Stories about Law from September, 2009
Russia: Ulitskaya-Khodorkovsky Correspondence
Robert Amsterdam's Blog links to OpenDemocracy.net's translation of correspondence between writer Ludmila Ulitskaya and former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky, published (RUS) in Novaya Gazeta earlier this month.
Turkey: Next Country to Recognize Abkhazia?
Window on Eurasia reports that “there appears to be a chance that Turkey, despite denials by its officials, might break the embargo against recognition [of Abkhazia] because of Ankara’s desire to play a greater role in the Caucasus region, its own long-standing experience as the only country to recognize the...
Russia: 2010 Census Postponed
Window on Eurasia and Russia Blog comment on the Russian State Statistical Service's decision to postpone the 2010 census until 2013 – “on budgetary grounds.”
Brazil: Has a free Internet really appeared on the electoral scene?
With the new electoral reform in Brazil, the individual Internet user is now obliged to behave as a media entrepreneur, unable to analyse candidates' positions and losing the right to freedom of expression.
Macedonia: Freedom Not Fear 2009
Information Policy cites an item on privacy-related citizen education activities that took place in Macedonia during this year's Freedom Not Fear action. The item was published on the website of Metamorphosis Foundation, a Macedonian NGO that was one of the event's organizers.
Sri Lanka: What's Wrong With Our Democracy?
Going Global points out that a knowledgeable voter base, a strong political opposition and structural reforms in judiciary are some of the aspects which are lacking for democracy to function properly in Sri Lanka.
Harvard Forum: Markets, Mobiles and the ability to make culture
The live-blog continues with panel presentations on ICT for development by Ronaldo Lemos, Anita Gurumurthy, Ophelia Mascarenhas, and Lawrence Liang.
China: Crowd sourced translation and the issue of copyright
Joel Martinsen from DANWEI translated an article by Janson Yao discussing the crowd-sourced translation of The Lost Symbol in relation to the issue of copyright infringement.
Afghanistan: Captain Semrau Goes to Trial
Joshua Foust reports that Captain Robert Semrau, a Canadian military man facing murder charges for the alleged shooting death of an injured, unarmed insurgent outside Lashkar Gah, is now facing a general court martial.
Peru: Antauro Humala Sentenced for 2005 Attack
In Peru, Antauro Humala, the brother of opposition leader Ollanta Humala, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the 2005 attack on a police station in Andahuaylas, as reported by the blog Que Tal Raza [es].
Mexico: Shooting at Balderas Metro Station
A man opened fire at a Mexico City Metro Station killing 2 people, including one civilian attempting to subdue the gunman. The video soon appeared on television and many began calling the men heroes for their actions.
Hungary: Budapest Citizens Fight For Their Right To Party
On Sept. 1, a silence decree that requires bars and restaurants to close at 10 PM came into force in Budapest's District VI, an area well-known for its lively nightlife. Protests against the measure started right away.
Morocco: Rage Against the Sandwich Continues
Eating in public during Ramadan is often seen as a disregardful and disrespectful act and might attract the anger of the public. Moreover it is punishable by law. Moroccan Bloggers and cyber-activists react to the attempt by some non-observants to brave the ban on breaking the fast in public during Ramadan.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines: split electorate
Lullabies, Fairy Tales and Other Self-Delusions thinks about the referendum on a new constitution for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and what it reveals about the state of the country's politics: “a finely delineated system of prejudices based on which political party you support.”
Poland: Raphael Lemkin and the Katyń Massacre
Raf Uzar writes about Raphael Lemkin's life and work and the current discussion of the Katyń massacre in Poland.
Sri Lanka: Justice
“The week after Tissa was given 20 years for writing, two actual card carrying LTTE spokesmen were released on bail. Hence, being LTTE is pardonable, but being charged with meeting them or writing against the government (from a Tamil perspective) is not,” comments Indrajit Samarajiva at Indi.ca on the verdict...
Bangladesh: Death in Dhaka Zoo
Shahnaz at Dhaka Dweller writes about the mysterious deaths of a number of animals in Dhaka Zoo.
South Korea: Government sued activist with libel
Ohmynews! International has a report on South Korean government libel charge against a prominent activist lawyer Park Wonsoon. Part was charged 200 million won for damages from the National Intelligence Agency (“NIA”) last September 14.
South Korea: Protecting children
Matt from Gusts of popular feelings wrote an informative article on the ineffectiveness of certain policies for protecting children and youth.
China: Pretending to be a reporter
ESWN translated the Retrial of Wu Baoquan, a netizen sentenced to 2 year imprisonment for exposing a land dispute in Ordos city under the charge of libel. On 16 of September, the verdict of the retrial was released, apart from libel, the court introduced the new element of “pretending to...
Mexico: Recent Explosions Around Capital
El Nahual of México para los Mexicanos [es] takes a look at some of the recent explosions around Mexico City. He writes that no one knows with certainty the motive, but points to a message found the 2nd explosion calling for a halt to the construction of the new “megaprison.”