Stories about War & Conflict from December, 2007
Palestine: Donkeys for Transportation
“Gazans seem to be traveling back in time as major shortages in fuel and car parts restore the donkey to the most prevalent form of transportation…..” is a comment by Bea on Tony‘s blog.
Myanmar: Lessons From 2007 Burma Uprising
The Burma Review blog quotes from the editor of Burma Dialogue on the lessons from the uprising in Burma earlier this year.
Bahrain: Riot Police Burn House
Bahraini blogger Hayathoo (Ar) was at the heart of riots in Bahrain. This video shows youth being attacked by riot police, who also burned a house in the area.
Russia: “Espionage Obsessed State”
James of Robert Amsterdam's blog posts a translation of a Russian article on “the social reality of an espionage obsessed state.” The article's last line is: “Having lost vigilance, Russia may not only not notice the beginning of a new cold war, but may even fail to notice its transition...
Serbia: Kosovo Roma
TOL's Romantic writes about about Kosovo's Roma and a new blog about this minority group.
Environment: Conflict continues in DRC
The Gorilla Protection blog updates that “The armed conflict is still right next to the Gorillas – literally bullets are flying, army and rebel positions are constantly moving, and if there are any civilians left, they are fleeing.”
Armenia: Action Puts Bloggers In Media Spotlight
In countries such as Armenia where the mainstream broadcast media is firmly under the control of government-connected businessmen and/or officials, while the traditional print and online media largely reflects the opposition in the country, there is no doubt that blogs have an important role to play in the dissemination of...
Armenia: Another Blogger Outraged at Azerbaijan Event
Blogian weighs into the controversy that surrounded the opening of a Days of Azerbaijan funded by the British Embassy in Yerevan earlier this week. Supporting the action of those bloggers who protested the event in person, Simon says that such an event is unthinkable on the second anniversary of the...
Soviet History: The Red Terror
De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis writes about the history of Cheka and the Red Terror.
The Balkans: Fighting Genocide Deniers
Srebrenica Genocide Blog has two new posts up: on the atrocities of 1943, and on Darko Trifunovic, a “Srebrenica genocide denier” employed by the University of Belgrade's Faculty of Security Studies. In a comment, Alan Jakšić of Serbian Anarchist recommends that Daniel of Srebrenica Genocide Blog file a “formal complaint”...
The Balkans: A Blogroll, Sort Of
Balkan Anarchist posts a blogroll of sorts, listing all blogs (mostly Balkan, but not exclusively so) he has left comments at in 2007. Of special notice are Genocide in Bosnia, a blog by an exile from Srebrenica, and this discussion at Srebrenica Genocide Blog.
Bahrain: Bahraini Demonstrator ‘Killed’
Bahraini blogger emoodz writes (Ar) about the death of a Bahraini demonstrator in this post.
Arabeyes: Celebrating Eid Al Adha
Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid Al Adha - which commemorates Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his son Ismael for Allah (God). It also culminates the Hajj, an annual pilgrimage to Mecca, which has this year attracted more than 2 million people. Here's how bloggers from the region marked the occasion.
Cambodia: Monks Stopped From Petitioning
Bloggers outside and inside Cambodia are discussing the violent dispersal of monks who wanted to petition Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh for unfair detainment of a Cambodian monk and Vietnam's absorption of Cambodian territory in the past. Read on for background to the incident and links to the blogs talking about the issue.
Afghanistan: Taliban Call
Sanjar reports that Taliban leader Mullah Omar on Tuesday called on foreign forces to withdraw from Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: Taliban in 2007
Joshua Foust is discussing the most significant events of 2007 for Afghanistan, highlighting the entrenchment of the rise of the Taliban.
Russia: Putin on Modern Warfare
Vladimir Putin appears, sort of, on Modern Warfare video game, James of Robert Amsterdam's blog reports.
Russia: 1996 Attack on Red Cross in Chechnya
De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis writes about the 1996 murder of the International Committee of the Red Cross personnel in Chechnya.
Armenia: Protest Highlights Blogging
The Armenian Observer comments on yesterday's protest by four Armenian bloggers against a Days of Azerbaijan event hosted at a local school in Yerevan, the Armenian capital. The blog says the protest “brought massive media attention to the understanding of blogging […] as a form of civil activity in Armenia.”
Sri Lanka: Peace Process
transcurrents.com on the mistakes in peace making initiatives in Sri Lanka.
Afghanistan: Who's to Blame?
Barnett R. Rubin analyzes the change of tactics in dealing with NATO allies in Afghanistan, announced by Robert Gates, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, at a NATO meeting in Edinburgh.
