Stories about Politics from February, 2007
Ukraine: Volodymyr Shcherban
“Who are the prison cells for?” asks Foreign Notes in a post about Volodymyr Shcherban, former governor of the Donetsk and then Sumy regions. Not for those who seem to deserve being there, it appears.
Slovenia: The Erased
The Glory of Carniola reports on a rather surreal bureaucratic mishap: “This week marks the 15th anniversary of a now infamous moment in Slovenian history: the removal of 18,000 people from Slovenia’s permanent registry of citizens.”
Poland: McDonald's Sales; Rospuda Bypass
The beatroot writes about Prince Charles’ McDonald's comment and the Polish First Lady's views on the planned Rospuda bypass.
Hungary: Politicians Speak (a Prank)
Pestcentric puts words into Hungarian politicians’ mouths.
Ukraine: Tymoshenko in D.C.
LaurenceJarvikOnline shares his impressions of Yulia Tymoshenko, who was in Washington, D.C., this week: “She described her nation as ‘in crisis’–and took a number of hostile questions about her legal problems from Russian-speakers in the audience. Tymoshenko handled them with grace and aplomb, didn't bristle, smiled even. She's definitely a...
The Balkans: Bloggers Discuss the ICJ Verdict
On Monday, after nearly ten months of deliberation, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared that the 1995 Srebrenica Massacre was an act of genocide, but that the pattern of the atrocities committed by Bosnian Serbs during the 1992-1995 war (which claimed more than 100,000 lives) was “too broad” to...
Nepal: Weapons and the UN
Accounting for weapons in Nepal is rather controversial. Nepali Netbook explains – “Moreover, according to Prachanda, many of their weapons were destroyed in fire and swept away by river during the conflict. (Translation: if everyone’s so interested in exact numbers, why does no one ask Girija Prasad Koirala about the...
Venezuela, Brazil: Chavez Versus O Globo
Daniel Duquenal posts and narrates two video clips from a Chavez press conference in Caracas in which he criticizes Brazilian media conglomerate O Globo for its opposition to Lula in Brazil's last presidential elections. In the second clip, Chavez focuses on O Globo's reporter, accusing him of not understanding Venezuela.
Iraq: US Allies No Longer Allies
The US allies are no longer its allies, rats are leaving the sinking ship and Canada is no longer in the flock. If you want to understand what I mean read what Iraqi blogger Ladybird has to say here.
Egypt: Nawal Al Saadawi Show
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia accuses Egyptian feminist and writer Dr Nawal Al Saadawi of coming up with an annual gimmick to ensure her name remains in the news. “(I)n 2004 she wanted to be a president ,in 2006 she came and her daughter with the new idea that people to be...
Egypt: Mossad Spy Update
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia continues to follow news on an Egyptian-Canadian accused of spying for the Mossad here. “He wasn't spying for Israel despite the fact that he went to the Israeli Embassy , knew the three other wanted Mossad officers and considered them as friends and was going to Israel...
Algeria: Advice to the US
Algerian blogger Nouri writes: “Washington must distinguish between those with whom it can deal and those it can't; even if they aren't Ideal.” To read more of his advice to the US, click here.
The Voice of Somaliland Diaspora-Ottawa writes about the foreign occupation of Somalia and “hatemonger websites”: Overall, it is clear that the foreign occupation and possible recolinization of Somalia has dawned on the so-called leaders of “Transitional Federal Government” (TFG)—a euphemism of “Tigre Founded Government” (TFG) as well as their shadowy...
Taiwan: KMT internal rivalry
Michael Turton translates some local reports about the internal rivalry between Ma Ying jeou and Wang Jin-ping on the upcoming presidential election.
Taiwan: Name-rectification Debate
The two terms “Taiwan” and “Republic of China” ( R.O.C.) has been intertwined together for the last decades. However, after several elections, with the switch in ruling parties from the pro- Chinese- unification party KMT to the pro- Taiwan- independence party DPP, these two terms are now at the focus...
Poland: Military Intelligence Scandal
Traveling Life writes on the Polish military intelligency scandal.
Poland: On “The Lives of Others”
Traveling Life writes this about the foreign film that got this year's Oscar: “Anyway, Lives of Others did make me appreciate a little more the hate felt by many towards the proponents and tools of the old systems. Even I can remember my mother being taken in for questioning to...
Albania: Post-Election Situation
Our Man In Tirana writes about the post-election situation in Albania: “One week on from the elections we are still waiting for the final results. The process of counting has been incredibly slow – in many cases this seems to have been a deliberate ploy. It was only when counting...
Iraq: Secret Prisons Still Present
Iraqi blogger Ladybird says human rights organisations are still insisting that the US is maintaining secret prisons.
Soviet History: Chechen and Ingush Deportations
J. Otto Pohl writes about the deportation of the Chechen and Ingush people from their homeland 63 years ago.
