Stories about War & Conflict from October, 2008
Nepal: Armed conflict continues
ABC – Voices Sans Borders reports from Nepal: “The role of some Madhesi leaders & intellectuals seems even more dubious who threaten of launching ‘another revolution’ while bargaining with the government for some key positions in the state machinery.”
Ukraine, U.S.: A View on Foreign Policy
Taras of Ukrainiana shared his view on the upcoming U.S. election in a comment posted on a Fox News blog, following Sarah Palin's recent mention of Ukraine at a rally in Nevada. Taras wrote: “You and I will be better off if you elect a president who will spare no...
Bosnia & Herzegovina: “Faceless Child Victim” From Srebrenica
Srebrenica Genocide Blog re-posts James Mason‘s photo and writes about Sead Bekric, who was 12 when he was blinded in an explosion in Srebrenica, which killed 62 children and wounded 152 others on April 11, 1993, in Srebrenica.
Colombia: Indigenous Protests and Murders Under Media Blackout
Indigenous groups in the Cauca region of Colombia have been marching and protesting their way to Cali, one of the countries larger cities. Accusations of government fire weapon usage against protesters have bloggers expectant of the outcome.
Palestine: Why are Palestinians Destined to be Occupied?
Palestinian Iman remarks: “Reading Zait o Za3tar’s comment kinda makes me wonder why some (i.e., Palestinians) were destined to be occupied, oppressed, humiliated …”
Nepal: The ignored IDPs
Rakesh Ranjan writes in Nepal in Peace that the IDPs (internally displaced people) in Nepal are ignored in the peace process. In his opinion, amnesties to armed combatants (such as Maoists) will ignore IDP rights for compensation and seeking justice for the crimes against them.
Sri Lanka: Upholding the law
The Under Dog writes in the Sri Lankan citizen journalism initiative Groundviews: It was the failure to uphold the law (in Sri Lanka) back in the late eighties that caused that period of terror, and has also caused the ethnic conflict that rages today.”
The Balkans: Roma Mass Graves Discovered
Romano Them re-posts a Reuters piece on the discovery of two mass graves containing the bodies of murdered Roma in Bosanski Dubočac, Bosnia & Herzegovina: “The order for the killings was issued by a number of Croatian Army generals, including Ante Prkačin, claims Nijaz Čaušević Medo, a former high ranking...
Russia, Georgia: Report Says Stan Storimans Was Killed by Cluster Bomb
From the Frontline links to a report on the findings of the Dutch government investigation into the death of a Dutch TV cameraman in Georgia in August; according to the report, Stan Storimans was killed by a Russian cluster bomb. “In May 2008, more than 100 countries agreed to ban...
Jordan: Who is Abdullah Al Barghouthi?
Jordanian Ola Eliwat asks: “Do you know who is Abdullah Al Barghouthi?” To find out click on the link.
Somalia: Piracy not something to be celebrated
Open sea piracy is discussed by different video bloggers who speak on the recent Somalian piracy incidents, and a behind the scenes look at how governments are protecting World Food Program cargo at sea.
Thailand/Cambodia: Conflict over Preah Vihear Temple (Part II)
Who owns the historic Preah Vihear Temple – Cambodia or Thailand? Both countries are asserting ownership rights over the temple which led to a border clash last week. Several soldiers were killed and wounded during the fighting. Both countries have since then agreed to talk. But the problem is far...
Sri Lanka: A Sinhala speaks
An alien’s thoughts about our planet posts some videos of the Sri Lankan expatriate human rights activist Dr. Brian Seneviratne's speech discussing the Sri Lankan government's war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Nepal: Integrating Guerrilla Army
ABC – Voices Sans Borders discusses about the recent controversy in Nepal on the proposed integration of Maoist & Madhesi guerrilla armies into the National Army.
Iraq: Once Upon a Time
Inside Iraq recalls the past: “Once upon time we were the cradle of civilizations. For many ages we were the rulers of empires […] Once upon time our identity was Iraqi, now it became sect or ethnicity. We were Iraqis once… and have a country.”
Pakistan: Tribal leaders targeted by militants
Chowrangi reports that tribal leaders are being targeted by militants in Pakistan: “They are aiming at the very infrastructure of the tribes…They kill tribal leaders and elders who are local agents of the government or related to the political agents in the agencies.”
Afghanistan: The Taliban are hard, we are soft
The Strategist contemplates on what makes the Afghan war unwinnable, and sees the reason in differences between the insurgents and Westerns soldiers.
Nagorno Karabakh: More on Mass Wedding
Pigh [RU] also comments on last week's mass wedding in the self-declared Republic of Nagorno Karabakh. The blog says that 537 couples were married in the disputed town of Shushi while 138 tied the knot in the Gandzasar monastery. Each couple received $2,500 from the godfather of the wedding, businessman...
Iraq: Abuse of Power
Inside Iraq draws our attention to the abuse of power in Iraq and how those with guns are in control. “The way those people who have guns behave makes me like many Iraqi civilians feel that Iraq became a wild jungle where survival is only for the strongest. This kind...
Nagorno Karabakh: Mass Wedding
517 Design [RU] posts photographs of a mass wedding which took place in the disputed mainly Armenian-populated territory of Nagorno Karabakh during which as many as 700 couples tied the knot. The blogger's English-language site also carries more information on the cash incentives ranging from $2,000-100,000 offered to the young...
Angola: On the sadness and happiness of being a returnee
Angola, 1975. The country had just become independent and the former Portuguese colonizers, as well as their families and many Angolan citizens, had to flee leaving everything they had behind. 30 years later, they blog the tale of being returnees and about the sadness and happiness this change in their fortunes brought them. See a video of the dramatic mass emigration.
