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Russian Team Leaves World Cup · Global Voices
Andrey Tselikov

Russian team manager, the exorbitantly paid Fabio Capello, reacts to the Algerian tie.
After two ties and one loss, the Russian national team failed to make it out of its group and into the competition playoffs. Perhaps that's for the best — as things stand, if Russia had won the do-or-die match against Algeria on Thursday, it would have faced the daunting German team in the elimination rounds. However, that's not how the Russian Twitter-sphere saw things: one part upset, once part resigned, and one part relieved that the nightmare of cheering for a team this lackluster was over.
TV personality Vladimir Solovyov summed up the sentiment:
Позорище. Просто позорище. Могли и не приезжать на чемпионат. Деньги бы федерации сэкономили.
— Vladimir Soloviev (@VRSoloviev) June 26, 2014
Shameful. Simply shameful. We might as well not have gone to the Cup. Would have saved the [Russian soccer] federation money.
Some blamed the tie-making goal that sent Russia home on the Algerian fans, some of whom tried to blind the Russian goalie with a laser pointer during a critical moment (the goalie, Akinfeev, later said that this did not make a difference in his miss).
Of course, political jokes were out in full force — predictably many of them on the topic of annexation of Crimea and Ukraine (Ukrainians have cheered Russian losses at the cup).
“Putin gave us up. The tanks never came.” (referring to the continuing calls for Russia to support separatists in East Ukraine).
Крым вернули, вернем домой и сборную России
— Никотинка с Бровями (@Yoghikitt) June 26, 2014
We got Crimea back, so we'll bring home the Russian national team as well.
Liberal journalist Vladimir Varfolomeev wrote:
Алжиру сильно повезло, конечно, что он не граничит с РФ.
— Владимир Варфоломеев (@Varfolomeev) June 26, 2014
Algiers is extremely lucky that it doesn't border the Russian Federation.
The virtual troll personality Lev Sharansky tweeted:
Сейчас в Северной Африке и на Украине праздник. В Африке, короче, праздник.
— Lev Sharansky (@LevSharansky) June 26, 2014
Right now North Africa and Ukraine are celebrating. In short, Africa is celebrating.
Fans were concerned about performance at the next World Cup, which is due to take place in Russia:
в рамках подготовки к Чемпионату мира 2018 года сборная России провела три товарищеских матча в Бразилии
— Смирнов (@sssmirnov) June 26, 2014
As a way to prepare for the 2018 World Cup the Russian team played three friendly matches in Brazil
Ходят слухи, что сборная России будет первой командой, которая не сможет попасть на домашний чемпионат мира.
— Владимир Вербицкий (@VerbitskyVV) June 26, 2014
There are rumors that the Russian team will be the first host team that won't make it to its own World Cup.
Few people, like commentator Georgy Cherdantsev suggested a potentially controversial solution that could perhaps improve the team by then — getting rid of limits on foreign players in Russian clubs, to encourage competition among native players:
Только полная отмена лимита на легионеров! Пусть наши на тренировках доказывают, что они сильнее иностранцев.
— Георгий Черданцев (@cherdantsev) June 27, 2014
Only a complete abolishing of the limit on “hired guns”! Let our boys show at training that they are stronger than the foreigners.
The way the Russian team plays now, such a ban could lead to an even lower proportion of home-grown players in the Russian professional soccer leagues.

author: Andrey Tselikov


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‘Tajikistan’s Detention of Alexander Sodiqov Cuts to the Core of What Research Scholars Do’  · Global Voices
Global Voices

On the road to Khorog, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast, Tajikistan. © Ivan SIgal.
This guest post was written by University of Toronto political scientist Edward Schatz, academic adviser of Alexander Sodiqov. It originally appeared on the Washington Post's Monkey Cage blog.
In the remote city of Khorog, Tajikistan, on June 16, Alexander Sodiqov, my doctoral student in political science at the University of Toronto and a citizen of Tajikistan, was snatched from the streets by Tajik security services. Held incommunicado for more than a week, Alexander has been paraded on local TV in heavily edited “testimony” and could face charges of treason. His ongoing detention tells us much about how the region’s authoritarian regimes use the meme of “outside threats” to discredit political opponents and hold onto power.
With a GDP per capita of less than $1,000 at the end of a brutal civil war in the 1990s, Tajikistan now boasts having more than doubled that figure under the rule of authoritarian President Emomali Rakhmon. Yet, sitting at spot number 189 out of 226, Tajikistan remains the most remittance-dependent country in the world, sending over a million of its able-bodied citizens abroad, typically to Moscow, where they face everyday harassment and lack rights-protections.
The Rakhmon regime seeks to claim credit for a fragile stability and macro-economic growth, but Western foreign aid and security assistance during the 2000s surely played a role. And the regime has grown bold. Both the Rasht Valley (de facto autonomous until recently), and Badakhshan province (de jure autonomous) with its long border with Afghanistan, have been sites of violence between central security forces and local actors. Like Vladimir Putin in Russia, Rakhmon appears more than willing to build his strong state on authoritarian foundations. As Stalin’s secret-police chief commented during the Great Purges, “When you chop wood, chips fly.”
And the chips have flown. Pressure on journalists, always present, has risen markedly over the last two years. Opposition parties have lost all meaningful political representation. Pressure on religious groups and ordinary pious Muslims has been ratcheted up. The security and surveillance apparatus must have benefited from the over $15 million in US aid received in 2012 alone, and it now closely monitors the public’s activities and is increasingly willing to take action against political opponents. Alexander Sodiqov has the misfortune of being a scholar interested in conflict and conflict prevention in Badakhshan at a time when the security services were highly sensitive about their inability to establish authority in the province. Sodiqov, a graduate student and a Tajik citizen, appeared vulnerable.
This case reveals four key facets of authoritarianism in this part of the world. First, regimes such as these are not monolithic. There are clear signs that the security services were acting on their own initiative, and scholars have learned that security services generally have political and economic goals that differ from those of other state actors. In Tajikistan, much of the rest of the government, including a presidential adviser, have shown entirely different sympathies and are ripe for conversations with their foreign counterparts.
Second, authoritarianism is authoritarianism, yet these regimes vary. The news media in Tajikistan, for all that it is government-managed, is not government-controlled. In fact, global advocates for scholarly freedom have found many media outlets willing to publish stories that show Sodiqov for who he is: a scholar. Some oxygen for free expression remains in such environments.
Third, the dynamics of human rights cases vary from context to context. States like Russia, China and Iran are able to push back against international campaigns to protect rights on the ground. The ongoing advocacy on the Sodiqov case reminds us that many human rights abuses are committed in smaller states that would rather not assume the reputational risks involved in alienating the global community. Aid-dependent states cannot simply thumb their noses at their international obligations. When the Tajik Foreign Minister visits Britain on July 2, he will be reminded of this fact.
Finally, such regimes seem to believe that, since they manage their own domestic information environments, advancing a preferred narrative of events is all that’s needed to win the political upper hand. Thus, government media outlets have propagated a crude “Sodiqov as spy” story. In a region where geopolitical intrigue is a staple of local media coverage, regimes assume that people will believe such narratives. The reality is that Central Asians can be told what to think, but a preposterous story propagated without evidence convinces no one.
The detention of Alexander Sodiqov cuts to the core of what research scholars do. They rigorously collect data, analyze them, and disseminate knowledge. Sometimes the intellectual questions they ask take them to places like Khorog, Tajikistan. Sometimes these questions are uncomfortable for sitting political elites to hear. But it is hard — and indeed troubling — to imagine a world where the passion for asking important intellectual questions and pursuing research about them is squelched. Such scholarly research deserves broad public support (and scholars have led the outcry) because producing valid knowledge requires it, and because the fate of people like my student Alexander Sodiqov hangs in the balance.
For more information see our special coverage Scholar and GV Author Detained in Tajikistan.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Global Voices


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The Driver Is Not to Blame, It’s the Pedestrian!? · Global Voices
Milton Ramirez

Image by Osiris Jasso ans used with his permission.
Osiris Jasso, a Global Voices contributor, reports on his personal Tumblr blog about traffic and common sense violations in his neighborhood in San Luis Potosí's historic downtown in Mexico. After an accident due to misuse of sidewalks by unscrupulous drivers, Osiris claims:
Exigimos a las autoridades que liberen las banquetas de los coches estacionados en ellas, que eduquen a l@s automovilistas sobre la preferencia que goza el peatón, la bici y la silla de ruedas en las calles, y que reduzcan los límites máximos de velocidad en las vías no principales de la ciudad. Que elaboren políticas públicas de movilidad que beneficien al transporte público, la bicicleta y el andar desde una perspectiva humana y amigable con la civilidad, la convivencia armónica y el medio ambiente. Que nos devuelvan nuestra ciudad.
We demand our authorities to make the sidewalks free from parked cars, to educate drivers about the preference that pedestrians, bikes and wheelchairs have, and to reduce high speed limits for secondary roads in the city. To prepare transport public policies that would benefit it, as well as the bikes and walkers from a civility-friendly and human perspective, with the harmonious coexistence and the environment. We want our city back.
He ends up with a desperate call: “let emergency service take care of us while it's still possible to do something to protect us”.
For more updates, you can follow Osiris Jasso on his Twitter account, @typgrph.

author: Milton Ramirez


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Trinidad and Tobago Parliament Asks Itself For Pay Raise, Says Yes  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

When two controversial bills are passed swiftly and unanimously by a country’s parliament, the alarm bells go off.
The passage, on June 13, 2014, of amendments to two parliamentary acts governing pension payments for legislators and judges in Trinidad and Tobago has been called unconstitutional and a threat to the independence of the judiciary. Or perhaps, as Rhoda Bharath suggests, it’s a case of “Himself. . . passing Amendments to pay Himself and bypassing the enshrined Constitutional arrangements.”
In a post spiced with football analogies and references to the 2014 World Cup, Bharath recounts the chain of events and the commentary surrounding the whole affair, adding:
“I can’t say it’s illegal. . . . The [Salary Review Commission] has to clarify whether Pensions really fall under its purview. The Constitution’s language is too vague for me to say so convincingly. . . . What I can say is in light of the burden on our treasury and our numerous labour and employment issues this leaves a very bad taste in my mouth. . . and I’m giving you, Keith Rowley [Trinidad and Tobago’s leader of the Opposition], a devious cut eye on this one.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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In Syria We Have All Become Killers · Global Voices
مرسيل شحوارو

The site of an improvised cemetery in Aleppo, Syria. The lack of space in cemeteries forces Aleppo residents to bury the dead in parks and open spaces across the city. Photo by karam almasri, copyright Demotix (27/5/14)
This post is part of a special series of articles by blogger and activist, Marcell Shehwaro, describing the realities of life in Syria during the ongoing armed conflict between forces loyal to the current regime, and those seeking to oust it.
On a very normal day, during lunch with a friend in Turkey, away from the pounding of bombs and death, and close to suffocation with guilt at being away from my city, enjoying luxuries like electricity and communications services while Aleppo is dying, I—being as much of a social media addict as the next person—opened my Facebook page. There, I  found a message on my wall from a friend with close ties to the rebels. It read: “Marcell, The security checkpoint at Sabaa Bahrat is no more. It was destroyed in today's bombing. I know this means a lot to you. I hope the air force [building] is next. I might then feel something close to what you are feeling now.”
This friend really knows me. He knows how I hate having my name spelt with the letter “A” in Arabic, and spells it correctly. He knows that this checkpoint, in particular, means a lot to me personally, and not only from a revolution perspective. He was present at the funeral of my mother, who was killed in cold blood at this checkpoint by security forces. He also knew that I would understand his pain when he informed me about the notorious air force building, where protestors have been tortured and killed. And he knew why I understood his hopes that this building was bombed.
For a moment, the news about the checkpoint came as a shock. It signifies the absolute end of those who ended my life, and I didn’t fully understand exactly what I was feeling. What I felt, in fact, was an infinite numbness.
Let me share with you some of the ideals I on which I was brought up on in our household. As a human being from a conservative Christian family, I was raised to believe that love alone could erase the pain of mankind in a world overtaken by hate. I believed that all lives—regardless of whom they belonged to—were absolutely sacred. This is why I stood against abortion, against war, against capital punishment.
Burdened with my belief that forgiveness was power, and that Christ in whom I believed, had called upon us to forgive those who have wronged us, the true test of my belief was forgiving the people at that checkpoint, my new enemies, those who killed my mother. And I failed. I went through a phase where I became obsessed with my mother’s killers. Who were they? What do they do? From which families do they come? To which sect do they belong? I was able to bribe to someone who was able to fill me in with the information. I kept that piece of paper for a long time, and then destroyed it when I became powerful enough.
I was in a position to hand over their names to my armed friends on the Free Syria Army, who could then circulate the information and ensure the killers were punished. But I destroyed it because I could not take the decision for them to be killed, or to even participate in a decision of this type. Having this sort of power really frightens me. Having this ability to be both victim and judge is a privilege, and also a curse, and that truly exceeds my abilities.
Still, almost every week I would seek them out. I would stand and study them from afar. Unfortunately, they were people just like us. They smiled and they got tired. They exchanged jokes and got angry. They worked in two shifts, and I wondered who was working the shift on which my mother was killed.
They drink tea the way I like it, sweet and light. One of them had a toddler son who visited him at the checkpoint with a veiled woman whose features I couldn't make out. Did his wife know that he had shot my mother? Or, to be more precise, that he had killed her? Later on, I realised that I couldn't remember my mother without remembering them as well. The features of the killers slowly started to appear where her smile and the strands of her hair had been. The voice of vengeance in me was greater than anything she had ever taught me, higher even than her laugh. On that day I took the decision that I would stop thinking about them.
I no longer bear a grudge against them, but I cannot forgive them. I am stuck in a space between pain, vengeance and forgiveness. I cannot—although it could be true—acknowledge that they too, might be victims of the Assad regime, which had turned them into murderers. There is a court case between us in the Syrian courts which I had hoped I would drop after the fall of the Assad regime as a form of forgiveness, as I believe that is part of the solution for Syria to become peaceful again.
So, the news that the checkpoint was bombed by the Islamic Front a few days ago was a slap in the face. Am I happy that they have died? Have I really changed so much that I can derive happiness from the death of others? Have I lost the privilege of being able one day to forgive them? Has the sacredness of life become less sacred for me? Has the war completely infested my psyche?
I don't know what my feelings are, exactly, but at this moment I fully understand the cry of all the victims who are calling for revenge. And I understand how everything loses value when you deal with death on a daily basis. I know how learning to adapt gives you greater reverence for death than for life. In our days, which have all become similar to each other, death has become the norm and life the exception.
The Islamic Front's statement says that according to preliminary information, more than 50 of Al Assad's soldiers and thugs were killed in the operation. I wonder if my mother's killers were among the 50. Or were those who died innocent people who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time? I don't want revenge, but between my sadness over innocent people and friends, I don't have the ability to feel sad for a checkpoint, or for state institutions or for murderers. I am still trying to feel surprised at feeling sadness over the loss of innocents. I am unable to feel sadness for murderers who are killed, despite strongly believing that peace is the solution for this world.
This year, for my birthday, I received a small pistol from a friend who was worried about me, vulnerable in a country where almost everyone is now armed. Who would have thought that a weapon could become a symbol of love? But I am saddened that I have become a victim twice over. The first time was when I lost my mother; the second when I lost my status as a victim. The murderer inside me had grown, and I started feeling happy about the killing of others.
My ability to survive depends on the death of others. This is the idea that I try to live with and use as an excuse: “For me to survive, he has to die.” And this is how the murderous regime will ultimately win, regardless of what political change awaits Syria. The regime has succeeded in turning us all into murderers. I feel sad for our children, as they will have to live with us after we have all become either killing machines, or creatures who gloat at murder of others.

author: مرسيل شحوارو


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Beyond the World Cup Headlines: Iran’s Lacking Team Spirit, but Brazil’s Favelas Have Plenty · Global Voices
Deji Olukotun

Three people were arrested in Iran for taking part in this video cheering on the national team.
The group stages of the World Cup are largely considered boring affairs in which fans get a glimpse of the more exciting matches to come during the knock-out stage, when every game makes the difference between continuing in the tournament or returning home early.
Not so at this World Cup. Three giants of world soccer have exited: Spain, Italy, and England. And the world has been transfixed by replays and clever animated GIFs of Uruguay striker Luis Suarez biting everything from cupcakes to ship captains after he bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini. South African cartoonist Zapiro, who has himself been threatened for his cartoons multiple times, lampooned FIFA’s treatment of Suarez here.
But there are other stories beyond the headlines about free expression and human rights. Three people were arrested in Iran for their role in making a video that supported the national soccer team. FIFA also declined to sanction fans from the Mexico national team after allegedly chanting homophobic slurs during their march to the second round.
Attending games in person has sadly remained impossible for most Brazilians, so the organization Football Beyond Borders organized a Favela World Cup to invite members of shantytowns to form their own game. Similarly, the town of Östersund, Sweden hosted a tournament for countries that don’t exist, such as Padania, Tamil Eelam, and Occitania.
For the first time since 1986, the FIFA World Cup fell on Ramadan, prompting questions amongst Muslim players about whether to observe the holiday. The Kuwaiti team famously chose to observe Ramadan in its final group match against England in 1982, but the coach noted that it only affected its performance “a little bit.”
For those of you utilizing the service Aereo in the U.S. to stream matches, you are now out of luck, as the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the technology employed by Aereo infringes upon copyright. You’re luckier if you have been watching the tournament on your mobile phone, because the same court held that authorities now require a warrant to search your device.
But don’t get too excited. The activist research team at Citizen Lab released this frightening paper about how government authorities around the world have been stealing mobile phone data using software developed by the Italian firm Hacking Team.
If you prefer to avoid watching the tournament altogether this weekend, then consider attending the IndieWebCamp in New York, which celebrates independent websites and creator-owned content.

author: Deji Olukotun


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Singing and Dancing in a YouTube Video to Cheer On the National Football Team Can Get You Arrested in Iran · Global Voices
Farid

Screenshot of a video supporting Iran's national team in the World Cup. Three people who were involved in the making of the video were arrested.
Only a month after six Iranians were jailed for making a version of the viral “Happy” video, three people were arrested in Iran for their involvement in an upbeat music video supporting Iran's national team in the World Cup.
The video, which was produced by the UK-based Ajam Band, includes clips of Iranians in more than a dozen countries singing and dancing. Two actors and the director were arrested, according to the Iranian state news agency. Details on their arrests were scant, but Iranian police called the video “vulgar“.
“Goal Iran” was published just two days before the World Cup opener on June 10, 2014, and has nearly 30,000 views on YouTube. Agence France-Press reported that the video was broadcast on satellite TV in Iran, available only via illegal dishes that are nevertheless widespread.
The word in Persian for flower also means goal, and the song makes use of that double meaning:
What is the goal, which is the fruit of love and hope
What is the goal, which is red and green and white [the colours of the Iranian flag]
What is the goal that came from Iran’s heart
Our hearts want an Iranian goal
Come on, come on we want a goal
…long live Iran’s name
Iran was eliminated from the World Cup after losing to Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-1 on June 25.
An earlier loss to Argentina in the tournament prompted Iranians to stream into the streets in celebration. Iran held Argentina scoreless for 90 minutes during a match on June 21 until superstar Lionel Messi knocked in a goal at the last minute. To many Iranians, it was an impressive achievement for their national squad.
Amir Jahnashai, the founder of Iranian opposition TV channel Raha TV in London, tweeted in reaction:
امروز همه ملت #ایران پشتیبان تیم ملی #فوتبال است. این روحیه همبستگی ملی در #ورزش را باید در همه زمینه‌ها فراگیر کنیم. pic.twitter.com/z57ZVSVvSw
— Amir Jahanshahi (@Jahanchahi), June 21, 2014
The entire Iranian nation today supports our football team. Such solidarity should be present in all fields.
Blogger Namajafari injected a little unhappy reality into the celebration:
یک باخت شیرین! به امید اینکه در ورزشگاه آزادی ایران نیز زنان و مردان در کنار هم به تماشای #والیبال و #فوتبال بنشینند pic.twitter.com/3UpomFZl74
— namajafari (@namajafari) June 21, 2014
Sweet loss, hoping one day Iranian women can sit next to Iranian men while watching the games.

author: Farid


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Hong Kong Lawyers Protest in Black Against Chinese Government’s White Paper · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A total of 1,800 Hong Kong lawyers dressed in black marched through the city on 27 June to protest against what they see as Chinese interference.  a sign of growing concern about the rule of law in the Asian financial centre and a further act of dissent against Beijing. Photo by PH Yang at Demotix.
The protest is in response to the Chinaese government's recent white paper on the practice of “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Italian Footballer Giorgio Chiellini’s Praiseworthy Words After Being Bitten · Global Voices
Gabriela García Calderón Orbe

Giorgio Chiellini, image on Flickr by user calciostreaming. CC BY 2.0.
Italian centre back Giorgio Chiellini, bitten by Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez during the match between Italy and Uruguay national teams of the group phase of the World Cup in Brazil, sent Suárez a conciliatory message via his official website:
Dentro di me ora non ci sono sentimenti di gioia, di vendetta o di rabbia contro Suarez per un incidente che è accaduto in campo ed è finito lì. Rimangono solo la rabbia e delusione per la partita persa.
Al momento il mio unico pensiero è per Luis e la sua famiglia, perché si troveranno ad affrontare un periodo molto difficile.
Now inside me there's no feelings of joy, revenge or anger against Suárez for an incident that happened on the pitch and that's done. There only remains the anger and the disappointment about the match.
At the moment my only thought is for Luis and his family, because they will face a very difficult period.

author: Gabriela García Calderón Orbe


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Srinagar-Leh Highway: An Adventurous Road Trip  · Global Voices
Rezwan

The 434-kilometer-long Srinagar-Leh Highway is a spectacular and often scary highway in the Kashmir Valley. This road, which is open for traffic from June to November, is generally muddy, gravely and non-existent at best. The Zoji La mountain pass at 3,528 meters is particularly dangerous with only enough clearance for one-way traffic risking 1,000 meter drops. Minor Sights, a travel blog, posts details about the Srinagar-Leh road trip including the above video report.

author: Rezwan


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Cameroon’s Marc Vivien Foé, ‘One of the Greatest Talents Ever in Football’ · Global Voices
Dibussi Tande

Eleven years ago, Cameroon footballer Marc Vivien Foé collapsed and died at the Stade Gerland in Lyon, France, during the Confederations Cup semi-final game between Cameroon and Columbia on June 26, 2003. Foé’s death was one of the major events in football that year as millions of TV viewers watched him die as the game was beamed live around the world.
A beloved athlete who began his career in his native Cameroon, he later moved to France where he won both the French league title and cup with Racing Club de Lens and Olympique Lyonnais respectively before ending up in England where he played for both West Ham United and Manchester City.
Foé’s autopsy results revealed that he died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or sudden cardiac arrest, a condition which increases the risk of sudden death during physical exercise.
The 11th anniversary of his death was particularly poignant as it came barely days after the ignominious elimination of Foé’s cherished Indomitable Lions from the 2014 World Cup amidst accusations of greed and a lack of patriotism and fighting spirit that Foé embodied.
Incidentally, it was Samuel Eto’o, Foé’s former teammate and captain of Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions Captain, who was among the first to tweet about the anniversary:
Today, it's been 11 years that you left us for a better place, but you will never be forgotten. RIP Marc Vivien Foe. pic.twitter.com/GjQyhMVIje
— Samuel Eto'o (@setoo9) June 26, 2014
Luc Mbah a Moute, a Cameroon professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA), followed suit:
11 years ago, you went out of our sights but even closer to our hearts. We will never forget you. RIP Marc Vivien Foe pic.twitter.com/amgHdfBizP
— Luc Mbah a Moute (@mbahamoute) June 26, 2014
@thegingerwig tweeted a video tribute by Foé’s former club Manchester City:
Marc Vivien Foe – Manchester City Tribute: http://t.co/7X1ufipLD8 A lion never dies it sleeps! RIP. 11 years ago today. #mcfc #together
— thegingerwigmcfc (@thegingerwig) June 26, 2014
To Cameroonians, Foé is a national hero who died at the service of his country. As Samuel Eto’o stressed in another message, this time on his Facebook page, Foé was:
Valeureux Lion Indomptable mort sur le champ d’honneur en défendant les couleurs de notre cher et beau Pays. Ta grandeur s’est imposée naturellement comme ta personnalité, ton talent et ton amour inconditionnel pour la Patrie… Tu resteras pour nous, à jamais, un Héros National, l’enfant bien-aimé de la Mère Afrique, un des plus grands talents qui aient jamais existé sur la Planète Football. Merci Marco. Repose en paix !
A valiant Indomitable Lion who died on the field of honor while defending the colors of our dear and beautiful country. Your greatness imposed itself naturally, just like your personality, your talent and your unconditional love for the fatherland… You will forever remain a National Hero, the beloved child of mother Africa, and one of the greatest talents ever in football. Thanks Marco. Rest in peace!
The theme of selfless and sacrifice was shared by Serge Mbarga Owona:
26 Juin 2003! Voilà aujourd'hui 11 ans que Marc Vivien Foé s'en est allé. Un exemple de courage, d'abnégation et de bravoure. Un lion! #rip
— Serge Mbarga Owona (@Manekang) June 26, 2014
June 26, 2003! It’s been 11 years since Marc Vivien Foé departed. An example of courage, self-sacrifice and bravery. A true lion! #rip
In spite of his status as a national hero who was given a state funeral in 2003, Cameroon has done very little to preserve Foé’s memory and legacy. Nowhere is this more evident than in Foé’s unfinished sports complex in Yaounde which the government had promised to complete. Today, the multimillion dollar complex is in ruins. As a 2013 CNN report revealed:
The paint is peeling, puddles litter the inside of the building, putrid water lies in what was supposed to be a swimming pool and even the statue of the man who had the vision to build the sports complex is cracked — a sad and inglorious tribute to Marc-Vivien Foe 10 years to the day after the Cameroonian's tragic death.
Once earmarked as a state-of-the-art $10 million sports academy, the only inhabitants today are not the next generation of Indomitable Lions but a handful of squatters and policemen — with Foe's father funding the latter because of the high risk of theft in this corner of Yaounde.
Although largely ignored and forgotten by his home country, Foé’s memory lives on elsewhere. In France, for example, the city of Lyon renamed the Jules Verne municipal stadium after him, while Radio France International and France 24 came together to establish the Marc-Vivien Foé Award for the best African player in the French Ligue 1 football championship. In England, Manchester City retired Foé’s Number 17 jersey following his death and put up a plaque in his honor at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Since Foé’s death, FIFA has initiated numerous programs to detect and reduce the occurrence of sudden cardiac arrest among footballers reduce its occurrence among footballers.
According to Tom Victor:
He may no longer be with us, but no figure can be put on the lives saved as a consequence of the actions taken after his death.
Thanks to these and many other initiatives, Foé will live on as the deluge of tributes on social media attest. As Emily Brady tweeted:
Rest in peace to a man that will never be forgotten, a number that will never be replaced. Marc Vivien Foe* @MCFC pic.twitter.com/bCPnDrL1Qp
— EmilyBrady. (@EmilyJaneBrady) June 26, 2014

author: Dibussi Tande


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France Sees Escape From Russian Energy Dependence in Azerbaijan · Global Voices
Theo Vallon

The village Buduq in Azerbaijan (region Quba) via Wikipedia – CC BY-SA 3.0
[All links lead to French-language pages unless otherwise noted.]
Observers of French President François Hollande's recent visit to Azerbaijan have been trying to assess its significance. Much has been said about France's anxiety to reduce its energy dependence on Russia; less, however, about France's energy policy strengths, desirable to an Azerbaijan eager to diversify its economy and develop the renewable energy sector.
Russia is currently the largest provider of hydrocarbons to the European Union, with France relying on the country for a quarter of its gas, a situation not expected to change in future. Even so, France is not the most dependent country on the Russian supply. The European Commission estimates that within 20 or 30 years, 70 percent of the energy needs of the European Union will have to be met by imports compared to the current share of 50 percent.
Experts are more concerned about Russia's ability to honor its European Union oil supply commitments, as its domestic consumption increases and other countries strive to exploit new deposits in the sector, than about the potential for energy blackmail.
This is the context behind Hollande's Azerbaijan visit on the 11 and 12 May 2014. Azerbaijan plays a leading role in transportation of energy resources to European and global markets from the Caspian Sea basin. The country has considerable gas and oil reserves – enough for a century, according to President Ilham Aliyev – and constitutes an alternative source of supply to Russia.
Video screen capture of President Hollande being received by President Aliyev via ‘AzerTac’ on YouTube
One of the first subjects tabled by Hollande was energy. The president has highlighted the ‘strategic role’ of Azerbaijan in the supply of Europe and its ‘energy security’. From a win-win perspective he offered the Azerbaijani authorities French expertise in the field of civil nuclear power and renewable energies. The president recently stated:
Je ferai en sorte avec nos principaux partenaires européens de mener à bien dans les années qui viennent cette sécurité énergétique et cette diversification des sources d’énergie
While Europe is dependent on the oil and gas of countries rich in these resources, Azerbaijan is dependent on the price and volume variations of hydrocarbons as petroleum products comprise over 90 percent of its exports. Since gaining independence in 1991, the GDP of Azerbaijan has continued to grow, with an average growth rate between 1996 and 2011 rising to 11.8 percent and reaching a peak of 34.5 percent in 2006. However, the 2011 crash (0.1 percent growth) highlighted the fragility of the single-sector economic model as that year's reduction in oil production was not offset by the growth in other sectors.
Thierry Mariani, a French member of parliament, stated the following during a 2013 speech:
Afin d'être moins tributaire de ces variations de volumes et de prix des hydrocarbures, l'Azerbaïdjan a engagé un processus ambitieux de diversification de son économie vers des secteurs non pétroliers, comme l'agro-alimentaire, le développement durable, les infrastructures et les hautes technologies. Dans tous ces secteurs, la France dispose d'atouts considérables, qu'elle pourrait utilement développer si elle pariait sur l'essor économique de l'Azerbaïdjan
Among sectors that Azerbaijan is keen to develop are energy technologies. The Department of Energy is set to invest $7 billion in the renewable energy, it stated in 2013. Tax exemptions will be given to encourage business start-ups.
French expertise, particularly in wind and solar energy, could help Azerbaijan, whose 2012-2020 national strategy for alternative and renewable energy development is two-phase: the first phase focusing on solar energy development, the second on wind energy.
Both France and Azerbaijan need to reduce their energy dependency – France is dependent on Russia, Azerbaijan on its 90 percent hydrocarbon-based economic model.
French-based utility company Suez Environnement recently announced the signing of a 22.5 million euros ($30.7 million US Dollars)  contract with the Azerbaijan National Water Company. The group hopes to go further and extend the cooperation ‘to other priority subjects such as soil decontamination, in particular that of land contaminated by hydrocarbons’, ecological problems being taken seriously in Azerbaijan. French multinational Alstom has also won a 300 million euro ($409 million US dollars) contract to supply 50 freight locomotives to the Azerbaijan Railways company.
Similar agreements are possible in the renewable energy sector in view of the willingness of the country's authorities to engage with the topic of energy.

author: Theo Vallon


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It’s Official: Puerto Rico’s First Openly Lesbian Judge Has Been Appointed to the Supreme Court · Global Voices
Ángel Carrión

Maite Oronoz during the confirmation process in the Puerto Rico Senate. Screenshot from video posted by the Senate.
[All links lead to Spanish-language pages, except where indicated.]
On Monday, June 23, 2014, the Puerto Rico Senate confirmed attorney Maite Oronoz Rodríguez [en] as a Supreme Court judge. The historic nomination marks the first time that an openly gay individual has been appointed to the country's highest court. Oronoz Rodríguez, who is the fifth woman to serve on the Supreme Court, expressed her gratitude and pride in a written statement [en]:
I am pleased that the democratic process has resulted in my nomination. I am proud to continue to serve this country, this time from the Supreme Court. My commitment to the country and to the constitution of Puerto Rico is unwavering. Through me, the people of Puerto Rico will have an honest and fair judge, loyal to the letter of the Constitution. I thank the Governor and the Senate for the opportunity to reaffirm this commitment.
The Senate's vote to confirm Oronoz Rodríguez fell mostly along partisan lines, with 16 votes in her favor and 10 against [Oronoz was nominated by the governor of Puerto Rico, Alejandro García Padilla, from the Partido Popular Democrático–Popular Democratic Party]. Among those voting against Oronoz Rodríguez was the only female senator, of the Puerto Rican Independence Party, María de Lourdes Santiago. Santiago explained that her decision was based on Oronoz Rodríguez’ involvement in a controversial case, when as the director of San Juan's Municipal Legal Division she defended the Mayor's decision to impose searches on every individual who would attend this year's San Sebastian Street Festival. The searches were deemed unconstitutional in court.
The confirmation process was not without hitches. After the vote that confirmed Oronoz Rodríguez as a Supreme Court judge, some senators requested a recount of the vote. Amárilis Pagán (@AmarilisPagan), feminist lawyer and LGBT advocate, expressed her frustration with the process:
Si no hubiera una lesbofobia rampante dentro del Capitolio, no estaríamos en este trance con la confirmación de Oronoz. Vergüenza nacional. — Amárilis Pagán (@AmarilisPagan) June 23, 2014
If it weren't for the rampant lesbophobia in the Capital, we wouldn't be in this mess over Oronoz’ confirmation. National embarrassment.
LGBT activist Pedro Julio Serrano praised Oronoz Rodríguez’ conduct during the confirmation process:
Maite se presentó sin miedo – con todas sus identidades a flor de piel y ante la vista del País. Su nombramiento merecía esa misma valentía. Lo tuvo, a final de cuentas, pero de manera atropellada. Hay que ir de frente, sin miedo, de cara al sol, con respeto y dignidad. Como merecemos las personas LGBTT, como merecemos tod@s l@s seres human@s.
Maite presented herself fearlessly – with all her identities in full view of the country. Her appointment [as a judge] merits this same bravery. It happened, at the end of the day, but in a tumultuous way. We must proceed straightforwardly, without fear, faces to the sun, with respect and dignity. As we LGBT individuals deserve. As all humans deserve.
The new judge was congratulated by Puerto Rican Congress members Luis Gutiérrez and Nydia Velázquez via Twitter:
It's a great day for #LGBT equality & advancing civil rights in PR. I applaud the Governor for nominating Maite Oronoz Rodríguez. — Luis V. Gutierrez (@RepGutierrez) June 23, 2014
Not only will Maite Oronoz make a superb judge but her appointment to PR's Supreme Court is an important step forward for civil rights. — Rep. Nydia Velazquez (@NydiaVelazquez) June 16, 2014
In a column for digital magazine 80 grados, queer activist Yoryie Irizarry (@CyborgYoryie) astutely observed that this historic moment is the fruit of the LGBT community's long fight for equality:
A diferencia de lo que piensan nuestras aliadas y aliados, yo he decidido pensar que ese momento histórico no nos viene cortesía del gobernador Alejandro García Padilla. Este momento histórico nos lo hemos ganado en las calles, en las legislaturas, en nuestras comunidades y empleos, educando, haciéndonos visibles, deponiendo, escribiendo, firmando cartas, debatiendo y trabajando.
Contrary to what our allies may think, I've decided to think that this historic moment does not come to us courtesy of Governor Alejandro García Padilla. We've earned this historic moment in the streets, in the legislature, in our communities and workplaces, educating, making ourselves visible, testifying, writing, signing letters, fighting, and working.
The public discussion raised by Oronoz Rodríguez’ nomination highlights society's persistent fixation on the sexual orientation of public figures, to the point that fundamental issues, like her performance and knowledge, are taking a backseat. In an article for digital magazine El Post Antillano, Jaime Pieras Castañer describes the problem:
Cuando se discutía el nombramiento en los medios se enfatizaba demasiado en la orientación social de la nominada. Aparentemente, hubiese estado bien si no fuese sincera sobre su orientación sexual, pero lo dijo. Thomas Rivera Schatz, ex presidente del Senado, expresó en un apasionado discurso […] en el Senado que ella era la que había traído a la atención que era lesbiana. Bah, como si eso tuviese que ver con sus clasificaciones o con las consideraciones que deben de ser parte de cualquier deliberación sobre los dotes o el talento de Oronoz.
The media coverage of the nomination focused too much on the social orientation of the nominee. Apparently, it would have been fine if she weren't open about her sexual orientation, but she disclosed it. Thomas Rivera Schatz, ex-president of the Senate, said in a heated speech […] in the Senate that [Oronoz Rodríguez] herself brought her sexual orientation to public attention. As if that has anything to do with her qualifications or with any of the factors that should be part of any discussion of Oronoz’ gifts and talent.
Érika Fontánez Torres, lawyer, Law professor and editor of the digital magazine Derecho al Derecho, offers an interesting opinion in the magazine's podcast (at around minute 11:20):
Hay alguna gente que a raíz de toda esta discusión ha dicho “no, es que no es importante, no es relevante que ella sea lesbiana o no” y, bueno, lo primero que tendríamos que decir, “sí, que sí que lo es”, […] sí que las subjetividades son importantes en el Tribunal, sí que añaden a la mesa, sí que la diversidad es importante a la hora de la deliberación de los jueces […], y si esa persona tiene, como en el caso de Maite Oronoz, una experiencia de vida desde esa ubicación, eso me parece extraordinario.
There are some people who have responded to this discussion by saying, “No, it's not important, it's irrelevant whether or not she's a lesbian,” but well, the first thing we should be saying is “Yes, yes, it is important”… yes, subjectivities are important in Court, yes, they do bring something to the table, yes, diversity is important when the judges are deliberating […], and if an individual, like Maite Oronoz, has a life experience from that perspective, I would say that's extraordinary.

author: Ángel Carrión


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Serbian Insurance Company Refuses to Pay Damages to Roma Family · Global Voices
Danica Radisic

Serbian daily Blic reports on a curious case in which Serbian insurance company Takovo Osiguranje has, in writing, refused to pay damages to the widow and children of a car accident victim, based on his ethnicity. Blic journalists and an attorney representing the victim's family claim that the insurance company clearly stated in their written refusal to pay out damages that the family is legally owed:
…“da se javio neuobičajeni broj nesreća u kojima je stradao veliki broj učesnika romske nacionalnosti – u vozilu našeg osiguranika bilo ih je čak sedam”
…”that there has been an unusually large number of accidents in which a large number of victims have been of Roma ethnicity – in the vehicles of those insured with us there were as many as seven”

author: Danica Radisic


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A Kissing Sit-In and An Open Letter for LGBT Rights in Cuba · Global Voices
Sandra Abd'Allah-Alvarez Ramírez

Photo by Jorge Luis Baños, used with permission.
At the “Second Kissing Sit-In or ‘Besada’ for Diversity and Equality” in Havana, Cuba, people “put the Revolution in a Kiss”, and these kisses most certainly are revolutionary. However, the second edition of the “Besada” comes at a time when controversy has arisen around the exclusion of discrimination based on gender identity in the new Labor Code.
The Rainbow Project or Proyecto Arcoiris, an anti-capitalist and independent project, organizes the activities in Havana, Cuba, on June 28th, LGTB Pride Day, to commemorate the Stonewall Inn riots, which marked a historical moment for LGBT rights which occurred in New York in 1969.
On the same date in 2012, Arcoiris organized the first “Besada,” and nearly 50 people participated in that event in the vicinity of the sports arena Ramon Fonst, in the municipality Plaza Havana. This time it will was held in Plaza Vieja, in the capital city.
The organizers explained the rational behind this flash mob style action:
Besarse en el espacio público debería ser derecho de toda persona, pero para muchos ojos constituye escándalo público, si no ocurre entre heterosexuales. Al besarnos todos y todas, por amor o fraternidad, ejercitamos nuestra igualdad ciudadana y ponemos en evidencia los dobles raseros morales que generan la homofobia, el sexismo, las lógicas discriminatorias que marcan las raíces de nuestra cultura y debemos cambiar.
Kissing in public should be everyone's right, but many view it as a public scandal, if it happens between other individuals besides heterosexuals. When we as men and women kiss, for love or fraternity, we exercise our equality as citizens and we display the double standards that spark homophobia, sexism, the discriminatory attitudes that mark the root of our culture and which we must change.
In addition to being published in the blog of Arcoiris, the message was distributed on various internet sites, among them Cubainformacion.tv. Furthermore, several magazines published on the Island, such as La Jiribilla and Cuba Contemporánea, have written about this event.
The letter convening the event adds:
Porque Revolución es cambiar todo lo que deba ser cambiado, y defendemos la idea de una sociedad anticapitalista, revolucionaria y democrática. Ven y celebra que la Ley No.116 Código de Trabajo protege por primera vez a las personas homosexuales. Ven y reclama explicación pública a la eliminación de la identidad de género y el estatus frente al VIH en la misma Ley, aunque la Asamblea Nacional lo aprobó.
En esta cita no importan el color de la piel, el género, la identidad de género, las creencias religiosas o políticas, la orientación sexual, el origen territorial, la discapacidad ni cualquier otra distinción, sino la fe en la igualdad de todas las formas de amar, formar familia, producir, comprometerse… todas las formas de HACER PATRIA.
28 de junio, pon la Revolución en un Beso.
Because a revolution means changing everything that needs change, and we defend the idea of an anti-capitalist, revolutionary and democratic society. Join us and celebrate the Labor Code, Law No 116, and for the first time, the protection of homosexuals. Come and demand a public explanation addressing the elimination of gender identity issues and status regarding HIV, in the same legislation, although the National Assembly did not approve it.
On this date, the color of your skin, gender, gender identity, religious or political beliefs, sexual orientation, national origin, disabilities nor any other distinction do not matter, but what does is the faith in equality of all forms of love, forming a family, reproducing, being committed… all forms of BEING PATRIOTIC.
On June 28th, put the Revolution in a Kiss
The context in which the “Besada” is taking place is the recent enactment of the new Labor Code, which excluded the recommendation of Mariela Castro Espín, member of the Cuban Parliament and renowned Cuban investigator, of including gender identity as a motive of discrimination in the work environment.
Several journalists and bloggers have expressed their disagreement on the outcome of the new Labor Code, which went from being discussed to being published in the Gaceta Oficial de la República de Cuba (Official Gazette of the Republic of Cuba) without the approval of the final changes. Castro Espín addressed this issue on the National Center for Sex Education's website,(Centro Nacional de Educación Sexual ‘Cenesex’), the institution which she also leads.
Members of Project Arcoiris sent a letter to Esteban Lazo Hernández, chairman of the National Assembly of People's Power. Below we share this document in its entirety:
La Habana, 23 de junio de 2014
Año 56 de la Revolución
A: Esteban Lazo Hernández
Presidente de la Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular
Compañero:
La Gaceta Oficial de la República de Cuba acaba de publicar el texto definitivo de la Ley No.116 Código de Trabajo, y quisiéramos esclarecernos sobre los motivos de la ausencia en esta norma jurídica de elementos que muchas personas esperábamos hallar, luego de la discusión y aprobación de esta ley por nuestro máximo órgano legislativo, el cual usted preside.
Todo nuestro pueblo pudo ver por la Televisión Cubana el debate que sobre esta legislación aconteció en el Parlamento durante sus sesiones ordinarias de diciembre de 2013. Aquel análisis incluyó varias propuestas de la diputada Mariela Castro Espín, quien fue portavoz de un grupo de planteamientos hechos por trabajadores y activistas como parte del amplio proceso de consulta popular del anteproyecto de Ley.
Entre esas sugerencias estaba la inclusión de la identidad de género y el estatus frente al VIH como motivos por los cuales no resulta admisible discriminar a ningún ser humano en el ámbito laboral, dentro de los principios fundamentales que rigen el derecho al trabajo, en el inciso B del artículo 2 de ese cuerpo legal.
Amongst those suggestios was the inclusion of gender identity and HIV status as
Sin embargo, a pesar del apoyo a esos pronunciamientos por otras diputadas y diputados, y de la intervención del primer vicepresidente cubano Miguel Díaz-Canel, quien abogó por tener en cuenta lo allí dicho y encargar esa encomienda a una comisión parlamentaria, esos dos aspectos no aparecen en la ley ahora publicada.
El asunto nos alarma no solamente porque ello implica un presunto desconocimiento de la voluntad expresa de varios integrantes de la Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular, así como por lo grave que esto pudiera ser en relación con los principios y procedimientos democráticos que debieran regir el funcionamiento del Parlamento.
Pero incluso nos preocupa más la trascendencia humana y política de estas adiciones que fueron ignoradas sin explicación aparente, pues son las personas con una identidad de género trans las que más discriminación social y laboral sufren en nuestro país, y tampoco es un problema del todo resuelto el estigma y los prejuicios hacia las personas con VIH/sida, también en cuanto a sus capacidades profesionales y el derecho que les asiste a ejercer en cualquier tipo de empleo.
Por tanto, como ciudadanos y ciudadanas de este país, y también en nuestra condición de activistas por los derechos humanos y sexuales que defendemos la idea de una sociedad anticapitalista, revolucionaria y democrática, solicitamos una explicación pública sobre los criterios que siguió la mencionada comisión parlamentaria para excluir de la versión final de la Ley No.116 las citadas propuestas de modificación al proyecto de Código de Trabajo.
Agradecemos de antemano cualquier gestión que usted pueda realizar para responder con la mayor agilidad y total transparencia a nuestra respetuosa y cívica petición.
Saludos cordiales,
Integrantes de Proyecto Arcoíris. Colectivo LGBT, anticapitalista e independiente de Cuba.
Correo: proyectoarcoiriscuba@gmail.com. Blog: http://proyectoarcoiris.cubava.cu/
Havana, June 23, 2014
56th year of the Revolution
To: Esteban Lazo Hernández
Chairman of the National Assembly of People's Power
Colleague:
The official Gazette of the Republic of Cuba has recently published the definitive text of the Labor Code, Law No 116, and we would like to be clear regarding the reasons for the absence of certain elements that many individuals wished to have seen on this legal provision, after the discussion and approval of this law, by the highest legislative body, which you are head of.
Our entire town watched, on Cuban Television, the debate concerning this legislation as it went through Parliament during its ordinary meetings in December 2013. That specific analysis was followed by several proposals from the Parliament member Mariela Castro Espín, who was the spokesperson with a set of approaches from workers and activists as part of the public consultation process of the drafting of the Law.
Amongst those suggestions were the inclusion of gender identity and HIV status as motives for which it is never admisible for a human being to be discriminated against in a work environment, which fall within the fundamental principles that govern our labor rights, in section B, Article 2 of that legal document.
Nonetheless, despite the support of these declarations from other members of the Parliament, and the intervention of Cuban vice president Miguel Díaz, who advocated for taking into account the already mentioned and entrusted the mandate to a parliamentary commission, those two aspects do not appear in the already published legislation.
This issue alarms us, not only because it implies an alleged ignorance of the will expressed by several members of the National Assembly of People's Power, as well as how serious this could be in relation to the democratic principles and procedures that should apply to the Parliament's ability to function.
What most concerns us is the human and political importance that were ignored without any apparent explanation. The transgender individuals are the ones who deal with the most social and labor discrimination in our country, nor has the stigma and prejudice towards individuals with HIV/aids been completely resolved, and also in regards to their professional abilities and the right to pursue any type of employment.
Henceforth, as citizens of this country, and also as human and sexual rights activists standing up for the idea of an anticapitalist, revolutionary and democratic society, we request a public explanation regarding the criteria which the already mentioned parliamentary commission followed in order to exclude, from the final version of Law No 11, the proposal to amend the draft of the Labor Code.
We thank you in advance for your efforts in responding quickly and with full transparency, to our very respectful and civic request.
Kind regards,
The members of Proyecto Arcoiris. LGBT Collective, anti-capitalist and independent of Cuba.
E-mail: proyectoarcoiriscuba@gmail.com. Blog: http://proyectoarcoiris.cubava.cu/

author: Sandra Abd'Allah-Alvarez Ramírez


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Angela Garipova: The Internet Promotes Peaceful Dialogue in Kazakhstan · Global Voices
Dasha Kondrateva

Screenshot from the Bloggers program
Angela Garipova (a photo provided by Garipova)
The program Bloggers [ru], which appeared on state-controlled television channel 24.kz [ru] early in October last year, has raised awareness [ru] of the Kazakh Internet space among non-Internet users while covering some of things that don't always appear on TV newsreels. For many, the program is the Kazakh government's attempt to reach out to more independent voices in the growing segment of the local Internet space dominated by users of foreign websites, including Facebook and Twitter, as well as anonymous comments on local media platforms.
Kazakhstan, is ranked 160 out of 179 countries in Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index and is “not free “ in Freedom House's press index.
Presented [ru] by Angela Garipova, Bloggers explores popular conversations – from the trivial to the profoundly important – through the views of users of social media and blogs. Today, in an interview with Global Voices, Garipova shares her views on the program, the Kazakh Internet space, and changes occurring in Kazakh society.
Global Voices (GV): How did you get the idea to create Bloggers? What is its primary goal?
Angela Garipova (AG): Modernity itself dictates the means of delivering information to our audiences. Bloggers is a kind of a snapshot of all society's most important and exciting issues. Our society is generally divided into two groups: those who are completely immersed in the Internet space, and those who are resisting the trend of transition to online communication and prefer the televised formats. In our program, we combine people online with those offline. Internet users tend to have a greater freedom in terms of expressing their points of view because the Internet makes people more courageous and sincere. Often, what is expressed online is closest to the opinions of our neighbors, aunties, colleagues or dance partners…By taking comments from Internet users on popularly discussed topics and airing them via a television program broadcasted across the republic, we allow the voices of the people to be heard. But from the beginning of the project our main goal was to become a bridge between the government and citizens of the country, between private individuals and state officials. We want to understand the problems of the country, to report on them, to discuss them and work together in solving them.
GV: Your program covers very different spheres of social and political life in Kazakhstan: one issue of the program is dedicated to a comedy football tournament while in another issue you discuss domestic violence in Kazakhstan. Why is your program's approach so varied?
AG: Life consists not only of problems, but wonderful moments that can be recorded, and we love to share these positive moments with our audience, too. There are also many bright people who deserve to be better known, so we organize interviews with our guests, often bloggers with interesting philosophies on life. Sometimes we invite people that are completely unknown, but who have done good deeds. We want people to know about such people. Everyone gets tired of the stress and tension [of daily life], and this is the reason why the program has such diverse content. It also reflects the changing moods of the Networks. One day people are talking about the price of petrol, tomorrow they are collecting aid for refugees somewhere in Asia; and after that, they are creating profiles for their pets on Instagram.
GV: How different is the Kazakhstani Internet space from the Internet in other former Soviet countries?
Как отличается Казахстанское Интернет-пространство от Интернет-сферы других постсоветских стран, а в частности, России?: Главное отличие нашего интернет-пространства в количестве пользователей. И эта цифра имеет решающее значение. У нас есть небольшая группа активных пользователей Фэйсбука и Твиттера – и это не больше 5-7 процентов всех пользователей страны, которые действительно популярны и их слово имеет значение.
AG: The main difference between the Kazakh Internet space lies in the number of users, and this figure is crucial. We have a small group of active users of Facebook and Twitter – not more than 5-7 percent of all Internet users in the country.[Internet penetration is around 62 percent, says the country's Ministry of Transport and Communications]. This small group of Internet users have a lot of popularity and their word carries weight.
GV: What problems did the program encounter in cooperating with the Internet space in Kazakhstan? Were there any problems when trying to establish a two-way communication model between your sources and your audience?
AG: On the contrary – now the level of confidence of [Kazakhstan's] population in the Internet has risen, and our program has contributed to that. Increasingly, we are beginning to highlight problems through the medium of social media, posts on the official pages of the state agencies and so on… a peaceful dialogue is being established via the Internet and online discussions are leading to the quicker resolution of issues. Citizens, bloggers and non-bloggers alike, get in contact with us, sometimes people come to us with a specific problem, and ask to report on certain issues in our program.
GV: One of the problems of the Central Asian Internet space is that the local authorities control the Internet. For example, certain sites are still banned in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. What can you say about the freedom of the Internet space and freedom of speech and press in general in Kazakhstan?
AG: In our country, we have access to virtually all of the world's resources, and we have the opportunity to receive information from various sources. [Editor's note: Kazakhstan has blocked the blogging platform Live Journal several times in the past]. Recently the country has adopted a new law on defamation and insults online, which has caused many debates in Kazakhstan. One thing I can say for sure: we are glad that the issue of obscene language [online] is being solved
GV: One popular topic of discussion in Russia, Central Asia and Kazakhstan itself is that of 73-year-old Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev’s succession. After more than two decades under him, how do Kazakh people imagine “Kazakhstan without Nazarbayev”?
AG: President Nursultan Nazarbayev is in a good health and we are confident not to worry about this issue for a long time. If the President will no longer be in position, the people of Kazakhstan are free to choose the next head of the state on their own. He must be elected in accordance with the constitution in a secret ballot by citizens of the republic [under conditions of] universal, equal, and direct suffrage.

author: Dasha Kondrateva


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Attacks Against Muslims Continue In Sri Lanka · Global Voices
Rezwan

It has been two weeks since the violent riots against Muslims in the Sri Lankan coastal cities of Aluthgama and Beruwala. Although the situation has died down after widespread condemnation, sporadic violence against Muslims continues in different parts of Sri Lanka.
Blogger Abdul Khaleq tweets about one such recent incident in the Ratmalana division in Colombo district:
Ratmalana Borupona Rd mosque set on fire 1am. Flames spotted early and put out. Min Fowzie here #StayStrongSrilanka pic.twitter.com/Vys16T51vn
— abdulkhaleq (@HalikAzeez) June 29, 2014
Blogger D. B. S. Jeyaraj has details on the unsuccessful arson attack on the Thalayan Bawa Jumma Mosque on Borupane road in Ratmalana in the early hours of 29 June, 2014.


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Comedy and Activism from Mexico · Global Voices
Luis Flores

Image by laranggio on Flickr. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
JM Casanueva, author of the blog SocialTIC, reviews the new trend in activism in Mexico that uses humor on blogs and social networks to reach a larger audience:
El humor siempre ha sido una táctica exitosa para transmitir causas de manera empática (sí, que alguien que no seas tú o tus colegas activistas entiendan la problemática) y llegar a públicos más amplios (sí, más allá de lxs [sic] grupos de sospechosos comunes que siempre te retuitean). El activismo mexicano de 2014 ha tenido una muy buena dosis de humor por parte de comediantes que han aprovechado sus talentos, agudeza y compromiso social para buscar impactar en la sociedad.
Humor has always been a successful tactic to transmit causes in an empathetic way (yes, someone who is not you or your fellow activists understands the problem) and reach larger audiences (yes, beyond the lxs [sic] groups of usual suspects that always retweet you). Mexican activism in 2014 has had a good dose of humor by comedians that have used their talents, keenness and social engagement to impact society.
You can follow SocialTIC on Twitter.

author: Luis Flores


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Google’s Eric Schmidt Makes a Surprise Visit to Cuba to Promote Internet Freedom · Global Voices
Elaine Díaz

Eric Schmidt at the Google Big Tent meeting in Rome in October 2013. Photo by Simona Granati. Copyright Demotix.
Google's executive chairman Eric Schmidt and three other Google employees took a trip to Havana this weekend to throw their weight behind a “free and open Internet” in Cuba.
There, they met with students from the University of Information Science, blogger Yoani Sánchez and authors from her online magazine 14ymedio [es].
Schmidt, who detailed the trip on his Twitter and Google Plus accounts, described his arrival:
Landing at Havana airport, the first airplane you see is a jet from Angola Airlines. The Cuban people, modern and very well educated define the experience with a warmth that only Latin cultures express: tremendous music, food and entertainment […]
He added that “if Cuba finds itself trapped in the 1950s, Cuba's Internet is trapped in the 1990s”:
About 20-25% of Cubans have phone lines but mostly subsidized land lines, and the cell phone infrastructure is very thin. Approximately 3-4% of Cubans have access to the Internet in internet cafes and in certain universities. The Internet is heavily censored and the infrastructure, which we toured, is made out of Chinese components. The “blockade” makes absolutely no sense to US interests: if you wish the country to modernize the best way to do this is to empower the citizens with smart phones (there are almost none today) and encourage freedom of expression and put information tools into the hands of Cubans directly. The result of the “blockade” is that Asian infrastructure will become much harder to displace.
The two greatest achievements of the revolution are “free universal healthcare and the clear majority of women in executive and managerial positions in the country,” Schmidt wrote.
Almost all the leaders we met with were female, and one joked with us that the Revolution promised equality, the macho men didn’t like it but “they got used to it”, with a broad smile. The least successful part of the Revolution has been economic development (not surprisingly) and it appeared to us a drop off in tourism and recent farm issues have made things somewhat worse in Cuba. The broad topic of conversation in the country is the constant speculation of what the government will do next and what the course and path of liberalization will be.
With respect to the travel arrangements, Schmidt added:
Travel to the country is controlled by an US office called [Office of Foreign Assets Control] and under our license we were not permitted to do anything except business meetings where our hotel room had to be less than $100 per night and total expenses per diem of $188.00. Not surprisingly there are many $99 hotel rooms in Havana. These policies defy reason: there are dozens of countries we call our allies and we are free to travel to that present much worse threats and concerns to the US than Cuba does in this decade.
In November of last year, Schmidt had stated in an interview with The Wall Street Journal [es] that Cuba was listed as a high priority on his agenda for international travel.
Schmidt arrived to Havana at a time when public debate about Internet access on the island has increased markedly. Just a few weeks ago [es], Cuban blogger Norges Rodríguez published a petition on Change.org [es] calling for “affordable Internet access for the Cuban population.” The petition has received over 400 signatures from Cuban residents both inside and outside the country. Earlier, Cuban authorities had dismantled at least four informal WiFi networks located in different neighborhoods throughout Havana and Cienfuegos.
One of the most controversial points in the relationship between Google and Cuba lies in the services that the company blocks from Cuban users. Tour Builder, a new service from Google that is still in its beta phase, is not currently available to Cubans [es] as part of the United States’ economic blockade against this country. Previously, Google had blocked access to Google Earth, Google Desktop Search, Google Toolbar, Google Analytics, and Google Code Search.
Schmidt summed up why the blockade isn't a good idea:
The information restrictions make even less sense when you find out that Cuba imports a great deal of food from the US as compassionate trade. The food imports to Cuba are important but so is importation of tools to Cuba for the development of a knowledge economy.

author: Elaine Díaz


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How the Philippine President Managed to Anger Film Legend Nora Aunor’s Legions of Fans · Global Voices
Karlo Mongaya

This meme urging Nora's fans to junk the Philippine president (Noynoy) became popular in the Internet. Photo from the Facebook page of Pixel Offensive
President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III’s rejection of Filipino film icon Nora Aunor’s nomination for the National Artist title has caused public uproar in the Philippines.
Aunor, the ‘superstar’ of the Philippine entertainment industry, is famously remembered as the lead actress in the film ‘Himala’ (Miracle) which won the CNN Asia Pacific Screen Awards Viewers Choice Award for the Best Asia-Pacific Film of All Time in 2008. Another notable film is ‘Bona’, which was well received by many film critics around the world for its vivid portrayal of Philippine society.
The veteran actress topped the shortlist of nominations for National Artist drawn up by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, but was disapproved by the president after the recommendation was forwarded to the palace.
The only reason offered by presidential spokesman Sonny Coloma for the exclusion is the president’s legal discretion to choose the rightful National Artist, a license that requires no further explanation.
That President Aquino did not offer any rationalization for the omission of Nora Aunor from the list of new National Artists only added fuel to the controversy.
Journalist Ellen Torsedillas said the president owes the people an explanation for the Nora Aunor fiasco:
Coloma should be reminded that Aquino is not a King who reigns without accountability to the people. The press secretary should also be reminded that Aquino won on the platform of transparency. He has time and again told the people, “Kayo ang Boss ko.” [The People are my Boss]. He now feels superior over his “Boss” that he does not have to explain his action?
Legendary Filipina actress Nora Aunor. Screenshot from Abs-Cbn's promotional video for film Himala (Miracle)
Former legislator Teddy Casiño blogged that the incident is proof of the president’s low regard for art and artists:
I wouldn’t give a damn if this were all jut a matter of personal taste or preference. But you see, the national artist award is not about the President’s own artistic or political biases. The thing is, Aunor was recommended by three bodies tasked precisely to select the artist most deserving of the award. Surely the President unilaterally and arbitrarily ignoring the work of all these people, including millions of Aunor’s fans, is something that deserves at least an explanation.
Himala (Miracle) film poster from Wikipedia
Marya Salamat pointed out that many of Nora Aunor's memorable films dealt with social issues that ran counter to the policies of the present administration:
The Aquino administration has been aggressive in continuing with labor export and Nora once essayed the blockbuster role of tragic migrant worker “Flor Contemplacion”, who tragically was executed in Singapore for allegedly killing a fellow migrant worker; Aquino pushed for increased presence of US troops and armaments by signing the grossly disadvantageous US-PH Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement while Nora has once essayed the role of a sister craving justice for a brother killed by US troops after purportedly being mistaken for a wild pig.
According to Cultural Studies professor Joel David, Nora Aunor deserves to be National Artist for excelling not only as an actress, but also as a recording artist and film producer. “One might even be a serious observer of any of these fields of endeavor (as I have been) and assert that no one else comes close, although many certainly aspire to her level of achievement,” he wrote.
There are now proposals to amend the law that empowers the president to appoint National Artists. Many argue that this decision must not be given to politicians who have little knowledge about art. Meanwhile, Aunor's fans continue to press for the recognition of their idol as the country's National Artist.

author: Karlo Mongaya


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Puerto Deseado, a Coastal Paradise · Global Voices
María Romina Mascareño

Photo by Laura Schneider, used with her permission.
On her blog Viajes y Relatos, Laura Schneider shares her experience visiting Puerto Deseado, in the province of Santa Cruz, Argentina. On the six-day photo-safari, she photographed the beautiful city and places nearby:
Yendo por la ruta 3, luego de pasar Comodoro Rivadavia y Caleta Olivia a 300 km, nace una ruta que desvía a Puerto Deseado. Ciudad costera y portuaria de la patagonia con acantilados, una gran biodiversidad de aves y mamíferos y varios circuitos costeros que nos lleva a la famosa Ria.
Pingüinos magallánicos, pingüinos de penacho amarillo, lobos marinos, delfín austral, cormoranes, toninas, ostreros y gaviotines es la gran variedad que se puede avistar. Pero mas allá de la fauna, Puerto Deseado es una ciudad rica en historia dado por su tren.
Taking route 3, after passing Comodoro Rivadavia and Caleta Olivia 300 km back, there is a detour that takes you to Puerto Deseado. This is a coastal and port city in the Patagonia with cliffs, a large amount of biodiversity with birds and mammals and a series of coastal tours that takes us to the very well known Ria.
Magellanic penguins, rockhopper penguins, Patagonian sea lions, Peale's dolphins, cormorants, river dolphins, oystercatchers and terns are part the great variety of this place. But beyond the fauna, Puerto Deseado is a city rich in history due to its train.
You can follow Laura on her Twitter account.

author: María Romina Mascareño


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Ukrainian Rebels Worry that Putin Will Repeat Milošević’s Mistakes · Global Voices
Aric Toler

Images remixed by Kevin Rothrock.
Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea, several Western news outlets have highlighted comparisons between Putin and former Serbian President Slobodan Milošević. Both Putin and Milošević, the story goes, manufactured tensions in a neighboring country by accusing their enemies of fascism. Milošević’s divisive tactics led to war, genocide, and eventually a trial at The Hague.
On June 17, eastern Ukraine’s rebel military commander accused Putin of repeating Milošević’s mistakes, though not in the way you might be thinking. Igor Girkin—more commonly known as Strelkov, which translates to something like “Shooter”—warned Putin that he’s not gone far enough in his support for the rebels. Half measures (like Milošević’s) could send Putin to the Hague, Strelkov warns.
Strelkov and other figures in the breakaway governments in Donetsk and Lugansk have appealed to the Kremlin repeatedly, begging for formal military support against Ukraine’s “anti-terrorist operation.” Moscow’s reluctance to wage a full-scale invasion outside Crimea has left the paramilitary groups in the so-called “Novorossiya” region in a geopolitical and legal limbo. Frustrated with this situation, Strelkov lashed out at Putin using the Milošević comparison:
Что касается моих вчерашних заявлений, то еще раз хочу подчеркнуть: нисколько не преувеличил и не преуменьшил серьезность ситуации. Все тщательно взвесил: каждое слово, сказанное и написанное.
Всерьез полагаю (и имею к тому основания), что мы имеем дело не с откровенным “сливом” Новороссии президентом РФ, а с системным саботажем на уровне олигархата и высшего чиновничества. Потому как для Путина разгром юго-востока объективно смертельно опасен и как для лидера России, и просто как для человека – он означает безвозвратное начало “пути Милошевича” (“сдавшего” некогда в похожих обстоятельствах Боснию и Краину, а потом добитого в Косово и закономерно-показательно “уморенного” в Гааге).
Regarding my statements yesterday, I want to emphasize again that I have not exaggerated or minimized the seriousness of this situation. I have weighed everything carefully—every word I’ve spoken or put into writing.
I seriously believe (and not without reason) that we are dealing not with the Russian President’s deliberate betrayal of Novorissiya, but with a systemic sabotage by the oligarchy and top officials. [I say this] because the defeat of [Ukraine’s] southeast would plainly be fatal for Putin, both as a Russian leader and as a man. It would mean an irreversible step down the “Milošević’s path” (who once “surrendered” Bosnia and Krajina under similar circumstances, was later finished off in Kosovo, and finally “expired” naturally and tellingly in The Hague).
Strelkov’s statement has a heavy helping of the “if-only-Stalin-knew!” worldview, a vain hope that government middlemen and not the nation’s leader are to blame for the country’s problems—a delusion that has colored Russian attitudes about the Kremlin for generations.
Writing on LiveJournal, Andrey Egorov dissected Strelkov’s comments about the saboteurs hiding around Putin:
Мрачный сценарий рисует Игорь Стрелков. Но в какой-то альтернативной реальности вполне осуществимый. Известное мнение, что “Царь хороший, а бояре плохие” в очередной раз прозвучало от главы ополчения Донбасса.
Igor Strelkov paints a grim scenario. But it’s entirely feasible in some alternate reality. The well-known opinion that “the Tsar is good, but the boyars are bad” has yet again been uttered by the head of the Donbas militia.
Egorov took the Milošević comparison in a different direction, drawing a parallel between Serbia’s former leader and Strelkov, implying that both men are foolish to have placed their faith in Russia.
[Bottom-right frame] Slobodan Milošević. Slandered and betrayed by all, he believed to his last day in the help of his Russian brothers.
In comments on a Facebook post by Pavel Gubarev, the Donbas’ “People’s Governor,” it is clear that the growing disillusionment with Russian support for eastern Ukraine’s rebel forces is challenging some people’s confidence in Putin, whereas others’ trust remains unshaken.
Похоже много кто в РФ предал Президента
It seems like a lot of people in Russian have betrayed the President.
ввп слил Новороссию и это факт … бесполезно отрицать очевидное прикидываясь понимающими хитрые планы путина…их просто нет для Новороссии… а следом он сольёт и Россию…нужно смотреть правде в глаза…да в принципе Россия и сейчас оккупирована олигархами близкими ввп… он один из них а не герой одиночка борющийся за Россию…
VVP [Vladimir V. Putin] betrayed Novorossiya and that’s a fact…it’s useless to deny the obvious while pretending to understand the cunning plans of Putin…there simply aren’t any such plans for Novorossiya…and he’s going to follow this by betraying Russia…you need to face the truth…yes, in principle, Russia is now occupied by the oligarchs close to VVP…he is one of them and not some sort of lone hero fighting for Russia.
Since Strelkov’s “Milošević” comments, Putin apparently has distanced himself even further from the separatists. Last week, before heading to Austria for meetings with European leaders, Putin urged the Russian parliament to revoke Russia’s authorization to deploy troops to Ukraine. At the same time, Aleksandr Borodai—rebel Donetsk’s Prime Minister—conceded to a weeklong ceasefire. (How well either side of the conflict is actually observing this armistice is a matter of debate.)
Strelkov has gained a sizeable online following thanks in part to Aleksandr Dugin, a sociologist at Moscow State University and an outspoken Eurasianist ideologue (who was fired and then not-fired from his job last week over a blog post advocating the murder of certain undesirables in Ukraine). Dugin and his disciples are incredibly Web savvy—as adept at drumming up public support through social media as they are fervent in their belief that geopolitics demands a new Russian empire. In recent months, Dugin has backed Strelkov and called for a fight against Moscow’s “sixth column,” by which he means the bureaucrats in the Kremlin, who he believes have impeded a Russian victory in Novorossiya.

author: Aric Toler


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Why Some Taiwanese Activists Are Accusing This Hotel of Caving to Political Pressure from China · Global Voices
Sophie Hsu

Staff at Novotel hotel in Taoyuan Airport burst into a room where people had been protesting Chinese official Zhang Zhijun's visit. Screenshot via YouTube.
Only three months have passed since protesters occupied Taiwan's legislature after lawmakers pushed through a secretly negotiated trade deal with China in what was dubbed the Sunflower Movement.
The occupation came to an end after legislation was promised to monitor future agreements, but Taiwanese remain suspicious of the country's warming relationship with China, which considers the democratic island a territory and not independent.
So a landmark visit from Zhang Zhijun, the minister of China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), at the end of June was always expected to receive a less than warm welcome from some in Taiwan. But a hotel in Taipei became just as much of a target for criticism as Zhang after management disrupted a protest against the top Chinese official.
Zhang was supposed to meet his Taiwan counterpart Wang Yu-chi, minister of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) at Accor Group's chain hotel Novotel. Prior to Zhang's arrival, the coordinating body of the Sunflower movement, the Democratic Front Against Cross-Strait Trade in Services Agreement, had called for protests against the meeting:
此次行動訴求是什麼？為什麼反對「王張會」？
我們訴求：
一、 反對黑箱政治談判：兩岸協議監督條例立法前，拒絕召開王張會；
二、台灣前途自己決定，反對矮化主權的政治宣傳；
三、 要求「普遍探視權」，拒絕模糊的空洞承諾。
Why are we against the Wang-Zhang Meeting?
Our demands:
1. To stand opposed to any black-box political negotiation: before the cross-strait oversight bill is enacted into law, we should refuse convening any Wang-Zhang meetings;
2. The future of Taiwan must be decided by ourselves, and we stand opposed to any political propaganda that belittles our sovereignty;
3. We demand the “universal rights to access”, and we refuse to accept any empty promises.
Red card campaign banner from the group Democratic Front Against Cross-Strait Trade in Services Agreement on Facebook.
The organization told activists via Facebook to show up at the airport and raise red cards in Zhang's direction, symbolically ejecting him from the political football pitch when he landed in Taiwan on June 25.
To avoid direct confrontation with police officers, a group of activists decided to spend the money to book two rooms at Novotel on June 24, the same day Zhang was scheduled to meet with Wang. They planned to use the hotel windows to hang protest banners in the hopes that the Chinese minister might see them.
The protest banner hanging on the hotel window reads, “Against the black-box meeting between Wang and Zhang”. Photo from Democracy Tautin‘s Facebook page.
But at 8:40 a.m. on June 25, hotel staff woke up the protesters in room 647 for “room service”. When the guests refused to open the door, they kicked it open with several police officers standing by and videotaping.
The three young guests inside gathered their belongings and hurried to the adjacent room 649, where Lai Chung-chiang, a human rights lawyer, was lodged. They were all confined in the room with electricity, water supply, and Internet cut off until 6 pm when hundreds of protesters gathered outside the hotel demanding an immediate permission for the group to leave their room.
The hotel later issued a statement to explain the situation:
On early Wednesday morning our team became aware that a number of unregistered persons were staying with two registered guests who checked in the hotel on 24 June.
In addition, fire, health and safety regulations stipulate the total number of guests permitted to stay in each room, which was exceeded in this case. According to law in Taiwan, each person staying in the hotel must present identification and complete registration formalities.
Activists released video of management entering their room. Some suggested the hotel's actions were a sign that it caved to political pressure surrounding the Chinese minister's visit.
On PPT, a popular e-bulletin board among university students, a campaign was launched calling for Taiwanese to disrupt the hotel's business with a set of clear instructions on how to book as many of the hotel rooms as possible, and then cancel them to prevent real guests from booking.
The review section of the Novotel Taoyuan‘s Facebook page was also bombarded with negative comments. One commenter wrote:
Warning! This hotel is not safe at all! Their staff will illegally break into your room with the policemen without your permission and a valid search warrant if your political tendency is against that of KMT or CPC. Stay away from this hotel if you value your privacy and human rights.”
While Wang Yu-chi rounded up Zhang's trip as  an “unimaginable success” in cross-strait relations, the Hotel Novotel and the Accor Group, ended up paying a high price for the un-welcomed visit.

author: Sophie Hsu


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Two Killed as Egypt’s Government Fails to Notice Militant Group’s Blatant Bombing Warning Online · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Warning by Islamist militants that they have planted bombs. Photo credit: ashraf1974108 (Twitter)
After two police officers were killed and several others wounded in two explosions near the presidential palace on June 30, many Twitter users were furious with Egypt's Ministry of Interior for failing to take action despite an advance warning posted online by the militant group Ajnad Misr hours in advance of the bombings.
According to netizens, the explosions in capital city Cairo's Heliopolis district, could have been avoided if the police were actually fighting terrorism and not focusing their attention on apprehending and jailing activists.
Ajnad Misr (Soldiers of Egypt) is a relatively new Cairo-based Islamic militant group that targets what they call “criminal elements” in the Egyptian government.
The group came to attention earlier this year when they claimed credit for an attack on security forces in January through an online statement. In April, the group said it was responsible for explosions at University of Cairo that killed a police chief and five others. According to Al Arabiya News, After the April university attack, they posted on their Facebook page, “We previously cancelled many of our operations because of the possibility that shrapnel could reach civilians.” The group also uses Twitter.
In the latest Ajnad Misr linked Cairo attack, the first explosion killed one police officer and injured three others. The second makeshift device exploded as the police tried to defuse it, killing the second officer.
Europe-based Twitter user Ashraf Fawzi exclaims [ar]:
دول كاتبينها بلون مختلف يا بهايم #محطة_الانفجار_السري #الاتحادية pic.twitter.com/CPkOYT5QeP
— أشرف فوزي (@ashraf1974108) June 30, 2014
They have even written it in a different colour you fools
Leading activist and Egyptian blogger Ahmed Al Ish, who has 77, 000 or 77 K Twitter followers adds:
بيان الداخلية بيقول جالهم بلاغ “صباح اليوم” بوجود عبوتين!! يعني ممكن الارهابيين بعد ما يأسوا من انتباههم للبيان ع النت، كلموهم في التليفون!!
— Ahmed Al-Ish (@AhmdAlish) June 30, 2014
The Ministry of Interior's statement says they got a report today about the presence of the bombs!! This means that the terrorists called them on the telephone after they got frustrated that that their warning on the Internet was not entertained
Ahmed Anwar, who has over 14.5 K Twitter followers and runs a popular YouTube channel with over 2 million views, jokes:
الإرهابيين هيعملو ايه أكتر من كده نزلو بيان قالو على اماكن القنابل قبل انفجارها ب 4 ايام هيعملو ايه تانى ؟ هينزلو يتصورو سيلفى معاها؟
— Anwar (@A7mdAnwar) June 30, 2014
What more can the terrorists do?
They issued a statement.
They mentioned where the bombs were placed
What else can they do? Go and take selfies with the bombs?
Fashion and personal style-tips blogger Rasha wonders:
عالهامش : خبراء متفجرات ايه اللي كل ما يحاولوا يفككوا قنبلة تنفجر فيهم دول ؟ هم بيدربوهم ويعلموهم فين ؟ ايه الهم ده بس يا ربي
— Rasha (@neversaydiee) June 30, 2014
What kind of bomb experts are those who blow themselves up everytime they try and diffuse a bomb? Where are they trained? What kind of misery do we live in?
Meanwhile, popular activist Nawara Negm who has over 683 K followers retorts [ar]:
عايزينه يراقب النت ويلفق قضايا ويجند اعلاميين ويقبض على ابرياء وكمان يتصدى للتفجيرات؟ حتاكلوا محمد ابراهيم يعني؟
— ايام زرقا (@nawaranegm) June 30, 2014
You want him to monitor the Internet, frame activists for crimes, pay off journalists, arrest innocent people and also counteract explosions?
Egyptian Blogger Tamer Mowafy who describes himself as a Libertarian Socialist on Twitter where he was 139K followers, shares a similar idea:
لكن العيال أصحابنا طبعا همه اللي خطر على الأمن القومي ولازم يترموا في السجون!!
— Tamer Mowafy (@kalimakhus) June 30, 2014
Of course our friends are the ones who are a danger to our national security and should be jailed …
Jeddah and Cairo based Menna Alaa, who has 59K followers and describes herself on Twitter as an “sarcastic aspiring journalist concludes:
This place doesn't need hope, it needs a miracle. #MENA
— Menna منّة (@TheMiinz) June 30, 2014
The attack coincides with the first anniversary of massive protests which led to the overthrow of President Muhammed Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood candidate who reigned for a year after the ousting of long-term president Hosni Mubarak. Hundreds of policemen have been targeted by Islamist militants since the ousting of Morsi on July 3. This is in addition to more than 1,400 Egyptians killed and 16,000 detained since the military's crackdown on the Brotherhood.

author: Amira Al Hussaini