Stories about Politics from April, 2006
Russia: Svetlana Bakhmina's Sentence A “Replay” of the 1930s
Alex(ei) of The Russian Dilettante's Weblog writes that the case of the former Yukos lawyer Svetlana Bakhmina might be a “replay” of the 1930s and deserves “international interference or protests.” “The convicted mother of two, who has been in detention since 2005, is not only legally innocent — her standing...
Belarus: Alternative Student Resource
Iryna of TOL's Belarus Blog writes about a Belarusian-language alternative online student resource – www.studenty.by: “More than 10,000 people visited the web-site when the first cartoon about Vasilek, a freshmen university student who came to Miensk from a small village, was posted a couple of months ago (you can see...
Elections’ Race Between “Two Lefts”
The official announcement of Teodoro Petkoff’s candidacy turned Venezuela 2006 presidential race on. Since April 20th, when the announcement was made, the Venezuelan political debate has been focused on what the editor of daily newspaper Tal Cual has to offer to the voters. Venezuelan bloggers have been debating Petkoff’s announcement...
China: America's oil foe
China Confidential‘s Confidential Reporter continues to make the case that China and the United States are locked in a race to the bottom of the world's oil barrel. “Like a player in a modern version of the Great Game—the classic contest between the British empire and Czarist Russia for mastery...
China: Google deletes Tibet?
Has Google Earth left Tibet off the map? (via China Herald)
Brazil, Mexico: Landless Workers Movement and Zapatistas
The Western Hemisphere Policy Watch blog cites a meeting between the Brazilian NGO, Landless Workers Movement (MST) and the Zapatistas in Southern Mexico as proof “that the international left's designs on the Americas are quite real and very much alive.”
El Salvador: Ban Against Gay Marriage and Adoption
Andrés Duque says that backing by El Salvador's two largest parties probably means that an amendment prohibiting marriage and adoption by gay couples will soon be passed.
AddisFerengi returns as Ethiopia's blogosphere explodes
AddisFerengi, one of Ethiopia's most controversial bloggers, was back in business this week with a load of back-dated posts, after temporarily shutting herself down and leaving the country amid claims of threats and warnings over her safety. The French citizen and now former resident of Addis Ababa told her whole...
DRC: Cardinal Asks Congolese to Protect DRC From Foreigners
Archbishop of Kinshasa, Cardinal Etsou, asked Congolese to protect their country from foreigners, reports (FR)Renouveau Congolais. “You have left this beautiful country to foreigners who are carving it out” said the Cardinal to local political actors.
Nepal: Who is to blame?
Even as the revolution in Nepal unfolds, Bahas> asks if this is the time for reconciliation or confrontation – “Nepalese political parties are equally responsible as the king Gyanendra for the present state of Nepal. After 1990, the political parties badly misgoverned the country, forced Maoists to abandon the present...
Latvia: More On Aivars Lemberg
All About Latvia posts an update on Aivars Lembergs, the man who might rule Latvia after the election in October.
Czech Republic: Unie Svobody and the June Election
Douglas Arellanes writes about the unlikely “first moves in the relaunch of the Unie Svobody (Freedom Union), the right of center party that is still in the governing coalition along with the Social Democrats and the Christian Democrats”: their posters, their slogans and their site, as well as potential problems...
DRC: Informal vs. Official World Order
UDPS Liege contrasts (FR) the official world order (UN and other international bodies) to the informal world order (multinational corporations and secret service agencies). According to the informal world order, the DRC is not a sovereign nation, continues the blogger.
Trinidad & Tobago: Opposition Leader sentenced
Caribbean Free Radio links to a newsflash from a Trinidad & Tobago daily stating that Basdeo Panday, the country's Opposition Leader has been found guilty of “deliberately failing to disclose a London bank account.” According to the news item, Mr. Panday “has to pay 1.5 million TT Dollars to the...
Brutal murder of Guyanese government minister sends shockwaves
“The news that the Guyanese Minister of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock, Satyadeow Sawh, was brutally gunned down at his home along with his brother, sister and bodyguard early Saturday morning is sending shockwaves around the Caribbean,” wrote Trinidadian blogger Jonathan Ali on April 23. Jonathan noted that “the Express article...
Lebanon: Iran Worse than Israel?
Iran appears as a greater threat to some Lebanese Sunnis than Israel. The reasoning behind this comes from both domestic and regional factors, however, it is couched in regional terms, Lebanon Profile said.
Armenia: Corruption & The Grassroots
Christian Garbis reports on blatant government corruption in Armenia and comments that the best way for Armenian citizens to combat it is to organize themselves politically rather than waiting for an opposition leader to appear and lead them.
Cayman Islands: Residency for sale?
“According to very unconfirmed sources, the Cayman Islands government may be looking into a way to sell permanent residency and/or status – this time above the table,” writes Cayblogger, who isn't happy about this at all.
Haitian Blogger Yon Ayisyen: “I'm No Revolutionary Hero”
Yon Ayisien (whose name means “A Haitian”) blogs at Ayisyen Sa Nap Regle? (“What's Up Haitians? ” in Creole) and might as well be renamed HaitiPundit. He is the only Haiti-based Haitian blogger who blogs about politics and his blogging wit and vision is surprising for a 25 year-old. Though...
Bangladesh Blog Buzz:
Shuvo Nobobarsho (Happy Bengali New Year) to everyone. Let us take a look into what the Bangladeshi blogs around the world are saying lately.
Election waste in Thailand
Zeerlhing in Thailand worries about the money being wasted in organising elections after elections in Thailand. Nevertheless, she is excited about getting the chance to vote. The second round of elections too faced boycott from the opposition parties. Several of the Thai Rak Thai party candidates ran unopposed but failed...
