· March, 2006

Stories about Politics from March, 2006

Venezuela: Op-Ed Translations

  31 March 2006

Katy of Caracas Chronicles has translated an opinion piece, originally published in Tal Cual by Marino González, a professor at Simón Bolívar University. Venepoetics translates an op-ed, also from Tal Cual, by Oswaldo Barreto.

DRC: Priest Describes 3/22 Protest

  31 March 2006

Le Blog du Congolais posts (FR) a Le Phare interview with a priest, Rev. Blaise Kanda, who attended UDPS’ March 22 protest. Rev. Kanda reports that even though UDPS leadership may not be ready to take up arms, rank-and-file demonstrators shouted slogans that indicated they were. He was also surprised...

DRC: Malu Malu Announces Delay in Communal Elections

  31 March 2006

UDPS Liege blogger ngstephane comments (FR) on electoral council President Appolinaire Malu Malu's appearance on a Belgian talk show yesterday. Blogger is especially disappointed with Malu Malu's announcement that communal elections will have to take place later than the constitutionally mandated June 30, 2006 deadline and predicts that Malu Malu...

Belarus: Prison Journal

  30 March 2006

Ivan Lenin at Rush-Mush links to an English translation of a Belarusian protestor's jail journal. (Written by LJ user forion in Belarusian, translated by LJ user kapitan-tanaka.)

Poland: Singer Turned Politician Tired of Politics

  30 March 2006

The beatroot writes about a 56-year-old Polish rock musician turned politician and the problems he's facing. “After making a lot of money over the years, he must have got bored – like ageing rock stars do – and thought that he would represent the very un-rock and roll Law and...

Iraq: Impossible dreams of Arabs

IraqiPundit wonders what NYT is talking about here. Arab influence in Iraq? What influence are these supposed analysts operating under? Arab countries traditionally sided with Saddam against the Iraqi people. And since the removal of Saddam, Arab countries have (unofficially) influenced Iraq only by sending suicide killers into our midst....

DR: No to “sexual liberty”

  30 March 2006

Andrés Duque reports that language referring to “sexual liberty” will be removed from a current draft amendment to the Dominican Republic's Civil Code. One of the fears among critics of the phrase is that it could pave the way for same-sex marriage legislation. Duque quotes the the interim attorney general...

Caribbean, US: US-Caricom meeting

  30 March 2006

Larry Smith discusses the recent US-Caricom meeting in the Bahamas in the context of both recent US foreign policy and Condolezza Rice's career. He quotes a Bahamian diplomat, who says: “The policies of the US are not producing the results that it desires, and therefore how should friends of the...

DRC: UDPS’ Latest Demands

  30 March 2006

Doubting that elections can and will take place June 30 as planned, UDPS Liege posts(FR) the UDPS’ latest demands to the international community and the Congolese government. Demands include the reopening of voter and candidate registration, a realistic electoral calendar, the inclusion of the Congolese diaspora in the electoral process...

Pulse of the Saudi Blogosphere

Mohsen Al-Awaji was freed after 11 days of detention, and Aya thinks this action by the government is a tangible lesson for Saudis: “Don’t you dare to criticize the government because we are capable, at any time, of stripping you from your freedom and dignity.” Riyadhwai seemed happy about the...

Landing at the Iraqi Blogodrome

This week bloggers in Iraq are saying the same thing in different ways – the security situation is becoming unbearable. Also, in my bag today, a winning blogger gets another award; Chikitita negotiates Iraqi bureaucracy – Lara Croft-style; Meemo has a party; Caeser has a chance meeting with a girl...

Philippines: The Story of Jolo

  30 March 2006

Blogkadahan tells story of Jolo, a small town in the southwest of the Philippines which she remembers as once one of the most beautiful place in the country. Now, she says, after 30 years of neglect by the government, being torn apart by war, prejudice, and opportunistic vultures, Jolo is...

Singapore: Honour your pledge

  30 March 2006

At Diary of A Lucky Singaporean Lucky Tan satirises the pledge of Singaporean politicians by applying its wording of justice, equality and democracy to their actions. He finds the pledge should not be taken for granted.

Thailand: Thaksinomics 2.0

  30 March 2006

Bookish reports on Thaksinomics 2.0 that he finds lacking substance especially on the vision for lifting the poor out of poverty.

Belarus: Anti-TV Flash Mob

  30 March 2006

LJ user litota_ posts photos from a flash mob that took place at Oktyabrskaya Sq. in Minsk yesterday: to protest the lies of Belarusian state TV, a group of young people put scarves over their eyes and pretended to watch the news broadcast on a huge screen above.