Stories about Politics from July, 2016
Irom Sharmila’s Long Protest Is Over, but Military Impunity in Northeast India Continues
"The national media [...] used to show her fast, year after year. They made the story about the fast, never why she was fasting."
Why the Russians Don't Care About Trump, Clinton, and the DNC Hack
Eastern & Central Europe30 July 2016RuNet Echo asked more than a dozen leading RuNet voices to offer their interpretations of why most RuNet users seem not to care about allegations that Moscow hacked the DNC.
Kyrgyzstan in War of Words (and Billboards) Over Women's Clothing
For some it is about the Islam-secular divide. For others it is about men telling women how they should present their bodies.
Here's Why Google Maps Changed Some Town Names in Crimea—And Is Now Changing Them Back
Eastern & Central Europe29 July 2016As if by magic, Google Maps has changed some town names in Crimea overnight—but now the company says it will reverse the changes for the Russian version of Maps.
A Chinese Communist Party Ad Asks: ‘Who Am I?’ Social Media Responds: ‘Corrupt.’
"I am the one promoted, I am the one who enjoys privileges, I am the one you can never surpass, as you can never overthrow the party."
Iran Takes Aim at American Sanctions by Threatening Apple
Tehran threatens to ban all Apple products, if the company doesn't set up a local office, and experts say it's to weaken US sanctions now restricting investment flows into Iran.
Ugandans Don't Want Their Government to Bail out Big Businesses
The privatisation of profit and socialisation of loss. Must we all pay for business failure when we didn't all share in the profits made?
Jalisco Moves to End Political Immunity and Usher In a New Kind of Politics for Mexico
"For many years they've told us we have to get used to the political class' privileges, but today in Jalisco we heard the historic call of society: no more impunity."
Critics of ‘Military Impunity’ Take On Indian-Administered Kashmir
In recent weeks, there have been protests in Delhi and Calcutta, where demonstrators called for the revocation of two controversial laws, and the immediate demilitarisation of the Kashmir region.
Is Malaysia's Prime Minister at the Centre of a Billion Dollar Corruption Lawsuit in America?
"I'm angry that the money is used like a personal bank account. More angry at the fact that Malaysian Official #1 is an untouchable here."
Disturbing Abu Ghraib-Style Abuse at a Juvenile Facility in Australia's Northern Territory
The Australian government is to set up a Royal Commission to look into the shocking abuse of children in a Northern Territory youth detention centre.
Political Conflict Triggers Turmoil in South Sudan, Leaving Hundreds Dead
An altercation involving President Salva Kiir and the Vice President Riek Machar, who have long been political rivals, swiftly unraveled into an armed conflict that lasted for several days.
Calls for the International Community to Intervene as Gambia Continues to Imprison Dissidents
Harsh prison sentences for opposition leaders and activists makes netizens concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in The Gambia.
The Anti-KFC Protests Spell Trouble for Chinese Authorities Trying to Confine Nationalism to the Internet
"Online patriotism and offline patriotism are different...However, the line does not exist among the patriotic masses; they would just do what they think is right."
Azerbaijan and Turkey: Caught in a Bad Bromance
Some of Azerbaijan's best schools, a university and a newspaper have been scuppered by Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Fethullah Gulen's toxic political rivalry.
Maldives Opposition Holds Rally Despite Resistance From Government
"Under the plan for reform, Yameen is making criticism a crime..."
After Turkey's Coup Attempt, the Real Battles Begin
"AKP, which asks its supporters to take to the streets ‘until the problem is solved’, is opportunistically imprinting its own dictatorship project on society."
Cliffhanger Election Ends in a Close Shave for Australia's Ruling Government
"I wish to thank the Hon The #PrimeMinister for providing the Nation with at least 3 years of high farce in the #Senate"
Will Trinidad & Tobago Students Be Last Out of the Gate if the Government Stops Funding Tertiary Education?
As the country faces an economic recession, there are concerns that students have been abusing the government's funding of their tertiary education. Will the programme be discontinued or merely restructured?
Two Argentineans Travel Throughout Latin America Looking for ‘The Other Education’
“Education in Motion” was created by two young Argentineans who travel throughout Latin America documenting the development of popular education and the proposals inspired by social movements in the region.
