Stories about Law from February, 2006
The Balkans: Current Events and Stability In The Region
Mat Savelli of Roma Roma and a commenter named Owen discuss implications of the impending lawsuit against Serbia and other issues relevant to the region's stability.
Bolivia: Support for Morales, but not Courts
Eduardo Ávila links to a survey which says that 79% of Bolivians approve of new president, Evo Morales so far. Meanwhile, Miguel Buitrago points to the large distrust of the Bolivian justice system, asking, “is this a crisis of the democratic sistem or is it a realignment?”
China: Why unenforced laws matter
Chinese Law Prof notes the appearance of a new book by Kevin O'Brien and Lianjiang Li, Rightful Resistance in Rural China, saying it shows how legal texts can be socially meaningful even when they are not in any practical sense enforceable by courts or other state institutions.
Malaysia: Blogger Probe
Malaysian blogger Jeff Ooi looks like he might be investigated for his coverage of a local controversy over an allegedly disrespectful cartoon published in the New Straits Times. He writes: “Let the law take its course and let justice be seen to be done.”
Lone Haiti-Based Haitian Blogger on Recent Haitian Elections
Yon Ayisyen, the sole Haiti-based Haitian blogger complains (FR) that he does not have an internet connection at home. But that has not stopped him from blogging regularly if not always promptly about the recent presidential elections. Special Rules for Favored Candidate? Riots over the possibility of a runoff in...
Report on Contracts Signed during the D.R. of Congo's Civil War Released
Le Blog du Congolais reports (FR) that a long awaited report on mining contracts signed during the Congolese civil war which ended in June 2003 was finally made available to the country's deputies in the past week or so. The report recommends 1) that several contracts be revoked or renegotiated...
Ukraine: ‘Gangs of Donetsk’
LEvko at Foreign Notes writes about ‘Gangs of Donetsk’ and what appears to be a criminal connection of a major Ukrainian party.
Caribbean: Music and copyright
Attorney and writer/blogger Nyashazasha publishes a well-researched article on copyright issues affecting the Caribbean music industry.
Singapore: Cheerleader Sex Tape
All over the Singapore blogosphere are commentaries on an unfortunate high school cheerleader, nicknamed “Tammy NYP,” whose cellphone was allegedly stolen by a jealous classmate and whose sex video recorded on that phone is now spreading across the Internet. A post by Book of Aletheia on the topic now has...
Hong Kong, Philippines: Right of Abode
Simon World comments on the possible far-reaching consequences of a recent decision to give two Hong Kong-born children of a Filipino domestic worker “right of abode” in the Chinese territory.
The silencing of Cayman Cop
Finally — a Caribbean blogging controversy. Involving a blogging policeman, a local newspaper and a witch hunt by an irate constabulary. In — of all places — the mild-mannered Cayman Islands. On February 18, popular Jamaican blogger Mad Bull, who lives in Grand Cayman, reported that the activities of two...
The Law of Love in China
How to regulate love in China? A mock law on love has been circulating online in China as early as 2002 and was recently picked up by mainstream media. Joel Martinsen presents the English translation on Danwei.
Too Many Rights in The Prison?
Flying Yangban applauds the South Korean government's consideration to officially abolish the death penalty. However, he shudders at the thought of extending voting rights to prisoners.
Malaysia: Unbalanced Punishments?
Colors of Life contrasts the sentences in two murder cases in Malaysia: one involving a lover's quarrel, another involving inflamed passions over harsh words. Both were emotional crimes, yet why did the perpetrators of the latter get lighter sentences?
Guyana: Amerindian Bill
Indigenous matters blog The Voice of the Taino People publishes a press release issued by the Amerindian Peoples Association of Guyana (APA) objecting to the passage of the Amerindian Bill 2005 in its present form. The APA alleges that the Bill promotes racial discrimination.
Ukraine: 10 Uzbek Asylum Seekers Deported
Peter Byrne at Abdymok links to a Ukrainian-language story on ten Uzbek asylum seekers who were deported from Ukraine in violation of international law. He thinks this is “almost as bad as shipping rocket launchers to Burma.” Holly Cartner, director of Human Rights Watch's Europe and Central Asia Division, believes...
Political Posture on China in the US Congress
US Congressman Tom Lantos sharply criticized the US hi-tech firms for helping the Chinese government censor the Internet at Wedn's congressional hearing. Chinese blogger Keso compares that to Chinese government's insistence that no one has ever been arrested due to speech on the Internet. He considers both “political postures”, and...
Indonesia: Aceh Canings
Indonesia Matters talks about public canings in Aceh, which have been permitted as a result of the autonomous province's application of Islamic law.
The Famous Director Goes to Court
Chen Kaige, one of the most prominent Chinese film directors, is suing a young man for making a video spoofing the director's latest martial arts fantasy epic, The Promise. Chen, famed for his film Farewell, My Concubine, alleged copyright violation. Even though he may be on solid legal ground, most...
Mexico: Creative Commons and iLaw
Eduardo Arcos recently released a podcast (ES) explaining the upcoming workshop, iLaw, which will take place in Mexico City on March 16th and 17th. Arcos and friends also discuss the importance of Creative Commons licenses for online content creators.
Law-ful in China
Two laws are going into effect on March 1st in China. One, as reported by HK Dave on Simon World, requires all discos and karaoke lounges to install surveillance cameras. Another will limit admittance to karaoke clubs and internet cafes in China to those ages 18 and up, as noted...
