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Malawi: Muza Gondwe: Malawian Science Blogger · Global Voices
Victor Kaonga

“So many of us fear science.” So says unique Malawian female science blogger Muza Gondwe who blogs from Perth, Australia. She is currently doing her PhD project at the University of Western Australia looking at science and culture in Indigenous and multicultural school groups in Malawi and Australia.
Is it true that very few Malawians think about science in their every day lives? And why did she start a science blog? Below is the interview I conducted with Muza about her blog, Afrisciheroes.
Q: How did Afrisciheroes start?
In October 2009, I travelled to UK as part of a six month fellowship on the Public Understanding of Science in Africa at the Centre of African Studies, University of Cambridge. I had chosen two projects to work on. One – African Science Heroes where I would document and present in film, book and poster Africans who had made overcome hardships and made significant contributions to science. The second project, I called science engagement tourism, where I would travel to various public engagement organizations (e.g. Naked Scientists, Science Museum) and learn about how they develop, fund and evaluate their science engagement programs in an effort to develop science communication programs in Malawi. I thought it would be a good idea to share my experiences both from African Science Heroes and science engagement tourism as a blog. I have since finished my fellowship and now blog about various scientific issues with an African slant.
Q: How helpful is it to Malawians in particular?
Malawian blogger Muza Gondwe
I would like to think it opens Malawians and other readers to the wonders of science. So many of us fear science. We see it as that that very difficult thing we did at school with the teacher. Very few Malawians think about science in their every day lives; we can actively and happily engage with science and use it to inform our lives. For example I wrote a blog post about the use of transformer oil in chiwaya chips
Q: What one success would you like to share?
Frederick Msiska. I wrote a blog post about this amazing innovative farmer and posted a video of an interview with him. This got picked by France24, an Italian newspaper and then an Italian organization contacted me as they wanted to get in touch with Fred. They invited Fred to Italy to participate in the Terra Madre conference 2010. I was so glad to see Fred getting recognized for his talents.
Q: What are the biggest obstacles to your success? If any, how do you plan on overcoming those obstacles?
I wish I could have more time to cover stories about people like Fred. It almost seems unfair that I am blogging about such things when I don’t live in Malawi. I wish I could spend more time in Malawi and Africa filming and writing about science heroes. I try and do interviews whenever I get the chance to when I am home but I hope once I am done with my PhD, I can showcase  widely African Science Heroes as mentors and role models for young Africans.
Q: What are some of the highlights of your blog?
I write about science and science that relates to African issues. One of my favourite things was running the experiment on Fanta.
Q: You are running a special site indeed on rare topic in Africa and Malawi in particular. What motivates you?
I want people to engage with science and realize that science is important, interesting and fun. Science has solved (also caused) problems around the world. Our African leaders are always talking about investing in science but they do nothing but lip service at conferences. If we really want to leap frog and develop sustainably, we need to employ innovative scientific solutions for our environment. This is my way of getting people (Malawians and Africans) both young and old to be more supportive and interested in science.
Q: How do you think the project promotes Malawi as a country?
Certainly Fred has become an ambassador for innovation for Malawi alongside the likes of William Kamkwamba.
Q: How does the information published on your website turn into offline change?
People talk about the blog amongst themselves when they read it. It starts by having conversations and getting the word out, the more people talk and engage with science, more people get informed and interested. I have also received comments about the posters on my blog being useful for students.
Q: How many hours in a week do you personally spend on the project?
Not enough. It ranges. I have a friend who is a consultant in online media. And she says I need to post more. I should see blogging not as work but a fun past time. I need to find better ways of interrogating my blog into my everyday work and PhD research.
Q: What are the most time consuming tasks?
Researching. I like to use credible, up to date information and link to the best source so that takes time.
Q: What do you find unique about Afrisciheroes??
That I am probably the only Malawian blogging about science for an African audience.
Q: Where is content re-posted?
I have had some content re-posted on Nyasa Times and published in a local newspaper – The Nation.
Muza Gondwe also blogs for the British Medical Journal and posts video clips about African science heroes on YouTube.

author: Victor Kaonga


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Mexico: Journalist Carmen Aristegui to Return to MVS Radio  · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Aguachile reports: “In a joint communique, MVS Radio and Carmen Aristegui announced that the journalist will be back at the radio station the coming Jan. 21″ and wonders “if we'll ever know more about what led to her dismissal: Was any pressure coming from the presidential office of Felipe Calderón, or was this simply an independent decision by the company?” You can learn more about Aristegui's case in a post by Ernesto Priego.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Silvia Viñas


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North and South Korea Mark Kim Jong-il’s 69th Birthday · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

North Korea celebrated its leader Kim Jong-il's 69th birthday today, yet whilst the country's dignitaries were occupied with parties, South Korean human rights activists were marking the occasion altogether differently.
They sent an unconventional birthday gift to the infamous leader, of gigantic balloons carrying leaflets lambasting his regime. Meanwhile, South Koreans net users and pundits grabbed the opportunity to speculate on how to ignite social change in North Korea, the world's most reclusive state.
Images of Kim Il Sung & Kim Jung Il are ubiquitous throughout the DPRK (North Korea). Image by Philippe Piessens, copyright © Demotix (02/07/2010).
Contrasting Celebrations
The birthday celebrations began as early as February 12, 2011, and on Tuesday 15 February North Korean state television broadcast a firework display from Kim's hometown near the Chinese border. The North Korean regime's high profile officials and army generals took part in the ceremony by attending skating and ballet performances and more.
At the same time in South Korea, human rights activists and North Korean defector groups took to the sea to launch thousands of balloon-borne leaflets into North Korea; they carried harsh criticisms on the regime's human rights violations, the Kim family's extravagant lifestyle and the imminent power succession to the third generation of Kims – Kim Jong-un.
One of the activist groups, Fighters for Free North Korea wrote on its website the purpose of the balloon launch and details about the content which was flown over to the North:
2월 16일은 […]북한에서는 ‘최대의 민족적 명절, 경축일'로 각종행사와 축제, 집회를 벌이면서 전체 국민이 김정일의 생가와, 초상화 앞에 머리를 조아리며 2일간 휴식을 취합니다. 북한주민들의 생존권마저 깡그리 빼앗은 민족의 반역자, 학살집단의 수괴가 생일을 ‘화려한 축제'로 맞으려고 하지만 우리는 북녘의 하늘에 김일성, 정일, 정은을 돼지로 묘사해 비판하는 칼라사진과 USB, DVD와 3대세습 끝장내자는 대북전단 20만장에 달러(1000불)를 넣어 뿌릴 것입니다.
This balloon-borne leaflet is highly controversial in both Koreas however; North Korea has a history of publicly executing its citizens for handling propaganda leaflets, whilst the South Korea government sometimes discouraged the balloon launch for fear it would further aggravate the inter-Korean relationship, even giving North Korea an excuse to take action.
Many South Korean net users were enraged to hear about Kim's lavish spending for his birthday celebrations while his people, even his army, are on the verge of starvation. A net user ID:무한반복 (Endless repetition) [ko] from the Daum's Agora site, South Korea's most visited public web forum, quoted phrases from defector groups’ insider reports.
These reports claim that the money spent on the birthday fireworks alone could have reached higher than USD 5.4 million, enough to feed 700,000 hungry people for about five months:
북한의 군인들이 이처럼 기아에 허덕이는 반면 2월16일의 김정일 생일은 그 어느 때보다 화려하게 치러질 것 같다. 또 다른 대북 매체에 따르면 올해 김정일의 69번째 생일 잔치가 아들 김정은의 총책임 아래 화려하게 준비되고 있다고 한다. 김정은이 아버지의 후계자 세습 심중을 더욱 확고히하기 위해 그 어느 해보다 성대하게 준비하고 있다는 것이다. […] (그동안의 폭죽 중) 가장 화려했던 것은 지난해 김일성 생일 전날인 4월14일 평양에서 펼쳐진 것이다. 총예산이 한화로 60억원 정도 들었다고 한다. 그런데 이번에는 그 이상의 돈이 들 것으로 추정된다는 것이다.[…] 김정일 정권이 선군(先軍)정치를 내걸면서도 식량을 배급하지 않고 생일잔치 축포만 쏘고 있는 한 군부의 총부리가 내부로 향하지 말라는 법도 없다.
Blogger NK projects who introduced himself as a Korean-American architect and North Korean human rights activist, posted a dismal forecast for social change in North Korea. He commented that a mass protest like the Egyptians had succeed is highly unlikely and stressed that the change, as well as helps should be coming from the outside:
서울에서 어떤 사람들은 북한에서도 이집트같이 反체재 시위데모가 일어나지 않을까? […] 김정일과 무바락은 동종 동류의 독재자가 아니다. 북한주민들은 이집트는 물론 중국만큼의 해외정보도 알 도리가 없다. 휴대폰이 있고, 인터넷도 한다 하니, 북한사람들이 해외정보를 받을 수 있고, 이해할 수 있다고? 북한을 몰라도 너무들 모른다. 북한주민들은 이집트 소요도 상관없고, 남한의 비디오도 상관없고, 중국의 천안문도 상관없고, 오로지 오늘 한 끼를 어떻게 해결하나가 문제다. 오늘 밤 추위를 어떻게 견디나가 문제다. 딴 생각할 틈도 없고, 정신도 없다.[…]지난 60여년 계속된 기아와 추위와 공포가 2300만 주민들을 그렇게 만들어 놓았다.
Pundits are also partly agreeing to this kind of analysis, since an information blackout is the default setting in North Korea. Professor Andrei Lankov, a Russian specialist in North Korean studies who had actually lived in North Korea, spoke about the country's internet access in yesterday's New Media Revolution and U.S. Global Engagement conference held by the United States’ Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG).
Professor Lankov, calling North Korea, “a more Stalinist country than Stalin himself in controlling information” revealed that North Korea has only about 100 IP (internet protocol) addresses for the whole country and it is still in the era of radio.
After the Egyptian revolts, it became somehow unimaginable to think of mass public protests occurring without the use of social networking services such as Facebook and Twitter.
But the history made in recent events has sent a birthday message to Kim Jong-il: that a corrupted regime will be toppled eventually, sooner or later.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


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Russia: Blogger Pays for Badmouthing Putin Online · Global Voices
Dmitry Davidov

Vladimir Putin is Watching You, photo by Limbic
Debates on the extend of freedom of expression online are almost as old as the Internet. But rapid development of RuNet in recent years has only stared testing the limits of what one can say online. The army of bloggers and their enthusiastic efforts to defend the online freedom paint an optimistic picture of the blogosphere's future.
One of the landmark cases of online freedom in Russia started rather slowly.
In September 2010, Pavel Safronov from the city of Syktyvkar (a.k.a. blogger onchoys) complained in his blog post [RUS] about the slow Internet speed and inaccessibility of Twitter and LiveJournal.com, a popular blogging platform in the country. Safronov connected this to the visit of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to Syktyvkar and in frustration called him “pid…z,” an offensive Russian word that was originally used to indicate a homosexual male but it later became a common way to refer to any unpleasant person.
Originally, the blog post did not receive a lot of attention from Russian audience. Only a handful of Internet users viewed it and left comments.
What started to bring the post to wide public attention was a complain from Veronika Gorbachova, a leader of Russian youth group “Nemezida” and activist of quasi-oppositional party LDPR (Liberal Democratic Party of Russia). She was outraged by the degree of disrespect that Safronov showed to Vladimir Putin and asked authorities to bring the blogger to order.
Two months after the complaint, the regional prosecutor's office opened a case [RUS] against Safronov and the authorities immediately visited the blogger's apartment and the office of “Krasnoe Znamya” magazine where Safronov worked.
Yevgeny Chichvarkin (aka LJ-user chich8), Russian businessman in exile, who provided an extensive timeline of events [RUS] surrounding the case provided his explanation of the unusual rush of the regional authorities:
Такая невиданная скорость для удаленного от Москвы региона не может быть связана ни с чем, кроме как со звонком из Москвы. Приезжая в редакцию журнала “Красное знамя”, сотрудники Подразделения «К» МВД РФ должны были формально отрапортовать, что они среагировали в тот же день, но его не нашли. Так как Павел с ними давно знаком, и не находился в конфликте, этого вообще можно было и не делать.
One day later, the authorities confiscated Safronov's laptop and iPad from his office.
That is when the prominent Russian bloggers picked up the story and RuNet exploded with comments and re-posts leading to positive but unexpected end of the story.
One of the famous netizents navalny posted the story on his blog. Next day, impartial bots of Yandex.ru, the most popular search engine in Russia, automatically featured Safronov's original post  under the section “Users now search.” Hours later, the management of Yandex.ru realized its “mistake” and removed this section from its web site leaving a blank white space where the section used to be. This awkward move to conceal the popular search topic only contributed to the frustration of bloggers.
Safronov published a semi-humorous letter [RUS] where he explained that he honestly believed that many people in Putin's team were homosexuals based on scandalous book by Alexander Korzhakov, head of Boris Yeltsin's security service, where he claimed that many members of “Yeltsin's team” had homosexual experience.
Another popular blogger tema featured a poll [RUS] asking users if they think that “*****” (he intentionally put several stars instead of Putin's name) is “pid…z.” The majority of readers answered that “*****” IS “pid…z”
Famous blogger teh-nomad asked the same question on his blog and other bloggers rushed to comment.
Aside from those mammoths of RuNet, the blogosphere can count hundreds of cases where “ordinary” bloggers referred to the spinning issue. The RuNet reaction was predictably homogenous: people supported anchoys and defended his right to say what he thinks about Vladimir Putin.
Apparently, the authorities could not bear this negative publicity any longer. Just a day after the issue hit the mainstream of the blogosphere, on December 23, the Russian Prosecutor's General Office issued a press release indicating the closure of the case against Safronov. The blogosphere proudly celebrated it well-deserved victory!
The case of onchoys showed the growing influence of RuNet and its direct effect on Russian authorities. Closing a case against someone because of the reaction on RuNet is not yet usual in the country but it rapidly becomes so.
The case also demonstrated the importance of popular bloggers who can easily promote a topic and make the audience aware of an issue that would have otherwise  remained largely unnoticed.
Without any doubt, this success story will reassure netizens of the power of RuNet and will remind the Russian authorities containing the freedom of online expression can be much more challenging than they thought.

author: Dmitry Davidov


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Russia: “Danilkingate” – or “Parfyonov/Volochkova Syndrome” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Power Vertical reports on Natalya Vasilyeva, “Russia's latest whistleblower” – who “[revealed] that the judge in Mikhail Khodorkovsky's recent fraud trial was pressured from on high […].” LJ user stas-kucher calls (RUS) the scandal “Danilkingate” (after Viktor Danilkin, the judge). Journalist Andrey Loshak notes (RUS) on the “Parfyonov/Volochkova syndrome,” referring to Leonid Parfyonov‘s Nov. 2010 speech and Anastasia Volochkova‘s recent dissent. Echo of Moscow‘s Ksenia Larina hosts discussions (RUS) on the journalistic aspects of Vasilyeva's case on her LJ blog and Facebook page.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Russia: Photos From Coal Miners’ Towns in Perm Region · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Alexander Belenkiy (LJ user macos) posts photos (RUS) taken in the neglected – but not yet fully deserted – coal miners’ towns in Perm region, where the first mine appeared in 1797 and the last one closed in 2000: “All this resembles today's Abkhazia or wartime Grozny.”


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Russia: Recreating a Traditional Village Hospital · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Mikhail Shlyapnikov (LJ user michael-077) writes in detail (RUS) about plans to set up a communal village hospital – old-style, but functional – in Kolionovo, Moscow region: “This, perhaps, is a rare case in contemporary history of rural Russia when, contrary to the general tendency, a village hospital is not shutting down, but is being recreated in a new form. And what's important is this is a free hospital for everyone.”


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Rwanda: Blogging From Inside Rwanda: A Conversation With Graham Holiday · Global Voices
Etienne Mashuli

Graham Holliday is an award winning blogger, a freelance media trainer and foreign correspondent. He blogs at Noodlepie and Kigali Wire, a news wire, photojournalism site and blog.
Q: Your blog, Kigali Wire is a popular news source on Rwanda; could you tell us how it all began? And something about yourself?
I started putting Kigali Wire together in June, 2009 when I knew I would be moving to Rwanda. The original aim was to aggregate interesting news from Rwanda, blog original content and distribute it using free tools.
The publishing and distribution model is largely based upon the work I did as the Digital Media Editor and Journalism Trainer for the Frontline Club in London.
I wanted to use free tools where possible. The only thing I paid for was the WordPress theme. Initially, I used WPNewspaper. I later moved to Graphpaperpress, as it soon became clear to me that I wanted to focus more on photography.
My hope was, and still is, that Kigali Wire will act as a model for others in how to publish and distribute a news wire online at very low cost.
In addition, I wanted to make how I built the site and the thinking behind it as transparent as possible. As a result, I documented the whole process of building the site on the Kigali Backwire and I occasionally add thoughts and ideas to the Kigali Wire Roughbook.
As for me, I started blogging nearly ten years ago. I lived in Vietnam for ten years and blogged mostly about the street food scene on my noodlepie blog
I've worked in blogs and online journalism ever since. I continue to blog for the Frontline Club, the BBC College of Journalism and Current Intelligence as well as Kigali Wire.
Q: You write that your blog is a “social media experiment”, what is the state of social media in Rwanda?
In Rwanda itself, it's very small-scale. Internet penetration is very low at about 3% of the population.
There are other limiting factors; many parts of Rwanda lack electricity, there are frequent power cuts, plus the Internet is very expensive, slow and unreliable.
The Rwandan government, a few expats and NGOs are probably the most active participants, certainly across blogs, Facebook and Twitter. I know some Rwandans in Rwanda on Twitter, but I could count the number on one hand. Facebook is more popular.
The diaspora and a number of overseas based commentators are far more active. Some of whom blog in Kinyarwanda.
Q: Rwanda has been emphatic on the role that the Internet can play in development, yet the country has on various occasions been criticized for hindering free press. What is the status of censorship in the country?
On paper, there is no censorship in Rwanda. However, it's clear self-censorship is a big problem within Rwandan media. There are virtually no critical voices in the Rwandan media, at least in the English language media.
However, the Kinyarwanda language media is quite a bit freer. Unfortunately, much of it is filled with rumour, gossip, made up quotes with little attention paid to ethics of journalism. Having said that, regardless of the poor quality of the Kinyarwanda language media it's hard to support the horrendous sentence passed down against the two Umurabyo journalists recently.
In addition, the six month ban of Umuseso and Umuvugizi in April last year was out of all proportion. Although, the ban was lifted in Septemeber 2010, the newspapers are yet to return to the streets of Kigali. Another tabloid, Umusingi, is also under threat of late.
Q: How does this affect the blogging community?
As far as I know, the blogging community, such that it is, consists mainly of expats blogging. Most of those appear to be transient, they'll often only be here for a year or so and then they're gone. So, there's little to no effect. Its rare to find bloggers within Rwanda blogging on these issues.
Q: Are there any other challenges that you experience while blogging or that Rwandan bloggers face in general?
Just the power cuts and slow Internet. Sometimes it's so slow, it actually stops altogether for a week or more.
Q: What would you consider to be the success of your blogging experience? For instance, some people have stated that your blog is the closest thing to free media that Rwanda has?
I measure the success of my blog in the number and quality of the connections I make with people inside and outside the country. I have met with some fascinating Rwandans, from bee keepers to orphans, politicians, diplomats and journalists. It also allows me to connect with foreigners interested in Rwanda.
A number of Rwandans have told me they find the wire invaluable. I think this is because I try to aggregate news in an intelligent manner, to weed out what's important on any given day. That could be a news story from the Government mouthpiece newspaper or a critical blog post or article in the mainstream media.
I try to refrain from adding too much of my own opinion. Facts and truth are elusive in Rwanda. An opinion I may hold today could quite easily change tomorrow.
I think an editorial layer is very important. I always check the source of a blog or news story I find interesting. Unfortunately, there are a number of blogs and Twitter accounts, with agendas out there. It doesn't take long to figure which ones they are and I tend to ignore them completely.
Also, there are quite a few very vocal commentators who publish strong opinions about Rwanda, but who seem to spend remarkably little time, or indeed no time at all, in Rwanda itself. I tend not to read or link to them either.
Regardless of your opinion of Rwanda, to form any kind of intelligent perspective you do have to spend a lot of time in the country, talking to Rwandans, finding out how things work, observing life.
Q: Overall, what is the status of the Rwandan blogosphere? Have more Rwandans started blogging?
Like I mentioned earlier, not that I have noticed. You'll find greater numbers of Rwandans congregating around Facebook, various email discussion lists and Igihe – I could be wrong on that, but that seems to be the case.
Q: Now you also use Twitter, how important is this medium to bloggers?
I have been on Twitter since it started in 2006. Twitter has evolved into an entirely new news platform, therefore it's obvious if you're interested in news you have to be on it.
It's a good distribution tool, but I mainly use it for monitoring and engaging with people.
I occasionally pick up stories I would not otherwise know about by running forward searches on keywords.
It has proved very useful as an early warning system during the grenade attacks we have suffered in Kigali over the past year. Not all of the information turns out to be true, but it's a good starting point, so long as you keep a skeptical eye on supposedly authentic information coming out of Twitter. Rumours spread just as fast as facts on Twitter.
On the evening of the last grenade attack at the end of January, 2011 I was having dinner with my family in central Kigali. We were unaware of the attack while we were out. When we got home, I looked at Twitter and saw a number of tweets mentioning a possible attack an hour earlier. However, there were very few details of where or when the attack was and if anyone had been injured.
I made some phone calls to a number of reliable sources and immediately tweeted the most important bits of information and tried to quash rumours. I then spent a bit more time talking to people, monitoring news outlets to put together a quick blog post summarizing what I had found out.
I suspect Twitter might become more and more important as and when the Internet becomes more affordable, reliable and widespread.
Q: Most other forms of media were used during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda to incite ethnic hatred? Do you think that blogging has the capacity to unite the society?
I'm afraid that's too big and idealistic a question for me… :) Come and ask me again when all Rwandans have access to a reliable electricity supply, know how to use computers, have access to computers and the Internet and can afford to use the Internet… Seems like a long way off to me, but here's hoping.
Q: What do you think will be the legacy of your blog?
I hope I will find a Rwandan who can take it over. If I can find the right person, Kigali Wire will be an ongoing news wire and resource that I just happened to start.

author: Etienne Mashuli


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Sao Tome and Principe: Press freedom in jeopardy · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

The blog Autores e Livros (Authors and Books) writes [pt] and shares a petition against the censorship of “the only Saotomean TV program feeding the democratic system”, Em Directo (Live). In a letter to Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada, Reporters Without Borders condems the dismissal of its host, the poet and journalist Conceição Lima.

author: Sara Moreira


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South Africa: Tweets from Internet Freedom Workshop · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Follow tweets from Internet Freedom workshop taking place in South Africa.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Trinidad & Tobago: “Arima” in Kiddies Carnival  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Arima — which means both ‘place of the beginning’ and ‘water’ — is an indigenous Amerindian place name for what is now a large town in eastern Trinidad”: Alice Yard blogs about its children’s Carnival masquerade band, which “attempts to bring these two definitions together”.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Trinidad & Tobago: Same Sex Marriage  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Lisa Allen-Agostini thinks “it’s great that we have begun to think about the question of same-sex marriage in Trinidad and Tobago…[but] we have a long way to go–legally as well as socially–before we can make it an option for our people.”


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Uganda: Follow Uganda elections on Twitter · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

As Ugandans are getting ready for presidential and parliamentary elections, follow election related tweets here.


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Bahrain: Police Attack Protesters at Pearl Roundabout  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
The Bahraini police have just launched an attack on protesters at the Pearl Roundabout.
Here are the reactions from Twitter:
@maryamalkhawaja: There are wounded, area is surrounded
@FroozyO: Attention attention: Riot police by the hundreds have just arrived with helmets and clubs, about to attack. Please be aware
@JTheIslander: I hear gunfire. I live 4 km away from the roundabout.
@emile_hokayem: Lots of demonstrators running away.
@hhusaini: Riot police coming out to attack – Confirmed!!! #lulu #bahrain
@chanadbh: URGENT: It seems riot police is attacking Lulu Roundabout #Bahrain #Feb14
@bintbattuta: I'm not anywhere near and I can hear it
@emile_hokayem: Deafening sound. Speaker calling demonstrators to stay put.
@FroozyO: Riot police are about to attack us. Repeat….riot police are on the over pass getting out with clubs in their hands….
@tariqal: All I hear is gunshots & protester chanting “this is peaceful” . Ya rab no more deaths – #Bahrain #Feb14 #Lulu
@BaTo313:
@hhusaini: They're attacking from everywhere #lulu #bahrain
@Elizrael: Fuck! At Pearl Roundabout #Feb14 RT @emile_hokayem: Riot police charging. Crowd running away. Speaker stopped talking
@Alfardaani:
@Elizrael: RT @bintbattuta: Dear God, huge explosions coming from Pearl Roundabout. Lots of yelling. I'm not anywhere near and I can hear it. #Feb14
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Bahrain: One Person Killed During Pre-Dawn Police Raid · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
UPDATE (4:27am Bahrain time): We've just received news that a second person was killed during the raid.
We've already reported here and here on the pre-dawn raid by Bahrain's police forces on the protesters who have been gathered at Pearl Roundabout in the capital city of Manama since February 14, 2011. Now the news has broken that one person was killed during the skirmish.
Here is the information gathered so far from Twitter:
@emile_hokayem: Just got report of one killed and over 200 injuries people at hospital
@chanadbh: BREAKING: Journalist @MazenMahdi confirms one dead and 200 injuries in #Bahrain. Police attack protesters at Lulu Roundabout #Feb14
@maryamalkhawaja: On my way to hospital now to see wounded
@emoodz: Ibrahim Sharif at #lulu CONFIRMS to the #bbc, they attacked without warnings #bahrain #feb14
@salehnass: Everyone in Lulu towers is looking out their balconies. I'm sure they're as freaked out as I was. #bahrain
@BaghdadBrian: we are hearing unconfirmed reports of at least one person killed in assault on #lulu circle in #Bahrain sources??
@maryamalkhawaja: News of death and many wounded, I will confirm wen I know for sure
@BaghdadBrian: I found my sister. Ppl come to the rescue of ur brothers @ martyr square. There r women n children. We heard shouts that the tents r burning
@ahmedalsairafi: I hear tons sirens everywhere #feb14 #bahrain
@hadeelalsh: #Bahrain protesters playing cat and mouse w police. Tear gas clouds pluming, sniper shots heard #feb14
@JustAmira: The troll speaks: RT @bahrainlove: @JustAmira @acarvin @hhusaini Not gunshots ppl just harmless sound shots fo… (cont) http://deck.ly/~1slDQ
@emoodz: Internet in #bahrain might go down, kill-switch rumors floating around.. please spread our message.. Families were attacked #lulu #feb14
@Sarahngb: Tweets reporting that the Army has moved in? Tanks and armored pick ups? #bahrain
@Sarahngb: You'd think it would be a little easier to believe seeing as we just went through it, but it is not :( I pray for all of you. #Bahrain
@moftasa: Dictators think that world attention will be divided and people won't care about what they r doing in Bahrain and Libya now.
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.


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Bahrain: Chilling Accounts from Witnesses to Pearl ‘Massacre’  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
Horrific accounts of the barbaric pre-dawn raid in Bahraini capital Manama, in which protesters were dispersed by security forces from the Pearl Roundabout where they had set up camp to press for demands, continue to emerge, as Bahrainis and the rest of the world try to come to terms with what hit them.
Here are some reactions from Twitter on the latest from Bahrain:
@emoodz: This regime is using its military against it's own people, does the world hear our cries? #bahrain #feb14 #lulu
@aalman81: We all are.. “@ehsankooheji: I'm crying…”
@BaghdadBrian: A massacre in #Bahrain and the army forces are everywhere, 5 victims no ambulances, help, help, help audio: http://bit.ly/fe0LrE. #feb14
@awa9999: First aid staff beaten while offering first aid this morning http://yfrog.com/hsq1aylj #bahrain #feb14
@maryamalkhawaja: Paramedics: “we removed injured while they were being beaten by riot police who said they had orders to do so” #bahrain #feb14
@NickKristof: Abt 10 ambulance paramedics attacked by #Bahrain police. I interviewed them, saw their injuries.
@NickKristof: 1 #Bahrain ambulance driver told me #Saudi army officer held gun to his head, said wld kill him if helped injured.
@Dr_Murtadha: An Urgebt call to the people of the motherland and.. please head to the Bank of blood for blood donation #Bahrain #feb14 #lulu
@Nabeelrajab: some pictures of today that you can use http://goo.gl/9o1CX #feb14 #bahrain
@yslaise: Instead of name calling.. U should pray 2 those who have died & donate blood 2 those who has been injured #14Feb #Bahrain
@aalman81: We will wait for the detailed footage of what happened today to make our judgment as journalists and analysts. #Bahrain
@saralicious: Love it how Bahrain TV is showing nothing of what is going on in the country. #Bahrain #Feb14
@MohammadAlameer
@EssaEsam: The amount of hatred I see is unbelievable. Where did the real Bahrainis go? #Bahrain #Feb14
@HussaKhalid: @ytaima please keep your foreign ideas and thoughts out of Bahrain. Long live King Hamad. #Bahrain #feb14
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.


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Bahrain: Main Hospital Fills with Lulu Roundabout Wounded · Global Voices
Yacoub Al-Slaise

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
After the dawn raid at Lulu Roundabout, the focal point of the anti-government protests going on in Bahrain since February 14, 2011, many of the injured have been rushed to the Salmaniya Hospital. Three people have died so far.
The hospital in now in disarray, with a growing number of injured protesters. Calls have been made for citizens to donate blood for the wounded.
@BahrainRights Disturbing photo of an injured person in Salmanya hospital “@maryamalkhawaja: http://yfrog.com/h0kkwdmj” #Bahrain (Click for full image)
@qassoom Call for urgent blood donation for those injured in #LuluRoundabout #Feb14 #Bahrain #Lulu
@ST_Cyclone #Bahrain CALL FOR BLOOD DONATIONS!! CALL FOR BLOOD DONATIONS! CALL FOR BLOOD DONATIONS! CALL FOR BLOOD DONATIONS! CALL FOR BLOOD DONATIONS!
At the time of writing, some reports coming through Twitter are saying that forces have surrounded the hospital and the occurance of some clashes.
@MazenMahdi Heavy clashes break out around hospital reports that a policeman killed #Bahrain #feb14
@nadooi_wish it's (Salmaniya Hospital) surrounded by army forces!! All roads to #luluroundabout is blocked!
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.

author: Yacoub Al-Slaise


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Bahrain: News of Dawn Raid Provokes Rage and Disbelief · Global Voices
Yacoub Al-Slaise

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
People across Bahrain woke up to go to work today (Thursday 17 February, 2011) to the news of a dawn police raid on anti-government protestors camped out at Lulu Roundabout in capital Manama.
Social networking sites Facebook and Twitter have been flooded with reactions of rage, horror and disbelief at the events that have unfolded:
@MrsNadiaCarter I'm saddened to hear that the riot police attacked sleeping protestors early this morning…please explain yourselves @moi_bahrain #Bahrain
@baderkamal No extra pressure intended, but I expect statements from any or all government officials on Twitter.
@SaudAlbuainain Force – not the answer!
@Salmaaaaaaaaaan If we want justice .. we act by what is just .. what is peaceful .. what is preserving unity .. what is granting a prosperous future ..
@BAHRAINIAC Whats happening to the country? Im so speechless. #Bahrain #Feb14
@M_Sharaf Someone pinch me please. I wan't to leave this terrifying nightmare. #Bahrain
@ahmedalsairafi Pray for the souls killed today, and Pray for unity #bahrain #feb14
@haythoo الشهيد خضير كان يجلس بالقرب منا بالمغرب،كان يمسك بإنبوب المياه لمن يريد الوضوء أو الغسيل،حين شاهدت صورته لم استطع تمالك نفسي #Bahrain #14Feb
Blogger Mahmood Al-Yousif posted on his blog:
Dialogue has no place in Bahrain at the moment.
And all space is left to the violence of a government that doesn’t seem to care about its citizens.
Dialogue is replaced with shotguns, tear gas and hundreds of riot police all exerting an inordinate amount of violence against unarmed civilians.
That was what faced unarmed sleeping civilians – men, women, children, old men and women – this pre-dawn residing in the Pearl Roundabout.
One would be forgiven for assuming that at least to those present there, and the families of the four more killed by riot-police shotguns at the roundabout this morning, not only the government has lost its credibility, but also the royal family.
This is a completely unnecessary escalation of events.
Why?
With the King appearing on national television offering his apology to those killed in the previous couple of days, one assumes by extrapolation that he would never have authorised nor condones such violence. So did the Ministry of Interior go it alone and completely against the king’s wishes and once again use an indiscriminate and an inordinate use of force?
Regardless. The royal family and the government aren’t gaining any friends now and lost quite a few too. If – and that’s a big – the government does want to restore calm, deep concessions must be offered. Unless we want to see the complete burning of the country unnecessarily.
God bless Bahrain. This time, it’s very difficult.
The February 14th Revolution Facebook Page [ar], which has now over 32,000 supporters, has called for strikes on Thursday in support of the protests and to honor the fallen:
ندعو الشعب للإضراب العام اليوم الخميس عن العمل و المدارس و المعاهد و الجامعات و المشاركة الحاشدة في تشييع الشهداء و الإعتصامات السلمية ..
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.


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Bahrain: News on Pearl Roundabout Crackdown Flows · Global Voices
Ivan Sigal

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
Eyewitness and amplified reports on Twitter are coming in fast about the pre-dawn raid on protesters at Bahrain's Pearl Roundabout.
Twitter user @Hisham_g reports on attacks on international media:
RT @khabarNYC: @chanadbh CNN crew were ripped off their equipment at the airport by security…media blackout#Bahrain
[Audio] ABC's Miguel Marquez Beaten in#Bahrain – ABC News -http://goo.gl/gA3Ts #Feb14
Regime in #Bahrain is counting on media fatigue.. waited for western hemisphere to go 2 sleep to crackdown on 1000s of peaceful protesters
[Video] – قمع السميره السلميه في دوار اللؤلوه -http://goo.gl/9YcSJ #Bahrain
Global Voices Author Amira al Hussaini has reported slow and intermittent Internet, but has been managing to update on the protests via her Twitter feed @justamira:
Thank u 4 ur support: I ask you to direct them to the people on the ground: I watched from the sidelines: A witness to this massacre #Feb14
Followed #SidiBouzid and cried; followed #Jan25 and cried; and now#Feb14 is in my backyard: I feel numb and betrayed. #Bahrain
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.

author: Ivan Sigal


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Bahrain: Nicholas Kristof, An Eyewitness · Global Voices
Tarek Amr

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
Nicholas Kristof, the New York Times columnist, and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, is reporting the unfolding events taking place in Bahrain via his Twitter account. Kristof arrived Bahrain a couple of days ago when two protesters were reported dead, after thousands gathered in Pearl Square demanding democracy.
Nicholas Kristof, the New York Times columnist, and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner. Image by Flickr user caribbeanfreephoto.
Kristof reported early last night (Wednesday 16 February, 2011) that the square was peaceful:
Then at around 3am Bahrain time on Thursday 17 February, as protesters were sleeping at Pearl Roundabout, police troops attacked them with guns, tear gas and excessive force, without any prior warning. The attack on the protesters came after King Hamad of Bahrain claimed he regretted the previous use of violence:
It seems that King Hamad's choice of the timing of the attack and the barring of journalists from entering the Kingdom were meant to prevent witnesses to the brutality. In the morning, hospitals in Bahrain started receiving hundreds of injured protesters due to beatings, shotgun pellets, and rubber bullets. Kristof reported the situation in the hospitals:
It did not stop at hospitals, as ambulances were targeted too:
Apparently the Bahrain riot police reached out to foreign forces for help:
We still do not know the actual number of injured and dead protesters so far. People in Bahrain are suffering from a very slow Internet connection currently, and tweets and other updates are one of the only ways to get information from the country.
Update: Internet back up to speed  at 17:00 (AST) on Thursday 17 February, 2011.
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.

author: Tarek Amr


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Bahrain: Police Attack Sleeping Protesters  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
At around 3am Bahrain time, as protesters were sleeping at Pearl Roundabout, police troops attacked them with guns, tear gas and excessive force – WITHOUT WARNING.
Here are more reactions from Twitter on the frenzy that followed:
@emile_hokayem: Riot police now in control of lulu roundabout. That was quick. 20 mins
@hhusaini: Riot police shooting everywhere, tear gas everywhere, they have blocked everyone in , kids, women everyone #lulu #bahrain #feb14
@chanadbh: RIGHT NOW in #Bahrain, Pearl Roundabout RT @FroozyO: They're shooting they're shooting. Tear gas everywhere. People running everywhere
@emile_hokayem: Police coming from under the bridge and seaside. Demonstrators running inland. Towards my building n road to salmaniyah n road to Dana mall
@chanadbh: Riot police are shooting aimlessly at anyone. They have closed us in and we can't escape. Tear gas everywhere. … http://tmi.me/6SQsF
@iamwaleed: @iamwaleed Lulu roundabout is being attacked RIGHT NOW. Riot police shooting everywhere. Closing in the people so they can't leave
@draddee: #Bahrain RT @emile_hokayem: Riot police made it under my building. So much tear gas used that I feel it on the 14th floor!!!
@bintbattuta: Helicopters overhead. I am the other side of town but I can hear the yells and explosions
@draddee: #Bahrain RT @emile_hokayem Police using tear gas and sound grenades. Very confusing. Most demonstrators have left but I see and hear anger
@draddee: it's just past 3 am in #Bahrain RT @emile_hokayem Riot police charging. Crowd running away. Speaker stopped talking.
@asteris: RT @emile_hokayem Riot police charging. Crowd running away. Speaker stopped talking. Police using teargas, sound grenades. Very confusing
@maryamalkhawaja: Women are running carrying their children
@emile_hokayem: If I feel it that much on 14th floor, I can only imagine how it feels down there
@SuadAK: People running they're attacking. Closing roads. Police everywhere
@emile_hokayem: If I feel it that much on 14th floor, I can only imagine how it feels down there
@iamwaleed: @iamwaleed Lulu roundabout is being attacked RIGHT NOW. Riot police shooting everywhere. Closing in the people so they can't leave
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.


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Bahrain: Protests Erupt at Salmaniya Hospital · Global Voices
Yacoub Al-Slaise

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
Chaos has hit Bahrain's Salmaniya Hospital, the country's largest public hospital, after Thursday 17 February's pre-dawn police raid on protesters in Lulu Roundabout.
From that time the hospital, which already faces overcrowding on a daily basis, was overwhelmed by the number of injured coming from Lulu Roundabout. Reports have poured on Twitter about doctors protesting the worsening conditions inside the hospital and the lack of ambulances bringing in the injured from the morning's raid.
@angryarabiya Eye Witness: all the salmaniya staff are out on a march including doctors and nurses demanding the resignation of the minister of health
@haythoo أطباء السلمانية – يسقط يسقط الوزير – لا يوجد و لا إسعاف بالسلمانية #Bahrain #lulu #14Feb http://plixi.com/p/78000060
Doctors protest outside Salmaniya Hospital
@SandyWaterB http://yfrog.com/mijy2z In Salmaniya (Click on link below to watch video)
Nurses and Paramedics protest inside the hosptial
Some paramedics were injured during their attempts to bring injured protesters to hospital.
@MDaaysi: evidence ministry of health men were attacked #Bahrain #feb14 #PearlRoundabout RT @maryamalkhawaja: http://yfrog.com/hsq1aylj
Injured Paramedics in Salmaniya Hospital
Doctors later decided to leave the hospital and march to LuLu Roundabout to treat the rest of the injured protesters.
@hussain_info pic: brave doctors have gone walking to #lulu tiring to rescue after 5hrs of banding them #bahrain http://yfrog.com/h088xjgj
Protesting Doctors march to LuLu Roundabout
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.


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Bahrain: State TV Says Protesters Had Swords, Guns and Ammunition · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
Bahrain Television just aired the government's account of today's pre-dawn raid on protesters gathered at Pearl Roundabout in the capital Manama, which left five people dead, scores injured and up to 60 people missing and still unaccounted for.
From the United Arab Emirates (UAE), tweep Sultan Al Qassemi covered the programme, which claimed that the protesters were warned about the attack. However, a Twitter post early this morning said that protestors were told to stay put, as reported by Global Voices.
The programme also showed graphic footage of injuries to security forces, as well as arms, ammunition and swords said to belong to protesters. Meanwhile the debate continues in the Bahraini twittersphere on what happened early this morning and why.
Here is a snapshot of reactions:
@BahrainRights: “@AJELive: @AJEnglish deaths from latest clashes have risen to five #Bahrain. Parademic says most patients at hospital have head injuries”
@SultanAlQassemi: Guns and bullets as shown on Bahrain TV http://yfrog.com/h7e2wvj http://yfrog.com/h01yazlj
@SultanAlQassemi: Outside as inside a makeshift caravan kitchen. From Bahrain TV http://yfrog.com/h6xdqtaj http://yfrog.com/gytwzkqj
@SultanAlQassemi: More swords and knives on Bahrain TV http://yfrog.com/h7woslgj http://yfrog.com/hsdktauj http://yfrog.com/h7ybfutj
@mahmood: @SultanAlQassemi of course as a responsible journalist, you would add “unverified” to your fervent comments, right?
@amalandaplan: @SultanAlQassemi I really would not trust Bahrain TV
@iLandBahrain: BTV showed one part of the truth. Other media showing other parts. Bias of all sources is expected, yet I find it nauseating..
@iLandBahrain: Question remains: What was the rationale? why was the raid ordered? Raiding protestors is always last resort after dialogue, not first.
@ammar456: More Qs for BTV:Why were tanks deployed? Why did it take 12hrs to post footage? Why was live feed site to #lulu blocked 1hr earlier? Kthxbye
@alaali: In BTV video, I can hear the people saying: “simiya” peaceful. Anyone heard that too? #Bahrain
@amalandaplan: FLASH: #Bahrain opposition MP says about 60 people missing after police storm protest camp
@nadooi_wish: That did not help the economy if that was your concern at all #Bahrain
@mahmood: @ahmedalsairafi some injuries were real & few weapons were there sure. Felt other injuries were staged/fake & exaggerated planted evidence
@alibinkhalifa: @NickKristof Did he tell you about the Hizbullah flags and weapons that were stored between what you call “peaceful demonstrator”.
@SuhailAlgosaibi: @JustAmira I think it's dangerous for one side to claim the *only* truth. We've seen many many lies from the protestors as well…
@razaniyat: RT @TrellaLB: guys plz don't change your locations to #bahrain or any other hot zone so we can keep track of ppl on field don't confuse us
@Sandmonkey: Dear Western Media, do not call the Bahrain revolution the “Lulu” revolution. U r making us look cute. #WeAreScaryArabs #BOOO
@algergawi: It is now 3.10 pm. Following GCC FMs extraordinary meeting tonight Bahrain's FM will make a statement. Protests planned for tomorrow. #Feb14
@algergawi: Suffice to say, the next 24 hours will be of Bahraini historic significance. #Feb14
The programme has raised more questions than answers.
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.


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Bahrain: Tanks Head Towards Capital Manama · Global Voices
Yacoub Al-Slaise

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
After a morning raid this Thursday 17 February, 2011, on protesters at Lulu Roundabout in Bahraini capital Manama, reports have surfaced of army tanks heading towards the city.
@ahmed289 @yslaise http://plixi.com/p/77971560
Army vehicles in Riffa heading towards the Bahraini capital Manama. Image by @ahmed289.
This video by TwitVid user Ali Al Saeed shows tanks driving towards Manama from the nearby city of Riffa.
@alialsaeed http://twitvid.com/IMZKO – Armored army vehicles driving towards Manama from Riffa.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8HWhBAHqwg
Uploaded on ElliotsFather‘s YouTube account
@ammar456: Tanks on the highway: http://twitpic.com/40m8x8 #bahrain #feb14 #lulu
Bahrain Army Tanks on Shaikh Khalifa Highway heading towards Manama. Image by Twitter user @ammar456.
These are the only two confirmed photos that have surfaced as police around the capital Manama have started confiscating people's camera phones when caught taking pictures; blogger Redha Haji tweeted about his ordeal:
@RedhaHaji Was stopped at salmaniya traffic junction. Pretending talk phone taking pics #bahrain #lulu #feb14 http://yfrog.com/h77cjamj
Police near Qufool Intersection near Salmaniya Hospital. Image by Twitter user @RedhaHaji.
@RedhaHaji Locked phone before handing it to them. Sat in car waiting. Wearing wrk clothes. I was let go #bahrain #lulu #feb14 shaking hard to type
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.


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Bahrain: Videos of Dawn Raid on Lulu Roundabout · Global Voices
Yacoub Al-Slaise

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
In the early hours of Thursday 17th February, 2011, at around 3am Bahrain time, riot police force attacked sleeping protesters at Lulu Roundabout, the focal point of Bahrain's ongoing Day of Wrath protests. These are some of the videos of the events that have surfaced so far.
From YouTube account alibh1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYozYph6OVU
From YouTube account albahrain2011:
A video of riot police above the Lulu Roundabout flyover from Twitter account @tariqal.
The Ministry of Interior has issued a statement on the events on their official website:
MOI:
The Ministry of Interior’s spokesperson, Brigadier Tariq Hassan Al Hassan, announced that security forces evacuated the area of pearl roundabout from protesters, after trying all opportunities for dialogue with them, in which some positively responded and left quietly. Others refused to obey the law and that led to interference to make them leave.
He explained that security forces have been keen to be self-cpntrol and communicate with protesters through public figures to end the sit-in peacefully, in order to ensure legal practice within this institutional state, while some protesters exploited this tolerant atmosphere to impose illegal practices and disturbing citizens and residents by stopping them in checkpoints they made for vehicles and passerby in the surrounding areas of the roundabout. This was considered as a major lawbreaking practice for spreading fear among the public and affecting commercial and economic activities.
The spokesperson affirmed that the Ministry of Interior had received many complaints from the public of the massive personal and economic affects they had been suffering. He said that the protest in such vital area had great affect on national economy, trade, tourism and public interests and led to traffic crisis.
Brigadier Al Hassan called upon people to follow the constitution and the law while expressing their freedom of expression, and to show patriotism and concerns for the interests of the country.
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.


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Bangladesh: Cricket World Cup 2011 Launched Today · Global Voices
Rezwan

Pakistani blogger Nabeel Arshed at Guppu.com comments on the launching of the Cricket World Cup 2011  in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh : “no opening ceremony for a cricket world cup has been filled with such colour, joy and passion as the one held at Bangabandhu National Stadium earlier today.”

author: Rezwan


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Bangladesh:  Ethnic Jumma People Living Under Fear  · Global Voices
Rezwan

Saleem Samad at Bangladesh Watchdog informs that several ethnic Jumma people in Khagrachari, Bangladesh are still living in fear after attacks year ago.


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Colombia: Truck Driver Strike Causes Road Chaos in Bogotá · Global Voices
Cati Restrepo

Since February 2, 2011, Colombian truck drivers [es] have been on national strike due to government reforms that aim to remove the table of cargo charges that, according to the internet news site La silla vacía [es](The Empty Chair), “regulates, since 1997, the minimum prices of the transportation of cargo in the country.”
The Vice President of the Colombian Association of Truck Drivers (ACC), Pablo Mogollón, explains that [es] “it is a government measure for the country to increase its competitiveness at the expense of the incomes of the haulers, because without the table of cargo charges the manufacturers will pay whatever they want to pay them and whenever they want.”
Thus, since the start of February there has been a partial reduction of cargo mobility throughout the country, which has gradually become more noticeable due to the increase in the number of workers of this profession, who have decided to locate themselves, with their trucks, at different places on the Colombian road network.
On February 15, the issue became one of the most mentioned in traditional and citizen media, because of various reports of traffic congestion in the capital, Bogotá, caused by a significant number of truck drivers who decided to immobilize their vehicles, parking them in various important streets, especially in the west of the city.
Truck drivers in Bogata on February 15, 2011. Photo by @Lardila83 and used with permission.
On Twitter, with the hashtag #parocamionero [es] (#truckdriverstrike), opinions are divided between those who support the demonstration by this group of workers and those who criticize them for creating chaos and affecting the mobility in the city.
Steven M Palma (@Stemuo) says:
Yo estoy con los camioneros. De lógica y razón tanta gente no puede estar protestando por ocio #parocamionero
Daniel Carrera Osorno (@dacaos_212) mentions the present excessive cost of petrol that does not only affect truck drivers:
Todos deberiamos unirnos al #parocamionero [es], todos somos victimas del sobrecosto de la gasolina, todos hacemos uso del transporte.
For @culebr0, the responsibility for what happened rests with the government. Camilo Andrés Suárez (@Kami_an) shares the difficulties that his secretary experienced due to the standstill of some of the streets of Bogotá and therefore, of specific transport routes. His secretary arrived at her home late at night because of the problems in getting transportation:
ahora la secre de la  empresa me cuenta las peripecias que tuvo que pasar anoche para llegar a  su casa a las 12AM, gracias #parocamionero !!
She also told him about hundreds of people who had to opt to walk in order to reach their destinations due to the streets’ conditions [es]:
Me dijo que gracias a #parocamionero cientos de personas  tuvieron que caminar para llegar a sus casas, con peleas, robos,  inseguridad y frio
Truck drivers in Bogotá on February 15, 2011. Photo by @Lardila83 and used with permission.
Opponents allude to the chaos caused by the lack of mobility and the loss of stored foods in containers. Camilo de Guzmán (@CamiloDeGuzman) thinks:
Ceder ante bloqueos q  atentan contra la movilidad ciudadana, el orden publico y la economía  distrital es validar el #chantaje #parocamionero
JaBn (@antimonetario) writes:
Gente en el mundo que  se muere de hambre y la comida pudriendose en un contenedor #parocamionero [es]
Rose Viatella (@RViatella) expresses a sentiment shared by many who have been affected by the strike:
Ay! que el paro se  arregle pronto, no es justo que uno tenga que pagar las consecuencias #ParoCamionero [es]
At the end of writing this post, a meeting between government representatives and representatives of the truck drivers had been scheduled for 5pm, Colombian time, on February 15th.

author: Cati Restrepo


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Costa Rica: Crowdfunding Costa Rican Film “El Regreso” · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

In Fusil de Chispas [es], Cristian Cambronero writes about how the Costa Rican film “El Regreso” (“The Return”) is using crowdfunding through Kickstarter to try to raise $40,000 USD by April 2.


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Cuba: Journalist’s Home Attacked · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Babalu and Uncommon Sense blog about Sara Martha Fonseca, whose “home was attacked last night…in reaction to the mass protest in Cuba scheduled for February 23, 2011, in commemoration of the murder of prisoner of conscience Orlando Zapata Tamayo.”


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Cuba: New Technology, Old Ideas · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“What century is Cuban television living in?”: Octavo Cerco is amazed by the claims of a television program, saying: “That the new technologies have arrived, there is now no doubt, because they themselves say it’s so. But it’s thanks to the tenacity of the Cuban people in accessing everything the government has tried to steal from us.”


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Dominica: First Indigenous Lawyer · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Voice of the Taino People Online is proud to tell the story of “Pearl Diane Williams…the first indigenous Kalinago Carib person from Waitikubuli (Dominica) and possibly the Eastern Caribbean to be admitted to the Bar in the Commonwealth of Dominica.”


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Guatemala: Threats Against Journalist Oscar de León · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

“Last week, the CPJ reported on a series of threats against Oscar de León, a television journalist with the Guatevisión TV network. The CPJ is calling on Guatemalan authorities to investigate the source of the threats and to take steps to protect De León,” Mike reports at Central American Politics.


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Equatorial Guinea: Mr Obiang, New Chairperson of the African Union and Human Rights Abuser · Global Voices
Abdoulaye Bah

Heads of state and government in the African Union (AU), which was established in 2002 in Durban South Africa to replace the Organization of African Unity – elected on January 30, 2011, Mr Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo as its new chairperson, succeeding Malawian President Mr Bingu wa Mutharika.
President Obiang and former US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. Image from US State Department, in public domain.
Mr Obiang has been Equatorial Guinea's president since 1979, following a coup d'état; he rules his country with an iron fist. Despite a sobering human rights review [fr], he has up to now managed to avoid international condemnation.
As soon as he was elected, Nguema made statements that only confirmed the self image he gives to his country's leadership. Many blogs and online media have captured them, including Le Patriot Nefertiti [fr] who cites him on lepost.fr:
Les concepts de démocratie, des droits de l'homme, de bonne gouvernance, ne sont pas des nouveaux thèmes pour l'Afrique, mais il convient plutôt de les adapter à la culture africaine (…)
He didn't elaborate how ideologies such as the ones defined in the universal declaration of human rights are in need of adaptation to fit Africans.
Human rights organizations reacted promptly:
On the blog pambazuka.org, Yves Niyiragira cites [fr] a press release from the African Assembly for the defense of Human Rights (RADDHO), published on January 31, 2010 in Addis-Abeba, Ethiopia, expressing “its deepest indignation”:
La situation des droits humains en Guinée équatoriale est caractérisée par les tortures systématiques contre les opposants politiques, les violations des libertés fondamentales avec une opposition muselée, l’absence d’une presse indépendante, l’inexistence de la Société civile.
The violations include death sentences. According to Amnesty International, four people – Jose Abeso Nsue, Manuel Ndong Anseme, Alipio Ndong Asumu and Jacinto Micha Obiang – were kidnapped in Benin where they had fled to, and “they were executed on August 21st, immediately after being declared guilty by a military tribunal in the capital Malabo.”
The blog appablog.wordpress.com published [fr] the following comment:
…. elle [l'UA] se dote d’un nouveau président en la personne de M. Teodoro Obiang Nguema, président de la Guinée Equatoriale, arrivé au pouvoir par un coup d’Etat et régnant sur son pays au mépris des droits humains depuis 30 ans.
Enfin, alors que l’impunité des responsables des crimes les plus graves bafoue le droit des victimes à la justice et est à la base des crises politiques et des conflits sur le continent, la FIDH déplore la décision de l’UA de réitérer sa demande de suspension des procédures judiciaires engagées par la Cour pénale internationale contre le président soudanais El Béchir, présumé responsable du crime de génocide, de crimes contre l’humanité et de crimes de guerre au Darfour
Par ses décisions, l’UA nous montre qu’elle nage en plein paradoxe.
After Obiang's re-election to power in Equatorial Guinea in 2009 with more than 95% of the votes, an article by Denis Carlier entitled, “Obiang Nguema, a president for 30 years: Authoritarianism and corruption in power on black gold ground in Equatorial Guinea” on the blog afrik.com triggered many reactions:
Blogger juju wrote in his first comment:
30 ans et encore sept ? c'est la malédiction de tout un peuple qui se voit dans la misère à cause de ces dictateurs, d'abord Macias Nguema et maintenant son neveau Obiang Nguema. Les gens vivaient bien avec les espagnols. Il n'y avait pas de petrol, les familles avaient leurs terres et les parents avaient des moyens pour payer les etudes à leurs enfants. Il n'y avait pas d'analphabètes. A quoi a servi l'indépendence ? pourquoi nous les africains n'avons pas le droit d'une vie digne dans nos pays ?
In a second comment, juju added:
… Avec un PIB de 29800 dollars [per capita], pas d'eau potable pas d'électricité pas de logements dignes pas d'hôpitaux ( lui et sa famille vont au Maroc pour se soigner).
From his part, Malembe wrote:
On peut également dire que ces despotes travaillent à la solde des occidentaux. Après tout c´est du théâtre, chacun a un rôle ou des rôles bien précis dans les pièces. Le Président equato-guinéen sait qu´il est une marionnette. Il n´est pas leader.
It is hard to deny Malembe's comments since, based on this article by Denis Carlier [fr], an investigation directed by the Securities and Exchange commission on the existence of dubious transactions on Riggs Bank accounts, in Washington (DC) has discovered:
un total de 700 millions de dollars y a été transféré au profit d’Obiang et de ses proches, en provenance des compagnies pétrolières ExxonMobil Corp, Amerada Hess Corp, ChevronTexaco, Devon Energy Corp et Marathon Oil Corp. La banque a été condamnée à une amende record de 16 millions de dollars pour avoir tu le détail des virements, et s’est finalement faite racheter.
According to Leger Ntiga on the website africapresse.com [fr]:
Le président équato-guinéen Teodoro Obiang Nguema se trouve à la 12e place du classement des chefs d’Etat les plus riches du monde derrière huit dirigeants d’Asie parmi lesquels le sultan de Bruneï, le roi d’Arabie Saoudite, l’émir du Qatar et le sultan d’Oman, ainsi que le prince Albert II de Monaco et le Premier ministre Italien, Silvio Berlusconi. Il est ainsi accusé de confisquer les biens publics de son pays.
A few days before Obiang's election as the AU's Chairperson, Abena Ampofoa Asara commented, in an article entitled “Obiang: the pseudo humanitarian”, published by pambazuka.org, on Obiang's $3 million dollars endowment that the UNESCO almost accepted:
Avec le revenu national le plus élevé de l’Afrique subsaharienne, le revenu per capita de la Guinée équatoriale est comparable à celui du Portugal ou de la Corée du Sud. Néanmoins, 60% de la population se débat pour survivre avec moins d’un dollar par jour. Depuis la découverte du pétrole dans ce pays, en 1995, la famille de Teodoro Obiang Nguema et ses proches associés sont devenus fabuleusement riches, alors que la majorité de la population est restée embourbée dans la pauvreté.

author: Abdoulaye Bah


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India: Indusladies Blog Contest · Global Voices
Rezwan

Phoenixritu informs about the Indusladies 2nd annual international women's day Blog contest which offers a cash prize of Rs.10,000.


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Jamaica: Malaria Cases  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

YardFlex.com reports that the Ministry of Health has identified three imported cases of malaria.


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Libya: Gaddafi Cracks Down on Anti-Regime Protestors · Global Voices
Antoun Issa

This post is part of Global Voices special coverage on Libya Uprising 2011.
News is emerging on Twitter that Libyan leader Mu'ammar Gaddafi has sent in the army against protestors, with deaths reported in Benghazi and other parts of the country. Gaddafi is one of the longest serving dictators in the world, now entering his 42nd year as President.
Gaddafi at the 12th African Union summit. Image by US Government, in the public domain.
Libyans have been inspired by pro-democracy demonstrations in neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt that have toppled their respective rulers.
But their protests appear to have been met with stiff resistance, as Gaddafi shows no hesitation in deploying violence to suppress anti-regime protests.
This post is part of Global Voices special coverage on Libya Uprising 2011.

author: Antoun Issa


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Morocco: ‘Movement for Dignity’ Planned for 20 February, 2011 · Global Voices
Nabila Taj

This post is part of our special coverage Morocco Protests 2011.
Morocco has been deemed the ‘unsusceptible exception’ to the current unrest in the Arab world; a few of the reasons why include King Mohammad VI’s immense popularity, the government's tactical approach to political Islam, and the influx of social reform projects across the country. The impression of a relatively stable kingdom is a result of the intricate relationship between the historical monarchy and the Moroccan culture.
On February 9, 2011, Moroccans held a relatively peaceful demonstration in front of the parliament in capital Rabat to express their solidarity with the people of Egypt in their pro-democracy protests:
Gathering in Moroccan capital Rabat, Morocco on 9 February, 2011 to express solidarity with Egyptians protestors. Image by article author Nabila Taj.
Although in Morocco the monarch is essentially the government, there is a huge divide between the two in the minds of many Moroccans, which is why a ‘walk of love‘ was also organized on Facebook to express support for the king.
Despite all this, there is talk on the Internet about a ‘February 20, 2011, Movement for Dignity‘ [ar],
which is independent of all political parties, trade unions and other organizations in the arena, satisfied and committed to working within the framework of what it provides law and international covenants of human rights of the potential field of the act, its goal is to work alongside the Moroccan people to demand dignity and work for the good of this country to fight corrupt all those who stand against the popular will.
The leaders of the planned protest highlight the high cost of living, low wages, widespread unemployment, the spread of illiteracy, restrictions on the press, and the return of kidnappings and torture in political prisons, as the result of the government's disregard of the will of the people.
Reactions to the ‘Movement for Dignity’ movement range across the spectrum. Twitter updates from MaghrebBlog, MoroccanLove, and _Nizar_B all quote a statement [ar] from Moroccan activist Nadia Yassine: “the real transition will be achieved either voluntarily or by force.”
Yassine is founder and head of the Moroccan banned Islamist movement Al Adl Wa Al Ihssane (Justice and Charity); she has made a public statement supporting the ‘Movement for Dignity’, as long as it remains peaceful.
Blogger Shiftybox predicts failure [fr]:
Puisque la notion de gouvernement chez les marocains est entièrement distincte de la personne du roi, et que ce dernier ne ferait pas parti de l’appareil étatique corrompu, le roi bénéficie automatiquement d’une continuité d’allégeance en cas de révolte anti-gouvernementale et la machine communicationnelle poli sa réputation. Et face à un gouvernement « pourri » et « intéressé », le roi devient l’alternative idéale et personnalise l’espoir.
Shiftybox continues to point out that “the upper classes or the Moroccan bourgeoisie has no interest to take action because, acting on simple ‘homo economicus’, these elites are fully satisfied.”
Blogger Big Brother [fr] is vehemently against the protests planned for February 20, 2011:
Au Maroc, la liberté d'expression est bien plus présente qu'en Tunisie par exemple. Si la manifestation était le dernier recours, oui, j'adhérerai à ce groupe.
Sauf que ce n'est pas le cas : On pouvait très bien écrire une lettre ouverte ou des milliers, si ce n'est des millions de jeunes qui signent le document ou on pourrait demander une révision de la constitution, une justice neutre et équitable, des actions tangibles et réelles…
In Morocco, freedom of expression is much more present in Tunisia for example. If the event [the planned protest] was the last resort, then yes, I agree with this group.
Except this is not the case: One could very well instead write an open letter from thousands if not millions of young people signing to request a review of the constitution, a neutral and fair justice , tangible and real actions….
Nobody knows whether the Movement for Dignity will be disregarded or whether it will be the intial step to a mass revolution for change in Morocco. February 20, 2011 is only ten days away.
This post is part of our special coverage Morocco Protests 2011.

author: Nabila Taj


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Russia: Famous AI Specialist Says Election 2018 Will be Won Online · Global Voices
Vadim Isakov

Famous Russian AI specialist and programmer Igor Ashmanov gave an interview to Banki.ru where he stresses the importance of the Internet in Russia and said that Russian presidential election 2018 would be won on the Net.

author: Vadim Isakov


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Russia: New .РФ Domains Could Be Sold Illegaly · Global Voices
Vadim Isakov

The Prosecutor General's Office in Russia expressed its interest in the fact that the biggest domain registration company in Russia “RU-Center” reserved 60,000 domain names within first hours after open registration and later sold 25,000 of those in closed auctions, newspapers Kommersant.ru reported.


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Russia: Popular Social Network Opens Its Profiles to Everybody · Global Voices
Vadim Isakov

Russian popular social network Vkontakte.ru prohibited its users from limiting access to their online profiles. Now everybody is able to view personal information of other users. People started protesting against the decision and threatened Vkontakte.ru to take it to court, Gazeta.ru reported.


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Russia: Yakutia’s Drinking Water; World’s Deepest Ice Shaft · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Among many other things, Bolot of AskYakutia.com writes about “the world’s deepest shaft in the permafrost zone” and about drinking water in Yakutsk.


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Serbia: Government Website Broken Into Due to 12345 Password · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belgraded.com writes about the most recent awkward situation that the costly website of Serbia's Ministry of Ecology and Urban Planning has found itself in: “The site was the target of public ridicule once again couple of hours ago when someone noticed that the username/password combination for logging on to the site’s admin panel was – are you ready for this – admin/12345. […] Couple of minutes after this piece of topsecret info was posted to twitter, the site had around two hundred admins […].”


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Serbia: The Semlin Nazi Concentration Camp · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Bill's Blog writes about Semlin Judenlager, a Nazi concentration camp in Belgrade.


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Taiwan: Debate Over the ‘Light Novel’ Phenomenon · Global Voices
Portnoy Zheng

What is a ‘light novel'? If you are a fan, then you might not completely agree with the English Wikipedia description, or the entry on Uncyclopidia [zht], which tries to literally weigh the ‘lightness’ in question.
Light novels – manga and cosplay books which originated from Japan – are hyper popular in Taiwan, where they have conquered the book market.
Light novels. Photo by Flickr user metalfinally (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).
Reluctant Readers?
The enthusiastic crowds at this year's Taipei International Book Exhibition are the latest proof of this craze. However, Yang Chao, a well-known columnist, writer and blogger, criticized light novels as a mere social tool invented for students [all zht], which reflect the younger generation's reluctance to read real challenging novels:
台灣人在讀什麼書？至少照書店通路的年度報表，及公立圖書館的借閱統計看來，台灣人最常看、看得最多的書，是「輕小說」。是一些在網路上流傳，沒有什麼特定作者身分，通常內容大量重複，也很容易預期的小說。
這種趨勢其實過去早有跡象，只是現在更加清楚、更加嚴重。「輕小說」成為年輕人閱讀的主流，沒有什麼好意外的，其來有自。
最主要的根源，在於台灣教育當中看待閱讀的態度。閱讀是一件重要的事，但教育體系裡教導閱讀的重點，不在於掌握閱讀作為一種學習的能力，而在於藉閱讀獲取標準答案。也就是說，閱讀不是為了碰觸、摸索廣大外界的豐富知識與經驗，而是簡單地從文字寫的東西上單純接收答案。
教育中反覆訓練如何「正確地」閱讀。也就是讀的內容都應該有一定的意義，而且要用考試的方式，確定沒有「讀錯」，如果偏離了那固定的意義，馬上就會在考試成績上遭到懲罰、阻止。
久而久之，台灣的學生一個個都變成了膽小、保守的閱讀者。他們只讀有辦法「讀懂」的書，也就是那種一眼看過去就知道在講什麼的書。他們選來閱讀的書，因而要嘛是學校裡要求他們讀的，要嘛就是自己可以輕鬆有把握「讀懂」的書。
Over-simplified Attack
However, novelist and blogger plamc disagrees with Yang's over-simplified statement [zht] and argues that Yang did not get the definition of light novels right from the very beginning.
首先，楊照先生說，「輕小說」「是一些在網路上流傳，沒有什麼特定作者身分，通常內容大量重複，也很容易預期的小說。」這個對輕小說的定義，是他整篇文章論述的前提，但是這個前提完全是錯誤的。
輕小說到底是什麼，我先前在部落格的拙文《何謂「輕小說」》有比較詳細的說明，簡單的說，目前要怎麼說一部小說是輕小說，其實是作者本身，出版社的書系，以及讀者，都有一個主動的意識將這本小說歸為輕小說而與其他大眾小說區別開來者，就叫輕小說。
同一個作品，如果投稿非輕小說書系，就不是輕小說，但如果投稿輕小說書系，就是輕小說，這種狀況是完全可能的，如果你有機會逛逛日本書店，你會發現很多主流大眾小說，和某本輕小說的題材故事文筆都相近，之所以一個是正規小說，一個是輕小說，完全只是因為後者出在輕小說文庫裡，封面畫了美少女。
事實上，輕小說的讀者是很講究作者身份的，會去追如谷川流等大家的作品；而輕小說的內容經常是五花八門南轅北轍，並非大量重複（頂多是封面看起來很像）和楊照先生所以為的完全相反。
….我想由此看來，楊照先生並沒有看過任何輕小說，如此，「不想讀承載陌生內容的書，不想讀要求他們發揮好奇心努力去解釋的書」的敘述，應該是適用在楊照先生身上，而不是輕小說讀者。
網路上以訛傳訛的文章很多，為什麼我要特別找楊照先生的麻煩？這是因為楊照先生並不是普通網友，他是「知識份子」的代表，主張著閱讀的重要性，但是這樣德高望重的楊照先生，卻在寫文章的時候，不顧基本的正確性，而是像他想批評的「缺乏思考的讀者」一樣，在一知半解的狀況下胡亂發言，這才是真正代表著知識的墮落，與缺乏閱讀（楊照先生若有心想了解何謂輕小說，就算不親自閱讀，上網搜尋一下也有很多資料）。
plamc cites the vampire fantasy romance series Twilight as an example: when Twilight was first translated into Chinese as ‘Vampire Darling’ (吸血鬼達令) and published as a light novel in Taiwan, only 3,000 copies were sold. When it was latter re-translated into ‘City of Twilight’ (暮光之城) and published as a real novel, 300,000 copies were sold. This means light novels are not a fixed genre and Taiwanese readers are not such diehard fans:
輕小說有固定小眾支持的族群，有一定的銷售量，當其他書表現不好時，它看起來排名很前面，不代表它就是受到普遍歡迎，就像以往出版界說「哪年推理小說上排行榜，表示那年書市很差」一樣（推理小說也是有固定族群支持）。
看到小眾讀物浮上榜，表示我們這些大眾小說的作者們要自我檢討，輕小說的讀者群自看自的，突然間被推上台面猛罵，其實是其他書表現不好，實在是關他們什麼事呢？
Light novelist and blogger EverDark also discussed the existing problem in the categorizing [zht] of light novels. He criticized some publishers’ rigid requirements and definitions of light novels when calling for submissions, and suggested that the writers should be given more authority in defining the genre of their novel.
There are many light novel reader discussion groups and forums in Taiwan, one of them is on Gamer.com.tw.

author: Portnoy Zheng


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Thailand: Webmaster Under Trial · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Chiranuch Premchaiporn (known to friends as Jiew), editor of Prachatai.com, has been charged in court by authorities in Thailand for violating the country's Computer Crimes Act. Prachatai, which means ‘Free People’, is an independent web portal in Thailand.
Photo of Jiew from the website of Digital Democracy.
An overview of the case is provided by FACT (Freedom Against Censorship Thailand). Jiew is accused of allowing ten Lèse majesté [anti-royal family] comments to be posted on Prachatai’s public webboard.
She had already deleted the comments when she received a removal notice from the state, but this didn’t stop the authorities from arresting her last year. Jiew is facing 50 years in prison if found guilty.
Thailand has strict Lèse majesté laws, and the country is aggressive in blocking websites which are deemed insulting to the monarchy. Censorship intensified last year when a national State of Emergency was declared in response to the anti-government Red Shirt protests. It is estimated that at least 425,296 web pages are blocked in Thailand.
Jiew’s trial has been closely monitored by netizens, journalists and human rights advocates. Global Voices Advocacy has daily reports of Jiew’s five trial sessions held this month, written by CJ Hinke – days one, two, three, four, and five. The next trial date has been postponed to September 2011.
Why is Jiew's case important? She is being prosecuted not for something that she wrote in her website but for comments posted by other people. CJ Hinke explains why Jiew's trial is a landmark issue in Thailand:
Chiranuch’s case is a landmark for the climate of free expression in Thailand. What is decided by this court will determine whether we live in a democracy governed by human rights and civil liberties or whether we are governed by a military junta at their whim.
Southeast Asia blog New Mandala has posted an interview with Jiew about her views on the state of media in Thailand:
When we talk about press freedom in Thailand, it’s quite controlled by the state and being manipulated by the entertainment business and the corporates. If you talk about news and politics, we cannot show as much criticism, about what the government did, right or wrong. Most of the media in Thailand is owned by the military or by the state. This is a problem of ownership
Thai Netizen Network is proposing an amendment to the Computer Crimes Act which is being used to stifle media freedom in the country:
… as we saw that the enforcement of this law would result in depriving people’s right to freedom of expression, which is fundamental for democracy. Furthermore, this law contradicts the characteristics of the Internet in many aspects, thereby allowing abusive enforcement. However, the government has never realised and taken this issue seriously to amend this freedom-infringing law.
The FreeJiew blog has been created to support the legal battle of Jiew.

author: Mong Palatino


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Turks & Caicos: Using Social Media for Democracy · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The tcipost wants fellow islanders to “remember that the people of Egypt this month used the internet to strengthen their voices and share information”, suggesting that they can use the same tools to have their voices heard when it comes to the new constitution “that will dilute our vote as Turks and Caicos citizens.”


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Uganda: New video for Uganda Elections 2011 · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The National Democratic Institute partnered with popular Ugandan musician Bobi Wine to release a video encouraging young voters to avoid election violence and to encourage them to report any election irregularities to UgandaWatch2011.


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Uganda: Uganda Elections 2011 on Twitter · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

This post is part of our special coverage Uganda: Walk to Work Protests.
Ugandans will go to the polls tomorrow for presidential and parliamentary elections. The main candidates for the presidential race are President Yoweri Museveni, Dr. Kizza Besigye and Norbert Mao.
Twitter users are busy talking about the elections using the #ugandavotes hashtag.
RedPepperUG tweets:
NEWS: Police deny sending out messages advising people in Kampala to stockpile foodstuffs during election period #Ugandavotes
The future is uncertain:
I can feel the heart beats of Ugandans as we head for uncertainty. No one knows the future of Uganda, after tomorrow. #ugandavotes
No one knows what will happen this weekend:
Everyone we ask about what ia going to happen this weekend says the same thing: I have no idea?! #ugandavotes
People are withdrawing money fearing chaos:
@easyTyzee sadly stuck >bank..pple withdrawing.. scared of chaos, then cowards like @MrKaraIII had to go to village. #ugandavotes
Most people are leaving Kampala:
Just driven thru Kampala from Namanve to Wandegeya, seems like half of Kampalans are out of town #Ugandavotes
The capital city is empty:
It seems the exodus has begun. This town is wonderfully empty. #ugandavotes
If people are leaving Kampala, then who will vote there?:
Okay let us say it is true people are indeed fleeing kampala. Does that mean that voter turnout in kamapala will be low? #Ugandavotes
Are people really running away from Kampala?:
The whole idea that people are “escaping kampala” is misleading. We forgotten that many people registered to vote upcountry? #Ugandavotes
Wars and rumors of wars:
There will be war and rumors of war. #ugandavotes. Industrial Area strike: not election related. Gumisiriza accident: not election related.
Elections come with new bus fares:
Bus fares go up as Ugandans return home to vote. e.g. to Mbarara increased from 30k to 50k, to masindi from 12k-30k #ugandavotes
Send SMS reports to UgandaWatch:
DEMGroup: “People are free to send their messages to 6090, they will not be followed up by anyone other than UgandaWatch.” #ugandavotes
UgandaWatch uses Ushahidi:
#Ugandan election watch using @Ushahidi crowd sourcing technology ugandawatch2011.org #Uganda #UgandaVotes #Africa #Uganda2011
“Votes market” exists:
Most expensive #election ever. voter bribery key #Uganda election. At dusk votes market will be well workin #Ugandavotes @vote4Africa.
You never know what Uganda will do next:
Uganda is like that guy who's high for the very first time…YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO NEXT!#ugandavotes
Two people die from election-related violence:
.@UgInsomniac info we have is that 2 people died in clashes b/w Gumi + Kyooma supporters, situation still v tense #ugandavotes
Another incident:
Uganda MP just shot an opposition candidates supporter #ugandavotes
Follow @rbaguma:
Follow Raymond Baguma (@rbaguma). He will have updates from Kiruhura where the president will be casting his vote.
Museveni's ringtone:
Speaking of Elections. I just heard that Museveni's ringtone when Besigye calls him is NO LOVE by Eminem. #Ugandavotes
Government should not block communication:
DEMGroup: “We condemn any plan to block communication, that is not democracy and we condemn it in the strongest terms” #ugandavotes
Uganda is not like Egypt:
M7 [Museveni]: ‘I am the biggest enemy of dictators’. Rejects all comparison with Egypt, Tunisia #ugandavotes
Will Uganda pay the price for ignoring the poor?:
How else do you explain the Egypt situation, 100 times richer than Uganda? they ignored the ‘other citizens’ and paid the price #Ugandavotes
Pray for Uganda:
Pray for my beloved homeland Uganda. I hope all remains peaceful and calm as we exercise our right to democracy tomorrow. #UgandaVotes
This post is part of our special coverage Uganda: Walk to Work Protests.


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Ukraine: New Blog on “Politics, and Everything in Between” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

GV Author Tetyana Bohdanova has launched an English-language blog “on Ukraine, politics, and everything in between” – Good Girl Gone Ukrainian.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Uruguay: Ceremony Kicks Off Bicentennial Celebrations · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Sebastián Chocca from El Informante [es] was present in the Legislative Palace in Montevideo, Uruguay during the opening ceremony of this year's Bicentennial celebrations. He details his experience and comments on different aspects of the event.

author: Silvia Viñas


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Australia: Dog-whistling to Islamophobes · Global Voices
Kevin Rennie

This post is part of our special coverage on Refugees.
Australian Opposition politicians have been accused of using dog-whistle politics and courting islamophobes during the last week. Two issues have collided with instant reactions in the blogosphere.
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison has admitted he was “insensitive” to question the cost of funerals as families mourned for those lost in the Christmas Island shipwreck tragedy yesterday.
The Opposition had attacked the Federal Government over its decision to fly 22 asylum seekers to Sydney for the funerals of eight people, including two babies, who died in the December shipwreck.
Morrison climbs down in funeral row
His admission was rejected by Grogs Gamut:
Morrison did not admit his comments were insensitive, he admitted the “timing” of his comment were insensitive. Abbott did not say “we went a little bit far”, what he actually said was: “I want to thank Scott for being man enough to accept that perhaps we did go a little bit too far yesterday.” So actually it was not Abbott admitting it, but praising Morrison for supposedly accepting it (which he didn’t – he only thought his comments were ill-timed, the content itself? Nothing wrong at all).
Morrison and Abbott stay down; Hockey joins them
Mr D at The Failed Estate, ‘Rejuvenating Journalism in a Jaded Age’, uses a photo of Scott Morrison to lead his post:
The Australia I have come to admire is one of the world's wealthiest nations; rich in spirit and resources; a country that takes almost childish pride in its generosity of spirit, its good humour, its open-heartedness and its willingness to look after the underdog.
He laments the media's role in the demise of this Australia:
But I don't hear that Australia on the radio anymore. I don't hear that Australia in the carefully chosen and calculated phrases of the politicians or in the sophistry of the newspaper editorialists. Instead, that hedged, constricted and concocted language reveals a fearful country turning in on itself and shrinking from the world, losing the very qualities that for more than two centuries made it a magnet for those seeking better lives – including the families of our political leaders Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard.
This is Australia?
For those unfamiliar with dog-whistling, journalist Annabel Crabb gives Morrison a lesson in this form of low politicking at The Drum:
Those who toot upon this fabled instrument do so with a complex purpose in mind; to reach certain receptive ears, while maintaining plausible deniability of a darker motive.
…Mr Morrison, it seems, is a new breed: the Audible Whistler.
Morrison: putting the alpenhorn into dog whistling
Anthony Eaton is another strong voice of condemnation at Musings, from an outer-spiral-arm:
So shadow immigration minister Scott Morrison apologises. Not for the basic and fundamental inhumanity of his suggestion that those refugees who recently lost family members in the Christmas Island boat wreck (including the 9 year old boy who lost both of his parents and his brother in the disaster) not be allowed to attend the funerals of their family members, but he apologises for the timing of his comments for the same day of said funerals.
Gutter politics at its finest, Scott.
Whistling up the Hellhounds…
In fact it was nearly impossible to find bloggers defending Morrison, short of the far right. Even journalist Andrew Bolt, who has been accused of similar whistling, thought Morrison might have gone too far:
I really wouldn’t want to be arguing Morrison’s position, either for self-preservation or self-respect. Let the money go. Plenty of other waste to attack in this portfolio, and I think Joe Hockey’s response is the most dignified and humane from the Opposition:
“No matter what the colour of your skin, the nature of your faith, if your child has died or a father has died, you want to be there to say goodbye, and I totally understand the importance of this to those families.”
Are we really that desperate for a dollar?
However, Bolt's position seemed to shift with updates:
Boy, it did cost, though, as Immigration Minister Chris Bowen conceded to Neil Mitchell this morning…
Many of the negative comments on Bolt’s post show that the dog-whistle was audible to many people.
The second controversy involved the tabling of a petition in Federal Parliament by a Liberal Senator, calling for a 10-year ban on Muslim immigration. From Islamophobia Watch, Documenting anti Muslim bigotry:
ACT Liberal senator Gary Humphries has upset Canberra's Islamic community by tabling a strongly worded anti-Muslim petition in the Senate, even though he says he does not agree with its content or know the signatories to it.
Australia: anger at anti-Muslim petition in Senate
Conscience Vote, Politics for the human, takes on the Opposition over both issues.
That was just the start of a veritable symphony of dogwhistling this week. Senator Gary Humphries got his solo next , tabling a petition to Parliament calling for a moratorium on Muslim immigration and to give priorities to Christians. He hastened to assure us that he didn’t support the ideas in the petition: ‘Many muslims are my friends and I hope they’ll remain my friends’, he said. But he had an ‘obligation to fulfil or place before the Parliament points of view of citizens’.
Seems entirely reasonable, doesn’t it? It’s not that Humphries wanted to do it – why, some of his best friends are Muslims – but he just didn’t have a choice. After all, it’s important to make sure community concerns are brought to Parliament.
The petition was signed by three people.
A symphony of dogwhistling
Riotact has two posts about the petition. The second questions Humphries’ denial of support for its sentiments:
Free speech is wonderful, but perhaps if groups want a voice in the parliament they should get a representative elected?
How many times does Senator Humphries intend to give bigoted whackjobs a voice
Meanwhile Scott Morrison’s week has continued a downward spiral as he defends himself against new racist allegations:
Embattled Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison has rejected as gossip a report that he urged shadow cabinet to take advantage of fears about Muslims.
Morrison dismisses anti-Muslim report as gossip
Could be a case of dog bites whistling politicians!
This post is part of our special coverage on Refugees.

author: Kevin Rennie


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Azerbaijan: From Carpets to Socks · Global Voices
Aygun Janmammadova

There are a few fascinating things about Azerbaijani culture that make locals immensely proud and eager to showcase to foreigners visiting the country. One of them is carpets, usually presented to guests as a sign of hospitality, laid under the feet as a sign of respect, or hung on the wall as a sign of prosperity. No wonder that Azerbaijani carpets were last year inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO and often attract the attention of bloggers.
Azerbaijani carpet licensed under Creative Commons by Shakko
Aaron in Azerbaijan, for example, says the art and craft of Azerbaijan takes an important place in the history of the country while noting its different and unique styles. The blog also says the legacy of carpets stretches beyond the country's borders and intertwines with the regional traditions of the South Caucasus.
Azerbaijan is proud of its carpet-weaving history, as it should be.  The deep colors and intricate designs are a testament to incredible technical and artistic skill going back hundreds, if not thousands, of years.  Regional and ethnic nuance within carpet design make for a bursting diversity of aesthetics. There are specific schools of carpets that are classified as Talysh here in southern Azerbaijan or Garabağ out in western Azerbaijan or as Quba up in the north. […] Certainly, the carpet culture goes beyond just Azerbaijan, a cultural feature throughout the Caucasus in Armenia and Georgia, too, and further into Central Asia and the Middle East.  Yet it would be a shame to not acknowledge Azerbaijan’s excellence in carpet-weaving.
CBT in Azerbaijan, a travel blog by Peace Corps Volunteers in Azerbaijan, also examines the tradition of carpet weaving and gets to experience it first hand in the north of the country.
Carpet sales are a big business in Azerbaijan and one that is highly regulated by the government. Every carpet that leaves the nation’s borders must first be registered and assigned its own certificate of authenticity. People pay thousands for these things and even more to have them shipped overseas. But I doubt these women were thinking of all that as they weaved away. This is something they have been doing for years.
On a similar note, Sheki, Azerbaijan, a cultural blog, also touches upon the cultural traditions of weaving and knitting, but this time of mattresses and quilts, widespread in the regions of the country if slowly dying out in the capital, Baku.
[…] Historically and traditionally it used to be and continues to be the case for many that an important part of bride's dowry would be mattresses and quilts that she would take with her to new family…there would be two mattresses for master bed, mattresses as a present for her in-laws, couple of mattresses for potential guests and obviously the same number of quilts and even more number of pillows… […]
[…]
Its a particular honour for the guest to be offered a mattress or quilt that newly came with bride's dowry… In Baku fewer bride's would care to have extra mattress or quilt…everything is mainly bought ready… […]
And such traditions are not just confined to carpets. Aiming to benefit the local community, Peace Corps Volunteers in Azerbaijan have even created a special blog where you can order socks online. And not just any socks, but a cultural specialty from the Talysh ethnic minority living in the south of Azerbaijan.

author: Aygun Janmammadova


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Bahrain: Crown Prince Calls for Peace on National TV · Global Voices
Yacoub Al-Slaise

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
In midst of the chaos of the shooting of protesters in the capital, Bahrain's Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa appeared on a live television program tonight on Bahrain TV at around 6:30 pm local time on Friday 18 February, 2011. Bahrain's Twittersphere live-tweeted his interview.
Upload by YouTube user yaacobkad [ar]
@bahrain14feb
ولي العهد دخل استيديو البث الحي في تلفزيون البحرين فجأة ودعى للحوار والتهدئة فورا مع إعطاء ضمان شخصي #Bahrain #feb14
@SultanAlQassemi Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad on Bahrain TV. Hat tip @MunaFakhroo http://yfrog.com/h76a1zbj
Bahrain's Crown Prince on Bahrain TV
@mohamedalnoaimi: #Bahrain #Feb14 #14feb سمو ولي العهد: يجب تهدءت الاوضاع من قبل جميع الاطراف ولا يمكن حل مشكلة صارلها سنين وهي تخلق في ساعات قليلة
@qassoom #BAHRAIN CROWN PRINCE: I NEVER EXPECTED THE SITUATION WOULD REACH SUCH LEVEL BY ARMED FORCES & POLICE #FEB14
@mahmood CP: everyone talk! right now. do NOT fear anything. #bahrain
@SultanAlQassemi
Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad on Bahrain TV “It is now the duty of every Sunni & Shia to calm things down for the sake of the country”
@mahmood
CP: these conditions are unprecedented #bahrain
@Ali_Fareed: HRH Sh. Salman: Today Bahrain went divided. Friendships were lost. #Bahrain
@Khaleejia
CP: I have no specific word to say now other than stop the violence. Let peace prevail and all demands will be met. #Bahrain
@SultanAlQassemi
Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad on Bahrain TV “This is the time to stand with your country, we will now know who is with the country”
@LAlOlaimy
CP “Both sides have made mistakes & betrayed #Bahrain”
@LAlOlaimy: “I dont blame Al Wefaq or anyone. Today is the day for dialogue” I love our Crown Prince #Bahrain”
@HamedAlmalki CP: I spent my life serving this country & I give you my word we will start reform dialogue tonight if we go back to quiet
@Khaleejia
CP: Everybody makes a mistake. No one party is to blame. Halt and let us work together. #Bahrain
@Ali_Fareed
HRH Sh. Salman: PPL who are still looking to escalate things are betraying their country #Bahrain
@qassoom
#BAHRAIN CROWN PRINCE: LET'S STAY ON OUR TRADITIONS, MARRY EACH OTHER, CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER, LET PEACE DOMINATE!
@ammar456
Sh Salman; yes, our development has been slow, otherwise we wouldn't be here. Let's fix it all.
@ehsankooheji
CP: I don't have a sect. I have NO sect. I am Bahraini, Muslim. We are in no need of this, we're not a police state, we fixed ourselves.
@nunudeen
HRH Sh. Salman Al Khalifa: Today Bahrain has been divided. People who have been friends for years don't speak to each other. #BahrainTV
@JustAmira
Crown prince on BTV saying everyone should calm down from those who throw stones to those who shoot guns #Bahrain http://yfrog.com/hsyiopcj
Bahrain Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al-Khalifa
@iLandBahrain
سنة وشيعة. اذا احد عنده حس وطني تعالوا تكلموا. انا عطيت رسالتي والله يحفظ البحرين- ولي العهد
Shortly after his appearance, the Bahraini Twittersphere tweeted their reactions. Many were supportive of what was said and others felt sceptical especially as it was aired whilst military were firing at protesters in the capital Manama.
@Halsitra
الواضح ان ولي العهد لا يدري بالذي يحصل الان في الدوار.
@SayedMohDarwish
كلمة ولي العهد كانت عند قمع الجيش للمتظاهرين وعندما اخبروه بواسطة ورقة تغيرت الوانه #Bahrain
@nadooi_wish Don't blame him!! RT “@RamiJamal: Crown prince looks really angry on BTV coz of what's happening.”
@hhusaini Cp: whoever has something to say, sunni, shia come tonight to discuss! Any address? #bahrain
@MayMarzooq Crown Prince we trust u #Feb14 #Bahrain
@baderkamal
CP's message is as simple as a friend or a teacher trying to break down a school fight. Stop hurting and let's sit down and talk.
@hussakhalid Crown Prince Salman bn Hamad's visit to BTV and honest words shows a sincere man working for the good of this country and Bahrainis #bahrain
@alialsaeed no more dialogue. our very own Army is shooting peaceful, unarmed citizens. people now are ready to die. #Bahrain #Feb14 #lulu
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.


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Balkans: Ceca and Other “Unwelcome” Singers · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belgraded posts a list of Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian singers who are “unwelcome in former enemy countries.”


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Bhutan: More On Tobacco Ban · Global Voices
Rezwan

“Now smoking has become one fear and guilt -ridden expensive habit,” thus explains Penstar the impact of the tobacco ban in Bhutan.