Stories about War & Conflict from May, 2014
“I Can Feel Total Censorship in the Air”: Internet Freedom Evaporates in Thailand
"Freedom of expression is Thailand is at stake...Simply criticising the Council could land one before a military court."
Rwanda: The Good, the Bad and the Hopeful
Although Rwanda has made great strides in recovering from the 1994 genocide, advocacy groups continue to report human rights violations.
Colombia: Voting for War or Peace
Journalist Natalia Bonilla writes [es] on Ser Cosmopolita about Colombia presidential election on Sunday, May 25, with a result that has raised a dilemma for Colombians: Oscar Zuluaga and Juan Manuel Santos, won yesterday the first round with 29% and 26% of the votes, respectively. However, the victory for one...
Thai Coup Selfies: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
There is reason to be less worried as long as we see Thai coup selfies on our timelines. Coup selfies provided the latest information about the political situation in Thailand.
Ukraine War in Real Time
Last Friday Ukrainian violence became even more viscerally evident on the Facebook account of one of the cyber-punk, post-state, viral-citizen-armies operating in the region.
Should the Family and Friends of Terrorists in China Be Punished Too?
Some Chinese are calling for the use of “lianzuo”, a form of collective punishment, for acts of terrorism in the wake of the latest attack that left 39 people dead.
Syrian Dark Humor and the Elections
It is no surprise to see Bashar al-Assad nominate himself for the Syrian presidency in the upcoming elections on June 3. Syria Untold checks out what cartoonists have to say.
Apocalyptic Scenes in Andranondambo, Madagascar as Villages Fight Over Land
L'Express Mada reports that the entire village of Andranondambo in the South of Madagascar was destroyed [fr] during an inter-village conflict that stems from a dispute over land rights. The civilian conflict, which lasted from May 20 to 22, left no residents of the village alive. One of the military police...
Russia's Hashtag Activism in Ukraine
Russian activists are capitalizing on #BringBackOurGirls by framing in analogous terms Ukraine's capture of two Russian journalists, hoping for a similar groundswell of awareness and public outrage.
These Egyptians Say No to Mandatory Military Service
On May 15, a group of Egyptian young men and women started an online campaign against military service. Find out why.
Russian Special Forces Blogger Throws in the Towel
The anonymous LiveJournal blog hardingush, run by a member of Russia's Ministry of the Interior special forces operating in Ingushetia, is now closed.
The First Five Hours of Thailand’s 12th Coup
For the 12th time in the past century, the Royal Thai Army has launched another coup in Thailand in a bid to end violence and political conflict in the country.
Cameroon's President Blames Boko Haram for Attacking While Soldiers Are Asleep
On the eve of the Paris summit for security in Nigeria, the Nigerian militant group Boko Haram crossed over into Cameroon despite the heavy presence of security forces.
Escape from Ukraine, or Return of the Tomato Terrorist
After coming in contact with separatists, Morozov was arrested and accused of being a spy: "I don't hold it against the militia who tortured me in Antracite" he later wrote.
In Eastern Ukraine Conspiracies Believe in You
Several Russian journalists made connections between Eastern Ukraine separatist leaders and Russian billionaire Konstantin Malofeev.
Video on Murder and Corruption in Trinidad Goes Viral
Vice News produces a damning video about the level of corruption in Trinidad and Tobago, alleging that high-level players involved in international drug trafficking are driving the country's gang wars.
Only in Thailand: Coup Without a Coup
The Thai army declared martial law across Thailand to solve the country's political crisis but it insisted that there was no coup.
The Courageous Career of Slain French Photojournalist Camille Lepage
Camille Lepage was killed while covering the conflict in the Central African Republic. As a journalist, she was determined to cover stories in Africa often ignored by western media.
Anti-China Protests Spread in Vietnam Over Oil Rig Dispute
Workers burned factories, rallies erupted across the country, and traders vowed not to sell Chinese goods after China installed an oil rig ‘inside’ the territorial waters of Vietnam.
China's Social Web Late to Vietnam Dispute Thanks to Censors
Even after Chinese companies in Vietnam were attacked by Vietnamese protesters, propaganda authorities continued sending instructions to local media forbidding them to report on the news.
