text:
Uncertainty And Hope During Elections in Nepal · Global Voices
Rezwan

Supporters of different Nepali political parties outside BICC building where vote counting is continuing. Image by Kumar Shrestha. Copyright Demotix (21/11/2013)
Nepal's elections to choose a new Constituent Assembly were finally held on 19 November 2013 a year to the day that they were first planned. The vote counting is ongoing, with the latest reports pegging Nepal's oldest party, the Nepali Congress, as leading the polls.
The elections are shrouded with uncertainty as the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has alleged vote rigging. The Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) and Nepali Congress are neck-and-neck, while the Maoists face electoral defeat.
Much rides on these elections because the new assembly will be tasked with drafting Nepal's much awaited Constitution. Not long after a decade-long civil war between the country's Maoists and government came to an end, the first Constituent Assembly was formed in 2008. But after four years it failed to write a constitution, and the country has been in political crisis since.
The voter turnout on the day was encouraging, with a large women participation. Blogger Ushaft discussed the general mood of voters on the voting day:
People who voted for Maoists last time have turned against them now. This is the general mood one can observe in districts, villages and streets.
However, the day did not pass without violence. Journalist and blogger Deepak Adhikari blogged about an election day bomb blast that severely injured children playing in the streets. There has been an increase in election-related violence in Nepal both pre-poll and during the poll, noted by blogger Ushaft:
A series of violent explosions were reported last week. It is not clear who did them, and most blame the Dash faction. But a large number of such activities are targeted at non-Maoist candidates.
Aakar Post analyzed social media reactions regarding the elections. The pre-election buzzwords were topped by words such as “bomb”:
Analysis of pre-election keywords in Social Media. Image by Aakar Tech. Used under a CC BY-NC license
While the post-election buzz words were dominated by words like “win” and “boycott”.
Nepal’s Maoists are disputing the election results. Previous Prime Minister and Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) urged the election commission to stop the vote counting with complaints of “conspiracy and poll-rigging.”
On Facebook, Maoists leaders and supporters – notably Prakash Dahal (Prachanda's son) – have posted series of updates regarding their allegation of irregularities. Prakash Dahal has also posted pictures which he claims prove that the pools were not free. He has posted four photos of what purportedly show an army officer standing next to voters casting ballot. Nepal deployed 62,000 army personnel in all the constituencies to provide security for the November 19 Constituent Assembly elections.
But majority of comments posted seem to indicate that the people want the Maoists to take this defeat as a lesson:
निष्पक्ष चुनाव भनेको यहि रहिछ हैन । सेना कुन घेरामा बस्ने रे । निलकण्डलगायत षडयन्त्रकारीहरु । ब्यारेकमा मतपेटिका साटेर नपुगेर सेनालाई कहां भोट हाल्ने सिकाउन लगाउन
This is free and fair election. Which boundary would the Army abide by? Nilkantha [Chief Elections Commissioner] and the other perpetrators? Not happy with changed ballot boxes in barracks, made the Army teach voters where to vote.
Blogger Ushaft quotes a citizen's statement, which expressed concern on the Maoists allegation of election irregularities and rejected demands of the Maoists to obstruct the vote tallying process.
On Twitter, the #NepalVotes hashtag was used by many commentators to write about the elections. NepalVotes.com is on the forefront of disseminating and visualizing election-related data, and a popular Nepali-language blog has coordinated coverage with them:
Dear @salokya, This is the best data play /w #NepalVotes I've seen during this elex coverage. Keep up the good work. http://t.co/v1b6LkPk2b
— Subel (@svbel) November 23, 2013
Screenshot of the website Nepalvotes.com with graphical representation.
This election also highlighted the importance of data journalism within the Nepali context, with sites like NepalVotes.com and MySansar active in monitoring.
Blogger and journalist Deepak Adhikari (@DeepakAdk) noted on Twitter:
interesting infographics on twitter trends RT @leplan: Social Media Buzz Analysis on #NepalVotes http://t.co/s55A597Zan
— Deepak Adhikari (@DeepakAdk) November 23, 2013
Interesting to note that otherwise active Twitter user, former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai (@brb_laaldhwoj), has remained silent following the results. He tweeted just once after the polls, to thank his voters.
Paramendra Bhagat at Democracy for Nepal provides a snapshot of the latest standings as on 25 November 2013:
Image courtesy Paramendra Bhagat at Democracy for Nepal.
NepalVotes.com has the updates of results as they come in, and projections of seat count under the proportional representation as per their own analysis.
It's still not clear if these elections will result in a constitution, blogger Kaja wrote:
What I heard from some Nepali people was that for this election they hoped for a constitution. That was their biggest wish. Now only time will show what will happen.

author: Rezwan


text:
Wanted Tiananmen Activist Rebuffed in Attempt to Surrender to China Again · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

@zuola uploaded the photo of Wu'er Kaxi from the wanted criminal notice printed in major newspapers 24 years ago.
Wu'er Kaixi, a wanted student activist from the 1989 Tiananmen democracy protests, turned himself into to the Hong Kong government during a layover there while travelling from Taiwan to Bangkok. He asked to be extradited to mainland China as a fugitive.
He has made several attempts to return to China since 2009 as part of the Tiananmen exiles’ campaign to return home launched by Reverend Chu Yiu Ming in 2007. The “Home Coming” campaign is to support exiled democracy activists to go home and reunite with their families.
In 2009, Wu'er Kaixi was denied entry to Macau; in 2010 he was arrested for attempting to enter the Chinese embassy in Tokyo, and in 2012 he was ignored by the Chinese embassy when he surrendered himself in Washington D.C.
Like his earlier attempts, Wu'er Kaxi failed again this time. The Hong Kong government has also denied his entry, and expelled him back to Taiwan shortly upon his arrival.
At around 1 p.m., Wu’ er Kaixi wrote on his Twitter:
我在香港國際機場，已向當局表明我是中國政府通緝犯，希望投案的意願。現留置入境處。聲明請看：http://t.co/arljIABmSg
— 吾尔开希 (@wuerkaixi) November 25, 2013
I am at the Hong Kong International Airport. I have turned myself in to the local authorities and told them that I am a fugitive wanted by the Chinese government and want to surrender. Now I am at the immigration control area. I have a full statement here: wuerkaixi.com
This time Wu'er Kaixi was accompanied by Albert Ho, a Hong Kong Democracy Party lawmaker and the head Hong Kong Alliance In Support Of Patriotic Democratic Movements Of China.
@wenyunchao, a mainland Chinese political activist now based in the U.S posted Wu'er Kaxi and Albert Ho's picture taken at the Taipei airport before they departed to Hong Kong with a tag #Homecoming:
吾尔开希与何俊仁律师在台湾桃园机场。 #我要回家 pic.twitter.com/Ak63FPQyW5
— 北风（温云超, Yunchao Wen） (@wenyunchao) November 25, 2013
Wu'er explained why he wanted to surrender himself in his blog statement:
Since 1989, I have been in exile for 24 years, and have not been able to see my parents and other family members. My parents are old and in ill health. The Chinese government refuses to issue passports for them to travel aboard and visit me. My parents have been told clearly that the reason they will not be issued passports is that their son is a dissident. I would like to ask the Chinese government, is this behavior in keeping with the international treaties it has signed; is it true to the spirit of Chinese traditional values; is it in accordance with PRC law?
I believe the answer to those questions is, no, and that is why I feel I have no alternative but to turn myself in. I miss my parents and my family, and I hope to be able to be reunited with them while they are still alive, even if the reunion would have to take place behind a glass wall.
He also explained the reason for choosing Hong Kong as an entry spot:
Since 2009, I have made similar attempts in Macau, Japan, and the United States to either enter China or Chinese embassies to face the Chinese government’s charges directly, but I have been denied every time. What I’m doing today is a result of the Chinese government’s absurd act of ordering my arrest, while at the same time refusing to allow me to return.
Assuming the Hong Kong government accepts the Chinese official position, which sees my participation in the 1989 student movement as part of a “conspiracy to subvert the government,” making me guilty of “counter revolutionary incitement,” the Hong Kong government should accept my request and help Chinese government to apprehend me. I understand that the transit area of Hong Kong International Airport is an international zone, but it is also an area within the Hong Kong government’s jurisdiction, and the Hong Kong authorities should at least consider my request to turn myself in.
If the Hong Kong government denies my request, and will neither arrest me nor help the Chinese government to apprehend me, I take this to mean that the Hong Kong government does not accept the People’s Republic of China’s official verdict on the Tiananmen student movement. If that is so, I appreciate it, and I then request the Hong Kong government stop denying Chinese dissidents the right to enter Hong Kong, giving me an opportunity to turn myself in to the Chinese liaison office in Hong Kong.
Actually, the Hong Kong government does not need to explain its political stand on the 1989 student movement as it has never signed any criminal extradition agreement [zh, pdf] with the mainland Chinese government. However, Hong Kong immigration authorities have denied entry to a number of well-known Chinese dissidents since its handover to China. This time, the Hong Kong government also denied Wu'er Kaxi's entry and he left the Hong Kong airport and returned to Taiwan at around 4 p.m.
Though Wu'er Kaxi's trip to Hong Kong was short, there were quite a number of discussions and comments about the incident in Hong Kong. Francis Chan expressed his warm welcome at the comment thread of the Housenews’ report:
He married to a Taiwanese and has Taiwan passport and should be allowed in as a Taiwanese. He is most welcome. Let him in and let him share his experience with our young. If he kept his mouth shut and laid low in in May-June 1989, he could have been a rich princeling. His dad used to be an important Uighur cadre in Xinjiang.
However, only a few people in Hong Kong appreciated Wu'er Kaxi surrender act. Many instead expressed their disappointment with the dissidents. For example Kelvin Kwok Fung Tang reposted his comments on several public news threads in Facebook:
中共國的滅絶人性是肯定的。但是當初遠走高飛的吳爾開希離國後有想到要改變中國嗎？眾多受香港人協助逃出外國的所謂民運份子有團結起來改變中國嗎？沒有，似乎大都在外國畢業、結婚、離婚、賺錢就算了，如今自己父母老了又不能回國見父母，才知道要懊悔，那為何當初要辜負香港人對你的期望？為何辜負自己的理想？[…] 再三問問吾爾開希，這二十年來你在美國和台灣為華人作過任何貢獻嗎？
Everyone knows that the [Chinese Communist Party] is cold-blooded. But does Wu'er Kaxi really want to change China? Did the mainland Chinese dissidents rescued by the Hong Kong people unite to change China? No. Many of them has just received their university degrees overseas, got married, divorced and made lots of money. Now that their parents are old, they felt regret. They have failed our expectation and their own ideas. […] Here I ask Wu'er Kaxi, in the past 20 years, what has he done in Taiwan and the US for the development of democracy in China?.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
Buenos Aires to Host Indigenous Film Festival ‘BAIn’ · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Festival de Cine Indígena BAIn 2013 – Del 27 de noviembre al 4 de diciembre + info en http://t.co/nPt8ZxbKAU pic.twitter.com/C4BT1gEC32
— CineBAIn (@BAInCine) November 25, 2013
From November 27 to December 4, 2013, Argentina's capital will host the Second Film Festival ‘Buenos Aires Indígena’ (Indigenous Buenos Aires). The festival, which seeks to disseminate and promote the work of indigenous filmmakers, will include panel debates where the public will be able to interact with the festival's participants.
You can follow updates about the festival through their Facebook page [es] or their Twitter account @BAInCine [es]

author: Silvia Viñas


text:
Cuba Suspends Consular Services in the United States · Global Voices
Elaine Díaz

Cuban Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy, Washington D.C. Image taken from Wikimedia Commons, under CC License.
The Cuban Interests Section in the United States announced the suspension of its consular services today due to a bank's inability to take care of its accounts in the country, according to an official communique [es] published on Cubadebate [es].
On July 12, M&T Bank informed the Cuban Interests Section in Washington DC that it would not continue servicing  foreign diplomatic missions, forcing the Cuban Interests Section and the Permanent Mission of Cuba at the United Nations to terminate their relationship and find a new bank with which to operate in a limited period of time.
Nonetheless,
debido a las restricciones vigentes derivadas de la política de bloqueo económico, comercial y financiero del Gobierno norteamericano contra Cuba, ha sido imposible para la Sección de Intereses encontrar hasta la fecha un banco estadounidense o de otro país con sede en Estados Unidos, que asuma las cuentas bancarias de las misiones diplomáticas cubanas, a pesar de las múltiples gestiones realizadas con el Departamento de Estado y numerosas entidades bancarias.
to date, due to the restrictions resulting from the North American government's economic embargo, commercial, and financial policies against Cuba [es], it has been impossible for the Interests Section to find a U.S. or foreign bank in the United States that would undertake the bank accounts of the Cuban diplomatic missions, despite multiple efforts made by the Department of State and various banks.
As a result, the Cuba Interests Section suspended consular services until further notice. According to the official statement, “only humanitarian procedures, and others in a limited capacity, will be attended.”
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, established on April 18, 1961, and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, established on April 24, 1963, stipulate that “the receiving State must provide all facilities to the diplomatic missions, including consular offices to carry out their functions.”
On May 30, 1977, Cuba and the United States signed an agreement that established interest sections in the two countries as part of which “both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the letter of international treaties that govern diplomatic and consular relations.”
The suspension of consular services will affect Cuban and U.S. citizens alike, due to the impossibility of completing procedures such as issuing passports, visas, legalization documents, and other services. Additionally, negative consequences are expected for family visits, academic, cultural, educational, scientific, and sports exchanges as well as those of any other nature between Cuba and the United States.

author: Elaine Díaz


text:
Egyptian Activists Arrested Under New Anti-Protest Law · Global Voices
Victor Salama

A (policeman?) not wearing a uniform touches the balls of a protester in compliance with the new protest law pic.twitter.com/gQw9NeHr0b
— Ahmed Ateyya (@Ateyya) November 26, 2013
Eighty-nine activists who are part of the No Military Trial campaign have been arrested by the Egyptian Ministry of Interior on November 26, 2013 following the new anti-protest law issued by interim president Adly Mansour on Sunday (November 24).
Hundreds of activists protested yesterday against the constitutional article draft earlier this week allowing the army to bring civilians in front of a military court, denying them the opportunity to appear in front of an ordinary court. This campaign has been going on since the beginning of the revolution. Thousands of people have since been subjected to military trials. On social media, the campaign is run under the hashtag #NoMilTrials.
On their Facebook page, the activist group posted a large number of photographs, showing the violence of yesterday's arrests by the police.
Mosireen, the citizen journalist and activist collective, has been the first to post video of the arrests, with English subtitles:
Aftee.org has posted a list of the detainees, which is getting longer by the minute. Among the detainees are the “usual suspects” and long standing activists such as Mona Seif, Nazly Hussein, Salma Said, Ahmad Ragaab and Jika's father (the iconic teenager that was shot during Morsi stay in power).
Famous blogger Zeinobia has done a great job by compiling all the events since the beginning of the protest earlier yesterday afternoon.
Journalist Hazem Abdel Hameed has posted some pictures of the arrests, with a coarse comment:
“you who arrest women… you're just a bunch of a******s”
Egyptian arrests. Hazem Abd El Hamed Facebook page
Feminist webpage, Bahheya ya Masr, uploaded this poster “freedom to the revolutionaries”:
Egyptian protest. Bahheya ya Masr Facebook page
Mariam Kirollos noticed that lawyers were not allowed to visit the detainees:
مافيش ولا محامي عرف يدخل لحد دلوقتي
— MK مريم (@MariamKirollos) November 26, 2013
Not a single lawyer has been able to get in yet [to see those arrested]
Some political and media figures have shown solidarity with the protesters:
In solidarity with those arrested, a number of political & media figures went to the police to report that they called for today's protest.
— The Big Pharaoh (@TheBigPharaoh) November 26, 2013
Among them are TV presenter Reem Magued and an assistant to the deputy prime minister:
Since @TheBigPharaoh tweeted it, I will: among today's detainees is an assistant to Deputy Prime Minister Ziad Behaa Eddin. #egypt
— Bel Trew – بل ترو (@Beltrew) November 26, 2013
13 members of the 50-member constitutional panel have suspended their participation in protest of today's crackdown. #Egypt
— Egyptian Streets (@EgyptianStreets) November 26, 2013
The latest news came that the female detainees were released later that night. Sarah Carr and Leil Zahra Mortada have commented on Facebook on conditions of their release. Sarah's comment is not currently available but Leil writes:
The police dropped off all the women detainees on a far away road heading to Upper Egypt in the middle of the desert. They have been located and activists/friends are on their way to pick them up. Few of the male detainees have been released and news that the rest will be released shortly. This is the usual practice from Mubarak´s regime. For example both Salma Said and Rasha Azab have been through this under Mubarak in 2008. They were arrested then dropped off far away on some national highway. Yet another evidence that the same repressive practices remain solid in Sisi´s Egypt. Today we witnessed the same old same, police violence, sexual assault against female protesters, humiliation and beating of the detainees, and then kidnapping them only to drop them off on some deserted road. The struggle continues. They will not silence us.
Mostafa Bassiouny had a clear and poignant analysis of the situation [link not currently available]:
“Sir, you have to understand… I beg you and beg the Prophet… This generation is not like the ones you know… They attended more friends funerals than weddings. Their backs have been stretched on the streets, that's why they'll never kneel. Don't you realize that when you build a wall, they draw an open window on it. When you shoot them with pellets, they collect them and play with them. When you pub barbwire, they use it to dry their socks and underwear. When you drag one lady naked in the square, you have 10 000 others who come back to set the score. You build a memorial for martyrs they pee on it and destroy it. What are you going to do with them since you can't afford a job for them to get busy nor a house to live in nor a piece of bread to shut their mouths so that they stop shouting slogans. For the love of the Prophet, please use your head and stop this stupidity. None of Moubarak, The Marchal (Tantawi), nor the Guide (Muslim Brotherhood guide, Badie) could tame them. Be smart and act now before it's too late. And you're still the light of our eyes (sarcastic come back at Al Sissi's famous comment about the people of Egypt being the “light of his eyes”)”
Salma Said, one of the activists who was detained tweeted just as she got out:
We were thrown in the desert, our friends found us and we are all ok. Fuck scaf and fuck the police
— salma said (@salmasaid) November 26, 2013

author: Victor Salama


text:
Thailand Catching Fire as Anti-Government Protests Intensify · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Thousands of anti-government protesters continued to hold rallies and marches across Bangkok. Photo by George Henton, Copyright @Demotix (11/26/2013)
More than 100,000 anti-government protesters stormed the streets of Bangkok which has further intensified political tension in Thailand. There are 13 protest sites which included several government buildings and media stations. Siam Voices summarizes the impact of the rally in the nation’s capital:
…anti-government protests in Bangkok, Thailand began again after crowds estimated at crowds estimated at 100,000-plus rallied in the city on Sunday. The protesters marched to 13 separate protests across the city early Monday with the situation has become increasingly tense in the early afternoon.
Among the 13 rally sites, the protesters have targeted various free-TV stations – including the army-owned Channel 5, state-owned NBT (aka Ch 11) and Channel 3 – as they think that their rallies have been underreported or flat out ignored in the last few days and demand media to report “truthfully”.
Protesters occupied the Budget Bureau and the Finance Ministry compound, the Foreign Ministry and the Public Relations Department. In response, the government expanded the scope of the Internal Security Act as protesters vowed to hold more protests across the country in the next few days.
This video shows the size of the rally in Bangkok last Sunday, the biggest anti-government rally so far.
Protesters wanted the dissolution of the government headed by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra whom they accused of being a puppet of her elder brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin was removed from power in the 2006 coup. He is in exile after being found guilty of plunder by a local court.
Protest actions have been organized in the past few weeks after the passage of the controversial Amnesty Bill which would allow Thaksin to return home. Due to public pressure, the measure was voted down by the senate.
But the ongoing protests in Thailand indicate the continuing deep political divisions in the country. The situation is reminiscent of the 2008 crisis when protesters occupied the airport, and other key facilities of Bangkok.
On Twitter, protesters were accused of spreading misinformation and using terror tactics
Misinformation last night about sieges and seizures of provincial halls in the South that seemingly did not really happen.
— แก้วมาลา Kaewmala (@Thai_Talk) November 27, 2013
Democrats continue their tactic of terror. Occupying government places, closing roads, trying to escalate the situation into violence
— Freakingcat (@freakingcat) November 27, 2013
Dems would get greater audience in parliament if Suthep & Co were not seizing government buildings + statements overshadowing the debate.
— bangkokpundit (@bangkokpundit) November 26, 2013
Tourists are advised to avoid protest sites:
My advice to tourists remains the same. Avoid protest sites and you will be fine. Both #Bangkok & #Thailand are big places so easy to avoid.
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) November 27, 2013
This Google Map shows the major protest venues in Bangkok:
Police are deployed in many parts of the city while protesters continue to occupy some government buildings:
ตำรวจนำเสื่อปูนอนทั้งคืน ในปั๊มเอสโซ โรงกรองน้ำ หลังผู้ชุมนุมปิดล้อม pic.twitter.com/dyKYiRQDV8
— Chanida_Newsplus (@Chanida_Sr) November 26, 2013
15.28 น.ขบวนสุเทพเฉพาะผู้ชายประชิดประตูทางเข้าภายในอาคารกรมประชาสัมพันธ์แล้ว!! #nna pic.twitter.com/zF1d8Jckck
— Anuphan Chantana (@Anuphan_nna) November 25, 2013
Thorn Pitidol thinks Suthep Thaugsuban, the opposition leader who is organizing the protest actions, has not made clear his political demands:
As many others have noted, what’s odd about this protest is that, despite the number it has managed to gather, the protest has not really spelled out any clear objectives
As far as I can understand, the blank rhetoric he threw out was not to propose any solution, he just wants to mobilise those who hate the government.
Meanwhile, media groups denounced the reported assault made by some protesters against a foreign journalist. The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand issued this statement:
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand deplores this in the strongest possible terms, and calls upon protest leaders to unequivocally and publicly state that the rights of journalists, foreign or Thai, should be respected.
The Southeast Asian Press Alliance interpreted the protests around media stations as a threat to media freedom:
…the protests in front of TV stations can be interpreted as a direct coercion for media to report matters according to protesters’ views. These are no different from pressures faced by journalists from media owners and the state to slant news in their favour. It really does not matter from which group the pressure is coming, what is important is that these acts ultimately harm the professional media from keeping the public informed and channeling diverse political views.
Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, urged both government forces and protest groups to avoid violence:
Opposition groups have a right to protest peacefully, but that doesn’t mean assaulting journalists or anyone else. At the same time, the Thai authorities need to allow antigovernment demonstrations that are secure and don’t degenerate into violent confrontations.
Prime Minister Yingluck explained why she expanded the Internal Security Act:
I ask my fellow citizens not to provide support for protests that violate the law and not to believe rumours. Please cooperate with officials in operations to maintain the law so that the situation may quickly return to normal. I ask those with opposing views to use the parliamentary means of a censure debate.

author: Mong Palatino


text:
Today: #AskGV About Central and Eastern Europe on Twitter at 8pm UTC · Global Voices
Danica Radisic

Have you heard of Bulgaria's year long protests involving self-immolations and university occupations? Did you know 100,000 Ukrainians protested after their government walked away from an agreement essential for EU integration? Are you concerned that right-wing politicians are becoming a popular choice in Slovakia? Did you know that Hungary and other countries in the region are bringing new laws that further threaten freedom of press?
Countries in Central and Eastern Europe have been going through tremendous political turmoil throughout 2013. These events and protests are seldom mentioned on international mainstream media, but for Global Voices covering these stories is a top priority.
Please join our Central and Eastern Europe Editor Danica Radisic @NikiBGD and other team members on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 at 8 pm UTC (9 pm CET, 3 pm EST) on Twitter with the hashtag #AskGV to find out about how and why we follow these important events and trends on Global Voices.

author: Danica Radisic


text:
Wealthy Tourists Can Now ‘Experience Poverty’ in Fake South African Slum · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

An aerial view of Emoya's fake slum. Photo source: http://www.emoya.co.za/
Emoya Private Game Reserve, Conference Centre and Spa in Bloemfontein, South Africa has created a fake slum for wealthy tourists to experience slum life “within the safe environment of a private game reserve.” The introduction to the fake slum reads:
Millions of people are living in informal settlements across South Africa. These settlements consist of thousands of houses also referred to as Shacks, Shantys or Makhukhus. A Shanty usually consists of old corrugated iron sheets or any other waterproof material which is constructed in such a way to form a small “house” or shelter where they make a normal living. A paraffin lamp, candles, a battery operated radio, an outside toilet (also referred to as a long drop) and a drum where they make fire for cooking is normally part of this lifestyle.
Now you can experience staying in a Shanty within the safe environment of a private game reserve. This is the only Shanty Town in the world equipped with under-floor heating and wireless internet access!
Below is a video of the mock shanty town posted on YouTube by Emoya:
Most people online have described the idea as tasteless and disgraceful. Siji Jabbar, writing on This Is Africa, said:
If you thought the idea of rich tourists on holiday taking time out for a walking (or riding) tour through a slum in order to stare at slum inhabitants like they’re animals at a safari was tasteless, insensitive and offensive, the people at Emoya Luxury Hotel & Spa in Bloemfontein, South Africa, have found a way to offer something even more tasteless.
In case you haven’t heard, the Emoya people have built a fake shanty town consisting of “shacks” so that guests can experience what it’s like to stay in a shanty town. For R850 (€60; $82) – about half the average monthly salary in South Africa – you and three friends, family members or colleagues can spend a night in a shack made of corrugated iron sheets. They “shanty town” has room for 52 guests. I kid you not.
Siji explained why the idea is offensive:
There are one billion people worldwide living in slums, and I'll hazard a guess that not one of this billion would continue to do so if they had a choice. Choice is the reason why the idea of “experiencing” what it is like is complete nonsense.
If you have to live in a shack built from cardboard and corrugated metal sheets, you are, relatively speaking, poor, and poverty is about not having choices. by accident of birth, you find yourself growing up and living in a shack in a shanty town. It’s not a moral failing, though some people appear to see it as such, but to the person living in a shack it can feel like failure, mainly because that’s the message society transmits. […] It’s about fighting every day to hang on to your dignity, while others, knowingly or inadvertently, try to strip you of it. It’s about constant worry: will you have enough to eat tomorrow? Next week? Can you afford to get ill, and what happens if you do? Will your shack be demolished tomorrow morning because it was built “illegally’, rendering you homeless? You can’t experience any of that unless you actually are poor, and you can’t walk away from poverty, or from your shack, overnight or in a week or when you've had enough of the “experience”. So all any guest in one of these “shack” will experience is a night or more of camping.
Emoya's fake slum for tourists in South Africa. Photo source: http://www.emoya.co.za/
Commenting on Siji's post, Kathy Smedley considered the idea to be simply stupid:
This is just plain stupid!!! What in the world is wrong with the genius that came up with such a lame brained idea. Do they not know this is making fun of people who by no choice of their own live like this? Very tasteless idea, right along with the idiots who would actually PAY to stay in something such as this place. If someone wants to pay to stay in a shanty, let them stay in a real one, and then maybe they just might take their money and put it to good use, such as donating to a charity or homeless shelter that could use the dollars to help those less fortunate
Another reader, Kenyan slum dweller, pointed out what was missing in the idea:
They don't have the icing on the cake, CRIME
Fake slum made of corrugated iron sheets. Photo source: http://www.emoya.co.za
“Shame, shame on Emoya,” said Heather Laninga:
I have never seen a shanty with mattresses and bunk beds, or so nicely built for that matter. This is absolutely tasteless and insensitive. Shame, shame on Emoya. I hope that 100% of the profits are going to NGO's to help the poor!
However, Dirk Pieters thought the idea was awesome:
Its an awesome idea.
Don't be so quick to judge. Living in a shack has all those bad things that you mentioned but it also has a heart and a soul of the township that you will never find anywhere else, especially in the stuck-up white suburbs where nobody dances in the street and nobody talks to their neighbours.
Lots of those shacks that you judge to be so terrible are incredible works of labour,decorated and looked after with pride and Love
I think that Shack Chic was an amazing book that showed a side to South Africa that made me proud.
ONE, a movement of people around the world fighting the absurdity of extreme poverty, posted an article about the fake slum on its Facebook page and asked, “What do you think of this?”
Answering the question, Selina Dawn Kyle thought that the idea may help psychologically:
actually….. if done right… it may psychologically help… the sad truth is that most people cannot understand or comprehend what it is like for others until they have stepped into their shoes… so LET THEM step into their shoes…. just dont put up any vending machines ok? KEEP IT REAL. They want to see, let them
Philomena Elizabetta Hall was skeptical:
Really good point, but I wonder if it really would help psychologically? One of the biggest burdens on the mind is lack of hope, people live & die in shacks, those wealthy tourist know they are getting out – those born in them may have little hope they will ever get out.
The idea would be brilliant, observed Sue Henderson, if it was for educational purposes:
If it was being used to educate people then yes, it would be brilliant, but they're going to have heating, a proper bathroom and so on, so no. As the article says, even if you were a tourist living in a real shanty town for a while it wouldn't be the same because you could escape from it whenever you wanted. The people who genuinely live there rarely have that option.
I've long since got beyond being surprised at the arrogance and insensitivity of rich people.
Jan Zee advised:
These wealthy tourists need to live in a real slum, with a real family, for at least a week. Eat what they eat, live how they live, scavenge where they scavenge, wear what they wear, lie in their bedbugs, etc. Then they will get the real experience and will maybe actually do something to help
Elissa Pitton Shuck noted:
Poverty for entertainment – a new low for sure!! Disgusting.
African Economic Development Plan asked on its Facebook page, “How do you feel about this? A fake slum for wealthy tourists.” Zita Bett responded:
Its so sad that money can buy even buy slum. [sic] Rich people hate to deal with other people's reality, so they create a facade of a reality.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


text:
A Bird’s-Eye View of Russian Corruption · Global Voices
Kevin Rothrock

Navalny's new interactive map, “One Flew Over the State Official’s Nest,” 27 November 2013, screenshot.
Blogger and anti-corruption activist Alexey Navalny has launched a new attack against five prominent Russian politicians, accusing them bribe-taking and failing to declare vast property holdings that include opulent mansions located outside Moscow. In a long post [ru] on LiveJournal, published November 27, 2013, Navalny explained how Nikolai Ashlapov, Igor Rudensky, Sergei Neverov, Sergei Prikhodko, and Vyacheslav Volodin (all members of United Russia or high ranking members of the federal government) underreport their wealth by registering pieces of their assets under the names of relatives and a co-operative society.
In addition to his blog post detailing the politicians’ extravagant homes, Navalny also unveiled a new website [ru] created through his civic organization, the Foundation Against Corruption, where readers can browse an interactive map, titled “One Flew Over the State Official’s Nest.” Clicking on any of the five mansions depicted displays individual statistics about the properties, explaining their sizes in relative terms. (For instance, Neverov’s land is equal to nine ice hockey rinks; Volodin’s acreage is roughly three soccer fields; and so on.)
Pro-Kremlin blogger and youth activist Kristina Potupchik was quick to respond to Navalny’s accusations. In a LiveJournal post [ru], Potupchik argued that Volodin’s asset declarations make it clear that he is wealthy enough to afford the property identified in Navalny’s investigation. She also charges Navalny with hypocrisy, claiming that he wages a campaign against wealthy Russians, while protecting his own well-off allies, like former Alfa Group portfolio director Vladimir Ashurkov and economist Sergei Guriev.
И резать их Навальный почему-то не собирается. Блогер в этой ситуации сильно напоминает Уильяма Браудера, который обогатился в России на беспредельной приватизации 90-х, а когда лавочку прикрыли, завопил о коррупционном правительстве.
But Navalny isn’t about to turn on them [Ashurkov and Guriev]. In this respect, the blogger [Navalny] strongly reminds me of William Browder, who got rich in Russia on the wild privatizations of the 1990s, and—when the shop closed up—started bawling about government corruption.
Vyacheslav Volodin, 23 May 2012, Kremlin Press Service.
Journalist Ekaterina Vinokurova noted [ru] on Facebook that Russia’s news media was ignoring Navalny’s revelations, despite the fact that “his blog post is the topic of the day among the top political circles.” In an article [ru] for Znak.com, Vinokurova quoted an anonymous Kremlin source, who defended the transparency of Volodin’s assets, albeit in an apparently ironic tone.
Later in the day, Gazeta.ru reported [ru] that Russia is finally home to a political party called “the People’s Alliance”—the name of the party Navalny has failed twice already to register. The new People’s Alliance party, however, doesn’t belong to Navalny, but to a small party formerly known as “Mother Country” (Родная страна). This group is the brainchild of political strategist Andrei Bogdanov, who is responsible for engineering several spoiler political parties with platforms and even names designed to confuse voters and suppress electoral support for the opposition.
On Twitter, Navalny joked [ru] that the renaming maneuver was Volodin’s swift revenge for the “One Flew Over” revelations about the mansion outside Moscow:
Это, я так понимаю, ответ Володина на ‘дачные разоблачения’ ФБК
— Alexey Navalny (@navalny) November 27, 2013
As I understand it, this is Volodin’s answer to the anti-corruption foundation’s “dacha discovery.”

author: Kevin Rothrock


text:
Brazilian Athletes Go on Offensive for a ‘Better Football’  · Global Voices
Fernanda Canofre

[All links lead to Portuguese-language webpages except when otherwise noted.]
Since the beginning of October, the same scene has repeated itself at the beginning of football matches played in stadiums from the north to the south of Brazil: before the referee signals the start of the match, the players from both teams huddle at midfield together in protest, demonstrating their support for the so-called Common Sense Football Club (Bom Senso Futebol Clube, in Portuguese). For the first time, a group of professional Brazilian football players are challenging the Brazilian Federation of Football (CBF) on players’ rights without intermediaries.
Photo: Bom Senso FC / Facebook
Under the slogan “in support of a better football for players, fans, broadcasters and supporters”, the club sprang from an informal conversation between the players Alexsandro de Souza, known as Alex, the Curitiba's midfielder, and Juan Silveira dos Santos, the International of Porto Alegre's defender. After a 0-0 draw between both teams, these two exhausted players vented about time pressures and how it was affecting the quality of the sport on the field. And thus began the Bom Senso Football Club.
The massive protests that started in June around the country, which became known as the Vinegar Revolt [en], motivated the players to start collecting signatures from other players in support of the movement in defense of a broad restructuring of Brazilian football. During their first meeting, which took place on September 30 after they had already gathered 300 signatures in support, the players introduced the first manifesto of Bom Senso F.C. defending five main points: the national football calendar, players’ vacations, pre-season, fairer compensation for players and their participation in the technical council of the federations.
Going on the offensive
The reason players organized was the announcement of the special schedule to be complied by football clubs next year because of World Cup in 2014. Due to the mega-event, which will take place in Brazil, the CBF “tightened the schedule of the matches and reduced the vacation time and pre-season”.
The short set-up times were already an issue for the players. Football University, an online institution that published content about the sport, released a web series explaining how the Brazilian football schedule works and why it is detrimental to players as well as their teams. The experts explain in the first video that with matches twice a week and championships occurring at the same time, the time available for training sessions and physical fitness is becoming less and less. As a result, players become more susceptible to poor physical performance and injury. The average pre-season time for Brazilian football clubs is just 16 days. That's half of European football clubs’ pre-season time.
Before the creation of the Common Sense club, the Brazilian professional players were represented by the Athletes Union, which they accused of taking little action to address their concerns. During an interview with sports network ESPN, Alex compared the union to Pontius Pilate, the man who ordered the crucifixion of Jesus, according to the Bible:
Eles nos procuraram apresentando a proposta da CBF, nós pedimos um tempo para responder. A CBF lançou o calendário e logo em seguida veio uma nota do sindicato meio Pôncio Pilatos. Lavou as mãos e entregou para depois. Foi a única relação que eu tive com eles e eu não gostei.
The Union submitted to us the CBF's proposal and we asked them for some time to make a decision about it. The CBF announced the schedule and right after a message from the union reacting like Pontius Pilate. They washed their hands of it and put the matter off. This was the only interaction that I had with them, and I didn't like it.
Now, with more than 800 athletes represented by the Common Sense club, the group aims to improve the conditions for players from the countryside who play on smaller teams belonging to the B and C leagues. The club explains on its website:
Sabendo que mais de 75% dos jogadores profissionais no país ganham menos de 3 salários mínimos e que grande parte desses atletas não tem calendário de jogos e emprego durante todo o ano, o Bom Senso F.C., que representa até o momento 807 atletas das series A e B do Campeonato Brasileiro, acredita que a questão central do atual calendário do futebol brasileiro é que as equipes que disputam as principais competições têm jogos em demasia para as datas disponíveis à sua realização enquanto os clubes de menor porte enfrentam grandes períodos de ociosidade.
Knowing that more than 75 percent of professional players earn less than three minimum wages and most of them don't have a schedule of matches or a job throughout the year, Common Sense FC, which now represents 807 players from A and B leagues of the Brazilian Championship, believes that the fundamental issue of the Brazilian football schedule is that the teams maintain that the main competitions have too many games for the dates available for scheduling, while the smaller teams face long periods of idleness.
During the matches of the second week of November, the banner of Common Sense requesting “a better football for everyone” (see image below) came with a new gesture. The players remained in silence with their arms folded for 30 seconds during the first minute of the game, a move they they had announced on their Facebook page beforehand. The main purpose was showing preoccupation with CBF'S “detachment” in order to organize “a more balanced and reasonable schedule”.
Players with their arms folded in order to protest against CBF. Photo: Bom Senso FC / Facebook
Avoiding the defense
Last week, throughout the match between São Paulo and Flamengo, the group faced a strong reaction for the first time. Problems with refereeing almost stopped the players from expressing themselves:
Lamentamos a tentativa de CENSURA ocorrida no confronto entre São Paulo e Flamengo. Demonstramos nossa preocupação com os jogos restantes desta rodada, esperando que nenhum profissional ou clube seja prejudicado ou punido. Que todos tenham BOM SENSO. Caso haja a tentativa de evitar que os jogadores se expressem de forma pacífica, providencias drásticas serão tomadas. Esperamos uma posição oficial, seguida de ATITUDES benéficas para o futebol brasileiro.
We lament the attempted CENSORSHIP that occurred at the match between São Paulo and Flamengo. We worry about the remaining matches in this round, and hope that any professional player or club is not affected or even punished. Let us all have COMMON SENSE. If there is any attempt to prevent players from expressing themselves in a peaceful way, drastic steps will be taken. We wait for an official position, followed by a beneficial ATTITUDE toward Brazilian football.
The group's members drafted for the Brazilian national team also had their demonstrations blocked throughout the friendly match between Brazil and Honduras on November 16.
If there is an exposed apathy on the one hand, in the other hand a motion has already started inspiring action out of the sidelines. In October, Minister of Sport Aldo Rebelo announced his support for the players for having started the negotiations with the CBF. During a basketball game between Bauru and Franca on November 14, players brought game play to a momentary pause in protest against the national basketball calendar.
Common Sense club just clarified its aim looking for a “balanced schedule” with “less matches for the elite teams and more matches for teams from minor or state leagues”. Though nothing has been changed, the team announced that protests might continue during the next championship round.

author: Fernanda Canofre


text:
Global Voices Meetup in Phnom Penh, Cambodia · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Following the successful Global Voices Meetups in Karachi, Cairo, and Kampala, we are pleased to announce the next gathering will take place in Southeast Asia on December 1, 2013.
The meetup in Phnom Penh, Cambodia will be hosted by Global Voices community members Sopheap Chak (@jusminesophia) and Ramana Sorn (@ramanasorn), and will take place at Sithi Hub, #6, Street 264, Sangkat Chatumuk from 9 am to 1 pm.
The Meetup will also bring together some of the authors and translators from the GV community. They are eager to share their experiences and hear about the ideas for projects from meetup attendees. In addition, the event will focus on:
If you are interested in taking part, please contact Sopheap or Ramana, as space is limited. You can also send an email to: rising [at] globalvoicesonline.org for more information. Please follow the hashtag #GVMeetup for this and other meetups from around the world.

author: Eduardo Avila


text:
Keeping up with the 2013 World Forum for Democracy · Global Voices
Suzanne Lehn

The second World Forum for Democracy is currently taking place in Strasbourg, France. The motto of this year conference is “Connecting Institutions and Citizens in the Digital Age”.  Follow the four themes and the 21 workshops of the conference with the hashtag #CoE_WFD.
Logo of the WFD in Strasbourg 2013 Photo Suzanne Lehn

author: Suzanne Lehn


text:
Political Prisoners of China Playing Cards · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Anthony Tao reviewed a card game at Kotaku. It is called “Political Prisoners of China Playing Cards”. The two jokers are: Xi Jinping and Hu Jintao. Top political prisoner is Liu Xiaobo.
Political Prisoners in China Playing Cards


text:
South Korea: Ordinary Citizen’s Extraordinary Feat in Revealing Election Manipulation · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

Twitter user @zarodream has been receiving congratulatory messages from fellow South Korean Tweeters for providing crucial leads in unraveling the spy agency's election manipulation activities done via Twitter. According to interview [ko], @zarodream, a 40-year-old ordinary office worker with zero professional knowledge nor special interest in politics, has spent about a year following the spy agency trails on Twitterphere and was able to track down their key accounts and connected accounts’ online activities.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


text:
South Korea Retaliates Against Outspoken Catholic Priest with ‘Pro-North’ Accusations · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

South Korea has launched an investigation into a prominent Catholic priest after he made remarks calling on the country's president to resign over the state spy agency and Defense Ministry's widespread manipulation of online leading up to last year's elections.
Park Chang-shin, a priest from the Diocese of Jeonju and a member of the Catholic Priests’ Association for Justice who has been outspoken in his criticism of the president over the electioneering scandal, is under fire for his comments involving North Korea. During one of his recent homilies (full text [ko]), he said that “it was natural for the North to attack Yeonpyeong island since the United States and South Korea held joint military exercises near its sea border” referring to North Korean attack against that border island in November 2010 which left two civilians and two marines dead.
This has become ammunition for the government to have him invested by prosecutors. South Korea's prime minister labeled Park's remarks as “destructive to the country and supportive of the enemy”, and the Defense Minister chimed in by calling him an “enemy of the state”. It is ironic because in that same homily, Park also said that he is “so sick of the ‘pro-North’ rhetoric that the conservative regimes love to adopt and abuse in order to clamp down on critics after branding them as pro-North Korea sympathizers.”
Since late summer of this year, Catholic leadership in South Korea, spearheaded by the Catholic Priests’ Association for Justice, has been vocal in condemning the government's systematic interference, regularly holding combinations of Catholic Mass and candlelight vigils in protest. The group has the history [ko] of resisting against President Park's father's dictatorial rule back in the 1970s and also were the ones who unearthed the torture and death of Park Jong-Chul, a milestone that lead to the June Democratic Movement in 1987.
The latest revelations about the electioneering scandal show that more 24.2 million tweets have been written by the spy agency and the Defense Ministry's Cyberwarfare Command to smear opposition candidates and praise current president Park Geun-hye. As more and more protests have sprung up, the president recently said that ‘she would not tolerate any attempts to cause social division and hurt national unity’.
The Korean web has erupted with anger and concerns over the nation's freedom of expression and democracy in light of the treatment of Father Park.
Prominent citizen journalist @mediamongu tweeted a photo of a special Mass organized by the CPAJ and celebrated by Father Park on November 22. Approximately 400 priests and Catholics reportedly participated in this protest:
박근혜 대통령 사퇴 촉구 첫 시국미사가 끝난 후 신부님들과 신자들이 촛불 들고 “대통령은 사퇴하라”는 구호 외치며 거리행진을 하고 있습니다 pic.twitter.com/BtJz0KM5Cc
— 미디어몽구 (@mediamongu) November 22, 2013
After the Mass and protest calling for President Park's resignation ended, priests and Catholics members took to the streets, holding candles in their hands and shouting ‘Step down, President!’
Many net users expressed their fear over the fact that pro-North rhetoric has been used so frequently against progressive groups and critics of the government:
박정권이 사제단을 종북으로 몰기 위해 연평도 발언을 왜곡이용하고 있는데, 그것이 아니었어도 어떤 식으로든 종북으로 몰았을 것입니다. 그것 밖에 카드가 없거든요. 이제 부정선거 지적하는 개신교도 원불교도 조계종도 전부 종북이 될 것입니다. 한심합니다
— 김정란(국민TV) (@pupituu) November 26, 2013
Park's government is distorting and abusing the Yeonpyeong island remark to brand the CPAJ as ‘pro-North’. If they had not used it this time, they would have found some other excuse to label them as pro-North. Since this [rhetoric] is the only card they can play right now, [that is why they are using this tactic]. Any group criticizing the fraudulent election will be labeled as ‘pro-North’– whether they are Protestant, Won Buddhists, Jogye Order of Korean Buddhist or else. This is just pathetic.
이명박 정부 이래 정권에 비판적 목소리는 무조건 종북으로 매도..이젠 천주교 정의구현 사제단마저 ‘종북'사제단으로 매도되는 지경이니 마침내 ‘종북’의 기준이 분명해졌다. 정권에 쓴소리를 하거나 대통령 사퇴를 주장하면 모두가 종북이다!! (민중의 소리) — Yoon.s (@prettyYoon7002) November 26, 2013
Under the [previous] Lee Myung-bak administration, every voice that was critical of the government was labeled as pro-North. Now the CPAJ is being branded as a pro-North Catholic group. Now it becomes crystal clear: Anyone who says something negative about the government and calls for Park's resignation are all ‘pro-North’.
광주 시민사회. “천주교 정의구현 사제단의 시국미사를 적극 지지한다. 국가기관을 총동원한 헌정유린에 대해 국민들의 규탄의 목소리와 종교인들의 시국미사에 ‘종북’으로만 답하는 박근혜정부는 더 큰 국민적 저항을 맞이할 수 밖에 없다.”
— 레인메이커 (@mettayoon) November 26, 2013
Gwangju civic society said, “We strongly support CPAJ's Mass and protest. The people have accused the government bodies of colluding together to violate the Constitution and the religious leaders have continued to hold Mass and protests – if the ‘pro-North’ rhetoric is the only answer that the Park government can give to all these calls, they will soon face fiercer and more widespread public resistance.
Net users also lamented the fact that conservative Korean media have blindly sided with the ruling party, and that members of the Catholic Church are being attacked [ko] by conservative groups:
정교분리는 ‘종교기관'의 정치유착을 경계하는 의미지 헌법상 보장된 ‘개인'의 표현자유를 묶는 의민 아니다.국정원 대선개입 물타기에 급급한 한국언론아.너의 주인을 위해 짖더라도 뭘 알고 짖어라.그리고 잊지마라.너의 주인은 국민이다.반드시 죄과를 치르리라
— 최경영 (@kyung0) November 26, 2013
The logic of ‘separation of church and state’ is made to prevent a collusion between politics and religion, not to restrict ‘individuals’ freedom of expression which is protected by the constitution. You Korean media are so busy watering down the NIS [National Intelligence Service] election manipulation scandal [by making other sensational headlines]. Although you may bark for your master, at least have the courtesy to know what you are barking about. And remember that your master is the people. You will pay for this.
사제단에 가해지는 ‘종북’ 폭격..'확성기’ 노릇하는 언론들 http://t.co/MJvNLYo3T3 — 표창원 (Changwon Pyo) (@DrPyo) November 26, 2013
The ‘pro-North rhetoric’ attacks have bombarded the CPAJ and the media have merely been amplifying the assaults.
오늘 박근혜가 말안듣는 국민들을 가만두지 않겠다는 협박 멘트가 떨어지기 무섭게 고엽제 전우회가 전주대교구 성당을 난장판을 만들었다. 불법폭력시위에 단호히 대처한다고한 박근혜씨는 성스런 성당의 불법폭력 난입사태에는 어떻게 대응하는지 지켜봐야 겠다.
— 언론이 살아야 나라가 산다.(나친노) (@answer1219) November 25, 2013
Today, right after Park Geun-hye made a threatening comment that she will not let those rebellious citizens go in peace, [note: This is how user understand it, and not the exact words from the President] conservative group, Goyeopje Veteran group, totally trashed Jeonju church. Lets see how Park Geun-hye reacts to the illegal and violent transgression made against a sacred church since she is the one who said will be taking firm measures against illegal, violent protests.
이석기사건이 터젔을땐 이석기인형을 불태우더니 이번엔 천주교사제단을 종북으로 몰며 인형을 불태우는 보수단체들. 흡사 마녀화형식을 보는듯 촌스럽군요. 어르신들 모여서 고작 이런 협박이라니. 참 새로움이 없어요. pic.twitter.com/6fANlkVT1w
— 희윤#바보가꿈꾸는세상#국정원특검 (@hee1025w) November 25, 2013
When the Lee Seok-ki fiasco happened, they [conservative groups] burnt Lee Seok-ki's effigy. Now they brand CPAJ as pro-North and are burning their effigies. Come on, this is quite tired – as if seeing a witch-burning ceremony. This kind of blackmailing that these old guys pull off – there is nothing new in any of this.


text:
Tokyo Governor Money Scandal Turns Graphic Meme · Global Voices
Keiko Tanaka

Tokyo Metropolitan Governor Naoki Inose, made headlines in the mainstream media on November 26, 2013 over a money scandal for receiving 50 million yen [50,0000 US Dollars] from a hospital organization before running for election in December 2012.
In a press conference Inose presented a document to prove that the money was a personal loan, and not as funds for his election campaign. He apologized to the people of Tokyo and the metropolitan government but is determined not to resign over the issue. Governor Inose was credited with playing a central role in bringing the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.
In Japan's Public Office Election Law, candidates must report all income including donations. Inose did not report the 50 million yen. A group formed by former prosecuting attorney Tamaki Mitsui submitted [ja] a letter of indictment about the matter.
For Japanese twitter users, such a political scandal is just another topic for a meme. Netizens picked up the image of Governor Inose holding an IOU, which appeared very simple for borrowing such a colossal amount of money, and transformed [ja] into something funnier. They also made fun of Governor Inose by calling him “Governor Innocent”.
Film critic @TomoMachi commented on twitter after being astonished by the press coverage showing a very simple note of hand without a seal, Japan's common way of verification using a stamp.
中学生がさっき作ったような猪瀬の5千万円（無利子無期限無担保）の借用書。庶民が銀行で1千万円借りるのがどれだけ大変だか知ってるのかこの××は！ RT @craft_box: これはひどいw pic.twitter.com/COWwRdJ4CS
— 町山智浩 (@TomoMachi) 2013, 11月 26
This looks like as if a school kid just made it up few minutes ago! The document is a note of hand to borrow 50 million yen with no interest, no collateral and no return date set. Does he know how hard it is for a regular citizen to borrow 10 million by going to a bank? @craft_box: this looks terrible. [laugh]
Three dimensional coffee art barista @george_10g challenged the Governor so that he can draw it too.
本日の暇カプチーノ、『猪瀬知事の持ってきた借用書が、ラテアートで描けるレベルじゃないかと僕のなかで話題に』。 pic.twitter.com/wOzZ5Kp3rD
— じょーじ (@george_10g) 2013, 11月 26
Today's leisure cappucino dubbed “The note of hand presented by Governor Inose attracted my attention so that I can draw it too (with coffee and late)”.
A little later, one user, @kono_mama uploaded a white blank version of the document on twitter, which led to a series of jokes using the graphic.
コラ素材出来ました pic.twitter.com/PPJHdt6DDH
— このまま (@kono_mama) 2013, 11月 26
Here! Take this graphic for meme players!
User @AkizukiRitchan mocked the image and put it on the back of advertising paper. These advertisement flyers are commonly distributed to households to publicize grocery items on one side, with nothing printed on the other side where kids often doodle.
どう見てもチラシの裏です。#都知事借用書駄コラ祭 pic.twitter.com/mXtSjAPJWF
— に｡Ｐ (@AkizukiRitchan) 2013, 11月 26
It looks as if he just wrote on the back of piece of a flyer [supermarket advertisement that is distributed to every household]
Twitter user Masataka transformed the image to a letter often written by working mothers, a note to make sure children have a snack for afternoon tea, while she is outside of the home.
おやつだって。 #都知事借用書駄コラ祭 pic.twitter.com/oNpIB3iLQg
— 将孝@惰眠貪り系RG (@MASATAKA0715) 2013, 11月 26
Hey, it's snack time.[The image says “Dear Joe, there's a cream-puff in the fridge”.]
Another user @v_okajima made an endless loop of the image.
無限ループって怖くね？ #都知事借用書駄コラ祭 pic.twitter.com/lqwzHIt61x
— おかじまぶい@トラ泊提督 (@v_okajima) 2013, 11月 26
Isn't this infinite loop scary?
Japanese netizens have a thing about a person presenting a message on a paper with a serious face. When Jacques Rogge of the International Olympic Committee presented a card with Tokyo written on it to reveal the location of 2020 Olympics, the picture of historical momentum was quickly turned into all kinds of random funny collages by inserting different words where “Tokyo” was originally. And just like they did for Jacque Rogge's photo, somebody created a text-overlay generator [ja] for Gov. Inose. Through this fast and widespread meme by rather non-political, cynical netizens, the money scandal has remained controversial.

author: Keiko Tanaka


text:
VIDEO: Kazakh Students Sing Love Songs for President · Global Voices
Alexander Sodiqov

More than 3,000 students gathered today in front of a university in Kazakhstan's capital to express publicly their love for the country's president, Nursultan Nazarbayev. The event was organized by the Astana-based State University of Humanity and Law to celebrate the Day of the First President, a holiday introduced last year in honor of the incumbent president who has ruled the oil-rich nation since it became independent in 1991.
The video below shows students holding heart-shaped balloons and reciting praises for Nazarbayev after the rector of the university. Students also sing the president's favorite songs and dance. The giant banner on the building behind the students reads, in Kazakh: “I love Kazakhstan. I love Nursultan”. The video was uploaded by Radio Azzatyq, the Kazakh service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Many netizens believe that the university that held the rally went too far in praising Nazarbayev. Some social media users compared the event to mass rallies that the authorities in North Korea often stage to praise the ruling family.
Sharing the video on Google+, Maqsat Linder asks [ru] ironically:
Это не северная Корея ?
Is it not North Korea?
Under a Radio Azattyq report about the event, Kair writes [ru]:
массовое помешательство.Еще осталось в задницу поцеловать.Прям как в Северной Корее.Позор
Collective insanity. The only thing that is left is to kiss [Nazarbayev's] ass. This is just like North Korea. Shame.
Some netizens think that the rally in Astana only damaged the president's image. Under the video of the event on YouTube, Kolya Ivanov comments [ru]:
нелепая акция. Ректору своим рвением больше вреда нанес президенту, чем пользы.Я уважаю Назарбаева и мне кажется его есть за что уважать. Но на такое сборище в жизни не пошел бы.
Stupid event. The rector [of the university which held the event] did more harm than good to the president. I respect Nazarbayev and I believe he deserves respect. But I would never go to a rally like that.
Rallies similar to the one in Astana are anything but unique to Kazakhstan. All over Central Asia, authorities, state controlled media, and religious figures tirelessly praise their countries’ political leaders, mainly in the hope of preserving jobs and statuses by demonstrating loyalty to those in power.

author: Alexander Sodiqov


text:
Vote Counting Errors in Honduras Elections · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

RNS in Honduras Culture and Politics writes about some of the anomalies noted by observers of Sunday's elections in Honduras, “some of which have been corrected, and others of which have not.” He concludes:
A public recount of the Actas would go a long way to providing confidence that everyone is adding up the same numbers to get the same vote totals, which frankly would improve public perception of the TSE [Supreme Electoral Tribunal].
Without that, no matter how many international observers say the process on Sunday was legitimate, there will remain large segments of the Honduran people who believe that the processafter Sunday was not.


text:
Where Does Puerto Rico Stand on LGBT Issues? · Global Voices
Ángel Carrión

Protest in favor of LGBT rights in Puerto Rico. Photo from public Facebook page LGBT Puerto Rico.
This post is part of our series on Gender and Sexuality in Latin America in collaboration with The North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA). Stay tuned for more articles.
Puerto Rico has a complicated and oftentimes contradictory history regarding gender and sexuality. Even though recent initiatives –such as the passing of a bill that prohibits denying someone a job based on gender or sexual orientation, and the inclusion of same sex couples under the protection of the Law Against Domestic Violence– are definitely steps in the right direction, much work still needs to be done to ensure equality.
The anti-discrimination bill mentioned above was originally meant to offer broad protection against discrimination not only in the workplace, but also when applying for and receiving government services. While many have criticized the watered-down version of the anti-discrimination bill that was ultimately made into law, it is still very significant, considering that it was only in 2005 that same-sex relations between consenting adults were decriminalized due to the United States Supreme Court's ruling in 2003 that all state and territorial statutes penalizing same-sex relations are unconstitutional, thus forcing a revision of the Penal Code. Puerto Rico's own Supreme Court had ruled in 2002 that the island's ban on “sodomy” was not unconstitutional.
Earlier this year, however, this same Supreme Court ruled that adoption by same-sex couples is unconstitutional. Ángeles Acosta and Carmen Milagros Vélez, two Puerto Rican mothers who have raised their daughter together since her birth, have been struggling for years [es] to have their family legally recognized. The only way for Ángeles Acosta to adopt her daughter is for Carmen Milagros Vélez, the child's biological mother, to give up all of her rights as a mother to her partner.
Acosta and Vélez have now exhausted every possible legal course of action and can only hope that Senate Bill 437 [es], which eliminates gender distinction as an obstacle for adoption, is signed into law. Theirs is but one of many more Puerto Rican families in similar situations.
These examples are symptomatic of a strong institutionalized reluctance to recognize sexual diversity. This stems partly from politicians’ fear of a very vocal conservative sector, and partly from politicians like the previous President of the Senate, Thomas Rivera Schatz, who has repeatedly expressed unconcealed bigotry [es] towards the LGBT community.
The bisexual community
Bisexuals are one of the least mentioned groups whenever a discussion on LGBT issues arises, rendering them practically invisible. This is, in part, due to the widespread misunderstanding about bisexuality in general.
In order to help remedy this, a Facebook page called B es de Bisexual [es] (B is for Bisexual) was created last year. The page aims to educate people about bisexuality and to serve as a way to reach out to other bisexuals and share resources, information, stories and ideas. Even though it still has barely over 100 followers, it is one of the few resources on the web that focuses specifically on the bisexual community of Puerto Rico.
The trans community
While it its true that some progress has been made towards fostering acceptance of gays and lesbians, the same cannot be said yet of attitudes towards transexual and transgender persons. In general, trans people endure much more discrimination and marginalization than gays and lesbians.
Trans people are pressured to conform to societal expectations of gender and sexuality; those who are deemed too visible will invariably be ridiculed and, in the worst cases, exposed to real danger of physical harm. Many have been victims of hate crimes.
Efforts are being made, however, to create change. Last year, the documentary film “La aguja” (“The Needle”), directed by Carmen Oquendo-Villar and José Correa Vigier, was released at the Puerto Rico Queer Filmfest to positive reviews and has enjoyed numerous presentations both locally and in the United States, the most recent of which is the Venezuelan Art Festival held in New York in November of this year.
The film gives viewers a glimpse into the everyday life of José Quiñones, an artist of transvestism, who gives inexpensive collagen treatments and advice to all who come to see him in his improvised cosmetic clinic which he runs out of his modest home. A teaser trailer of the film can be viewed below:
Support for the community
It is in the realm of culture and citizen media, however, where the strongest voices of support for the LGBT community can be found. The Puerto Rico Queer Filmfest [es], which is celebrating its fifth year this month, is more than just a film festival; it seeks to educate the general public about gender and sexual diversity and forge alliances with other LGBT organizations.
The same can be said of the Festival de Teatro del Tercer Amor [es] (literally, Third Love Theater Festival).
The Facebook page LGBT Puerto Rico is dedicated to creating awareness about LGBT issues and to promote rallies, festivals, and other activities related to LGBT advocacy.
These are only brief examples of the ongoing struggle for visibility and recognition of LGBT rights in Puerto Rico. Many more projects and online resources meant to help the LGBT community and to educate the general public will be explored in future posts of this series.

author: Ángel Carrión


text:
Be the Change – Share Stories of Civic Activism · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

Be the Change is a new website by CIVICUS for people to share stories of their own activism in order to inspire others or seek helping hands.

author: Solana Larsen


text:
Egyptian Activist Alaa Abd El Fattah Arrested — Again · Global Voices
Victor Salama

Alaa Abd El Fattah. Photo by Alaa And El Fattah via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.5)
Prominent Egyptian activist and blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah was arrested in his home at approximately 10pm on Thursday, November 28. An arrest warrant was issued for Abd El Fattah this past Tuesday, following violent dispersal of protestors in Cairo. The blogger's father told local media he believed the arrest was made under a new law effectively banning street protest in Egypt. At least 51 people were arrested that day, among them several prominent activists. Many were beaten and sexually harrassed.
Alaa was taken by police despite having declared that he'd deliver himself to the police on Saturday, according to a statement he made and that his aunt, renowned Egyptian novelist Ahdaf Soueif, posted on Facebook.
According to his wife, Manal, police used violent force when the arrest took place:
Police broke into our house arrested @alaa and beaten me. They stole both our laptops and both our mobiles.
— لا لدستور العسكر (@manal) November 28, 2013
blood stains in our bedroom where police have beaten @alaa  اثار الدم في غرفة نومنا بعد ان ضربته الداخلية pic.twitter.com/DZZEKQwHz3
— لا لدستور العسكر (@manal) November 28, 2013
If police already beaten me in our house, what are they going to do to @alaa . I fear for his safety.
— لا لدستور العسكر (@manal) November 28, 2013
There is no known explanation of why the arrest took place today, given that Alaa had publicly stated that he would turn himself on Saturday.
Human Watch Egypt director Heba Morayef linked his arrest with the anti-protest law, drafted earlier this week:
Alaa's arrest shows why MOI wanted this law w the vague language in Art7= to give them them the discretion to arrest any activist they want
— hebamorayef (@hebamorayef) November 28, 2013
Hesham Mansour offered his own ironic response:
ما تقولش مصر عملتلنا إيه.. قول مصر قبضت علي علاء عبد الفتاح كام مرة
— Hesham Mansour (@Heshoz) November 29, 2013
Don't ask what Egypt has done for us. Ask how many times did Egypt arrest Alaa
Activist Mona Seif, Alaa's sister, informed her followers of her brother's detention location:
اتأكدنا إن علاء في معسكر أمن مركزي اللي جنب الإدارة العامة لقوات أمن الجيزة على طريق القاهرة الإسكندرية الصحراوي. يا رب
— Mona Seif (@Monasosh) November 28, 2013
We are now sure that Alaa is being held in the CSF barracks in giza, on the Cairo – Alexandria desert road
Alaa Abd El Fattah was jailed under Hosni Mubarak's regime for 45 days and again by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces in 2011, when he remained in jail for almost two months. He also faced charges under Mohamed Morsi's government in 2013, along with popular satirist Bassem Youssef, in what many perceived to be politically motivated charges used as an intimidation tactic. Each time, the #FreeAlaa hashtag has resurfaced to show solidarity. It seems that this is back on track.


text:
#Euromaidan: How Ukraine Came to Be Rocked by Protests · Global Voices
Tetyana Bohdanova

On November 21, 2013, Ukrainian government officially announced it was suspending preparations for an EU-Ukraine Association agreement, due to be signed in Vilnius the following week. The agreement would be a historic landmark in Ukraine's economic and political integration into Europe, and was seen by many as a sign of its geopolitcal choice between Russian and the EU.
As Global Voices reported on the first evening of the protests, protesters frustrated with the government's decision quickly gathered in downtown Kyiv and other cities. The protests, organized on social media, were soon dubbed “Euromaidan” (European Square), and several hashtags associated with the demonstrations were created to filter updates, such as #євромайдан, #евромайдан, and #euromaidan. By November 24, 2013, there were 100,000 people in the streets of Kyiv calling for EU integration.
The situation continues to develop, but what follows is chronology of the protests so far.
An anonymous image circulated online by #Euromaidan supporters.
Peaceful #Euromaidan protests spread across Ukraine and the world
After initial protests on November 21, protesters came out the following evenings, each time in larger numbers, and protests spread across every region of Ukraine and spilled over its borders. As previously mentioned by Global Voices, the amazing geographic development of #euromaidan protests around the world has been recorded on an interactive map developed by Lviv-based Facebook user Bogdan Tsap.
An image listing various cities where #Euromaidan protests were held in Ukraine and abroad, including Brazil, South Korea, India, Austria and Czech Republic. Image by Twitter user Ihor Shevchenko (@upiterian). Used with permission.
Social media users played a key role in providing both coverage of #euromaidan protests and encouragement for participation through creative posters, signs and slogans [photos] that they shared widely online.
Anastasia Radievska, a Ukrainian living in Australia, summed up the protesters’ feelings in a tweet:
A humorous caption under a photo of a Ukrainian Prime Minister reads: “Enough whining! Grab an umbrella and join [the protest in Independence Square]!.” Image, created by an anonymous author, has been circulated online widely.
#euromaidan – “They choose Kremlin money, we choose European values”. For Ukraine, EU = democracy, civil society pic.twitter.com/1weaWFw8wD
— Anastasia Radievska (@Ananas_Rar) November 23, 2013
Twitter user Ivan Bandura reported from Kyiv:
Despite the cold and rain tonight, people still came to protest Ukraine government’s snub to EU #euromaidan pic.twitter.com/G50TX5n0G1
— Ivan Bandura (@ivanbandura) November 23, 2013
Until the end of the week, the most active protests were taking place in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, where students started a massive rally and set up a tent camp on the main square [photos, video]. While the protests in Lviv and Kyiv were mostly peaceful, government pressure and instances of police brutality were reported in other regions.
Tens of thousands of Ukrainians join #Euromaidan protests in Kyiv on Nov. 24, 2013. Photo by Ivan Bandura. Used with permission.
Culmination of the #Euromaidan protests
The largest gathering yet of #Euromaindan protesters took place on November 24 in Kyiv. Some 100,000 people marched across the center of Kyiv [uk, video] to express their firm support for Ukraine’s European integration and their dissatisfaction with the current state of the country, their numbers by far exceeding even the most generous predictions.
Again, social media played a crucial role, with new tweets tagged #євромайдан being added approximately every two seconds on Twitter, and protest organizers setting up a Euromaidan Facebook page [uk, en] that gathered close to 70,000 followers in less than a week.
On the morning of the protest, Kyiv-based blogger Taras tweeted:
Off to #Євромайдан #Euromaidan! Let's give it our best shot. Follow the hashtag. #Kyiv #Ukraine #Київ #Україна pic.twitter.com/UmeBkQdheo
— Ukrainian Updates (@Ukroblogger) November 24, 2013
As the protesters filled the center of Kyiv, those who were following online media turned to traffic cameras, the only visual medium offering an impressive view of the protests. Under a screenshot from a traffic cam on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), Dmytro Kondratenko tweeted [uk]:
#євромайдан Слава Україні! pic.twitter.com/NAzVMGTR4I
— Dmytro Kondratenko (@magentisEU) November 24, 2013
#євромайдан Glory to Ukraine!
While the Ukrainian press has been known for reluctant coverage of protests and civil unrest, the unusual amount of activity on social media proved to be impossible to ignore and prompted many international news outlets to pay attention to #Euromaidan.
User Vitalii Vovk on Twitter added:
BBC News – European Square: Hashtag of Ukraine protest http://t.co/pyAt1vpnLf Ми у топ-трендах BBC #євромайдан #euromaidan
— Vitalii Vovk (@v_volf) November 23, 2013
BBC News – European Square: Hashtag of Ukraine protest http://bbc.in/1e7zGtB We are in top trends of BBC #євромайдан #euromaidan
The void of Euromaidan reports on TV channels was filled by an independent journalistic initiative Hromadske.tv [uk]. Based on successful crowdfunding experiments, it was supposed be a pilot public media project with periodic broadcasts, but ended up providing daily updates on the protests. On November 24, Hromadske.tv reached 761,380 viewers [uk] with live coverage of #Euromaidan rallies in Kyiv.
Social media users also filled the gap of rally coverage at night, when the risk of provocations or police crackdowns increased. Both professional and citizen journalists livestreamed the #Euromaidan rallies, such as UStream users aronets, spilno-tv or tarasovska, and Radio Svoboda representatives (RFE/RL).
On November 24, protests in Kyiv peaked, and despite occasional clashes with police [photos], mass protests on that day ended peacefully with participants setting up tents in the center of Kyiv [photo] and holding their ground.
These events did not go unnoticed in the EU either. Štefan Füle, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, tweeted:
Our commitment to modernisation of #Ukraine remains firm,door remains open,benefits 4neighbours too,despite rhetoric: http://t.co/dk1QQ72ohu
— Štefan Füle (@StefanFuleEU) November 24, 2013
“Youth of the nation for Eurointegration!”
Young people participating in #Euromaidan protests in Kyiv on Nov. 24, 2013. Photo by Ivan Bandura. Used with permission.
However, after the high point of protests on November 24, the energy of #Euromaidan seems to have subsided. Many of those who had come to Kyiv for the protests returned home, while others remained, hoping for a reaction from the government. In a televised address to the nation on November 25, President Viktor Yanukovich gave no indication that the government would overturn its decision.
On the same day, students of major Kyiv universities announced [photos] an official strike and marched to Independence Square [photos], calling on students around the country to follow their example.
Students in Kyiv go on strike on Nov. 25, 2013 in protest of the government's decision to suspend EU integration. Photo by Ivan Bandura. Used with permission
A student strike injected new life into the #Euromaidan protests and even helped unite the partisan and non-partisan camps of protesters who had previously experienced a split. The students announced they would not go away until the government fulfills the demand of signing the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.
On his Facebook page, political humorist Roman Shrayk even compared [ru] this event to an episode in a well-known film:
во второй части “властелина колец” есть такой момент, когда на защиту крепости приходит колонна эльфов)
прямая трансляция студенческого митинга. студенты крутые)
смотрите – http://www.radiosvoboda.org/media/videotube/42.html
In the second part of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, there is a moment when a line of elves arrives to defend the fortress)
Live broadcast from a student rally. students are cool)
watch – http://www.radiosvoboda.org/media/videotube/42.html
Two days later, Lviv-based Twitter user Sahsa Chiuchko expressed the continuous determination of student protesters [uk]:
змерзну, захворію, здохну там у Києві, але поїду! бо потім совість не дозволить тут жити, якщо все добре буде #євромайдан
— Сашка Чучко (@neksichka) November 27, 2013
I will get cold or sick, or even die in Kyiv, but I will go [there]! Because otherwise my consciousness would not allow me to live here if everything works out #євромайдан
Many influential public figures have joined the student protests, including Ukrainian singer and 2004 Eurovision song contest winner Ruslana.
What's next?
A Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit, where Ukraine planned to sign the EU Association Agreement, is scheduled to take place on November 28 and 29, 2013. As Ukrainian President Yanukovich prepares to depart to Vilnius and #Euromaidan rallies enter their second week, the hope that the government fulfills protesters’ demands is growing thin.
Coordinators of the protests are calling on Ukrainian citizens to join their ranks on the weekend of November 29, and it seems that with a widespread student strike that the protests could still grow. However, the question on everyone's mind remains: If President Yanukovych does not sign an Association Agreement in Vilnius, what then?
A protester in Kyiv on Nov. 23, 2013 holds a sign that reads, “Europe begins with you”. Photo by Olha Snitsarchuk. Used with permission.

author: Tetyana Bohdanova


text:
France Replaces Central African Republic Ambassador on the Eve of Military Drive  · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

France is set to send an additional 1,000 troops to the Central African Republic to  prevent an escalation of the conflict in the region. So it came as a bit of a surprise when France decided to replace its ambassador Serge Mucetti in the country on the eve of such an important military mission. Philippe Bolopion, the United Nations director at Human Rights Watch, asserts that the Central African Republic is on the cusp of a potential genocide if the international community does not intervene. He writes :
A conflict that had more to do with predation and power than with religion took an ugly, sectarian turn in September, when Christian militias known as “anti-balaka” (“anti-machete”) started attacking Muslim communities, slitting the throats of women and children and at times announcing that they wanted to exterminate all the Muslims.

author: Lova Rakotomalala


text:
GV Face: 200,000 Dominicans of Haitian Descent Stripped of Citizenship · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

The Dominican Constitutional Court's decision to strip citizenship, from everyone born in the country to immigrants with an illegal status since 1929, has left at least 200,000 Dominicans of Haitian descent stateless.
On this week's GV Face, we'll be discussing the Dominican court ruling that narrows the definition of citizenship with severe consequences for thousands of people.
Our managing editor Solana Larsen speaks to:
- Pamela Martínez Achecar who writes about the Dominican Republic on Global Voices. She'll be telling us about how the situation has been developing on the ground, as well as on social media.


text:
Hospitals Paralyzed by Nationwide Walkout of Doctors in Indonesia · Global Voices
Juke Carolina

Doctors in Indonesia are protesting the Supreme Court ruling against three obstetricians who were sentenced to 10 months in jail for committing malpractice that led to the death of 25 year-old Julia Fransiska Makatey in Manado, North Sulawesi.
‘Stop Criminalizing Doctors!’ was the cry of doctors against a Supreme Court ruling which found three doctors guilty of malpractice. Photo by Akbar Gumay, Copyright @Demotix (11/27/2013)
In 2010, Makatey, a nurse working in a remote town in Papua, was supposed to deliver her third child in her hometown Manado. Makatey's father accused the obstetricians of negligence saying that they left his laboring daughter without surveillance or proper treatment for 13 hours.
In 2011, the North Sulawesi Chapter of Medical Ethics Board cleared the three obstetricians of negligence or ethical violations. But the Supreme Court found the doctors guilty of the charge.
On Wednesday (11/27), doctors conducted a nationwide walkout against the malpractice sentence issued by the Supreme Court against a few of their colleagues. Doctors, medical students, and health professionals are sharing their thoughts about the case and the protest that followed:
Seluruh dokter di-Indonesia bersama-sama #tolak #kriminalisasi. Kali ini di Manado, jangan sampai terjadi di daerah lainnya
— Andi Khomeini Takdir (@dokterkoko) November 18, 2013
All the doctors in Indonesia rejecting the criminalization. This time in Manado, don't let it happen in other regions.
Stop kriminalisasi dokter! #sejawat #aksi #solidaritas #tolak #kriminalisasi #dokter http://t.co/bIQ6N5wmpN — Aldila Kun, S. Ked (@heyimdila) November 26, 2013
Stop criminalizing doctors! #colleagues
Be wise people, use ur brain, secara prinsip, dokter pasti ingin menyelamatkan org lain, bukan utk membunuh seseorang #kriminalisasi #dokter — Michael Christi (@mchristis) November 26,  2013
In principle, doctors want to save others, not kill them.
If people don't appreciate doctors presence, what about make'em appreciate doctors absence ? Just one day tho ☺ #stopkriminalisasidokter
— Alicia Virgina (@aLiciavirgina) November 27, 2013
We are human too. So, don't treat us like we are ‘God’ that can cure every disease and stop the death. #stopkriminalisasidokter
— Fathia (@AlFathiaRain) November 26, 2013
#SolidaritasDokter is touching and all but on a more relevant note: we need to draw a line between malpractice, risk, and criminalization.
— Andhyta F. Utami (@Afutami) November 27, 2013
Twitter users are split whether or not the protest is necessary or ethical:
Aksi mogok dokter se-Indonesia besok tidak mengundang simpati. Dukungan atas tuduhan malpraktik bisa dengan berbagai cara, bukan mogok Dok..
— Arief Suditomo (@AriefSuditomo) November 26, 2013
Nationwide doctor strike tomorrow will not generate public sympathy. The support against malpractice can be done in other ways, not by doing a strike, docs.
FARK YEAAAH! MDs in Indonesia need an attitude adjustment to be attentive to their patients more http://t.co/MsOAUpy8vD — Raziq Nazqua (@raziqnazqua) November 20, 2013
RT @csutanto: 3 dokter 1 nyawa, banyak dokter demo tgl 27. berapa nyawa? stop #malpraktek, dokter tdk kebal hukum #selamatkandokterindonesia — Stephanus Suryawan (@antikecoa) November 28, 2013
3 doctors, 1 life, many doctors to strike on the 27th. How many lives (will it cost)? Stop malpractice, doctors are not immune to law.
Aneh para #dokterburon kok dibela hingga para dokter telantarkan pasien di mana-mana http://t.co/z0p9CfEYhi #solidaritasdokter #malapraktik
— BM Wijayakusuma (@bmwijayakusuma) November 28, 2013
It's strange that renegade doctors are being defended by their colleagues, while patients everywhere are being abandoned.
While the doctors were out protesting, there were reports that some hospitals were refusing incoming patients.  In a remote area of East Nusa Tenggara, a mother was even forced to deliver her baby in a clinic's restroom [ID] due to the walk-out.
The Indonesian Doctors Association clarified [id] that ER doctors and those working in public clinics will not join the solidarity protest.
Paulus Santosa, a public health consultant and maternal health program advisor said that in the past five years, maternal mortality in Indonesia has increased by 50 percent, the highest in Southeast Asia. Facebook user Stephen Suleeman, posted Santosa's reflection:
Dalam laporan tentang kematian maternal, yg disalahkan selalu para bidan, yg dikatakan bahwa kwalitas keterampilan mereka rendah. Sekarang, ketika seorang dokter spesialist dihukum, semua dokter anggota IDI dan Dinas Kesehatan mogok dan demo dijalan. “Kematian itu ada ditangan Tuhan dan bukan dokter” kata para pen-demo. Mereka yg demo tahu siapa nama dokter yg dihukum, tetapi mereka banyak yg tidak tahu dan peduli nama dari Fransiska dan ribuan ibu yg mati di fasilitas kesehatan. Tidak ada satupun yg prihatin kalau angka kematian ibu di Indonesia adalah yg terbesar diantara negara tentangga. Tidak satu pun yg prihatin kalau selama 5 tahun ini kematian ibu melonjak 50%. “Kematian itu ada ditangan Tuhan”, lantas mengapa kita repot bicara penurunan angka kematian ibu. Doakan saja di tempat ibadah dan target MDG akan tercapai.
Maternal death reports often blame midwives for their lack of skills. Now when a specialist doctor is being punished, members of the Indonesian Doctors Association and Health Agency are striking and protesting in the streets. “Death lies in the hands of God, not doctors” said the protesters. Those who protest know the names of the implicated doctors, but most of them don't know or care the name of Fransiska and thousands of mothers who died in health facilities. Nobody was concerned that Indonesia's maternal mortality rate is the highest compared to its neighbor countries. Nobody was concerned that in the past 5 years, the maternal mortality has increased by 50%. “Death lies in the hands of God”, if so, then why should we bother talking about reducing maternal deaths. We should better pray about it and hope to reach the MDG targets.

author: Juke Carolina


text:
Impunity: The Biggest Threat to Freedom of Expression in Latin America · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

In the last 20 years, 670 journalists have been killed in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to delegates from the IFEX-ACL alliance, which recently presented their Annual Report on Impunity 2013: “Faces and Traces of Freedom of Expression in Latin America and the Caribbean.” The crimes — most of which remain unsolved — have turned impunity into the biggest threat to freedom of expression in the region.
Silvia Higuera summarizes the report in the Knight Center's Journalism in the Americas Blog. She adds:
According to the report, Latin America is going through a crucial moment for freedom of expression. Depending on the place, journalists face threats from criminal groups or institutional weaknesses. Many countries are also going through controversial legal processes that could limit freedom of the press. Public officials continue to use defamation lawsuits to silence the press, and historically vulnerable sectors — like indigenous groups — remain unable to participate openly in public interest issues.

author: Silvia Viñas


text:
Nepali Cricket Team Headed to Twenty20 World Cup After Historic Win  · Global Voices
Sanjib Chaudhary

Young Nepali cricket fans raise the national flag to celebrate their surprise qualification for the Twenty20 World Cup final in 2014. Image by Manish Paudel, Copyright Demotix (28/11/2013)
For the first time, Nepal will be heading to a global cricketing event as it secured one of the top six spots in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament. The game of cricket is wildly popular on the South Asian subcontinent, so much so that the BBC has called the sport the region's best-known brand name. Cricket fever in Nepal is catching up as the country has become the fifth South Asian country to play in the ICC World Twenty20  to be held in Bangladesh in 2014.
The cricket team of the Himalayan country secured a thrilling last-ball victory over Hong Kong on 27th of November, 2013. Sharad Vesawakar, the hero of the match, hit a six and four and faced the final ball in the last over during which Nepal needed 13 runs.
The thrilling last over has been posted on YouTube and is being widely shared.
http://youtu.be/zeUm_jxRQs0
Nepal has played international cricket for the last 17 years [ne] after becoming an associate member of the International Cricket Council in 1996. Nepalis have waited long for this special moment.
“This is the biggest moment of our lives,” said Nepali captain Paras Khadka after the match, according to Cricket.com. “It’s all our childhood dreams come true.”
Former Nepali cricket team captain Binod Das (@binodsum) tweeted:
And we are in the World Cup…. #DreamFullFilled
— Binod Das (@binodsum) November 27, 2013
Sports enthusiast and former sports journalist Bhaskar Gyawali (@bhaskargyawali) tweeted:
आज खेल हेर्दा ट्वीट गर्न मन मानेन, पुरा ध्यान खेलमा लगाइयो, खेलको तनाबले अझै छोड़ेको छैन, हामी सच्चै बिश्वकप पुग्यौं । ठुलो सपना साकार भो ।
— Bhaskar Gyawali (@bhaskargyawali) November 27, 2013
Today, while watching the game, I didn't tweet. I was concentrated in the match. The anxiety has still not stopped. We have really reached the World Cup. Big dream fulfilled.
A match of luck and labour
Nepal ranked third in the group after the end of first round matches. Scotland had to be satisfied at the fourth place in spite of defeating Denmark in their final match. Nepal outscored Scotland in the run-rate by a narrow margin [ne] of 0.0002. Nepal maintained a run-rate of 0.3794 while Scotland's run-rate was 0.3792.
In their match with Hong Kong, Nepal won the toss and elected to field. In this tournament, Nepal has been better at chasing targets. Nepal scored 186 runs to defeat Kenya.
Jagat Tamata, a cricket coach, said in an interview with Ujyaalo Online [ne] that the Nepali team has worked hard for the tournament. The team has studied the video clips of the opposing team players and they formulate their strategies accordingly.
The spectators’ support throughout the match was also crucial, as ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) noted:
Nepal's 12th man at the World T20 qualifiers #CrowdPower pic.twitter.com/2ewc7yUWiu
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 27, 2013
After the historic win, congratulations poured in from all walks of life in Nepal. Acting Prime Minister Khil Raj Regmi congratulated the team on their success.
The ex-Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai (@brb_laaldhwoj) tweeted:
Congrats Nepali 20-20 cricket team on your grand entry to World Cup !
— Baburam Bhattarai (@brb_laaldhwoj) November 27, 2013
Cricket legend Brian Lara (@BrianLara) praised the Nepali team's confidence
The Nepal team did amazingly well and wat i notice since i saw them in Bermuda is that they are playing wit more confidence #futureofcricket
— Brian Lara (@BrianLara) November 28, 2013
Even those not knowing cricket were glued to the game. Journalist Bhabasagar Ghimire (@Bhabasagar) wrote:
क्रिकेट कहिल्यै बुझिएन र बुझ्ने कोशिश गरिएन पनि । जब आज राम्ररी बुझेर गेम हेरियो नेपाल त ट्वान्टी ट्वान्टी विश्वकपका लागि छनौटमा पुगिसकेछ!!!
— Bhabasagar (@Bhabasagar) November 27, 2013
Never understood cricket and tried to understand. When I watched the game, understanding well, Nepal had already qualified for Twenty20 World Cup.
All Nepali dailies were awash with the stories of the emphatic win. The news of the recent election, in which voters chose candidates for the country's second Constituent Assembly which will be tasked with drafting a constitution, took backstage.
Satish Pandey (@SatishKTM), an ardent sports fan,tweeted:
For once politics takes backstage, thanks to the Nepali media #nepal #cricket #wt20 pic.twitter.com/GCTYb4vj1i
— Satish Pandey (@SatishKTM) November 28, 2013
Nepal will join seven other Asian countries, including the big boys India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and experienced Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE and Hong Kong in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup.
Nepal needs to burn the midnight oil till the real show begins in Bangladesh from 16 March to 6 April 2014.

author: Sanjib Chaudhary


text:
Spanish Police Attempt Dead-of-Night Shutdown of Valencia Public Broadcaster · Global Voices
Violeta Camarasa

The Valencian government, belonging to the conservative People's Party, has sent the police at 3 a.m. to shut down the regional public broadcaster Ràdio Televisió Valenciana (RTVV) [ca].
Since the government announced the decision to shut the broadcaster down on November 5, the journalists have been running both the radio and TV stations. For the moment, the workers are resisting letting the police enter the TV station and though the broadcast has been interrupted, they continue to broadcast online. Also, Catalan public television TV3 is broadcasting the Valencian TV signal.
Valencia is one of the Spanish regions with the most corruption scandals, and the gesture of the governing party sending the police in the middle of the night to occupy the media stations has awoken unpleasant memories of Franco‘s fascist dictatorship throughout the mid-20th century.
Follow the hashtag #rtvvnoestanca (you won't shut RTVV down) [ca, es] for updates and check @GlobalVoicesCat‘s favorites list to read tweets in English.

author: Violeta Camarasa