· June, 2012

Stories about Law from June, 2012

Pakistan: Supreme Court Disqualifies Prime Minister

  20 June 2012

The Pakistani Supreme Court ruled that the Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani had been disqualified ever since April 26th, when it gave the final ruling on a contempt case imprisoning him for a few seconds. The popular sentiment was divided: some cheered and some termed it as a 'judicial coup'.

Ethiopia: Disconnecting Citizens From the Future

  19 June 2012

"Well we Ethiopians have never had dragons in our mythology and folklore like Chinese but so far there has been attempt by Ethiopians to bring on dragons to our culture in the most nauseating manner – internet censorship," writes Endalk in his analysis of the controversial bill which criminalizes the use of internet services such as Skype and Google Talk.

Trinidad & Tobago: Speaking Out Against Sexual Abuse

  19 June 2012

The case of a 12-year old girl, who recently gave birth to her stepfather's child in Guyana, gets Outlish talking about feminism, education and the everyday reality of women in the Caribbean, while journalist and blogger Lisa Allen-Agostini says it is time to speak out about child sexual abuse.

Cuba: Two Protests, Many Arrests

  19 June 2012

The Ladies in White (Las Damas de Blanco) are again top of mind with Cuban diaspora bloggers. As one of the oldest and most respected opposition entities on the island, their peaceful protests - and regular arrests by state security forces - continue to attract attention. The most recent confrontation happened this past weekend as members of the group attempted to carry out two protests in Havana.

Jamaica: Windscreen Murder

  19 June 2012

Jamaica Woman Tongue blogs about the murder of a man who cleaned windscreens for a living, saying: “This murder seems to be about rank class prejudice. We have to find a sustainable solution to the chronic problem of unemployed young men. Shooting them in the head is not an option...

Ukraine: President Yanukovych's European Assets

On OpenDemocracy.com, Ukrainian journalist Serhij Leschenko writes about President Viktor Yanukovych's “luxury residence and the money trail that leads to London”: “Having completely rejected such European values as human rights and democracy, the Ukrainian president uses Europe as a place to hide his dirty money with impunity. European leaders who...

Russia: Interview with Jesse Heath of The Russia Monitor

As an American lawyer and Anglophone blogger writing about Russia, Jesse Heath's work is distinct for its detailed focus on technical aspects of Russian law, economics, and politics. Kevin Rothrock recently spoke with Heath by telephone, to learn more about his history as a blogger and his contributions to the RuNet.

Understanding the Violence in Western Myanmar

  16 June 2012

Dozens dead, more than two thousand houses burned down, and thirty thousand residents have been displaced by the communal violence in Rakhine State, west of Myanmar. Who are responsible for these deaths? How was the internet used to spread hate and racism? What are the views of ordinary citizens on this very complicated issue?

Cuba: Bloggers say there are more like “Antunez”

  14 June 2012

Diaspora bloggers still have their attention focused on Cuban dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez (Antunez), who was reportedly beaten and detained following his testimony at a United States Senate sub-committee hearing concerned with infringements on the human rights of Cuban citizens.

Jamaica: “Dudus” Sentenced

  14 June 2012

As Christopher “Dudus” Coke receives a 23-year jail sentence in the United States, Jamaica Salt suggests that “maybe he should consider telling his story publicly, as…the country needs to know the full story about how he was able to operate a global drug and gun business with such immunity for...

Guyana: Shared Humanity

  14 June 2012

“I do not believe that the response to human savagery and the solution to banditry should be vulgar violence and the public glorification of the defilement of a human being”: A powerful post by Imran Khan about humanity, society and intelligent thinking.

Bahrain: Plea to Police to Return MacBook Pro

On Twitter, Bahraini Mohammed Al Maskati, complains: “It's been 443 days since masked police confiscated my MacBook Pro, 2 Hardrives, 3 Blackberry phones, camera AND wifey’s Friend's collection.” Al Maskati was arrested last year after he was threatened with arrest on Twitter.

South Korea: Birth Control Regulation Changes Provoke Debate

  13 June 2012

The Korean Food and Drug Administration has announced that emergency contraceptives, known as morning-after pills, will become available over the counter. However, non-emergency oral contraceptives have become a prescription drug. This sudden reversal on birth control drug regulations has sparked heated discussions online.

Cuba: Bloggers Rally Around Beaten Dissident

  12 June 2012

Bloggers from the Cuban diaspora are concerned about the reported beating and detainment of dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez, more popularly known as Antunez, after he testified via teleconference at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing about the human rights situation on the island.