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Global: Bloggers Take Issue with Anti-Niqaab Punditry · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

On April 16, 2011, France's ban on the niqaab and burqa went into effect, re-stirring emotions on the subject and sparking protests in the European country and beyond.
United States-based Egyptian journalist and media pundit Mona Eltahawy has been outspoken in favor of France's ban, stating in a recent video, “I oppose Sarkozy, but I oppose this on women, because what choice do women have besides covering their face?  This ideology doesn't recognize Muslim women's rights.”
In the video, hosted by Eliot Spitzer on CNN, Eltahawy debated Heba Ahmed, who wears a niqaab covering; in counterpart, Ahmed stated that “if [Eltahawy] wants diversity in Islamic belief, then she has to accept my version, just like I have to accept hers.”
This debate, along with other recent debates in which Eltahawy appeared, has engendered debate in the blogosphere, much of which focuses directly on Eltahawy's standpoint.
Shanfaraa, an Egyptian-American blogger who is also a professor of law, agrees with Eltahawy that the niqaab is not a religious requirement, and states that, like her, he rejects the theology that forces women to wear it, but nevertheless disagrees with her stance, explaining:
Mona seems to believe that once a person falls into the grasp of Wahhabi-Salafi theology, they can never escape, but in fact, Mona herself is the best evidence repudiating that view. After all, she grew up in Saudi Arabia and managed to resist that kind of religious indoctrination.  Might it not be the case that individuals in liberal cultures are at least as capable of changing their religious commitments as Mona was?  The most dangerous aspect of the niqab ban, and the one that I believe Mona radically underestimates, is that the state is giving itself the right to define what a particular symbol, in this case, the face veil, means to those who adhere to it.  I doubt any Muslim woman wearing a face veil would agree with the French State’s characterization of it as a form of slavery.  I doubt even Mona would agree with that.  Yet, by agreeing with the French law, she is acquiescing to giving the state this power of interpretation backed by coercive force over people’s inner thoughts, a very dangerous power indeed.
The Cynical Arab, a Lebanese-American blogger, takes issue with the rhetoric used by Eltahawy in a piece called “On Caged Birds and Liberators”.  In it, she criticizes:
Mona Eltahawy, often heralded as a go-to feminist icon for the “liberation” of women, refuses to acknowledge that a number of those who wear the face veil do so out of their own personal discretion. Yet the argument is that they simply do not know any better, they have been indoctrinated to wear the face veil, they have no apparent mind of their own as it has been seemingly been overwhelmed with extremism forced upon them by the male figures in their lives.
A woman wearing a niqaab covering. Image by Flickr user ashi (CC BY 2.0).
Blogger Sami Kishawi, in a piece entitled “Why Mona Eltahawy is fundamentally wrong“, prefaces his piece by explaining that, “This article does not serve to debase Mona Eltahawy as an individual nor should it be read as an attack against the fundamental human rights she claims to defend.”  Kishawi then takes to task Eltahawy's debate strategy, explaining:
“Everyone has a right to an opinion” is an old adage we hear almost every time we engage in dialogue, discussion, and debate. Keeping this in mind, I see nothing wrong with Eltahawy promoting her opinions. Whether or not I agree with them is a tale for another day, but the true problem arises in her strategy.
Remember, she boldly claims to represent entire groups of people. Her strategy is noticeably opportunistic. She used her “Egyptianness” to elevate her agenda during the revolution and to push her ideas through mainstream media searching for that supremely rare “liberated Muslim woman”. Naturally, she insists that she’s right and that everyone else is more than just wrong – they’re radicals. Her work instigates the divisions within our communities, both Muslim and non-Muslim, in a blind attempt to rectify the wrongs of society. She says she stands for the Egyptian people who, by the way, support an end to the siege on Gaza, but soon after gives the opening speech for the J Street conference which doesn’t necessarily advocate for an end to the military occupation of the Palestinian territories. Her overall arguments are laced with apologeticism. She uses the most informal social media outlets like Twitter to debase and discredit other academics who don’t align with her ideologies. And she retweets anything that promotes her name. All of this and more indicates a lack of professionalism that I just can’t ignore.
On the blog Musings of a Muslim Mouse, there is an open letter to Eltahawy, meant to “represent real niqaabis around the world.”  The blogger writes:
You imply that it is only “extremist Salafis and Wahhabis” who wear niqaab or demand it of their women. That’s kinda funny, because I have a Sufi aunt who wears niqaab; and the nice Indian aunty at the mosque is a Deobandi, and she wears it too. The Nigerian convert who campaigns for women’s space at the mosque and demands that Muslim men stop acting like caveman and behave like gentlemen has been wearing niqaab for several years.
I’m sorry that you have had bad experiences with the niqaab. I’m sorry that you’ve had bad experiences with Muslims who call you a she-devil, a whore, and a scourge against Islam.
Sister Heba Ahmad – the one you debated on CNN – said something really beautiful that I agree with completely: “Mona is my sister in Islam and even though I must disagree when she misrepresents Islam and Muslims, she still should be protected from the tongue of her fellow Muslims.”
That’s how I feel about you. I strongly disagree with what you say about the niqaab and much about what you say about Islam and Muslims in general. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to threaten to kill you, or swear at you, or condemn you to Hell. What I will do is invite you over for coffee at my place, with open arms and a warm smile that you can detect even beneath my niqaab.
Your sister in Islam,
A Muslim Woman Who Wears Niqaab
Photo by Flickr user ashi made available under Creative Commons CC-BY-2.0 license


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Hungary: More on the New Constitution · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

More on the new Hungarian constitution – at Hungarian Spectrum and Hungarian Watch.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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India: Twitter, The Life Changer · Global Voices
Rezwan

Venkat Ananth at Blogadda writes how twitter has changed his life: “twitter has been a supremely humbling experience for me not just because of the fact that ‘a nobody’ got noticed somewhat, but because I think fundamentally, the medium has democratized communication radically.”

author: Rezwan


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Kazakhstan: Bloggers Keep an Eye on Floods as Official Media Keep Quiet · Global Voices
Samson Bezmyatezhny

Two large cities in Kazakhstan are suffering from major floods, situated in the centers of two provinces – Uralsk in the western part of the country and Ust-Kamenogorsk in the east.
Thousands of people have been affected by the disaster in the suburbs of the cities after rivers overflowed following intensive melting and heavy rains. The risk of flood threatened the downtown areas in both cities, but currently the situation seems to be stabilizing, with the water levels  dropping and people returning to their homes.
Media blank filled by bloggers
The government has pledged to allocate nearly US $6 million from its emergency reserves, although the region needs a lot more to recover, with more than 10,000 houses flooded and over 8,000 people evacuated. The rescue operations are still on the go.
Official media and many private publications have not provided a full picture of the disaster, and the real scope of damage is not being told. Bloggers have led the coverage of the situation, taking field trips with photo and video cameras, providing assistance to the people and publishing all information via blogs. The first pictures documenting the true scope of tragedy, arrived from bloggers.
Freetonik, a Kazakh blogger currently living in Canada, has undertaken a commitment to update information on Uralsk flooding in a single blog post live, as it appears in the media, blogs and forum comments, also collecting updates via telephone. In addition information on what the flood victims need and which bank accounts are collecting funds for them is being published. The entry [ru] has been visited by more than 30,000 readers.
Freetonik's initiative was backed by other bloggers. Veterius published [ru] his panoramic photos of the river Chagan, showing how significant the flooding actually is, with houses and garages in Uralsk suburbia fully covered with water. The blogger also says [ru] he faced a ban on photographing in the city's central park.
Image by Veterius
Samson recorded a video [ru], urging fellow citizens to help the victims of the natural disaster, providing facts about the tragedy, comparing it to the last year's Kyzylagash flooding and rebuking the authorities for being not ready for emergencies. The video has been viewed by more than 2,000 people.
Alderamina has shot a video [ru] from one of the Uralsk secondary schools, where a evacuation point had been set up. There are a lot of little children among the flood victims. She also publishes firsthand update about the situation. As she reports, the flood was caused by overflowing of Chagan and Derkul rivers. The city dwellers actively help each other, collecting clothes and money for the evacuated people. Regretfully, fraud – whereby money was collected under the guise of charity – have been occurring too. Alderamina says [ru] there is a lot of garbage in the city, brought in by the big water:
The saddest news is that the burial ground for animals, including those that had died because of diseases, was washed away, potentially causing the risk of epidemic. The authorities are taking measures by heavily chlorinating the water, so the residents try to stock up with the bottled water. Now the situation is stabilizing, but people are afraid of Ural River (much bigger than Chagan and Derkul)… They say there is a risk that it might burst the banks too. Well, we just wait, ready for the worst.
Attention due
Meanwhile, other bloggers urge everybody – and especially the media – to pay due attention to the tragedy. Nomad2010 says [ru]:
Why everybody on TV and Internet, in newspapers and kitchens is speaking only about Japan? There should be hundreds of video-reports and interviews from Uralsk and Ust-Kamenogorsk. We must speak and write about the situation.
Ojetov is also exasperated [ru] by the reaction of fellow citizens:
Recent events in Japan provoked big flashmob actions in support of the Japanese people, but when the tragedy hit Kazakhstan, nobody is doing anything to support – at least to morally – our own compatriots. I understand that Japan is a kind of image of model world for the Kazakhs, but what every
citizen must do is to take part in building an ideal world in the place one lives in.
VoxPopuli, a citizen media website, provided [ru] a quality photo report on Uralsk and Ust-Kamenogorsk.
Flood, Eastern Kazakhstan. Photo by Nicholas Zarnitsyna, Andrew Vologda, voxpopuli.kz.
Blogger Sabine took a trip to the suburban village near Ust-Kamenogorsk to make a photo report [ru]:
Sogra village, near Ust-Kamenogorsk. Photo by Sabine.
The blogger concludes:
This village is being flooded almost every spring. Residents have to build dams using pretty much anything available. The regional authorities are shutting their eyes to the disaster, saying that the situation is “stable”. I wonder when the authorities will realize that the problems are better be prevented than resolved.

author: Samson Bezmyatezhny


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Kazakhstan, Russia: Photos of Baikonur · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

At Russia Blog, Anton Verstakov's photos from Baikonur, a city in Kazakhstan, rented and administered by Russia, home to the Baikonur Cosmodrome.


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Madagascar: Censorship Comes in Different Shapes and Sizes · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

Blogger Achille52  reviews the state of media and free speech in Madagascar (fr), detailing the different manners in which bloggers are harassed (also explained in an  Amnesty International report).  He also explains that he deactivated his blog after he was told by a police officer that people are looking for his home address following a blog post implicating specific personalities in various scandals.

author: Lova Rakotomalala


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Malaysia: Email For Citizens Project Draws Criticism · Global Voices
Jerrenn Lam

A few days ago, Prime Minister Najib Razak announced that all Malaysians aged 18 years and above will receive a 1Malaysia email account. According to the Prime Minister, this project will allow ‘direct and secure communication between citizens and the Government’. This comes in light of the PM’s unveiling of the 1Malaysia concept since he took office.
The project has immediately been criticised, for the very obvious reason that many people already have their own email accounts and would not need another, and that the project’s estimated cost is RM 50 million, a sum many feel can be better used for other purposes.
The 1Malaysia logo
The Twitter hashtag #1malaysiaemail has been very active, with most tweets against this initiative.
Az’Farr Baginda (@TheBrownFellow) tweeted:
@TheBrownFellow: Even if it's free, why would the govt. want to give the rakyat an e-mail account?#1Malaysiaemail
Yeoh Ee Ping (@eepings) does not see the point of it as well:
@eepings: If it is costing RM50 million of tax payer's money to have an email address, I'd rather not have it. Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo all free.
State Assemblywoman Hannah Yeoh (@hannahyeoh) feels that more serious issues should be tackled:
@hannahyeoh: If Federal Govt can give all Malaysians a 1Malaysia account, I don't understand why automatic voters registration cannot be done.
Currently, a Facebook page objecting to the project has garnered 34,000 likes.
Shahz blogs that this project could lead to other more problematic issues like privacy:
With every citizen having his own e-mail address, protecting their privacy is going to be a tough job. It will only make fake ID cases more prominent as each e-mail carries the personal details of the citizens.
Dori_Lukey took a cynical and sarcastic stance about the issue:
The company in charge of this project, Tricubes Bhd, was at risk at being de-listed from the Bursa Malaysis stock market for not being able to keep in finances in order and to meet the obligations set by Bursa Securities (source here). If it had not been for the RM50 million dumped into it by the Malaysian government to create email accounts for all of us, many in the company would have lost their jobs, particularly the friends and relatives of our dear PM.
So by signing up as a 1Malaysia email user, you are actually doing the correct thing in helping to save the rice bowl of many important people out there. If not, many workers of Tricubes Bhd would not have been able to go Bali as planned this December.
The blogger at Jo’s Sanctuary also thinks the project is a waste of money:
I really wonder do the Government know what they are doing. If they want to have our email to convey message to us, they can do so by making announcement via the public media which they have doing so all this while. I don’t see the need for a private thread between us.
However, while many have come out to criticise the Government for wasting taxpayers’ money, the prime minister announced on Twitter (@NajibRazak) that no public funds will be used as this is a private project:
@NajibRazak: Before I sleep, let me clarify that the 1Malaysia E Mail is a private sector project. No public money is involved n entirely voluntary.

author: Jerrenn Lam


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Memories of Portuguese Decolonization · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

“In their dreams they still revisit Africa”, and they share their memories on the blog Retornados da África [pt]. Read the stories of those who returned to Portugal from the African colonies, after the end of the dictatorship, on April 25th, 1974.

author: Sara Moreira


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Pakistan: Urdu Losing Its Glory? · Global Voices
Rezwan

“Urdu stands at the brink of artistic and aesthetic extinction,” opines Pakistani blogger Salman Latif.


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Russia: A Video of President Medvedev Dancing · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Siberian Light, Global Chaos and Russia! are among those who comment on a YouTube video of President Dmitry Medvedev dancing to the Russian pop song “American Boy” at a college reunion party a year ago. On Twitter, Medvedev (@MedvedevRussia) comments (RUS) on the video himself, in reply to Zaporozhye-based fashion blogger Anastacia Ukhova (@Halfblood_Uliss), who writes (RUS) that Medvedev dances like her father.


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Russia: Reactions to Freedom House Internet report · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

LJ user dolboeb discusses [RU] how Russia is portrayed in the recent Freedom House report on Freedom on the Net 2011.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


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Russia: Social Networking Via a “Prison” Game, Female Users’ Photos · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Katya Trubilova of Social Media Lessons From Russia and the UK writes this, among other things, about Russia's largest social network VKontakte: “The most popular app on Vkontakte is a game called Тюряга (Prison) with 6 134 947 installations. The goal of the game is to make tattoos to become a respectful criminal. Russian criminal tattoos have a complex system of symbols and this application educates widely on this topic.” English Russia posts a selection of “typical photos [of females] from Russian social networks.”


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Saudi Arabia: Mapping Human Rights Violations  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Amnesty International has set up a crowd sourced map (Ar) on human rights violations in Saudi Arabia. The aim is to allow users to report and map human rights violations taking place.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Singapore: Bloggers Criticize PAP Manifesto · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Singapore’s ruling party, People’s Action Party (PAP), released its election manifesto on April 17, 2011, which was immediately criticized by many bloggers for being “too vague.” PAP has been in power for five decades already. The country's General Election will take place on May 7.
The PAP manifesto promises a better future for all Singaporeans
You can count on the PAP to do the best for Singaporeans from all walks of life, and to keep us united through good times and bad. Together, we will make Singapore a vibrant and inclusive society, with opportunities for a better life for each and every citizen. We will be a city for the young and old.
To achieve this vision, we seek your mandate to:
• Create opportunities for higher incomes for all
• Improve the lives of lower-income Singaporeans
• Bring out the best in every child
• Develop a vibrant city and an endearing home
• Help our seniors stay active, healthy and engaged
* Involve all Singaporeans in shaping our future
Below is the video of the manifesto prepared by PAP:
The manifesto mentioned about the commitment of PAP to respect diverse views in society. But Mr. Brown complained that commenting is disallowed on the PAP video site.
jadenster uploaded this video which contrasted the PAP manifesto with the current situation in Singapore:
cloudywind also has a short video which slams the legacy of PAP:
Lucky Tan is not impressed with the manifesto and warns that the proposed solutions have been done before:
In fact, where solutions are cited in the manifesto, they are what the PAP has been doing in the past decades e.g. retraining of low income workers from one low income job to another etc.  When the same solutions are used, we will only get the same results – widening income gap, rising cost of living and a deteriorating quality of life.
Through the Wordle site, alvinology compares the PAP manifesto with the manifesto issued earlier by the opposition Workers’ Party’s (WP). The PAP document consists of 25 pages compared to the 63 pages in the WP manifesto. Bloggers also noticed that the WP manifesto has detailed recommendations in 15 different policy areas.
Yawning Bread criticizes the leadership brand of PAP:
It’s getting very tired. And what the PAP does not realise is that this constant harping about the risk of failure has actually damaged Singapore. Far from making us a confident, innovative society willing to try new things and benefitting from experimentation, it has made us risk-averse and slightly paranoid. It’s hardly any wonder stress levels in Singapore are so high
Blogging for Myself accuses PAP of being ‘clueless’ to the current realities in the world:
In one word, the PAP is CLUELESS. I am not expecting some grand theory that is good enough to help illuminate mankind into the future, but they do not have a sufficient grasp of the driving forces today beyond being bewildered by it all and can only say this: The future is highly uncertain.
The PAP has been short changing themselves because they are apt to choose people they trust rather than the ablest. You know the dynamics of human relationships, it is impossible to have a large company of people that you can develop deep trust.
Molly Meek publishes an annotated document of the PAP manifesto. She also described the manifesto as a defense of the status quo:
The PAP Manifesto is ultimately about maintaining the status quo, making it cosmetically and statistically better but substantially worse. Expect minor tweaks but do not expect them to translate to any palpable benefit for Singaporeans; do not expect anything near a paradigm shift in thinking. (And no, of course there’s no groupthink in the PAP.)
Nigel Tan is disappointed that the manifesto contains only vague promises:
The document seems to contain a series of vague promises, with neither details of specific policies nor information on how the various stated aims were going to be implemented.
As elections get nearer, netizens are encouraged to post photos of the elections in the GE2011 Media website.

author: Mong Palatino


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South Korea: Search Engine Censorship Claims · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

As South Korea's biggest search engines file an anti-competition charge against Google, net users have started to look back at the various companies’ contributions to the Korean net environment. The nation's most visited portal, Naver, has come under particular fire for alleged news screening and censorship of information, along with its monopoly in the field.
Google pressure?
Two of the biggest Korean search engine operators, Naver (NHN) and Daum filed a claim with the Korean Fair Trade Commission on April 15, 2011, alleging that Google had pressured Android phone manufacturers to block them from installing its rivals’ search engines or applications. Google brushed aside the claim on April 18, saying mobile carriers and phone manufacturers have full choice in deciding what to install on the Android phones.
Naver and Google's mobile applications. Image by author.
Naver's staff said in an interview with local newspaper [ko] that Google had abused it power with regards to manufacturers who plan to install search engines other than its own, by delaying the period of the so-called compatibility test suite, or CTS. Manufacturers must take the test in order to acquire certification to load the Google application.
Google has a 20 percent mobile market share in South Korea and only 2 percent in the fixed line search, while Naver and Daum's search engines account for about 90 percent of the fixed line internet searches combined. (Naver's share is over 70 percent overall).
Koreans, who usually support local brands, have criticized Naver instead of Google, for abusing its power not only on the IT field but also in the media industry.
Search engine media power
Naver's newscasting of local media outlets creates huge viewership, big enough to bring major changes in Korean media landscape.
South Korean internet-based citizen/blogger news site, Wiki Tree commented [ko] that since most news articles’ page views came from the Naver newscast page, media companies acknowledging this fact, have came up with more provocative and sensational news titles.
To convert the page views via Naver to lucrative advert click counts, media companies plaster their news pages with tawdry flash adverts with pornography-like revealing images from diet supplement manufacturer or gruesome images from dental clinics.
Sample of Internet news adverts. Captured from local newspaper outlet Hankooki.com. Criticism of Hankook newspaper not intended.
Blogger Havnpark  wrote [ko]  a post entitled ‘How can we understand Naver's Power?':
우리나라 포털 사이트는 네이버와 다음, 이 두 양대산맥이 움직이고 있다고 해도 과언이 아니다.[…] 네이버에 지나치게 많은 정보가 유입되면서 네이버는 정보를 중개하는 기능을 넘어, 정보를 통제하고 가공하는 역할을 하고 있다. […] 네이버의 ‘보이지 않는 손은’ 여전히 활동중이다. […]
최근 적지 않은 논란과 의문을 낳고 있는 검색 노출법 변화가 대표적이다.[…] 뉴스 검색에서 일부 매체의 기사가 정확도 상에서는 검색되지 않는 경우가 있어, 관계자들의 의구심을 사고 있다.
Korea's portal space is ruled by two titans, Naver and Daum. […] As too much information has been injected to Naver, it has passed the point where Naver was a mere middleman of the information and [it has] become a manager who censors and edits the information. […] Naver's ‘Invisible Hand’ is still operating. […]
What ignited controversies and raised questions nowadays, is Naver's shift in the search method. […]  Some media outlets’ articles were left out in its news search and related people have started raising suspicions.
Naver's ‘Invisible Hand’
Last week, Naver was severely criticized in blogs and on the Twittersphere by allegations suggesting that they had intentionally removed a hard-core progressive media platform, the Voice of People (VOP) [ko] from their newscast list. People were puzzled since VOP has a strong reputation in the online news industry. It was ranked as the top internet-based news media [ko] in 2010.
Yu Chang-seon (@changseon) who has worked in the broadcasting field over several decades and is now reporting as a one-man media outlet,  tweeted [ko]:
민중의 소리가 네이버 뉴스캐스트 선정에서 또 탈락했다고 한다. 트래픽 수나 기사의 질로 봤을 때, 형평성에 문제가 있는 듯하다. 정부가 싫어하는 기사가 많아서? 아님 이름 때문에? […]
[Note: The Korean word ‘민중’ (People) in the VOP is perceived as more political term than the neutral term ‘people’. The word is often used under a context reporting ‘a crowd of people’ gathered for a movement or protests.]
It is not 100 percent clear that Naver screened VOP because of its political stance. Other progressive media who often harshly criticize the government, such as Kyunghyang, Ohmynews and Pressian are still being displayed in the newscast alongside conservative media outlets.
Blogger Photohistory argued [ko] that angry net users know only one side of the story:
전화가 나서 네이버에 따졌고 네이버 고객센터는 저에게 그 답변을 했습니다. 민중의 소리가 최근에 뉴스검색에서 빠진 것은 민중의 소리가 […] 비슷한 기사를 자꾸 재전송을 해서 다른 뉴스기사가 노출되는데 방해가 되었고 그런 이유 때문에 네이버는 민중의 소리에 뉴스기사 재전송하지 말고 수정하라고 연락을 했습니다. 하지만 민중의 소리는 그 네이버측의 수정요구를 늦게 받아 들였고 어쩔수 없이 네이버는 뉴스기사 검색에서 민중의 소리를 뺐다는 것 입니다.
Nonetheless, one thing people have reached a consensus is that Naver has started wielding tremendous power in the journalism industry. Blogger Yoizu  posted [ko]  VOP's Editing Manager, Kim Dong-hyun's email, explaining the situation:
네이버에서 당장 민중의소리를 쫓아내지는 않을 것 같습니다. 하지만 언제든지 네이버가 마음을 먹으면 민중의소리를 쫓아내는 건 일도 아니라는 것을 알았습니다.‘네이버에서 민중의소리 기사가 검색되지 않는다.’ 만약 그렇게 된다면 네이버 검색은 정상적인 검색인지도 의문스럽습니다.
No legs to stand on?
Korean IT people have defined Naver's move as ‘the pot calling the kettle black‘, reminding of the company's record in devouring new-born internet ventures, such as small-scaled internet shopping sites, e-real estate sites and mapping services. A social media and brand marketing expert, Lee Jang-woo (@leejangwoo) tweeted [ko]:
네이버가 며칠전에 구글을 독과점등으로 공정거래위에 제소했었는데. 과연 일리있는 행동? 압도적인 1등이 3등업체를 모바일검색 땜에! 네이버 땜에 시달리는 다른 한국업체들은 어떻게 해야하나요?
It has been quite a while since Koreans have been able to search Naver's contents from Google. A Bloter article [ko], which was actually called ‘The Pot Calling the Kettle Black’, pointed out that Google's CTS process has indeed limited phone manufacturers’ freedom by leaving them with no option but to install Google's applications first. But the report did not justify Naver's record of abusing power over small IT businesses.
Kunoo (@peilkai)  tweeted [ko] that the net users and advertisement agencies’ heavy dependence on Naver has given birth to the problem:
네이버의 구글 제소건으로 논란이 되었는데 네이버도 문제지만 사용자, 광고주도 생각 바꿔야. 만약 포털 없어지면 마케팅 자생력은 있는지 냉정해져야. […]
Global IT brands have met with huge backlash in South Korea, not from the country's people but from its government. In January 2011, Google got involved in another anti-competition case as the National Police Agency found it had illegally collected personal data for its Street View map service.
Facebook, in December 2010, had a bout with the Korea Communications Commission as, back then, it refused to comply with South Korean privacy laws which require the companies to ask for users’ consent before getting their personal data.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


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Syria: Homs Protests Attract Thousands (Video)  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011.
Despite the security crackdown, protests are continuing in Syria, with countless of videos surfacing online showing thousands of protesters calling for the overthrow of the Assad regime. Here is a selection of videos from Homs.
On YouTube, Day of Rage TV has uploaded over 50 videos of the protests across Syria for far. The user  posts this video from Homs, saying that thousands of people gathered there on April 18, 2011. They are saying the all too familiar chant [ar]: “The people want to overthrow the regime.”
This video, by the same user, shows the beginning of a funeral procession, for one of those who have lost their lives in the protests, also from the same day:
Videos showing thousands of protesters praying have also been posted. This video shows part of the Asr (afternoon) prayers:
And this follow up video, shows protesters taking part in the Maghreb prayers:
For more videos on the Syrian protests, tune into Day of Rage TV Channel.
This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011.


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Ukraine: “Crumbs From the Table” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Foreign Notes reports that a Ukrainian MP Rinat Akhmetov has bought a penthouse in London for £136 million ($222 million), and intends to donate $1 million for the construction of the new containment structure at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant; Akhmetov's fellow Party of Regions MP Mykola Lisin died in Kyiv on April 17 “in a high speed crash whilst driving his $165k+ Lamborghini Gallardo” at 150-200 km/hour.” Ukrainiana writes about a Ukrainian police officer who killed a teen cyclist – and got a promotion.


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Zimbabwe: Interview With Zimbabwean Political Scientist · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Read Upenyu Makoni-Muchemwa interview with Zimbabwean author, political scientist and commentator, John Makumbe.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Bangladesh: Netizens Protest Human Rights Abuse in the Hills  · Global Voices
Rezwan

This post is part of our special coverage Indigenous Rights.
Although outnumbered by the Bengali population, the close to one million indigenous and aboriginal population of Bangladesh live mainly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Over the years they have become vulnerable minorities.
During the 1970s and 80s, the government took steps to resettle Bengali homeless people in the three hilly districts of Bangladesh. There were resistances and insurgency by the local indigenous people and these previously tourist places became a protected militarized zone.
For decades Bengali settlers and soldiers have been accused of human rights violations against the tribal minorities while members of the Shanti Bahini and other rebel indigenous groups have committed similar violations, including the massacre of unarmed Bengali settlers. The 1997 Peace Treaty with Shanti Bahini granted a limited level of autonomy and stemmed the violence but the problem was not solved.
Settlements in the hills. Image by Flickr user Nurulamin Russel (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).
Recently ethnic violences sparked again and news media reported that four Bengali settlers were killed and 50 others were injured in Ramgarh on Sunday April 17, 2011. According to a statement by Amnesty International:
The latest round of tensions began on 14 April when a group of Bengali settlers occupied and tried to plant crops on areas within the Jumma’s ancestral lands, in Khagrachari District in south-eastern Bangladesh. After three Bengali settlers were killed on 17 April, allegedly by Jumma people, settlers looted surrounding indigenous villages and injured people, burning at least 60 homes.
Indigenous sources say they informed the local authorities – including the army, which has a heavy presence in the area – of the settlers’ movements, but they failed to act on the information.
The voices of the indigenous people are rarely heard in the mainstream media but through the Internet – blogs and Facebook – they have found a platform from which to be heard. In the Facebook group CHT Voice people have been wondering why only the casualties of Bengali settlers are being reported. Radhamon wrote:
News are being filtered, and media is BIASED. They DONT LIE, but they DONT TELL THE TRUTH.
A new blog called CHT News Update has this question:
Bangladeshi mainstream media has been overflown with biased news about Ramgarh incident. The  journalists try to retain objectivity in their news. However, all news articles are being filtered by the security forces before they get published and thus the public is not made aware of the real story.  If you look at the the Bangladeshi dailies, you will see news and pictures of injured and dead Bengali settlers. How come they never dare to publish the pictures of these injured Indigenous people?
Blogger and journalist Biplob Rahman writes at the Indigenous Bangla Blog [bn]:
Those who have tried to gather news on their own initiative, have learnt that although the majority of casualties are Bengalis but they were the first attackers. The indigenous people have tried to resist with their scanty resources. Not only that, the cause of the violence, the land dispute, was generated as the Bengali settlers tried to grab the lands of the indigenous Marmas living there.
Unheard Voice blog posts a round up of mainstream media news and also some news, images and video obtained via email.
Another blog CHTBD.Net is reporting that the number of houses of locals burnt are 95, and 4 indigenous persons are confirmed missing.  In an interview Polen Chakma describes how he escaped death on April 17.
Anandi Kalyan quotes one of her friend's Facebook messages to describe [bn] how these incidents are accumulating hatred against Bengalis amongst the indigenous people:
There are unrests in the hills for decades. Let alone the statistics quoted in the media, I know from personal connections that my indigenous friends are victims one way or another. When I went to visit places like Bandarban, Rangamati, Teknaf and Cox's Bazar I saw that many businesses and settlements are owned by Bengalis. Those who are aboriginal there are cornered now. The hills have become agitated yet again and we are reading reports on attacks against Bengali settlers. The repressions against the indigenous people are being blacked out.
When I speak with my aboriginal friends hatred are forming inside them because of our land grabbing mentality. My friend, who remained apolitical over the years now also think of armed resistance.
We should not only think about the Chittagong Hill Tracts as an ‘awesome’ touristic place. To what extent we think about the well beings of the indigenous people living there?
An indigenous family in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Image by Flickr by Jonas in China (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).
Blogger and Journalist Arif Jebtik writes [bn]:
There comes a time when civil societies have to stand on their feet and boldly say the truth. The situation on the hills is demanding the same from us. The hills are for the people of the hills, you cannot hide the truth trying to impose logics of political science. The politicians have resettled homeless Bengalis in those hills. They had to build settlements for them and had to deploy army for their security. The problem starts here. We at the same time have endangered homeless Bengalis, our security forces and of course the indigenous people.
The only way to solve all problems persisting in the hills is to remove all the Bengali settlers.
This post is part of our special coverage Indigenous Rights.


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Bangladesh: RIP Tim Hetherington · Global Voices
Rezwan

This is from a newly found Facebook group commemorating photographer Tim Hetherington, who died on duty while covering the front lines in the besieged city of Misrata, Libya – “We, the Bangladeshi photographers express our deep condolence to Tim's family. Tim was a teacher in Pathshala- The South Asian Media Academy. His works and energy were the tremendous inspirations and support for us. R.I.P Tim…”


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Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago: REDjet Delay  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“People don’t take kindly when you make newspaper announcements that you’re coming for dinner, but you didn’t bother to inform the host”: Barbados Free Press blogs about new regional carrier REDjet's apparent failure to comply with licensing processes in Trinidad and Tobago.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Bermuda: Shrinking Population = Shrinking Economy? · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

In the face of declining local retail sales, Vexed Bermoothes believes that “the real reason for the anaemic economy is that Bermuda’s population has shrunk … and that the local economy has shrunk correspondingly.”


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Chile: Nurse Expedites Organ Transport Using Twitter · Global Voices
Elizabeth Rivera

Cristina Bizama (@cristi_enf), a nurse at Talca hospital in Chile, has devised a way to speed up the transport of organs for transplant from Talca to the capital, Santiago, some 260 kilometers away (162 miles). It all started with a tweet sent the night of April 12, 2011:
Increíble, No existe forma de llevar 5 organos a scl [Santiago]
According to the online daily El Dinamo [es] the nurse was referring to two kidneys, a liver, and a heart that were ready for transport to the capital but the means didn't exist to do it at that moment.
New wing of Talca Hospital (Flickr: Besser, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Action through tweets
The Twitter community sprang into immediate action.
One of the first users to raise the alarm was programmer Felipe Zúñiga who wrote to various media, entertainment and government Twitter accounts:
@felipezuniga_: En Talca hay 5 órganos listos para donación y la Fuerza Aérea no dispone de avión hasta mañana AM. Hagamos campaña…
Member of Parliament Rubilar (@karlarubilar) was one of the first people to respond to the call for action and followed up as can be seen in the following series of tweets (1, 2, 3):
@felipezuniga_ de donde sacaron esa info??? Puede informarme mas?
@cristi_enf que necesitan? Que le digo al ministro?
@FelipefromChile super! Yo llame al ministro @allamand! Para que hablen con la Fach [Fuerza Aérea de Chile]
Luego Felipe Zúñiga (@felipezuniga_) was thankful:
Me avisan q a través del Ministerio de Defensa se está coordinando el traslado de órganos. GRACIAS A TODOS!!!
However, the parliament member reported to El Dínamo [es] that both the Health Minister (Jaime Mañalich) and Defense Minister (Andrés Allamand) had been contacted, besides the transplant coordinator, within the hour that the organs became available.  They planned for the organs to move the following day though this would have caused problems with compatibility tests for recipients.
One of those involved in the organ transport effort, Health Ministry nurse, Felipe Cortés (@FelipefromChile), related what happened on Twitter:
@FelipefromChile: @karlarubilar Yo trabajo para el Minsal [Ministerio de Salud] y estoy haciendo contactos para agilizar traslado. Gracias por apoyar con sus llamadas a Talca!
Also he reported:
@FelipefromChile: A esta hora de la noche, coordinando con Enfermera de Procuramiento traslado de órganos de donante óptimo desde Talca a SCL @MarcelaAninat
Finally an Air Force [es] plane was made available, but unfortunately because the Institute of Public Health [es] hadn't examined the organs, the transport could not take place until 8 am the next morning, April 13. El Dínamo [es] reported: “We are monitoring the situation through the night, including Minister Mañalich personally.”
Afterwards, parliament member Karla Rubilar (@karlarubilar) let it be known through Twitter:
@karlarubilar: El paciente está estable todo coordinado pa mañana 8 AM x corporacion trasplante. Habrá q evitar las deficiencias logísticas. @jmanalich
She added that it will be important to review the process so that the organ donation system can be streamlined with fewer major delays:
@DanielCastell hay problemas mas allá del traslado. Hay q hacer una seria revisión. La corporacion trasplante no puede ser pariente pobre.
After El Dinamo [es] reported on the incident, the Procurement Coordinator for National Transplant Corporation [es], Diego Buchuk, explained that the nurse who raised the problem to public attention on Twitter was not involved in the coordination that was already taking place to collect and transport the organs.
The call for help raised by Cristina Bizama and the later responses of the parliament members and ministers showed the power that exists in a social network like Twitter and the need to review the organ transport procedures.
The network CNN Chile [es] also reported the story, mentioning that this was a “good exercise of social networks”.
This tweet by Felipe Cortés (@FelipefromChile) perfectly summarizes what happened:
Se dan cuenta cómo UN TWEET puede salvar una vida? Cuidemos esta herramienta, gente. #Trasplante #DonaciondeOrganos

author: Elizabeth Rivera


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China: Facebook’s PR strategy · Global Voices
Marta Cooper

Bill Bishop at DigiCha and Imagethief's Will Moss ruminate on Facebook's PR strategy as speculation grows over the social networking site's possible entry into the Chinese market.

author: Marta Cooper


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China: The Murder Case of Yao Jiaxin  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Over the past few months, the cold-blooded murder of a young woman, Zhang Miao, by affluent music student Yao Jiaxin, has been the most heated topic on the Chinese Internet.
Most netizens believe that Yao Jiaxin must be given the death penalty for justice to be served. However, as if to add oil to boiling water, on the eve of the verdict in the murder trial, which concludes on April 22, 2011, propaganda authorities have demanded that all media outlets use the Xinhua report as their only news source, as well as to monitor all related online discussions.
To review the murder case, before looking at Chinese netizens’ reactions, we have:
The murderer – Yao Jiaxin
Yao Jiaxin is a student at the Xi'an Conservatory of Music. At around midnight on October 20, 2010, he hit a 26-year-old woman, Zhang Miao, with his Chevrolet near the university campus.  When he saw Zhang was copying down his car's license plate number, he took out a knife and stabbed Zhang six times until she died. While he was trying to escape, he hit two other people in a nearby village and was caught on the spot.
On October 22, the police managed to connect the two car accidents together and arrested Yao Jiaxin on charges him of murder. On October 23, Yao described the details of the murder case to the police. He was then put on trial on March 23, 2011, at the Xi'an Intermediate People's Court. Since Yao has confessed to his crime and shown remorse for the murder, it is quite likely that he will escape the death penalty, like other hit-and-run incidents.
However, online public opinion demands that “Yao Jiaxin must die”.
When the news was first reported online, many believed that Yao was a typical second generation rich kid. Below are the results of a human flesh search done on Yao's father's military background (via the China Strong blog) [zh]:
【父药青伟从石家庄军械技术学院毕业后分到西安工作，系总后西安军事代表局驻华山厂军代表（政委），”一辈子当甲方，都是别人来求他”。药青伟06年退下 来前取得了副师级的待遇，一次性拿到将近30万，每个月退休工资近6000元。药家住新城区20街坊（华山厂家属院）军代表楼。】
Even though a number of state media tried to cool down netizens’ hatred towards Yao by providing various details, such as his mobile phone mortgage, to show that Yao's family is not that rich, such efforts have failed. In Tianya Forum‘s discussion thread [zh]:
fanyanjun 2011-04-18　13:11:13
枪决立即执行，还犹豫啥。
要不以后谁敢上马路呀？
Fly together 2011-04-18　13:13:39
不管是穷二代还是富二代，杀了人就要偿命。。。
New anger 2011-04-18　13:34:17
践踏完道德和别人的生命～还要继续侮辱别人的智商～！
屎可忍尿不可忍～
Zhao Gau 2011-04-18　13:47:20
不管他们这些利益集团走狗放什么屁，药家鑫都得死，不死不行！
hailangpeng 2011-04-18　14:56:52
无良媒体 和药八刀一起杀掉 杀无赦
The victim – Zhang Miao
In his defense, Yao said that he stabbed Zhang because she was a rural peasant, implying that she might blackmail him over the car accident. One of Yao's university classmates supported such opinion on her microblog, saying that she would have stabbed the woman to death as well if she had wound up in Yao's position.
Blogger Candy Lu [zh] has screen captured the microblog conversation. The exact wording of Yao's university alumni is:
我要是他我他媽也捅，真是輿論都向著受害人，怎么没想着受害人当时不要脸来着，记车牌？
Such prejudice against rural peasants only further outraged netizens. Second-hand-mud-horse expresses his anger in some prose dedicated to Zhang Miao [zh]:
张妙，你傻不傻。
药家鑫下车查看你的伤势的时候，为什么要眼睁睁的看着它。或许你善良的心让你以为他是来送你去医院的。
可是你错了，他只是来看看你是农村人还是城里人。
张妙，你竟然傻的被药家鑫看出了你是农村人。在药家鑫的眼里，农村人的命太不值钱了，撞伤倒不如撞死。可是，他忘了碾压数次直接把你压死。不得已一个激情挡不住的掏出从车上带下的刀，狠狠的捅入你的身体。八刀。
张妙，你傻不傻。
即使药家鑫拿着刀来查看你的伤势怎么了？
即使药家鑫想了半天你是农村人怎么了？
预谋杀你的时间太短了，他们说这是激情杀人，不算故意杀人。
是我们都太孤陋寡闻，竟然没听说过激情杀人。
Zhang Miao, how silly you were?
When Yao Jaxin checked on your injury, why did you stare at him. You probably thought that he was going to take you to the hospital.
You were wrong. He was checking if you were rural peasant or city dweller.
Zhang Miao, how silly that you let him know that you were from the rural area? In Yao Jaxin's eyes, a rural peasant's life is worthless. Death would cost less than injury. But he forgot to crush you with his car. Instead he stabbed deep into your body with his knife, eight times.
Zhang Miao, how silly you were?
Even though Yao Jaxin checked on your injury with a knife,
Even though it took him awhile to figure out your rural background,
The time for a premeditated murder was too short. They called this murder out of rage, rather than intentional murder.
We are all too ignorant to hear of such a term before.
Zhang Miao. Image posted by Powerful-weibo.
Microblog user Powerful-weibo posts Zhang Miao's photo and explains her background [zh] in his microblog:
她的死，引发舆论大地震。家境贫困15岁辍学、每天不吃早饭省钱给妹妹。卖馒头、摆小摊、做服务员…攒钱给弟弟，自己不舍得买衣服。春节前，贫困的她 还硬塞给妹妹100元…始终肩挑做大姐的责任。在她失业的那天晚上被无情杀害，留下2岁孩子。杀她的人叫药家鑫。张妙，一个至死都活在贫穷里的80后 女孩。
Within one day, the post has attracted more than 3,000 angry comments, most of them demanding the death penalty for Yao.
Prominent children's author Zheng Yuanjie created an opinion poll on Sina Weibo [zh] today (April 21). In less than 3 hours, 7,379 people had participated in the vote with 97% (7,182) demanding the death penalty. Only 3% (197) support an amnesty from a death sentence:
Jungle law
Why are Chinese netizens so angry and obsessed with seeing Yao be given the death sentence? There are several explanations.
In Baidu Tieba, Civilized-cyber-cafe believes [zh] that those who demand the death penalty for Yao are just an irresponsible angry Internet mob:
杀死药！！！我们这些伪愤青网络暴民才能爽一下杀死药！！！我们对生活，对国家的不满才能发泄出来杀死药！！！是不是就能让国家更好，我不关心，我们就是 要杀死他！！！杀死药！！！法律是不是就更完善也不关我们的事 ，我们只是这次要他死杀死药！！！
On the other hand, Baidu Bar user Bobo-Bar believes that the public outrage is the result of fear [zh]:
他们害怕这个社会真的被丛林法则主宰，弱者彻底丧失法律的庇护。
What exactly is this jungle law in the Chinese context? Microblogger Exercise-book believes that there is a powerful organized force backing up Yao Jiaxin:
Yao's whole team is so well organized that they can exempt him from the death penalty with strong reasoning: that this was manslaughter by legal definition. It wins public sympathy and there is a reason behind the murder…
They are very successful in transforming the case from crazy murder to murder out of rage to manslaughter.
Eventually, it might as well turn into legal self defense, or a courageous act…
Everything is possible in this country, all it takes is public relations.
The discussion thread has attracted more than 2,500 comments and 10,000 retweets. And, as if public outrage was not already boiling hard enough, the State Council Information Office stepped in on April 17, demanding all media outlets use the Xinhua report as their only news source for the story, and requiring them to carefully monitor related online comments.
China Digital Times has reposted the media notice [zh]:
国新办：关于药家鑫案审理宣判的报道只使用新华社稿件，不再作跟进性报道，不再转发有关此案的稿件。严禁编发境外媒体稿件，严禁违规使用小报小刊、都市类媒体稿件，严禁将论坛帖文、博客文章作为新闻编发。相关报道不放突出位置，管好跟帖，防止持续炒热。
With the stepping in of the propaganda authority, Yao's murder case has gone from an overheated online debate to a case which tests the Chinese government's control over online public opinions. The verdict will be released tomorrow, but won't look good either way the court rules.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Cuba: Fonseca Released  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“The publicity on Facebook, Twitter and blogs only intensified…”: Uncommon Sense says that the release of Cuban human rights activist Sara Martha Fonseca “is a victory for freedom.”


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Guatemala: Maximón and Other Holy Week Traditions · Global Voices
Renata Avila

This post is part of our special coverage Indigenous Rights.
When a very religious culture becomes dominated by yet another deeply religious people, often the religion of the conqueror is imposed on the conquered. However, cultures have always found ways to offer resistance; in Guatemala somehow the Catholic religion has been “hacked”  to incorporate indigenous peoples’ gods, goddesses, rites and ceremonies while integrating elements of Catholicism.
Maximón is the best example of such transmutation, as explained by the photoblog Mi Mundo:
Aq’ab’al Audelino Sajvín explains: “In oral tradition, Maximón represents Kaji’ Imox,  the last ruler of the Maya Kaqchikel people [during the Spanish  conquest], who was tied, tortured and murdered. This entire episode is  known as Xkiyüt Xkixïm/Ximon, which is surely why they call him Maximón: ma refers to a male person in the Maya Kaqchikel language, and ximón means he who is tied up.” According to Aq’ab’al Audelino Sajvín the syncretism between Maximón and  Saint Simon began when “the Christian [conquistadores] realized they  could not eradicate the image of the great protector of the people.  Hence, they began to promote the idea of Maximón as being the same as  Saint Simon, often related with Saint Jude, a treacherous figure.”
Picture under a Creative Commons attribution license by Gustavo Jerónimo.
The different and very special elements of religion in Guatemala make the Holy Week (in Spanish, ‘Semana Santa’) quite a unique experience, including characters like the “Cucuruchos“, communities gathering to create holy week carpets made of flowers, and devoted men and women carrying on their shoulders colonial images of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary while wearing traditional outfits under the sun, in spite of the hot summer.
Holy Week is a family celebration where everyone is invited to participate, as the photo blog AntiguaDailyPhoto.com describes:
As I’ve mentioned before, the making of carpets from sawdust,  pine-needles, flowers, vegetables is a community-forming tradition.  People get together by block or near-by neighbors to create the carpets  on which the processions will pass by. Sometimes the making of the  carpets is done at night, all night so they are ready for next day’s  procession. The colorful processional carpet elaboration process  involves the whole family, close friends, the neighborhood and the  entire community. It does not matter if it’s just grandma throwing some  corozo (corozo palms) and dried purple flowers to elaborate a humble  alfombra in front of her home or it is a team of members of the cuadra  (the block), or if a son lends a hand to a dad to put the final touches  on the brightly-colored sawdust carpet, the devotion and the do-good  spirit are present everywhere you look.
Holy week carpet making. Image by Rudy Girón www.Antiguadailyphoto.com (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Antologia del Desengaño [es] explains how Holy Week is celebrated in a very different way in Santiago Atitlán:
En  Santiago Atitlán, el  Viernes Santo por la tarde, al igual que en el  resto católico del país,  da inicio la representatividad de la muerte de  Jesucristo, pero a  diferencia del mundo ladino, la celebración no tiene  connotaciones  ominosas. Al interior de la iglesia hay un tumulto de  gente que  participa en la preparación del cortejo procesional, con  tambores y  chirimillas, no hay pesadumbre; hay respeto al ceremonial,  pero no hay  tristeza, ni acongojamiento en el rostro y actitud de la  gente .
Holy Week in Guatemala is rich with colors, scents and devotion. It is a cultural,  spiritual and gastronomic experience for locals and visitors in this  diverse country with more than twenty four languages and different  indigenous groups. The best of different worlds come together to enjoy and find beauty in mixing, rather than imposing, their culture.
This post is part of our special coverage Indigenous Rights.

author: Renata Avila


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Indonesia: Suicide Bomber Targets Police Mosque · Global Voices
Tikno

A suicide bomber attacked the Adz-Zikro mosque located within a police complex in Cirebon City in Indonesia last Friday, April 15, 2011. Dozens were injured when the bomb exploded during Friday prayers. Indonesia is the most populous Muslim dominated nation in the world and in recent years, it has been targeted by extremist terrorist groups.
This amateur phone video which was uploaded on YouTube captured the scene inside the mosque right after the bombing.
The attack surprised many people in Indonesia especially those who usually link bomb attacks with Islamic fanatic groups. But the suicide bombing in Cirebon was unusual since a Muslim house of prayer was targeted by a terrorist.
Street in downtown Cirebon, West Java. Photo from Flickr page of Swaradila Weesy
What are the reactions of Indonesian bloggers?
Blogger Multibrand asks why the bomber was able to enter the mosque without being apprehended by the police:
Considering that Muhammad Syarief (the suspected bomber) was active in several public protests, destruction of mini market and suspected of killing an Army officer, I felt that it was very weird that he was able to enter the Police's Mosque without being noticed.
Rantau Pincono urges the public, including the media, not to immediately link the bombing with Islamic groups:
Seharusnya aparat, pemerintah dan media tidak terburu-buru untuk mengeluarkan analisa atau wacana bahwa pelakunya dari kalangan Islam. Hal ini akan menyesatkan masyarakat Indonesia dan menciptakan rasa curiga dan ketidak percayaan antar masyarakat yang memicu konflik horizontal. Stigma buruk dan pelabelan Islam sebagai dalang teroris sebenarnya sudah tidak layak untuk dijual dan dijadikan dagangan untuk proyek yang lebih besar yaitu mengebiri sikap kritis anak bangsa yang menginginkan perbaikan.
He also stated unequivocally that “ISLAM BUKAN TERORIS” (ISLAM IS NOT TERRORIST) in his post.
Forum Demokrasi believes that this latest act of terror is not exclusively related to religion:
Tetapi kita bisa menyimpulkan bahwa siapa pun kelompok dan otak dibalik serangkaian terror bom tadi, sat hal sudah jelas bahwa pada dasarnya terror bom bukan sekadar soal pertarungan pada wilayah keagamaan, tetapi lebih luas wilayahnya, sampai ke ranah politik local yang tak menutup kemungkinan berkaitan dengan jejaring iternasional, sebagaimana yang selama ini terjadi.
Keluarga-Madinah mentions a TV report which identified the bomb attack as a possible communist plot:
Kabar terbaru dari Telewicara TV One News dengan Al-Chaidar tadi sore, kemungkinan pelaku bom bunuh diri tersebut adalah kader komunis, yang ingin mengadu domba antar agama di Indonesia.
There is another interesting story behind this case. Prince Raja Mochamad Saladin, an elder of the Sultanate of Kanoman, has confirmed that the suspected suicide bomber Muchammad Syarief has a kinship with the Kanoman royal palace. Muchammad Syarief's royal blood comes from his mother's line but the palace considers him an ordinary man because his mother was married to an ordinary person. Therefore, and also due to his bad behavior, the palace refused to bury him in the palace cemetery complex. Nonetheless until now the police not yet found any evidence linking the Kanoman's royal family members to the crime.

author: Tikno


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Jamaica: Walcott’s Work · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Litblogger Geoffrey Philp features a poem by Derek Walcott, saying: “I swear, [he] makes writing verse look so easy…a poet whose oeuvre shows a deep love for the Caribbean–its language, landscape and light.”


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Kenya: Poets and Writers Online · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The power of the pen meets the power of the Net in Kenya: “The digital world remains unconquered by creative writers with platforms like Itunes offering opportunities to poets and writers who can turn their work into audio. Youtube is a free video site where one can easily upload their performance video opening up opportunities for performances outside Kenya.”


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Lebanon: Seven Estonian Hostages Appeal for Help · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

On March 25, Estonian YouTube user HelensVlogs reported on the kidnapping of seven Estonian tourists two days earlier, as they were cycling in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. On April 20, the seven hostages appeared in this video, pleading for help. (More info, on BBC News – here and here.)

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Russia: Discarding marriage · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Yelena of Russian Blog discusses the double meaning of the Russian word “brak” namely marriage and discards.


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Russia: Medvedev Unhappy With Websites on Drug Preparation · Global Voices
Vadim Isakov

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called for shutting down the websites containing the information on preparation of drugs. He said that web hosting providers should be responsible for closing those sites, Russian information agency “RIA Novosty” reported.

author: Vadim Isakov


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Russia: Migration Service Official’s Racist Comments · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

At GlobalPost, Miriam Elder writes about the spokesman of Russia's Federal Migration Service, who was “fired after telling the BBC that migrants posed a challenge to the purity of the ‘white race’.”


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Russia: Penza Prosecutor’s Office Investigates Anti-Semitic Comments · Global Voices
Vadim Isakov

The prosecutor's office of Penza region started to check anti-Semitic comments and pictures that had appeared on Penza information portal pnz.ru. After the evaluation of the material, the prosecutor's office will decide on the possibility of a criminal case.


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Russia: Reactions to Putin annual speech · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Democratist shares some reactions on Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin's, speech to the Russian parliament on Wednesday April 20, and reflects upon it from the perspective of the 2012 presidential elections.


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Russia-Switzerland: New magazine for Russia, Belarus and Ukraine · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Gedankenbörsen Blog draws attention to [GER] a new magazine in Switzerland – Echo – about Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.


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Sri Lanka: Much Ado About The UN Advisory Panel Report · Global Voices
Rezwan

Indrajit Samarajiva at Indi.ca provides a voice of reason regarding the much hyped and loathed UN Advisory panel report on human rights abuse during the fag end of Sri Lanka's war against the LTTE. The blogger comments that the debate is not exactly helping towards reconciliation.

author: Rezwan


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Ukraine: “Chernobyl Tourism: Time to Put an End” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Leopolis writes about the negative effect of “Chernobyl tourism”: “It has been branded as extreme tourism. The only problem is that as opposed to jumping off a cliff, you see the site that caused, and continues to cause, lots and lots of suffering.”


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Zambia: Cadre Diplomats · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Zambian Economist reacts to reports that the Zambian president pleaded for funding from a supposedly non-partisan Foreign Service: “This should be considered an abuse of office.  The President has turned the foreign service into a funding pot for his re-election campaign.”


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Zambia: Tweeps Discuss Need For Condom Distribution in Prisons · Global Voices
Gershom Ndhlovu

This post is part of our special coverage Global Development 2011.
Issues such as HIV/AIDS and homosexuality are emotive issues in Zambia. The former has claimed a lot of lives in the last quarter of a century and the latter is an issue that people dare not talk about publicly.
Only recently, the leader of the country's largest opposition party dared to say that Zambian laws recognised homosexuality, a statement which the ruling MMD party, pro-ruling party Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Christians have tried to use to alienate him from the electorate.
What makes the issue of homosexuality a sensitive issue is the fact that Zambia is a Christian nation, which is also reflected in the preamble of the republic’s constitution. Some Zambians on Twitter have, however, brought out an interesting aspect of the homosexuality debate – that condoms should be distributed in Zambian prisons, where sodomy is known to be practised.
Below is a Twitter conversation on homosexuality, HIV/AIDS and condom distribution in Zambian prisons.
@missbwalya:
You can't champion increased HIV funding & ignore the plight of prisoners who face great risks to their health as well.
@missbwalya:
Get off your moral high horse & see reality of HIV spread in prisons between inmates. They're humans too.
@damyna:
@missbwalya its true, is this in reference to Zed? [Zambia]
A condom on the obelisk of Buenos Aires, Argentina to commemorate World Aids Day. Image by Flickr user Erik Stattin (CC BY-SA 2.0).
@senkwe:
Where is this coming from Bwalya. Which jurisdiction are you on about?
@missbwalya:
This is coming from Zambians hiding behind cloak of self righteousness that denies MSM activity in prisons & lack of HIV prevention.
@senkwe:
That's a sticky topic. Isn't homosexuality still illegal in Zambia?
@senkwe:
Well knowing Zambia, until it's decriminalized they'll continue to turn a blind eye and say “ni zabo” (it is there problem). Can't win.
@missbwalya:
Fat chance of that happening. Don't forget we still burn suspected witches & wizards. We ain't leaving stone age anytime soon.
@senkwe:
Exactly, distributing condoms in prisons would be seen as a tacit acceptance of homosexuality in Zambia. It'll take bravery.
@missbwalya:
LPM [the late Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa] publicly acknowledged the prob & called for changes. Not sure where that went.
@senkwe:
Did they eloborate? For all we know they might have proposed prayer to rid the prisoners of ‘gay’ demons. #bwafya [it is a problem]
@missbwalya:
I can't remember all the details but it's good he even talked about it considering how we usually do!
@damyna:
This applies to Zambia & other places where dangerous denial costs lives.
The importance of this Twitter conversation cannot be over-emphasised. There are widespread rumours of sodomy in Zambian prisons, most of which were built before independence in 1964 when the population was below four million. With the nation’s population now close to 14 million, prisons nationwide are overcrowded.
Zambia’s ex-convicts come out of jail suffering from many diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and skin diseases; many of them do not live long after their release.
This post is part of our special coverage Global Development 2011.

author: Gershom Ndhlovu


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Bermuda: MPs’ Salaries  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Bloggers are unimpressed by “the continuing refusal of MPs [Ministers of Parliament] to take a pay cut, even a symbolic one.”


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Brazil: Friends and Advocates of a Street Full of Trees · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

The Amigos da Rua Gonçalo de Carvalho‘s blog (Friends of Gonçalo Carvalho Street) [pt] explains how a group of people in Porto Alegre, Brazil, mobilized an advocacy campaign against the plan for a new development construction in that street. Gonçalo de Carvalho Street is nowadays considered historical, cultural, ecological and environmental heritage.


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Central Asia: “Cyber Chaikhana,” Book Written by Bloggers · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

“Cyber Chaikhana” is a book project about Central Asian bloggers and their perceptions of their region, culture and everyday life. Edited by Christopher Schwartz and published by HIVOS, the book is a collection of narratives written by the bloggers at NewEurasia.net, the Central Asian blogging network.
The aim of the project is to reach out to both the Central Asian (Russian speaking) and global audiences; both Russian and English language versions of the book will be published.
The name of the book, chaikhana, means “a teahouse.” Christopher Schwartz explains the philosophy of the title and the book:
Cyber Chaikhana, at Bar Camp Central Asia, photo by Alexey Sidorenko
As you all know from experience, the teahouse is a centre of community life in Central Asia. In the teahouse, all subjects, from politics to religion to backgammon strategy to the fashion sense of a local politician, are energetically discussed over cups of hot sugar tea.In NewEurasia’s “cyber chaihkana” our webloggers come together over keyboards rather than tea, but the results are greater in scale: whereas the traditional chaikhana is local, the Internet is a teahouse encompassing the region.
The Russian version of Cyber Chaikhana was presented at the BarCamp Central Asia 2011, an Almaty-based IT event. In a short interview with Global Voices, Christopher Schwartz explains why bloggers’ voices are important in discovering the region, and how online speech can combat orientalism:

author: Alexey Sidorenko


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China: Massive Strike by Truck Drivers at Shanghai Ports · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Kenneth Tan from Shanghaiist posts photos and reports on the massive strike by truck drivers against rising fuel prices and higher handling fees charged by Shanghai ports.


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China: Rescuing Dogs · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Jing Gao from The Ministry of Tofu has summarized some micro-blog discussions on the recent dog rescuing action in Beijing.


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Libya: Remembering Photojournalists Hetherington and Hondros · Global Voices
Asteris Masouras

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.
Award-winning, renowned war photojournalists Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros were killed in action on April 20, 2011, in Misrata, while covering the chaotic frontline of the Libyan conflict. They were mortally wounded in Tripoli Street, reportedly by a mortar fired by Gaddafi forces at pro-democracy fighters.
Freelance photographer Guy Martin was seriously injured and underwent surgery, while photographer Michael Christopher Brown was also injured. Fellow professionals mourned their slain colleagues, and reminisced on two lives lived in full, and in peril, in the pursuit of truth, while all major photography outlets paid tribute to their work.
Photojournalists Tim Hetherington (photo by Justin Hoch on Flickr, licensed as CC-BY) and Chris Hondros (Twitter profile photo)
Hetherington's last tweet, several hours before he was killed -and months after his previous one- conveyed a sense of foreboding:
In besieged Libyan city of Misrata. Indiscriminate shelling by Qaddafi forces. No sign of NATO.
A phone call to the  Feb17Voices service, which enables people to call in comments to be transcribed and posted online, detailed the circumstances of the photojournalists’ death:
@feb17voices: LPC #Misrata: caller with knowledge of situation: journalists were struck by 2 mortars in an area of Tripoli St. considered ‘safe’. #Libya
War correspondent C J Chivers continuously updated his report for the New York Times, and also posted a grim account on his blog of the conditions in which the bodies of the fallen photographers were evacuated from Misrata.
@cjchivers: New account frm jrnlist w Chris&Tim: They may have been hit by mortar rnd. Updating NYT now. RPGs&Mrtrs both in use on TripSt.
@cjchivers: Remains of Tim and Chris r on the Ionian Spirit tonite, headed by sea to Benghazi, thx to compassion and fast work of HRW and IOM.
Seven Libyan civilians were also killed in Misrata in the same day, as well as a Ukrainian doctor, while his wife lost both her legs.
Reactions on Twitter
Moving eulogies and remembrances from colleagues of the slain photojournalists abounded on Twitter, as well as in blogs and articles, in the following days:
@spinonspin: #chrishondros on the risks of being a conflict photographer: “to be the gazing eyes and thoughtful conscience of the world”
@evanchill: Terrible news in Misrata today. Photojournalists are always first into the danger.
@jenanmoussa: #Aljazeera cameraman Ali Jaber, Moh Nabbous, Tim Hetherington, martyrs of journalism..conflicting reports about Chris Hondros. #Libya
@NickKristof: The courage of photographers in E Libya is breathtaking. Tim Hetherington & Chris Hondros, RIP. http://nyti.ms/ghsjce
@photojournalism: Wednesday 20 April 2011. Black day in the history of photojournalism. I cannot fucking believe this.
@andersoncooper: a friend and great photographer Tim Hetherington has been killed in Libya. The news is gutting. He was such a wonderful guy
@SauvignonBlonde: The last self portrait Chris Hondros sent me. Taken in Iraq b4 he went to Libya. What a stunning photographer.  http://twitpic.com/4nkgcu
Libyan pro-democracy Twitter users hailed them as heroes:
@ShababLibya: Remembering #TimeHetherington #ChrisHondros and all Libyans and nonLibyans who have fallen due to #Gaddafi's tyranny.Never forget our heroes
@BenghaziDoc: To the loved ones of Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros, I send my deepest condolences. Libya will honor their memory always.
@Freedom_7uriyah: RIP Tim Hetherington – Libyans will not forget you, thank you for getting to Misrata and showing the world the reality #Hero
@ibnthabit: sad for @TimHetherington & @ChrisHondros Libyans remember you as heros. Meet me on the corner of Hetherington and Hondros in #Misrata #Libya
“The gazing eyes and thoughtful conscience of the world”
Chris Hondros in Iraq (Photo reposted from Twitpic with permission from J. Mann Charters)
Film-maker Vincent Laforet summarizes why photojournalism is important and what made those men special in his blog:
Chris and Tim were two of the best in the business – icons of our generation (my generation.)  They were both incredibly accomplished and recognized journalists – their work received almost every honor and award that exists today for both stills and motion. [..] Many of us grew up hearing of Robert Capa and other famous war photographers.  Many of us idolized them. The first time I had an AK-47 pointed at me,  I immediately knew that I wasn’t cut out for the incredibly dangerous work myself.   Therefore I’ve always admired those who go out every day to cover conflict across the world – their work is incredibly necessary. [..] Chris was a modern day Capa – his work was unparalleled.[..] Tim's film Restrepo was an incredible piece of work – as were his photographs. [..] I can say that both men died doing what they loved most.
Christina Larson provided a personal remembrance of her friend Chris Hondros in Foreign Policy magazine:
Chris was able to be both intensely present in the moment, as all war photographers must be, and yet forever thinking deeply and broadly about the long march of history, about the rise and fall of empires, and about the drama of individual human lives — our passionate triumphs, dreams, struggles, and heartbreaks unfolding across a larger stage.
Sebastian Junger, Hetherington's co-director of the Oscar-nominated documentary Restrepo, delivered a moving last address to his friend in first person, on Vanity Fair:
You and I were always talking about risk because she was the beautiful woman we were both in love with, right? The one who made us feel the most special, the most alive? We were always trying to have one more dance with her without paying the price
But Todd Watson set the record straight on what really drives photojournalists:
It would be easy to dismiss such individuals as adrenalin-addicted war zone junkies, but the truth is these men and women are often the only people there to bear witness and document the atrocities, aftermath, and consequences of the world’s conflicts.
Mary Siceloff also mused on the parallel war fought by war correspondents:
Journalists [..] fight a second, parallel war for transparency, for clarity, for you and I to get the actual story, to see and feel the human toll of warfare. And now two of those brave and important voices are gone. Who will take up sat phone/camera? Who will let us know when dictators are firing on their own people, when prisons have become torture chambers [..] Who can fill these shoes?
And photographer and film-maker Ron Dawson delivered advice to colleagues in both industries:
In light of the drama that seems to plague our industries (both photography and filmmaking), it’s nice to know there are professionals like Tim and Chris redeeming us all. Pursue life with wild abandon, people. Use your craft for good. And follow the examples of Tim and Chris when you represent your industry.
The power and controversy of citizen video
NPR's senior strategist Andy Carvin, interviewed by Global Voices last month on his work in curating news about the Arab revolutions on Twitter, agonized over publishing a graphic video showing the stricken photojournalists in surgery. Carvin defended his decision in a lengthy and dignified post:
I post it nonetheless because I believe it is important to document what happens during wartime and to give people the choice to bear witness. [..]
War does not discriminate: it can claim the young, the old; men and women; soldiers and civilians. And in this case, journalists. [..] I too know a number of people who were very close to these men. But all the other people that have been documented as casualties during these attacks, they all had people who knew them and loved them. Yet we shared footage of them nonetheless, again because of that desire to bear witness. [..]
[..] Ultimately it boils down to this: I feel like I would be an absolute hypocrite if I didn’t share this video.
In his last interview, Tim Hetherington had talked about the power of video and the personal view in reporting:
video is having a profound effect on our society. I watched Anderson Cooper right after the Japan earthquake, and the entire broadcast was amateur videos. And they were fascinating—almost more powerful than professional images. Why is that? It’s the immediacy. And it’s the intimacy. It’s a personal view.
Hetherington had compiled this harrowing collection of graffiti images whilst covering the civil war in Liberia from behind rebel lines, which earned him an execution order from then president Charles Taylor:
He billed his latest short film, Diary, shot after 10 years of war reporting, as “a kaleidoscope of images that link our western reality to the seemingly distant worlds we see in the media.”
Remembrances and retrospectives
All major photojournalism outlets honored the two fallen photojournalists with photo galleries showcasing their work. The New York Times’ Lens Blog cast parting glances at Hetherington and Hondros, as did Time Lightbox (Hetherington, Hondros) and Life Magazine (Hetherington, Hondros).
Large format retrospectives of their work were featured in: The Boston Globe – Big Picture, Sacramento Bee – The Frame, The Atlantic – In Focus, LA Times – Framework, Denver Post – Captured and Tampa Bay – All Eyes. The Guardian, Telegraph, Washington Post and Foreign Policy Magazine also published galleries of their photos. Photographer Mikko Takkunen compiled an extensive roundup of links to tributes in their honor.
Remembrances and images of the two photojournalists are collected at the Facebook page of the Conflict Zone non-profit project, a compilation of works by combat photographers and journalists to support the severely injured and their families, inspired by photojournalist Joao Silva, who lost both legs in a landmine blast in October 2010 in Afghanistan, while on assignment for the New York Times.
Attacks on media in Libya intensify
The Committee to Protect Journalists produced a tally of casualties and attacks on the press in Libya since February, intensified in recent weeks:
80 attacks on the press since political unrest erupted in Libya last month. They include four fatalities, at least three serious injuries, 49 detentions, 11 assaults, two attacks on news facilities, the jamming of Al-Jazeera and Al-Hurra transmissions, at least four instances of obstruction, the expulsion of two international journalists, and the interruption of Internet service. At least six local journalists are missing amid speculation they are in the custody of security forces. One international journalist and two media support workers are also unaccounted for
Reporters Without Borders outright accused the Gaddafi regime of targeting the press. Some media professionals concurred:
@mike_wood: Dictators should stop killing journalists reporting on dictators slaughtering their own people. #TimHetherington#ChrisHondros #RIP
@HalaJaber: Are journalists now being purposely targeted to prevent coverage in #Misrata?
That may well be the case, with Arab journalists covering the conflict especially in peril. Al Jazeera cameraman Ali Jaber was ambushed and killed near Benghazi, on March 12, while Al-Hurra TV channel founder Mohamed Nabbous was killed by sniper fire in Benghazi on March 19.
This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.

author: Asteris Masouras


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Malawi: Political Science Lecturer Talks About Blogging Academic Freedom · Global Voices
Victor Kaonga

When Malawi's Inspector General of Police Peter Mukhito summoned political science senior lecturer Dr Blessings Chinsinga over an example he gave in the lecture room, he had no idea that the incident will appear on Boniface Dulani's blog. And when it did, Malawi media picked and followed the rest of the developments which have left the University of Malawi's two main colleges closed for a month now.
Global Voices author Victor Kaonga wanted to hear from Dulani about his blogging experiences especially following the Chinsinga episode which has turned into a movement fighting for for academic freedom.
Malawian Lecturer Boniface Dulani. Photo source: Michigan State University Flickr page.
Question: Why did you start blogging?
I have to give Steve Sharra – a Malawian and Africanist blogger extraordinaire- the credit on this one. He prodded me to put my old journalism skills to practice by starting the blog. My love for blogging has since grown as it has provided me with a medium for airing my thoughts without editorial deadlines and word restrictions
Did you ever expect that one of your blog posts could be the source and reference of the fight for academic freedom in Malawi?
Far from it. When I resisted Steve’s initial push to start the blog, I had very low expectations about blogging generally and particularly about my ability to garner the kind of readership that my blog has attracted so far. I had always thought that not many people would be interested to read my thoughts, especially when there are so many news media that provide timely commentary on Malawian politics and other issues. On the issue of academic freedom, it never crossed my mind that of the many rights and freedoms that are guaranteed in the Malawi Constitution, this one would come under threat in the way it has. I had hoped that gone were the days when academics lived in fear and had to choose between self-censorship or leaving our beautiful country for faraway lands that provide guarantees of academic freedom. It was such a major shock when the Chinsinga episode happened.
Many media houses in Malawi heard about the summoning of Dr Blessings Chinsinga by the Inspector General of Police after you published the story on your blog. How do you feel when you see many stories written and published in the media based on your post which has since become very influential?
I am glad that I was able to bring this unfortunate episode to the attention of colleagues in Malawi and around the world, and I am thankful to all those who provided the link to my blog on their facebook pages and other social networking sites. Despite the interest that the story generated, including the spike in traffic to my blog, I would rather the incident had never happened and the situation remained as normal than celebrate this sad episode that provides yet another piece of  evidence on Malawi’s slide to dictatorship.
You wrote in an email to me that you are now afraid to be in Malawi. Why?
Well, I know Blessings as well as any of my colleagues in the University of Malawi. Compared to the pointed examples that some of us give in the hope of equipping the future generation of Malawian policymakers with contemporary skills to tackle the country’s myriad challenges, Blessings is very mild in his criticism. My fear then stems from the observation that if a moderate like Blessings can be summoned by the Inspector General of Police, what would prevent them from dragging some of us to court with the possibility of imprisonment, and God forbid, death? I am afraid Malawi has become a society where people that provide honest commentary like Blessings are being victimized while opportunistic praise-singers and hand-clappers keep on being rewarded. This is scary, not only from a personal security perspective, but also for the future prospects of our beautiful country. It is an entrenchment of a dangerous brand of patrimonial politics that should have no room in the 21st century
Do you regret having published that story?
Not at all. I can never have regrets for telling the truth as I see it. The unfortunate events that I described in that story happened. Again, I would rather be writing some positive stories about Malawi, but there is very little that is positive to say about the Malawi politics at the moment.
Have there been any changes in the number of visits to your blog since the story about Chinsinga started running?
There has been a big spike in the number of visitors to the site. The Chinsinga story attracted the most hits of all the stories that I have ever posted and also attracted the highest number of comments. There was also a dramatic increase in the number of individuals signing up to follow the blog, which went up almost threefold. Another notable feature is the traffic from Africa, particularly Malawi. Prior to the Chinsinga saga, the majority of visitors to the blog were from the United States and Europe. However, since then, there has been a surge in the number of unique and returning visitors from Malawi and within the African continent.
When one, especially a Malawian, reads your blog, one gets the impression that you are very upset with the current president and administration. In fact in one of your posts, you have stated that two cabinet ministers (of Justice and Education) have been the worst performers. Considering the political situation in Malawi today, do you think you would have been able to vent off such sentiments in any other medium other than through a blog?
Blogging provides a unique space where one can write freely, without fear or restrictions. The blog also gives me the widest scope of topics to comment on. I remember when I used to write a weekly column in a Malawi newspaper sometime back, there were many times when I just felt there was nothing worthy writing for the week and yet had to submit something to my Editor. Although the media in Malawi, especially the print media, does provide some space for the type of political commentary like the one on the blog, one is often shackled by editorial policy. In any event, editors might feel compelled not to publish some of the thoughts that are deemed to be too confrontational and likely to elicit negative reaction from government such as the piece on the Ministers of Education and Justice. There is no such pressure with blogging. I write and post on topics that I feel like commenting on at a time of my choosing!
How do you feel after publishing any posts regarding politics in Malawi?
The blog for me is like a personal platform from where I can speak and reach out to the world about my thoughts on politics in Malawi. I take particular pleasure in the comments that some of my stories generate and love especially the critical comments that challenge me to rethink some of my own positions.
Has your blog ever been blocked?
Thankfully, not yet.
What do you think is the future of citizen media in Malawi with regard to democracy and governance?
There is a big and growing role. While during the Kamuzu era, events in Malawi would take forever to reach the rest of the world, today’s events can reach all corners of the world in a matter of seconds through various citizens’ media channels. Looking at some of the global reaction to the issue of academic freedom in Malawi, it is encouraging to note that the citizen media is already playing such an important role in promoting transparency and holding political elites accountable for their actions. All these help to support and nurture democracy and good governance in our beloved country. Sadly though, our government in Malawi does not appear to be moving fast to embrace this new media, which has the potential to enable them not only to get important feedback on policy choices, but also to reach out to the public in ways that were not possible in the recent past.
In some of your posts and online conversations, you have declared that as an academic, you will not keep silent. What do you mean?
In my view, events such as Chinsinga’s summoning by the Inspector General of the Malawi Police are meant to cow people and silence critical voices. I have, however, always held the view that criticism, if embraced and acted on by government, can serve a positive purpose and facilitate better choice. To give in and become silent due to threats and intimidation from the police and security agents is, in my view, equal to giving up on Malawi. Since we don’t have much choice on our nationality, I will therefore not be silent but will continue speaking out. And thankfully, many colleagues within the University of Malawi, civil society and the citizen media also refuse to be silenced. I take pride in being part of these communities.
Do you think you need any support from online activists in the fight for academic freedom and other human rights in Malawi?
Certainly. As my good friend, Henry Chingaipe, would say, those who sleep on their rights suffer what they have to suffer under bad regimes. Online activism provides an opportunity for ordinary Malawians to stand up and defend their own rights and influence others to do so. Remember, the time when Malawians, including academics, struggled for their rights and freedoms during the Banda era: the news would be passed on through letters that had sometimes to be smuggled out of prison. As a result, their messages and appeals for help took forever to reach the outside world. By the time responses and messages of support began to trickle back in, it was often too late – some were either already dead, in prison while others could not wait and had to free the country. The online media today and the teams of online activists have the capacity to reach out to a global audience and elicit timely responses before it is too late for today’s freedom fighters. In countries like ours where patrimonial politics has taken root and the propensity for non democratic governance is high, academics can provide a lead as voices of reason in the defence of rights. Their stand to defend their freedom, should encourage us all to not let the political elites trample on rights that we have by virtue of being human beings.
Share with me comment/feedback highlights that you have received since you posted the story about Chinsinga.
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. People are shocked that Malawi appears to be headed back to the dark days of dictatorial rule. However, there is at the same time determination that we should not allow a few selfish individuals to take us back to those days. On another note, after I published the story on the blog, I also received an e-mail from the Institute of International Education in the United States asking me to pass on information to Blessings about  the Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF), which provides temporary fellowships for established scholars whose lives or careers are threatened in their home countries. This for me, demonstrates, yet again, the power of blogging.
Your last word.
Let me end with a quotation from one of the commentators on the Chinsinga story, Bertha Lilian Munthali. She writes: “Don’t ever under estimate the power of the people. In togetherness and oneness, there lies our strength, the very same people who sang praises and voted for you, the same can peacefully ask you to let go”. Amen to that and thank you for giving me this opportunity to share some of my thoughts with you. To my fellow bloggers, I say don’t underestimate the power of this medium. There is much that can be achieved using this platform.
* Read our article about Boniface Dulani's post and another article by Steve Sharra about classroom spies and academic freedom in Malawi.

author: Victor Kaonga


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Maldives: Competency of Maldives Media  · Global Voices
Rezwan

Hassan Ziyau criticizes the Maldives media by questioning their competency and the standard of the editors and their playing of a puppet role for the businessmen and the politicians.


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Nigeria: #NigeriaDecides Tech Meetup in Lagos · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

CP-Africa announces #NigeriaDecides tech meetup in Lagos, Nigeria on April 30, 2011: “The meetup is organizing a second edition to review the use of technology in the 2011 elections – and discuss possible future directions.”


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Nigeria: Tweeps Report And Discuss Post-Election Violence · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

This post is part of our special coverage Nigeria Elections 2011.
Nigeria's presidential election was held in on 16 April 2011. Goodluck Jonathan was declared the winner. Some observers including The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) have alleged that the election was rigged to favour the incumbent.
Post-election violence erupted in northern states where supporters of Muhammadu Buhari attacked churches, homes and police stations. Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections in Kaduna and Bauchi states have been postponed to April 28. Elections in other states will take place on April 26. Human Rights Watch has issued a warning against Nigerian leaders while The International Criminal Court says it is investigating the crimes committed after elections.
This is a summary of reports and reaction from tweeps using NigeriaDecides hashtag. @zainabsandah wonders whether Nigerians elected a “slow-mo” government while @rotexonline wants to know if Nigerian police or state security use social media to communicate to the public.
Tensions are high in Nigeria, and there have been reports of riots in a number of states. Image by Tom Saater, copyright Demotix (18/04/2011).
Accept defeat and move on
@collinskadiri:
Some ‘BAD LOSERS’ of last saturday's polls r desperately trying to discredit d Elections.. Pls let's Move on #MudSlingers #NigeriaDecides
@Adewunmi:
@nkemifejika @DoubleEph #Buhari needs to get over election loss.”Riots are nothing to do with me”stance isn't stateman-like #NigeriaDecides
@feathersproject:
Listening to Buhari at CNN. Why can't this guy just give up? #Nigeria #NigeriaDecides #exactly he lost by a big margin..
@feathersproject:
Buhari: go to court, get off the streets! #Nigeria #NigeriaDecides
Was election rigged?
@ab_kalajanga:
#WelcomeToNigeria where election rigging is legalised. #NigeriaDecides #PollWatch2011 #Election234Next #INEC
@bakarelawal:
RT @collinskadiri: They keep talking about rigging in the south.. I wonder what they're saying about the numerous underage voters in the North #NigeriaDecides
@eseoraka:
RT @reformerx: Violence brings retrogression, hurt and pain. Development achieved overtime is overturned in a day. #developnigeria #nigeriadecides
Post-election violence
@Chyzob:
The reformation of all security apparatus shld be of greater priority on d agenda of the next president #SSS #NPF #Nigeria #NigeriaDecides
@Ganiyulawal:
Condolence to all the family who lost their children(NYSC corps) and houses in Nigeria, Northern states violence. #nigeriadecides
@SatNigeria:
Military checkpoints, charred buildings and burnt cars along roadside in rural Kaduna state #Nigeriadecides”
@jongambrellAP:
The road out of Kaduna is filled with overloaded cars and vans of people fleeing in case violence starts again #nigeriadecides
@reformerx:
Violence brings retrogression, hurt and pain. Development achieved overtime is overturned in a day. #developnigeria #nigeriadecides
@jongambrellAP:
Good morning from Kachia in Kaduna state. We spent the night in bush after soldiers told us it was too dangerous to travel. #nigeriadecides
@rotexonline:
Does asking supporters to defend their votes constitute inciting them to violence? #nigeriadecides
@jongambrellAP:
We saw a burning roadblock last night in one village without soldiers. Townspeople ready to attack those they don't know. #nigeriadecides
@jongambrellAP:
Things remain incredibly tense in rural Kaduna state as townspeople around here flee with their belongings. #nigeriadecides
What is the solution?
@toluoloruntoba:
We will forgive, and do, but the north in general has a lot to do to regain the nation's trust. It may never. #NigeriaDecides
@stephnorajacob:
RT @semakof: we want peace, we dont want war. This is the only country we have. #NigeriaDecides should not create divisions among us. We are One.
@nonye85:
Tips on making 26th Violent free. a. Sleeping, b. Playing games, c. Watching Tel. d. Chatting, Let your finger print count #Nigeriadecides
Election fairytale
@ukgreat:
Girl: Dad, do all fairly tales begin wit ‘Once Upon'? Dad: No sweetheart,some begin wit ‘if i am elected’ #Nigeriadecides
This post is part of our special coverage Nigeria Elections 2011.


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North Korea: North Korean Defectors’ Remittances to Families in North · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

North Korean expert Andrei Lankov, wrote about the remittances from North Korean defectors on the East Asian Forum site. Despite their economic struggle in capitalistic South Korea, they send money to their starving families in the North, a basically illegal act according to both South and North Korean law.