Stories about Governance from May, 2006
Puerto Rico: Independence cretinism
Gil the Jenius defends his right to describe as “cretins” those who consider “El Grito de Lares”, a revolt which took place in 1868, as an important event in the Puerto Rico's movement towards independence.
China: Christians and democrats forced to take sides
A small decision in a complicated affair which sent ripples all throughout China's social activist community has now bounced back through the blogsphere (via BBS’ first, of course). The facts are being still hammered out, but when three Chinese Christians—one being prominent legal scholar and veteran blogger Wang Yi—in attendance...
Serbia & Montenegro: Life After Referendum
Eric Gordy of East Ethnia writes on what to expect now that the referendum in Montenegro has taken place: “There is the possibility that I may arrive to one country and leave from another. The independence referendum in Montenegro appears to have succeeded, just barely, in one of those underwhelming...
Russia: Putin Helps WWII Veteran
Yuri Mamchur of Russia Blog writes about a Russian WWII veteran from Voronezh who had been left without his veteran's pension by the local government, until the TV – and Vladimir Putin himself – interfered.
Myanmar: Democracy in Myanmar
Nyein Chan Yar's blog points to an article by a veteran Burmese journalist. The article titled “The Burmese People can't wait much longer” urges the “nonaligned intermediaries” that have economic leverage over Myanmar (Russia, China and India) to apply pressure on the ruling regime to loosen its grip on power.
Tajikistan: Dushanbe Transport
Elizabeth explains the role of the marshrutka (route taxi) in Dushanbe's public transportation and reports on tremendously bad legislation that puts the vehicles at risk.
Bolivia: Morales Wants the Possibility of Reelection
Miguel Centallas, Briegel Busch, and Alvaro Ruiz-Navajas are all concerned by the announcement that Evo Morales will seek a new constitution that allows for reelection of the president and vice-president. Centallas reminds readers that “historically, other Latin American executives have used constitutional changes to stay in power beyond their original...
Ukraine: President's Son Misbehaving Again
Andriy Yushchenko, president Yushchenko's son, seems to be making trouble again: this time, he, allegedly, almost caused a car crash, verbally abused a high-ranking law enforcement official and didn't prevent his bodyguard from shooting the man in the leg with a rubber bullet. LEvko of Foreign Notes reports on this...
Ukraine: Village Life Videos
Ukrainian-American blogger Stefan of Dykun now has a vlog, but he'll be cross-posting Ukraine-related entries to his blog. The first two videos – both shot in Sept. 2005 – have to do with West Ukrainian farming and village life: an old woman feeding fowl in Ternopil region and villagers gathering...
East Timor: Foreign Peace Force
Dili-gence reports that East Timor's President has requested for external help in dealing with the recurring violence in the country. The blogger also analyzes the various parties involved in the conflict.
Cuba: Accomodating Cuba
What approach should nations adopt in relation to Cuba? Pondblog crafts an argument from the following ingredients: an article by the director of the Council for Hemispheric Relations (COHA), a US State Department report on state sponsors of terrorism, and a quotation from former Czech leader Vaclav Havel.
Bermuda: iPoliticians
US Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's podcast may not be gripping, but according to the Limey, “what's remarkable is that he's doing this at all.” In Bermuda, he adds, “. . . no politician has yet seen the need to have his own blog. The idea that any of them...
China: Relations with Germans
A lengthy and thorough post from China Matters‘ China Hand looks at cooling Sino-German relations and the global role the two countries now play, set against German Chancellor Angela Merkel's recent visit to China: “So China—the world's most populous and vibrant economic power, which hasn't engaged in military aggression since...
China: Piracy taken on
Software piracy in China, blogs China Law Blog‘s Dan Harris, is on the decline: “A few days before Chinese President Hu Jintao dined at the Gates’ Mansion across the lake from Seattle, the Chinese government announced all Chinese governmental agencies would be required to use only legal software. It will...
China: Typhoon preparation
Photos of China's People's Liberation Army preparing for last week's typhoon Chanchu which swept through the south-eastern corner of the country in The PLA Blows at myrick's Asiapundit. (via We Make Money Not Art)
China: Hi-tech weapons trade
A significant amount of research went into the AngryChineseBlogger blogger's lengthy post looking at Israeli aviation technology company and defense contractor Emit's recently-uncovered selling of hi-tech equipment to China, which concluded with company executives being arrested Monday.
China: Three gorges dam
“They might have moved 1.3 million people, flooded archeological wonders and more,” says Simon at Simon World with a post on and a link to photos of the recently-completed Three Gorges Dam, “but it's quite an achievement.”
Barbados: Florida sheriff corruption investigation
In light of the revelation that a Florida sheriff being investigated for corruption had business dealings with the Barbados Police Force, Barbados Free Press is demanding answers to several questions.
Bahamas: Consultation & Arawak names
“The old colonial idea advocated by one resident that the government can just hand things down from on high is no longer acceptable in the Bahamas,” says Sir Arthur Foulkes in his appeal for the development of a “culture of consultation” in the Bahamas. In the same post Sir Arthur...
Cote d'Ivoire: Census and Disarmament
“Some experiments in census taking started last thursday in six towns of Cote d'Ivoire, where disarmament of the loyalist army and of the rebellion forces that was to happen simultaneously did not take place,” says (Fr) Remwi Abidjan. However, both are prerequisites for elections due to take place on October...
Russia: Law on National Flag
Oleksa writes about a strange law regulating the way Russia's national flag can be displayed: “t’s illegal in Russia to have the national tricolor displayed permanently unless it’s a government institution. Apparently, one can do it freely only during national holidays. Or, translated from the bureaucratic lingo, the national flag...
