Stories about War & Conflict from August, 2012
Armenia: Ties With Hungary Severed Over Prisoner Row
Following Hungary's release of an Azerbaijani army officer convicted of murdering an Armenian soldier, Armenia has severed diplomatic ties with the Central European country.
Mali: Can Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb Be Stopped?
The solution to the Mali crisis seems to be vanishing as time goes by. It has been five months now that the country has been divided into two parts. Julie Owono explores the current situation in the Sahel region.
Colombia: Miners Flee from Killings and Attacks
In his blog “El que piensa gana”, [es] Juan Jose Hoyos talks about the precautions that miners, union leaders and others who oppose illegal mining or mining by multinational companies (like Gran Colombia Gold) are taking after murders and attacks against fellow miners in Antioquia. He adds that union leaders from...
Combatting Cocaine Production in Bolivia, Colombia and Peru
Drug production and trafficking is a major issue in Latin America that governments are constantly trying to deal with. However, as the continent leaders gathered last April in Colombia for the Summit of the Americas fully agreed, the so far US-led war on drugs has failed in the Region. Peru, Colombia and Bolivia are the three largest illegal cocaine producing countries in the world. What are these Andean Countries doing to combat illegal drugs?
Pakistan: Long Road to Peace and Security
As Pakistan enters its 66th year of Independence, it is a good time to take stock of the security situation within the country - in order to understand what role the nation will continue to play in the overall security and stability of the region.
Save Syria's Threatened Heritage Sites
Alongside the mounting death toll, a massacre is being perpetrated against Syria's heritage. Little is being said about this issue in both mainstream and social media, writes Thalia Rahme.
Lebanese Tourism Pays the Ultimate Price
Recent political upheavals in the region and kidnappings in Lebanon have made tourists, mainly Gulf nationals, flee the country. Lebanese and Gulf netizens react to the development.
Maritime Row with China Forces Philippines to Upgrade Defenses
The tension in the South China Sea has forced the Philippines to review its defense capabilities. In particular its maritime dispute with China boosted the demand to upgrade the country’s military forces. Is this good or bad for the stability of the region?
Colombian Government Plans Peace Talks with FARC
In the blog Crónicas, Santos García Zapata explains the context [es] around the Presidential decision to start peace talks with guerrilla groups. The Congress’ Peace Commission has declared that President Santos “is not alone” in his determination to reach peace.
East Timor: Return Trip of an Indonesian
Dalih Sembiring, an Indonesian journalist and travel blogger, wrote “Postcards from Dili“, on a trip he did to East Timor 16 years after he left the country. On his post he republishes an article he wrote for the Jakarta Globe “focusing on how [he] reacquainted with a special person in Bairro...
Russia's War Games Make Georgia Nervous
This September, Russia is planning to hold 'Caucasus-2012' with forces from the breakaway Georgian provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. With 8,000 troops, as well as heavy machinery, artillery, navy, and air force, this will be Russia’s largest exercise this year. Is this too close for comfort for Georgians?
Colombia: Former General Santoyo Admits Ties to Paramilitary Group
Retired general Mauricio Santoyo, former chief of security under ex-president Álvaro Uribe, pled guilty to having helped the paramilitary organization United Self-Defense of Colombia (AUC in Spanish). His confession has created a political scandal in Colombia.
France: An Epic Flight from Paris to Beirut – via Damascus
An Air France flight from Paris to Beirut on August 15, turned into a 20-hour nightmare for its passengers, including the French Ambassador to Lebanon. After diverting to Damascus, Syria, for fuel and security reasons, the crew then had to ask around for money to pay for the kerosene after their credit card was refused.
Syria: You are an Embarrassment to the Revolution
There are seven tell-tale signs for those who are "an embarrassment to the revolution" - any revolution. On Twitter, Syrian @NMSyria lists those signs.
Togo: 11 Missing After Clashes Between Police and Protesters
Koaci writes that 11 protesters are reported missing [fr] after the police clashed with thousands of protesters on the streets of Lomé on August 23: Police forces have used violence so far but they were quickly overwhelmed. For the first time, the whole city was filled with protesters.
Colombia: President and Indigenous Leaders Meet to Discuss Cauca Conflict
President Juan Manuel Santos met with the indigenous people of the Cauca to hear their grievances and to talk about the ongoing conflict in this department. Thousands of indigenous people came from several regions of the country with the intention of speaking with the President and to push an initiative of peace. The meeting ended without having reached substantial agreements.
Lebanon: It's Back to Kidnapping Time
A wave of kidnappings is taking place between Lebanon and Syria. While the Lebanese government seems incapable of acting, these events are reminding Lebanese of the civil war they lived with for 30 years. Netizens are angry and are blaming all parties.
India: Social Media Blamed for Fueling Assam Unrest
'A temporary ban was put on bulk SMS and MMS. Local police swung into action and began arresting people forwarding ‘hate' SMS examples. Social media sites were warned to monitor and remove inflammatory content. About 310 webpages were blocked.'
Syria: Give the Nobel Peace Prize to the Syrian People
Syrian netizens have a dream – that the Syrian people would be awarded the Nobel peace prize this year. They even have a dedicated website to push the cause, with information in Arabic, English, French, Spanish and Italian.
Arab World: Scenes of Eid from Syria, Palestine and Bahrain
Eid Al Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim month of fasting - Ramadan, was commemorated with three days of celebrations across the Arab world, or so goes the tradition. Instead, celebrations were muted as Syria buried its dead and Bahrain laid to rest a 16-year-old teenager killed by police.
Tajikistan: Troops Open Fire on Protesters in Volatile Province
"What kind of an idiot could kill the person at a moment when even a minor altercation may lead to a new civil war in Tajikistan?" The protest began after a former opposition commander was killed in his home this morning.
