Stories about Politics from March, 2008
Pakistan: On Dictatorship
All Things Pakistan on the idea of democracies that don't quite live up to their promise, and the alternative – a dictatorship.
Zimbabwe: Using Google Maps to show election rigging
Sokwanele uses Google Map to show election rigging in Zimbabwe: “The interactive map aims to give a visual impression of the scale and many ways in which the Zimbabwean government has breached the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.”
Nigeria: Website for Obama
David Ajao's comments about the launching of a website for Obama in Nigeria: I regularly glance through the leading Nigerian Internet-based discussion forum Nairaland, to keep an eye on the current trends in Nigeria. Knowing the typical lack of a sense of priority of some Nigerian leaders, I wasn’t very...
Barbados: Archaic Laws
Barbados Free Press has heard of a woman “who was recently raped by her estranged husband – and our police say they are unable to lay charges because our laws are reflect a time when wives were owned by their husbands.”
Kenya Back to Normal
Residents of Nairobi, who were adversaries and concerned about their ethnic background, are now united in attacking the local government minister for changing the public transport routes and forcing people to walk long distances. The ethnic hatred seems to have been pushed aside and now people are pushing a common agenda and pursuing economic survival. Online discussions also reflect the diversity, bloggers are concerned about the Initial Public Offer (IPO) of East Africa's largest and most successful Mobile phone company- Safaricom.
Kazakhstan: Former Presidential Son-in-Law Named Plotter
Zhanna Zhukova reports on the outcome of the second trial in absentia over presidential foremer son-in-law and key figure in the Kazakhstani establishment Rakhat Aliev. He was earlier sentenced for creation of a mafia gang and abduction of people. Now he is found guilty of plotting a coup.
Russia: Russians/Americans “are NOT stupid”
Finally, a Russian answer (RUS) to the famous/infamous “Americans are NOT stupid” video (via LJ user maliar, RUS).
Russia: Myths
Da Russophile presents “the Top 10 Russophobe Myths, in opposition to La Russophobe‘s Top 10 Russophile Myths.”
Kosovo, Serbia: Frontline Club Debate Video
From the Frontline posts a video of the recent Frontline Club debate on Kosovo independence.
Kosovo, Serbia: Reactions to Del Ponte's Organ Smuggling Story
Douglas Muir at A Fistful of Euros examines former Hague Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte's story on organ smuggling in Kosovo and links to the readers’ reactions at B92 site.
Russia: Blogging Kozlovsky
Grigory Pasko, over at Robert Amsterdam's blog, writes about the newest ordeal of Oborona leader Oleg Kozlovsky. Kozlovsky (LJ user welgar) reprints the text on his new English-language blog. Also, Kozlovsky has announced (RUS) the launch of his English-language column at Robert Amsterdam's blog.
Macao: Do politicians believe in the future of the country?
Leocardo [pt] about the future of Macao and its present day politicians: “Can we believe in these “part-time” politicians who use an electoral system which is not even democratic to be elected, and then go to the Assembly to get on with their pet lives and business? Whose children study...
Armenia: More Opposition Activists Detained
The Armenian Observer reports that more than a dozen pro-opposition activists, including at least one from the Sksela youth movement have been detained after staging demonstrations on Yerevan's Northern Avenue.
Cuba: Blocking Bloggers
Want to get the Cuban blogosphere talking? Block access to a popular blog. Ever since Cuban authorities did just that to several less-than-supportive Havana-based blogs earlier this week, the blogging diaspora have come out in full support of Cuban bloggers – especially Yoani Sanchez and her popular Generacion Y blog,...
Taiwan: English Bloggers on Presidential Election
David on Formosa collected English bloggers’ thoughts on Taiwan's Presidential Election that just finished on March 22. “Frank Hsieh has announced that he will resign as DPP chairman. Expect some major personnel changes in the DPP in the next few months. The next key things to watch for are whether...
Egypt: Call for General Strike
“A coalition of opposition groups—including the suspended Labor Party, Kifaya, the banned Muslim Brotherhood, the unlicensed Karama (Dignity) Party, the unlicensed Centrist Party, the workers of Mahalla, the Lawyers’ Syndicate, the Movement of University Professors, and others—is calling for a general strike on April 6, two days before the local...
Bahrain: Frustrated Hitch Hiker
Bahraini blogger emoodz discusses a talk he had with a frustrated hitch hiker in this post.
Haiti: The Terror of Globalisation?
“All the fake, elegant-suited blather about bringing democracy and prosperity to Haiti has boiled down to murderous military occupation…while starving people survive by eating cakes made of dirt”: Toni Solo writes a detailed editorial of the situation at HaitiAnalysis.com.
Barbados, USA: Black President?
“Many Barbadians are in awe that a Black man in the year 2008 could be challenging for the presidency,” says Barbados Underground.
Bermuda: Retribution?
As the government pulls its advertising dollars from local newspapers, supposedly for reasons of retribution, Vexed Bermoothes asks: “Is this about governing or controlling Bermuda?”
26th March – Bangladesh celebrates the Declaration of Independence
As Bangladesh celebrates its Independence Day on 26th March, the Bangla blogosphere is inundated with posts reliving the horrific Operation Searchlight that was launched by the Pakistan Army on 25th March 1971, in a desperate attempt to stamp out the Bengali Nationalist movement. Abul Bahar brings to life that fateful...