Stories about Law from March, 2011
Hungary: Protest against media law
Marietta Le of Remainder of Budapest shares her impressions from a protest against the new media law in Hungary.
Belarus: Presidential candidate disappears
Bloggers in Belarus discuss the disappearance of former presidential candidate Ales Mikhalevich. LJ user illdoctor fears [RUS] that he is the latest victim of the Lukashenko regime, and LJ user senseisekai thinks [RUS] he is either on the run from the KGB or has fled abroad.
Russia: Police Requests IP Data of a Designer For Drawing Political Posters
Mr Edisonic writes [ru] about a graphic designer known as “Isabelle.” After Isabelle drew a series of political posters (most of the mock the ruling party “United Russia”) [ru] and posted them at NevinkaOnline.ru, police have requested [ru] her IP-address. The discussion of the case here [ru].
Haiti: Election Threats
The long-awaited Haitian election is finally scheduled to take place on March 20; the most recent political controversy involves presidential candidate Michel Martelly's threats to the media, accompanied by general references to grabbing power via “the streets”. Netizens are keeping a close check on developments…
Cuba, U.S.A.: Gross Sentence
Bloggers discuss the sentence handed down to U.S. citizen Alan Gross, who was convicted “of distributing equipment to connect to the Internet.”
Jamaica: Enquiry Stalemate?
Jamaican bloggers discuss the latest developments in the Manatt Dudus Enquiry.
Mexico: Impact of Documentary ‘Presumed Guilty’
Gancho reports that PAN, a major political party in Mexico, “has proposed that all bids for public contracts be videotaped, as a check against corruption.” He ties this proposal to the documentary ‘Presumed Guilty‘: “This may just be posturing, and the impulse behind it may be temporary, but this is...
Russia: Will Prosecutor's Office Use Crowdsourced Data To Fight Illegal Gambling?
While discussing the issue of illegal gambling with the Prosecutor General, President Medvedev has stated that the Prosecutor's office can use crowdsourced data of gdecasino.ru, a mapping portal offering users the ability to map illegal gambling sites, interfax.ru reported [RUS]. Right after the news broke, the site went down, though....
China: Vice principle of university kills 2 and wounds 3 in fatal car accident
China Hush translates a forum post from MOP on a recent car accident in Jiangxi University, in which the vice-principal of the University killed 2 and wounded 3 people. Despite the victims’ family claim that the driver was under the influence of alcohol in the tests after the accident, local...
Albania: “The Civil Alternative” Website
The Albanian Blogger writes about a new website, The Civil Alternative (ALB), which aims at “engaging people in dialogue and raising awareness as well as producing action about major issues affecting the Albanian people and the country as a whole.”
Myanmar: Fishing at a no-fishing lake
Blogger dawn-1o9 posts a picture of a person fishing in Inya Lake in Myanmar. Fishing is not allowed on this lake.
Singapore: Mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking
Blogger We believe in Second Chances gathers the stand of Singapore political parties on the current policy of imposing a mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking.
Pakistan: Say No To Violence And Ensure Our Civil Rights
Beena Sarwar informs that Citizens for Democracy arranged a mass letter-writing campaign in Karachi today. The letters urge the Pakistan authorities to take appropriate actions to reverse the erosion of civil and human rights and to uphold the rule of law without fear or favor.
Belarus: Petition to Move 2014 Ice Hockey Championship Elsewhere
Pyotr Kuznetsov posts a petition (RUS, ENG) to the International Ice Hockey Federation, drafted by Lithuania-based Belarusian opposition activists, in which they are proposing “to change the location of the [2014 ice hockey championship] from Belarus to another country” – because “[t]he atmosphere in Belarus and the actions of Mr....
Cuba: Brother of Hunger Striker Detained
“The joy of the announcement Thursday evening that Cuban prisoner of conscience Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet was about to be released from jail, was tempered by the news that another dissident, Rolando Rodríguez Lobaina had been arrested”: Uncommon Sense has the details.
Bhutan: Verdict On Raising Taxes
The Supreme Court of Bhutan has made a landmark verdict ruling that the government violated the Constitution by raising taxes without seeking the Parliament’s approval. Tshering Tobgay has more.
India: Euthanasia Debate Re-kindled
The Indian blogosphere is buzzing with mixed emotions after the Supreme Court of India rejected the mercy killing petition filed by journalist Pinki Virani on behalf of Aruna Shanbaug who has been cared for and kept alive for 37years at the KEM hospital, Mumbai, India. Conversations abound on blogs, forums, comments on published news posts, Twitter and Facebook.
Gabon: Two Rival Presidents, One Accused of Embezzlement
As the power struggle between two opposing presidents continues in Gabon, Ali Bongo (the official president) now stands accused of "misappropriation of shares for personal profit" in a World Bank suit. Supporters of the opposition led by Mba Obame anxiously await his next move.
Côte d'Ivoire: Fear of Medicine Shortage Looms
The political crisis in Côte d'Ivoire is ongoing, without any prospect of a solution in the short-term. Doctors in the country have warned of the prospect of imminent medical shortages, as a result of embargos that have been placed on ships docking in Ivorian ports. In this article, netizens and tweeps discuss the issue.
Bangladesh: Banning Fatwa
“Unfortunately, in Bangladesh, some people are trying their best to fetter their women further in the name of religion,” comments Jerome D'Costa at Bangladesh, Canada and Beyond on the recent protests by some Islamic clerics, who are resisting government's efforts to ban Fatwa.
Mexico: Documentary ‘Presumed Guilty’ Back in Theaters
David Sasaki updates a thorough post on the legal actions against the documentary ‘Presumed Guilty‘: “An appellate court has ruled that the movie can again be shown in movie theaters in Mexico. The ruling claims that removing the movie from theaters would damage social interest, and violates the public’s right...
