· March, 2009

Stories about Ethnicity & Race from March, 2009

Fiji: Rugby, politics and democracy

  10 March 2009

People in Fiji are slowly coming to grips with the fact the nation’s Rugby sevens team could not defend its World Cup title because it was beaten by upstart Kenya in the quarter-finals. Nearly everyone in Fiji has fingered blame on someone — the players, trainers and coaches. Yet more than a few bloggers and commenters are blaming the loss on the country’s political situation.

Armenia-Azerbaijan: Artush and Zaur

After the publication of a controversial new novel in Azerbaijan, Blogian posts an interview with its author while Unzipped: Gay Armenia says that a book discussion will be held in Baku on 11 March. Artush and Zaur, the story of the homosexual love affair between an Armenian and Azerbaijani in...

Ukraine: Riot Police Attack Crimean Tatar House

Ukrainiana describes a tragic incident that happened in Crimea, when riot police stormed a house by mistake, using noise/flash diversionary device and severely injuring people who were inside: “That’s the way police works in Ukraine, and particularly in Crimea. In fact, Crimean law enforcement appears to be bent on inciting...

Myanmar envoy: Rohingyas “are as ugly as ogres”

  4 March 2009

beyond skin mentions some of the hilarious and racist statements issued by the Thai and Myanmar governments about the status of the Rohingya refugees. For instance, a Myanmar envoy described the Rohingyas as “ugly as ogres.”

Australian film on Lebanese gangs talk of the town

An Australian film depicting Lebanese gang life in Sydney's western suburbs has sparked more than a series of reviews. “The Combination“ was pulled from several cinemas in Sydney after brawls broke out, following the screenings and the controversial film has been the talk of the town, receiving wide media attention, writes Antoun Issa.

Nepal: Identity politics

  3 March 2009

Dr. Divas at ABC discusses the identity politics in Nepal and the debate between the ethnic communities Madhesis and the Tharus on the Madhesi demand of ‘Whole Madhes, One Single State’.

Israel: Novelist Writes From Palestinian Perspective

Matt Beynon Rees is a Jerusalem-based crime novelist whose third book, The Samaritan's Secret, has just been published to positive reviews. His protagonist is the Palestinian school teacher and amateur sleuth, Omar Yussef. Rees explains: “I think of my novels as humanist, filtering out the politics that makes people see...

Russia, Ukraine: History and Denial

In the last days of February, calls have been made in Russia to make the denial of the Soviet victory in the WWII and the denial of Soviet crimes against the people a criminal offense; also, the head of Russia's Federal Archives announced that "he and his researchers had not found 'a single document' showing that Stalin planned 'a terror famine' in Ukraine." Below are a few reactions from English-language blogs focusing on Russia.