· December, 2009

Stories about War & Conflict from December, 2009

Russia: Yegor Gaidar, Russia's Economic Reformer, Dies at 53

RuNet Echo  19 December 2009

Yegor Gaidar, a Russian economist and politician who initiated the 1992 "shock therapy" reforms, died in Moscow on Dec. 16 at the age of 53. Russian bloggers' responses serve as a vivid reflection of how divided people still are on Gaidar's legacy and on the direction the country has taken since the demise of the Soviet Union.

Sri Lanka: Evidence Of War Crimes

  18 December 2009

A new debate on the war crime allegations against Sri Lankan army has surfaced as the former army chief and presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka had mentioned that he knew that unarmed people were shot dead, in cold blood, “pursuant to a premeditated decision by government leaders.” Kumar David at Groundviews...

Sri Lanka: Politics Of Boycotts

  17 December 2009

Devanesan Nesiah at Groundviews criticizes the suicidal Tamil politics, which is considering to boycott the coming elections in Sri Lanka. The blogger opines that participation in national politics is absolutely essential for the minority parties.

Pakistan: Soul Searching For 1971

  17 December 2009

Raza Rumi at All Things Pakistan remembers the end of the nine month long liberation war of Bangladesh (freedom of Bangladeshis) and the fall of East Pakistan on 16th of December, 1971. The blogger comments: “we, simply, are reluctant to learn from the fiasco of 1971.”

Iraq: An Iraqi Prayer

  15 December 2009

Writing at Mideast Youth, Iraqi Wamith Al-Kassab says: “After the last explosions in Baghdad on the 8th of December where two cars exploded in Baghdad and killed more than 127 person with about 330 wounded, I did not find any energy to write … I just posted the story on...

Guatemala: Stories and Artisan Crafts from The Ixil Triangle

  14 December 2009

Towns Santa María Nebaj, San Juan Cotzal and San Gaspar Chajul form the Ixil Triangle, located north of the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes. Because of its traditional hand-crafted clothing, the Chancol cheese, and its collection of myths and legends from the region, the place is one of the favorite destinations of hikers in Guatemala.

Pakistan: Fighting back the enemy within

  13 December 2009

Pakistani blogger Bilal Qureshi points out that the time has come for citizens to be realistic, to stop taking the traditional route of blaming India and collectively fight back the enemy within.