· February, 2012

Stories about Governance from February, 2012

Russia: Navalny vs Kadyrov

RuNet Echo  22 February 2012

At Jamestown Foundation Blog, Valery Dzutsev reports that Ramzan Kadyrov, the President of Chechnya, has called politician and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny “a real chatterbox” – and Navalny retaliated by publishing (here and, later, here; ru) “the results of his investigation of the Chechen police’s car inventory acquisitions, naming and...

Brazil: Quilombo Community in Bahia About to Be Evicted

  22 February 2012

One of the oldest slave descendent communities in Brazil, Quilombo Rio dos Macacos, has a date for its eviction: March 4, 2012. The claim for the land comes from the Navy of Brazil, that intends to broaden a condo for its officers in that territory, in the state of Bahia.

Sahel: Islamic Fundamentalist Organisations Tighten Their Grip

  22 February 2012

For a few months now, two religious Islamic fundamentalist organisations, Boko Haram and AQIM (Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb), have intensified their war against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the surrounding nations. The regional blogosphere has quickly reacted, showing concern and providing thorough analyses.

Brazil: Global Act “We Are All Pinheirinho”

  22 February 2012

A global act in solidarity with the population expelled from their homes at the Pinheirinho community has been called on Facebook for Thursday, February 23. The idea is to demonstrate in front of Brazilian consulates and embassies all over the world.  

Brazil: “Massacre of Pinheirinho”, One Month Later

  22 February 2012

Blogger Giambatista Brito recalls [pt] the one month anniversary of the “Massacre of Pinheirinho“. On the morning of Sunday, January 22, 2012, thousands of families where expelled from their homes with violence by the military police, in the city of são José dos Campos, state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Pakistan: Deciphering the Balochistan Issue

  22 February 2012

A resolution presented by the US congressman Dana Rohrabacher on Balochistan has stirred the political spectrum in Pakistan. Condemnation has come from government and opposition parties in the national assembly. However, Baloch nationalists are complaining about their rights being sabotaged.

Angola: Anti-Corruption Initiative Urges CNN to Refuse Advertising Deal

  21 February 2012

Maka, a website that monitors corruption in Angola, launched an online campaign petitioning CNN International to stop accepting advertisement from the government of President Dos Santos. The presidential budget for 2012 allocates about US$17 million for promoting a positive image of Angola on CNN International, through a company run by...

Haiti: Online Reaction to the Duvalier Decision

  21 February 2012

The investigative magistrate looking into human rights charges against Haiti's ousted dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, recently came to the decision that “the statute of limitations had run out” on those human rights abuses - but apparently not on Duvalier's misappropriation of public funds.

Singapore Budget 2012

  20 February 2012

Leong Sze Hian analyzes the Singapore budget presentation for the year 2012. He concludes: “Need to cut rhetoric, and do something, anything, if the government wants to regain some credibility.”

Iran: Execution waits for web developer

  19 February 2012

The Iranian-Canadian web developer, Saeed Malekpour, is going to be executed ‘at any moment’, a blog updates by his family and supporters reports. Mr. Malekpour is accused of running pornography websites by Iranian judiciary and convicted to death. Now his verdict has been confirmed and going to be carried out....

China: Wukan Elections Continue and Inspire

  19 February 2012

Wukan has moved quickly along its path toward clean and fair village elections, inspiring villagers in other parts of the country and winning support from microbloggers all the way up to university halls. However, at least one central government official has blamed the democratic advancements on psychological disorders.