Stories about Politics from August, 2014
China Will Let Hong Kongers Vote for Their Next Leader — But Only If a Pro-Beijing Committee Selects the Candidates
"We urge all Hong Kong citizens to stand up and speak out. The fact that they refuse to hear us does not mean that we don't exist."
Indian Security Forces Open Fire on Peaceful Protestors in Manipur
The Nagas in Ukhrul are protesting the ban on rallies and the militarisation of their home, which defies decade-long ceasefire between Naga separatists and the Indian Government.
Bahraini Activist Maryam Al Khawaja Denied Entry to Her Country, Goes On Hunger Strike
Bahraini human rights activists Maryam Al-Khawaja was denied entry to Bahrain upon her arrival at the airport. Now in detention, she has started a hunger strike.
13 Photos by an Exiled Iranian Photojournalist of People Caught in Conflict in the Middle East
Maryam Ashrafi's portfolio spans Iran, Iraq, Turkey and France. Global Voices interviewed her about her work.
Ukraine Asks Facebook’s Zuckerberg to Discipline Kremlin Bots
Ukrainian Facebook users have complained to Mark Zuckerberg himself that their accounts are being blocked on the site in droves—and they're blaming the Kremlin's bot army.
Activist Blogger in Vietnam Gets 3 Years Behind Bars for ‘Obstructing Traffic’
A court has sentenced a prominent Vietnamese activist blogger to three years in prison for posing a “serious obstruction to traffic.” Her two other companions will join her behind bars.
Macau Authorities Crack Down on Pro-Democracy Activists Who Want the Right to Vote for Their Next Leader
Macau, a special administrative region of China, elects its top leader via a committee. Three pro-democracy groups have organized an unofficial referendum on the right to vote in 2019.
Ebola Scare: Trapped on the Cameroon/Nigeria Border for Over 40 Hours
On August 19, 2014, the Republic of Cameroon closed its borders with Nigeria in a bid to halt the spread of the Ebola virus. However, the government made this decision without giving enough thought to the thousands of travelers – mostly Cameroonian citizens and Nigerians resident in Cameroon – caught...
Former Prime Minister Feeds the Meme Machine With Rejection of Trinidad & Tobago's Highest Honour
Patrick Manning doesn't want the Order of Trinidad and Tobago from current Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who he accused of breaking proper award protocol and attacking him in the past.
Why Activists Sent 128 Tomatoes to Every Single Member of Lebanon's Parliament
Fearing that lawmakers will once again extend their term without elections, Lebanese are saying #NotoExtension in protests on and offline.
‘Citizen Lawmakers’ in the Philippines Are Organizing a Campaign To Do What Politicians Won't: Abolish Pork Barrel
Hundreds of organizations hailing from various sectors have united in a historic attempt to collect enough signatures for a law abolishing the corruption-tainted presidential and congressional pork barrel.
How To Find Happiness In Democracy
From Bhutan, the land of Gross National Happiness, blogger Passang Tshering shares how people can achieve happiness in democracy. He compares democracy to love marriage and says that there are three groups of people, the lovers, the haters and the concern citizens. The Lovers are the ones who swear by...
Ferguson Evocative of Civil Rights Movement, Says Trinidadian Diaspora Blogger
What’s happened – and what is HAPPENING in Ferguson makes my heart hurt. The ache won’t go away. The anger won’t go away. We’re witnessing history in the making, and history repeating itself. What will be the lessons we learn this time? What scars will we bear? Trinidadian diaspora blogger...
Documenting Nationalistic Hate Speech in Macedonian Media
Human rights expert, activist, and blogger Žarko Trajanoski published a series of analyses about nationalistic, right-wing hate speech in Macedonian media, often veiled as “patriotic” speech. „Патриотскиот“ говор на омраза е препознатлив по намерата за разгорување, поттикнување, или оправдување на омраза кон внатрешните и надворешните „непријатели“. Во основата на ваквиот...
One Person Holds the Three Most Powerful Positions in Thailand Today
Prayuth Chan-ocha is Thailand’s new prime minister. He is also the army chief who staged a coup last May and appointed himself as head of the coup government.
Scholars and Experts Are Urging the German Government to Rethink Its Unconditional Support of Israel
Due to several anti-Semitic outbursts from some protesters, reporting on Gaza in Germany over the past few weeks has been overshadowed by a debate on anti-Semitism.
Macedonian Police Harass Journalists Covering Protests
Police harassment of media seems to have become a regular occurrence in Macedonia, which has included the detainment and sentencing of some journalists in the country. On August 25, 2014, Macedonian Nova TV journalists were harassed and “stopped from doing their jobs” by police officers while covering protests held in...
China Insists That Hong Kong Should Only Have Pro-Beijing Candidates — for National Security
China's Basic Law Committee Li Fei said that "the person who governs Hong Kong must be a patriot" or the city risks turning into an independent political entity.
Blogger Law Traps Russia's Activists in Limbo
The new blogger law's vagueness makes it an extremely potent tool for controlling dissent in Russia.
Is Zambia’s President Sata Working Quietly Behind the Scenes or Seriously Ill?
Zambia's President Michael Sata has not been seen in public since May. Many are speculating that the former publicity-loving politician is ailing.
Footage Emerges of Mexican Politicians Boozing With Exotic Dancers
The #Diputables contribute humiliation towards Mexico's National Action Party as a result of its members' shameful behavior.
