text:
Poland: Netizens Protest Government’s Plan to Sign ACTA Next Week · Global Voices
Kasia Odrozek

With the world still talking about the aftermath of the SOPA/PIPA Blackout Day, Polish netizens are confronted with another backstabbing development in the fight for free Internet.
On January 19, 2012, during a meeting with NGOs and business representatives, the Polish government announced  [pl] that it would sign the controversial anti-piracy agreement ACTA on January 26. While the governement calls it a success [pl] of the Polish EU Presidency, netizens are outraged with the arbitrary decision and are calling to take action against the proposal.
ACTA, the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, is a proposed plurilateral agreement for the purpose of establishing international standards on intellectual property rights enforcement. According to La Quadrature du Net and other globally active digital rights organisations, such as Electronic Frontier Foundation or European Digital Rights, ACTA would impose new criminal sanctions forcing Internet actors to monitor and censor online communications. Creating legal uncertainty for Internet companies, ACTA would become a major threat to freedom of expression online and another assault against the culture of sharing on the Internet.
Image by flickr user PateandoPiedrasweb under the CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 licence.
The decision of the Polish government [pdf, pl] to sign the “European SOPA” worries [pl] blogger Maciej Gajewski from the tech website Spiderweb.pl:
Lately, one talks a lot about SOPA and PIPA bills and this is very good: in my opinion, these are the reprehensible bills and I think that the goal should never justify the means. For the Polish netizens the consequences of these two bills are negligible. If they were adopted, they would concern us only regarding the possibility to block our website for people in the USA. And that's actually it. But meanwhile, just in one week, our country, as a country subordinated to the European Union, will join the ACTA agreement. And this can hurt us. Very much.
An agreement negotiated behind the people's backs
But it's not only the content of the agreement proposal that upsets the netizens. The very secret character of the international ACTA negotiations and a stunning lack of public consultations and transparency in the negotiating process are clearly pointing to a democracy failure, according to [pl] Antyweb, a popular Polish tech-blogger:
They promised debates – nothing. They promised openness – nothing. Democracy is being destroyed, the deputies don't know what they are signing, and all this will lead to a situation when bloggers, scientists and entrepreneurs will be qualified as criminals. And if not, they will anyway walk on thin ice, paying attention not to step on a patent spot with an additinal R letter in a circle on the right side.
The digital rights blog Prawo.vagla.pl criticises [pl] the scandalous ignorance of the Polish government:
We found out that, of course, it's no longer possible to withdraw the decision about the signature of a Polish representative on the ACTA document, that this signature will be put and it will open the way to the ratification procedure. I asked the representatives of these ministries if they had any plan in case the European or the Polish Parliament would not not agree to the ratification. I heard that “it would put us to shame.” I wonder what is a bigger shame, and if it's not maybe the way of working on this kind of an international agreement where the public opinion couldn't get the public information it deserves.
In reaction to the netizens’ protest, the Polish Minister of Administration and Digitalisation, Michal Boni [pl], asked [pl] the PM Donald Tusk to re-discuss the agreement before signing it. The meeting [pl] will take place on January 24.
ACTA has to be stopped
In the meantime the Polish Internet is fuming with anger. Facebook pages, such as Poland against ACTA & SOPA and NIE dla ACTA w Polsce, spring up like mushrooms and gather hundreds of thousands of netizens around the protest. On the wall of the Facebook event Nie dla ACTA, Rafal Mirski writes [pl]:
I am in favor of intellectual property protection but not with these methods! This is throwing the baby out with the bath water. You can't allow to subordinate the whole Internet to any group of interest. ACTA is forcing Internet providers to censorship! And it is in fact puzzling how fast, without any public debate, one tries to dictate some solutions. We definitely have to stop it!
Maciej Gajewski from Spiderweb doesn't like [pl] the perspective of being monitored all the time:
First of all: although I don't share anything illegal on the net, I don't feel comfortable knowing that somebody is registering my every step on the Internet. Even if it's an automatic machine. Secondly, these will cause huge costs for the providers. Our activity has to be monitored and archived. Let's prepare for a big raise of Internet prices.
Polish digital rights organisations sent an appeal [pdf, pl] to the PM, drawing his attention to the risks of ACTA. On Wykop, a Polish version of Digg, user katius posted a protest letter [pl] to the Members of the Parliament, encouraging other users to address their representatives with the issue. A series of live protest events [pl] in the biggest Polish cities are planned to take place.
A Polish blackout?
Encouraged by the SOPA/PIPA protest success in the United States, blogger Antyweb calls on his blog [pl] for a Polish blackout:
We have to arrange a specific date (pretty fast) and switch off in the Polish web whatever we can while displaying information about ACTA and about damaging democracy. We need to draw peoples’ attention to the fact that this is not the way to take decisions in a modern democratic state. Americans could make it, Poles can do it as well – especially the “internet”-ones. What about Monday, [January 23]? But which of the Polish websites will give up money in the name of defending democracy and free Internet?
Also, the Polish Wikipedia community is considering a blackout [pl] and is in the process of editing an anti-ACTA manifest [pl].
Last hope: European Parliament's veto right
The whole situation looks a bit less dramatic once we consider that the Polish signature alone doesn't change anything yet. The agreement needs to be ratified by the European Parliament. Antyweb writes [pl]:
If we want to fight ACTA, then we need to do it on the European Parliament level – it is there where ACTA will have its “to be or not to be.” The EP can dismiss ACTA completely and then the bill lands in trash. Amen. But it doesn't change the fact that it is worthy to take action on January 26.
As promising as it sounds, isn't it quite dissapointing that instead of counting on one's own government to protect civil and digital rights of its citizens, one has to rely on the reason of EU politicians? Twitter user @PrzemoBrozek sums it up [pl]:
On January 26 Poland will sign ACTA. According to the agreement, Internet providers will have to monitor all users’ activities. 1984 MODE ON.
Update:
On January 21, around 7 PM,  Anonymous hackers have blocked access to the websites of the Sejm, the lower Chamber of the Polish Parliament, the Chancellery of the PM, the President, and the Ministry of Culture. At the time of writing this article, the websites are still offline.

author: Kasia Odrozek


text:
Sri Lanka: A Fan Of Meter Taxi · Global Voices
Rezwan

The introduction of metered taxi in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo has made the lives of many commuters easy. Sayanthan has already become a fan of these taxis.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Rezwan


text:
Togo: Public hearings for the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission · Global Voices
Abdoulaye Bah

Ayetan Charles wrote [fr]: “Beyond the formal proceedings, the public and the private hearings on the Commission on Truth, Justice and Reconciliation (CVJR), it is once again possible for the population to listen to other revelations about the political violence that the country experienced from 1958 to 1960. “

author: Abdoulaye Bah


text:
Tunisia: ”Do Not Censor Pornographic Content” · Global Voices
Afef Abrougui

Once again, in the post Ben Ali era, censorship and freedom of speech, is at the centre of  debate. The reason this time is a complaint lodged by three lawyers against the Tunisian Internet Agency (known as the ATI by its French acronym) calling upon it to filter pornographic websites.
Early next month, the ATI, will appeal to the Court of Cassation's (the highest court of appeal) verdict issued on May 26, 2011, by a court in Tunis ordering the agency to block access to pornographic content on the web.
The ATI, which lost appeal on August 15, 2011, claims that “the filtering of pornographic websites listed by Smart Filter could not be carried out for the five Internet service providers.” On the other hand, the lawyers who lodged the complaint claim that the filtering of pornographic content will protect children surfing the net.
Outside the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI) in Tunis, Tunisia by Jillian C. York (CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0)
The solution is not censorship
The Tunisian Internet Agency, so desperate to to put an end to its old image as an Internet censor during the rule of Ben Ali, prefers to raise the awareness of Internet users, and especially parents by giving them practical tips on the use of parental control software instead of blocking websites.
The agency tweeted on January 13 [fr]:
La #Censure d’ #Internet n'est pas la solution, informez-vous sur comment protéger vos enfants sur: http://www.ati.tn/fr/index.php?id=125
Mehdi Lamloum wrote on August 3, 2011 [fr]:
Les tunisiens ont depuis longtemps eu accès aux contenus pour adultes et ce à travers les récepteurs satellites(…)
Une solution simple : le contenu pour adulte était là, disponible mais non accessible sauf si on avait le mot de passe (…)
L'exposition à un contenu pour adulte n'est donc pas “un danger” nouveau pour la société tunisienne ou “une menace” inédite comme le laissait supposer la plainte mais bel et bien d'une situation “habituelle” depuis plus d'une dizaine d'années à laquelle nombre de foyers tunisiens avait trouvé une solution simple.
Il suffirait donc de demander aux FSI d'ajouter une case à leur formulaire d'adhésion à une ligne ADSL “Limiter l'accès au contenu pour adulte”.
On appelle cela le contrôle parental
Tunisian netizens and free speech advocates, who support an absolute net freedom, believe that filtering pornography online, can be used as a pretext to limit freedom of speech, and thus pave the ground for the return of censorship.
Dhouha Ben Youssef, blogger for the collective blog Nawaat, expresses her anxiety about the return of Ammar404 (the nickname used by Tunisian netizens to refer to censorship):
One year after the announcement of the death of Ammar404, there is now a risk of his irreversible comeback. If in February 2012, during the upcoming hearing opposing the Tunisian Internet Agency, and a group of citizens, the court of cassation will issue a verdict ordering the filtering of pornographic content online, censorship, stronger than before, will see the daylight again
Mr President changed his mind
Moncef Marzouki, the new Tunisian President, said in an interview published on YouTube  [fr] with Taieb Moalla (@moalla:
There should be red lines limiting freedom of speech…these red lines should not be used as pretexts for censorship…the lines should be debated and accepted by all
In an another interview before his election, and during the electoral campaign, Marzouki expressed a totally different point of view, when he said:
I’m for freedom of speech with its negative aspects, and against censorship even when it has a positive aspect…Netizens should be left free, and should be educated and informed…I refuse that the government allocates a budget for the purchase of censorship equipment…
Dhouha Ben Youssef raises a major question [fr]:
Et si nous n’étions qu’une minorité à se soucier du retour de Ammar404 ?
She adds:
peut-être que le tunisien n’a pas en tête la « NetFreedom » comme priorité, mais nous sommes tout de même presque 3 millions d’internautes ! Qu’attendons-nous ? Alors que partout dans le monde les défenseurs de la liberté d’expression scandent leurs refus de différents projets de censure comme Hadopi en France ou SOPA aux états unis, nous autres Tunisiens avons « oublié » que le danger nous guettait encore, rappelez-vous de ce que vous avez vécu sous ZABA, du rôle qu’a joué Internet pour le dégager, du fabuleux sentiment de liberté retrouvée mais hélas qui pourrait disparaitre au mois de février.

author: Afef Abrougui


text:
Yemen: Saleh Gets Impunity After All  · Global Voices
Noon Arabia

This post is part of our special coverage Yemen Protests 2011.
Five times after delaying discussion on a controversial immunity law,  parliament endorsed the law granting outgoing Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh total immunity from legal and judicial prosecution yesterday. The law grants Saleh complete immunity for any crimes committed during his rule, including the killing of protesters since the beginning of the popular uprising against his regime in February.
The law prior to it's amended version had also given complete immunity to everyone who served Saleh's governments throughout his rule, yet it was changed on Thursday to grant them immunity only on “politically motivated” criminal acts, thus not covering corruption charges.
Veteran activist @alguneid tweeted:
#Breaking by phone from inside parliament #Sanaa Atmosphere is so emotional. Pro and anti- Saleh MPs are so happy to get rid of Saleh #Yemen
@alguneid added:
#Breaking by phone from inside parliament #Sanaa many MPs, cried, includin PM. It's over. Saleh finished,legally& constitutionally. #Yemen
Yemeni blogger @Afrahnasser tweeted:
#Yemen's PM crying at the parliament ; requesting to grant immunity for #Saleh youtu.be/P4xNls91pRc
The video of the PM crying was posted by KareemoS and sparked different reactions:
Journalist and eyewitness @mohammedalqadhi tweeted his reaction:
I have felt i wanted to cry loudly as I saw the prime minister weeping at the parliament in appeal to take Yemen off its dilemma!
@ichamza sarcastically tweeted:
u need a bill to pass in this political scene? no need for reason or logic or any of this shit! just cry in front of Parliament! #Yemen #Waa
Yemeni Journalist and Winner of International Press Freedom Award 2011 @KhaledHammadi tweeted:
#Yemen PM #Basundowa crys in parliament asking MPs to pass immunity law draft as a tool to avoid crisis
He added:
@KhalidHammadi: #Yemen parliament approves nomination of vice-president Abdu Raboo Hadi as sole presidential candidate 4 all parties at next Feb21 election
Freelance journalist @ionacraig, who is currently in Yemen, added:
Parliament agreed today to pass amended immunity law. Just needs final sign off from VP Hadi to become law. #Yemen
She pointed the crimes that Saleh is not immune from:
@ionacraig: Immunity does NOT include UN classified: Crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes, gross violations of human rights & sexual violence.
Journalist Jane Novak criticized the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) plan in her blog Armies of Liberation :
Its astounding that the GCC plan legitimizes the parliament, whose terms expired in 2009, to grant immunity to Saleh but doesn’t require those who have immunity to retire. The uncontested election is a waste of time and money as the international community undermined the concept of Yemenis right to self determination by ignoring their demands entirely. Its a veneer of democracy on a totally undemocratic process. The GCC plan also empowers the existing political parties and elites to a level beyond their credibility with the public.
I also tweeted my disappointment:
@NoonArabia: How can a new era for #Yemen start with impunity?! I and many Yemenis are disappointed, so are the families of the martyrs.
@Amal_Nasser replied:
@NoonArabia new era for saleh but not for yemen. the country is not through with the misery #Saleh caused !
And @HatemRushdi replied referring to the case of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak:
Is it better or worse than the mockery of a trial we are having here? I am not too sure, maybe best to move on, maybe not
@abdullaht pragmatically tweeted:
Today Yemeni parliament approved complete immunity law for Saleh, a dark day in history of justice, but time to move on and fix country!
And as @SummerNasser wisely tweeted:
Saleh has left w/out punishment, but I'm not worried at all- b/c he's going to get his punishment from God. Whether on this earth or after.
Malcom X said  “I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it is for or against.”
We have witnessed the fate of the Arab Spring despots who have fallen. Tunisia's Zine Al Abedeen Ben Ali made a swift escape to Saudi Arabia, Libyan Muammar Gaddafi faced a despicable death, Mubarak is facing a farce of a trial and Saleh today got the best deal ever given to a dictator with blood on his hands – impunity.
Yemenis have been marching in millions for months rejecting the immunity law, offered to Saleh and his regime by the GCC deal, which was eventually passed by parliament with disregard to international law and popular demand. The passing of this law was undoubtedly a black day for justice which brought an end to Saleh's 33 years of rule, however a new page whether we agree or disagree of how it was written, has been turned in Yemen's history.
This post is part of our special coverage Yemen Protests 2011.

author: Noon Arabia


text:
Barbados: Excuses for Crime?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbados Underground thinks that “it is time to see crime in a different light.  It is not only the victim’s problem, it is society’s and it cannot be solved by giving ready made excuses to thieves and robbers.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


text:
Brunei: Support Group for Individuals with Autism · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Society for the Management of Autism Related issues in Training, Education and Resources – Brunei Darussalam or Smarter Brunei is a family support group and association which was established to protect every individual member with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their family members.

author: Mong Palatino


text:
Cambodia: Video of Military Assault Against Land Protesters · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Licadho, a Cambodian human rights organization, uploads a video of an alleged military assault against rural villagers who were being evicted from their land in Kratie's Snuol district.


text:
Costa Rica’s Online Community Joins Fight Against SOPA and Censorship · Global Voices
Luis Diego Molina

Following the virtual strike against the the United States’ Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the subsequent shutdown of Megaupload, a file-sharing website, Costa Rica's online community is no longer staying out of the fight against Internet censorship.
On January 17, Costa Rican blogger community TicoBlogger [es] announced its support for the fight [es] led by Wikipedia (which “turned off” its English page for 24 hours).  TicoBlogger published the following statement [es]:
Porque somos una comunidad unida de personas que piensan diferente, pero creemos firmemente en el derecho que tiene cada uno de nuestros miembros de expresarse libremente es que desde el día de hoy y mañana, representativamente nos uniremos a Wikipedia, para hacer una lucha simbólica en contra de SOPA  y PIPA.
Los visitantes de cualquier blog de ticoblogger, se encontrarán mensajes en contra de la Censura de Internet, y el contenido parcialmente bloqueado en la primera visita.”
Logo against SOPA. Taken from Ticoblogger.com
Because we are a united community of people who think differently, but we firmly believe in the right that each one of our members has of freely expressing him or herself, and starting from this day forward, we are joining Wikipedia to form a symbolic fight against SOPA and PIPA.
Visitors to any blog on ticoblogger will find messages against Internet Censorship and partially blocked content on the homepage.
Various blogs pertaining to the TicoBlogger network joined the protest, re-posting the statement, censoring parts of their posts or contributing their own reasons to fight against SOPA, like El Alumbrado Público [es], whose author asserts:
Como bloguero, no puedo estar a favor de una ley que busca privar a la población mundial de información, entretenimiento, y sobre todo de cultura y conocimiento.
On his own behalf, Julio Córdoba, author of Ciencia Ficción affirms [es]:
Internet ha crecido por hombres y mujeres que libremente comparten sus ideas. La recreación, conocimiento y amistad nacional e internacional es uno de los grandes frutos de la herramienta. Son los menos quienes violentan derechos ajenos y soluciones equivocadas solo atentan contra el espíritu mismo de la red. Hoy, como miembro de ticoblogger, este blog se une a la protesta contra SOPA.
Another of the collective's blogs, Conejitos Suicidas [es], shared an excerpt that derechoaleer.org [es] elaborated upon, which explains how SOPA can affect users even outside of the United States. With respect to this, they cite [es]:the following:
si bien la ley sólo regirá en territorio estadounidence, al concentrar ese país la mayor parte de la infraestructura de la red, casi todos los servicios y sitios que utilizamos diariamente se verán afectados: Youtube, Wikipedia, Google o Twitter, como ejemplos.
Por otro lado, Estados Unidos aloja servicios básicos de la red, como el control sobre los dominios genéricos (.com, .net, .org) que aunque pertenezcan a sitios fuera de su territorio, a partir de su aplicación podrán ser inhabilitados desde Estados Unidos, sin considerar el sistema judicial del país afectado, según la campaña “anti SOPA” publicada por el sitio.
If the law will truly only govern on U.S. territory, upon concentrating the majority of this country's web infrastructure, almost all of the services and sites that we use daily will be affected: Youtube, Wikipedia, Google, or Twitter, to name a few.
On the other hand, the United States houses basic web services, such as control over generic domains (.com, .net, .org) that, while belonging to websites outside its territory, after its application can be disabled from the United States, without considering the judicial system of the affected country, according to the “anti SOPA” campaign published on the website.
The news of the FBI's shutdown of Megaupload and Anonymous’ counterattack against the U.S. government (closing the FBI website, among others) also generated commotion on social networks in Costa Rica.
As such, Twitter users were swift to react.  Heidy Murillo (@Sancarleña77) [es] wrote:
El FBI tiene el olfato político del un oso de peluche, cerrar #Megaupload después de #StopSopa fue una provocación gacha. #OpMegaupload #SDP.
In response to this outlook, the author of El Alambrado Público expressed the opinion [es] that:
Una gran parte de la Internet, tal cual la conocemos hoy, ha desaparecido. Miles de blogs y foros quedaron inservibles. A comenzar de cero, ¿nada más eso queda? ¿Entenderían mi punto si pasara lo mismo con Taringa?
El contenido de entretenimiento es una mínima parte del gran error que cometió el Departamento de Justicia Estadounidense. No se trata de velar por el bienestar económico de Hollywood o Universal Music; se trata de garantizar y facilitar el acceso al conocimiento, a la cultura y a la información a la población mundial. Decenas de tutoriales libres, documentales de libre distribución, fotografías, documentos culturas e históricos han desaparecido”.
A huge part of the Internet, as we know it today, has disappeared. Thousands of blogs and forums were left unusable. We have to start from zero, what else is left? Would you understand my point if the same thing happened to Taringa?
Entertainment content is a small part of the huge mistake that the U.S. Department of Justice has committed. It's not about watching over the economic well being of Hollywood or Universal Music; it's about guaranteeing and facilitating access to knowledge, culture, and information to the world. Dozens of free tutorials, freely distributed documentaries, photos, cultural and historical documents have disappeared.

author: Luis Diego Molina


text:
Cuba: “Intolerance for Dissent”  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Cuban bloggers draw attention to Amnesty International's stand on the recent death of prisoner of conscience Wilman Villar Mendoza.


text:
Cuba: More on Wilman Villar Mendoza · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Bloggers continue to share their thoughts on the death of Cuban dissident and hunger striker Wilman Villar Mendoza.


text:
Cuba: The Loss of a Decent Man  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“We are 11 million common criminals, whose misdeeds range from buying milk on the black market to having a satellite dish”: Generation Y says that “now, with the death of Wilman Villar Mendoza, once again the old system of State insult repeats itself…[because] it would be very dangerous if people started to believe that a regime opponent would sacrifice his life for a cause, to be a good patriot and even a decent man.”


text:
East Timor: Monitoring the 2012 Elections · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

There are 10 candidates so far in the coming elections in East Timor. Centru Jornalista Investigativu Timor-Leste is one of the media networks monitoring the polls


text:
Europe: Radio Documentary to Chronicle Long-Term Effects of Crisis · Global Voices
Asteris Masouras

Chronicles of a European Winter is a radio documentary series project focused on the actual effects of austerity measures amongst the populations of different European countries. It will be shot and edited between December 2011 and May 2012 in Greece, Ireland and Spain, and episodes will be licensed under Creative Commons.

author: Asteris Masouras


text:
Fourth Friendship Lao-Thai Bridge · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

This youtube video gives an overview of the fourth Friendship Bridge which was designed to link Laos and Thailand across the Mekong River


text:
France, Turkey: Retaliations Expected for Controversial Law on Armenian Genocide · Global Voices
Claire Ulrich

The Huffington post, in the launch issue of its Francophone version, publishes a column [fr] listing “Five retaliations Turkey could take on France” as the French Senate is preparing to vote the final draft of this controversial “memory” law this monday, January 23, 2011. This bill will enforce a fine or even a prison sentence for anyone in France denying that the Armenian genocide actually happened.

author: Claire Ulrich


text:
Guatemalans Climb to Raise Awareness About Domestic Violence · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

“On January 21, Under the name of Subida por la vida [“Climb for life”], there were over 8,000 people climbing Volcán de Agua (Water Volcano) to form the largest heart in the world at 12,335 feet as part of campaign to bring awareness and to reduce domestic violence,” Antigua Daily Photo reports, and shares photos and a video of the event.

author: Silvia Viñas


text:
Haiti: Leadership Triangle · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“There they were, at the official ceremony: the living, breathing banes of Haiti’s existence”: The Haitian Blogger republishes an article which suggests that Martelly, Clinton and Duvalier's “rubbing shoulders” at a recent event “offer[s] an insight into the prospects for Haiti’s reconstruction and, indeed, into the prospects for Haiti’s political and economic future.”


text:
Indonesia’s Teenage Thief and ‘Sandal Scandal’ · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Police in the Central Sulawesi capital of Palu, Indonesia beat a 15 year-old boy named A.A.L and threatened him with a five-year jail sentence after the boy was accused of stealing a pair of $1-flip-flops owned by a policeman. The incident has angered many citizens who launched a ‘sandal protest’ by depositing sandals in front of police stations across the country.
According to the protesters, the ‘sandal scandal’ highlighted the injustice experienced by the poor while the rich and powerful accused of corruption are given special treatment by the police:
This is the latest in a series of recent incidents from Aceh to Bima and from Lampung to Cilacap in which the police have turned against our children and vulnerable citizens and abused their power. But people have had enough and are sending a ‘flood of sandals’ to demonstrate their disgust. Now, the police are on the back foot and the government is feeling the heat. If we can build a huge public petition to President Yudhoyono we could force him to rein in our police and initiate critical reforms.
An online petition was initiated urging the president to implement reforms on how the police perform their duties:
To President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono:
In the wake of the A.A.L. sandal scandal, we call on you to end the criminalisation of children, initiate a fundamental review of the police, and devise urgent reform programmes so that our police carry out their civic duties repsonsibly. This is a time for you to stand with Indonesian citizens — we count on you to take all necessary steps to bring about a police force that works for the people, not against them.
But Jakartass notes the limitation of petition campaigns:
Let the pressure mount from within is what I've suggested  A petition will do nothing, but making monkeys out of the police by presenting them with bananas is not an arrestable offence, but they will surely take note. Non-violent yet upfront demonstrations can be effective and media-worthy events.
'Sandals for Justice'. Photo from petition page in avaaz.org
Donny Syofyan suggests some legislative remedies to protect the rights of children:
Hence, the need for Juvenile Court legislation that really makes sense, that would prevent children from being detained in prison. There must be correction houses, such as boarding schools or special dorms, for children with legal problems.
The government and the House of Representatives need to say yes to pass the bill without delay. The bill must give an ear to a restorative justice approach with a view to prioritizing mediation and rehabilitation over penalties.
The absence of the country’s justice system in dealing with young delinquents frequently makes law enforcers take a punitive approach.
Armando Siahaan writes about the ‘pervasive irony’ in the Indonesian legal system:
If law enforcers would go after high-level corruption the same way they handled the kid who stole a pair of sandals from a police officer, just imagine how clean this country would be.
But surely there is a remedy short of taking them to court. Being found guilty could result in these youngsters being stigmatized as criminals and face possible psychological damage that could harm their future.
Sadly, the sandal scandal is just another example of the pervasive irony in our legal system. It’s easy to nab young wrongdoers, but mission impossible to catch the really big fish.
Protrait Indonesia describes the reactions of the people after the police beating incident was made public:
There was a bit of a national uproar; even normally judgmental religious leaders protested at the harshness of this prospective sentence. The press rushed to contrast the potential sentence with the lenient treatment of politicians and businesspeople accused of corruption. People convicted of stealing millions of dollars often spend just a few months in jails kitted out with gyms, spas and private dining rooms. In the end the kid was indeed convicted, but was sent home to lick his police-inflicted wounds with nothing more than stern warnings as punishment.
Nomadlife supports the ‘sandal protest’:
It's great to see that grass root movement in Indonesia is going strong. We still have tons of stupid stuff going on that need to be challenged publicly.
Colson calls the protest as “beating bitter irony by frisky irony”:
An action – “1000 sandals for the national police commander”- has been launched to shower the men in uniform with sandals. Mountains of that footwear are being delivered at the police station.
It is what it should be: beating bitter irony by frisky irony.
I guess the best way to undermine their authoritarian haughtiness is to confront these men with power with playful teasing.  Like this peaceful demonstration by which people show they don’t buy their bullshit any-more.
Three cheers to public opinion which is way  ahead of the Police.


text:
Iran: Sanctions Bite, and the Iranian Currency Falls · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Iranians are facing a financial tsunami as the national currency (Rial) loses value day by day as sanctions against Iranian oil and the banking system get tougher. The Rial was trading at nearly 20,000 to the U.S. dollar on Saturday on the black market, compared to 18,000 Rials a day earlier.
Some bloggers blame Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for failing to keep his economic promises. Fasl tazeh says [fa]:
One dollar is currently traded at about 2,200 tomans (22,000 Rials) and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took a trip to Mashhad to talk about Taziyeh [religious art].
Nikahang Kowsar, Image from Roozonline
Harfayi az Tahe Del says:
The Iranian regime [Velyate Faghieh] took Iran and its people hostage for its useless nuclear energy…. The economy is collapsing… dark days are ahead of us… with prayer nothing will get changed… This regime and its nuclear energy only gave th Iranian people poverty and misery.
The blogger Sight writes [fa] ironically, that is it a bad thing that “most of our people became millionaires. You need to have one gold coin to have one million tomans”.
Hamdel writes [fa]:
… People consider the Islamic Republic's political and economic situation unstable and they exchange their Rials to Dollars, Euros and gold. The Islamic Republic moves into the direction that there is no hope for economic and political improvements. Concerning the economic situation, we can compare Iran to a bankrupt company. In regards to foreign policy, Iran is in the worst situation of the last 30 years and is led by Iran's Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei. More and more workers become jobless and people's purchasing power is declining.
Dara2011 predicted fall of the Rial a couple of weeks ago. The blogger says [fa]:
… since the Islamic Revolution, Iran's leaders do not care about the economy and just want to remain in power. During Ahmadinejad's presidency the economic situation has deteriorated more. A Dollar was around 70 Rials in 1979 and now we buy at 14,000 rials because the Dollar is on its way to becoming 2,000 rials. Does Iran become Middle East's Zimbabwe, with a national currency without value?

author: Fred Petrossian


text:
Madagascar: Exiled Former President Ravalomanana Refused Return · Global Voices
Avylavitra

Crowd awaiting the landing of the flight by Avylavitra
Marc Ravalomanana, Madagascar’s former President, has been in exile in Johannesburg, South Africa, since leaving the country in February 2009. He attempted Saturday, January 21, 2012 to return to the country, after failing to board a plane back home in February 19, 2011, when Andry Rajoelina, who toppled him after a coup, issued several NOTAMs prohibiting him from landing in the capital city's airport, Ivato.
Twitterers followed events live, using the special twitter hashtag #M21112.  Here is a timeline of the event as told by twitter users.
Twitterers noticed the arrival of several pro-Ravalomanana politicians as well as important characters in the former Ravalomanana government on January 21.
(Given the numerous Twitter updates, the twitter quotes were directly translated from their original language to facilitate the reading of the article)
@topmada: “#Madagascar #M21112 Fetison Rakoto Andrianirina, Charles Rabemananjara, Tojo Ravalomanana are also there
@topmada : Come-back of Ravalomanana : Manandafy, Mamy Rakotoarivelo, Guy Rivo Andrianarisoa, Naika Eliane in the Ivato VIP lounge #madagascar #M21112
@topmada : Come-back of Ravalomanana : Pierrot Botozaza, Ruffine Tsiranana, Ihanta Randriamandranto also at Ivato #Madagascar #M21112
Twitters updates were rife with rumors about the possibility of his arrest, and even of his arrest warrant having been lifted.
@falyfamalagasy : General Forum:: Official Website Forum of the Ravalomanana Party :: OFFICIAL : The arrest warrant has not been lifted bit.ly/A7MCMY
@hairyt : Madagascar's ex-leader flies home under arrest threat bit.ly/xmFGWY #gasikara #m21112
@myrakoto Mamy Yve RAKOTOMANGA: #Ravalomanana – Tvplus announces the lift of the arrest warrant!!!
Supporters of the former president came early in the morning at the International Airport of Antananarivo, reporting problems :
@Tefy_eyes Tyfe Dawg: Buses of the delegation from Toamasina were stopped by the authorities of Sarimasina on the RN2 road and are threatened to impoundment @francediplo
@jentilisa Zo Andriamifidisoa: “@gasyjodasy: Roadblock of the emmonat at the entry of #Ivato # Madagascar #M21112”
Crowd at Ivato Airport by Avylavitra
All roads leading to Ivato and its surroundings were filled with cars and crowds. It was difficult, if not impossible, to circulate, 2 km from the airports.
@mammysou Mamisoa: The crowd continues to pour in, on foot, by car, or by pubic transport…#Madagascar #M21112
A few minutes after the plane entered Malagasy airspace, it was ordered to turn back because the airport where it was to land at was closed, even airports in the provinces. Followed several moments of uncertainty where twitterers thought Ravalomanana had headed to Mozambique, or if he would even be arrested in South Africa.
@topmada TopMada.com: #madagascar #M21112 Andry Rajoelina issued several NOTAM to close airfields in Antananarivo, Toamasina and Toliary
@ranjachrys: Plane carrying Madagascar's Ravalomanana diverts to Mozambique: bit.ly/AzdeI9 (Reuters) #M21112
@hdleague Human D League: @tomavana @nirent That would be ironic if he got arrested in South Africa instead of #Madagascar. #M21112
Sébastien Hervieu, a journalist who was aboard the plane with Ravalomanana reports on Ravalomanana’s strategy to involve again the international community in the seemingly never ending Malagasy conflict.
@SebHervieu: #Ravalomanana counts on the #UA summit next week to complain to the Heads of State #M21112
It is clear that what was happening made the former president’s supporters angry.
Ravalomanana’s political party made an announcement that it is suspending its participation to the Government of National Unity, headed by Rajoelina:
@saveoursmile Hery Zo: #ra8 movement suspended its CT, CST, governing council participation #M21112 according to Mamy Rakotoarivelo (Radio interview)
In anticipation of trouble on January 21, some shopping centers rushed their goods and closed, to avoid looting such as on Black Monday (January 26, 2009) and to avoid damages, as what happened to the stores in Ivato.
@ariniaina Lalah Ariniaina: 1:00 pm, Suprême Center took out their goods to prevent any risk of looting #M21112
The media seemingly did not fulfill their duty to report fairly about the event that took place:
@thierry_ratsiz Thierry Ratsizehena: Misinformation of some media in the capital leaves me speechless #M21112
The huge crowd which wanted to welcome Ravalomanana was not easily contained and some were wounded.
@topmada TopMada.com: #Madagascar #M21112 Ivato : security forces trying to contain the huge crowd with tear gas sprays and rubber bullets
@johnuniackdavis John Uniack Davis: Still crowds at airport, rocks being thrown, attempts to loot. But heavy rain now so let's hope cool (+ wet) heads prevail. #m21112
@avylavitra Arefidar Sweet: Currently, four admitted to Ambohibao Lutheran hospital: 2 women and 1 man injured, a man passed out because of the teargass #Madagascar #M21112
One of those wounded during the clashes by Avylavitra
The US Embassy in Madagascar was active on twitter as well, announcing its intentions to follow the developments closely and seeming to warn both sides of abuses. On January 23:
@USMadagascar USEmbassy-Madagascar: The U.S. calls on all parties to avoid actions that might lead to violence. The United States will follow these developments closely.
@USMadagascar USEmbassy-Madagascar : We continue to call on all factions to work together to ensure genuine progress toward holding free, fair, & transparent elections…

author: Avylavitra


text:
Mozambique: Mayor Shares Photos of Storm Damage on Facebook · Global Voices
Janet Gunter

Newly elected mayor Manuel de Araújo of Mozambican city Quelimane shared photos on Facebook of the damage, flooding and suffering caused by tropical storm Funso in his coastal home. Last week another heavy storm, Dando, caused serious flooding in the capital city of Maputo, displacing hundreds.

author: Janet Gunter


text:
Myanmar: Interview with Former Prime Minister · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Myanmar Times publishes its exclusive interview with U Khin Nyunt, Myanmar's former military Intelligence chief and former prime minister, who was freed together with hundreds of political prisoners last week.


text:
North Korea: Kim Jong-Un Looking at Things. · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

There was once the internet meme named “Kim Jong-il Looking at Things“, a collection of photographs of Kim visiting government facilities the net users have gathered together to mock his authoritative posture. After Kim died last year, net users have launched a new version, “Kim Jong-un Looking at Things” as appeared in Kotaku site.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


text:
“Russia Without Fools,” a Crowdsourced Feedback Portal Launched · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

A committee of supporters of president Dmitry Medvedev had launched a crowdsourcing citizens-to-government feedback portal “Russia Without Fools” [ru] that allows to submit cases of officials’ stupidity or abuse. So far, the cases can be submitted freely and censorship hasn't been reported. Dmitry Ternovskiy, popular photoblogger, however, notes [ru] that the title has been copied from his project “Russia Without Foolishness.” [ru]

author: Alexey Sidorenko


text:
South Korea : Pizza Appears in Lunar New Year’s Ancestral Worship · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

Sharing food with relatives that had been offered in the ancestral worship is regarded as the essence of the traditional Lunar New Year holiday in Korea and there are strict and complicated rules to follow in offering food. However, some young Koreans have started offering unconventional food, such as pizza, prompting serious controversy.


text:
“Teaching through humiliation: tough love or cruelty?” · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Rose Kahendi ponders on the role of radio hosts who have public platforms reaching hundreds of thousands of listeners. “Their profession brings with it great responsibility. More so if they take it upon themselves to inform or educate their fans on matters that fall outside their immediate purview. Belittling their fans for lacking sophistication in professional etiquette is unprofessional. It is also a wasted opportunity to make a meaningful difference.”

author: Paula Góes


text:
Video: One Year, One World and 52 Different Stories  · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

Video journalist Maggie Padlewska will travel alone for one year, visiting a country each week for a total of 52 countries. During her journey she'll be recording, editing and producing videos of her interactions with communities, organizations and people under-represented by mass media and uploading them to the web, so that the stories of these people in lesser known communities come out into the world. This is the One Year One World.
One year One World is an initiative to raise awareness of people and communities living in some of the world's most fascinating but under-reported regions through an independent multimedia production. The mission is to provide lesser-known communitites with an opportunity to share their stories wth the world, to educate and inspire youth and adults to think about the global community, to help bridge the “communications gap” in media coverage and to promote peace and understanding around the world.
The idea to do this project came to Padlewska when she was filming a medical mission to a remote indigenous community in Panama. As she explains on this next video, during her trip, she realized that she didn't want to just report what the medical community was doing, she wanted to go beyond that.
Her pilot project took place with the Embera communities in Panama. The Embera are one of the few traditional pre- Columbian tribes remaining in Central America, and recently, their ancestral lands, mostly forests and jungles were declared a National Park. This meant that they weren't able to hunt anymore, which meant they had lost food security and needed to buy food from outside their community. They had turned to cultural tourism as a way to earn income, and this intrigued Padlewska:
Were the Embera peoples forced to embrace tourism as a means of survival after being prohibited from hunting? What implications has this had on the tribe's traditional lifestyle and cultural survival? Is the tribe being exploited? These are some of the questions that I asked the Embera Drua and Embera Quera, two indigenous communities currently living on government land.
This journey's video shows us how these communities are dealing with this new way to interact with outsiders, and what impact it is having on their traditional ways:
Padlewska plans to travel to Africa, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Asia and South and Central America as soon as she finishes her fundraising to back her year of travel.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


text:
Zambia: Netizens Abuzz Over Senegal’s Loss at AFCON 2012 · Global Voices
Gershom Ndhlovu

When Zambia beat Senegal at one of the two opening games of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon on January 21, 2012, Zambian netizens went abuzz on Facebook and Twitter to celebrate the victory even asking “Demba who?” referring to the much touted Senegalese player, Demba Ba, who plays for Newcastle United in the English Premier League. Demba Ba is the second top goal scorer in the Barclays Premier League.
Before the game Zambians wanted to get #Chipolopolo, or bullet, the Zambia national soccer team nickname, to trend:
@ntheyelungu: Let's get #Chipolopolo trending today @itawa_bovi @tha_jayman @zonefam @slapdee @missbwalya @mz_obika @GNdhlovu @ChiluLemba @Deejaylbc
2012 Africa Cup of Nations logo. Image source: cafonline.com
Impressed with Zambia’s performance, one tweep describe the players thus:
@ilfabiano: Zambia are the more athletic and oozing with verve and versatility. That's the direction African football has taken #SSAFCON
A tweet by one radio station ticked off the doubters:
@rphoenixzambia: Well done chipolopolo the doubters and commentators didn't give us a chance,we truly are a great nation
Wondering where the EPL Newcastle superstar, Demba Ba was during the game, one tweep @kamateso had this to say:
@kamateso: #CanSomeoneExplainToMeWhy Demba was not even on target against #Zambia? Chipolopolo woyeee. Football is played on the pitch and not on paper
Another tweep posted a YouTube video of the goals:
@missbwalya: Senegal 1-2 Zambia – Watch the goals: youtu.be/TerHEqJc-fY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TerHEqJc-fY
@mwiingason reproduced a quote attributed to the Zambian captain:
@mwiingason: “Nobody expected us to beat Senegal, but our history speaks for itself. We need to carry on like this” ~ Christopher Katongo #Zambia
Zambian netizens were more expressive on Facebook. Remembering the 1993 Zambia national football team air disaster in Gabon on their way to play Senegal in 1993, John Ziba wrote:
Chipolopolo!!THAT WAS FOR THE 1993 GABON DISASTER great team! Now go on for the top prize.
Angela Chishimba simply stated in her post:
Demba who? Its Mayuka…[Emmanuel Mayuka scored first goal for Zambia]
Durban Kambaki injected some humour in his post:
What a nice feeling waking up to find Zambia won last night. Good boy that I am, I slept early and slept like a baby only to hear on BBC this morning the news. I will to stay awake for the next game.
But not all netizens were satisfied with the result. For Joshua Jere, Zambia could have done better and the players need to up their game:
I thought the Chipolopolo were on spot with they game plan but their endurance was in question. And if endurance is in question, concentration is lost. Against Libya Zambia stands a better chance than it did in the Senegal encounter. However the COPPER BULLETS should know this, North Africans play with 12th players on the pitch-THE REFEREE!
Richard Chanter recalled an article he posted about Mayuka early last year:
Well done Zambia! Told you about this player last year in March – remember?
Emmanuel Mayuka : Chanters Lodge Livingstone
www.chanters-livingstone.com
Zambian star Emmanuel Mayuka struck again for Young Boys this week, his 90th minute goal sealing the victory over 10-men St. Gallen by a score of 2-0. The goal, Mayuka’s 7th in the domestic league…
Others like Shalala Oliver Sepiso, added a numerology mystique to the victory:
We played this game on the 21st in the year 12 of the 21st century not long after the Lusaka West 2.1 billion and in West Africa we scored 2:1 . The games will end on the 12th. The first goal was scored in the 12th minute and the second goal was scored in the 21st minute. Via Henry Nasilele and IZambia.

author: Gershom Ndhlovu


text:
Afghanistan: Coverage in US papers falls in 2011  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Nick Fielding writes that coverage of Afghanistan in American newspapers fell in 2011 compared to the previous year, although overall coverage of international issues jumped by more than a third.

author: Adil Nurmakov


text:
Afghanistan: Sahar Gul’s story as an illustration of women’s rights · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

basir ahang writes about 15 year old girl, who had been forced into marriage and later was imprisoned, tortured and violently beaten by the husband and his family because she refused to work and earn money as a prostitute.


text:
Africa:  Sex, Love and Magic at the Africa Cup of Nations 2012 · Global Voices
Richard Wanjohi

2012 is undoubtedly a significant year for football lovers in Africa as Gabon and Equatorial Guinea host the main football competition in Africa, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The tournament has been held every two years since 1968. However, the tournament will now move to odd-numbered years from 2013.
Writing about the tournament on FourFourTwo, Jonathan Fadugba (@JustFootball) shows how Africa's 41st best footballing nation, Equatorial Guinea, came to host the AFCON:
As one of the smallest countries in continental Africa, what do you do if you cannot play your way to a major international tournament? In Equatorial Guinea's case the answer was simple. You buy your way in.
Aided by the discovery of vast oil and gas reserves that prompted huge economic growth in the mid-1990s, Equatorial Guinea found the resources possible to mount a joint bid with neighbours Gabon. After seeing off competition from Nigeria, in 2006 they were named joint hosts for what will be their first ever African Cup of Nations.
In a sense, therefore, the challenge is already won for the Nzalang Nacional. As a nation with just 2,300 registered players merely competing on such a stage is impressive enough.
He continues to describe what Equatorial Guinea’s Head of State is expecting:
2012 Africa Cup of Nations logo. Image source: cafonline.com
President Obiang has boldly declared that he expects Equatorial Guinea to go all the way at this Cup of Nations. “Not only do we want the national team to display attractive football and sporting values, we also want them to win the Cup. The trophy must remain in Equatorial Guinea,” he stated. But really this is a pipe dream. The squad is arguably the weakest in the competition
Krobea D’Bee (@kwame_amoh), a Ghananian sports columnist, roots for his team the Black Stars – the nickname for Ghana’s national team. He starts by saying:
The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations will be one of the keenly contested continental showpieces irrespective of opinions making rounds that it will not live up to the billing as a result of the absence of nations like Egypt, Cameroon and Nigeria
He goes on to say:
Truly, the joint-favourites tag carried by Ghana and Ivory Coast is deserving though it puts pressure on the two West African neighbours. For Ghana’s Black Stars, the pressure is doubled some sort because of their performance at the global showpiece before this tournament
Erick E. Cleves, a blogger based in Venezuela, predicts a Ghana-Ivory Coast final:
Although the tournament has many interesting and powerful sides, the favourites are surely the Ivory Coast and Ghana. Both teams have a strong base of experienced European-based players, and both have experience of international tournaments at the highest level.
My support and heart is with the Black Stars! And I hope to be able to watch some African football from here in South America!
A 15-year-old blogger (@NathSalt1) notes the ‘headache’ that teams in the English Premier League have to undergo while losing their players for a month or so to the continental competition:
Every Premier League manager’s nightmare, but spectators and a scouts dream. With some of the best and hottest worldwide talents on display the African Nations Cup is always a delight to watch. The tournament illustrates the strength of talent Africa can offer top clubs around the world. With competition in the tournament improving hugely every two years that it’s staged a lot of teams will feel they can make a push to win it.
Mark (@twoht) has quite a detailed preview of the 2012 showcase:
Sudan are no longer a nation, after partition in July 2011, although the fledgling South Sudan national side still has international affiliations to sort out. While Libya are a very different nation indeed after the bloodiest of cabinet reshuffles last spring… Libyan football was hugely complicated by the fact that Colonel Gaddafi’s son Saadi could play the game properly – even if his career was boosted by the predictable “helping hands.”  So “politicised” was almost a euphemism.
Libya’s pre-uprising captain, Tariq Ibrahim Al-Tayib, openly declared his and his team’s support for Gaddafi. But that was probably why he was captain. Others thought differently as they metaphorically battled on at neutral venues while real battles were fought at home (never were metaphors of war to describe football more inappropriate)….
Gabon’s qualification as co-hosts comes two years after they were squeaked out of a quarter-final place in the Angolan tournament’s tightest group. However, Equatorial Guinea have no such competition tradition and are internationally-ranked lower than the earth’s core – the lowest Fifa-ranked team (and by some distance too, at 151) in the tournament
He also discusses an article that looks at the relationship between the tournament and ‘oil-rich” nations:
A thought-provoking article by Sam Wallace in the Independent newspaper likened Equatorial Guinea to Qatar – in the “lots of lovely oil” sense, as much as “the only way Equatorial Guinea were going to play in the African Nations was by hosting it”. But this blazed no trail, as Austria and Switzerland showed in Euro 2008. Wallace was also scathing of the African Confederation (CAF) for selecting politically “unsuitable” tournament hosts (Libya were due to be 2013 hosts until their “regime change”)… Wallace’s basic point was a good one, well-made. The event has become “the target of oil-rich nations with dubious track records and in need of a PR-stunt.”
Finally, a popular sports analyst, Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) looks at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations through Sex, Love and Magic:
AFCON trophy is the most coveted trophy in African soccer. Image released under Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Shasta
The sex tales are applicable to Botswana as well. First-timers at the tournament, they reek of naiveté.
Why else would the team have to order (not suggest) grown men not to ‘boink’?
The Zebras [the Botswana national team] have been warned to stay away from sexual activities, with boss Stanley Tshosane warning that “sex drains energy from a player and I expect my players to abstain till end of the tournament”. He’s also issued drug abuse warnings, touting “face-to-face and group talks with the players.”
—
While some of the methods were based in medical science, rumour mongers accused Ghana of jinxing their Group D opponents by using ‘charms.’
Magic is not new to the African Cup. From the failure of South Africa to qualify being blamed on non-payment of a sangoma to the assertion that Michael Essien’s injury at Angola 2010 was caused by psychic powers, there are countless stories.
Ask players with Cameroon why there never seems to be peace between their star-studded lineup, and you may get whispers of how there are “too many marabouts working for the same team”, thereby cancelling out the efficacy of their powers. Is there any truth to these stories? That is certainly open to question.
—
Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, the hosts, will use every trick in the book – fair or foul – to get as far as they can. After all, it’s what hosts do. Equatorial Guinea have offered $1 million USD  to the team for every victory, in addition to $20,000 for every goal.
Outrageous amounts of money have been splashed before but not like this.
He ends the post by saying:
As ever, there are bound to be many subplots in the tournament which starts (on January 21st) and ends on February 12. Here’s hoping there isn’t too much boinking in obscure places

author: Richard Wanjohi


text:
Chile: Crowd Funding a Mapuche-Inspired Mobile Game · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Digital communication and social network consultant Paloma Baytelman [es] explains crowd funding in her personal blog. She shares the experience of “Pewen Collector” [es], a mobile game inspired by the Mapuche indigenous people that was financed using a crowd funding platform.


text:
China: Tibet Burns, But Where Are the Chinese Public Intellectuals? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Since 2009, there have been at least 17 Tibetan self-immolation incidents in China. The latest case was reported [zh] on January 15, 2012. The public discussion about the protests of Tibetans has been manipulated and monopolized by state controlled media outlets who blame the Dalai Lama and western media for inciting to violence and terror [zh].
Honoring seven Tibetan monks who self-immolated – Dharamsala, India (Oct 14, 2011) Copyright © Demotix
The reaction among Chinese public intellectuals and netizens is practically indifferent when compared to other self-immolation incidents, such as the Yihuang demolition case. Some netizens wonder, where have all the public intellectuals gone?
Profile image of @degewa
Tibetan poet Woser (@degewa) is always among the first people on Twitter to bridge Tibetan news to Chinese communities. On January 15, after she read news of the self-immolation of a Tibetan monk near Ge'erdeng Temple in Aba, Sichuan, she wrote [zh]:
今晚，我们都在哭泣。。。先是我，与一位喇嘛说起同胞自焚，不禁落泪，他也哽咽。。。这么晚了，你欲言又止，终于哭出了声。。。
Is it because of sadness that people don't talk about it? Twitter user, @lotusseedsD, who lives outside China wondered, where have all the Chinese netizens gone? And why don't Han Chinese help bridging out [zh] the information? Han Chinese are the biggest ethnic group in China.
中国汉人为自焚的藏人做了什么？@wh_z @old_wine 相较国外的呼吁和翻墙出来的少数声音，除了会骂人傻逼互相掐架互相瞧不起，中国网民对藏人自焚的冷漠让人背脊发凉，让人不屑，让人引为齿。
藏人频繁自焚，请问中国民间舆论做了什么？ @wh_z @old_wine 我的意思是，中国网民有没有像乌坎动车追尾校车事故512地震等各种事件发帖，被删了又发，各个论坛删之不及制造舆论压力？中国汉人为自焚的藏人做了什么？？？？
She challenged Chinese netizens to look beyond their nationalistic feelings [zh] and reach out to help a group of human beings [zh] who are in pain.
换个方式：把 “藏汉”二个字从民族情结里去掉。17个生命用一种惊天动地的，在你居住的土地上以自焚方式求救呐喊想让人们听到他们的声音。您和您土地上的人，能为这17个宝贵的生命做些什么？继续要听不见呢还是用您微小力量把他们的求助声传播出去？
关注自焚不是渲染鼓励。同是生活在一片土地上的人，都被欺压。你汉人或无法对藏人伸出援手，然而于人类最本能的感情上，是不是应该做到最起码的关心，让他们知道你们听到他们的求助呐喊痛苦？
Also on January 15, @cecilcoe pointed out [zh] that the online public sphere is highly manipulated by the web censors:
我可以作证：自焚者照片在新浪上一贴就删， 快得无法形容。 后来我改成贴台湾自焚者照片， 在文字中提到西藏自焚， 就比较慢。 在哪短短时间里有12个评论。当然，总人数没乌坎多， 但说汉人不关心， 也不尽然。
Human rights activist @tengbiao concurred [zh] that public intellectuals are playing dumb regarding the repression in Tibet:
藏人自焚这件事上，除了极少数几个例外，中国公共知识分子们集体哑火、装聋作哑。房间里的大象，沉默的共谋。他们和行凶者一样无耻。
Prominent blogger @yanghengjun agreed [zh] with Tengbiao:
他们点燃自己，照亮黑暗。怎奈我们在黑暗中太久，甚至变成了黑暗的一部分。
The above discussion does receive some proactive responses, dissident @zhaoyang8964 also spoke out on Twitter [zh]:
藏人自焚是源于对中共暴政的愤怒和绝望，也是以死明志的反抗！我身为汉人而为这个无耻的政权感到羞愧。所谓“西藏自古以来就是中国的领土”纯粹扯淡！尊者一向表明愿留在中国版图内但希望获得真正的自治，而无赖政府根本不尊重尊者，也从来不把藏人的诉求当回事。
Upon reading @degwa's tweets, Crazy Crab drew a cartoon to mock the Chinese government:
The Politburo Standing Committee on Fire. Cartoon shared by Crazy Crab on CartoonMovement.com
However, political statements could not help challenge the official discourse about the immolation incidents. So far Wang Lixiong is the only Chinese intellectual who  has offered [zh] an elaborate and counter-official view of the Tibetan immolation incident. Below is a partial translation of his article written on January 12 on Tibetan immolation:
施暴于自我，除了是出于绝望的抗议或对尊严孤注一掷的捍卫，若有对实效的企望，就如甘地所说：“通过我们所受的深重苦难，可以影响政府”；或马丁·路德·金所说：“我们将以自己忍受苦难的能力，来较量你们制造苦难的能力…耗尽你们的仇恨…唤醒你们的良知”。
这种企望的实现，前提是需要存在良知。专制政权的机器只有刚性结构、冷酷逻辑，以及官僚利益。当年几千孩子在天安门广场濒临死亡地绝食，有谁看到过它的良知？
以往非暴力抗争的局限就在此——结局不是取决抗争一方，而是政权。抗争方只能起压力作用，权力不让步就不会有进展，因此目前的西藏落入困境是必然。
走出困境，方向在哪里？我觉得是目前首要回答的。没有方向就只能盲目。哪怕是自焚的壮烈献身，也让人感觉更多是绝望。而各方面对自焚，除了情绪动荡，也是就事论事的茫然。
说自焚者有勇气没有智慧，是不公平。智慧不是苟且偷生的技巧，是能够带领西藏走出困境的高瞻远瞩。那不是普通民众应该和能够承担的。而把已退出政治的达赖喇嘛当作一切智慧的来源，则是不负责。达赖喇嘛确定了非暴力原则和中间路线，如何实现应该是政治家们的智慧。
目前还看不到这种智慧。中国方面只有一手钞票一手屠刀；西藏方面——假如流亡政府是代表的话，也看不出除了发表声明，还知道该做什么。
请告诉勇敢的藏人，他们可以做什么。知道了应该和能够做什么，他们就会活下去，而不是用惨烈自焚仅换来媒体的短暂一瞥。
To exercise violence upon oneself, apart from being a desperate protest and defense of one's dignity – their expectation, if any, is similar to Gandhi's teaching: “Change the government through our sufferings” or Martin Luther King's saying: “We will wear you down by our capacity to suffer, and one day… we will appeal to your heart and conscience that we will win you in the process.”
The premise of such an expectation is the existence of a conscience. The machinery of the authoritarian government has only an iron structure, cold logic and bureaucratic interests. Many years ago, thousands of young people were on hunger strike in Tiananmen Square. Who saw any conscience then?
The limitation of non-violent struggle is that its end depends on the state power, not the protesters. The protest will only create pressure, it doesn't go anywhere if the power does not compromise. That's why Tibet is trapped in the current situation.
How to step out from this dead end? This is the most important question we have to address. Without direction it will result in nihilism. The self-immolation will bring more desperation. Apart from triggering emotions, it offers no solution.
It is unfair to say that the self-immolating are not wise. To live without dignity is not wise. The true wisdom is to bring Tibet out of the dead end with a vision. Ordinary people cannot lead the way out. However, it is also irresponsible to rely on the Dalai Lama who is slowly stepping out from the political scene. Dalai Lama has put forward the non-violent principle and a middle way, but it depends on the politicians’ wisdom to actualize it.
We can't see such wisdom at the moment. What the Chinese government has is a pile of paper money and a butcher knife; As for Tibet, if the exile government is the representative one, so far it doesn't know what to do apart from issuing statements.
Please tell the courageous Tibetans what they can do. If they know what they should/can do, they will live rather than use their own lives in exchange for a blink of media attention.

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
Cuba: “Bad” Reporting on Hunger Striker’s Death  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Wilman Villlar was a political activist accused of murder, contempt and who knows what other charges. Now we can expect our press to report it, belatedly and badly”, says Bad Handwriting, while Havana Times links to that “belated and bad” reporting here and republishes a counter-argument here.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


text:
Egypt: revolt’s anniversary at Tahrir · Global Voices
Bernardo Parrella

Egyptian Twitter-sphere reports that jailed blogger #Maikel Nabil has just been released, while people are gathering for tomorrow's big rally at #Tahrir to celebrate the revolt's first anniversary: “feels chaotic and it's starting to rain” (#25jan).

author: Bernardo Parrella


text:
Guyana: “Controversial” Kissoon  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Bloggers report on the recent firing of journalist and political science lecturer Freddie Kissoon from the University of Guyana.


text:
Haiti: Haitians at Tuskegee · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Haitian Blogger republishes a story about the Haitian Tuskegee airmen.


text:
Haiti: More Cases of UN Sexual Assault · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Following new allegations of sexual assault against minors by UN troops in Haiti, mediahacker notes that “the peacekeeping troops accused of sexually abusing the young man in Port Salut have been released from custody and the impunity…continues.”


text:
Hong Kong Rethinks its Relationship with Mainland China · Global Voices
Andy Yee

2012 will see the 15th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to mainland China. But Hong Kongers have little mood for celebration. A survey conducted by the University of Hong Kong in December 2011, found that the number of respondents who view themselves as Hong Kongers is more than double the number who view themselves as Chinese.
Over the years, it has been a received wisdom that blessing from the mainland underpins the development of Hong Kong. This is most apparent when China’s support helped Hong Kong endure the 2003 SARS epidemic crisis and the 2009 global financial meltdown. However, after recent social and cultural clashes with the mainland, the Hong Kong public is now questioning that wisdom.
Comical presentation of Professor Kong Qingdong, by Hong Kong cartoonist Cuson Lo
In January 2012, hundreds of Hong Kongers protested outside luxury store Dolce & Gabbana, which allowed mainland Chinese tourists but not local residents to take photos in front of the store. In a separate incident, disputes broke out between Hong Kong passengers and mainland tourists who ate on a train. It turned into a public fury when Peking University professor Kong Qingdong added fuel by saying that Hong Kong people are “running dogs”.
In fact, in recent months, news headlines in Hong Kong are all about how mainlanders ‘invade’ the city. Local hospitals are stretched to the limits as pregnant women from the mainland crossed the border to give birth with the hope of securing a Hong Kong passport for their offspring. Mainland buyers exhausted the Hong Kong baby milk powder market amid food scandals in China. And as millions of Chinese tourists visit the city every year, it seems that all local residents could feel is their disregard of civic values and rule of law.
A view which is very common among mainlanders is that “without China’s economic support, Hong Kong would have been dead long ago.” But many Hong Kongers now think that the “mainland invasion” has done more harm than good to Hong Kong. Certain sectors, like retail, finance and real estate, have benefited greatly from mainlanders, but the inflation and housing bubbles created make the rest suffer. Furthermore, Hong Kong’s public system is yet to be prepared for a large influx of mainlanders. There is also a fear of the erosion of traditional Hong Kong values like the rule of law.
These views are now prevalent among Hong Kong bloggers and social critics. It is a complex challenge facing Hong Kong, one interlaced with local vs. mainland and poor vs. rich conflicts.
At Asia Sentinel, Alice Poon, a former real estate professional and author of Land and the Ruling Class in Hong Kong, explores the value gap between mainland and Hong Kong, and the fact that only a narrow range of sectors could benefit from closer relationship with the mainland:
The unbridgeable gap seems to be between (Hong Kongers’) acceptance and (most mainlanders’) rejection of or aversion to universal values like rule of law, democracy, equality and liberty. It is not through the latter’s fault that they find these values alien; it’s just because they have been living under a political system that has infiltrated them with the idea that those are not Chinese values and therefore no good for them. The system has taught people that all they need worry about is the economy and how to make money and practically nothing else. Morals aren’t important. Corruption can be tolerated. There is of course no lack of intellectuals in China who have refused to be brainwashed and who truly embrace universal values, but most of them unfortunately are rewarded with either political exile or incarceration.
It goes without saying that the only Hong Kong people who welcome mainland tourists, immigrants and shoppers are developers and their cronies (real estate agents, contractors etc.), especially those who are large shopping mall landlords. Even for retailers, whether or not they can benefit from the influx depends on whether the products they sell are mainlanders’ favorites. As for the rest of Hong Kongers, all they can feel towards the swamping inflow is resentment.
Meanwhile, however, the influx of Chinese capitals and tourists could have some damaging long-term effects on Hong Kong’s economy. Stanley5’s Blog explains:
正正是因為「自由行」、中資企業來港上市，以及給境外人士投資地產 ，搞到香港白白失去產業轉型的機會。現在香港只有金融、地產與旅遊服務業，大量人才與資金被吸過去，地價租金又被推高，以至製造業消亡，其他產業也一蹶不振，就連我最愛的港產片也快要消失了。我經常說：論出口品牌，韓國有SAMSUNG，台灣有 HTC，新加坡也有CREATIVE，香港有什麼？山寨機？莎莎？屈臣氏？米蘭站？
但令我討厭的是，現在不少來自大陸的所謂「遊客」，其實並非來旅遊，也非欣賞香港，而是為了「辦貨」、帶水貨，賺兩地貨幣的匯率差價，還有不少人是挪用公款、洗黑錢 (例如 D&G 要保護的人)。但最難頂的是他們部分人的惡劣舉止與財大氣粗。你叫我要包容，我告訴你，他們很多人根本就沒有「自由行」的資格！
Profile image of @leungmantao
If the abundance of natural resources is an economic curse for some countries, the closeness to Chinese spending power is another form of curse for Hong Kong. Hong Kong has one of the highest levels of income inequality in the world. This is where you can find the world’s third-most expensive shopping strip, while over 100,000 people have to live in 6ft by 2ft “cage homes”. As Hong Kong has gotten more and more wealthy, many local residents are left behind. Prominent social critic Leung Man To draws our attention to the decline of Venice as an ominous warning for Hong Kong:
想當年威尼斯衰落之後，只能憑觀光賺錢；但遊客一多，物價便升，地租更是貴得離譜，於是漸漸逼退老居民，終於鬧到今日這步田地，好端端一座輝煌千年稱霸地中海的貿易大城只剩下可憐的六萬個倖存者。至少在飲食上，如今我能看到香港「威尼斯化」的迹象，「價廉物美」變得愈來愈難，又貴又不好吃的地方反而日益增多；要是肯一擲千金，選擇倒是不少。眼見茶餐廳「餐蛋麵」那兩片餐肉愈切愈薄，北上定居的人群愈去愈多，你叫香港人怎能不生氣？怎能不感到危機四伏？
That being said, while Hong Kong could blame the mainland for all the social issues, it might have more to do with the policy failures of the Hong Kong government. In the opinion of blogger Grey Reporter:
香港作為一富裕城市，但貧富差距之驚人，基層生活的匱乏，以至中產的生活質素也好不到那裡。公義、多元性、市容、環保、文化創意…等都跟真正富裕城市相去甚遠，這一切和內地人也沒有關係。
政府無長遠計劃鼓勵主流港跟少數族裔以至新移民共融，也沒有魄力去長遠解決香港的醫療人手不足，房屋及各項福利如教育學額不足等問題，仍是採取頭痛醫頭，腳痛醫腳，以及自生自滅的方式。於是，造成資源不足所出現的民粹意識，不深究政府的規劃缺失，把矛頭指向「外來者」爭資源。
In the end, he hopes that ordinary Hong Kong people could realize the fact that they, like most mainlanders, live in an unjust political system under which the rich and the powerful collude. They share the same destiny, that is, to end this injustice:
其實香港人和內地人有著共同命運，就是對抗中共強權及與之勾結的富豪權貴，結束專制和不公義的執政狀況。相比之下，一些內地人的「不文明」舉動算不了甚麼。畢竟如果認為香港是一個包容的社會，便應該抱以寬容及「循循善誘」的態度。要知道，三、四十年前的香港也「文明」不了多少(現在也不見得香港人人文明守禮)，大家還不是如此走過來。

author: Andy Yee


text:
Jamaica: Bogle, Rastas & Dons · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“It may be unseemly to some folks to see a commonality between Jamaica’s national hero Paul Bogle, the Rastafari and the dons who rule the island’s so called politically defined ‘garrison  communities’”: Abeng News Magazine makes the link.


text:
Kyrgyzstan: MPs Told to Ride the Bus · Global Voices
Chris Rickleton

Members (MPs) of Kyrgyzstan's Jogorku Kenesh parliament are not generally associated with self-sacrificing behaviour. Nevertheless, a suggestion from within the legislature that MPs should give up their state-funded cars and take a minibus to work has moved Kyrgyz netizens towards a reappraisal of what their elected representatives should and shouldn't be entitled to.
The proposal came from within the ranks of the socialist Ata-Meken party, as part of a continuing discourse on how to shrink an alarmingly bloated and deficit ridden state budget. The reactions of MPs from other factions were then comprehensively canvassed in an excellent article by Kloop.kg's Begimai Bolotbekova.
Ata-Meken's Akunaly Dosaly outlined [ru] the “shuttle scheme” thus:
In each faction, there could be one or two custom vehicles while the majority of MPs could take a shuttle bus. They could arrive in the morning then be brought back in the evening.
This would seem a reasonable initiative, given that MPs of different factions can hardly be expected to ride the same bus. But even with that proviso, some lawmakers weren't happy with the idea.
Jyldyzkan Joldosheva of the Ata-Jurt party said [ru]:
I have a house in Bishkek – I refused a [state-funded] apartment. But the car, I cannot refuse because it is not a luxury, but a necessity
Incidentally, if the allegations of one news portal [ru] are to be believed, Zholdosheva is rather fond of state-funded “necessities”.
Although a couple of MPs supported the parliamentary shuttle plan in principle, others thought it unfeasible. Tatiyana Levina of the Ar-Namys party said she wasn't against travelling by shared transport per se, but feared that it might give off the wrong impression to the electorate:
If you give up company cars, you need to give up everything – payments, subsidies… Well, how would that look? Everyone lives in different parts of the city. I think our voters would find it more annoying [if we got a bus to work], because our pensioners cannot ride buses for free – they must pay a fee
So the knowledge that MPs get a free bus pass would be more of an irritation to the electorate than watching the same representatives cruise into work in a government-allocated Toyota Camri? Hmmm…
Nice wheels, baike
It is worth mentioning that not all of Kyrgyzstan's legislators drive a Camri to work. Some of them eschew the gift for their own flashier set of wheels, while others alternate between privately owned and publically owned automobiles.
Following the interest in Bolotbekova's article, Kloop.kg invited their posse of young journalists (all aged under 24) and readers of the portal to take snaps of deputies on their way to work. The results were displayed as follows (example):
Azamat Arapbaev, MP of the faction Ata-Jurt, goes to work in a “Lexus LX570″,  2008 model, with the registration number 0028 KG.
According to [current information], this brand of car changes hands for USD 87,000.
To afford this car – without eating anything and living on the street – would take:
– An MP on an official salary: 4.5 to 6.5 years
– The average working resident of Bishkek: from 22 to 33.5 years
The article, featuring fifteen such profiles, generated a stream of comments from netizens, who via Kloop's Facebook plugin either chose to defend specific MPs as “honest” or move in for the kill with complaints about graft and inequality.
Tynchtyk Maldybaev posted ironically:
But why do you [speak] badly of our deputies, they are the demigods, the Kyrgyz  representatives of God on earth, they only think of the people
Another reader, Isken, quoted the English historian Lord Acton:
For we know that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely
But while some readers strained to calculate how long it would take them to own a Lexus, others suggested that the piece had attempted to bias the people against the ruling elite. In response to these accusations, Kloop Editor Anna Leilik replied:
We had no goals to show MPs in a positive or negative light. You probably noticed we did not have the same number of deputies from different factions – the cars were randomly selected. We wanted to compare data from different sources with the photos. With regard to the [costs of the cars] and the salaries, they are publically available online, and the same thing we did – calculate – anybody could have done.
From private armies to public transport
Views on the moral character of MPs not withstanding, the very fact that the Kyrgyz parliament is debating such changes marks a massive shift from April of last year, when former house speaker Akhmatbek Keldibekov proposed legislation that would allow lawmakers and their personal bodyguards to carry weapons in and around the parliament.
Back then, a Kloop poll showed a vast majority of portal users as being opposed to the legislation, while several who supported it did so only for the bloodiest of reasons. One user, Nurbek, commented:
I am FOR this law. Let them shoot at each other in the Jogorku Kenesh
Clearly, less than 12 months down the line, the legislature is a changed place. It has a new ruling coalition, a new speaker, and its members are pondering the need to swap the “parliamentary fleet” for a communal shuttle. Somewhere in all this there is a reality TV show waiting to happen.
N.B.: Coincidentally, Akhmatbek Keldibekov left the speaker's office amidst a scandal surrounding the distribution of the special ‘KG’ registration plates. Ranging from the presidential plate (KG 001) to less prestigious registrations in the KG hundreds, these items are something of a status symbol in Kyrgyzstan and usually get you past traffic cops without any bother. What plates the proposed “faction buses” will carry is as yet unknown.

author: Chris Rickleton


text:
Latin America: Museum Releases Digital Archive of 20th-Century Art · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

The International Center for Arts of the Americas (ICCA) at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, has released a digital archive of 20th-century Latin American and Latino art, which, “is now available, free of charge, to the research and teaching community as well as to the public at large.” Culture magazine Ñ [es] briefly interviewed Mari Carmen Ramírez, the project's director.


text:
Madagascar: What Next, After Former President Is Denied Entry? · Global Voices
Mialy Andriamananjara

Former President Marc Ravalomanana attempted for the second time to return to Madagascar last Saturday 21 January, 2012. Malagasy citizens anxiously witnessed his attempt at returning home after three years in exile. But as reported by Niren Tolsi in the Mail and Guardian:
Ravalomanana's attempt to set foot on Malagasy soil was thwarted an hour before it was due to happen. According to the airline's security chief, the pilot had been informed by ground control at Ivato International Airport that it had been closed due to “security concerns”.
News filtering through suggested that large crowds — estimated between 20 000 and 30 000 — had gathered at Ivato in expectation of Ravalomanana. No one would say who had given the order to close the airport down, but Ravalomanana's aides suggested that it must have been an executive order from someone in the government of Andry Rajoelina (who had deposed Ravalomanana's democratically elected government in a 2009 coup).
Video of the attempted return uploaded by Jentilisa to YouTube on January 21:
Citoyenne Malgache, a local blogger reports emotionally on the bitter sweet feelings of his supporters  [fr, mg] who came in great numbers to welcome him:
Et aujourd’hui quand tu es rentré chez toi le cœur triste de ne pas  avoir retrouvé celui que tu es venu accueillir,  tu te consoles : nous sommes venus nombreux, c’est notre victoire. Tu t’encourages : Andrasanay na amin’ny valo alina aza… Et tu sais que tu reviendras encore au prochain appel.
que deviendras-tu si tu te sens vaincu ? Tu n’es peut-être pas LE peuple mais tu en fais partie, et on n’a pas le droit de t’ignorer. Mais n’oublie pas que personne ne prendra soin de toi, sauf toi-même. Des gens se moqueront de toi : tsy ho avy eo izany ny dadanareo… Pour d’autres, tu n’es qu’objet d’analyse et de reportage. Certains se serviront sûrement de toi. Mais défends ton choix et assume le reste.
Malagasy crowd at Ivato airport on January 21. Image by Jentilisa, used with permission.
Apparent dissent amongst Rajoelina's transitional government was pointed out by bloggers, as the Prime Minister and the Minister of Communications openly contradicted themselves regarding who issued the NOTAMs (‘Notices to Airmen’), the government or Rajoelina himself, or even if NOTAMs were issued, and whether Ravalomanana was going to be arrested, or not.
Prime Minister Omer Beriziky, a moderate politician, as interviewed on RFI [fr]:
Je peux vous assurer que le gouvernement, à aucun moment, n’avait donné l’ordre de fermer les aéroports à Madagascar. Le retour de l’ex-président était possible. Cependant, j’aurais souhaité que le retour de Marc Ravalomanana se fasse dans d’autres conditions. Je pensais qu’il était possible d’arriver à une solution consensuelle, c’est-à-dire que toutes les parties prenantes de la feuille de route puissent trouver ensemble une manière consensuelle de faire revenir le président dans sa patrie.
Crowd facing police forces in Madagascar by Mamysou. Used with permission.
The transitional government did not have a coherent strategy to deal with the crisis, as summarized by VANF on his weekly column for Express de Madagascar [fr]:
Le ministre de la Défense dit s'en tenir au maintien de l'ordre, le chef de l'état-major mixte opérationnel (EMMO-Reg) d'Analamanga prétend appliquer un mandat d'arrêt contre Marc Ravalomanana, la ministre de la Justice préfère ne pas en rajouter, le Premier Ministre aurait assuré Marc Ravalomanana qu'il ne voyait aucun inconvénient à son retour à Madagascar.
Incredibly, the Minister of Communications, Rolly Mercia, denied that NOTAMs were ever issued [fr], despite evidence to the contrary. VANF adds [fr]:
Alors qu’il se répandait en interviews sur les médias pour déclarer qu’il n’y avait jamais eu de NOTAM, les copies des cinq NOTAM ordonnés par le P.T. lui- même étaient affichées sur le site internet de l’ASECNA, et partagées sur Twitter et Facebook. Grotesque ! Que faut-il en conclure : incohérence, incompétence ou stalinisme chronique ?
On Twitter, some users deny that Madagascar skies were completely closed, and suggest that Ravalomanana's plane would have been able to land at Morondava airport, nevertheless where there was no welcoming crowd, and the president would have been easily apprehended:
@hdleague: Alors, il est incorrecte de dire que R8 était interdit de revenir à Mada. Il était permit d'aterrir à Morondava pour être arrêter. #M21112
On ‘Madagate’, Jeannot Ramambazafy [fr] acknowledges Ravalomanana's right to enter Madagascar, but also defends Malagasy rights to judge Ravalomanana, who was condemned for allegedly ordering his presidential guard to fire on demonstrators in February 2009:
Ainsi, s'il a été demandé au pilote -qui a refusé- d'aller atterrir à Morondava, c'était pour mettre en application cette note et pour sécuriser l'intégrité physique même de Marc Ravalomanana qui a, bien sûr, le droit de rentrer, mais… Au nom de l'indépendance de la Justice malgache, le mandat d'arrêt émis à l'encontre de Ravalomanana, depuis 2009, sera exécuté.
Marc Harmelle [fr], a commenter on Fijery blog, expresses doubts on Ravalomanana's motives:
je m’interroge ce soir quand a ses motivations de convoquer une telle foule ; est ce pour avoir un bouclier humain ou est ce par pure folie des grandeurs souci d’etre acclamé , ovationné par un peuple misérable ? La première solution est dégueulasse et lâche , la seconde démontre que ces 3 ans ne l’ont pas mûris *Dernièrement a mon sens rentrer discrètement en se remettant entre les mains de la justice aurait été judicieux ; il était impossible de lui refuser ce retour , impossible de le malmener et je gage qu’il n’aurait au pire fait que quelques jours de geôle ; la pression internationale et nationale aurait pu pleinement s’exercer et quelle aura politique !!!
Rovahiga‘s post title ‘Rajoelina marque contre son camp’ (Rajoelina shoots himself in the foot) suggests that Ravalomanana's entry denial was a loss for Rajoelina's camp.
The US Embassy, which has been actively following the events on Twitter, disavowed a CNN reporting story that hinted that the US did not agree with Ravalomanana's return:
@USMadagascar: US regrets the circulation of a story by CNN that incorrectly reflects our official position on the return of Ravalomanana to #Madagascar
Fijery  [fr] doubts of any real repercussions after Saturday's debacle, especially coming from the international community, which has failed to advance the concrete applications of the roadmap to bring peace to Madagascar:
ce retour en plein ciel à quelques miles d’Antananarivo devant des journalistes internationaux ridiculise, si besoin était encore, un régime hâtif marqué par l’amateurisme. […] En parallèle, cette décision montre à la Communauté internationale à quel point Andry Rajoelina et la clique qui l’entoure sont peu désireux de réconciliation et d’apaisement. Ceci étant dit, je ne crois pas que cela aura beaucoup d’impact. Quand on a vu avec quel empressement l’ambassadeur de l’ Union européenne et le Coordonateur des Nations unies sont allés se défroquer devant Monsieur Rajoelina, sans tenir compte des violations de la démocratie et des droits de l’homme, on peut se dire raisonnablement que ce n’est pas un dérapage de plus qui va émouvoir la communauté internationale, prête à gober les couleuvres hâtives.
Since Saturday, Malagasy protagonists have been urgently summoned in Johannesburg  [fr] today to meet with the SADC (Southern African Development Community). Madagascar's transitional Prime Minister, Omer Beriziky, has been reported as attending.

author: Mialy Andriamananjara


text:
Russia: Community of Election Observers Launched · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

Creators of popular citizen crowdsourcing projects RosYama and RosPil Alexey Navalny and Georgiy Alburov launch a new project RosVybory [ru], a community of election observers. Users submit their data to the website, then project moderators apply for the necessary observer documents and send registered users to the nearby voting ballots.


text:
Russia: “Mikhail Dmitrievich Prokhorov: An Unpredictable Kremlin Project” · Global Voices
Donna Welles

This post is part of our special coverage Russia Elections 2011/12.
Mikhail Prokhorov will oppose Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the March 2012 Russian presidential election. Although some believe the election's outcome to be pre-scripted, the complexities surrounding Mr. Prokhorov's candidacy – such as the degree of his wealth as well as the origins of it, his relationship with PM Putin as well as Mikail Khodorkovsky, and the comprehensive political programme he released last week – should not be overlooked.
Global Voices analyzed the complexities of modern US-Russia relations in an article entitled, “Obama's McFaul Sworn in as US Ambassador.”
The Washington Post Blog provided insight into the American perception of Mr. Prokhorov through its announcement of his candidacy:
First Brooklyn, then… the world.
In a move more shocking than any rumored trade involving Dwight Howard or Chris Paul, New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov has announced his intention to challenge Vladimir Putin for the Russian presidency.
The 46-year-old policital newcomer was elected to lead Russia’s Right Cause party in late June, and at the time made minor waves with his statements about the country’s need for a multi-party system.
The tens of thousands of protesters on the streets in Russia are also looking for change — but the difficult task facing Prokhorov is earning their support.
For what he lacks in experience, Prokhorov makes up for in fortune. With an estimated worth of $18 billion, Prokhorov has financial means to build a large-scale campaign, but uniting the masses crying out for clean elections and an end to corruption is a daunting task.
Mr. Prokhorov's official website, which is available in both English and Russian, provides readers and/or potential voters with excerpts of speeches, commentaries, news updates, and details of his background:
Mikhail Prokhorov was born in Moscow on May 3, 1965. His father worked as Head of the International Relations Department of the Soviet State Sports Committee; his mother did scientific research work at the Moscow Chemical Materials Institute. Mikhail has an elder sister, Irina.
Upon completion of secondary education with a focus on English studies, Mikhail studied at the Moscow Finance Institute (currently known as the Finance Academy under the RF Government), from which he graduated magna cum laude.
Ian Bremmer wrote in Reuters Blog soon after Mr. Prokhorov's candidacy was announced that the 2012 Russian presidential election had already been scripted:
Prokhorov has not forgotten that he owes his fortune and therefore his allegiance to Putin. As he already stated in his press conference, he doesn’t plan to dwell on attacking Putin (no more than 10% of his platform will be anti-Putin), but rather would like to talk about his plans for Russia. Kudrin has all but ignored Putin in laying out his case for a new party. Imagine if Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney came out tomorrow and said they were done attacking President Obama and wanted to focus solely on their plans for the U.S. Both Kudrin and Prokhorov represent ‘acceptable opposition’ to Moscow. That’s a recipe for a gracious but certain defeat. Kudrin owes his allegiance to Putin for slightly different reasons, but the result is the same: both candidates exist to draw off votes and appease the intellectual classes who are disenchanted with Putin’s leadership. But they will do nothing to keep Putin from a third term as President.
Putin will run a campaign — he will go to a supermarket, complain that prices are too high, and prices will be lowered. He will find some way to distribute a token amount of the natural resource wealth to the public, such as ordering a price cap on gasoline.  He will spend the money it takes to make a noticeable impact for his base. He’ll make the gestures to the public and the media that he deserves a third term. And he’ll get it.
Russian businessman Mikhail Prokhorov carries a box containing signatures to support his presidential candidacy before handing them in to the Central Election Commission. Photo by RFE/RL, copyright © Demotix (18/01/12).
Stephen Weil assessed  in a post entitled, “Mikhail Dmitrievich Prokhorov: An Unpredictable Kremlin Project” for the Center for Strategic and International Studies Blog the validity of Prokhorov's candidacy:
It is possible that Prokhorov has simply decided to take advantage of a political opening to rejuvenate his political project, but many Russian observers seem convinced that his campaign is actually a Kremlin-backed ploy designed to lure the support of urban, middle class voters away from more viable opposition candidates while simultaneously providing more competition, and thus more legitimacy, for Putin’s inevitable inauguration.  The evidence seems to stack up in favor of this more cynical view, although the potential remains for Prokhorov to stray outside of his Kremlin-approved agenda, prompting a re-run of his conflict with the authorities over Right Cause.
One indication that Mr. Prokhorov is, perhaps, acting independently is his promise to release Mikhail Khodorkovsky from prison if he's elected, as illustrated in a Global Voices article entitled, “Mikhail Khodorkovsky and the 2012 Presidential Election”:
Formerly Russia's richest man, jailed oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky is once again in the political spotlight, as Russian presidential candidate Mikhail Prokhorov vows to pardon Mr. Khodorkovsky if he's elected next spring. Mr. Khodorkovsky has been incarcerated since 2003, when he was arrested for non-payment of back-taxes as part of the “Yukos Affair“. Many have doubted the validity of the charges against him and view his prosecution as part of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's political agenda.
Mr. Prokhorov released a political programme [ru] last week, which outlines in detail his plans on how to ensure Russia lives up to its potential. Some of his opening remarks were:
We choose a cool, fashionable, modern country, where every person is responsible for [his/her] actions, has access to education, work opportunities, growth and constantly strives for the best. We choose a country where everyone is equal before the law – regardless of position and privilege – [a country] which does not accept overbearing tyranny, a country where the judiciary is independent. We choose a real future because we want to live and be happy in our own country, we want to work, build, make discoveries and breakthroughs in science and art for [Russia's] benefit. I am convinced that the main treasure of Russia is its human potential, and a major strategic investment is an investment in people. I want us all to remember that we are the heirs of the greatest world culture, an integral part of the European civilization, and it is our great responsibility. Russia must cease to be an outsider of the world process, but must instead serve as a model, [a leader] for the civilized world, the most educated, cultured, free and prosperous country of the third millennium. Only a free man in a free country has the ability to create and build in the public interest! I believe that together we can make a difference and change for the better. I want to build a real future of Russia together with you.
RiaNovosti discussed some of the specifics of the program including plans for fighting corruption and monopolies as well as improving Russia's infrastructure, healthcare system, and social services. The comments that followed displayed skepticism.
gunshipdemocracy:
Mr Prokhorov how did you earn your 1rst billion? please refresh my memory. As for rest of your plan getting rid of RF independence and making Russia a colony is best way to protect your billions Euro transferred in 90s/2000s? or am I wrong?
rochefortfrancois:
This guy is only trying to corrupt the [elite] to better gain means of control and gain more power, To say short he is a criminal.
Finally, Los That Sports Blog noted that if Mr. Prokhorov does run a successful campaign and is elected to the Russian Presidency, such a post could affect his responsibilities to the NBA:
It will be interesting to see, if elected, how his political responsibilities impact Prokhorov’s involvement with the Nets. Prokhorov purchased the Nets in May 2010 and holds an 80% stake in the franchise, as well as 45% in the new Barclay Center, where the Nets will be moving to in 2012. Prokhorov is the first non-American NBA owner and tallest at 6’8″ (random).
This post is part of our special coverage Russia Elections 2011/12.

author: Donna Welles


text:
Trinidad & Tobago: Manning Has Stroke  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Trinidad and Tobago News Blog reports that the former Prime Minister, Patrick Manning, has suffered a stroke.


text:
Africa: 2012 Cup of Nations Kicks Off! · Global Voices
Francois-Xavier Ada-Affana

[All links to external content are in French]
The Africa Cup of Nations began in Bata, Equatorial Guinea this Saturday January 21, 2012, kicking off three weeks of fierce competition. The Cup of Nations, the most important international football competition in Africa, is taking place in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea between January 21 and 12 February.
Supporters in Africa and around the world have been enjoying the build-up to the two opening matches; dancing, light and sound were all part of the spectacle:
GaGuie the Mascot! With GAGUIE : GA as in Gabon, GUI as in Guinea and E as in Equatorial! Image from fr.cafonline.com with permission
Here is a round up of the first three days of the tournament.
Matchday One
Libya took on Equatorial Guinea in the curtain raiser on 21 January, and it was co-hosts Equatorial Guinea, making their tournament debut, who took a surprise 1-0 win.
With just six minutes remaining, Balboa, the Equatorial Guinea number 11 finally opened the scoring after a one-on-one with the Libyan goalkeeper. The score stayed 1-0 until the final whistle, to the delight of the Equatorial Guinea fans who had packed the stadium.
The Senegalese fluffed their entry to the competition with a 2-1 defeat inflicted by Zambia on the same day. Senegal fans took to the web to place the blame on coach of the national team.
Touy wrote on Seneweb News [fr]:
le souci avec un entraîneur local c'est que même s'il se rend compte que  le capitaine par exemple Niang n'est pas au niveau il aura la crainte  la peur ou la pudeur de le faire sortir au détriment de la victoire bien  sur!!
Amara Traoré [fr] on RFI sheds some light on the subject for us:
Tout le monde savait avant même le début de la CAN que les zambiens sont très vifs et utiliseraient cette vivacité pour gérer les sénégalais  beaucoup plus costauds. Alors lui l’entraîneur et son staff devraient  trouver un bon système pour les contenir avant de les attaquer.Donc je  trouve kil n'a pas fais son boulot qui était de voir les choses venir et  de jouer avec des joueurs rapides mais surtout de ne pas trop bourrer  cette attaque ou personne ne se retrouve .
Matchday Two
The second matchday saw the entry of one of the competition favourites: the ‘Elephants’ of Côte d'Ivoire. A magnificent strike by Didier Drogba in the 39th minute secured the victory for Côte d'Ivoire over Sudan. The win for the Elephants wasn't enough for every Ivorian fan on the net however. Many felt that they could have done better.
Phox Hermann [fr] said:
la vérité est bonne à dire heinnn. ELEPHANT ke moi jai vu là c N'IMPORTE KOI
Bi Tia Vincent Toh [fr] added:
la conservation d'un unique but nous a donné des sueurs froides.
Que Mr Gervino soit un peu plus réaliste devant les buts,
Que Mr Yaya Touré regagne sa place au milieu et joue effectivement comme à city
Que la defense cesse d etre trop permeable,
Angola also played their first game and overpowered Burkina Faso with a 2-1 victory.
Matchday Three
Gabon, the second co-host team of the 2012 Cup of Nations showed their strength with a 2-0 win over Niger, the opening Group C match of the tournament played in a fantastic atmosphere in the Stade de l'Amitié in Libreville.
Rodrigue Magaya [fr] commented on Aubameyang's goal on Facebook:
que dire?!!!merci aux gars, il fallait ça pour la beauté du spetacle et   naturelement monter a tt nos adversaires que nous sommes la!!bien en   place et on a pas peur!!!vive la can, et vive encore plus nos   pantheres;que Dieu benisse le gabon!!!!!!
The 2012 Cup of Nations can be followed on TV5 Monde, Canal+ Afrique and on Twitter and Google+ via the hashtags #CAN2012 (in French) et #ACN2012 (in English).

author: Francois-Xavier Ada-Affana