Stories about Law from January, 2013
Côte d'Ivoire: Charles Blé Goudé Charged with War Crimes
After his arrest in Ghana, Charles Blé Goudé, nicknamed ‘Street General’ and close associate of former president Laurent Gbagbo, was charged with war crimes on January 21, 2013. His arrest caused great debate in the Ivorian blogosphere as it happened against a backdrop of national reconciliation in Côte d'Ivoire.
Police Use Pepper Spray on Bangladesh's Teacher Protesters
For the very first time in Bangladesh, the police used pepper spray to scatter hundreds of teachers and employees of private schools who were demonstrating in Dhaka. One teacher ended up with fatal reactions to the spray and died, sparking intense debate in Bangladesh.
Iran: A Crime on YouTube, an Execution in Public
Two young men, Alireza Mafiha and Mohammad Ali Sarvari, were executed by hanging in Tehran, Iran in the early hours of January 20, before the eyes of public spectators who had gathered to watch.
An “OMG Law” for Lebanon During Election Year?
This year a parliamentary election year in Lebanon and this means that once again, electoral law debates make headlines in a country marked by institutionalized sectarianism.
China: Viral love diary of mistress ends career of a senior propaganda official
Another sex scandal exposed online by the mistress of Yi Junqing, a senior propaganda official has brought Yi down. Ministry of Tofu has the full story.
Inside the Audacious Assassination Attempt in Bulgaria
The January 19 gunman attack on the Bulgarian politician Ahmed Dogan has provoked many reactions by politicians and netizens - with some convinced that the assassination attempt was staged.
Diplomatic Passports for Religious Representatives in Brazil?
The Ministry of External Relations issued diplomatic passports to the heads of the evangelical World Church of the Power of God, sparking a discussion on the notion of secularism enshrined in Brazil's constitution.
Philippines: Anti-Cybercrime Law Denounced as ‘Cyber Martial Law’
More voices in the Philippines are questioning the Cybercrime Prevention Law as the oral arguments on the petitions against the law are being heard in the Supreme Court. The law was denounced by activists as a 'Cyber Martial Law' because of provisions that would limit free speech and expression in the internet sphere
Sri Lanka: Code of Ethics For Media
Freedom Of Expression Sri Lanka reports that the Sri Lankan government has started the process of introducing a comprehensive code of ethics, for both print and electronic media, in accordance with its overall aim to streamline the industry.
Russian Facebook of Horrors: It's a Conspiracy!
In the days immediately following Kabanov's arrest Russian netizens experienced a rare period of introspection, liberally sprinkled with conspiracy theories.
Sri Lanka: Reactions To The Impeachment Of The Chief Justice
Sri Lanka's 43rd and first female Chief Justice Dr. Shirani A Bandaranayake was impeached after she was found guilty of some of the charges the government brought against her by a controversial parliamentary select committee. The impeachment was passed in the parliament after the process was declared illegal and unconstitutional by the highest courts in the country.
Petrodollars, Megalomania and Human Rights in Equatorial Guinea
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea launched a charm offensive in 2011 and 2012 using his petrodollars to target the worlds of showbusiness, sport and international diplomacy. However, following his accession to chairmanship of the African Union, the civil society denounced him for his poor human rights record while the orgy of spending conducted by his son caused widespread revulsion.
Slovak Antimonopoly Office Defends Obligatory Microsoft Use
European Information Society Institute, a Slovak NGO, reports [sk] that the Slovak Antimonopoly Office (AMO) does not see it as a problem that the country's Financial Directorate is forcing taxpayers to use Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer, arguing that there is just about 10 percent of 44,000 subjects who have...
Scholars Call for an End to China's One-Child Policy
China's one-child policy is unshakeable, top family planning official announced on January 14.The announcement, which dismissed speculation that the one-child policy would be scrapped, has triggered another heated debate on Chinese social media.
2012: A Year of Revolt and Social Change in Francophone Countries: Part 2
This second part of our 2012 review in the Francophone world features civil rebellion and governance problems in Togo, Chad and Madagascar, citizen initiatives in Senegal, fight for more transparency in public affairs in Cameroon and ongoing debates on social issues in France.
Fighting “Blatant Criminal Dictatorship” in Ukraine's Coal Mining Region
Blogger Stanislav Kmet documents activities in Severnyi, a decaying coal-mining village in eastern Ukraine, after local residents emailed him asking for help in drawing attention to the illegal mining that threatens to ruin their homes.
PHOTOS: Pakistan's Countrywide Shia Solidarity Protests End Peacefully
After the bombings in Quetta killed more than 100 people of the Hazara Shia community, protests spread like fire across Pakistan. People from all sects and tribes joined hands together to show solidarity with the Hazaras chanting #WeAreAllHazara. Sit-ins were registered in more than 100 cities and towns.
Director of Films Denouncing President Sata Arrested in Zambia
Chanda Chimba III, a freelance filmmaker who made documentaries denouncing Michael Sata, while he was the opposition Patriotic Front leader and before he became the President of Zambia, has been arrested. Once reviled, the documentaries are now hits on YouTube as most of the things that Chimba predicted are now a reality.
Macedonian Activists Collect 10,000 Signatures for Legislative Change
Activists of the civic initiative AMAN [mk] continue to fight for a better energy legislation [mg, fr, mk, es], despite pressure and infiltrations. In November, “unknown persons” prevented them from talking to PM Gruevski [mk] at an “open meeting with citizens.” Currently, there's an ongoing signature-gathering campaign for the change...
Russian Facebook of Horrors: From Tragedy to Humor
Humor is sometimes the only way to deal with a tragedy like the one that struck Russian Facebook over the weekend, when it turned out that Alexey Kabanov, chef and father of three, had allegedly strangled and dismembered his wife, Irina Cherska.
Přednádraží Still Stands: Czech Roma Community Resists Evictions
In August 2012, the Ostrava City Hall issued a 24-hour eviction order to the owner of the 11 buildings at Přednádraží. Approximately 100 families of the local residents refused to move out. Many simply did not have anywhere else to go. Five months later, twelve families still remain at Přednádraží, including six children. Daniela Kantorova reports.
