Stories about Protest from January, 2009
Colombia: Against Bullfighting in Medellín
Andreata of Jovenes Pensantes [es] thinks that more people should protest the annual bullfighting festival in Medellín, Colombia since it is “another death celebrated by many insensitive persons and executed by those.. bullfighters.“
Latvia: Politics Updates
Two updates on the post-Jan. 13 politics in Latvia – at Baltic, here and here: “Whoever you speak today in this Baltic country recognizes that discontent about the present political class is simply unbearable.” All About Latvia adds: “If Latvia were a civilized country, the government would have long collapsed...
Bulgaria: Martin Borilski Petition
Maya's Corner writes about an online petition to “[demand] just sentences for the culprits and punishments for prosecutors and judges responsible for the outrageous acquittal” of two Bulgarians implicated in the murder of Martin Borilski, a Bulgarian student, in Paris in 2000.
Madagascar: “History repeats itself…as a farce” in recent unrest
On blogs and forums, reflections on the sources of the current unrest and the history of Madagascar's turbulent democracy.
Peru: Police Officers Killed in Pómac Forest Reserve
Three police officers, who were following a court order, were killed when they attempted to remove peasant families that had been illegally occupying lands in the Pómac Forest Reserve in Northwest Peru. Many Peruvians are mourning the loss of the 3 officers and are placing blame on officials for not providing enough resources and support for the security force. Others are providing their thoughts on those who are occupying the lands and their objectives for doing so.
Madagascar: Negotiations canceled as unrest spreads
There was a slight hope of a rapid resolution in the currently undergoing social unrest in Madagascar. Leaders of both government and opposition announced a meeting would be held yesterday. That meeting was canceled after both parties failed to agree on preliminary conditions. In the meantime, lootings are still ongoing...
Armenia: Voting Rights
As the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) gathers to consider the possibility of withdrawing Armenia's voting rights in connection with the arrest of opposition supporters and unfulfilled resolutions against the country following last year's presidential election, The Armenian Observer comments on news reports that sanctions will most...
Russia: Finno-Ugric Dimension of Gas Dispute
Window on Eurasia writes about the Finno-Ugric dimension of the Russian-Ukrainian gas dispute.
Russia: Pro-Government Rallies
Window on Eurasia writes about “Moscow’s plan to organize pro-government demonstrations.”
Russia: More on Markelov and Baburova
More on the killings of Markelov and Baburova – at Sean's Russia Blog.
Russia: “Creeping Police State or Looming Anarchy”
RFE/RL's The Power Vertical writes that “[r]ecent commentary on Russia has tacked back-and-forth between these two apparently contradictory narratives — the creeping police state vs. looming anarchy.”
Poland: Katarzyna Hejna on Feminism
Katarzyna Hejna talks about feminism in Poland – at Polandian.
Latvia: Riga Riots Followup
A followup on the Riga riots: Free Speech Emergency in Latvia reports on “an informal movement of non-violent resistance, called The Penguins (Pingvini).”
Estonia: A Different Path
Giustino of Itching for Eestimaa writes that “most international English-language news coverage of the recent riots in Latvia and Lithuania has shocked me by the lack of basic knowledge about Estonia”: “There is a general meme descending in the pages of usually reliable media that the economic crisis is going...
Estonia: Blogger's Response to Edward Lucas
AnTyx responds to the Economist's Edward Lucas: “So why does he, or anyone, seriously think that the economic crisis will be a test of Estonia's national spirit? We may become disillusioned with Europe – although on any significant scale, that's highly unlikely – but why would we become disillusioned with...
Bulgaria: School Access for Disabled Kids
Maya's Corner translates excerpts from Mogilino, a Bulgarian-language blog, on how the “Bulgarian authorities deprive disabled children of education.”
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Support for Florence Hartmann
Amila Bosnae writes about the case of Florence Hartmann, journalist and former spokeswoman for Carla del Ponte, who published a book about the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) called “Peace and Punishment” (”Paix et chatiment: Les guerres secretes de la politique et de la justice internationales”, Flammarion,...
Madagascar: Looting scenes on video as uncertainty prevails
A youtube video of a looting scene at a major shopping center in Antanarivo was posted by c17dabossbaby. Many bloggers are wondering why the police forces are seemingly absent during this time of unrest (video) and speculate that the president may be temporarily located in Mahajanga (not overseas as initially...
Madagascar: More reports President Ravalomanana has fled
Several bloggers and a Malgasy media website report that President Ravalomanana has fled the country. Still others say the rumors of Ravalomanana's departure are false.
Live Tweeting Madagascar: Antananarivo on fire, rumors of president fleeing
Citizens in Madagascar, twittering via internet and SMS, report that several buildings in Antananarivo, the capital, are burning and the President has left the country following days of protests.
Cambodia: Demolition of Dey Krahorm Community
A community in Phnom Penh was demolished last Saturday. Aside from the violence, the demolition attracted attention because it was “one of the biggest urban redevelopment stories in the capital over the last decade.” But city officials denied the action was an eviction.
