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Saudi Arabia: Prince Naif is Coming · Global Voices
Mona Kareem

It took Saudi netizens only a few minutes to pop up on Twitter with their worries after the death of their late Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. Many of them kept asking the same question – about the identity of their next crown prince – until the news came from the Royal Palace on midnight on October 27, 2011, appointing Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud,  the interior minister of the Kingdom since 1978 and the second deputy prime minister, as the next in line to the throne.
It is not as if Saudis didn't see this coming; however, a sort of wishful thinking kept imagining that King Abdullah might choose someone else. Now, with the official news appointing Naif as the crown prince, who will stay in charge of the Interior Ministry as well, Saudis are expecting stronger support for religious authorities and the police, as well as less freedom and more arrests. Prince Naif has been known for these actions over the past years of his management of the Interior Ministry.
Saudis tweeted this picture of Prince Naif with a quote that shows his opposition to women driving: "I said it in the Shura Council, Women will not drive cars as long as I am alive."
Reactions online
Saudi tweep Ali J. Al-Dawood (@abu_jafar) [ar] commented sarcastically on the news, saying the new era might put all Saudis in jail:
والله عندي إحساس ان الشعب السعودي كله راح يتهشتق
Waleed Al-Khodhairi (@i_Waleed) [ar] has also hinted about arrests under Prince Naif:
اللهم موّت الشعب في يوم واحد ويصحى بعدها الزعيم ما يلاقي حد يسجنه
Saudi journalist Ebtihal Mubarak (@EbtihalMubarak) posted a link to a Facebook group three days ago:
@EbtihalMubarak: Saudi FB page: “No for Prince Naif as Crown Prince” لا للأمير نايف ولياً للعهد on.fb.me/nlsiGH
And after the news came official, she posted those two tweets:
@EbtihalMubarak: Saudis fave word tonight “The horror, the horror” http://bit.ly/cSjlpq  #NaifHalloween
@EbtihalMubarak: It's not like Saudis experienced democracy under Abdullah's reign but they're weeping over his soon to end days sums it all.
Another Saudi female tweep called Norah (@Hit_Zero) [ar] referred to freedom of speech in Prince Naif's coming era:
تويتر في الطريق للحجب .. حفلة وداعية لجميع حديث العقل.. واقبال متوالي لشراء الطيران
Khaled Hothaly (@k_hothaly) [ar] brought up the issue of arrests:
إعدام أعمار البشر في المعتقلات كإعدام الأجساد بالرصاص .. لا فرق
A 15-year-old Saudi high school student Saud Bin Khaled (@SaudBinKhaled) [ar] addressed Prince Naif saying:
يجب على الامير نايف .. ان يلتزم بالدين لا بالعُرف ، و أن يعترف بالحوار
Another Saudi student (@reefaa_) [ar] tweeted in fear of the coming days:
الله يطول بعمر ابو متعب اعتقد ايامه راح تكون ايام دلع ب النسبه لنا عقب مايصير نايف ملك اللهم اعطنا خيره وأكفنا شره
One more student (@AwthahAbs) [ar] referred to the oppression of free speech under Naif's rule:
إلحمدلله اني وقفت توترة عن بعض المواضيع تجهزا لهاليوم المبارك:$
Kuwaiti tweep Saad Alajmi (@alajmi_saad) [ar] referred to how Naif's era will not be in favor of women demands:
كان يا ما كان، كان فيه نساء حلوين يحلموا يقودوا السيارات
من منطلق استراتيجي مرحلي، ادعو المرأة السعودية للمطالبة بحق قيادة المرأة “للدراجة الهوائية”! أما السيارة ففي الجنة ان شاالله
Haneen Alhawas (@haneen_alhawas) [ar] referred to the same issue of women rights:
اقول جميع نساء المملكة انسي انك تسوقين سيكل بحوشكم
Saudi Blogger Fouad Al-Farhan (@alfarhan) [ar] has always referred to the Saudi Kingdom under Prince Naif as the new North Korea and today he received the news by posting the national anthem of North Korea, in bitter sarcasm:
النشيد الوطني لـ كوريا الشمالية http://bit.ly/vR3n77
Ali Al-Amer (@_3amr) [ar] wrote one more tweet about the issue of arrests:
كل مواطن الآن زادت نسبة احتمالية دخوله السجن ثلاثة أضعاف
Abdullah AbdulRahman (@3badi8) [ar] has also showed his fear of the police:
جيب الشرطة البني صار مرعب أكثر من قبل

author: Mona Kareem


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Sri Lanka: Working Towards Uniting the Nation · Global Voices
Rezwan

The 26 year long civil war in Sri Lanka has left many scars and it is an uphill task to diffuse all the tensions in this multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural nation and start the reconciliation to unite people.
Sri Lanka has long been divided along ethnic lines. The children of the war grew up with stereotypes, hatred and division between communities; suspicion and misunderstanding still keep them from bridging the divide. One organization named Sri Lanka Unites is engaging Sri Lankan youth to build good leadership with hope and reconciliation who will unite the nation one day. From their website:
Our vision is, “to unite the youth of all ethnic and religious groups across Sri Lanka in a movement that promotes reconciliation, creating a peaceful and prosperous nation for future generations”. Our mission “To be a symbol for, and an example of, the powerful potential of united Sri Lankans to work towards sustainable development, peace and prosperity”.
Sri Lanka Unites started its operation in 2009, building network of clubs in schools across the country. Its team regularly visits schools, organizes workshops, leadership conferences and many more events across the country.
Reconciliation is a sensitive issue and while numerous activists and diplomats are debating on this in discussion tables and activists are ranting about the issue in the social media, Sri Lanka Unites is actually doing something. Indrajit Samarajiva writes:
Sri Lankan unity (from the people) is the way out of our problems. [..] If I read you correct, you have a cart/horse issue. That is, Tamil grievances should be acknowledged before people accept Sri Lankan unity, preferably from the top. My offensively frank response would be, “can’t wait, let’s go”, but that’s why I’m not a diplomat.
I think Sri Lanka Unites makes the point better than me. They’re not waiting for cart or horse, they just building a united Sri Lanka now.
The blogger adds:
I’m not saying that Tamils should forget their problems. I’m saying that all Sri Lankans should help. I’m saying that I’m trying to help. I hope you’ll accept my comments in that spirit. [..]
I was watching this Sri Lanka Unites video and I think I realize what I’ve been missing in my, forgive me, haste. An apology.
This is what they suggest we say, and I mean it
“Unconditionally from the bottom of my heart, for the future of our country, whether I was part of the violence or not, I was here. If anyone from my community has hurt you. Come let us reconcile.”
The organization has also been subjected to criticism, which had been defended by Prashan De Visser, the President of Sri Lanka Unites.
On the 'School Relationship Tour' across Sri Lanka. Image courtesy Sri Lanka Unites.
Sri Lanka Unites has been arranging Future Leaders Conference every year and read about this year's (3rd) conference in their blog. This month Sri Lanka Unites has started their school relation road trip and regular updates are being posted in their blog. Here is a summary of the first leg of road trip (check out photos from here & here):
On the 9th of October, we left Colombo at 4p.m. heading to Kandy. At Kandy we were hosted by the Hindu Cultural Center. [..] In Kandy, we visited Trinity College, who were the host of FLC season 3, and the welcome there was amazing!  We also visited Hillwood Girl's College. Part of the team went to Kurunegala district where they visited Malliyadeva Model School and Royal International. On the 11th of October we had a workshop for the Kandy and Kurunegala districts at the Hindu Cultural Center hall. [..]
On the 12th of October, we went to Nuwaraeliya where we had assemblies at St. Xavier's College and Beacon Hill Academy, followed by a workshop for both the schools. It was the most interactive workshop, and the response was excellent!
We left to Kegalle on the 13th, and visited Kegalu Vidyalaya and Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya. On the 14th, part of the team left to Ratnapura where they were warmly welcomed by Dharmapala Maha Vidyalaya which is our only member school in the district. The rest of the team conducted a workshop for the Schools of Kegalle district at the Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya. St. Joseph's Convent, Kegalu Vidyalaya, Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya and a few more schools participated.
The stories of students making friends from other parts of the country are being posted in YouTube. Sri Lanka Unites has a strong presence in Social media with its Blog, Twitter, Facebook page, Flickr and YouTube channel.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Rezwan


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St. Vincent & the Grenadines: 32nd Independence · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“I thought of our resilience and how despite all the adversity we have not given up”: Abeni wishes her country a Happy 32nd Independence Day.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Taiwan, Taipei: Occupiers’ last front torn down · Global Voices
Portnoy Zheng

Green Party member Wang Zhong-ming posts his picture on facebook of he sitting in a damaged tent torn down by the police near Taipei 101, the counterpart symbol of WallStreet in Taiwan. On the other hand, open data advocate Schee Zhu-han analyzed the flaws[zht] of the online strategies in different phases of the activity.

author: Portnoy Zheng


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Taiwan: The Story of Chiou Ho-shun · Global Voices
Portnoy Zheng

Chiou Ho-shun, a death row inmate in Taiwan, may be executed at any time. He said in the mini-documentary, “I hope you can save me, but if it’s too late, please scatter my ashes in the Longfeng harbour, and buy a meatball, come and see me.” In the documentary, you can see how police manipulated confessions by assaulting and threatening Chiou and one “witness”.


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Tajikistan: Face-saving sentence for the journalists · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Journalists Muhammad Yusuf Ismailov and Urunboy Usmonov have been found guilty, but with very commuted sentences following the international pressure on the Tajik authorities, neweurasia’s Alpharabius reports.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Trinidad & Tobago: Outcry over Airing of Child Assault Video · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Women Speak is outraged by a local television show which “aired video footage of a 13 year old girl being beaten and raped” and wants the show off the air; Bahamian blogger Womanish Words stands in solidarity.


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Ukraine: Best Ukrainian Blog Awards Competition Launched · Global Voices
Tetyana Bohdanova

Watcher.com.ua [uk], a Ukrainian Internet business and social media marketing website, launches [uk] Best Ukrainian Blog Awards (BUBA). Participants may be nominated and voted for by Internet users between Oct. 26 and Nov. 18, 2011. Winners will be announced on Nov. 19 at Microsoft Blogfest 2011 [uk].

author: Tetyana Bohdanova


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Uzbekistan: Making some cash on pilgrims · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Abulfazal writes that Uzbek black currency market has raised the USD per Uzbek soum exchange rate while Uzbek pilgrims are planning their trips to Saudi Arabia.


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Uzbekistan: The Unicorn Principle and Regional Strategy · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Joshua Foust analyzes the ongoing discussions on whether the U.S.’s decision to re-engage with the Karimov regime in Uzbekistan represents a least-bad option for the region.


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Africa: On Cutting Aid to Countries Violating LGBTI Rights · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Statement of African social justice activists on the decision of the British government to “cut aid” to African countries that violate the rights of LGBTI people in Africa: “We, the undersigned African social justice activists, working to advance societies that affirm peoples’ differences, choice and agency throughout Africa, express the following concerns about the use of aid conditionality as an incentive for increasing the protection of the rights of LGBTI people on the continent.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Algeria: Thoughts on Gaddafi’s Death  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

American-Algerian blogger Kal, at The Moor Next Door, shares some thoughts on the death of Libya's dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Angola: Voice of America Correspondent in Cabinda Threatened · Global Voices
Janet Gunter

Voice of America reported that three armed men broke into the backyard of its correspondent in the Angola enclave Cabinda, saying they were looking for José Manuel. He was not present and later sought guarantees from police that he would be protected. Angolan authorities are very sensitive about protest and media freedom in Cabinda.

author: Janet Gunter


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Bahrain: Free Ebrahim Sharif  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif lends his support to jailed politician Ebrahim Sharif in this post.


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Bahrain: Muharraq United Against Sectarianism  · Global Voices
Mona Kareem

This post is part of our special coverage Bahrain Protests 2011.
As the Shia Muslims in Bahrain were celebrating one of their religious ceremonies in Muharraq, a group of men showed up and attacked them. Pictures of people injured and bleeding were shared on Twitter.
Bahrainis of both sects called the group “regime thugs” who wanted to start a sectarian clash between the people of Muharraq but failed because the families in the area united against them. On the other hand, some pro-regime Twitter users said that those thugs are pro-Shia opposition group “Wefaq” and were trying to start chaos.
Former Bahraini Parliament member Ali Alaswad (@am_aswad) [ar] commented on the night's events in a series of tweets:
ما حدث في مدينة المحرق هو نتاج حكومة استمرت لمدة تزيد عن ٤٠ عاماً ولا تواكب الأحداث الجارية
ما حدث في مدينة المحرق ربما سيحدث في مكانٍ ثان -الأزمة السياسية لا تجد من يقاربها في الحل
ما حدث في مدينة المحرق من اعتراض البعض على ممارسة الشعائر الدينية هو مخالف للدستور والأعراف
Arif Al-Banna (@ArifAlBanna) complimented the way people reacted to the events:
ما أثلج صدورنا هو قيام أهالي المحرق بمختلف طوائفهم بالتصدي لهذه الفئة الدخيلة على المجتمع
Big Mo (@ba7rainiDXB) called on people to control themselves and not to let things escalate:
@ba7rainiDXB: Mediocrity will always try to drag excellence down to its level. Don't trade your superiority for their inferiority.
Zahra (@Zzzzah) said it was all another game from the regime:
@Zzzzah: What happened in Muharraq today is just another regime's attempt to delude its supporters that it is the safety valve against sectarianism!
(@ghost8boy12) added:
@ghost8boy12: Those who attacked the religious ritual in Muharraq are themselves attack the protesters and villages but in civilian clothes!
A Bahraini female Twitter user (@Batoolisa) [ar] posted two photos of those injured:
البلطجية يهاجمون بالحجارة المعزين في المحرق قرب حسينية السيد محمود، ما أدى الى جرح عدد من المعزين http://t.co/YxKzSGyS
Injured man
صورة أحد الشباب مصاب من المحرق حسين غلوم http://t.co/ysEf0z4Y
Another Twitter user (@Ghadeerii) tweeted a video of the attacks:
@Ghadeerii: video of regime thugs interrupting Shia mourning religious rituals in Muharraq http://t.co/BATQLG0k
In the video [ar], you see scores of people facing off. One party chants “The people want Khalifa bin Salman,” the country's Prime Minister for more than 40 years, while the other responds with “Death to Al Khalifa,” the ruling family, which has been in power for more than 200 years.
Back on Twitter, Mahmood El Belushi (@MBelushi) praised Muharraq's unity saying:
@MBelushi: I'm a Sunni & against what the Sunni's did in #Muharraq #Shame on all the religious people who supported it.. UNITE DON'T MAKE IT WORSE.
On the other side, two of the pro-regime Twitter users tweeted:
@noon5551: There was no religious reason 4 Shiaa to go out on streets of Sunni Muharraq last night,it was purely hezbollah minority = Terrorism
@Bader_Alhammadi: Pictures from Muharraq yesterday http://t.co/X8Kzffke http://t.co/qx9HJnD8  http://t.co/tX132OZC
Police presence in Muharraq on the 27 October, 2011.
This post is part of our special coverage Bahrain Protests 2011.


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Brazil: Niobium, National Mineral Wealth at Knock Off Prices? · Global Voices
Fernando Sapelli

Niobium, also known as columbium, is among the most utilized metals in the world, and Brazil has the great majority of the world's niobium deposits. However, exploitation of niobium resources within Brazil raises questions about the total profit generated by private companies and public organizations.
According to the blog Nióbio do Brasil [pt], entirely dedicated to this metal:
a aplicação mais importante do nióbio é como elemento de liga para conferir melhoria de propriedades em produtos de aço, especialmente nos aços de alta resistência e baixa liga usados na fabricação de automóveis e de tubulações para transmissão de gás sob alta pressão.
Niobium reserves
The ductile metal, represented by the symbol Nb and atomic number 41, is highly resistant and can be found in jet engines, as well as in the naval industry and high diameter tubes utilized in construction. Because of its growing use and increasing exploitation in the last few years, its value has also oscillated.
According to data published by the American government, Brazil has around 95% of the world's niobium deposits, distributed among the states of Minas Gerais, Amazonas and Goiás. Roberto Silva, author of the site Economia BR, describes [pt] that:
analisando o total de reservas nacionais de nióbio, (…) com relação a soma de suas reservas medidas, indicadas e inferidas, aponta em primeiro lugar o Amazonas, cujas reservas de nióbio apresentam 82,7% do total do país e estão localizadas no município de São Gabriel da Cachoeira.
The ore has been commercially valued at a price of 44 US dollars/kilogram. For comparison, in 2007, the same metal was commercialized at an average price of 52 US dollars/kilogram.
Image by Greg Robson, available in the public domain (CC BY-SA 2.0)
In 2006, the world production of niobium was estimated at 59,900 metric tons and Brazil produced 56,000 of this total. An article published on the website of Canadian mining company Taseko Mines Limited, affirmed recently:
There is a growing demand for niobium. Global annual consumption of ferro niobium is over 200 million pounds per year and growing at 5-7% per year.
Two hundred million pounds correspond to approximately 90,718 metric tons. While the average selling price has decreased in the last five years, exploitation and consumption of the metal has increased worldwide.
Pricing queries
In an article written by Victor Tagora for the Revista Meio Ambiente [pt], which draws attention to niobium’s strategic position in Brazil’s economy, the author describes that:
fontes dignas de atenção indicam que o minério de nióbio bruto era comprado no garimpo a 400 reais/quilo, cerca de U$ 255,00/quilo (à taxa de câmbio atual e atualizada a inflação do dólar)
Slice of a superconducting cable made from niobium-titanium alloy. Photo by Flickr user Swamibu (CC BY-NC 2.0)
Even though the value is well above other international indicators, the author concludes that:
se o Brasil exportasse o minério de nióbio a esse preço, o valor anual seria US$ 15.300.000.000 (quinze bilhões, trezentos milhões de dólares). Se confrontarmos essa cifra com a estatística oficial, ficaremos abismados ao ver que nela consta o total de US$ 16,3 milhões (0,1% daquele valor), e o peso de 515 toneladas ( menos de 1% do consumo mundial).
Even if we calculate the same final amount by taking the value of 44 US dollars/kilogram as a base, and taking into consideration 95% of world’s estimated production, we would get to a value of US$ 3,792,000,000/year. Such great variation of values has a lot to do with the fact that the metal is not estimated in commodity markets, such as the London Metal Exchange, but only through closed prices in transactions amongst companies.
Niobium Mine in Araxá, Minas Gerais. Photo by Revista Decifra-me.
Edvaldo Tavares, Doctor and Executive Director of Sistema Raiz da Vida, clarifies in the Revista Decifra-me’s website [pt] that,
Nas jazidas de Catalão e Araxá o nióbio bruto, extraído da mina, custa 228,57 dólares e é vendido no exterior, refinado, por 90 dólares. Como é que pode ocorrer tal tipo de transação comercial com total prejuízo para a população do país, é muito descaso com as questões do país e o desinteresse com o bem-estar do povo brasileiro.
In the website [pt] of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, data about the Brazilian trade balance details the total value of exports per commodity – among them aluminum and iron ore. Niobium is not listed.
Obviously, all mineral exploitation must take into consideration environmental matters and social impact. However, with all this wealth in Brazilian soils, it seems inevitable to ask who is being exploited through niobium.

author: Fernando Sapelli


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D.R. of Congo/U.S.A: Conflict-Free: A Growing Movement · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Alex Hellmuth and Tracy Fehr looks the growing conflict-free minerals movement in the US: “The progress made by Congo activists earlier this month in the state of California, the city of St. Petersburg, FL, and most recently at the University of Colorado-Boulder, is part of a dynamic conflict-free movement that is spreading across the nation. “


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Egypt: Another Bloody Week in Syria  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Zeinobia shares her wrap up of a yet another bloody week in Syria.


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History of Medicine in Southeast Asia · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

A new website was created to gather research and more information about the history of medicine in the Southeast Asian region.

author: Mong Palatino


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Israel: Netizens Prepare to Take to the Streets in a New Social Justice Protest · Global Voices
Elizabeth Tsurkov

After the largest protest in Israel's history, which drew almost half a million of Israelis to the streets in early September, the social justice movement in Israel has taken the backseat as the government successfully shifted the public discourse away from issues of economic inequality. The response of the government in the form of the Trajtenberg Committee failed to appease the majority of protesters, but Gilad Shalit's release from Hamas captivity increased the government's popularity. Israeli media, most of which used to be very supportive of the protest movement, hasn't devoted as much attention to covering (and promoting) this new round of protests. Despite these setbacks, the rallies tonight are planned for Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Rishon LeTzion, Kiryat Shmona, Beer Sheva, Haifa, Modiin and Eilat.
Blogger Goliath, pseudonym of journalist Yair Kaldor, explained in his blog the impetus for returning to the streets:
Stav Shafir, one of the leaders of the #j14 protests, tweeted:
Other Israeli bloggers and tweeps also explained their reasons for returning to protest:
Activists in Beer Sheva prepating signs for the rally, September 29. Photo source: The official Facebook page for the local #j14 movement in the Negev
Blogger Ido Teshner shared his personal story of hardship in a country whose social safety net has been cut over the years. He wrote:
Blogger Ori Ben Dov wrote about the upcoming protest
Update: The Beer Sheva rally has been canceled by police due to rocket fire from Gaza.

author: Elizabeth Tsurkov


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Malawi: Malawi in Photos · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

I Love Malawi is a blog that showcases photos from Malawi: ” If you have some interesting photos about Malawi, send us an email and we will post them on this blog. The photos will be rightly attributed to you in the blog!”


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Malawi: New Blog for Free and Open Source Software · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Blantyre Free and Open Source Software Users Group has a new blog: “Welcome to the blog of Blantyre Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) Users group. Blantyre Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) Users Group is a grouping of individuals that use free and open source software but are based in Blantyre, southern Malawi.”


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Myanmar Netizens to BBC: Apologize Now · Global Voices
Chan Myae Khine

Some Myanmar netizens are asking BBC to apologize for publishing an ‘inaccurate’ map of Myanmar's ethnic groups. They claim that BBC reporter Anna Jones used an inaccurate map in an article she wrote on November 5, 2010 titled “Bleak outlook for Burma's Ethnic Groups.”
According to them, the map showed that Rakhine (Arakan) State is represented by Rohingya who are identified as a minority group in Myanmar even though the state is inhabited by Rakhine People (Arakanese). Furthermore, they said the map wrongfully depicted the Shan State to be represented not only by “Shan” ethnics but also by “Wa”; and that the Ayeyarwaddy Division and Kayah are represented by Karen and so on which are not in conformity with Myanmar's official ethnic and state definitions.
Myanmar netizens flooded a BBC Burmese Facebook page with comments asking the media network to issue an official apology letter to Myanmar citizens for saying that Rohingya is one of the ethnic groups in Myanmar.
Thein Tun Zan wrote about the relationship between Rakhine People and Rohingyas and requested an apology letter from BBC on behalf of all Myanmar citizens.
The presence of Muslim Bengali immigrants in Arakan State in Myanmar (Burma) is similar to the presence of Christian English people in Hong kong, Macau, South Africa and etc.
It is no different to having Muslim immigrants from Arab world in the Great Britain itself. The presence of Muslim Arabs does not make Britain an Arabic Country or the state of Arab Muslim.
As such, Arakan State is by no mean a state of immigrant Bengali Muslims. Calling them Rohinjas or whatsoever does not make them an indigenous ethnic Arakanese people who has founded Arakan Kingdoms and lived for thousands of years.
Dear BBC, the wrongful presentation and bias representation of ethnic profile in Anna Jones article is a serious mistake and oversight that BBC has done to damage the genuine Arakanese people.
Therefore, I and all those who “like” and support on this wall post, demand you, “BBC”, to immediately correct the Article of Anna Jones and issue an apology for your mistake.
Another netizen, Khaing Minn Nyo posted  his comments on the Facebook page
Dear BBC Burmese News, and its Editor Group, your broadcasting center should do something for wrong information about the article of Anna Jones. If your News really wants to change Burma to Democracy, you are not ought to broadcast the wrong information. Good Luck BBC. I am waiting for your response.
Nyan Myint Aung also expressed his disappointment [my].
I don't know their aim. But it's absolutely wrong. I'm totally against it.
Aye Maung, a Rakhine ethnic who studied in University of Aberdeen, Scotland affirms the rights of the Rohingyas although he is worried about the demand of the group to create a new state. Meanwhile, Naing Zaw compared the Rohingyas in Myanmar and the Burmese in Thailand.
There are 4-6 million Burmese who are currently residing in Thailand… That's like 10% of total population of Thailand…. Do BBC dare to flag up Myanmar people on Thailand map so that we can ask for citizenship or recognized ethnicity??? Most of them are denied even the basic human rights and exploited on all accounts, thanks to ajar door policy on immigration…. If your purpose of presenting information is truly genuine to the interest of the people of Myanmar, try to gain insights and report and speak out these terrible and inhumane exploitations on behalf of “Genuine” Myanmar people.
After hundreds of complaints were posted on the BBC Burmese Facebook Page, BBC first removed the map from both articles without announcing anything officially. Then, they put it back after modifying the map by putting Rakhine (Arakanese) together with Rohingya representing Rakhine (Arakan) State. The article in the website was updated with this note
UPDATE 28 October 2011: The map in this article was temporarily removed on 27 October 2011 to make some changes. It has now been replaced with an updated version which includes a section on the Rakhine people.
Some netizens sent a formal complaint to BBC though this has not yet been listed in the “Responses to Complaints”. The BBC Burmese posted on their Facebook page a reply from BBC News Online.
Thank you for your comments. The map was not intended as an exhaustive look at every ethnic group in Burma. Rather it was intended to flag up minority peoples in Burma's border regions who are prominent because they are engaged in either disputes or conflict with the Burmese government. The line linking the Rohingya to Arakan state was not intended to imply ownership of the state or to marginalise the Rakhine people, but simply to show readers the state in which the Rohingya live. The text linked to the image of the Rohingya makes it clear that they are not granted Burmese citizenship. We have now adjusted the line on our map to give a clearer picture of where the Rohingya are to be found. We have also added a section featuring the Rakhine people. On the second page, we have amended our text to make a distinction between minority groups and recognised ethnic groups. Thank you for reading the BBC News website.
About 70 people responded it within an hour and most of them mentioned that BBC still need to apologise for the wrong facts and inaccurate visualisation about Myanmar's ethnic groups. Chan Myae Khine commented that
Though it was not intended to imply ownership of Rakhine (Arakan) State, the readers with less knowledge will surely think Rohingyas were one of important ethnic groups of Myanmar. Plus, if they honestly wish to point out the minority groups of people, they MUST put Le Su, Inn Thar, Myo, Thet and many more 100+ ethnics on the map.
Using such a wrong visualisation is just persuading readers to believe the wrong situation and history of Myanmar. Therefore, BBC and the journalist and whoever sketched this map MUST apologise to all Myanmar citizens!!!

author: Chan Myae Khine


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Nigeria: Documentary: Nigeria’s Millionaire Preachers · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

MyWeku discusses a new documentary – Unreported World: Nigeria’s Millionaire Preachers, which touches on the issues of fraud and exploitation: “he documentary makers reported on the case of Therese, a widower who was told her late husband was a member of a devil worshipping cult and persuaded Therese that God wanted her to sell everything her husband owned.”


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Peru: Ica Hit by 6.7-Magnitude Earthquake · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

A 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit the coastal city of Ica, Peru on October 28, 2011. Juan Arellano gathers information and citizen reactions through Storify [es].

author: Silvia Viñas


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Trinidad & Tobago: Celebrating Anya’s Project Runway Win  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Trinidad and Tobago blogosphere has been extremely active over the past week as Season 9 of Lifetime's hit reality show, Project Runway, drew to a close.  The big finale – and revelation of the judges’ choice for the winning designer – aired this past Thursday October 27.  Even prior to the final show, regional netizens were spending lots of time on Twitter, trying to ensure that their home-grown design hopeful, Anya Ayoung-Chee, walked away with the Fan Favourite title and $10,000 prize money, at the very least.  The dramatic rise in local users of the microblogging service even prompted @outlishmagazine to quip:
RT @knycky: And became best friends with #Hootsuite? RT”@outlishmagazine: How many of you joined Twitter just to vote for Anya? #PR9Anya“
As it turned out, Ayoung-Chee also won the judges’ nod; her effortlessly elegant “Tobago Love” collection won her the coveted title of Project Runway's Season 9 designer.  The Caribbean blogosphere was jubilant: fans and supporters posted their congratulations on Twitter, Facebook, and of course, on their personal blogs.
@LaShaunPrescott was a dedicated Tweeter during the Fan Favourite competition and on the night of the final show, she was bursting with excitement:
@LaShaunPrescott: @TeamAnyaRunway we readyyy, hands up, we ready, jump up lol we pumping tonight fuh Anya #PR9Anya
Once the final four designers had shown their ten-piece collections at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, the judges’ debate began; @anniepaul, tweeting from Jamaica, soon began to try and predict the winner:
@anniepaul: Viktor's out isnt he? Josh is the competition for Anya #projectrunway
A few minutes later, she was convinced that:
ok she's done it….it's hers…@AnyadeRogue #projectrunway
But one judge's comment soon changed her mind:
ok so its Josh #projectrunway
When the moment of truth finally came, all @anniepaul could do was tweet:
WOWOWOWOWWOWO!
That tweet was soon followed by a more composed comment:
@anniepaul: Trindiadian designer and beauty queen @AnyadeRogue wins Project Runway You can exhale now Trinidad and Tobago #projectrunway
Trinidadian followers of the show soon joined in:
@kalypsoul: Trust a Trini to pull it off against all odds, at the last moment, and despite the H8Rs! Love it! You go girl!!!! #PR9anya Congrats!!
@Carnivalfeteish: Small islands, big heart. #PR9anya
@bblchrn‘s tweet showed the degree to which Anya's win was a boost for national pride, as it grouped her with other Trinbagonians who have excelled in everything from the arts to sports:
@bblchrn: Minshall, Berkeley, Walcott, Vidia, Penny, Giselle, Wendy, Lara, Hasely, ANYA! #PR9Anya
Diaspora tweeter @izatrini could already see a repeat of the Twitter action prior to Anya's Fan Fave win; in fact, Trini tweeters have said that they will celebrate her victory all weekend long by continuing to include the hashtag #PR9Anya in all their tweets:
@izatrini: And twitter goes wild…Just when U thought U had enough of #PR9Anya hashtag here we go again!
@samnanton, recognizing the integral role that local Twitter users played in Anya's success, said:
@samnanaton: I think we should all put – T&T – in our final tweet on @AnyadeRogue. Everyone take a bow. #PR9Anya
Ayoung-Chee's performance throughout the show – and her eventual victory – inspired some to poetry; Jamaican diaspora litblogger Geoffrey Philp republished an ode to Anya by Jennifer Rahim:
To a stage that rivals any brand of farce, a light–
a young woman comes, a rainbow. No sign
taken for wonders hitched to dead pasts,
but witness of prophecy’s advent –Walcott’s
new Athens. Her field, a runway stylin’:
raiment as phenomenal as the language
islands stitched from worlds made seamless
as the weave of sea her hands command
into artefact…
Anya,
architect of how we may wear our tomorrows,
delight in this sad carnival of waste and mamaguy,
may your challenge be always what Thursdays
have come to mean, for us: our colours lifted up
and the inexhaustible grace that is your name.
Back in Trinidad, aka_lol took a more humourous view…
Kamla will send congratulations from Australia and declare that fashion may well be the thing that turns the economy around. Along with Jack Warner, that is. After Kamla and Anya return from their respective visits, Kamla will declare a fashion  scholarship in Anya’s name. Maybe she will be given land on Lady Chancellor Road as well.
…but the online reactions from Trinidad and Tobago, the land of Anya's inspiration, were overwhelmingly supportive. Taylor Scott wrote:
I am so proud of my Anya (yes, she’s all mine because I have been rooting for her all season long!!!!) Defying all odds entering the competition with just 3 months of sewing experience under her belt, it was clear from the first challenge that Anya had impeccable taste and amazing style.
WUZDESCENE! broke into local dialect to express his excitement:
My gyul runway wit de Project …. and she lick-up with de Fan Favourite …..
Lawd …. how proud are Trinis tonight …… we likin weself …..
Strangeness and Charm didn't jump on the national pride bandwagon, but was genuinely happy for her:
Anya Ayoung-Chee just won the 9th Season of Project Runway.
I am tremendously proud and glad for her.
I don’t particularly think this is a great day for Trinidad and Tobago.
I mean, by extension we’re in the public eye right now.
But this is her moment.
I want her to revel in it -
and for her to be a sign for other people, especially in creative fields,
to show that if you seize the opportunities given to you and give your best,
you can reap the benefits,
and you should follow your dreams no matter what.
Finally, Trinidadian diaspora fashion blogger Afrobella posted an interview that she did with Ayoung-Chee before it was revealed that she had won. She found the designer “talented…very smart and surprisingly funny, and super likable” and was impressed with her resilience and grace:
As Trinidad and Tobago’s representative in the 2008 Miss Universe pageant, she showed the world the diverse range that Trini beauty comes in. As a woman slandered and disparaged during a scandal that would bring most people to the brink of a breakdown, Anya demonstrated grace under fire. And now as one of the strongest contenders who may be poised to win the current season of Project Runway, Anya Ayoung-Chee has re-written her own script. She’s now the beauty-queen beautiful Caribbean designer who shut the naysayers up with her talent.


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Ukraine: “We Are Europeans” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

In September 2008, Ukraine seemed headed towards signing an Association Agreement with the European Union (EU) the following year, in 2009. Three years later, in 2011, the Agreement has still not been concluded.
The latest obstacle to finalizing the process is the October 11, 2011, sentencing of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. A resolution passed by the European Parliament on October 27 describes the seven-year jail sentence given to Tymoshenko “as a violation of human rights and an abuse of the judiciary for the purpose of the political suppression of Ukraine's leading opposition politician.” The resolution also warns of the potential consequences for the EU-Ukraine relations:
[…] a failure to review Yulia Tymoshenko's conviction will jeopardise the conclusion of the Association Agreement and its ratification, while pushing the country further away from the realisation of its European perspective […]
It remains to be seen whether the Ukrainian authorities manage to successfully contain the geopolitical fallout of their domestic policies. Meanwhile, ordinary Ukrainians are beginning to take some of the matters into their own hands, voicing their commitment to democratic values, urging fellow citizens not to remain silent, and searching for optimal ways to interact with Ukrainian and European politicians on a grassroots level in order to help make the country a better place to live in.
On October 20, a group of about 200 people, many of them journalists, gathered in front of the Ukrainian Parliament in Kyiv to convey this short message to the authorities: “We are Europeans.”
The turning point for many of them must have been the EU's October 18 decision to postpone President Victor Yanukovych's visit to Brussels for Association Agreement-related talks (the Ukrainian leader ended up paying a visit to Cuba instead) – as well as the looming prospect of Ukraine joining Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan in the so-called Eurasian Union.
The logo of the "We are Europeans" Facebook group (features the EU flag and the Ukrainian coat of arms)
Yevgeniy Ikhelzon [uk, ru], one of the organizers of the “We are Europeans” rally, wrote [ru] that it had taken just two days and “not a single phone call” to bring the people together: online social networks and blogs had been used to spread the word.
As a follow-up to the October 20 event, a Facebook group [uk, ru; 1,620 members] and a Facebook community [uk, ru; 596 ‘likes’] were set up, and later a number of much smaller regional Facebook branches were registered as well (uk, ru: Lviv, Crimea, Zaporizhzhya, Volyn, Kherson, Kharkiv, Ternopil, Dnipropetrovsk).
On his Ukrainska Pravda blog, Ikhelzon offered these explanations [ru] for the “We are Europeans” initiative:
Oct. 19, 2011:
[…] We want to live by the European laws, we don't need a new Iron Curtain. […] Even though Europe is indeed facing a crisis now, it is just an economic crisis, not a crisis of values. […]
***
Oct. 20, 2011:
[…] – European values do resemble what free people call common sense. […]
- The Association Agreement with the EU includes a number of legislative requirements, which [if implemented] may really change the situation in Ukraine. […]
- There is nothing that prevents Ukraine from fitting the criteria. Serbia, which had a war a very short time ago, will soon get an EU candidate status. We didn't have a war, we didn't have ethnic cleansing. All that needs to be done is replacing the occupation-style governing system with a human and humane one, turning the state around so it faces the citizens. […]
- Joining [Vladimir Putin's] Eurasian Union will not bring about any changes for deregulation of the economy, human rights and civil liberties. […] That is, [the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev] is not going to mind accepting Ukraine into this organization because Tymoshenko is still in jail. Basically, this gathering of former communists and KGB people do not care about such “trifles” – for them, [gaining profit] is the main thing. […]
Here is what some members of the “We are Europeans” Facebook group are saying about Ukraine and the EU:
Oleksandr Oleks. [uk]:
Ukraine's EU aspirations mean very little on their own. If this happened tomorrow and we got a chance to move freely and work in Europe, perhaps half of Ukraine's population would [re-settle there] the day after tomorrow. As for the middle class, all 100 percent would probably move [out of Ukraine]. It has to be emphasized that the most important thing isn't joining the EU, but adopting the European values in Ukraine: first of all, the ability to defend one's property rights, the right to vote in fair elections, to control the work of the authorities, of the police and others. This is when the issue of joining the EU would not be that urgent anymore, and Europe would be more interested in us than we are in it.
***
Adriana Bubnovska [uk]:
[…] I don't want to join anything, neither the United States, nor Russia. I want to live in a normal country with normal values and normal civil rights and liberties. The EU happens to personify this value-based choice. For me personally, it is absolutely not important whether we join the EU or not. What matters to me is that the Ukrainian society grows to understand that it's bad to steal, impossible to falsify the elections, nonsense to jail political opponents – instead of arguing with them during the elections, and that a democracy [cannot select certain convenient rules to play by, while refusing to observe the inconvenient ones].
Some of the group's members are debating the necessity of cooperating with Ukrainian politicians to implement their Europe-oriented goals. Journalist Vakhtang Kipiani wrote this [uk] on his Facebook page:
[…] a single protest isn't going to change anything. We need to form a group of people that will delegate their pro-European value-based interests to another group of people. This is called politics. Without pro-European politics we will not become part of the environment where the law comes prior to the wishes of a particular official. […]
Some Ukrainian politicians seem interested in cooperating with the “We are Europeans” group, too. Iryna Gerashchenko, an MP from Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc, suggested [uk] that the group's most active members take part in the upcoming meeting of the parliamentary committee on the European integration that she is a member of, to “express their position and concern about the reverse processes in this sphere.”
So far, there is no consensus in the group on whether it is worth it to allow politicians into this grassroots movement. In a comment to Gerashchenko's note, Ostap Kryvdyk thanked her for her initiative, which he considers useful – “a window to the legislative process, and a link to Western policymakers.” Oleg Zavada, on the other hand, is one of those who feel they do not share any common ground with the Ukrainian MPs:
[…] I'm afraid of catching the [virus] of conformism, narcissism, [euro-loserism] from them, and losing whatever remains of the European prospects, because some of them have as much to do with the European standards as I have with Sharia law.
'We are Europeans!' rally in Kyiv, Ukraine. Photo by Sergei Svetlitsky, copyright © Demotix (26/10/2011).
The second “We are Europeans” rally took place on October 26 in Kyiv. Even though, according to reports [ru], it was less numerous than the first one, the activists managed to draw attention of some of the European diplomats to their cause, by handing the group's Open Letter on the State of Relationships between Ukraine and the European Union [en] to Miroslav Lajčák, the EU's External Action Service's Managing Director for Russia, Eastern Neighbourhood and Western Balkans, who was in Kyiv at the time.
Yevgeniy Ikhelzon posted a link [uk, ru] to the Ukrainska Pravda article [uk], which quoted Lajčák saying that “the desire of the majority of Ukrainians to move towards the European Union is very important, and every demonstration of this is very important and significant.”
Ikhelzon concluded [ru]:
This is the message that we need to get out into the streets and that this is what is expected from us.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Yemen: VP Hadi Leaves to the US for Treatment! · Global Voices
Noon Arabia

This post is part of our special coverage Yemen Protests 2011.
Today's main headline in Yemen was the sudden departure of Vice President Abdu Rabbu Mansoor Hadi to the US for medical treatment. The timing of the trip coincides with the UN's envoy Ben Omar and GCC's Secretary General Al Zayani's visit to Yemen soon.
As @samwaddah noted:
So if VP Hadi is heading to US, Who are Zayyani & Bin Omer gonna negotiate with? Something is fishy! #Yemen #SupportYemen
Many considered the trip as a new maneuver by the regime to further delay the transition of power with the absence of the VP, who is the person who will be signing the already popularly rejected GCC deal.
@brrhom also tweeted the same concern:
VP Hadi to USA, Aleryani to Europe… What about the #GCC initiative bit.ly/vqMrRm #Yemen
@Ghanem_M asked:
Did Hadi (VP) delegate #Saleh to sign the #GCC initative before he traveled to #US.. #Yemen
The state news agency SABA, announced that Hadi was travelling for a scheduled routine medical check-up in the US.
@Yemen411 tweeted the official regime line :
#Yemen Vice President Hadi enroute to #USA for his annual medical checkup @ Cleveland Clinic's Cardiology Department
@samwaddah sarcastically added what some skeptics thought was a defection rather than a routine medical trip :
I doubt VP Hadi will return 2 #Yemen which puts a new obstacle on the way of the already puzzled GCC deal!The search 4 Amina (the word “safe” in Arabic is also used as name of a woman, Amina/Aminah, which many Yemeni have joked about the topic) shall continue!
@Yemen411 clarified:
H.E. Vice President #Hadi (#YEMEN) arrived to the #USA for a private, medical “non-working” short visit
@ameerah1yemenia tweeted what many feel about Yemen's deficient health services:
@Yemen411 This is Sad when in #Yemen not even the average citizen can get a descent Annual check-up in Yemen but also the VP 2?!
@Nefermaat also added:
Hadi going to US for medical reason: proof that our health system is SO bad tht even officials,VP and pres cant be treated here in #Yemen !!
A cartoon depicting the GCC deal tailor made to fit president Saleh
Under the terms of the GCC proposal which has been amended many times to suit President Saleh, he would transfer his power to VP Hadi before announcing his official resignation. President Saleh had refused to transfer power allegedly because he wanted to find “safe hands,” or  in Arabic “ayadi aminah.” So with VP Hadi away, it seems the GCC saga will drag further until the uncertain return of “Aminah”.
@samwaddah stated what is obvious to many:
VP Hadi's absence benefits #Saleh the most. Signing the GCC deal will be delayed so long as Hadi or Saleh's so called Aminah's absent #Yemen
This post is part of our special coverage Yemen Protests 2011.

author: Noon Arabia


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Brazil: Police Restrain Students at the University of São Paulo · Global Voices
Adriano Rangel

[All links in this article lead to Portuguese language pages.]
The military police  launched a blitz operation at the University of São Paulo (USP) after approaching three students smoking marijuana Thursday night (October 27, 2011) at the School Philosophy, Languages and Humanities (FFLCH). Dozens of police cars surrounded one of the school's buildings, where hundreds of people were protesting the incarceration of students caught smoking marijuana, an illegal drug in Brazil.
According to Lieutenant Luiz Henrique Salles, the students obstructed the police as they attempted to take the three individuals to the police district where the crime was to be registered. The school rector, Professor Sandra Nitrini, attempted to mediate the situation and offered to accompany the students to the police station, but she was reprehended by the protesters who feared administrative measures would be taken against the students found in possession of the drug.
USP students ask military police to withdraw from the campus. Photo by the author.
More security, less repression
The police's actions on the public university's campus, which involved the use of smoke bombs  and truncheons, have divided the academic community. A few hours after the confusion broke out at the FFLCH, many people demonstrated both for and against police action on the university campus.
On Twitter, Samuel Gerez (@samuelgerez) supported the actions of the military police (PM):
Hj a PM esta na historia usp. 15 viaturas e 8 motos. Querem prender maconheiros. Eu acho certo.
Journalism student Andrea Wirkus (@andrea_wk) preferred to question the public security that the military police have been providing at the university, which was stepped up after student Felipe Ramos de Paiva, age 24, was killed in the parking lot at one of the USP schools in May 2011.
Não que eu seja contra ou a favor da PM na USP, mas os policiais perdem mais tempo revistando alunos do que protegendo…
An increase in violence on the USP campus, which is located in the Butantã neighborhood, has raised concerns among the academic community, but the police presence is not an isolated occurrence. Prior to Felipe's death, the military police intervened minimally, especially on account of heavy resistance by students, professors and university employees who fear the kind of repression that occurred yesterday.
The rector of the University of São Paulo's School of Geography, Professor André Martin, is one of the professors who does not believe that the police are effectively providing [better] campus security. Martin says “the military police do not understand the nature of the agreement” with the university:
O meu ponto de vista é a tragédia anunciada, porque, a partir do momento que se decidiu isso [presença da polícia no campus], esse episódio já estava previsto, porque a polícia militar vai imaginar que deve ter um comportamento, na cidade universitária, idêntico ao que tem na cidade como um todo.
Há um protocolo que coloca a polícia militar no campus para proteger a comunidade universitária contra assaltos, contra crimes. Segundo esse protocolo, não está prevista a abordagem para a repressão à droga. Este é o ponto do tumulto. Os policiais alegam que, no caso de flagrado o uso de entorpecentes, eles não podem se omitir, porque isso seria crime de prevaricação.
My point of view is that of the foretold tragedy because, from the moment this [police presence on campus] started, yesterday's episode was bound to happen since the military police thought they could act on the university campus as they do in city as a whole.
There is an agreement that allows for the military police to remain on the campus in order to protect the university community from assaults and crimes. According to this agreement, restraining people on account of drugs is not taken into consideration. The police claim that they cannot overlook the use of drugs on campus because such would constitute a crime of police nonfeasance.
On Twitter, professor, sociologist and journalist Laurindo Leal (@Lalolealfilho) questions police intervention on campus, referring to the police repression in the case of a person caught using marijuana to denounce the supposed intent of the military police on the campus.
Alguém tinha dúvida de que a volta da PM ao campus da USP era para reprimir estudantes? Anotem: os próximos serão funcionários e professores.
Many professors participated alongside the students in the protests against the police actions taken against the student found using marijuana. Professor Marlene Suano of the Department of History was one of the professors who tried to calm the police and students in the midst of the altercations. She ended up being struck by a police officer who was reacting to provocations by a student.
O aluno estava agredindo o policial, que levantou o cassetete para se defender e eu me coloquei na frente. Ele (o aluno) queria sangue. O que fazer com um policial desses?
The conspicuous presence of the military police on the campus reminds us of the “lead years,” the time in which Brazil faced a coup d'état that limited civil rights and violently repressed all opposition movements, including those that took place at the universities. Given this, the military's actions on campus are facing strong opposition from the academic community, as demonstrated by social scientist Stênio Soares on the blog Cálice:
Se por um lado ainda temos fresca a memória da atuação dos militares nas universidades brasileiras durante o regime autoritário (1964-1985), temos um presente pleno de desigualdade socio-econômica. Alguém poderia me citar qual a atuação da excelentíssima Universidade de São Paulo diante desse problema? Não vale falar qual é o compromisso, afinal sabemos bem. Mas quais são as relações que a USP estabelece, por exemplo, com as comunidades pobres que lhe margeia? Não poupem as repostas, vamos tocar direto na ferida. Se a criminalidade associada a má distribuição de renda chega ao berço da classe média paulistana, também temos uma quantidade relativa de estudantes que lutam pela liberdade de comportamento e questionamento (afinal, são acadêmicos que ali frequentam). Se a universidade prioriza soluções racionais para resolver seus problemas, porque a necessidade de buscar uma força autoritária, cuja educação profissional e histórica está atrelada à violência e à opressão?
The university is a space for dialogue and knowledge building, principles that do not go well with the idea of public security based on the exclusive use of force that has historically guided police actions on and off campus.
Amidst the commotion between the students and the police, Professor Ana Fani, from the School of Geography, made a request that actually should apply to anyone's presence on the university campus.  “I am asking that the police withdraw and let us continue with our professional duties, allowing us to take the students inside so that we can calmly and tranquilly continue with our tasks. Nothing tragic happened; there are no terrorists here; we just want to have classes.”

author: Adriano Rangel


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Brazil: Mobilization Against Racism Towards Indigenous Peoples · Global Voices
Raphael Tsavkko Garcia

Following the occupation of the Belo Monte construction site, socio-environmental student Robson Fernando, from the blog Consciência, denounces [pt] racist comments left by readers of Folha de São Paulo on the newspaper's website against the Brazilian indigenous population. On another post, Fernando calls those who propagate prejudice and hatred to justice.

author: Raphael Tsavkko Garcia


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China: Questions Following Mekong River Massacre · Global Voices
John Kennedy

The Mekong River Massacre, as it's being called in Chinese, refers to an attack on October 5, 2011, by unidentified armed men against two Chinese cargo boats, Hua Ping and Yu Xing 8, in the Thai portion of the Golden Triangle.
Thirteen Chinese sailors were killed in the attack, for which nine Thai soldiers later turned themselves in. Thai police Chief General Priewpan Damapong has said the killings had nothing to do with the Thai army, and as a joint Sino-Thai investigation continues, speculation varies on the reason why the attack took place.
Chinese military affairs blogger Jun Xiliu wrote [zh] this weekend about the online outrage arising from the attacks and took a closer look at reports from media in Thailand and Myanmar, as well as the latest details, from ammunition recovered during autopsies to statements from different eyewitnesses.
Sailor's hands tied behind his back.
Chinese members of the investigation team have said the next step is to put the nine suspects on trial, leaving Jun demanding answers to a few questions:
第一，泰国军人为什么枪杀中国船员，它的动机是什么？笔者相信，这是国际、泰国政府、中国政府和人民急切想了解的。笔者以个人之见，在这里可以肯定地说，绝不是泰国警察总监飘潘说的“9名军人的所作所为系个人行为”那么简单。他们也许相当仇视中国、仇视这13位船员，并且在湄公河上等这13名船员等待多时了，有组织、有预谋地反铐着船员双手、进行枪杀，宁可承担起与中国为敌的责任，否则，从哪个方面都解释不通。如果动机不调查一清二楚，这就是导致此案接下来不了了之的重要原因。
Why did Thai soldiers murder Chinese sailors, what was their motive? This is what the governments and people in Thailand, China and around the world are anxious to know. Personally, I can say now with assurance that it definitely was not as simple as Thai police chief Priewpan Damapong said, that “all” the acts of the nine soldiers had “nothing to do with the Thai army.”
They might see China or those 13 sailors as the enemy, which is why they sat waiting on the Mekong River, premeditated and ready to tie the sailors’ hands behind their backs and shoot them all, willing to take responsibility for making China an enemy, otherwise the various explanations make no sense. If their motives aren't made clear through the investigation, this probably won't disappear and that'll be why.
第二，先不说泰国媒体与军方开初的一唱一合、上演双簧，意下如何，就说泰国媒体画出“乌龙”误导舆论、泰国军方信誓旦旦直指“佤邦联合军所为”，也显得是有意而为之。按照中国“此地无银三百两”的剖析法：一要栽赃、二要转嫁，三要搞乱视线，最后达到为某方开脱的目的。那么，为谁开脱呢？为泰国政府？政府说此事与己无干。为警方？警察正懵懂地配合中国联合调查组调查呢，这下才明白，当然是为9名作案军人开脱，如果不把媒体与军方一唱一合的“双簧”戏解释清楚，军方事先不知情是说不通的。
Second, overlooking that both Thailand's media and military are singing some duet now, with media now backing the military version of events and dismissing initial reports [that the drug-smuggling Chinese boats were blocked by Thai police and both sides exchanged fire] as some sort of mix-up and the military swearing that the United Wa State Army was responsible, this all looking all too deliberate.
Chinese thinking says that people who doth protest too much usually try and exculpate themselves by either framing someone else, passing the buck, or tampering with the evidence. So in this case, who's trying to get away with it? The Thai government? They've said this had nothing to do with them. The police? The police are muddling along in cooperation with China in investigating the case, given which, of course the goal is to get the nine suspected soldiers off.
If an explanation isn't given why Thai media are now backing up the military version, then the military's claim that it had no idea of any problems before this took place just doesn't add up.
第三，最早媒体说，泰国警方与毒贩在水上交火长达半小时，这次泰方通报案件时，闭口不提“交火事件”，但据多名目击者证实，警察（或军方）的确与“毒枭”交过火。是媒体的过失、还是政府的疏忽，或者干脆某方的故意省略。如果不解释清楚，是不是连政府部门和警察都牵扯进去了？看来，破案距结案的路还很长。
Third, the earliest media reports said that Thai police exchanged fire for about 30 minutes with drug smugglers, but now all mention by the Thai side of “the shooting incident” has disappeared. Yet, many eyewitnesses verified that the police (or the military) and the “drug smugglers” were definitely shooting at each other. Was this media negligence or an oversight by the government?
Or is it just simply that someone is trying to cover something up? If this doesn't get cleared up, then doesn't that also implicate the government and the police? Apparently there's still a long way to go from having suspects to actually closing this case.
第四，在“华平号”和“玉兴8号”货船上查出的大量毒品，如果不还原于藏毒、运毒过程，即使9名军人自首了也等于没有破案。正如媒体说的，9名泰国军人的归案并未使得“10·5”惨案的真相大白于天下，反倒使案件早先的几个疑点更为突出。泰国警方负责刑侦事务的副总监批西（音译）少将，尽管大多数问题他都表示不便回答，但有一个问题他回答清楚就行：调查组还未查到军方，为什么9名军人就主动前来自首？是他们的首长知道后督促他们前来的，还是他们9人的良心发现而祈求上帝的宽恕？如果按他们的说法，这9名军人的作案仅仅是孤立的案件，笔者倒是替湄公河四国三方庆幸，如若不然，湄公河水比南海还深……并且已经楔入国际背景了。
Fourth, if large amounts of drugs were discovered on the Hua Ping and Yu Xing 8 cargo ships and not found to have been stored and transported [by the Chinese crew], then even with the nine soldiers turning themselves in, the case still won't have been solved. As media have said, the arrest of the nine Thai soldiers hasn't brought out the truth behind the October 5 Mekong Massacre, but rather has led to more doubts over the course of events in the case.
A Thai colonel leading the Thai side of the investigation has declined to answer most questions about the case, but one response he did give was clear enough for us to ask: if the investigative team still hadn't questioned the military, then why did the nine soldiers suddenly decide to turn themselves in? Did their superiors push them to, after learning of their involvement? Or were the nine forced to seek god's mercy by their own conscience?
Because given what the Thais have told us, what these nine soldiers did was an isolated crime. But the four countries bordering the Golden Triangle have to be celebrating this particular outcome, otherwise the waters of the Mekong run even deeper than the South China Sea…and have all sorts of international implications.
Jun's post has been viewed more than 400,000 times, but brought in less than 100 comments. Here's some of what his readers had to say:
山笛子 [2011-10-30 10:10:21 AM] 软弱的对外政策导致没有尊严的后果就是可以随便被杀
热爱比他 [2011-10-30 10:15:54 AM] 只要把这个事件放在近来的周边事件中看就很清楚啊。
[2011-10-30 10:30:56 AM] 只有把9名罪犯引渡过来由中国审讯才可能真相大白，否则又是一个不了了之。文章的最后一段本人认可，就是牺牲中国人的生命，达到阻吓中国国人的目的，让中国退出对湄公河的开发从而达到在南海问题上东盟一致对付中国。有些事真的要顺其自然，不能强求，中国要敢于面对挑战。对东盟国家区分对待，各个击破！
hbxbattery [2011-10-30 10:44:07 AM] 中国人，真的活得有尊严吗？屡屡被小国戏弄，为的是战略机遇期？不懂了！我们想知道，发展的目的是为了什么？是不是就为了被无辜地枪杀？
闫桥 [2011-10-30 11:10:42 AM] 看了您上一篇分析湄公河惨案的文章就一直感觉此事一定同泰国警方有关，可现在却出现了九名军人自首的事，这会不会是欲盖弥彰的障眼法呢？又有报道说这九人根本不承认杀人的事。泰国警方“事关两国友好”的言论又能说明什么呢？是不是和船上发现的毒品有关。总之，从现在的情况看案情调查不会一帆风顺，需要投入更大的力量。

author: John Kennedy


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Colombia: Law 30 and “Operation Seventh Ballot” on Regional Election Day · Global Voices
Cati Restrepo

Through the Facebook group “Operation Seventh Ballot” [es], citizens are inviting voters to deposit a paper in the ballot box with the words “NO TO THE REFORM OF LAW 30″ in reference to the education reform launched by the national government. This initiative, which will be carried out during the October 30 regional elections, recalls a similar initiative from March 11, 1990 when citizens demanded the creation of an Assembly to reform the constitution [es].

author: Cati Restrepo


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Egypt: Blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah Detained for 15 Days  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.
Activist and blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah has been detained for 15 days, after refusing to be interrogated by the Military Prosecutor, in protest against its legitimacy.
He appeared at the  Military Prosecutor, along with fellow activist Bahaa Saber,  today as supporters gathered outside, denouncing military trials. Since January 28, more than 12,000 civilians have been tried by military courts in Egypt. Abd El Fattah has since been transferred to prison, while Saber will soon be released.
Both activists were imprisoned in 2006 under Hosni Mubarak's regime.
Sharif Kouddous notes:
@sharifkouddous: Unbelievable. @alaa and Bahaa get 15 days detention sparking outrage from supporters outside
Bahaa Saber, left, and Alaa Abd El Fattah outside the court earlier today. Photo by Sharif Kouddous
Lawyer Gamal Eid tweets the allegations against Alaa, Bahaa and Mina Daniel, who was killed in the October 9 Maspero massacre. He writes [ar]:
الاتهامات الموجهة للنشطاء: التحريض التجمهر والاستيلاء على سلاح للقوات المسلحة ، واتلاف منشأت عسكرية
He adds:
علاء سيف رفض التحقيق من النيابة العسكرية باعتبارها تابعة للجيش ، والجيش نفسه متهم في الجريمة وبالتلي لا يجوز لمتهم ان يحقق مع متهم أخ
Alaa's sister Mona Seif notes [ar]:
علاء و بهاء موقفهم كان قوي لأنهم رفضوا يعترفوا بشرعية النيابة العسكرية
Mohamed Abdelfattah reacts:
@mfatta7: Salutations to the courage of @alaa as he refuses 2b interrogated by the military authority he is actually accusing.
Jonathan Rashad adds:
@JonathanRashad: It's kind of ironic to see @alaa facing mil prosecution fall 2011 when his sister @Monasosh has been fighting mil trials since spring 2011.
And Jonathan Moremi asks:
@Jonamorem: What about the promise not to try civilians in front of military court anymore, Tantawi? Is lying all #SCAF can do? #FreeAlaa #noMilTrials
Along with many others, Gigi Ibrahim is livid Daniel is among those accused. She tweets:
@Gsquare86: They killed Mina Daniel and he is dead and they are charging him of “inciting violence” ?!!! #WTF #SCAF has gone metal
At the time this post was published, Bahaa Saber was still being interrogated.
Mona Seif tweeted [ar]:
Further Reading:
Egyptian Blogger's Summons Adds Fuel to Campaign Against Military Trials
This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.


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Iran: Virtual U.S Embassy · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

America decided to establish a virtual U.S embassy for Iran. In Khodnevis a cartoon says “Imam [Khomeyni]how can we climb up this embassy's wall”. The cartoon refers to Iran hostage crisis where 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Japan’s IT Exodus: A Personal Perspective (Part 1) · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

In 2008, a movie was released in Japan with the title “Genkai in a Black Company”, depicting the life of a 26-year-old struggling to make a living in the gruelling conditions a so-called “black company”. The term is Japanese slang for companies with long hours, dreadful working conditions and miserable pay that exploit their employees beyond the legal limit — last-ditch options for those who can't get better work. The company in the movie, though, was not the kind you might associate with such a backward, sweatshop-like workplace. It was an IT company.
Not surprisingly, young Japanese are none too keen to work in such coding sweatshops, which are all too real (the movie itself is based on a true story, and a not uncommon one). It doesn't help that programmers are associated in the public eye with social ineptness, and that the programming task itself is often viewed as grunt work, or not understood at all [ja]. Young Japanese are steadily fleeing the industry, and the exodus is one of the main reasons why Japan is losing its competitiveness in the new digital age.
The blogger and his dog
37-year-old software architect Ryo Asai (@ryoasai74) and his blog “Becoming a Master Programmer” (達人プログラマーを目指して) [jp] offer a rare counterpoint to this gloomy picture, and a unique window onto the state of the IT industry in Japan. In his profile, the blogger explains:
世間ではプログラマーは忙しいわりに報酬の少ない報われない職業という意見もあるようですが、インターネットで気軽に情報を発信したり、オープンソースの コミュニティに参加して一緒に開発したり、プログラマーが活躍できる場所は以前と比べてずっと広がっているということに最近ようやく気づきました。勉強の 材料もインターネットからほとんど無料で手に入る時代ですし、やはりプログラミングが好きな人間にとっては本当に魅力的な仕事であると思います。IT業界 の現在や未来には悲観的な意見が多く、特にプログラマーに対しては魅力的な職業でないと感じる人々が多いのは残念なことです。ただ、IT技術はなくなるど ころか急速な勢いで高度化しているのですから、今後スキルの高い達人プログラマーが活躍できる場所がもっと増えてくるのではないかと信じています。
After working for seven years at OGIS-RI, a Japanese system integration company, Asai recently quit to take a job at Amazon Japan. The posts translated in the first part of this two-part series document the motivations for this move.
Counter to the “black company” image, Asai's experience of being an engineer at a Japanese IT company was positive. In a blog entry posted on October 3rd, he writes [jp] of his environment at OGIS-RI:
およそ7年間にわたり、前職のオージス総研ではソフトウェアアーキテクトとして、SOAやEAといった全社的なシステムのアーキテクチャから、上流のモデリング、Java EEを使ったアプリケーションの開発など、技術者として様々な経験を積ませていただきました。私自身はこのブログでも何度も取り上げてきたように、モデリングやオブジェクト指向といった技術を用いて、実際の基幹業務システムの設計などに活用することで、高品質で保守性の高いシステムの構築に貢献したいという思いがありました。そのようなシステムを構築、維持するためには高品質なアーキテクチャの構築が必要不可欠であり、それが、結果としてお客様の業務を効率化させ、さらにビジネスの価値を向上させることにつながるという信念がありました。
中でも私としては大変運の良いことに、実際のアプリケーション開発の現場に入って、Java EE、Spring、Hibernateといった標準技術やOSSを利用し、実際に再利用可能なフレームワークを段階的に構築し、複数のプロジェクトにわたって適用するという経験もできました。フレームワークチームとアプリケーションチームが完全に分断された世界で仕事をするのではなく、限られたリソースのなかでアプリケーションの要件をもとにフレームワークを段階的に進化させることが必要でした。複雑な金融商品のドメインモデルを構築したり、大量のトランザクションを処理するための高速化の仕組みを考えたり、ビルド自動化の工夫をするということは、単に新しい技術を適用するということ以上にわくわくする体験でした。
また、以前に自分は恵まれた環境で仕事をさせてもらっていることに感謝しなくてはいけないと思う – 達人プログラマーを目指してでも書いたように、SIerの職場環境としては珍しく、技術について熱く語ることのできる仲間が周りにたくさんいるチームで、大変に恵まれた居心地のよい環境で仕事をさせていただくことができました。一緒に仕事をさせていただいた上司や同僚には本当に感謝の気持ちでいっぱいです。
But although his experience at his job was positive, Asai felt at 37 that he had hit a limit:
そういう意味で、なかなか自分から積極的に転職を考えようという気持ちにはなれなかったのですが、やはり、既に37歳という自分の年齢のためか、一般にこの業界で35歳定年説と言われているように、最近は開発現場でバリバリコードを書くという仕事からはどうしても遠ざかってしまっているところがありました。もちろん、自分の体力の衰えということもありますが、私としてはまだまだ現役でプログラムを書いていきたいという気持ちがありました。新技術の吸収力や理解の速さといった面では若い人にはかなわないかもしれませんが、リファクタリングやモデリングの技術などは経験によって深まるものであると思うからです。
In a comment on the post, he expands on the roots of Japan's age ceiling on programmers, whereby coders are shifted away from coding to more managerial or consulting positions — usually around the age of 35:
実際に海外ではプログラマーの35歳定年説というものはまったく ないと思います。35歳を過ぎているからといって全然特別なことはまったくありません。結局は仕事ができるかどうかで、年下が上司とかふつうだと思います し。でも、日本のPGの募集だと35歳までとか制限を設けているところも実際に多いようですし、自分の経験上プログラミングはなるべく原価を抑えられる若 い人を優先するという考え方もあって、だんだんとコードを書く仕事がなくなってくるのは事実だと思います。つまり、プログラマーの定年については、スポー ツ選手のように個人の能力の問題というよりも、組織や給与体系の問題が大きいのではないかと思います。
Ultimately, he found himself being pulled away from his passion:
そういう状況の中で、このブログのタイトルでもある「達人プログラマーを目指す」という自分の目標からどんどん遠ざかってしまっているのではないかという焦りや不安が常にありました。アーキテクトとしてパワーポイントやワードの説明資料を作成するのも広い意味でプログラミングの一種だと言って自分をごまかすこともできなくはないと思いますが、やはり、毎日IDEやエディタを起動してプログラミングスキルの向上や開発環境の改善に励みたいという思いがありました。
Amazon Japan
The pull away from programming convinced Asai to take the plunge and apply for a position at Amazon Japan. He writes of his motivations:
Amazonはサービス企業のイメージがあるかもしれませんが、IT技術によって小売をサポートするという広い意味においてSI業界におけるユーザー系企業に近い立場であり、エンタープライズ開発の一種であると考えることもできると思います。今回AWSではなく、Amazon.comの本業である小売業を支えるアプリケーションの開発を行うポジションに応募したのは、エンタープライズアプリケーション開発者としての経験を少しでもいかしたいという自分のこだわりというところもありました。
He writes of his interview:
詳しいことは書けませんが、面接はいわゆるシリコンバレー方式で、合計5時間くらいにわたって、同僚や上級のプログラマーからアルゴリズムやデータ構造など技術的な質問を英語で受け、心身ともにヘトヘトになりました。私の英語力の問題もありましたし、情報系の卒業でもなく、基礎的な計算機科学の勉強も不十分だったため、いきなりアルゴリズムに関するコードを書き下す問題にはなかなかてこずりました。
落ちても失うものは何もない、ダメでもともとという気持ちで応募したポジションですし、自分としてはこのチャンスを最大限に生かすべく、一日も早くAmazonのビジネスに技術力で貢献できる達人プログラマーの一員になることを目指して精いっぱい頑張っていきたいと考えています。
In bookmark comments, readers of Asai's blog offered their congratulations, and their thoughts:
H_Yamaguchi:
プログラマなら一度は通る道なんでしょうね。35才定年説に関係なくコードを書いていたいという気持ちと、実際の仕事との差にみんな悩むんだろうな。。。あっ、私も明日で37才、今日も明日もプログラマです。
tt4cs:
おめでとうございます！ 神の見えざる手に導かれたに違いないと、他人事ながら少しだけ感動しました。。
Nan_Homewood:
35過ぎても、こうやって転職できる方は凄い。かなり努力されていると思います。見習いたい。
And junkcollector, with the take-away message:
こうして優秀な人材を失っていく日本企業。昔のように残ってはくれない。
In the second part of this two-part series, I'll be introducing a follow-up post in which Asai describes his first few weeks at Amazon Japan, in particular the challenges he faces adapting to the different work culture. Stay tuned!

author: Chris Salzberg


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Kyrgyzstan: There Is No Silence Day in Internet · Global Voices
Elena Skochilo

Yesterday, October 29, was the so-called “Silence Day” in Kyrgyzstan, the last day before the presidential elections. At this day any political agitation is prohibited in the traditional media. But the law has no hold on Internet.  The main representative of the Russian newspaper “Rossiyskaya Gazeta” Igor Shestakov said [ru]:
There is no silence day at Facebook today!  There is political heat around candidates. Most of my Facebook friends heavily criticize the main candidates. I think that the candidate “No one” will win today!
In August the presidential race in Kyrgyzstan had an impressive start: 83 candidates were registered to participate in the presidential elections. Tomorrow Kyrgyzstanis will vote for one of 16 candidates only.
The social networks were heavily used for the agitation by the candidates during the agitation period from September 25 till October 28. Most candidates have registered their Facebook pages, Twitter accounts and posted their elections agendas for the discussions at the largest Kyrgyz internet forum Diesel. Moreover, the First National Channel of Kyrgyzstan in collaboration with the Internews Network organization used the forum to collect the questions for the presidential debates on air [ru]. They created [ru] a topic at the forum where every user can post his or her question for the candidates.
Even during the “Silence Day”, the Kyrgyz Internet didn’t pay attention to the restriction of the law: it was full of discussions, arguments and predictions.
The censorship law was in action and all foreign TV-channels are aired in the record to avoid an influence of the foreign countries on the presidential race in Kyrgyzstan. So, a few people are just happy to watch their favorites TV channels soon. Azamat Tynaev, the editor of Chalkan.kg agency posted [ru] at his Facebook:
Hooray! A day after tomorrow I will watch again Euronews, K +, RBC, CNN, “Week” with Marianna Maksimovskaya, and other TV-programs. Idiotic censorship law will finally stop running.
Many users were still unsure whether they should vote. Facebook user Urmat Nasykulov posted [ru]:
I have two inner candidates. One is voting for nobody, another is going to vote for one of the candidates. The have equal positions now. What about you?
The human rights activist Ilya Lukash tweeted [ru]:
Probably, I won't vote. I apologize for my indifference. It will be my first elections which I will abstain consciously.
The head of the Central Asian Free Market Institute Mirsuljan Namazaliev tweeted [ru]:
Say no to the administrative source whosoever uses it! The elections should be fair!
Nowadays the Kyrgyz Internet is full of human rights activists, citizen journalists and whistle-blowers, and the virtual Kyrgyzstanis are well-aware of the law violations. Many online agencies will provide twits about the elections day upon the hash tags  #freekg, #kg2011, #shailoo and #shailoo2011. Some users will use the crowd-sourced map on elections violations [en]. There is even a site [ru] to follow the elections agendas of all candidates and check later if their promises become true.
The election day is taking place today. Updated reports on it will follow shortly.

author: Elena Skochilo


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Nigeria: Waste, Wealth and the Burden of a City · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Bella Naija's photo story titled “BN Photo Stories: Waste, Wealth and the Burden of a City”: “With an estimated population of 15 million, and growing at an annual rate of 6%, Lagos, Nigeria, is set to topple Cairo soon as Africa’s largest city…With increased, largely unchecked, informal economic activities, emerge gigantic challenges associated with waste management and environmental pollution control.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Pakistan: Funding Social Innovation · Global Voices
Rezwan

Jehan Ara at In The Line Of Wire  writes how the recipients of the P@SHA Fund for Social Innovation were selected.

author: Rezwan


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Russia: Retired Tennis Star Marat Safin to Run for Parliament · Global Voices
Donna Welles

This post is part of our special coverage Russia Elections 2011.
Russian tennis phenomenon, Marat Safin, has announced that he will run for the Russian State Duma in the December 4 elections. Born in Moscow in 1980, Mr. Safin began his professional tennis career in 1997. In 2000 he became the number 1 ranked player in the world when he defeated Pete Sampras in order to win the US Open. He won the Australian Open in 2005 and helped lead the Russian team to Davis Cup victories in 2002 and 2006.
Certainly, Mr. Safin is a talented athlete. However, his public image, as illustrated by citizen media outlets, has until now not been focused on public service.
Russian Politics for Dummies Blog announced Mr. Safin's campaign in a post on October 28:
Safin, the 2000 US Open winner and 2005 Australian Open champion, said he was serious about his political ambitions.
“I am running for Federal Parliament in Russia,” Safin told the ATP Champions Tour website.
“The elections are on December 4th so I will find out soon. It’s a new challenge. I think I am an intelligent guy and I have a lot to bring and a lot of ideas about things and what to do. I am very committed to it.”
Safin added: “I could be the best looking guy in the Duma, but that’s only because all the other guys are over 60.”
Marat Safin at the XV International ATP tennis tournament St. Petersburg Open 2009. Photo by Mike Kireev, copyright © Demotix (27/10/2009).
Russian blogger, Gleb Mekhed, contrasted his admiration [ru] for Mr. Safin's athletic ability to his distaste for Mr. Safin's antics in an August 2011 post:
[…] I must say that I play tennis a bit myself, and for a long time Marat was a man I admired. His graceful game sometimes reminded me of a tiger. However, I was always annoyed by his antics with the smashing of rackets, etc. Honestly I do not know what he needs politics for. Maybe just because it's trendy. […]
Miriam Elder, GlobalPost blog's senior correspondent in Moscow, placed Mr. Safin's State Duma run into political and geographical context in her July post:
What does somebody like Marat Safin do after retiring from tennis? There are plenty of options: he could model, he could act, he could marry me, I mean, somebody.
But this is Russia and if you want to stay on top here, best to link up with United Russia. And guess what – that’s what Safin is doing.
According to the United Russia website, Safin is taking part in the election primaries currently being held in consort with the People’s Front (I wrote about them this weekend). The idea is to formulate United Russia’s candidate list for the December elections. Safin is standing for the Nizhny Novgorod region, which is weird, considering he was born in Moscow, to ethnic Tatar parents, and Nizhny has nothing to do with either one or the other. […]
Mr. Safin's own 2006 blog – which is hosted in Russian here and translated into English on the ATP World Tour site – offers insight into his life as a tennis player. In one blog entry, he discussed his relationship with his parents:
[…] Last night my father called me at around 1am and asked me to use one of my cars to take my grandfather to a medical check this morning. Since I am a good son, I told him to come to the apartment in the morning and pick up the keys. When he arrived, I gave him some laundry as a present for my mum…
For some reason, after a certain age our lovable parents enjoy doing things for their kids, like laundry, looking after your flat when you are not around. They are just happy to do anything, anytime for their kids. But when you are young, you have to do all these things, laundry, doing the dishes, cleaning the apartment and all the c—p you hate doing, when the only thing you want to do is go out, hang out with your friends and do whatever is on your mind. Every age has its good parts and bad parts, it is important that you enjoy both of them. […]
And here are Mr. Safin's thoughts about what it is like to participate in a tennis tournament:
[…] The day was long, the ladies took over on court and they took forever to decide who wanted to win and lose. Apparently, nobody wanted to lose. So I was waiting, eating and drinking coffee. I went to sleep and almost fell from the massage table a couple of times because when you sleep your body sometimes shakes – so I almost fell down. I slept and then drank another couple of coffees. I ate again and drank again. Basically, my stomach was like an aquarium. A mixture of pasta, soup, Russian blinis, jam, coffee, tea, peach juice so you can imagine how I was going to look after a few hours.
They then called us. Everyone is happy two Russian girls and two guys are in the final. It was a full stadium today, pretty amazing as the stadium is pretty big. We are only using one quarter of it for the Center Court. More or less, today was around 10,000 people. It was not 100% full. […]
It is my first final in Moscow, so I am happy. A final nobody can complain about. No one will make me feel guilty of going away to sleep and not doing my job properly. […]
After today’s match, I did press and signed around 5,000 million autographs so I could perfect my signature. A lot of kids coming, running up with balls. At least kids here they know who I am. For example at some of the tournaments like in Cincinnati or Montreal, they come up and don’t even know who you are. They then ask, “Excuse me. Who are you?” I always use the name Roger Federer. For sure they know Roger. Then they ask, “Yeah, sure, who are you?” So I am still using his name. […]
People from around the world who had been accustomed to seeing such a flamboyant persona from Mr. Safin reacted on Twitter to the news of his political ambitions. Temidayo Oluyede from Nigeria wrote:
murray-bruce running for office…marat safin sef running for office…..new breed of politians
New Yorker Daniel Kaplan, a tennis reporter for SportsBusiness Journal, wrote:
Marat Safin running for Parliament! He wasn't exactly a statesman as a player! […]
Russian Politics for Dummies blog reminded readers that Mr. Safin is not the first Russian tennis player to have political ambitions:
The 31-year-old Safin is the second Russian tennis star to target a seat in the Duma following 2007 US Open women’s semi-finalist Anna Chakvetadze announcement in September that she was to stand for the Right Cause party.
The 24-year-old, formerly ranked in the top five in the world, has not played since Wimbledon in June because of poor health.
Chakvetadze said she wanted to “try something new” and focus on women’s rights and children’s sports.
“I joined the Right Cause Party because it’s a young party,” she said.
This post is part of our special coverage Russia Elections 2011.

author: Donna Welles


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South Asia: A Fundraising Drive Across Three Countries · Global Voices
Rezwan

Journeys To Democracy writes about a fundraising drive in VW Beetles across three countries in SouthAsia (Nepal/India/Pakistan) to help launch a spinal injury rehabilitation center in Nepal.


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Sri Lanka: Why Occupy Colombo Was A Fail · Global Voices
Rezwan

Indi.ca reports that some people attempted an occupy protest in Colombo which did not turn out to be a compelling social movement.


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Thailand: Floods and Social Media · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Many parts of Thailand are still flooded as the country continues to face the worst flooding disaster in the past half century. The flood waters are higher in the provinces although Bangkok remains under threat especially its low-lying areas.
Blogger Bangkok Pundit warns residents living close to these low-lying areas and Chao Phraya River:
Although, a lot of money has been invested in drainage systems for Bangkok over the last 20-30 years so overflows are generally drained quickly, we still have a couple more days of high tides to go.
The two key factors that BP (Bangkok Pundit) has been able to determine on which areas will flood are whether they are low-lying areas or not and whether they are near the Chao Phraya River and other canals. It is not an exact science. Whether you live near or close to the river and canals is usually fairly obvious, but how do you know whether you live in a low-lying area.
Below is a map showing the land elevation in Bangkok which identifies the low-lying areas in the city:
But some bloggers believe the flooding disaster has been exaggerated. Tasty Thailand criticizes those who are spreading panic and wrong information:
You have to laugh when you read the Twitter posts from some westerners in Bangkok. They're tweeting and retweeting every rumour they hear about the latest floods in Bangkok (most of which are not true) and desperately trying to figure out if they should leave.
The reality is, most flooding in Bangkok is still around the same level as yesterday and most Bangkokians are getting on with their lives. Some areas close to the Chao Praya River have seen small amounts of ‘flooding’ this morning (around a foot or less), but that's because high tide came in at 9:09am. By now, most of it is already receding as the high tide lowers and the water gets sucked back out or dries off by itself. But, there are still those twats on Twitter trying to make more of it than it is
Photo from @RichardBarrow
Bangkok Bugle reacts when this picture was uploaded:
No doubt the audience seeing the subsequent report will only see the flooding in the background. In my opinion this reporter is breaking the most important rule in journalism – to report the truth. What viewers saw was not the entire picture. I'd love to know which television station this reporter works for, and indeed what the editor would say when presented with this image. No doubt the report was dramatic – floods lapping at the walls of one of Bangkok's tourist icons – but is that really what was happening at the time? It just goes to show you shouldn't believe everything you see – or read for that matter.
Greg to Differ thinks social media can also contribute to the confusion:
The flood crisis in Thailand is, as of right now (and probably for the next few weeks), still a big problem, but it’s a very strange big problem. If I wasn’t watching the news and monitoring the internet, I’d have no idea anything was amiss at all. Inner Bangkok remains dry, sunny, and business as usual (except now when I'm writing this, and it's raining). However, we are very, very lucky; many parts of Bangkok’s outer areas are disaster zones, with chest-deep water, abandoned homes, random electrocutions and hungry crocodiles swimming around.
One thing that’s both exacerbating and helping the situation is the ubiquity of social media. I’ll start by saying that the net positive effect far outweighs the negative effects, as vital information is able to flow freely and instantaneously to the community and the world, alerting people of dangers and creating wide and effective support networks.
But it can also have a negative effect. The beauty and curse of social media like Twitter or Facebook is that it's unfiltered and unverified. Rumors and misinformation can travel quickly and cause panic
Sakon Nakhon asks if the disaster is natural or man-made:
Word in the media is that all this flooding is not really a natural disaster, but the result of man made stupidity.  Supposedly a decision was made to not release water from dams to insure sufficient water for farming.  When the heavy rains did arrive, water from the dams had to be released in large volumes to avoid bursting of the dams.
This is really just speculation, but the decision definitely was at least a contributing factor.
The Cross-border Programme writes about the situation of migrants in flood-affected villages:
We travel across the university campus to a quiet corner, and come upon a large football stadium where some 200 migrant workers and their families are provided shelter separately from the Thai population. There are many Cambodians here, and we meet with friends from other NGOs who are also supporting migrants affected by the flood with access to services. The floods have served to further marginalize migrant workers.
Below is a video animation which provides helpful information about the floods:
Some netizens insist the flooding is not only limited to certain areas of Bangkok:
@wayne_hay: Many headlines saying things like “Bangkok escapes flooding” Please correct. Large parts of Bangkok ARE flooded, just not CBD
@thai101: Everyone thinks they're part of inner Bangkok until their house floods and people are still talking about how dry inner Bangkok is.
The government has published a special report informing residents how to cope with the floods. The Thai Red Cross Society continues to receive donations for flood victims.


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China’s Stability Machine and the Detention of Chen Guangcheng · Global Voices
Andy Yee

Chen Guangcheng, a blind human rights activist and self-taught lawyer in China, has been in house arrest at his home in Linyi prefecture, Shandong province since September 2010 after spending four years and three months in prison. A well-known activist for uncovering forced sterilizations and abortions and other abuses of the family planning policies by the Linyi authorities against nearly 7,000 women, he was sentenced in 2006 for “willfully damaging property” and “organizing mobs to disrupt traffic”.
A video released in February 2011, shows Chen saying that he has been living under 24 hour surveillance since his release. He was subject to beating after the video's release and has suffered from deteriorating health conditions afterwards. Since then, foreign journalists, human rights advocates and other brave individuals and citizens have been trying to visit Chen, but all were turned back by strong security guarding Chen’s village, with reports of attack by hundreds of unidentified men and thugs.
Campaign poster to free Chen Guangcheng
As renewed attention was brought to Chen Guangcheng in October after waves of visit to his village were turned back by violence and beatings, Chinese bloggers and writers are now turning their attention to the stability machine behind Chen’s detention.
In an important article [zh] published in Caijing Magazine in May 2011, it was reported that China’s budget for internal stability maintenance for 2011 is 624 billion yuan, a rise of 13.8% over last year and exceeding the defense budget of 601 billion yuan. Another important article published by the same magazine in June 2011 (and translated by Dui Hua Human Rights Journal) describes the “gray market” opportunities presented to local officials in China’s quest for stability:
Local governments’ fear of petitioning has led to a huge stability-preservation “market” that includes capital liaison offices, security contracts, and “payoffs” and results in all types of rent-seekers, brokers, and thugs out foraging for themselves. Appetites whetted by the favors that can be had in this rent-seeking arena, the capital liaison offices, security companies, and petitioning officials all [seek ways to] protect and expand the “stability-preservation pie.” As this “market” continues to grow, even things that have nothing to do with “stability preservation” can be categorized as “stability preservation” in order to “collect more rents.”
It has been pointed out that stability maintenance fee on Chen Guangcheng now reaches 50 million yuan. Chen's case is a perfect example of this type of rent-seeking. Jia Jia, a columnist and media professional, has written a precise summary [zh] (originally posted but censored in his Tencent weibo) of why the local government goes to such lengths to detain a blind activist:
陈光诚在入狱前，其频繁的维权举动，被地方政府认为是当地最大的“麻烦制造者”。不论是残疾人权利还是农业税费问题，陈光诚曾让地方饱尝“依法办事”之“苦果”，陈氏之入狱也成为必然。从年初流出的视频来看，陈氏虽在幽禁之中，但并未因此屈服，并未对政府做出任何承诺。
陈氏之不合作，当然成为地方的“心腹大患”。此人若令其自由，则临沂地方又必须“依法办事”，必须面对陈光诚在众多问题上的较真。尤其是那些在施政过程中有明显违法行为的官员，自然会要求沂南县加紧防范。禁止外人探访，恐怕是为了防止一些重要的不利信息被传递出去。
临沂地方的计生黑幕，也是不能见光之事。一旦暴露，会引起举国上下对计生政策的再检讨。这攸关基本国策，动摇不得。一位临沂地方官员在微博上就陈光诚事件发言，“可见党中央的决策是英明的”。这说明对陈光诚的处理意见来自最高层，这种处理意见跟地方政府不谋而合。执行中央支持的、且有利自身的政策，何乐而不为呢。
最后，也是最重要的理由，维稳经费已经成为当地政府的巨大财源之一。当地政府抱着“拥寇自重”的心理，不断向上级勒索维稳经费。对于一个雁过拔毛的官僚科层体制来说，这种财源来得简便而理直气壮。当地政府也倾向于夸大陈氏事件与外界、与国外的联系，使得处于信息屏蔽区的最高层级，由于担心事件国际化，不敢放松对陈氏的管制。
直接负责看守陈光诚的村民，每月有固定一千六百元的月薪，这是一笔不少的收入。在当地，看守陈光诚是一件抢手且热门的工作。这批人通常又是村镇领导直接选拔的亲朋好友，对他们来说，撤哨就意味着收入骤减。这种“村镇利益集团”倾向夸大探访网友对他们工作的“干扰”，以获取更多的财政支援。
如果没有利益驱动，恐怕很难让临沂市、沂南县、双堠镇、东师古村四级政府，如此地对陈光诚抱有这么大的兴趣。陈光诚才是他们的“财神爷”。于是，在各种利益的交织与绑架之下，陈氏全家成为不用坐牢的囚徒。而这种维稳体制也陷入了自身制造的怪圈之中：越维越不稳。
In the eyes of the local government, Chen Guangcheng is a troublemaker. Whether it is the rights of the disabled or agricultural tax problems, Chen’s activism pushes the government to act according to law. Hence, he must be imprisoned. As the video released early this year shows, Chen was confined in his home, but he never compromises or makes any promise to the government.
His non-cooperative attitude is a serious problem for local authorities. If he is free, the Linyi government would have to play by the law and deal with him seriously. In particular, officials who have broken the law must have asked the authorities to step up the defense. The prohibition of outside visits is probably to prevent sensitive information from leaking out.
Linyi’s family planning policy is also a shady area. Once exposed, it will trigger a nation-wide debate. This concerns a basic national policy which is undebatable. A Linyi local official said on weibo, “we can see that the decision of the Party’s Central Committee is wise.” This shows that decision on Chen’s handling comes fro the very top. This fits the local government: executing the center’s decision while implementing a policy beneficial to itself.
Lastly, and most importantly, stability maintenance is one of the largest source of income for the local government. By keeping alive a toublemaker, the Linyi government can blackmail the upper levels for more resources. In a strict and bureaucratic system, one can ask for such kind of resources confidently. The local government also tends to exaggerate the links of Chen Guangcheng within and outside China. Because the central government is unfamiliar with local conditions and fears the internationalization of the event, it is reluctant to relax control on Chen.
There is a fixed monthly salary of 1,600 yuan for villagers responsible for guarding Chen Guangcheng. This is a lot of income for them. Locally, this is a sough-after job. These people are usually close friends and relatives of village leaders. For them, withdrawl of the control means a reduction of income. This “village interest group” tends to exaggerat the interference of visitors in order to seek more financial support.
If there is no economic motivation, we could not imagine that the four levels of government, from Linyi city, Yinan county, Baihe town to Dongshigu village, could show such a big interest in Chen Guangcheng. Chen is their “God of Wealth”. Therefore, in this intertwined web of interests, Chen and his family are held hostage without being prisoners. And the stability maintenance system has also fallen into a vicious circle: the more you maintain stability, the more unstable it becomes.
As Jia has pointed out, the local government of Linyi has used Chen Guangcheng as a bargaining chip for rent-seeking. Xiao Han, a professor at the China University of Politics and Law, has written an essay (originally posted but censored in his blog) exploring stability maintenance from the perspective of behavioral economics. Below is an extract on how the local government intentionally creates a tense atmosphere in order to bargain with the center:
在維穩體系中，越是將事態描述得聳人聽聞，對於維穩執行者越有利，這種利益既是權力上的利益，也是經濟上的利益。古代中國有所謂「養寇自重」的謀略，即剿匪的將領並不在第一時間以集中優勢兵力的方式消滅或擊潰「匪眾」，而是以佯打放生、虛抬匪情的「拖」字訣向上級要求更多的財政支持與權力授予，維穩體系存在著類似特性。在陳光誠事件中，臨沂地方當局除了拘禁、毆打陳光誠及其家人以外，還對探訪、看望陳光誠者暴力圍毆、非法綁架與拘禁，除了是一種對陳光誠的支持者的恐嚇與威脅和實際攻擊之外，其背後就可能還存在著上述動機：刻意製造緊張氣氛以向上級申言其作惡的正當性——因為這一切都能夠幫助他們獲得更多的經濟支持和權力授予。然而，由於這一切過於離譜，作惡過於囂張，終於導致輿論的全面譴責以及人們的無畏探訪，這一結果雖然使得陳光誠的處境產生微弱的改善，但探訪者的處境並未改善，而且從維穩立場這一視角它已實現了作惡者所要達到的目的，即他們所虛張的嚴重的「匪情」是實情。臨沂地方當局的上級維穩者雖然知道這一切都是維穩體系以及具體執行者的惡果，但他們被綁在同一條利益戰車上，所以不可能揭穿，尤其不可能向陳光誠支持者「示弱」。
Elsewhere, blogger Gu Xi at my1510.cn explains why Chen Guangcheng is an easy target for the local government to turn into an economic opportunity, and points out that Chen’s case is just the epitome of the numerous stability maintenance dilemmas in China:
既然维稳费用大部分由中央承担，地方政府则无“节制消费”的内生动力，这是其一。其二，被维稳的对象、那些上访、聚众乃至上诉法律的问题人物固然让基层政府头痛，但换个角度，却变成了他们“屯积居奇”、向上索要更多费用的的筹码。以陈光诚为例，临沂政府领导又不是傻子，怎会不知陈光诚一个盲人没有任何破坏能力、又为何这样如临大敌？——这正是陈光诚之于地方政府的价值所在：没有实际的“危害”，容易“收拾”，同时级别甚高，可凭此一人获取巨额拨款。其三，在人事任免上，如果出现纰漏，则地方长官会被罢免，既然有上面两条做铺垫，当地官员何不顺水推舟，保了乌纱帽又舔了上面的屁沟？这是从中央与地方的行政机理来考虑。以我曾工作过的天津滨海新区政府为例，每年年末都要由新区政府组织“维稳会”，向下属功能区传达维稳要求。
这种伪造一个“利益共同体”然后获取“合法性”的手段，在临沂体现的淋漓尽致。“陈光诚黑洞”，就是各种维稳微观环境的缩影。当地政府为了监禁陈光诚，以1600元/月的价格雇佣当地村民，村民们因为这工作薪水颇丰、非常清闲、又能时不时抢夺贵重财物、甚至暗合了暴虐的欲望，于是抢着做这份工。一旦陈光诚案被破解，这一部分人的生活来源将被马上切断。所以从这个角度看，最不喜欢陈光诚获取自由的，应该是这些拿着卑微俸禄的职业打手。在诸多维稳事件中，由“维稳专业户”组成的利益共同体，我称之为“黑洞利益”。这一共同体有着拱卫维稳机制的最强愿望，同时也是“战斗”在第一线的走狗。这个特殊利益圈殊无破解的可能性。
As Li Huafang, a researcher and publisher, points out in his blog at Caijing magazine, there is no easy way out of Chen's case. Releasing Chen is the best way out of the vicious circle of stability maintenance, but the local government, which is not really accountable to the public, would not abandon this income source easily. On the other hand, while the case is gaining international media attention, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, without much local knowledge, is reluctant to apply pressure for fears of offending the powerful backers behind Linyi's local government and family planning authorities. It remains to been seen if waves of citizen visits to Chen's village could continue and gather nation-wide attention for Chen's release.

author: Andy Yee


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China: Open letter to Relativity Media · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

C Custer wrote an open letter to Relativity Media, a Hollywood Film Producer, criticizing its plan to cooperate with the Linyi government to shoot a movie there. Linyi government has illegally detained Blind activist Chen Guangchen from leaving his house and stopped others from visiting him since his release in September 2010.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Woman activist beaten by local thugs and police officer · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Tom Lasseter interviewed Wang Xuezhen, a woman activist beaten by local thugs when she tried to visit Chen Guangcheng. She was slapped by a police officers when she reported on the violence she faced in the village.


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Cuba: Members of “Las Damas” Detained  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Uncommon Sense learns that “ten members of the Laura Pollan Damas De Blanco…were among severa dissidents arrested in Santiago de Cuba as they tried to gather for Mass” yesterday morning.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Cuba: Off-Colour Remark in Red Light District  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

babalu is appalled by a remark that Mariela Castro (director of Cuba's National Center for Sexual Education) makes in an interview with Radio Netherlands during a visit to the red light district in Amsterdam, saying: “[She] enjoys a hearty laugh at the expense of Cuban women who are forced to prostitute themselves by exchanging sex with construction workers in order to fix a bathroom because they have no money. The vile repulsiveness of the Castro dictatorship's elite cannot be made any clearer.”


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D. R. of Congo: DRC Elections Watch 2011 · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

DRC Elections Watch 2011: “In the afternoon of Sunday, October 30, with his wife Olive Lembe by his side, Joseph Kabila formally launched his electoral campaign in Kindu, in the Maniema Province, with a long speech in Swahili in front of thousands of his supporters.”