Stories about History from March, 2009
Russia: The Durnovo Memorandum
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
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
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
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...
Poland: “Krakow's Lost River”
Polandian writes about “Krakow's lost river.”
Hungary: Ferenc Gyurcsány, Part I
“The rise and fall of Ferenc Gyurcsány, Part I” – at Hungarian Spectrum.
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
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
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
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...
Ukraine: History of Carpatho-Ukraine
History of the short-lived Carpatho-Ukraine – at Ukrainian Policy Daily.
Ukraine: Chernobyl Photos
Photos from a 2008 trip to Chernobyl – at GRcade.
The Baltics: Deportations of 1941 and 1949
Eric Dickens guest-blogs at A Step At A Time about the Baltic deportations of 1941 and 1949.
St. Lucia: Waclott Square
Repeating Islands Blog pays a visit to Derek Walcott Square in St. Lucia.
Armenia-Turkey: Obama's dilemma
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: “Ten Years of Nothing”
Paul Currion of The Unforgiving Minute posts his thoughts on the 10th anniversary of NATO bombing of Serbia.
Serbia: More on NATO Bombing
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
On the occasion of the 38th birth anniversary of Bangladesh, Unheard Voice lists 10 remarkable events for pre-independence and post independence eras each.
Indonesia: Traditional Javanese artists
The Aroengbinang posts pictures of old traditional Javanese artists based in Jakarta.
Singapore: Desecrating a National Icon
Miss Loi writes how the Merlion, Singapore's national icon, has been desecrated over the years.
