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Coup Attempt? Ethnic Conflict? Figuring Out the Crisis in South Sudan · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Salva Kiir, the president of South Sudan, the world's newest nation, said on December 16, 2013 that an attempted coup by soldiers loyal to former vice-president Riek Machar had been put down. Riek Machar has refuted the allegations, saying that the fighting was a result of a conflict between members of the presidential guard.
Machar was the African country's first vice-president before president Kiir fired him July 2013.
About 500 civilians are reported to have been killed since the crisis began.
Was there a coup on December 16? Is the crisis in the country an ethnic conflict?
President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit outside the Security Council chamber, at UN Headquarters in New York. Photo released under the GNU Free Documentation License by Jenny Rockett.
What would be the reasons for president Kiir's attempt to blame his former vice president? Lesley Anne Warner, an African security analyst, explains:
Political tensions had been on the rise since President Kiir sacked his entire cabinet in July, especially his VP Riek Machar, whose location at the moment, is unconfirmed. (I’m trying to get the #WhereIsRiek hashtag started, but sadly it hasn’t gained traction.) Salva was quick to point the finger at Riek to blame him for the recent unrest, but my initial sense is that Riek has spent years trying to rehabilitate his reputation from the 1991 Nasir coup attempt and would be more likely to exhaust his options in the political sphere before resorting to armed violence. The key issue to consider is who stands to gain from casting Riek in a negative light and reminding South Sudan, and the international community, of his past? The answer is, President Kiir, who needs to bolster his own image as South Sudan’s leader in light of the cabinet reshuffle, and in the run-up to elections in 2015. Notice how President Kiir has donned his military apparel, which he hasn’t worn in years for the press conference he gave on yesterday’s events instead of his trademark cowboy hat.
Is the crisis a power struggle between two ethnic groups, the Dinka and the Nuer? President Kiir comes from the majority Dinka people and Machar from the Nuer. South Sudanese bloggger PaanLuel Wël does not think so:
Deadly shoot-outs among the presidential guards in Juba is being portrayed as a war pitting the Dinka (among whom President Kiir is from) against the Nuer, the tribe of Dr. Riek Machar, South Sudan former Vice President. Yet, the senior SPLM officials being arrested are overwhelmingly Dinkas – both from Bor and Bahr el Ghazal. And even Equatorians and Shilluks. So, what is the what? South Sudanese should sort out the mess among the Presidential Guards and must leave out these two–tribalization of the unfortunate incident and victimization of innocent political opponents.
Wël also imagines possible end scenarios to the crisis:
Barring the tragedy of the situation, it is amusing how the government is conducting the aftermath of the mutiny – making it appear as a resounding victory rather than the beginning of a tragedy awaiting the nation.
One thing is clear: there is no end to this crisis other than some kind of mediated compromise between President Kiir and Riek Machar. Riek Machar will come back to Juba as the 1st Vice President of South Sudan, and possibly with a clause making him unfirable by Kiir. If that is the case, then won’t it make more sense to initiate the dialogue and peaceful end to the crisis RIGHT NOW rather than waiting for more precious lives to be lost on both sides before the two camps settle for what it is that it is.
Martin Garang thinks the crisis was either a coup or mishandling reassignments on the part of security forces:
Civilians have so far become the underdogs caught in the crossfire, targeted for no reason or locked in their homes without food or water in Juba. Reports have hinted that the Jonglee capital of Bor had come under heavy gunfire with several deaths reported.
Either it was a coup d'état or security forces mishandling reassignments in their quarters, The SPLM has tarnished its reputation by putting innocent lives at risk. Whatever the truth in the recent government rhetoric, the rhyme and whine over state power from the leaders carry the blame for the current state of affairs in Juba.
South Sudan has a history of rebellions which had been made excessively ethnical during the decades of war of independence. It is a reality that can be seen in all aspects of life in the country. It’s therefore the responsibility of the SPLM leadership to have acquainted itself with this reality by urging leaders to refrain from using ethnic cards in their power manipulations.
Writing on African Arguments, Jairo Munive, a post-doctoral researcher at the Peace, Risk and Violence Unit- Danish Institute for International Studies, points out that what happened in South Sudan is probably not a coup:
But are we witnessing a coup in South Sudan? Probably not. First, one should forget, or at least treat with caution, the wording employed by the actors involved the crisis. President Kiir has spoken of a “coup attempt” and “criminal actions” whilst Machar refers to the “manufacturing of a coup plot to launch a crackdown against the opposition…the country is to be united and cannot tolerate one man’s rule or it cannot tolerate dictatorship”.
It is more fruitful instead to think about the apparent collapse in cohesion of SPLA. The real issue at this juncture, as the head of the United Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Hilda Johnson expressed, is the discipline, command and control in the security forces. To come to terms with recent events we have to understand the SPLA – its politics, tensions and drama surrounding it.
South Sudanese politics is interwoven with low intensity warfare, inter-ethnic violence and norms of authority grounded in violence. This violence is designed to generate loyalty, fear and legitimacy within a region or an ethnic group vis-à-vis those in power. The army in South Sudan has a tremendous importance in two ways: both as a space for politics and as a ‘welfare provider’ within the nascent state. Furthermore, the make-up of the army reflects the divided politics of the country.
The political environment in South Sudan, as the events of this week testify, remains vulnerable to the mobilisation of armed force. Internal factionalism and defections have marked the SPLA in recent years. Commanders, particularly those from other armed groups integrated into the SPLA (particularly from the SSDF), have reacted to a perceived lack of integration and authority, power and military command.
On Twitter, users employing the hashtag #SouthSudan had this to say:
By insisting it was a coupe, #SalvaKiir is fast loosing credibility and external support + sympathy for #SouthSudan
— Gaafer A. Ali (@GaaferAAli) December 19, 2013
We're seeing what analysts have said for years, #SPLA not cohesive entity. Comprised of cadres with varied loyalties. #SouthSudan
— Pete Muller (@pkmuller) December 19, 2013
New African proverb?? “He who has the #guns creates a whole lotta mayhem” #SSudan #Juba #SouthSudan #SalvaKiir #RiekMachar #Kenya
— Rebel Eyes (@RebelEyes1776) December 19, 2013
The French didn't colonise #SouthSudan . So, they can't intervene. And the #AU , as usual, is predictably asleep; covered in a heavy duvet!
— Wachira Wamae (@simonwachira) December 19, 2013
#Leadership Greed: When #SouthSudan was with #Sudan, people thought Khartoum was the ONLY devil. How can this new drama be explained? #Africa
— Global Africa (@arafrika) December 19, 2013
When you pray for #SouthSudan, does your prayer include getting Kiir to regain his senses and stop being a dictator?
— The Makodingo® (@makodingo) December 20, 2013
I say it again: Do honour the tough #African journalists covering #SouthSudan! So many more stories to be told…. http://t.co/S8XWHvUHdl
— Pernille Bærendtsen (@Dunia_Duara) December 20, 2013


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Egypt: 27 Photographs from Hala’ib  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Zeinobia shares this slideshow of photographs from Hala'ib, a Red Sea port and town, located in the Hala'ib Triangle, close to the Sudanese border:

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Video Appeal: What You Don’t Know About The Places We’re From · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Have I ever worn a grass skirt or lived in a tree? How come I speak such good English? I haven't been asked the first two since my university days in the US, but every so often some well-meaning individual hits me with the third. Among them was a Jamaican taxi driver—a fellow Caribbean citizen!—a useful reminder that no country holds the monopoly on mistaken impressions of other nationalities.
For many of us at Global Voices, correcting misperceptions about our countries and communities can be a daily pastime. It's also part of the Global Voices mission, of course, so for our 2013 end-of-year campaign we asked members of the Global Voices family to fill you in on what their countries are really about. Watch the results in this video:
What are some common misperceptions or little-known facts about your own culture or country? Drop us a line in the comments or on Twitter, using the hashtag #GVNowYouKnow!
And if you'd like to support our continuing efforts to tell the full story of what's going on in the world, please consider a financial donation.
Over 800 of us work together to bring you stories it's hard to find by yourself. Your contributions help support our editors, our technology, outreach and advocacy projects, and our community events.
Thank you, and happy holidays!
—
Featured in the video were:
Diana Lungu | Moldova
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle | Puerto Rico
Hisham Almiraat | Morocco
Maria Sidiropoulou | Greece
Mong Palatino | Philippines
Janine Mendes-Franco | Trinidad and Tobago
Ashish Bohora | India
Jane Ellis | Panama
Nwachukwu Egbunike | Nigeria
Yoo Eun Lee | South Korea
Ruslan Trad | Bulgaria
Chris Moya | Spain
Solana Larsen | World

author: Georgia Popplewell


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How do police lineups in Lebanon work?  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Lebanese blogger Karl Sharro tells us how the newly introduced police lineups work in Lebanon here.


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Without Regulation, India’s Domestic Workers Face Low Pay and Other Abuses · Global Voices
Rezwan

Nari Shakti Manch, a women's organisation, celebrates International Workers Day 2013 with oppressed domestic workers of Gurgaon. Image by Rajeev R Singh. Copyright Demotix (8/3/2013)
The dramatic arrest of India's deputy consul in New York Devyani Khobragade on charges of visa fraud for overstating the wages of her housekeeper have thrust the plight of India's domestic workers into the spotlight.
Khobragade allegedly lied on documents for her maid, saying that she paid the woman 9.75 US dollars an hour when she actually received about 3 dollars, far below the minimum wage. The arrest has sparked a cooling of relations between India and the US over Khobragade's treatment, which included a strip and cavity searches, while in custody.
Housekeeper Sangeeta Richard claims Khobragade made her work long hours seven days a week, until she walked away one day. Indian officials and Khobragade say the maid tried to blackmail the diplomat. In the first days of the incident, mainstream media largely focused on Khobragade's ordeal, devoting very little coverage to Richard.
Interesting how India is all outraged over how a diplomat is treated, but not over how an Indian domestic worker is paid.
— Vidyut (@Vidyut) December 17, 2013
#India diplomat's alleged strip-search raises concerns over dignity and privacy. But lets also talk about domestic workers rights.
— meenakshi ganguly (@mg2411) December 18, 2013
Whatever the case, the story is a familiar one. India's more than nine million domestic workers, about 20 percent of the total workforce, are an indispensable workforce vital to the country's development, but they are often deprived of many rights. Fixed minimum wage, pay for additional hours worked, maternity leave, medical care and other such basic benefits remain illusive to them in the absence of a national policy. They are vulnerable to abuse and poverty. The nature of their work, informal employee-employer relationship, and the workplace being the private household, excludes their coverage from the existing labour laws in place for workers of other industry.
In 2012, a Draft National Policy for Domestic Workers was prepared by the Labor Ministry, giving domestic workers the right to minimum wage, paid leave and regulated working hours, to be sent to the Union Cabinet for approval. The proposal was originally recommended by the National Advisory Council (NAC) in April 2009, aimed at bringing domestic workers under the umbrella of existing labor laws. However, in May 2013 the Indian government deferred the proposal, making the fate of the policy uncertain.
Domestic wkr terrorised, exploited & falsely accused by #Khobragade to save their skin. #India govt wake up to your obligation to workers
— Anannya Bhattacharje (@AnannyaBhattach) December 19, 2013
Vidyut at AamJanata pointed out that the rights of domestic workers in India are being ignored from all sides:
Domestic work is probably the only “job sector” in India, where the industrial revolution is never going to make an inroad, because it takes more money added to your electricity bill to use a vacuum cleaner, washing machine or dishwasher daily than to employ a maid, who can do the job better. [..]
India has signed the [International Labour Organization's] convention for rights of domestic workers in 2011, but is yet to ratify it. Calls to fix a domestic worker’s minimum wage to Rs.30 per hour have fallen on deaf ears.
Editor for India Today Gayatri Jayaraman defended the domestic worker profession:
The domestic worker is a valid occupation. Most decent Indians have maids. Most maids in Mumbai are empowered women who run their own homes.
— Gayatri Jayaraman (@SellingViolets) December 18, 2013
Kamayani Bali Mahabal at Kracktvist reported that last month representatives from 42 countries, including India, came together to create the International Domestic Workers Network (IDWN), a first-ever formal federation of domestic workers.
Shashank Sahay at Mowing the Law blog discussed some ways forward to ensure the rights of domestic workers, suggesting legislation that includes domestic workers in labour law.

author: Rezwan


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Indie Voices: Connecting Investors With Journalism Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

In the Knight Center's Journalism in the Americas Blog, Alejandro Martinez writes about a new crowdfunding platform for independent journalism projects called Indie Voices:
Indie Voices seeks to become a meeting ground between entrepreneuring journalists and investors, where the former can find different sources of funding and put together their own financial strategy, and the latter — whether a single donor with $20 or a foundation with $10,000 — can choose different ways to channel their money.
[…]
Indie Voices is currently looking for more media projects to help fund through its platform, whether they are large news sites, individual blogs, documentaries or journalism-related technologies. It’s focusing on innovative projects that will help enrich the media ecosystem in developing countries.

author: Silvia Viñas


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Japan’s Open Data Catalog Launches Beta Version · Global Voices
Keiko Tanaka

Snapshot of the website data.go.jp, a catalog with an aim to provide a sphere for the use of data owned by different governmental ministries and agencies as open data.
Data.go.jp, a website that aggregates publicly available data by Ministries and Agencies of the Japanese government, launched its Beta version on December 20, 2013.
Datasets by 21 governmental organizations and 567 groups are available under Creative Commons License Attribution 2.1 Japan detailed in the Terms of Use. This comes as a part of the efforts of the nation's Open Government Data Strategy adopted in July 2012, to promote the use of public data in an advanced information and telecommunications  society.

author: Keiko Tanaka


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Jihadists Online: The Dark Side of the Internet · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Islamist Jihadists are online.
Lebanese blogger – and occasional satirist – Karl Sharro tweets:
I honestly sometimes can't tell anymore if I'm watching news from Syria or a period drama from early Islamic history.
— Karl Sharro (@KarlreMarks) December 16, 2013
Syrian Noor Al Ali replies:
@KarlreMarks Have you come across Jihadist tweets? Same thought occurred to me the other day after stumbling into that dark side of Twitter.
— نور العلي  (@NoorAlAli) December 16, 2013
And Sharro responds:
@NoorAlAli I have indeed, and it's dark, pretty dark.
— Karl Sharro (@KarlreMarks) December 16, 2013


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Don’t Just Retweet Blood Donation Requests. Donate! · Global Voices
Rezwan

Dr. Roshan Radhakrishnan at Godyears asserts the importance of donating blood and wonders about the fate of all the blood request retweets in his Twitter timeline:
Does anyone ever come to the aid of those tweets? Do you honestly know anyone who has seen a retweet and taken a break from life to go and donate blood? Because I don't… and that saddens me.
He pleas to others to respond to blood donation requests instead of providing only lip service.


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Photos of Mass Candlelight Rallies in South Korea · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

By holding candlelight rallies across the country, frustrated South Koreans have voiced flooding concerns over current political developments and series of scandals, including the snowballing election manipulation allegations. @Emfla505 tweeted [ko] this stunning photo of protest in Seoul (below) and WikiTree.com site gathered more photos of rallies on December 19.
오늘 서울시청 광장입니다! 민노총의 깃발이 빠져 나가고 난뒤 순수한 시민촛불의 사진입니다! 촛불시민이 대한민국의 잘못된 역사를 바꿀거라 확신합니다! pic.twitter.com/vGJJztbHSP
— 12월의 노래! (@emfla505) December 19, 2013
Today at Seoul City Hall Plaza! After Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ flags have all retreated, only citizens’ candlelight were left as you can see from the photo. I strongly believe that these citizens with candlelight will change the derailed history of Republic of Korea.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


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Protesters March Against Nuclear Plant’s Re-Start on Japan’s Kyushu Island · Global Voices
Keiko Tanaka

A group of young mothers march and sing, waving a flag with “No Nukes” written in German in Satsumasendai on 15 December 2013. The case for the transition to alternative energy from nuclear energy is often argued at anti-nuclear demonstrations. Photo by rieko uekama. Copyright Demotix
About 1,800 people marched on December 15, 2013 in protest of the re-start of the Sendai Nuclear Power Station [ja], according to the protest organizer. After two years of the plant's operations being suspended, Kyushu Electric Power Company applied for a review in July from the Nuclear Regulation Authority with the intention of bringing the power plant back online, making citizens against nuclear power feel unsafe.
The number may sound small for a little-known city of Satsumasendai in the southwest tip of Kyushu island, a community long been dependent on nuclear power for its economy, yet this is said to be the biggest rally in the last 40 years of silence to utter against 30 year-old nuclear plant.
Greenpeace Japan submitted a letter [ja] on November 29 demanding the governor of Kagoshima prefecture not to approve restart of the plant. Citizen Media Miyazaki covered the protest on YouTube [ja].


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South Korean Education Ministry Discourages Students’ Poster Movement · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

As South Korean university students’ ‘We Are Not Fine!’ poster movement spreads like wildfire across the country, even up to the point of motivating high, junior high and elementary students [ko] to write their own, the Ministry of Education has given notice to schools to control students’ poster-making in order ‘not to ruin good studying atmosphere’. Notable citizen-participatory journalism site OhmyNews posted images [ko] of the authorities’ guidelines, which have been shared by Twitter users as below.
“면학분위기 해쳐” 교육부, ‘안녕 대자보 차단’ 공문 교육부→교육청→학교 공문 전달… 교육부 “사회적 논란 여파, 학교 들어와선 안돼” http://t.co/yK04mK9Mp5 #바꾸세 pic.twitter.com/3nhqVMrtcM
— 임윤경 #바보가꿈꾸는세상 (@djaak2002) December 20, 2013
The Ministry of Education, claiming that ‘We Are Not Fine’ posters would ‘damage good studying atmosphere’, has ordered each city and province's Office of Education to deliver such notice to each school. They say ‘they cant tolerate controversial issues being introduced to and influence schools’.


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Syria: The Free Women of Darayya · Global Voices
Syria Untold

Syrian women raise the Syrian revolution flag. Photo source: Syria Untold
This post is cross-posted from Syria Untold.
Darayya, a Syrian town in the outskirts of Damascus where renowned peaceful activists such as Ghiath Matar and Yahya Sherbaji were born, stands as a symbol of the Syrian non-violence movement. Also part of this civil grassroots movement is a group of women known as Darayya's Free Women, who engaged in numerous protests and initiatives since the beginning of the uprising, in the spring of 2011.
“We didn’t know each other before the uprising”, one of the women said in an interview with Syria Untold. “The demonstrations that took so many to the streets to demand freedom and justice united us.”
Part of this group, which was key at the initial stage of the uprising, was already involved in civil initiatives prior to 2011. As early as in 2003, young men and women from Darayya had worked on several campaigns such as citizen cleaning committees and demonstrations against the US invasion of Iraq. They contributed to the foundation of what years later, in the context of the Arab uprisings, became known as the Syrian Civil Movement. Already at that time, the movement was considered a threat by the regime, which engaged in the arrests of several of its members.
The first initiative that made this group of women stand out within the civil movement was a sit-in to demand the release of prisoners of conscience, in April 2011.  By that time, the regime had increased its repression against peaceful demonstrators by killing, arresting and torturing hundreds of activists. Darayya´s Free Women were also targeted in this first protest, which ended with the regime opening fire against them.
Attempts to silence them did not stop the group from engaging in more initiatives, such as the large demonstration which became known as Great Friday, followed by Black Saturday, which marks a day when hundreds of protesters were arrested and killed by the regime.
As the situation on the ground became increasingly difficult, entailing more risks for activists, the group started organizing meetings to plan their strategies, focusing on aspects such as communications, and offering workshops to women wanting to demand and promote changes in their country. This attracted several others who were not comfortable attending the demonstrations but wanted to find their own ways to contribute.
The meetings led to the professionalization of the group’s work, which started distributing tasks such as communications and public relations, photography, humanitarian and psychological attention, while recording their activities on the group’s website.
As the regime increased the pressure against the town, arresting renowned peaceful activists such as Ghiath Matar, and shelling the city to silence protests, the Free Women of Darayya continued to develop their work on the ground. During Christmas time, they decorated a tree with the names of detainees in Syrian jails, and gathered letters from their mothers and children to post them on a big banner in the street. They worked on several other grassroots initiatives, from emergency and humanitarian assistance to the publication of the local newspaper The Grapes of My Country (“Enab Beladi” in Arabic).
The group also invited women from other towns, such as Sednaya, to join them and stand together against the regime’s attempts to divide Syrians and ignite sectarianism in their rich and diverse society.
When the city fell under siege, in November 2012, most of the women were forced to leave Darayya. Many returned months later, to find their town devastated and its people massacred. This did not prevent them from resuming their work, focusing on the huge amount of people in need of food and assistance, while several of its members faced detention by the regime.
Today, most of the women are in jail or have been forced to leave the country. However, they continue to work on issues related to women´s rights, whether in Egypt or inside the Syrian regime´s jails, awaiting for the moment when they can return to Darayya, the town that stood against tyranny through non-violence.
This post is cross-posted from Syria Untold.

author: Syria Untold


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The Postcolonialist Calls for Submissions on ‘Sites of Home’ · Global Voices
Negarra Akili

A recently launched online magazine and journal, The Postcolonialist, is calling for submissions for the upcoming edition of its academic journal. The Postcolonialist is an inter-disciplinary, multi-lingual publication featuring research, commentary, and creative production from and about postcolonial regions and perspectives. The About page of the website adds:
We are an alternative and interactive avenue by which scholars, journalists, writers and artists from around the world can collaborate and engage in dialogues of culture, power, and civil society in postcolonial regions, including but not limited to the Americas, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Diasporic communities in métropoles across the globe
Submissions are welcome in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. The theme for Winter/Spring 2014 peer reviewed full-length entries is “Sites of Home”:
We seek pieces that explore the ways in which physical and imagined spaces of familiarity and belonging (linguistic, physical, artistic, political, and social) are made and unmade in light of globalization, digital technology, and mass migration. We desire innovative work that challenges and redraws the contours of modes of belonging, creating new “zones” of nationhood and citizenship through the lens of (de)colonial geography.
The due date for peer-reviewed submissions for the Academic Journal to be released in the Spring volume is February 14, 2014. Other types of submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. Inquiries and submissions may be sent to editorinchief@postcolonialist.com.

author: Negarra Akili


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Top 10 YouTube Videos of 2013 in Japan · Global Voices
Keiko Tanaka

RocketNews24 has compiled a list of the top 10 YouTube videos in Japan for the year 2013. The list includes a video uploaded by a popular Japanese idol girl group AKB48, a video of two cute kids showing off their new toys, and a video of a shocking moment of lightning during a thunderstorm striking a moving train captured by a YouTube user.


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Unconditional Basic Income for All Europeans · Global Voices
Sahar Habib Ghazi

A movement to give every citizen “unconditional basic income”—no work required—is gathering speed in Europe.
For the last 11 months,  the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI)  has been spearheading a one-year campaign to gather a million signatures that support “Unconditional Basic Income (UBI)” for all Europeans.
The ECI wants everyone to have a basic, guaranteed wage, which is enough to cover day-to-day expenses.
If they collect one million signatures reaching the minimum requirement from at least 7 European Union (EU) member countries by January 14 2014, the European Commission will have to examine their initiative and arrange for a public hearing at the European Parliament.
In the short term, they want to do some “pilot-studies” and examine different models of UBI. In the long run, their objective is to offer to each person in the EU the unconditional right as an individual, to have their material needs met to ensure a life of dignity by the introduction of the UBI.
The Basic Income proposal is being presented by citizens from 15 EU member states (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom).
This Friday on GV Face I spoke to activists gathering signatures and raising awareness about the need for Basic Income:
Stanislas Jourdan joined us from Paris. He's the main coordinator for European Citizens’ Initiative for Unconditional Basic Income in France
Martin Jordö joined us from Göteborg. He's the main coordinator for European Citizens’ Initiative for Unconditional Basic Income in Sweden.
Carlos Arias joined us from Madrid. He's a Global Voices contributor in Spain.
Anne-Béatrice Duparc joined us from Geneva, Switzerland.
Barb Jacobson joined us from London. She's the main coordinator for European Citizens’ Initiative in  for Unconditional Basic Income in the UK.
I asked them about developments in the campaign so far, how UBI would tackle inequality and how much such a scheme might cost.
For more information check out the Basic Income EU website, Facebook page and Twitter account.
Here's a link to our Google + event page for this episode of GV Face.

author: Sahar Habib Ghazi


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Votes Cast in the Madagascar Presidential Elections Runoff  · Global Voices
Mialy Andriamananjara

Ballot Collecting in one polling station via Andrimaso with permission
Voters in Madagascar returned to the polls today to decide who they would like as president. The first round resulted in two candidates going head to head in a proxy battle between former President in exile, Marc Ravalomanana, and Andry Rajoelina, who toppled Ravalomanana in 2009 in a military-backed coup. Brian Klaas offers a good summary of the situation on DemocracyinAfrica blog :
This Friday, Madagascar heads to the polls to elect a new president and a new parliament. The election is the first major step out of the never-ending ‘transition’ that began in 2009 when Andry Rajoelina, a radio DJ turned mayor, toppled Marc Ravalomanana, a dairy magnate turned president, in a military coup d’état.
Those two figures dominate Malagasy politics, but neither is running for president—at least not directly. Instead, they have put forth proxy candidates in their stead as part of an internationally brokered deal to end the impasse. Dr. Jean-Louis Robinson, a former Ravalomanana Minister and WHO official, is standing in place of his former boss. Hery Rajaonarimampianina, the Minister of Budget and Finance for the post-coup regime, is standing in place of President of the Transition, Rajoelina.
Malagasy voters watched the two candidates in a series of three televised debates. The first one did not attract much enthusiasm, as reported by an article in Madagascar Tribune, as both candidates played it very safe and demonstrated a lack of original ideas:
Nous devons nous demander si les candidats ont vraiment la conviction que leurs idées seraient la solution à nos problèmes ou s’ils se contentent de répéter des solutions génériques que la communauté internationale et autres bailleurs de fond aiment entendre. (Pour être juste, les débats présidentiels peuvent aussi être utilisés pour envoyer des signaux forts pour attirer des partenaires potentiels, ou même des sponsors.) À certains moments, les candidats avaient l’air de répéter les mêmes programmes arrachés de placards à idées – il n’est pas juste de resservir le même vieux « tambavy » repackagé dans de nouvelles bouteilles et puis de clamer que « cette fois-ci c’est différent ». Pour les vingt millions et quelque de citoyens malagasy, cette fois-ci, ça devrait vraiment être différent. Lançons un défi aux candidats de sortir des sentiers battus et de montrer aux électeurs qu’ils sont aussi différents.
One needs to wonder whether the candidates really believe these ideas are a real solution to our problems, or whether they're just tossing around generic solutions that they believe the international community and other “donors” would like to hear. (To be fair, presidential debates can also be used to send strong signals to potential partners or even sponsors). At times, they sounded like standard off-the-shelf policies—it’s not fair to serve old “tambavy” in new bottles and then claim that “this time is different.” For the sake of the 20 million odd Malagasy citizens, this time should really be different. Let’s dare the candidates to think outside the box and show the voters that they are also different!
The second debate was conducted in French, and focused on international issues. The candidates were more aggressive during the third debate. Ideas were still singularly lacking though, as most attacks were personal, as was the case during the entire campaign, whose tone was more carnival than battle of ideas. As again reported by Brian Klaas :
The campaign has not progressed much beyond dueling spectacles. Malagasy politics are not based on policy, and few would claim that they are voting based on anything other than patronage and personality. Today’s vignettes of political strategy—balloons, dancing, and blaring music—are comical, but unfortunately, the comedy may turn tragic if Madagascar does not manage to pull itself out of desperate poverty by building democracy and pursuing development.
The spectacle continues when one considers how alliances were made between politicians – former enemies promptly rallied to one candidate or the other- and how blatantly Andry Rajoelina, supposedly neutral, came out in support of his former Minister of Finance, Hery Rajaonarimampianina :
Second tour, candidat officiel, présidentielle 2018… L'interview d'Andry #Rajoelina : http://t.co/UBGhSnxxNb via @lemondefr #mdg2013
— Sébastien Hervieu (@Seb_Hervieu) November 9, 2013
During the vote, some irregularities were reported on Twitter.
#mdg2013 presidential candidate Dr Jean Louis Robinson's camp accuse main opponent's team of paying for votes at ballot station. On our way.
— CCTVguyhendersonsa (@guyhendersonsa) December 20, 2013
Let us hope the new year 2014 will bring peace and change to Madagascar, whose citizens will have to wait until January to find out the result of the runoff.
#MadagascarElections: 7.6m voters; 20,115 voting stations; results to be released in January #MDG2013
— African Elections (@Africanelection) December 20, 2013

author: Mialy Andriamananjara


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“Beyond Brazil”: European Journalists Wanted for Reporting Trips · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

Coolpolitics in Portugal announces [pt] an open call for European journalists who want to go on a reporting trip to Brazil in 2014. Twenty-one young reporters from Portugal, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom and Bulgaria will be selected to take part of three different groups that will cover events in Brazil, before and after the World Cup, while collaborating with Brazilian peers.
The Beyond Your World website explains the application process and the expected outcomes of this international reporting and training opportunity:
Ongoing demonstrations, the upcoming World Cup, preparations for the Olympic Games and approaching elections; 2014 is considered to be a very important year for Brazil. Consequently, many beautiful stories are out there and are waiting to be covered. Beyond Your World would likes to make a big contribution with this special project.
Deadline for applications is on January 10, 2014. This project – a cooperation between Lokaalmondiaal and the Brazilian media organisation Canal Futura – is part of the training program Beyond Your World which “seeks to inspire and enable the next generation of journalists to cover international development issues”.

author: Sara Moreira


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My Tribe Is South Sudan and I Choose Peace · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Following the crisis that has engulfed the world's newest nation, South Sudan, since December 16, 2013, South Sudanese and friends of the South Sudanese people have created the hashtags #MyTribeIsSouthSudan and #iChoosePeace to call for peace and unity in the country.
South Sudan became independent on July 9, 2011 after a referendum that was held on possible independence from Sudan was approved.
A South Sudanese girl at independence festivities
Public domain image – original by Jonathan Morgenstein/USAID on flickr
Below are some of Twitter messages in support of peace and national unity:
I am no politician, I am not in the army, I don't work for the government, Its just that #iChoosePeace for my motherland #SouthSudan
— إيڤا (@Evalopa) December 20, 2013
Praying to an end to the madness.. an end to division-ism.. #africa standing with south sudanese #MTISS #MyTribeIsSouthSudan
— #♥♥♥♥|■| (@Gracetandeamara) December 20, 2013
@zelalemkibret @TameZKafir #MyTribeIsSouthSudan does not mean we are faceless or Tribeless, it means we are one, just South Sudanese.
— إيڤا (@Evalopa) December 20, 2013
My country & her people & their safety are more important than egos, megalomaniacs & politics. #MyTribeIsSouthSudan #Ichoosepeace
— Aguil Lual Blunt (@AguilB) December 20, 2013
#MyTribeIsSouthSudan this should be the message. Stop fighting your brother for someone else's political gain
— It's Theö™ (@theoScouse) December 20, 2013
South Sudan's former Vice-President Riek Machar is accused of plotting to overthrow the government.
Public domain image – Voice of America
I refuse to start running again, saying NO to another war #Ichoosepeace #MyTribeIsSouthSudan pic.twitter.com/RLJBB3KihN
— إيڤا (@Evalopa) December 20, 2013
We must always remember that the government works for us, not the other way around! Fight for peace. #MyTribeIsSouthSudan
— Atima (@missalier) December 20, 2013
after all the years of hurting each other, why do we need to continue doing this? #iChoosePeace #MyTribeIsSouthSudan http://t.co/JN4mvOVaRc
— amanie illfated (@AmanieIllfated) December 20, 2013
War is what divided my Sudan, We don't want it in its South now. I support #MyTribeIsSouthSudan #ichoosePeace
— M.Hamror (@MHamror) December 20, 2013
About 64 tribes call #SouthSudan
home. #MyTribeIsSouthSudan
and #iChoosePeace
#Juba
#SouthSudan
—
CHRIS KWOJI (@KWOJI) December
21, 2013

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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PHOTOS: Protesting South Korea’s Election Manipulation in New York, Paris, London · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

South Koreans living abroad have held candlelight vigils in New York, Paris, London and Berlin throughout this week, condemning the manipulation of public opinion by South Korean government agencies leading up to the latest presidential election. More protests are planned in various major cities around the world next week. Follow @OverseasCandle for updates.
South Koreans’ protest in New York City on the night of December 20:
파리, 베를린에 이어 #해외촛불 맨하탄으로 건너갔습니다! 100명 모였답니다! 많은 응원 부탁드려요! pic.twitter.com/A5Iicyc2Os
— 해외촛불 (@OverseasCandle) December 20, 2013
After having held overseas candlelight rallies in Paris, Berlin (earlier this week), we went to Manhattan. About 100 people have participated. Please support us!
뉴욕 #해외촛불 현장 감동입니다! pic.twitter.com/bhEfudLMVE
— 해외촛불 (@OverseasCandle) December 21, 2013
This is the scene of the overseas candlelight vigil in New York City. Such a touching moment!
A candlelight rally in Paris, France on December 20:
파리 #해외촛불 집회 현장 pic.twitter.com/4mzQJNiBzM
— 해외촛불 (@OverseasCandle) December 20, 2013
This is a photo of overseas candlelight rally in Paris.
#해외촛불 파리 사진한장 올립니다. 퍼가실 경우 출처:파리촛불시민 명시해주세요. pic.twitter.com/RqTnJwQDSk
— TWTBS 트윗방송 (@TWTBS) December 21, 2013
I am uploading a picture of the Paris candlelight rally here. Please specify it as ‘Paris candlelight rally by citizens’ when you share it.
A protest in London on December 21:
‘우리는 민주주의로 돌아가길 원한다’ 런던에서 보내온 따끈따끈한 집회 사진이에요. 우비와 우산이 현재 그곳 날씨를 말해주고 있습니다. RT “@Jeunesses #해외촛불 #런던 pic.twitter.com/EfymKLNaLQ” — 해외촛불 (@OverseasCandle) December 21, 2013
This is the photo of London's protest which was held under the slogan of ‘We Want Our Democracy Back’. People's raincoats and umbrellas show the weather here in London.
지금 이곳 런던..안녕하지 못한 저희가 모였습니다..비바람을 맞고 선 저희가 안녕하지 못한 이유는 무엇일까요..답은 사진에..#해외촛불 @OverseasCandle pic.twitter.com/0O0NicB8Kc — 이수희 (@osatsuma) December 21, 2013
We, who ‘are not fine’ [about things happening in South Korea], have gathered on this rainy and windy day. What has made us ‘not okay'? The answer is in the photo.


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Popularizing the Hmong Qeej Musical Instrument through YouTube · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Catherine Falk studied how Chinese and Laotian Hmong diaspora groups maximized the YouTube to preserve and popularize their culture, in particular the playing of qeej, an iconic Hmong reed mouth organ.

author: Mong Palatino


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South Korea: Class-action Suit Against Key Players of Election Manipulation · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

Marking a year after the latest presidential election tainted with allegations of political tampering, attorney Han Woong, together with 610 plaintiffs, filed a civil lawsuit [ko] against those who are allegedly responsible for the election manipulation scandal. Han accused ex-President Lee Myung-bak, former head of the NIS (National Intelligence Service), ex-Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police and spy agents of violating civil rights of South Koreans [ko] by orchestrating and executing the election manipulation and he vowed to continue a series of compensation suits with more plaintiffs. [*note: The number ‘610’ — a total number of plaintiffs and also suggested damage claims of 610 million Korean Won (about 574 thousand US dollars) — has been employed to remind people of the nation's iconic June 10 democratic movement back in the 80s] Twitter user @soonhearim tweeted [ko] an image of Han holding court papers.
인터뷰하는 한웅 변호사!, 12월19일(목), 오전11시, 국정원사건으로 정신적손해 610명 손배소송기자회견, 대한문 앞 pic.twitter.com/uLqkyNdfNb
— 임순혜 (@soonhearim) December 19, 2013
Lawyer Han Woong is having an interview now, as of 11 am on December 19 (Thursday). This press conference held in front of Daehanmun (Gate), was about 610 plaintiffs who filed a compensation suit over emotional distress caused by the NIS scandal.


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The State Of Freedom Of Religion in Maldives · Global Voices
Rezwan

The Maldives ranks high on the list of governments that restrict religious freedom. Maldivian citizens have to be Muslim and cannot practice any religion other than Islam. Non-Muslim foreigners cannot vote, worship publicly, obtain citizenship, and hold public positions.
Journalist Hilath Rasheed notes that Maldives perhaps will not be able to establish freedom of religion in the next 50 years until the mindset changes among the new generations of Maldivians.


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Tour Builder, Another Google Service Not Allowed for Cubans · Global Voices
Elaine Díaz

Screenshot of what happens when trying to use Tour Builder within Cuba.
Tour Builder, a new service from Google still in its beta phase, is not available for Cuban users due to the restrictions of the economic embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba. Currently, Google Earth, another one of Google's services unavailable to Cuba, allows users to virtually travel to anywhere on earth. Tour Builder “could change the way users tell stories about their own real-life travels,” according to an article published on Mashable.
This tool provoked much interest that soon spread among Cuban users, considering that they would be able to tell their stories through pictures, videos, texts, and Google Earth. Previously, Google had blocked access to Google Earth, Google Destktop Search, Google Toolbar, Google Analytics and Google Code Search.
An article published in Cubadebate [es] in 2012 confirms that the new error screen that impedes the use of Google Analytics within Cuba “is based on rules previously defined with the island.” On that occasion, Google maintained that Cuban users “should not have used the online traffic monitoring service because they were in violation of the provisions of the United States’ commercial embargo.”
Google no ha podido explicar por qué se incluyó en los servicios censurados para Cuba a Google Analytics, un producto gratuito -como el buscador y el correo electrónico de esa compañía-, que funciona desde Internet, sin tener que ser descargado en la computadora del usuario, por lo que en teoría no hay intercambio o entrega de productos, añadió Cubadebate.
Google hasn't been able to explain why it included among the services banned to Cuba Google Analytics, a free product -like its search engine and its email service-, that is web-based and doesn't require downloading by the user, which, in theory, means that no economic exchange or delivery of products has taken place, added Cubadebate.
In November of this year, Google's Executive Chairman, Eric Schmidt, said in an interview to The Wall Street Journal that Cuba was a top priority on his international travel agenda. Currently, Google only permits access to its search engine, chat, email, and other communication services that are authorized in section 515.578 of the regulations of the United States’ embargo on Cuba.

author: Elaine Díaz


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Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill Would Jail Gays and Lesbians for Life · Global Voices
James Propa

Activists John Bosco, (handcuffs) and Bisi Alimi (sign) in prison uniforms protesting in London against anti-gay legislation in Uganda on December 10, 2012. Photo by Reporter#20299. Copyright Demotix.
The parliament of Uganda overwhelmingly passed a controversial anti-homosexuality bill on December 20, 2013 that would punish gays and lesbians with life in prison in some cases as well as jail anyone who did not report gay people to authorities.
The bill was passed shortly after the socially conservative country's parliament approved an anti-pornography bill that would criminalize clothing that shows a woman's thighs, like mini-skirts.
Ugandan member of parliament, David Bahati, who proposed the anti-homosexuality bill back in 2009, re-tabled the bill after removing clauses seeking the death penalty following intense public and international pressure.
During the parliamentary debate, there was exchange of words between Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, after the prime minister argued that the parliament did not meet the minimum number of members present to hold the vote.
The law is now awaiting president's signature. The president has less than two months to sign the bill into the law, or to send it back to the floor of parliament for amendment.
Below is a short roundup of reactions online:
Frank Mugisha, the leader of Sexual Minorities Uganda, an organisation that fights for gay rights, tweeted:
Breaking News : I am officially illegal : Uganda Parliament passes the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2009
— Dr. Frank Mugisha (@frankmugisha) December 20, 2013
Ugandan BBC radio journalist, Alan Kasujja, was optimistic:
It is highly unlikely that the President will assent to the anti Homosexuality bill. @AmamaMbabazi et al have voiced opposition to it.
— Alan Kasujja – BBC (@kasujja) December 20, 2013
LGBT activist Pepe Julian Onziema pointed out a situation in which the bill can be passed without the president's signature:
Parliament can send it bk for é 2nd time, and if rejected a 2nd time. A 2 thirds majority can pass it w'out é President. #AHBUganda
— Pepe Julian Onziema (@Opimva) December 20, 2013
Amaka Okechukwu was disheartened by the bill:
#AntiGayBillPassed in #Uganda is truly sad. It's also a criminal offense to know someone is gay and not report them? Insane
— Amaka Okechukwu (@AmakaOke) December 20, 2013
@EJS noted:
Uganda is walking backwards into the future. Laws denying women the right to choose what to wear, and the #AntiGayBillPassed. #HumanRights
— EjS. (@EyvindJS) December 20, 2013
However, James Howlett celebrated after hearing the news:
#AntiGayBillPassed!! Hallelujah!!!! #ForGodAndMyCountry!!!
— James Howlett (@NotCalled_Aswad) December 20, 2013
A reader on the Daily Monitor website, EJS, commented:
Ridiculous! Ban on homosexuality and mini-skirts. NO WONDER THIS IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES!!! Lol (MPs; get a real job and stop stealing tax payers money!)
Another reader, John Buluma, said that there are more serious issues that should be focused on, like corruption, rather than homosexuality:
This just confirms that Uganda is the worst place to be gay on earth. Why focus on none [sic] issues when they country is decaying with corruption?

author: James Propa


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38 Million Chinese Abandon Pension Insurance · Global Voices
Abby Liu

About 38 million Chinese stopped contributing to their pension insurance in 2013, accounting for more than 10 percent of the employees who have joined the pension program. The number has revealed serous problems in China’s pension system.
According to the news from China’s state media, around 30 million gave up pension insurance each year since 2011. The reasons behind this big drop in numbers are due to the social security system.
According to China's social security system, one cannot transfer pension insurance between provinces or cities. Thus, many migrant workers have to discard their pension insurance when they move back home.
Some say they stop pension contributions as they have made contributions for 15 years, the minimum period to be eligible to claim a pension.
China’s pension system has been a complaint over the years as many Chinese find it unfair and inefficient. For example, those who work in the public sector are exempt from the pension system. Their pensions are paid for by all taxpayers rather than their own previous payments. Their payment level is much higher than that of the social pension system.
About 38 million Chinese stopped contributing to their pension insurance in 2013. Picture from Sina Weibo
China’s ageing population has also contributed the problem. According to a research report by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, by the end of 2011 more than 2 trillion RMB in the personal pension account was transferred to pay retirees. This year, many opposed the government's decision to postpone the retirement age from 60 to 65 in order to fill the financial gap.
The 38 million figure has again triggered public anxiety about the pension system. Netizen “Chen Yuandao” lamented:
说老实话我在一开始工作的时候就动过这念头。话说回来，还是对政府的不信任。现在老年人多，年轻人少，物价房价一直涨，贪污腐败就不说了。将来退休还指不定能活多少年，政府到是希望你短命。
To be honest, when I started working, I had the idea (of giving up the pension). After all, I do not trust the government. There are more older people than young ones, the prices have gone up, no to mention the corruption. Who knows how many years I will have after retirement, the government just wishes you to have a short life.
Another netizen “Liu Daniang” calls for[zh] the reform of the pension system:
3800万人退交社保，不是这3800万人的错。而是政府的错。是“延迟退休”一味地掏百姓掏腰包的错，是那么多财政资金没有造福于最广大的人民群众，而造福于少数体制内人错。3800万人退保正好倒逼“社会养老”问题的改革。
38 million people have given up their pension, it’s not their fault, it’s the government’s fault. The government tries to ask ordinary people to pay the gap by postponing the retirement age. The government’s financial capital doesn’t benefit the majority of people, but the minority insiders within the system. The fact that 38 million have given up the pension will facilitate the reform of the social pension system.
Sina news created an info graphic comparing paying a pension with saving money in a bank account. However, Professor Lang Xianping from HK University believes relying on bank saving is not the best way. He introduced the American pension system in his blog:
其实我一直在呼吁，我们的政府要正视老百姓的养老保险问题。我们不要只学到美国的皮毛，而要学习美国的灵魂。美国老百姓把他们一生的储蓄不是存在银行里，而是透过社保税、401K计划，还有个人退休账户三种途径“存进”股票市场里面，投入了多少钱呢？一共 17.9万亿美元，足足是美国2011年GDP的1.19倍。这个钱就是美国老百姓的存款，而且这个存款和股市形成了一个良性互动。养老金存得越多，股市越涨；股市越涨，养老金就越多。让美国人能够老有所终、老有所养。
In fact, I have been calling for our government to face the pension problems. We shouldn't just learn the superficial about Americans, but learn from the American soul. American people don't put their life savings in the bank, but into social security taxes, 401K plans, and individual retirement accounts. They “deposit” on the stock market there in three ways. How much money? A total of $17.9 trillion (US dollars), 1.19 times the U.S. GDP in 2011. The money is the American people's deposits, with savings and stock market investments interacting positively. The more pension deposits, the more stocks rises; as the stock market rises, the more pensions rise. This way Americans have a sense of security about their retirement fund.

author: Abby Liu


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Bangladesh Breaks Human Flag, National Anthem World Records on Victory Day · Global Voices
পান্থ রহমান রেজা (Pantha)

The world’s largest human national flag of Bangladesh created at the National Parade Ground in Dhaka on 16 December, 2013, marking Victory Day. Photo by Indrajit Ghosh. Copyright Demotix (16/12/2013)
On 16 December, the 43rd Victory Day commemorating the triumph of Bangladesh over Pakistan in the country's Liberation War in 1971, Bangladesh broke two world records. The first one was forming the world's biggest “human” national flag. 27,117 volunteers from the Bangladesh Army, educational institutions and the general public stood with red and green placards to form the flag in Dhaka's National Parade Ground. The flag was visible for 6 minutes and 16 seconds.
The second record was the largest number of people singing the national anthem simultaneously, with more than 300,000 people at exactly 16:31 on 16 December singing “Amar Sonar Bangla” marking the exact moment that Pakistani forces surrendered. Many people from Bangladesh and also from different corners of the world joined in the event, which was held in Suhrawardi Uddan, the precise location of Pakistan's surrender.
Mahbub Ashrafi caught the singing on film and uploaded in YouTube:
Pakistan held the previous record for the largest human flag. 24,200 people held up green and white boxes at the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore on 31 October, 2012. India held the previous record for singing the national anthem, with 121,653 people singing simultaneously.
Tens and thousands of people joined in singing Bangladesh's national anthem at Suhrawardy Udyan on Victory Day in Dhaka. Photo by Mamunur Rashid. Copyright Demotix (16/12/2013)
Most Bangladeshis were particularly proud and happy about these world record feats, thanking organizers for the good news. Ishtiaque Ahmed hailed the news:
বিশ্বের সবচেয়ে বড় “মানব পতাকা” তৈরি করে গিনেজ রেকর্ড গড়ার জন্য ২৭,১১৭ স্বেচ্ছাসেবিকে অভিনন্দন । লাল সবুজের বিশ্ব জয়, হবেই হবে। #Shahbag
— Ishtiaq Ahmad (@Ishtiaq_Ahmad) December 16, 2013
Thanks to the 27,117 volunteers for the world's largest human flag. Red and green winning the world, yes we can!
Sk. Soyeb Hasan recorded behind the scenes how the human flag event was organized and uploaded the footage to YouTube:
Abir Hasan was proud to be Bangladeshi:
Bangladesh now holds the record for largest human flag and most number of people singing the national anthem….. Feeling proud #Bangladesh
— Abir hassan (@Abir107) December 16, 2013
It is claimed that up to three million people died in the Bangladesh genocide during the struggle for independence in 1971. This is also a record. Cyber Association of Bangladesh remembered that horrible fact with these two records:
গিনেস বুকে বাংলাদেশের সবচেয়ে বড় মানব পতাকার কথা আজ অনেকেই ইতোমধ্যে জেনে গেছেন।
আমি আরো একটি তথ্য দেই – গিনেস বুক অব রেকর্ডস অনুযায়ী ১৯৭১ সালে বাংলাদেশে সংগঠিত গণহত্যা বিশ শতকে সংগঠিত হওয়া নৃশংসতম পাঁচটি গণহত্যার মধ্যে একটি ।
কার্টেছিঃ একেম সাঈদ
You have already heard about these two Guinness Book of World Records milestones.
Also to note – According to the same records, the Bangladesh genocide in 1971 is one of the five most cruel genocides of the world.
Courtesy: AKM Sayeed
People sing the national anthem at 4:31 p.m. at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. Image by Indrajit Ghosh. Copyright Demotix (December 16, 2013)
Bangladesh got their independence by fighting a nine-month long liberation war and winning against Pakistan. Blogger Maruf wrote:
সবচেয়ে বেশি ভালো লাগছে যে, এই মহান বিজয় দিবসে আমরা পাকিস্তানের গড়া রেকর্ড ভেঙ্গে বিশ্বজয় করলাম। পাকিস্তানকে আমরা আরও একবার পরাজিত করলাম।
I am pleased with the fact that on this auspicious day of victory we have broken Pakistan's record. We have once again defeated Pakistan.
Farhan Bashar participated in the national anthem singing event at Suhrawardi Uddan. He shared his experience:
What a pleasant feeling bestows on my heart as I sing our enchanting national anthem and declare my unity with the positive force of independence & victory loving people of my country. May all the independent & liberation opposing forces go and burn in inferno.

author: পান্থ রহমান রেজা (Pantha)


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Despite Passage of India’s Anti-Corruption Lokpal Bill, Public Mistrust Remains · Global Voices
Chirag Sutar

Protesters demanding the Janlokpal Bill in Bandra, Mumbai, India. Copyright Chirag Sutar (24/5/2012)
An anti-corruption bill stalled and disputed for 48 years in India’s parliament was passed by the upper and lower houses in a speedy two days. Passed on December 18, 2013, the Lokpal (Citizen's Ombudsman Bill) now waits on President Pranab Mukherjee’s table for final formalities.
However, the passage of this bill is viewed as astute political move, and not a genuine effort to eradicate corruption.
According to some political analysts in India, for parties such as Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress (INC), passing this bill is also a ploy to correct their sullied image before India gears up for 15th General Elections in 2014. Many in the BJP and the INC have serious allegations of corruption in India.
The Lokpal Bill is not to be confused with the Janlokpal Bill introduced by activists on April 7, 2011, and for which there was a massive uprising in India. This bill is considered to be a weak and disadvantageous bill because it does not give protection to whistle-blowers, i.e, those who alert authorities about corruption trails of politicians or bureaucrats; it does not make the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India's top investigating authority, independent; it does not have the power to prosecute anyone from lower bureaucracy (India's lower bureaucracy is believed to be a nest for corruption, and with whom the public has to interact in a day-to-day basis); and it is incapable of taking direct punitive actions on those involved in corruption, such as confiscating assets of those who may have benefited from corruption.
More differences between the Lokpal Bill and the activists proposed Janlokpal Bill is outlined here.
Many continue to support the Janlokpal Bill introduced in 2011 as it has provisions to make the CBI independent, has the power to prosecute anyone in bureaucracy (upper or lower), and offers complete protection to whistle-blowers.
A Janlokpal Bill supporter outside Azad Maidan in Mumbai during an anti-corruption protest in 2011. Copyright Chirag Sutar (16/8/2011)
The possible political motivations behind the passage of the current bill is already a part of public discourse. Retired army officer Lt. Col Banwari from Jaipur tweeted:
Anna Hazare- did not understand the BJP & congress game plan for passing a lokpal which can not walk bcz it no legs
— Lt. Col Banwari Lal (@colbanwari) December 17, 2013
Anna Hazare is the Gandhian crusader from India's Maharashtra state who received immense praise from across the world for leading the Janlokpal Bill protests in 2011 and 2012. A former Indian army driver, 76-year-old Anna Hazare dedicated his life social service and fighting corruption. However, following the passage of this bill on 18 December, 2013 (apparently, after his approval) a fair share of criticism was directed at him for agreeing to break his fast of nine days in return of what is now being called a weak version of the Janlokpal Bill.
Participants in bike rally organized during the Janlokpal Bill protests in Mumbai. Copyright Chirag Sutar (24/5/12)
Anurag Tyagi, who claimed to have gone to jail during the Janlokpal Bill protests in 2012, tweeted:
“Ye anna ka aandolan hai to wo hi decide karenge.” Bahot dhaga hua mahshooa kar raha hoon. Pahli baar jail gaya tha is aandolan ke liye :-(
— Anurag Tyagi (@an_tyagi) December 14, 2013
“This are Anna [Hazare's] protests, and he will only decide.” I feel betrayed, I had gone to jail for the first time in my life for this movement :(
Hazare's confidante Arvind Kejriwal in a recent interview with a television channel did not rule out the possibility that Hazare may have been influenced by political forces to change his stance. Or, he may simply have been misinformed – considering when Kejriwal worked with him during the Janlokpal Protests in 2011 and 2012, Kejriwal spent a considerable amount of time explaining to Hazare the nitty-gritty of the then-proposed Janlokpal Bill, which faced a lot of resistance from the political parties.
Kejriwal is now the convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which was born out of the Janlokpal protests in 2012, and which debuted with 28 seats in 2013 Delhi Assembly Elections. The AAP is viewed as a serious threat in the coming general elections by the Indian National Congress and Bhartiya Janata Party. The AAP's entry in India's political discourse is believed be a reason why this anti-corruption bill was passed.
A protester outside Mumbai's Azad Maidan during the 2012 Janlokpal Bill protests. Copyright Chirag Sutar (24/5/2012)
As cited earlier, a major contention is that the government passed Lokpal Bill does not make India's top criminal investigation authority, the Criminal Bureau of Investigation (CBI), independent. CBI is accused of being used by political parties in India to settle personal scores or influence political discourse, and this was one of the reasons why activists who proposed the Janlokpal Bill in 2011 insisted on making the CBI independent.
Speaking about other clauses in the current bill, Navbharat Democratic Party member and Right to Information (RTI) activist Vinita Deshmukh tweeted:
While Anna, Cong,BJP take credit fo Lokpal Bill,if a citizen is makes false complaint against a govt officer he/she will go to jail for 1 yr
— Vinita Deshmukh (@VinitaDeshmukh) December 17, 2013
IndianChirp argued with Deshmukh:
@VinitaDeshmukh This means that before making a complaint against a govt officer, a citizen should make sure that the complaint is Genuine?
— IndianChirps (@IndianChirp) December 17, 2013
SP Kalra asked the following question:
@jdhanani2000 @VinitaDeshmukh if the allegations are not proven will the complaint be treated as frivolous???
— sps kalra (@spskalra) December 18, 2013
To this, Mukund tweeted:
@VinitaDeshmukh why would anyone make a complaint then?
— Mukund Rajamannar (@mukundmr) December 18, 2013
Protesters stand in Azad Maidan, Mumbai with a banner, which reads “India is great – PS: In Corruption” during the 2012 Janlokpal Bill protests. Copyright Chirag Sutar (24/5/2012)
A news report, however, suggested that the present law was a “baby step” towards curtailing corruption. However, fewer voices on social media reflected this stance.
Some acknowledged the bill, and offered that it can be amended later.
Kamlesh tweeted:
I am soooo happy that Lokpal bill is passed. Good step forward …. if there are shortcomings, they can always be addressed by amendments…
— kamlesh sahu (@kamleshsemail) December 18, 2013
All said, the enthusiasm of the passage of the bill was not to be seen on ground.
Kapil tweeted this image and added:
Not even 1% of this crowd celebrating #Lokpal today? Why? pic.twitter.com/U2YqhuxdZ3
— Kapil (@kapsology) December 18, 2013

author: Chirag Sutar


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Innovation: A Spell Checker for Bambara Language  · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

screen capture of Bambara spell checker via Fasokan
Fasokan in Mali reports on the creation of an app to help spell check texts in Bambara [fr] :
Il est disponible sur les traitements de texte et outils bureautiques libres et gratuit : Open Office, Libre Office, Néo Office, et sur les ordinateurs Windows, Mac, et Linux. Qu’est-ce qui a rendu ceci possible ? D’abord l’énorme travail fait par les linguistes qui ont publié des dictionnaires et des grammaires ces dernières années : ces dictionnaires sont maintenant disponibles sur ordinateur [..] Ces linguistes ont rencontré des informaticiens, tous ces gens là ont eu des rêves..
The spell checker is available on open source word processors and office software such as: Open Office, Libre Office, Neo Office, and on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. What made this possible? First, there was the enormous amount of work done by linguists who published dictionaries and grammar books that are now available online [..] These linguists came together with IT engineers with a dream of building a Bambara spell checker..

author: Lova Rakotomalala


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The Challenges of Family Healthcare in Apatou, French Guiana   · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

Henri Dumoulin, Global Voices contributor, recalls his stay in Apatou, French Guiana, located in the heart of the Amazon Forest. He explains how, as the physician of Mother and Child Health Protection programme there, he had to rely on the informal colloboration with the Suriname health system and navigate the multilingual setting of the community :
I shall be in the “Apoema tapu gezondheid zentrum” on November 28, 29 to work again with the same team, to vaccinate all people living on both sides of the borders in this franco–Surinamese archipelago. It appears that nobody was aware of our coming [..] So the account of injections was lesser than expected (109 in one day). Amalia [the coordinator]  send a radio call on Thursday morning and people came progressively [..] A little worried about the reaction of my boss regarding my way of managing our local health problems and crossing borders ..


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Will Pussy Riot Fight Putin’s Amnesty and Remain in Prison? · Global Voices
Kevin Rothrock

Pussy Riot's Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, depicted as the undeterred-by-prison music duo The Blues Brothers. Images mixed by Kevin Rothrock.
The holidays are near, the Russian Constitution is twenty years old, and the prison gates are flying open. Following the federal government’s resolution to amnesty roughly 25 thousand people accused or convicted of small crimes under extenuating circumstances, Russia will soon set free many of its most famous political captives. This is in addition to Vladimir Putin’s surprising decision to pardon long-time prisoner Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
Things in Russia are moving quickly this week. Khodorkovsky is already abroad, thrilling journalists in Berlin with his thoughts about the iPad. Maria Baronova and some (though not all) of her fellow “Bolotnaya” suspects are no longer dangling over the fire of possible prison time. Freedom should also soon extend to the two-dozen Greenpeace activists arrested aboard the Arctic Sunrise in mid-September, during a protest against oil drilling.
The other famous Russian political prisoners expected to walk out of jail next week are the two Pussy Riot members still behind bars: Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova. The latter’s husband, jetsetter Petr Verzilov, has divided his time recently between Kiev, where he’s reported [ru] on Ukraine’s EuroMaidan protests, and the Krasnoyarsk prison hospital where Tolokonnikova has resided for several weeks, after her transfer from a jail in Mordovia.
Since the government officially announced the amnesty program on December 18, 2013, Verzilov and Tolokonnikova’s grandmother have waited for state authorities to release Nadezhda. In an appearance [ru] on the opposition-leaning television station Dozhd, Tolokonnikova’s grandmother was asked to compare her granddaughter to Russia’s other most famous prisoner, Khodorkovsky. In response, she called Putin a “thin-skinned man,” arguing that such court cases reveal that the President is unable to forgive what he views sensitively as “a slap in the face.”
Verzilov didn’t exactly radiate gratitude, either. In a tweet on December 19, 2013, he downplayed Putin’s clemency, pointing out that Tolokonnikova and Alekhina have been in state custody since March 2012:
Путин любит царским жестом освобождать политзаключенных в самом конце их срока: Маше и Наде скинул 2 месяца из 2 лет, МБХ – полгода с 11 лет
— группа война (@gruppa_voina) December 19, 2013
With a grand tsarist wave of his hand, Putin loves to free political prisoners at the end of their sentences: he shaved off two months from two years for Masha [Alekhina] and Nadya [Tolokinnikova], and six months from eleven years for MBK [Mikhail Khodorkovsky].
Comparisons between Khodorkovsky and Pussy Riot are only natural. Their trials captivated much of the world as litmus tests of Russia’s business climate and cultural atmosphere, respectively. There are obvious differences, too, of course. Khodorkovsky spent more than five times longer in prison, enduring not one but two drawn-out court cases. When rumors of a third set of charges began circulating, it seems the former oil tycoon finally relented and agreed to make peace with Putin.
The manner in which Khodorkovsky was freed also seems to differ from what awaits Tolokonnikova and Alekhina, who have signaled some unwillingness to leave prison early. In fact, last week, Tolokonnikova implied [ru] to her lawyer that she might be unavailable to leave jail early, as she has joined a new band in prison and committed to a music tour of Krasnoyarsk’s penitentiaries. “There’s a great guitar here,” Tolokonnikova reportedly explained, adding, “and there’s a drum set, and we sing, and we play.”
In what could be a more serious challenge to Russia’s effort to jettison its rockstar political prisoners, Maria Alekhina apparently told her friend, Taisia Polyakova, that she fears for the safety of her fellow prisoners in her absence, and is exploring legal options [ru] to “avoid the amnesty” and remain in jail.
How will Russians react to this latest news from Pussy Riot? Will they receive the band’s reluctance to abandon its inmate friends as a heroic gesture, or see it as an expedient bid to steal back the spotlight from Khodorkovsky, whose unexpected release threatens to overshadow the musicians’ homecoming?

author: Kevin Rothrock


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World Forum for Democracy 2013: Connecting Citizens and Institutions · Global Voices
Suzanne Lehn

World Forum for Democracy 2013 in Strasbourg: plenary session. Photo by Suzanne Lehn.
The second World Forum for Democracy took place in Strasbourg from 27 to 29 November, 2013. Two and a half days of intense in sessions presented by experts at the Council of Europe, for which the public could register, and an off programme lasting over a week in various settings around the city seem to have installed this event in the landscape and calendar of the capital of Europe. Rue 89 Strasbourg set out the event [fr] the evening before it opened:
Plusieurs dizaines de manifestations, un public attendu au in de 1 700 personnes (800 participants en 2012), diplomates, fonctionnaires européens et Strasbourgeois, au minimum de 700 à 800 personnes au off (estimations 2012). Le tout pour un budget d’1,2 millions d’euros auxquels s’ajoutent 300 000€ de la Ville de Strasbourg auparavant « fléchés » sur d’autres opérations dans l’année, concentrées désormais sur la période du Forum.
Several dozen presentations, an in public expected to reach 1,700 people (800 took part in 2012), diplomats, civil servants representing both Europe and the city, at least 700 to 800 people for the off events (estimations for 2012). All for a budget of 1.2 million euros [1.6 million US dollars], with an additional 300,000 euros [410,000 US dollars] from the City of Strasbourg previously ‘ring-fenced’ for other events throughout the year, but now concentrated on the period when the Forum takes place.
The Lab 18 panel. Photo by Suzanne Lehn.
The first Forum in 2012 focussed on the theme of “Democracy on Trial: Between Old Models and New Realities”, and was surrounded by the hope brought by the Arab spring and attended by global personalities. The 2013 Forum, on the other hand, which took place in the presence of the Secretary General of La Francophonie Abdou Diouf [fr] and the writer Amin Maalouf, claimed a more technical focus, both in its subject matter, “Re-wiring Democracy: connecting institutions and citizens in the digital age” and in its organisation, with 4 topics addressed in 21 ‘Labs’, with expert presentations having been selected months in advance.
As a Global Voices representative and living only a few steps from the Palais de l'Europe where the forum took place, here is a review of some of the Labs I attended:
Liquid democracy – Lab 1. Photo by Suzanne Lehn.
- Alternatives to representative democracy? Lab 1: Liquid democracy, with a presentation by the German Pirate Party, and Lab 3: Fostering public debate and building a shared vision of the future, with particular reference to young people (Phillipines, France);
- Democracy 2.0: Lab 9: Election alert, with our friends from the iHub in Kenya;
- Governing with citizens;
- Envisioning the future: Lab 17: Making films, making society, focussing on the Tunisie 4.0 Nesselfen project, and my favourite, Lab 18: “Solution journalism” in action in the presence of the Bangladeshi blogger Shahidul Alam and the Cuban dissident Guillermo Fariñas. Finally more human density.
The presentations were then summarised in two plenary sessions, including a vote on the initiatives presented; a somewhat empty process given that approval was invariably between 70 to 80%.
To provide more information, a Facebook page and a Twitter hashtag #CoE_WFD (the same as for the 2012 Forum) were created. The Council of Europe website put videos and photos (here and here) of the sessions online, and created Google groups to continue discussions.
The Médiapart blog provides detailed coverage of all of the sessions [fr] – including some of the off conferences.
A design artist was present at each Lab. Photo by Suzanne Lehn.
In this podcast, 5 student bloggers from Holland and Germany give their opinions. As part of the off events, the Global Voices author Alexey Sidorenko was interviewed [fr] by the Franco-German television channel Arte on the freedom of information in Russia.
Although the Forum was attended by participants from all over the world, it had very little in common with the designer chaos of a World Social Forum [fr], despite the Democracy Innovation Fair grouping together stands of organisations presenting their initiatives in a space within the Council of Europe, where access is reserved. The off programme [fr], coordinated by the City of Strasbourg, presented those living in and visiting Strasbourg with a diverse range of concerts, cinema festivals, debates and meetings organised by Reporters without Borders, the newspaper Le Monde, France Culture… That being so, one of the main purposes of the event seemed to be to stimulate reflection and increase the propositions of the Council of Europe in its role as a defender of democracy. The ‘young leaders’ from Europe, who are currently following courses given by the Council of Europe's network of schools of political studies, actively participated in sessions.
Yesterday, just after the end of the WFD, the lights of the Christmas market were switched on. Chic. But once again, numerous participants were disappointed by the lack of concrete results which are to be expected from such a presentation claiming to represent the world and which certainly has the potential to do so. If only the organisers were more ambitious.
Overall, the revolution of European digital democracy is underway, but rather than opposing the ‘force-for-progress’ cyberenthusiasts and the ‘backwards-looking’ cybersceptics, the fracture line depends first of all on what citizens and institutions do or don't do with the internet as a functional tool for democracy.
“E-toile” installation on the side of the Council of Europe during the Forum. Photo by Suzanne Lehn.
Has the World Forum for Democracy reached maturity with this second event? Led by the Council of Europe, an institution still lacking wider recognition [fr], and the City of Strasbourg, other French institutions, whether governmental, regional or local, were barely visible. The contributions and debates were rich, although their concentration over a short period of time – two half days of ‘Lab’ presentations – meant that only two out of twenty one could be attended in full. The organisation was effective and creative, in particular with regard to the participation of artists, and has found a good cruising speed. Unfortunately, friendliness seemed to have been somewhat forgotten – unless it was hiding away in one of the famous ‘winstubs‘ found in the European and Alsatian capital?
Women and democracy: World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg 2013.
This post was proofread in English by Georgi McCarthy.

author: Suzanne Lehn


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10 Global Haiyan Relief Efforts That Touched Filipino Hearts · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Also see Haiyan Devastates the Philippines, our special coverage page.
After supertyphoon Haiyan battered the central part of the Philippines last month leaving thousands dead and homeless, the global community quickly responded by sending aid, volunteers, and solidarity messages. Media groups provided extensive coverage of the disaster, UN agencies facilitated the entry of emergency supplies, and global aid organizations were immediately on the field assisting typhoon survivors. Foreign governments also deployed humanitarian teams which helped in the transporting of relief goods and other supplies.
There were many small and big initiatives that contributed to the global relief effort and all of them were greatly appreciated by Filipinos. These acts of kindness uplifted the spirits of many, especially typhoon victims. Below are some of these humanitarian actions which inspired Filipinos:
1. Two girls selling lemonade drinks in Los Angeles, California for the benefit of typhoon victims. The photo was taken two days after typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines
The future of humanity is alive & well in my neighborhood. Thank God 4 the beautiful hearts of children #Philippines pic.twitter.com/Tl2XA7oTDl
— Shekinah (@ShekinahEden) November 11, 2013
2. A six-year old Japanese pre-schooler donated his piggybank savings to typhoon survivors. Shoichi Kondoh was accompanied by his mother when he donated 5,000 Yen to the Philippine embassy in Tokyo.
Photo by R. Gavino. Philippine Embassy in Tokyo
3. The Empire State Building in New York lights up the colors of the Philippine flag
4. Toronto’s CN Tower lighting solidarity for the Philippines
Toronto's CN Tower is lit with colors of the Phil flag in solidarity with victims 'Yolanda' Photo by Jonathan Ponce. pic.twitter.com/5yE1eNmYuO
— CanadaEmbPhilippines (@CanEmbPH) November 20, 2013
5. Fast and Furious actor Paul Walker died in a car crash after attending a charity drive. He also sent a video message expressing sympathy for typhoon victims.
6. Pop star Justin Bieber came unannounced in the Philippines to cheer typhoon victims. He sang for the kids and played basketball in Tacloban, the ‘ground zero’ of the typhoon disaster.
Justin Bieber.. Playing basketball in Tacloban for the Yolanda survivors! pic.twitter.com/0ySs6RFOD2
— zyia moscoso (@ZyiaMoscoso07) December 16, 2013
7. ‘NBA Cares’ for the Philippines. Basketball is the most popular sports in the country. Filipino-American coach Eric Spoelstra of the Miami Heat sent his condolences to Filipinos:
On behalf of the Miami HEAT organization, we would like to extend our condolences to the victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. We value the many fans that we have over there, and we will keep them in our thoughts and prayers.
Kobe Bryant, who visited Manila several times, also tweeted his support for the Philippines
#PrayForThePhilippines #heartbroken
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) November 12, 2013
8. Football teams showing support for the Philippines.
Help Unicef be there for children of the Philippines. Text UNICEF to 70123 to give £3. Thank you pic.twitter.com/1kPBMSjqu7
— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) November 13, 2013
Doug Baldwin of Seattle Seahawks holding Philippine flag albeit the wrong way. It’s upside down (and it means the Philippines is at war) but Filipinos still appreciated the gesture.
Please continue supporting #Haiyan relief. @DougBaldwinJr appreciates your generosity. #PinoyPower pic.twitter.com/XbhoB8iNnm
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 18, 2013
9. Pope Francis offering prayers for the Philippines. The Philippines is the biggest Catholic-dominated nation in Asia.
I ask all of you to join me in prayer for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan / Yolanda especially those in the beloved islands of the Philippines
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) November 9, 2013
10. American singer Alicia Keys surprised typhoon victims in Manila. Keys visited an evacuation camp in Manila where survivors from Tacloban are temporarily sheltered.
Alicia Keys visits Yolanda typhoon victims in the Philippines, photos: http://t.co/fGuMm7WYaf http://t.co/y4OuO2qDeY pic.twitter.com/Heb9bBj8CE
— Alicia Keys Online (@aliciakeyson) November 25, 2013
Also see Haiyan Devastates the Philippines, our special coverage page.


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After 44 Years, Southeast Asian Games Return to Myanmar · Global Voices
Juan Cebu

Opening ceremonies of the 27th Southeast Asian games in Myanmar. Photo from official Facebook page of SEA Games
After 44 years of long absence, South East Asian Games have once again returned to Myanmar. The last time Myanmar hosted the game was in 1969 in Yangon. The opening ceremony for the 27th SEA Games was held in the new capital city of Nay Pyi Taw on December 11 with the international media describing it as Myanmar's ravishing coming out party. Actually, the government has conducted an aggressive SEA games awareness promotion in the country many months before the event. To add a little bit of spice to what international and domestic media have reviewed, here are what netizens inside the country have been commenting throughout the games.
The opening ceremony was enthusiastically received and acclaimed by many people. Aye Chan Mon shared[my] an article dedicated to the opening ceremony of the SEA games.
The 27th SEA Games opening ceremony was celebrated on 11th December. I'm not saying this because I am a Myanmar. But I am very proud as a Myanmar citizen for holding the ceremony with such splendor. It has been many years that we have been afraid doing any events in the country. I would like to say that now we have seized our chance to reconstruct our dignity as Myanmar.
However, there are also people who tend to think negatively and are posting on Facebook to criticize. Everyone has the freedom to criticize. I could not do anything but feel sad to see the criticism by our own people.
Instead of blaming among ourselves, I turn away to discover what international media are saying about the ceremony. […]
Then the article described the reviews written by the foreign media such as Malaysian Insider, Asia One, The Times of India, The Chronicle Journal and Bangkok Post. At the end, the author concluded by saying:
[…] Anyway if we look at the international reviews, there are more praise than criticism that we have performed beyond their expectations. Let's think of this successful celebration of this ceremony as opening a door to the international community or the beginning of our path away from the dictatorship or our official announcement to the world.
Official mascot of the 27th SEA Games
Demo Wai Yan wrote in his blog[my]:
[…] We can see that there are many different views on the 27th SEA Games which we can have in our own land after 44 years. But we need to distinguish between our views.
Our athletes are trying very hard to bring their best for the game that is being held in our own land. Today the competition of Myanmar athletes is not like making a propaganda film of the military regime but they are trying all they can for the country's image. In this moment we have to support the athletes whether they win or lose. […]
Meanwhile, a minor riot broke out near the stadium in Yangon on December 16 when Myanmar lost to Indonesia 1-0 in football and could not make it to the finals. Naturally, there was a huge public disappointment on the performance of the Myanmar football team. Zaw Htet Han expressed[my] his thoughts about the riot:
There is vandalism even in the countries that are successfully practicing democracy. And there are also pyromaniacs. Forget about the immature question whether Myanmar deserves democracy. Every single country in the world deserves 100 percent democracy.
Myanmar's performance in the games reflected[my] the country's weaknesses, according to Khin Maung Nyo:
At the moment, I am seeing things differently. I see that the football match (especially the ones we lost) represent our weaknesses in economy and administration. It reflects the gap in our expectation and the reality, and our need for the development of human resources in different fields. This cannot be done within a day or a night. It takes time.
On the other hand, the women football team was cheered by everyone for their giving their best even though they only got a bronze medal instead of gold. Myanmar Political Jokes congratulated[my] the women's team:
Although they lost unfortunately after the penalty shoot out, it was obvious that they have given their best for the country. We are very proud of the Myanmar women football team. It was a very exciting match for the thousands of audience in the stadium, in front of the TV and living abroad. It feels almost crazy to watch both team playing intensely. Actually the Myanmar audience are not blind about winning or losing. Audience knows if players have really tried. And we are not afraid to face the failure.
People did not lose their mind for no apparent reason when Myanmar lost to Indonesia the other day. The audience who went to the match knew that the Myanmar men's football team had played not seriously enough to win the game. This is why 60 millions fans were angry.
Today even when the women team has lost the game, we are very proud of them. They have tried all their best until the end for the country.
Ye Htut also praised[my] the team:
Thank you, young heroines for making Myanmar audience happy.
Their coordination, team spirit and selflessness are the examples that not only the footballers but also all of us should take.
After the closing ceremony, he also highlighted[my] the victories of ethnic athletes:
[…] 180 of the medals were obtained by the ethnic athletes such as Kachin, Kayar, Chin, Mon, Shan and Rakhine. When we said that we are going to have these games, people from both inside and outside the country have doubted if we would have the ability. They asked whether Myanmar athletes would be able to do that.
Now, together with all the ethnic people in the country, we have proven that they are wrong.
With this kind of spirit, let us journey to the future country.

author: Juan Cebu


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Chat is a Dirty Word in Iran? WeChat Blocked · Global Voices
Farid

Internet service providers in the Islamic Republic have blocked access to WeChat say reports on several news sites and blogs [fa]. WeChat is an application that enables smartphone users to connect to online social networks. While the Iranian president himself, and at least a couple of his ministers use different social media platforms themselves to communicate with followers, Iranian citizens are banned from access to sites like Facebook.
Iran Vatan Dust tweeted [fa] about the news:
خسته نباشن.. در مرحله بعدی تو فکرن چطوری افکار ملت رو هم فیلتر کنن #ویچت
— ایران وطن دوست Iran (@vattandoost) December 19, 2013
Next thing will be that they try to filter people's thoughts.
Faaar Ranak tweeted [fa]:
اگه از #ویچت استفاده میکنین یا نه اصلا مهم نیست! مگه نمیفهمین این که #فیلتر میکنن مشکل اصلیه!
— Faaar Rannak (@FaaaRRannak) December 19, 2013
It does not matter whether you use WeChat or not. The main problem is that they are filtering it.
Iranian blogger, Gilboygreen writes [fa]:
Why did the Islamic Republic filtered WeChat? Because they are scared when people talk to each other. Today, possibly [an application] got filtered that symbolized dialogue. What is the reason that people are not allowed to talk to each other? The authorities should answer this question. When a channel to dialogue, to exchange ideas and to communication is blocked, how do you expect people to solve the problems in society via dialogue?… Do not fear the word “chat”. Chat is a simple, human act, accepted in different societies.
Another blogger, 1ironi writes [fa]:
According to non-written law [tradition], whatever product, including food, that comes to Iran from abroad for the first time is banned… There are several examples of this kind of product becoming targets, such as eating tomatos, watching TV [they were all labeled Haram sinful]. Several MPs increased pressure recently to ban WeChat, but we can still use it via psiphon [circumvention software].
Iran-man-massoud  blogs with irony pointing a finger to Iran's new president [fa]:
Thank you Rouhani.

author: Farid


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Chinese University Professor Quits to Seek Academic Freedom · Global Voices
Abby Liu

A university professor’s resignation letter online has triggered hot discussion on academic freedom in China’s universities.
Chen Hongguo, an assistant professor at the Northwest University of Politics and Law in Xi'an, uploaded the long resignation letter on his personal blog and his account on Sina Weibo, the country's most popular microblogging site, on December 23, 2013. The letter details his frustration with the university for restricting his academic freedom.
Chen is liberal law professor who has a history of challenging unreasonable rules and regulations at the university. He mentioned in the letter that he was stopped at the airport on his way to an academic meeting at the University of Hong Kong, and in the end, he was able to go there after insisting on it. However, after he came back from Hong Kong, he was criticized by the university for “violating teaching discipline by asking someone else to teach in class”. His visa to Hong Kong was revoked and he wasn’t able to get a passport, either. The university has tried to stop Chen from organizing a student reading club.
Professor Chen Hongguo. Photo from his blog
In his letter, Chen talks about his past experience at the university:
这些年，我在大学里做了什么大不了的事情？不过是热衷于教学相长的活动，以各种方式和学生互动交流；不过是坚持请一些学者律师到学校讲座，满足偏居一隅的西北学生的知识渴求；不过是坚持和学生开展读书讨论会，而公开正当坦然地做出过抗争；不过是就学校一些具体的有违大学法治精神的规定和做法，提出过就事论事的建设性批评。我一向坚守理性、善意、坦诚的原则，坚守学术独立、师生平等、价值中立的学者操守。这些年来，我发表过一些公开言说，却都是从学术专业的视角出发；我做出过一些底线抗争，但从没能力并且也本能地拒绝成为一个斗士。我只是一个想保持独立和说说真话的个体，只是一个想好好上上课看看书写写文字的学者。
Over the years, what did I do in college? I just like teaching and learning, and I like interacting with students in a variety of ways; I just insisted on inviting some scholars and lawyers to hold talks at the school to satiate students’ thirst for knowledge; I insisted on organizing the reading club, and made public protests to keep it; I just raised constructive criticism about some of the specific provisions and practices contrary to the spirit of the rule of law in the university. I always stick to rational, well-intentioned and honest principles, to academic independence, to equality among students and scholars and to neutral values. Over the years, I have held some public speeches, all from an academic perspective; I made some protests, but was never able to become a fighter. I just want to be an independent individual and speak some truth, an academic who teaches, reads and writes.
He goes on to describe his vision of an ideal university:
然而，我的路却越走越窄，进行教学探索和学术交流的空间也越来越小。我心目中的并且也身体力行的美好大学，就是学术的自由、开放与包容。我喜欢面对学生各种严肃的批判和质疑，享受与青年学子探讨知识和人生的状态。
However, my road has become narrower, I have less and less space to explore in teaching and academic exchanges. My ideal university is one with academic freedom, openness and tolerance. I like to face a variety of serious criticism and questions from the young students. I enjoy exploring knowledge and life with the students.
Chen then talks about his political principle as an intellectual:
我也从来不是反体制的人。在读书会受阻期间，我说过，我热爱这个国家这片土地，也从来不会反党反政府。体制就是你愿意不愿意，它都在那里。体制支配着你的全部生活，却又看不见摸不着，有什么好反抗能反抗的？反对对抗又能有什么意义和结果？到哪不都一样吗？我因此从来不对此抱以期望和行动。然而，我要对自己的生命负责。你能改变的只有你自己。正因为哪里都一样，所以到哪里，我都有权为自己保留一点点独立自由尊严的空间，那是我珍爱的精神家园。
I have never been anti-system. When my reading activity was stopped, I said, I love this land and this country, and would never go against the [Chinese Communist] Party and the government. Like it or not, the system is always there. It dominates your entire life, it’s invisible, what's the use of fighting against it?  Wherever you go, isn’t it all the same? So I never hold any hope or take action. However, I want to be responsible for my own life. The only thing you can change is yourself. Because wherever you go, it’s all the same, so I have reserved the right to own a little bit of dignity, independence and freedom of space, that is my cherished spiritual home.
Chen's letter was reposted over 10,000 times and triggered over 4,000 comments within a few hours, with many expressing their sympathy and support. Some also criticized the academic environment in China.
“Zhenzhen kongruye” raised a question：
一个有才华、有尊严、有抱负、有个性的高校法律教师，以如此方式离开了自己热爱着的讲台，悲壮！到底谁之过？！法律的悲哀？体制的悲哀？或许是其他？谁能回答？
A dignified and ambitious college law teacher left his beloved profession in such a way, how tragic! In the end whom to blame?! The tragedy of the law? Or the tragedy of the system? Or something else? Who can answer?
Chen's friend Xie Hui from another university wrote:
为何在这个国家的“体制内”，容不下一位只想说说心里话（真话的本质是言者想说的话，而未必一定是真理）的文弱书生？什么是这个国家的“体制”？师弟，只要是你想做的，不妨大胆往前走吧。
Why can’t the system tolerate a fragile scholar who just wants to speak his mind (the truth means what the speaker wants to say, but not necessarily the truth)? What is the “system” in this country? Young bro, whatever you want to do, just go for it.
“Xiaoxiao Dabenen” quoted George Orwell's novel “1984”:
这样的故事最好玩又最可怕的地方在于，真的没有一个恶人。每个人都是善意与关切的，但合起来便成为一个无形而高效的黑手。丑陋文化的规则与惯性是恶臭的泥沼，所有人都是受害者，所有人同时又依赖其以生存。老大哥的眼睛无处不在。战争即和平，自由即奴役，无知即力量。
The funniest and the most horrible part of the story is that no one seems evil. Everyone seems good-willed and concerned, but together they become an invisible and efficient manipulator. Everyone is a victim of the rules, but at the same time, everyone relies on the rules to survive. Big Brother's eyes are everywhere. The war is peace, freedom is slavery, and ignorance is strength.
“Hu Xijin” wrote sarcastically:
哈哈，好！又一个资产阶级反动法学教师爷灰溜溜地卷铺盖卷儿啦！其实謓宏果的辞职很阴险，类似于文革时以死相要挟自绝于党和人民的臭老九，是故意让我党难堪。应该是我党的大学把你清除出校才对，建议取消其教师资格，并正式宣布大学就是党校。
Haha, good! Another revolutionary bourgeois law teacher is leaving! His resignation is insidious, like the teachers from Cultural Revolution who threatened the Party and the people to deliberately embarrass our Party. The university should clear him out and abolish his teaching qualifications, and officially announce the university as the Party school.
Another Web user criticized the lack of academic freedom in Chinese universities:
中国的大学是政府奴化的工具，缺少独立之精神 自由之思想，所以49年至今未出现一个大家！
China's universities are government slave tools that lack independent spirit and free-thinking, that’s why so far we haven’t had a real scholar since 1949.
“Dongyang Shixi jingchashi” talked about the reality in Chinese education：
政治意识的存在向来不喜欢思想开化教育的，在学校的规范教育除了文化知识的灌输之外，关乎意识形态和思想多元化的教育都是被视作洪水猛兽的，总有些人会担忧思想的改革和进步会带来国家的混乱，那我们只好自己摸索。个人的思想探讨无关紧要，群体的组织性的探讨往往显得格外敏感。
The existence of political consciousness always opposes free-thinking and open education. Schools only teach knowledge, anything related to ideology and ideological diversity will be regarded as a scourge, and some people worry that reform-mindedness and progress will bring chaos to society, so we had to find our own way. Personal thoughts seems insignificant, but to discuss them within organizational groups is often extraordinarily sensitive.
“Xiaoxiaobaishi” hoped Chen's resignation can serve as a warning to the univeristy and the system as a whole:
今天的中国，很多的问题其实都是由于体制造成的。走了谌老师这样的精英，的确是大学的巨大损失，但这并不代表这是社会的损失。也许正因为这一次谌老师的行动，反而引来大家对于大学、体制等问题的思考。
Many problems in today’s China are actually caused by the system. Chen’s leaving is a great loss to the school, but it doesn’t mean it’s a loss to society. Maybe because of Chen’s action, it will make us reflect about the problems within the university and the system.