Stories about Governance from November, 2006
Malaysia: Violent Demolition
Ktemoc writes about the callousness shown by authorities in demolishing a village and a place of worship within it. “But what was typical was the brutal suppression of the villagers by the MPAJ enforcers. It seems that in Vision 20/20 Malaysia, the mentality of authority enforcers are still of Vision...
Mongolia: Fake Hijacking
Tom Terry has more on Tuesday's hijacking of a plane in Mongolia by government agencies saying they were conducting a drill. One post includes comments from passengers and the government while the other comments on how the media and the government handled the story.
Haiti: Artists to Fight Insecurity?
Karlito writes (Fr): “[We] hold the police and government responsible for not doing enough to fight insecurity. But we forget the role that artists can play in helping that fight. One organization that has caught my attention is ONE. An organization filled with international artists whose goal is to help...
The Week that Was – Bolivian Blogs
On Tuesday night, the Bolivian Senate suddenly found itself with the needed quorum. Several opposition Senators had refused to meet in protest of several law proposals put forth by the ruling party MAS. Three substitute opposition Senators decided to attend the session to vote along government lines. Cries of foul...
Poland: Neo-Nazi Connection
The beatroot writes about one Polish party's neo-Nazi ties.
Hungary: ID Cards
As Britain is thinking of introducing an ID card system, Paul of Further Ramblings of a N.Irish Magyar cites an example of Hungary and discusses whether IDs have made the country and its citizens safer.
The Balkans: Asylum-Seeker; Tito's Portrait
Neretva River writes about a Slovenian citizen seeking asylum in Croatia, and the Croat member of the Bosnian presidency decorating his office with a portrait of Tito, an ethnic Croat, too.
Hong Kong: Discriminating tastes
Simon world comments on the slowness of the legislation against racial discrimination.
Japan: fake consultation meetings
Adamu from Mutantfrog reports on an investigation of recent scandal about the government's fake public consultation meetings on issue such as postal privatization and education reform.
Israel: Municipal employees strike
A strike is in place in many Israeli municipalities by municipal employees who did not receive their salaries for many months now. Yudit says: “Perhaps join us in the demonstration this coming Saturday, of the “Veidat Ha'Ashukim” (the Council of the Robbed), at 19.00 o'clock, opposite the David Intercontinental Hotel...
Oman: Freedom of press in Oman
“You can't stop people from writing online. It's easy to regulate the press because 1) the press needs big expensive machines to print newspapers. 2) they need trucks to distribute. 3) they need shops to sell their papers. 4) they need advertisers to pay for all the above. 5) they...
Pakistan, India: Governance in Azad Kashmir
The Glasshouse comments on the state of governance and lack of telecommunications in Azad (Free) Kashmir. “It was shortly after the earthquake that I learnt that the so-called president, prime minister and cabinet ministers of that benighted place were more or less permanently ensconced in Rawalpindi, only making infrequent trips...
Nepal: Democratic Parties
United We Blog! on why it is essential that parties in a democratic system function within the purview of the same. “It is absolutely necessary for eight political parties to democratize their party organizations if they see the urgency to change with the changing time.”
Voices from Zimbabwe
With the rainy season now underway in Zimbabwe, most of the nation's time and attention is given to pontificating and prognosticating what the agricultural prospects have in store for us. Like many other agro-based economies, the measure of a good (or bad year) is based on the nation's agricultural production....
Armenia: Destruction on a Whim
Christian Garbis is outraged about a new Armenian law legitimizing the government to tear down any building by decree when the government says it is necessary for government or public needs.
Russia: “DPNI-Light”
Sean's Russia Blog writes that in Russia, “The race struggle has replaced the class struggle, and the ‘illegal’ stands in for the ‘kulak’.”
Albania: Flags and Skyscrapers
Our Man in Tirana writes about Albania's Flag Day and the capital's amazing new skyscraper.
Lebanon: Minister Pierre Gemayel Assassinated
Lebanon witnessed this week the brutal assassination of its minister of industry and trade. This terrorist act overshadowed all other events and topics in the Lebanese blogosphere. Nevertheless, the posts were as varied and different as the political inclinations of the Lebanese themselves. Here is a sample of what they...
Brunei: Bomb Scare at the Airport
Our Local Style in Brunei is happy that the authorities are serious about airport security. Brunei's main airport was closed for two and half hours after an alert passenger notices an unaccompanied handbag in the smoking lounge.
Haiti: Impunity, President Preval and Farah Dessources
On November 15, Farah Dessources, a 20 year old first year University student was kidnapped and killed despite the payment of part of the ransom by her mother. Saturday during her funeral, a demonstration took place in Port-au-Prince, demanding that the Preval government do more to stamp out insecurity. There...
Japan: fingerprinting foreigners
Joe in Multantfrog blogs about the newly introduced foreigner registration system in Japan, which requires foreigners to give the immigration a copy of their criminal / fingerprinted record.