Stories about War & Conflict from January, 2010
Azerbaijan: Baku pogroms
The Armenian Observer comments on the twentieth anniversary of the pogrom of Armenians in Baku at the beginning of the conflict with Armenia over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. Between 48 and 66 people were killed as a result of the bloody ethnic tensions which would later erupt into...
Sri Lanka: Journalist Fell Prey To Election Violence
Committee To Protect Journalists reports that in an election campaign related violence BBC’s Sinhala service reporter Thakshila Dilrukshi was hospitalized after a political mob attacked her while she was on duty.
Madagascar: New Threats to Protestant Church and Free Speech
The beginning of the year in Madagascar has been marked with yet more protests where protesters have been fired upon and the harassment of those perceived as close to the former regime of Marc Ravalomanana, including several journalists and the protestant Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar.
Sri Lanka: Election Violence
Centre for Monitoring Election Violence posts a video interview which discusses the news that supporters of Presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka were attacked resulting death of one person and many were injured.
Pakistan: Battling for Hearts and Minds
Kalsoom at CHUP -Changing Up Pakistan discusses the strategy of the Pakistani security forces who are battling for hearts and minds “with a campaign that vilifies the enemy and sways potential Taliban sympathizers.”
Jordan: One Year After Gaza
Jordanian blogger Ali Dahmash dedicates this post to Gaza and asks: “But what did Israel achieve after a year of the war?”
Iraq: Baathist Plans
Iraq Pundit remarks: “Just because Iraqis are scared, it doesn't mean the Baathists aren't out to get us.”
Iraq: An Iraqi Prayer
At Mideast Youth, Iraqi blogger Wamith Al-Kassab offers an Iraqi prayer: “So maybe one day someone up there in the heaven above decides that the Iraqi people need a break from corruption, sectarian violence and ignorance and could use some human rights, freedom and peace.”
Guinea: ICC Deputy Prosecutor to visit Guinea
“Fatou Bensouda, the Deputy Prosecutor is in Guinea on the 19th of January. The invitation was extended by the Guinean authorities according to a statement by special advisor to the prosecutor Beatrice Le Fraper,” reads a press release at Konakry Express blog.
Togo Disqualified from African Cup Following Deadly Attack
Togo's national football team has been formally disqualified from the African Cup of Nations following Friday's deadly attack on the team's convoy in Cabinda, a region of Angola long troubled by separatist violence. With plenty of criticism for the Angolan government and African football officials, Togolese bloggers ask hard questions about the tragedy.
Sri Lanka: Tamil journalist J.S. Tissainayagam Released On Bail
Groundviews reports that: “Tamil journalist J.S. Tissainayagam was enlarged on bail today pending the appeal of his conviction under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. “
Avatar: For or Against Indigenous Rights?
Bloggers worldwide are discussing the themes in the wildly successful film Avatar by James Cameron. Is it racist in its depiction of an extra-terrestrial indigenous tribe?
Egypt: Galloway is a persona non grata
Zeinobia writes about the new official news that British MP George Galloway has been declared persona non grata in Egypt – on the background of the Free Gaza March last week. He has been deported from the country and blacklisted in the official and some of the unofficial media too.
Caucasus: New media bringing people together
Julien Frisch Watching Europe comments on a recent attempt to use new and social media to overcome negative stereotypes in the South Caucasus. The blog details how online services such as Twitter meant he discovered the project, but also asks when will the traditional media also cover such stories.
The Year that Was in Madagascar : Part III
Mialy reviews the final weeks of 2009 in Madagascar in the last of a three-part series.
Azerbaijan: Chess victory
Thoughts on the Road says that while there might be a military stalemate between Armenia and Azerbaijan still locked into a state of war over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh, chess teams from the two countries this week met to compete against each other in the World Chess Championship...
Caucasus: Unity in Diversity
With three unresolved conflicts and a local media that often self-censors, blogs comment on an online project hoping to break stereotypes by reporting on examples of ethnic groups otherwise in conflict in the South Caucasus co-existing peacefully together.
Colombia: FARC's controversial online presence
Although most of the reactions visible on twitter to a trailer for a documentary made to support the FARC armed forces of Colombia in international venues were skeptical, the existence of dozens of online videos supporting the FARC makes it look like the support or rejection of these so called terrorist groups is not a black or white issue.
South Asia: Looking Back At 2009 (Part 2)
This is the second part of our retrospection of some of the major events, which took place in 2009 in the South Asian countries, seen through the eyes of the citizen journalists.
Philippines: Remembering the Maguindanao Massacre
Bloggers share their thoughts one month after the massacre of more than 60 men and women in Maguindanao, Philippines. The suspects in this gruesome crime belong to a warlord clan formerly allied with the incumbent president.
Turkey: DTP party ban triggers mass protests over Turkish Kurdistan
The Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) was shut down by the Constitutional Court of Turkey, unanimously, sparking mass protests. Raphael Tsavkko Garcia takes a closer look at Kurdish blogs for reactions.
