· March, 2009

Stories about History from March, 2009

Russia: The Durnovo Memorandum

  31 March 2009

A Fistful of Euros writes about a document known as the Durnovo Memorandum: “What’s striking about the memo is how, six months before World War One started, [Pyotr Durnovo] absolutely nails it. Nature, conduct, likely outcomes — he’s eerily, astonishingly correct about all of them.

Cambodia: Evidence at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal

  31 March 2009

Former Khmer Rouge rebels doubt there will be sufficient evidence to convict the five leaders waiting to stand trial at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. Because the events occurred 30 years ago, evidence and witnesses could be hard to come by.

Palestine: Land Day

body on the line’s Palestine-based author writes about her experience with Land Day. The blogger visited towns in which Palestinians have resisted as well as the towns and villages of her friends.

Cambodia: Trial begins for Khmer Rouge leader

  31 March 2009

The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia began the first public hearing of Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch. During the Khmer Rouge regime, Duch headed the infamous Tuol Sleng prison in Phnom Penh where thousands died.

Estonia: Lennart and Arnold Meri

  31 March 2009

Itching for Eestimaa writes: “One Meri cousin, Lennart, just had an airport named after him to coincide with the annual foreign policy conference that bears his name. […] The other Meri cousin, Arnold, spent his twilight years on trial for the deportation of the men, women, and children of Hiiumaa...

Palestine: Commemorating Land Day

March 30 is Land Day, on which Palestinians everywhere, but especially those within Israel, commemorate the day in 1976 when six unarmed Palestinian citizens of Israel were killed by the Israeli army and police during protests against land expropriation. The day has become a way to mark the struggle of the Palestinians to hold onto their land, when demonstrations take place as well as other events. Palestinian and pro-Palestinian bloggers around the world have observed the occasion.

France, Americas, Africa: The “Y'a Bon” Awards

  30 March 2009

On March 17th 2009, a group called les Indivisibles [Fr] launched the “Y'a Bon Awards”, a dubious honour bestowed upon politicians, journalists, or any public officials who have contributed to the spreading of racism in France. The Awards have sprung from reactions to a century-long advertising campaign that has not sat well with most black people in France.

Palestine: The Changing Face of Jerusalem

  30 March 2009

Ned, who lives in Ramallah, writes about the changes he has seen taking place in Jerusalem: “Israel is clearly trying to change the whole face of Jerusalem, making it more Jewish than it has ever been. In the process, thousands of Arabs are losing their right to live in the...

Germany: Berlin Wall Murals Destroyed

  28 March 2009

IZO writes about “an act of extraordinary cultural vandalism”: “a section of the Berlin Wall that had been preserved with its post-fall graffiti, including the iconic painting by Dmitri Vrubel depicting a kiss between communist leaders Leonid Brezhnev and Eric Honecker, has been “restored”, meaning the complete destruction of the...

Armenia-Turkey: Obama's dilemma

  27 March 2009

Blogian gives its readers its opinion on the dilemma facing U.S. president Barack Obama in terms of fulfilling his campaign pledge to recognize the massacre and deportation of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire as genocide.

Serbia: More on NATO Bombing

  27 March 2009

Belgraded links to blog coverage of the 10th anniversary of NATO bombing, including his own 2006 post: “In the beginning, the first few days, it was scary because nobody knew what to do in this situation. This was the kind of things you only see on movies. The sirens go...

Bangladesh: Independence Day

  26 March 2009

On the occasion of the 38th birth anniversary of Bangladesh, Unheard Voice lists 10 remarkable events for pre-independence and post independence eras each.