Stories about Law from March, 2011
Russia: Voina Art Collective
At OpenDemocracy.net, writes about the Voina art collective (RUS: @free_voina; ENG: @free_voina_en) and “explains how their controversial methods have made it difficult to mobilise support.” Kevin Rothrock (@agoodtreaty) re-posts a video of Voina‘s recent prank action (1,178,969 views, 3,023 likes, 658 dislikes): “unwelcomely, without warning kiss female cops on candid...
Ukraine: Lukyanivka Pre-Trial Detention Facility
Journalist Kristina Berdinskikh writes (RUS) at her Korrespondent.net blog about Kyiv's pre-trial detention facility SIZO #13/Lukyanivka: the conditions (general capacity is 2,800 detainees, the actual number is around 4,000; cells for 40 people house 60-80, inmates take turns sleeping; “60 people sometimes smoke all at once, if a non-smoker ends...
Pakistan: License To Kill
Talkhaba interviews Robert Anderson, an ex-undercover CIA operative, who opines that “the release of Davis in my opinion is just a green light for more killings and assassinations by the US government and the CIA in your country.”
Puerto Rico: Controversial Supreme Court decision
Blogger and Law scholar Erika Fontánez Torres [es] analyzes the recent decision [es] of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico that denies “adulterous” women the protections guaranteed under the Law against Domestic Violence.
Brazil: The Cost of Financing Culture
Recent news that the Brazilian Ministry of Culture has authorized famous singer Maria Bethânia to raise R$ 1.3 million tax free (Brazilian reais - approximately US$ 777,000) to create a poetry blog, has aroused the anger of bloggers, Twitter users and other cultural activists.
India: Daughters Are Not For Killing
Ratna Raman at Ultra Violet describes how many women in India are subject to some form of punishment, torture or cruelty in their lives beginning with getting rid of the female fetus from mother's womb.
Bahamas: Untimely Justice
“We can construct a state of the art airport, dredge our harbour, and expand our seaports. We can tax and spend like there is no tomorrow. But yet, we cannot deliver and administer an effective justice system!”: Weblog Bahamas‘ Jerome Pinder blogs about “a travesty of Justice.”
Barbados, Jamaica: Improper Search?
Barbados Free Press is livid about an incident in which a Jamaican traveler was subjected to a cavity search and then deported, saying: “Even if [the visitor] was suspected and then deported for good reason such as gang affiliation or crimes committed in Jamaica, she deserves to be treated with...
Nigeria: Blogger Arrested for Allegedly Blackmailing a Politician
The Nigerian federal security enforcement agency, State Security Service (SSS), recently arrested Ikenna Ellis Ezenekwe, a Nigerian blogger who runs 247 Ureports, for allegedly attempting to blackmail Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, a member of the House of Representatives in Anambra State.
Ukraine: Myroslava Gongadze on Media Freedom
Viktor Kovalenko writes about the views of Myroslava Gongadze – who is the widow of the slain Ukrainian journalist Georgiy Gongadze – on the freedom of the press and other issues in Ukraine.
Colombia: Columnist Threatens to Sue Twitter User for Slander
Political website La Silla Vacía summarizes [es] the online fight between columnist Ernesto Yamhure (@eyamhure), a staunch supporter of former president Álvaro Uribe Vélez, and Twitter user Nicolás González (@nicoagonzalez). González criticized Yamhure's latest op-ed [es] where he mentions a character played by late comedian Jaime Garzón, claiming [es] the...
Mexico: Femicide Law Passed in State of Mexico
Erwin in The Latinamericanist reports that “legislators in Mexico State unanimously passed a law last week that legally recognizes femicides [es] as an independent crime category.” However, Erwin adds that “deputy Mónica Fragoso Maldonado told El Universal that the measure does little [es] to solve the problem of violence against...
Ecuador: Investigation Around Newborn Deaths Continues
According to Ecuador's latest census, more than 14 million people live in the country, but there is still no consensus on the national infant mortality rate. Recent incidents have called attention to health care practices in neonatal units in Ecuadorian hospitals, triggering an investigation around newborn deaths in the country.
Myanmar: VoIP services banned
shwedarling uploads a letter from the Myanmar government banning VoIP services in the country like Gtalk, Vzo, Skype and Pfingo.
Indonesia: Torture and human rights
Blogger donnyputranto urges Indonesian authorities to stop treating torture as a regular crime since it's a serious human rights violation.
Aruba, Curacao: Eloquent Arguments
The lawyer as orator? Karel's Legal Blog discusses “a sensitive subject.”
Guatemala: Presidential Couple to Divorce to Allow First Lady's Presidential Bid
As previously reported, Guatemalan First Lady Sandra Torres announced her candidacy for president; a bid that violated the constitution which forbids that the president's relatives become president. As a result, the presidential couple will get a divorce, and Mike from Central American Politics argues that their decision “is another example...
Trinidad & Tobago: Upsetting Issues
From the state of health care to advertising campaigns, Plain Talk posts a list of all the things that are upsetting him.
Cuba: Last of the “Black Spring” Prisoners
Uncommon Sense has just learned that the two remaining prisoners of conscience from the “Black Spring” crackdown are scheduled to be released “and presumably allowed to remain in Cuba.”
Nigeria: Popular blogger arrested
The Nigerian State Security Service (SSS) on Sunday arrested popular blogger Ikenna Ellis Ezenekwe (ukpakareports.com) for allegedly attempting to blackmail Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, a House of Representatives member representing Aniocha, Njikoka and Dunukofa Constituency in Anambra State.
Myanmar: VoIP calls declared illegal
The Irrawaddy reports that the Myanmar government has ordered internet cafe operators to stop VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) calls since they allegedly affect state revenues.
