Stories about Governance from January, 2010
Thailand plans to buy submarines
A blogger lambasts the proposal of the Thailand navy chief to buy submarines. The influential King of Thailand disagreed with this plan in the past.
Thailand: Children protesters want alcohol billboard ads removed
Hundreds of children are asking officials of Bangkok to remove the billboard ads of alcohol drinks. Blogger Thailand Crisis criticizes the parents and adults who are using the children as...
Russia: Death Penalty Moratorium Extended Indefinitely
Russia has indefinitely extended a moratorium on the death penalty that was due to expire on Jan. 1. Numerous comments were posted on RuNet, and they essentially reflect the returns of opinion polls on the death penalty issue.
Slovakia: First Slovak Terrorist Caught in Ireland, Sort Of
Tibor Blazko translates Slovak netizens' caustic remarks about the botched security test on a plane to Dublin.
Sri Lanka: Rumor Mill At Work
“All I can wish for from now on till election-day is to permit all our eligible voters the chance to cast their secret ballot as they wish, and not be...
Haiti: Free & Fair?
Haitian blogger Wadner Pierre features a letter from a U.S. Congresswoman who expresses concerns that the island's upcoming elections would be “a set back for Haiti's democratic development if these...
A Global Look at Anti-Corruption Day
In preparation for the coming launch of the Technology for Transparency Network, this is the first in a series of posts that will explore transparency, government accountability, and civic engagement through the eyes of the world's bloggers.
Pakistan: Is Democracy Appropriate For The Country?
Which one is important – enabling basic human rights with corrupt justice and failed governance in democracy or enabling good governance with no democracy? Osama Bin Javed from Pakistan starts...
The Year that Was in Madagascar : Part III
Mialy reviews the final weeks of 2009 in Madagascar in the last of a three-part series.
Pakistan: Stop Attacks On Asif Ali Zardari
Bilal Qureshi at Pakistan Foreign Policy Blog urges Pakistanis to stop the vicious and vitriolic campaign against President Asif Ali Zardari to keep the country united.
Bnagladesh: Secularism And Constitution
Bangladesh has proceeded to annul the fifth amendment to the constitution, which will lead to the ban of religion-based politics in the country. Indus Asia Online Journal (iaoj) commented that...
Georgia: Tragedy ushers in the New Year
As citizens of Georgia waited in anticipation of the New Year, two high profile scandals were instead set to dampen the holiday spirit. As part of plans to decentralize government, a Soviet-era statue to thise who died during World War II was set to demolished in Georgia's second largest city to make room for the construction of a new parliament building. A mother and her child were tragically killed.
Sri Lanka: Paying Global Media For Local Elections
Sri Lanka's incumbent president Mahinda Rajapakshe's aggressive re-election campaign includes purchasing banner ads on leading global media sites. Groundviews questions what is the point of paying global media for local...
South Asia: Looking Back At 2009 (Part 2)
This is the second part of our retrospection of some of the major events, which took place in 2009 in the South Asian countries, seen through the eyes of the citizen journalists.
Kazakhstan: Bloggers discuss the Customs Union and public welfare
Bloggers discuss what the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, which came into force on January 1, 2010, would give Kazakhstan. A trade bloc of three countries is viewed...
Puerto Rico: The Crime of Corruption
“Most people, when confronted with the topic of corruption in government spheres, tend to shrug it off, like it's a death in a distant neighbor's family, a common occurrence not...
Kazakhstan: Patriotism and Democracy
In the last weeks of 2009, the Kazakh bloggers’ comments were concentrated around two topics – patriotism and democracy in the Republic of Kazakhstan. PATRIOTISM The level of patriotism in...
Martinique, French Guiana: Referendum for more autonomy from France
Bloggers from Martinique [Fr] and French Guiana have been posting for months about the upcoming popular referendum to decide whether they want to change their political status and gain more...
Nepal: Maoists And The Constitution Amendment Bill
“Today the Maoists decided not to support the seventh amendment bill of the interim constitution,” informs Nepali. In an update Nepali informed that they have made an U-turn and confirmed...
Sri Lanka: Corruption in Campaign
“Without an independent and reliable Elections Commission there will be abuse,” comments Indi.ca while discussing the corruption in campaign of the upcoming presidential elections in Sri Lanka.
Bhutan: Failing Democracy
“If democracy means ‘Of the people, By the People, For the people,’ then democracy in Bhutan must be failing,” comments Bhutanese blogger Dipika.
