Stories about Law from March, 2009
Ukraine: “NEVER Step Out Without a Passport”
Turkish Invasion writes about a recent encounter with Kyiv police.
Barbados: Moving On Up?
“Will Barbados’ proposed housing developments be part of an economic and social package that is geared to give people a better standard of living?”: Living in Barbados questions the wisdom of high-rise developments on the island.
Pakistan: Suicide Bombing at Mosque While People Praying
CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan is reporting that ” 48 people were killed (today) when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a mosque near the town of Jamrud in the Khyber agency in northwest Pakistan.” The Blogger comments: “For a suicide bombing to occur at all is horrific, but...
Tunisia: Outcry over Italian Court's Verdict on Tunisian Pilots
Two Tunisian pilots of Tuninter Flight 1153, which crash landed in the sea off Sicily in 2005 killing 16 people, were sentenced to 10 years in prison by an Italian court. The decision is being contested by Tunisian bloggers, who say the pilots' heroic efforts in saving the 23 other passengers on board should have been celebrated.
Sri Lanka: How Should Bloggers Respond To Plagiarizing
ICT For Peacebuilding (ICT4Peace) comments: “rampant plagiarism by leading Editors and newspapers in Sri Lanka of content that appears on the web and in blogs is an enduring issue”. The blog also discusses how the Sri Lankan bloggers should respond to plagiarizing.
Palestine: Testimonies Regarding Israeli War Crimes in Gaza
Bloggers in Gaza have not been surprised by the testimonies of Israeli soldiers documenting war crimes they committed or witnessed during the recent attacks on Gaza - or by any of the other stories now being reported regarding the Israeli military's conduct.
Cuba: Antúnez Update
Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense says that the Cuban authorities have “taken its fight with…dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez (Antúnez) to a new, more frightening level.”
Barbados: Suspect Named
“Further media details indicate that the suspect is a 24 year old man. Apparently, the man was found with a camera, jewelry and an imitation firearm”: Bajan Dream Diary links to mainstream media articles that provide details about the suspect in the Terry Schwarzfeld murder.
Serbia: Remembering NATO Bombing 10 Years Later
On March 24, 1999, NATO forces began attack on Serbia and Montenegro. The bombing went for 78 days. A few thousand people were killed, many buildings, bridges, railroads, roads and factories were destroyed. Also, many people still experience mental and psychic effects of the fear they had been through. Ten years later, Serbian bloggers are reminded of those terrible days. Below is a selection of some of their journal notes and recollections from the beginning of the war.
Cuba: Antúnez Surrounded
Uncommon Sense and Octavo Cerco share their thoughts on reports that the Cuban police “have surrounded the home of Cuban dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez (Antúnez), who for more than a month has [led] a hunger strike to protest abuses by the Castro dictatorship.”
Jamaica: Lessons from the By-Election
Abeng News Magazine asks of the results of the recent by-election in West Portland: “What does it tell us about where things currently stand in Jamaica, if this constituency can be viewed as a microcosm of the Jamaican body politic?”, adding, “It’s high time this dual citizenship issue is seriously...
Maldives: Petition And Democracy
The Maldives government is facing a growing number of petitions protesting various things. Abdullah Waheed asks some pertinent questions.
Belarus: Death Penalty and the EU
Vilhelm Konnander writes about death penalty in Belarus and how it should affect the EU leaders’ approach to the country.
Belarus, U.S.: “Nationality Censorship in the U.S.”
Evgeny Morozov writes on Newsweek.com about a case of censorship by a U.S. web-hosting company involving a Washington, D.C.-based Belarusian, Yaraslau Kryvoi – LJ user yarik, whose own English-language account of what happened is here: “When I called for clarifications, a Bluehost representative told me that I “abused” their terms...
Barbados: Suspect Arrested
Barbados Free Press and Bajan Dream Diary both blog about the recent arrest of a suspect in the Terry Schwarzfeld murder.
Jamaica: Election Example
As the West Portland by-election is settled, Girl With a Purpose says: “What should be noted…is that this by-election went through without incident…the majority of Jamaicans are tired of the crime and violence in general, but especially at election time.”
Maldives: Free Speech Under Threat
In early March Mohamed Nasheed, the new President of the Maldives, met with Frank La Rue, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression. In the meeting Nasheed expressed his government’s commitment to free speech and announced that Maldives will be made a haven for dissident writers from...
Jordan: 19-year-old woman killed by father and brothers
Kinzi reacts to news that a 19-year-old girl was killed in Jordan by her father and brothers for wearing make up and talking to men saying: “Better ban Maybelline from Zarqa, it gets girls in trouble. As does talking to strange men, of course.”
Barbados: Impact on Tourism
“Although we applaud the current Minister of Tourism…for taking the bold step to restructure the Barbados Tourism Authority Board, what purpose will it serve if we have a tarnished brand to sell?”: Barbados Underground is concerned about the future of the island's tourism sector.
Bermuda: It's a Secret
“Every major government that I can think of publishes its accounting, auditing, and contracting standards. Why is Bermuda hiding behind a bureaucratic wall? You can’t have accountability if the rules themselves are held secret!”: Vexed Bermoothes wonders “if Government [is] really serious about Public Access to Information.”
Thailand: Summary from the academic forum on Lese Majeste
Lese Majeste is still a hot issue in Thailand. Foreigners, academics and activists have been charged with Lese Majeste in recent months. A two-day academic forum was held at Thammasart University in Bangkok where scholars discussed the controversial law.
