seolah-olah jadi hasil kerja mereka dan hal itu bakal jadi jualan utama di Pilpres 2014.
Malah bisa jadi, di tengah jalan Boediono yang non-partisan itu bakal disuruh ‘pindah agama’ menjadi seorang kader PD. Hnah!
As we all know, an incumbent's position has a big influence when someone or a party submit itself to the next election. With all this benefits, an incumbent is already one or two steps ahead of his “outsider” (party member) rivals.
Can you imagine if the new SBY's VP is either Nur Wahid or Hatta Rajasa? What would happen is that PKS and PAN will easily claim SBY's work as if it was their own and this could be their strong points in selling their agendas for the 2014 presidential election.
What we can expect to happen in the future, (is that) the non-partisan Boediono, could convert into PD party member. Voila!
Blogger Fawwaz Akmal feels that SBY and PD's fear is absurd. Fawwaz argues that in 2014 SBY can't be re-elected for the third time, and he's also sure that the  global economic downturn is the main reason why Boediono was chosen to be the running mate. Fawwaz says:
Setahuku, Boediono adalah ahli ekonomi makro yang tidak mengerti masalah ekonomi real di masyarakat. Padahal, berulang kali para pakar ekonomi Indonesia maupun dunia mengatakan bahwa untuk membentengi krisis global, sebuah negara mesti memperkuat ekonomi realnya, mikro.
Facebooker Andy Armansyah wonders who fit to be the people's president and vice president, he says:
Indonesia holds multi-party system. In 2004,  Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono became Indonesia's first directly elected president. Yudhoyono, the retired singing General has managed to improve the country's economic growth.

author: Juke Carolina


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Japan: Mass hysteria over swine flu · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

James from Japan Prob quotes from Tsuyoshi Takashiro's blog [ja] on the opinion about the over-reaction to the swine flu.


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Japan: Nice middle age · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Harvey from Japan Newbie introduces a hilarious music video by Takosan called Nice Middle.


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Kazakhstan: Turmoil Royale · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Rakhat Aliev, former son-in-law of the Kazakhstani president, former ambassador in Austria and former Kazakh oligarch, sentenced to 40 years in jail for abduction of the people, leadership of the mafia-type organization and attempt of the coup, keeps on creating a “democrat's” image by leaking discrediting materials against top officials.
Earlier this week his book “The Godfather-in-Law” has been issued. It's first edition was published in Germany, in German language. As Aliev himself says, [ru]
Europe still has little knowledge of what is happening in Kazakhstan. This fact allows EU politicians to put a blind eye on repressions and righs violations.
There are few comments to this post. Some of them are glad about the publication. heil-jonny says he'll definitely buy a book, while mimi7777777 offers translation services.
yeresim is skeptical [ru]:
I could have regarded this book differently, if the author were a consistent fighter against the regime. But you – you have become what you are thanks to your fother-in-law. And now you try to present yourself as a democrat, using discrediting materials against this man. Are you so naive to think that the Kazakh people will be happy to see you again, ever? I don't think so. And this is your traged.
thousand_pa tries to clarify [ru]:
Does this book tell the reader how a man on public service managed to get large enterprises in private property, to own Nurbank [commercial bank], media and advertising holdings, shreholdings in a number of Kazakhstani and foreign companies?
Besides, the checking of users who leave positive comments Aliev's blog shows that most of them are fake accounts with no entries and a couple of comments in personal history.
Also posted on neweurasia.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Maldives: Lessons From Election Results · Global Voices
Rezwan

Abdullah Waheed lists some points showing voter preferences and their vision of the future role of the Majlis (parliament) which have emerged through the preliminary results of the parliamentary elections in Maldives.


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MENA: Does Swine Flu Spread from Touching Pigs?  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

More than 14 centuries after Islam prohibited the consumption of pork, pigs are once again making headlines across the Arab world – this time in the form of tweets.
Roba Al Assi from Jordan is shocked with people's reactions towards the disease:
OpusP remarks on Egypt's decision to cull swine saying:
aaalana, from Aleppo, Syria, is excited the disease has not been detected in that country:
Meanwhile, Lebanese habibh sees the disease as a blessing in disguise, hoping it would curb some traditions, like the exchange of kisses when greeting people:
Still in Lebanon, QifaNabki brushes off swine flu as a smaller concern, noting:
And this post will not be complete, if the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not dragged into the matter. NewsatEleven jokes:

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Russia: Eurovision · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

“Suddenly it is that time of the year again – the time when one cannot help but feel that one is, was and will always remain a European,” writes Josefina of Russian Blog in her post on this year's Eurovision Song Contest. Siberian Light posts an overview “of every single Russian Eurovision Song Contest entry – ever!”


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Russia: History of Victory Day · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Copydude on Victory Day in today's Russia and back in the Soviet times – here and here.


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Sri Lanka: Now is not the time for Eelam · Global Voices
Rezwan

Indi.ca from Sri Lanka comments: “This is not the time or the way to establish borders. Right now we need to preserve our common humanity. Then we need to learn to live together in a united Sri Lanka. The LTTE’s Eelam seems to involve sacrificing all the Tamils there. That’s no home for anybody.”


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Sri Lanka: Understanding The Tamil Conflict · Global Voices
Rezwan

G. Kuganesan at Voices In Exile sheds a light into the background of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka: “The Tamil conflict has deep roots, distant ties that date well beyond the mere formation of a violent LTTE (Tamil Tigers) movement, a history buried in discrimination, segregation, and specific ethnic biases based on the ‘indifference of man'…The Tamils do not fight for ‘an independent state’ out of greed. They fight for an independent state for ‘Freedom’, for safety.”


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St. Lucia: Walcott Reactions  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As St. Lucian Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott withdraws from the race for Oxford Professor of Poetry, Repeating Islands posts an update: “The nearly unanimous response…from newspaper reporters, commentators, and bloggers has been one of regret and of condemnation of the tactics that pushed him to that decision.”


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Trinidad & Tobago: Seeing the Signs · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“It matters not how many skyscrapers, malls, American chain restaurants or chemical plants a country has…if [it] possesses at least five or more of these signs of underdevelopment and tyranny, then it is still a third world country at the very core”: Alien in the Caribbean sees many of those signs in Trinidad and Tobago.


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Ukraine: Updates on Lutsenko’s Scandal · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Updates on the Ukrainian interior minister's Germany scandal – at Foreign Notes and Ukrainiana.


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Africa: Donating used underwear to African women! · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A group called The Knickers For Africa is asking British women to donate their unwanted old underwear to African women. “Isn't this an insult to the women of Africa?,” asks Kojan at Zimbabwe Today.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Aruba, U.S.A.: Hubble Engineer · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Repeating Islands profiles Dr. Edward Cheung, an Aruban of Chinese descent who is the Principal Engineer of the Hubble Space Telescope Service Project.


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Azerbaijan: Bloggers speak about Baku youth protest, detentions · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Following a terrifying shooting spree at a Baku university which left 13 dead, students took to the streets to demand that a national day of mourning be declared in Azerbaijan. With the  request falling on deaf ears, several youth activists, among them some bloggers,  planned to protest the inaction, and specifically a festive holiday of flowers scheduled for 10 May.
Photo: © Arzu Geybullayeva / Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines
Jessica P. Hayden is off the map sets the scene.
According to several blogger reports […] there was a candle light vigil  at the oil academy on Friday that was broken up by the police.
[…]
Later the vigil became much more of a protest. According to some folks people were  shouting “Down with Terrorism! Down with Corruption!”
Next week is the former president's birthday. […] In past years flowers have even been used to create a  portrait of the former president. Some locals have been questioning whether it is  proper to continue with the celebration in the face of the tragedy. It will certainly  be interesting to see how the government responds.
Coordinated by various means, including online social networks such as Facebook, turnout for the peaceful protest last Sunday might have been small, but its significance was enough to force the hand of the authorities. The demonstration was dispersed and 50 people, including at least 3 bloggers, were  detained.
Among them was Global Voices Online author Ali S. Novruzov, who yesterday recounted what happened on his personal blog, In Mutatione Fortitudo.
We were around 20-30 youth, most have seen each other first time, and  were sitting in front of the National Conservatoire – opposite the Heydar Aliyev Park  where the Holiday of Flowers was held. We had two read carnations in our hands  (symbols of mourning in Azerbaijan) and were just observing Sodom and Gomorrah across  the road and were depressed by the sight of thousands visiting the Holiday – for  these law-abiding families, teachers with their students seemed to have no pity to  those killed at the Oil Academy rampage.
I think it was this depression that made us to stand up and leave the scene for State  Oil Academy to lay our carnations in front of the building in memory of those killed  11 days ago. However, we didn't make just two steps and got immediately detained.  […]
Photo: Global Voices Online author Ali S. Novruzov in police custody © In Mutatione Fortitudo
Tools such as Twitter were used to send out updates on the detentions. Although there are known problems with sending out tweets via SMS on  certain cellular phone networks in Azerbaijan, one foreign blogger, International Federation of Liberal Youth General Secretary Bart Woord, updated followers from his Blackberry via Twitter's web interface.
Global Voices Online and Global Voices Advocacy were quick to  respond and spread the word while the Committee to Protect Bloggers also followed up on the detentions. Meanwhile, OL!, a progressive Azeri youth movement notable for its use of new media, also sent out similar tweets.
Among those arrested were NDI employees Arjen and Rashad Shirin as well as Nigar Fatali from CinemAN
Translation courtesy of Arzu Geybullayeva
Bart Woord also continued to follow the situation, sending out updates on Twitter which were the main source of information for many concerned by what was occurring in Baku. He also managed to announce the release of those detained just before the battery in his mobile phone gave out.
Of course, the main accounts came after those detained were released and video interviews were posted on the OL! blog. Among them were bloggers Nigar Fatali (first), Arzu Geybullayeva (second), and Ali S. Novruzov (last).
Although spared from being dragged into police custody, Arzu Geybullayeva from Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines also posted a blog entry detailing the day's events in English.
I left my house around noon, heading to the Haydar Aliyev Park, where the so-called celebrations were to be held. […] There was police everywhere- civilian and in uniforms. […]  They knew that students and young activists might be having small-scale protests. They were afraid.
[…]
[…] A group of 15- 20 young people were sitting on the stairs opposite to the park by the State Music Academy, holding carnations in their hands and observing the crowd. At about 2 in the afternoon we decided to start walking towards the State Oil Academy to leave carnations on the steps of the building and then go home as a sign of regret for what was going on. But no, nothing can be simple in this country.
[…]
We weren't protesting out loud, we were peacefully walking on the street, heads down, talking. I guess that is also a crime or some version of hooliganism as our police forces liked to call it. […]
[…]
I am deeply saddened by what happened today. […] Today, I truly hated the fact that I am a citizen of this country! […]
Ali S. Novruzov also posted videos of some of the interviews with English subtitles on on his YouTube channel. The accounts explain why the action was held as well as detail the circumstances of the detentions.
Another detained blogger, Nigar Fatali, wrote about the experience on her Russian-language blog, Don Quixote [RU/AZ].
После прихода представителей Американского, Французского и Швейцарского посольств, а также представителей ОБСЕ, недолго думая, бравая полиция решила отпустить иностранного гражданина.
Тут, надо отдать должное директору NDI Арьену, отказавшемуся покидать отделение без своего работника, который, в свою очередь, отказывался уходить без своей девушки (stop_it_please ).
Here we should give due honour to NDI director Arjen, who refused to leave the police department without his employee, who in turn refused to go without his girlfriend (stop_it_please).
Two days later, on her newly launched English-language blog, Fighting windmills? Take a pill, the blogger reported that her release was not the end of the story.
Police came to my house to “check the registrations” asking my mom questions about me.
Global Voices Online author Ali S. Novruzov also had the same experience and posts a musical clip of a reworked version of a song from Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado.
On 12th May I have received a call from from JEK, which looks after public apartments, elevators and litter. […]
Next day came police watchdog of the neighborhood (someone like Sheriff) with three suspicious personalities to check “pasport regime” in whole building (as if our building is flooded with illegal immigrants). However, a paper in his hand betrayed the list of 10 May protesters :)
Today, my father received a call from Crime Investigation Department of our district's police – they were opening a file for me. […]
Such a wonderful country, eh? Can you have such a fun somewhere else for walking with a flower in your hand in the Holiday of Flowers? Lol! They've got a little list!
However, commenting on the action, Side-Talks Azerbaijan says it believes the atmosphere in the country is not one where such actions can succeed.
[…] To the credit of the government, a lot of developments have been achieved during the period of the administration. This is why any unrest that will agitate the people will easily be clamped down by the security personnel.
Finally, in one of a few entries, Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines posts a chronology of events, and in another asks if the action was worth it.
No mourning was declared and the celebrations took place as planned. Among those who were killed, was a new bride, married just two weeks prior to the shootings. She went to work as she did on her usual day, an hour later her mother received a phone call that her daughter was dead.
I am not a judge but how right it was to have the celebrations- the visit to Haydar Aliyev park that day was followed by a concert at the boulevard, and fireworks later in the evening. Was this how the state paid its respect for those who were killed in the shooting or a simple message that it didn't care?! Judge it yourself!

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Bahrain: Shameless Cruelty to Animals  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Back to blogging after a long hiatus, Bahraini Mahmood Al Yousif lashes out at the way ‘poor unfortunate birds’ and animals are treated in his country. Click on the link to find out why Al Yousif's blood “is still boiling.”


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Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago: CLICO Investigations · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Bad judgment or criminal wrongdoing?” asks Barbados Free Press of the CLICO debacle, adding: “The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has launched a criminal investigation into the house of cards known as CLICO and has hired one of the most respected forensic investigators in the world: Robert Lindquist.”


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China: Blaming the first H1N1 patient · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Nimrod from  Fool's Mountain blogs about angry netizens’ reaction towards the first H1N1 patient, an overseas Chinese student surnamed Bao, in China.


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China: Earthquake, one year later · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Michele Scrimenti from Chinageek translate Chang Ping's article on the 1st anniversary of Sichuan earthquake: Earthquake, One Year Later: Today Should Not Be a Celebration.


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Dominica, Cuba: Bird Festival  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“I just discovered—to my absolute delight—that the VII Festival of Caribbean Endemic Birds is being celebrated throughout the region”: Repeating Islands provides details.


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D.R. of Congo: Don’t forget Obama sticker when visiting Africa · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Don't forget your “Obama 2008″ sticker when passing through airport security in Africa, writes Emily who is visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo.


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Egypt: Court bans Porn Sites · Global Voices
Marwa Rakha

Lawyer Nizar Ghorab (Ghorab translates to Crow in Arabic) filed a lawsuit calling for banning porn sites because they destroy the core values of the Egyptian society. The Administrative Court in Cairo ruled in his favor. Between anger and sarcasm, Egyptian bloggers react to the ruling.
Moftasa wrote:
there are ways to circumvent censorship and if people want to watch porn, and they do, they will resurrect VHS.
Not very thrilled with the decision Moftasa continues saying:
This ruling is like legalizing the monitoring of people's thoughts and controlling what they want to see. Perhaps tomorrow they will want to control what you think of too.
I understand that a court can make the production of pornographic material in Egypt illegal, which is currently the case, because of the possibility of abuse of minors and women through trafficking, etc..
Another problem is the blurry definition of “obscene sites” that is described in the ruling as sites that “destroy the values of the family and society that injects its poisons and spreads vice.” I am sure that inclusion of political thought considered by the government as astray is next. Didn't this already happen?
In a post titled This page cannot be displayed, you naughty boy, Sarah Carr wrote:
The case was brought by a lawyer who clearly does not use Facebook and therefore has too much time on his hands. He is also clearly too concerned with what other people do with their time, and their hands. He raised a case demanding that the ministry of telecommunications ban ‘obscene’ websites, and the court found in his favour, goddamit.
Carr quoted an extract from the court's “pompous and stupid reasoning”:
Rights and freedoms are not absolute, but rather limited by the [need to] protect the pure essence of the family which in its turn is the basis of society, and whose constituent elements are religion, morals and patriotism. The state and society are obligated to safeguard the nation’s high level of religious upbringing, moral and patriotic values … as well as public morals.
She then invites the reader to “Observe”:
Porn – spreading depravity. Ban.
Pigs – spreading sausages. Destroy.
Hezbollah cell in Egypt – sending aid. Prosecute.
Caritas – spreading love. Stop.*
Emos – spreading black eyeliner. Arrest.
She concludes by saying:
I'm stating the obvious, but I'll say it anyway: a paranoid regime which exerts the majority of its energies on rabble rousing against an external threat(s) is trying to conceal its own inadequacies. Which is not to say that suspicion of the other does not exist in Egyptian society. It does. Ask an Egyptian Bahai. But as with xenophobia against immigrants in Western Europe, how much of this antipathy is attributable to deliberate misinformation, and poor education, and media which loves a sensation? Does what is ostensibly over zealous nationalism mask a deep insecurity, even a loss of identity?
Zeinobia is not against banning obscene sites but she has another concern:
I just fear that the regime will use this rule and twist it in order to hunt down the political websites and blogs.This is my only concern. I am not against the rule in general but if you think about it very carefully ,you will see that it is too general and vague. I am 100% with the ban of the pornographic websites but how can you control vast virtual world online like the web ?? What is the mechanism the communication ministry and NRTA are going to use in banning porn websites ?? What are the criteria used ?? Shall the ministry declare the specifications ?
Kim wonders:
How they are going to implement it. . . . . . . . . . . . . is something I would love to see.
And she fears the day the Galabeya (long dress worn by women to cover the entire body) becomes the national dress in Egypt:
Egyptian MP Mustapha al-Gindy wants the Galabeya to be recognised as Egypt's National Dress. “In Egypt, if you wear a galabeyya, you might find yourself barred from 70% of public places. This is both unconstitutional and inhuman.”
It will be interesting to see how he plans to go about getting the Galabeyya its National Status and even more interesting to see what happens once it gets national status.
I know of restaurants that have a No-Galabeyya policy and deny entry to those males dressed in this ankle length gown. (Most of the restaurants that have this policy also serve alcohol and also try to restrict entry to veiled women – purportedly to not offend the religious sentiments of those who are seen as being more religious – simply by virtue of their clothing)
Would they be able to deny entry to those clad in galabeyyas, once it is declared the national dress?
Meanwhile, Magi wrote:
Cartoonist/Dentist Ashraf Hamdi asked three questionsunder his illustration:
Egypt bans porn sites
His second question is:
His last question is:
TECHNOLOGICAL PRODIGY SCENARIO
Tech-savvy geeks will find a breach in the ban … what are proxy servers made for?
THE REAL DEAL SCENARIO
Who wants porn when they can get real prostitutes?
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE OPPRESSION SCENARIO
Just banning the sites will give people a false sense of oppression – another blow at freedom of choice.
SEXUAL OBSESSION SCENARIO
If sex is a taboo, banning these sights will make it a much bigger taboo and taboos lead to perversion.
ANOTHER SCENARIO WORTH CONSIDERING
I am positive that hundreds of blogs will be banned under the assumption that they contain obscene pictures.

author: Marwa Rakha


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Guatemala: Rosenberg Video Causes Uncertainty and Speculation · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

It is the video that all of Guatemala is talking about. The 18-minute clip posted on YouTube depicts the murdered lawyer Rodrigo Rosenberg and was released under the instructions to do so only in the event of his own death. After his body was found in a Guatemala neighborhood, his family released the video, in which Rosenberg names Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom, the First Lady ,and two close associates as those personally responsible for the murder.
In the video, Rosenberg accuses them of corruption and money laundering through the use of a state-owned bank Banrural (Rural Bank). He also accused them of being responsible for the murder of his clients former bank board member Khalil Musa and his daughter. Rosenberg claimed that Musa had found out about the corruption and that was what the reason for their deaths.
Naturally, an event of this magnitude in Guatemala, would elicit a flood of responses from that country's blogosphere and twittosphere. One such blogger and twitterer, Jean Anleu Fernández tweeted the following recommendation [es], “The first action people should take is to withdraw your money from Banrural, and bankrupt the bank of the corrupt.” That was enough for the country's Office of the Prosecutor to arrest and charge Anleu, also known as @jeanfer on Twitter. He was charged with “intent to commit financial panic.”
Anleu's arrest comes as a surprise to many Guatemalan bloggers because of the non-political nature of his blogs. Many of his subjects are about his favorite books and about the field of information technology, in which he works. In addition, Anelu only had 212 followers at the time, according to Maestros del Web [es]. A judge sentenced him to house arrest and ordered him to pay a fine in the amount of $6,500 USD.
The arrest has angered many bloggers causing campaigns of solidarity, including the collection of donations to pay for the fine [es].  Others don't buy the fact that such a tweet could produce the panic claimed by the government. Jorge Mota wonders why the authorities could move so quickly on a case like this, but the more serious accusation from the Rosenberg video has yet to receive the same treatment [es]:
Sí, así de absurdo es este país, Te incriminan de asesinato en un vídeo y puedes negarlo todo, y claro la impunidad en el país te protege. Pero haces un comentario en Twitter y te arrestan. Por qué fue tan eficiente la policía para localizarlo, conseguir la orden, allanarlo y arrestarlo en este caso? por qué la ineficiencia reina y campa contra cada caso de violencia, asesinato y demás en nuestra patria. Pero claro, El gobierno quiere callar el movimiento online en contra suya.
Yes, the country is that absurd. One gets incriminated for murder by a video and one can deny everything, and of course the country's impunity protects. But one makes a comment on Twitter, and is arrested. Why was the police so efficient in located, obtaining the order, raiding and arresting in this case? Why does inefficiency rule during any case of violence, murder and everything else in our country. But of course, the government wants to silence the online movement against it.
Twitterer Jomap19 echoes the sentiment [es]:
La cqaptura de @jeanfer me parece una descarada cortina de humo para desviar la atencion de las acusasiones al presidente Colon #escandalogt
The hashtag being used by Guatemalan twitterers, bloggers, and others angered by these recent events is #escandalogt (Guatemala Scandal).  Ethan Zuckerman of My Heart's in Accra analyzed the use of the hashtag  and found that “#escandalogt is about as frequent as several of the tags listed on Twitter’s “Trending Topics”, getting more use than #fixreplies, #GoogleFail and #theoffice, all currently featured on the right sidebar.”
As more and more buzz is created on the internet, many wonder whether the arrest of Anleu is a sign of things to come. Luis Figueroa of Carpe Diem [es] writes:
Hoy que el Procurador Portillo Merlos amenazó a quienes difundan la información que destapó Rodrigo Rosenberg, me pregunto: La administración de Los Colom ¿irá a perseguir a la revista Time por el artículo titulado A Video from the Grave Sends Guatemala into Crisis?
Today the Prosecutor Portillo Merlos threatened those who spread the information that Rodrigo Rosenberg uncovered, and I ask: The Colom administration, will it chase Time magazine for the article titled A Video from the Grave Sends Guatemala into Crisis?
As a result of much of this uncertainty and frustration, protests are starting to emerge on the streets of Guatemala City. James Rodriguez of Mi Mundo has photos and describes the two competing groups protesting:
As a result of the crisis, two very different protests were carried out in the central park of Guatemala City. The first gathering brought thousands of demonstrators who angrily demand justice for Rosenberg’s death in addition to a resolution for the out-of-control violence in which Guatemalan society lives today. This first group, composed primarily by residents from the wealthier sectors, also demands the immediate resignation of President Colom.
Simultaneously, dozens of buses brought hundreds of organized people to show their support for President Colom in front of the Presidential Palace. These governmental sympathizers come primarily from low-income shantytowns, known as asentamientos, within the outskirts of Guatemala City. During a live CNN interview on Tuesday the 12th, President Colom admitted his UNE party had strong presence and support in such areas. These demonstrators claim that Colom’s government is victim of a movement seeking political instability. Despite the tensions among the groups, no violent confrontations occurred.
As the events continue to develop surrounding the video, the protests and the speculated targeting of those spreading information about the case, it is certain that they will not stop from being discussed online.


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India: Perils Of An Unstable Government · Global Voices
Rezwan

On the day before the election results Blogs from Brain comments on the perils of an unstable government: “Once the results are out, the next thing is the stability of the Government. Most of them are aware that due to proliferation of regional parties with which the Government will be formed, they are already predicting that it will be an unstable Government. The result? Elections again in just over an year and a hole in Govt's exchequer.”

author: Rezwan


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India: Remembering The 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots · Global Voices
Rezwan

Sidhusaaheb at I, Me, Myself remembers the Operation Blue Star and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, India. The riots  were triggered by the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, by two of her Sikh bodyguards (in retaliation for Operation Bluestar). The article in three parts can be found here, here and here.


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Jamaica, Dominican Republic: Whale Watching  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Most well meaning individuals who seek out whale watching and other ecotourism activities are not aware of the potential danger that wildlife watching can cause”: Jamaican diaspora blogger Labrish expains.