Stories about War & Conflict from October, 2008
D.R. of Congo: Blogging From the War Zone
The following are eye-witness accounts from bloggers based in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo about the situation in the area following fresh clashes between rebels, government and UN forces.
D.R. Congo: Confusion Reigns in Goma
Two months ago fighting resumed in the DR Congo's Eastern province of North Kivu between the rebel group led by Laurent Nkunda and government forces, in violation of a peace accord signed in January. The fighting has intensified during the last 6 days and, although a cease-fire was announced, the situation remains uncertain in Goma. Here are a few impressions from bloggers on the ground.
India: Assam blasts
India's troubled north-eastern Assam state was rocked by a series of coordinated blasts today. Praful reports that 60 people were killed and more than 200 injured. “Although ULFA’s involvement in the serial blasts in Assam is suspected, the intelligence sources believe that Bangladesh-based HuJI could be behind the blasts,” opines...
Trinidad & Tobago, U.S.A.: Eye on the Prize
“Let’s compare politics with sports. You’re in the home stretch. A smart athlete – a well-trained one – would keep his eyes on the prize and concentrate on running his own race. But what is McCain doing? Looking over at the other lane, more concerned about the competition than he...
China: Uyghurs Speak Out on Hotel Restrictions
The New Dominion follows up the hotel restrictions against Uyghurs in Beijing by collecting more Uyghur thoughts over the issue.
D.R. of Congo: Ranger rescue operation a success
A moving account of a rescue operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo: “The rescue operation yesterday was a success in that we were able to rescue the 12 Rangers with whom we had made contact. Eddy and I rode the motorbike about 15km north of Goma and then walked...
D.R. of Congo: It is total chaos in Goma
Samantha writes about the latest fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo: “It’s total chaos in Goma. I am being told, through various phone calls and text messages, that the army have now laid down their weapons at Kibumba, 12 miles north of Goma, and are fleeing the rebels. In...
India: Mangalore violence
“It has been over a month since the riots in Mangalore but the anger has not gone away,” writes Apurva Mathad at Kafila after visiting a Monastery which was attacked in retaliation to the allegation of forced conversions. Madhat posts some pictures in his blog.
Sudan: Humanitarian Access in Darfur
Jacky discusses humanitarian access in Darfur, Sudan: “Media reports this week cite growing concern over ‘denial of humanitarian access’ in Darfur. Although such denial certainly exists, many of the actors being denied – in the form of travel bans, visa refusals, car-jacking, etc – are not strict ‘humanitarians,’ but a...
China: No Uyghurs in our Hotel
The new dominion blogs about the systematic discrimination against Uyghurs in China, such as denied access to inns or hotels.
Thailand: Dispute over Preah Vihear Temple
Thai Girl has photos of Preah Vihear temple and a discussion of the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.
Western Sahara: Educational Success
Western Sahara Echo remarks upon the success of the educational system in Western Sahara,
India: Shooting inside a bus
Hindustaniat reports that a young man from the Indian state Bihar was involved in a shootout in a moving bus in Mumbai after he threatened to kill the MNS leader Raj Thackeray with his pistol. The incident ended when he was shot by the Police. Yardloo has photos and videos...
Armenia: Madrid Principles
Unzipped posts details of the “Madrid Principles,” a proposed framework for future resolution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. The post also compares the principles with that believed to have been agreed in the late 1990s.
Lebanon: Saturday Security Briefs
Blacksmiths of Lebanon updates us on the security situation in Lebanon in this post entitled Saturday Security Briefs.
Palestine: Nahr el-Bared Update
It's been a year since the first Palestinian refugees were allowed to return to the Nahr al-Bared camp in Lebanon. Palestinian Haitham Sabbah has an update and videos in this post.
Peru: New Terrorist Attack by Shining Path Guerrillas
Silvio Rendón of Lapicero Digital [es] writes about the recent attack by Shining Path guerrillas against a military group in Vizcatán in the department of Huancavelica department that left 15 dead.
Japan: You call that “art”?
Blogger aiki_tachibana, in a post entitled “Don't call that ‘art'!” [ja], reacts to news about a controversial art performance in Hiroshima on Oct. 21st. According to reports [ja], a group of artists calling themselves “Chim←Pom” (チン←ポム) chartered a plane to fly through the sky and draw in smoke the characters...
Palestine: No security
In Gaza, Sameh Habeeb talks to a young girl who witnessed her father and brothers being beaten by Israeli soldiers: “In all cultures the father of the family represents safety and security to the family. The Israeli soldiers routinely rob Palestinian fathers of their role.”
Iraq: Assassination for All Iraqi Interpreters!!!
This is the view that Iraqi Interpreter took of a decision made by the commander of the Multinational Forces in Iraq. Under a new rule, Iraqis who work alongside American soldiers as interpreters are to be required to not cover their face while they take part in operations with the US military.
Sri Lanka: Debate on Peace and Conflict
“The events that surround the history of the Sri Lankan conflict, their impact and interaction with other events are still highly contentious.” The Peace and Conflict Timeline (PACT) project helps to gain a deeper understanding of the conflict's roots and promote discussions and debates on the issue, according to their...
