· June, 2012

Stories about War & Conflict from June, 2012

Tajikistan: Is There ‘National Unity’ in the Country?

As Tajikistan marks an anniversary of peace accords that put an end to the civil war and brought about ‘national unity’ in the country, blogger Ilhom writes [tj] about his recollections of the war. Another blogger, Jovid Muqim, suggests [tj] that there can be no ‘national unity’ in the country where...

Korean ‘Comfort Women’ Photo Exhibit Sabotaged in Japan

  27 June 2012

A South Korean photographer explains his ordeal in holding an exhibition in Japan that documents aging 'Comfort Women', the term used for Koreans drafted as sex slaves by the Japanese during World War II. Many South Koreans and fans of the photographer online, accused Japanese extremist right-wing groups of refusing to admit their war crimes and attempting to sabotage the art exhibition.

Africa: Celebrating Humanity through Photos and Videos

An article highlighting 21 pictures that will restore your humanity recently went viral. Unfortunately, Africans and Africa were absent from all of them. Yet, there is no shortage of great testimonies of human spirit from the African continent. Here are a few photos and videos that show, 'Africa's got Heart' too.

Russia: The War Over World War II

Last Friday, NTV broadcast a controversial film titled, "I Serve the Soviet Union," a film about political prisoners fighting the Nazis only to be murdered by Soviet secret police. The screening lead to a scandal that involved patriotic bloggers, the Minister of Culture, and others. Kevin Rothrock reports.

Lebanon: Protesting Shalala's Honorary Degree

Rami reported and posted a video of demonstrators who disrupted the Master’s graduation ceremony at the American University of Beirut to protest against awarding an honorary degree to Donna Shalala. The demonstrators protested Shalala's support for engagement with Israel.

El Salvador: Has the gang truce worked?

  22 June 2012

Mike from Central American Politics looks at the results of the first 100 days of the “peace treaty” between the MS-13 and 18th Street gangs: “As a result of the truce, the country's homicide rate has dropped from approximately 13 per day down to around five. At the same time,...

Nagorno Karabakh: Opposition Presidential Candidate Interviewed

CivilNet posts a video interview with Vitali Balasanyan [AM/EN], a former military commander and candidate running against the incumbent and defacto president of the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh in an election scheduled for 19 July. Although the vote is not recognized by the international community as legitimate, in another...

Paraguay: Land Dispute Leaves Several Dead and Injured

  19 June 2012

Bloggings by boz highlights several key issues related to a land dispute which increased in violence on Friday, June 15, when “a shootout between police and campesinos occupying land near the border with Brazil led to about 17 deaths and several dozen wounded.”

Hong Kong, China: Military Vehicles Entered the City

  19 June 2012

Dictionary of Politically Incorrect Hong Kong Cantonese posted photos and video taken by netizens on the night of June 15th, showing military vehicles of the People Liberation Army running on the busy city streets. Many believe that this is a move to scare people away from July 1st demonstration.

Togo: Protests for Human Rights Repressed with Violence

  18 June 2012

The Association “Collectif Sauvons le Togo (Save Togo) ” published images and videos  of violence following marching protests [fr] for Human Rights and Democracy in Lome, Capital City of Togo on June 12 and 13. Hundred of protesters were injured [fr] and dozens were arrested [fr].

South Korea: Fight Continues over Jeju Naval Base Construction

  16 June 2012

GangJeong, a small rural town in the Jeju island has made headlines for several months with intense conflict going on between the government forging ahead with its construction plan and environmentalists and rights groups struggling to protect the natural resources. A net user posted an English subtitle (not embedded) for...

Understanding the Violence in Western Myanmar

  16 June 2012

Dozens dead, more than two thousand houses burned down, and thirty thousand residents have been displaced by the communal violence in Rakhine State, west of Myanmar. Who are responsible for these deaths? How was the internet used to spread hate and racism? What are the views of ordinary citizens on this very complicated issue?

Guatemala: Anti-Mining Activist Shot

  15 June 2012

The blog Guatemala Solidarity Network and James Rodriguez from Mi Mundo report on the attempted murder of anti-mining activist Yolanda “Yoli” Oquely Veliz. The Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA condemns the shooting and invites citizens to sign a petition “to call on the Guatemalan Government to investigate this crime and prosecute...