Stories about History from March, 2014
Roots of Conflict in Southern Thailand
Patrick Jory traces the history of the conflict in southern Thailand and probes the causes and impact of naming it as an Islamic insurgency: The answer can be found in the suppression of official references to the distinct ethnic Malay identity of the population of the border provinces, in favour...
South Korea: Royal Gate Restoration, Corruption and Suicide
In recent months, particularly murky allegations over the royal gate restoration have unfolded in South Korea. The project's ‘chief carpenter’ is accused not only of using substandard wood, but stealing donated wood. Moreover, several government officials involved in the project were also indicted on charges of bribery [ko], and a civilian investigator who...
‘NATO Air – Just Do It’ Meme Opens Old Wounds for Serbia and Kosovo
On the fifteenth anniversary of the NATO bombings of Yugoslavia, NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu retweeted a tweet by Kosovo Minister of European Integration Vlora Citaku, causing controversy and angering many.
Russia's Media Crackdown Spills into Academia
Three days ago, MGIMO University fired Professor Andrei Zubov for so-called academic misconduct. His supposed crime was writing an antiwar op-ed criticizing Russia's intervention in Ukraine.
Why Filipinos Became Early Adopters of Western Music
Le Minh Khai refers to the book of D. R. M. Irving in explaining the long history of Filipino musicians playing Western music: …there was a rich experience of musical contact and exchange between Spaniards and Filipinos that began not long after the Spaniards established their control over the Philippines...
Trinidad & Tobago Loses First Olympic Medallist
Repeating Islands notes the passing of Trinidad and Tobago's first ever Olympic medallist, weightlifter Rodney Wilkes.
Sifting Through Conflicting Versions of India and Pakistan's Shared Past
The History Project compiles narratives from Pakistani and Indian history books to expose biases in the treatment of the 1947 Partition of India.
Returning Human Remains is Not an Apology, Says Namibia to Germany
Human remains who were killed during the colonial war (early 20th century) were returned to Namibia by Germany in March. However, Namibians still demand a formal apology from the German government as Tendai Marima, a post-doctoral researcher in African literature, wrote on the Think Africa Press website : The skulls and skeletons that...
Divisions Persist in Cameroon Despite Reunification's Grandiose Golden Jubilee
Criticism was heaped on President Paul Biya for the celebration, held three years late and on a date that had no historical significance.
Ukrainian Women's Sex Boycott Against Russian Men
A creative boycott is drawing the attention of Russian Internet users. Ukrainian women are organizing a new campaign called “Don’t give it to a Russian”—a sex embargo against Russian men.
State of Literature in Post-Dictatorship Myanmar
Writing for The Dissident Blog, James Byrne reviews the status of Burmese literature in the post-dictatorship era in Myanmar: When I was in the country last year there were poems being read about the Arab Spring. There were others about the harsh treatment of Burmese farmers. There were satires about...
Unlocking Time: A Collective Virtual Album of Old Photos from Latin America
All links lead to Spanish-language pages #plenoverano en ABRIR EL TIEMPO: los animales inflables en el mar. Fotos playeras de Uruguay, 1940! pic.twitter.com/IM3Tg801 — Abrir el tiempo (@abrireltiempo) January 16, 2013 Summer in Unlocking Time: Inflatable animals in the sea. Beach photos from Uruguay, 1940! Abrir el tiempo (Unlocking Time)...
Activists Add Female Heroines to Wikipedia in Macedonian
The informal citizens’ group “Fight Like a Woman”, (@borisezenski), organized a mini marathon with the purpose of adding articles about notable women from Macedonia to Wikipedia in Macedonian to raise awareness about women's rights and gender equality. The campaign involved activists working within the site of International Women's Day celebrations...
11th Century Kannada Literature Available On Wikisource
Vachana Sahitya is a form of rhythmic writing in Kannada language that evolved in the 11th Century C.E. and flourished in the 12th century. Subhashish Panigrahi reports (co-authored by Pavithra Hanchagaiah and Omshivaprakash HI) in Wikimedia blog that Two Wikimedians along with a Kannada linguist have converted 21000 verses of...
Trinidad & Tobago: Coup Commission
Do Trinis care dat de report from de Commission ah Enquiry into Abu Bakr coup attempt in 1990 finally out? A Trini Speaks suggests that the release of the findings may be a case of too little, too late.
Kazakh Artist Remembers Zhanaozen Oil Riot
Photo blogger Serikzhan Kovlanbaev presents [ru] a photo report from a recent exhibition of works by Saule Suleimenova, perhaps the best known contemporary artist in the country. Suleimenova has been described by another blogger as “one of Kazakhstan’s deepest, most interesting and prolific artists”. The theme of the exhibition is Zhanaozen,...
Two Historic Saigon Buildings to be Demolished in Vietnam
Tim Doling, writing for the Saigoneer, gives a brief history of the Ho Chí Minh City People’s Committee building and an art deco office block which are both scheduled for demolition in Vietnam. A Date with the Wrecking Ball: 2 Historic Saigon Buildings Slated for Demolition http://t.co/M6e9ACY5DB #Vietnam pic.twitter.com/PPjEBJzl7e —...
PHOTOS: ‘Theyyam’ Festival of Gods in India's Kerala
With its wild drum beats and enchanting dances, the folklore festival of Theyyam takes over more than a thousand temples every year beginning in November.
Eritrean Literary Giant Talks About Tigrinya Oral Poetry
Blogger Issayas interviews Solomon Tsehaye, eritre's leading poet. after the release of his latest work on massé and melqes, oral poetry genres in Eritrea. Solomon Tsehaye is the man who wrote Eritrea's national anthem: Issayas: What is massé? Melqes? Solomon: Massé (awlo) and melqes are related art forms which constitute...
China Dismisses WWI Comparison Amid Tense Relations With Japan
“2014 is neither 1914 nor 1894, it’s better for [Japan] to regard post-war Germany as a role model than make a fuss about Germany before WWI.“
Macedonia's Strumica Carnival Continues 350-Year Tradition
The Strumica Carnival took place in Macedonia from March 1-3, 2014. This traditional celebration [mk] was first mentioned as early as 1670 by Ottoman travel writer Evliya Çelebi and this year was featured by NBC News in a report about twelve similar events around the world. Photo-activist Vanco Dzambaski shared...
