Stories about War & Conflict from February, 2009
Afghanistan: ANSF to the Rescue
Joshua Foust notes that during the Wednesday suicide bombers attack in Kabul, most of the terrorists were stopped by the Afghan police were able to put an end to the attacks fairly quickly.
Cambodia: Reactions as Duch opens Khmer Rouge Tribunal
Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch, stands trial today at the UN-supported Khmer Rouge Genocide Tribunal in Phnom Penh for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Duch headed the infamous Tuol Sleng prison in Phnom Penh, where over 12,000 people died, according to the Guardian. KI-Media leads with a story...
Former Soviet Union: The Legacy of Afghanistan
Window on Eurasia writes that across the former Soviet Union, “a debate is raging between those who believe the Soviet intervention [in Afghanistan] led to the demise of the Soviet Union and those who are convinced that the decision to withdraw [20 years ago] had precisely that effect.”
Iraq: Hospital Care Improving
Alive in Baghdad reports that hospital care is improving slowly, in this video post.
Lebanon: Students make banner of peace for Gaza
Students in Lebanon pose with their banner of peace, a denunciation of the conflict in Gaza.
MENA: Is the BBC Impartial in its Refusal to Air the Gaza Appeal?
Long respected as a beacon of free speech, bloggers across the Arab world and beyond have been left questioning BBC's integrity after its refusal to air an appeal for the victims of the latest Israeli war on Gaza.
Colombia: The Awá Indigenous Community Caught in the Middle
The ongoing conflict deep within the Colombian jungle between the FARC, ELN and the Colombian Armed Forces often finds people caught in the middle. Authorities are investigating the killing of dozens of members of the Awá indigenous community, and are blaming the FARC guerrillas for the crime. Many say that the Awá have been targeted because of the suspicion that they are acting as informants, something which the government denies. Nevertheless, this indigenous group is now being displaced from their land because of the violence.
Armenia: Obama and the Genocide
Onnik Krikorian in Armenia wonders whether U.S. President Barack Obama will fulfill his campaign promise to recognize the 1915 massacre and deportation of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire as genocide. While many believe that he will, the blog examines the risk in doing so of damaging efforts to normalize...
Japan: Jerusalem Prize to writer Haruki Murakami
Mojimoji praises [jp] a speech given by writer Haruki Murakami (村上春樹), who received the Jerusalem Prize for the Freedom of the Individual in Society on Sunday Feb. 15th. The blogger also remarks on how, in his opinion, Japanese media intentionally avoided giving weight to Murakami's words, which should be read...
Armenia-Azerbaijan: High-profile assassinations
On 3 February, less than a month before the first anniversary of post-election violence in Yerevan, an Armenian Deputy Police Chief was gunned down. Eight days later, and five weeks before a constitutional referendum to eliminate presidential term limits, the head of the Azerbaijani Air Force was killed. Bloggers naturally wondered who was behind both assassinations.
Sri Lanka: Appreciating Opposing Views
Serendipity hopes that the positive contribution of the Sri Lankan bloggers appreciating opposing views will bring harmony in a divided community.
Israel/Arab World: Reflections on Waltz with Bashir
Rantings of an Arab Chick posts a trailer from Waltz with Bashir by Israeli Ari Folman about his experiences during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. “I think this is a film I'll want to see… And not see,” she notes.
Palestine: Gaza foreign reporters reflect on war
From Palestine, Body on the Line shares those videos featuring Al Jazeera's Sherene Tadros and Ayman Mohyeldin reflecting on their role as the only foreign-based journalists in Gaza during Israel’s attack.
India: Religions and Fundamentalists
M.J. Akbar makes a point that all religions are not same, but fundamentalists are.
Ukraine: History of Anarchism
Der Spiegelfechter writes about [GER] anarchism in Ukraine during the Russian 1917-21 civil war.
Madagascar: Rumors terrorize Antananarivo
Truth and freedom of speech and opinion seem to be victims of the political crisis that is now crippling Madagascar. Threats are being made and rumors being spread, all contributing to a climate of terror that prohibits peace and normal life. Jentilisa, a blogger who has not given his support...
Sri Lanka: Tamil Politics
Dayan Jayatilleka at Groundviews discusses the future of Tamil politics: “Tamil political discourse has to rediscover the heritage of Tamil progressivism.”
Afghanistan: Newfound Popularity in the US
Patrick Frost notes how much the US media is now concentrating on the war in Afghanistan as the war in Iraq is dropping further and further onto the back pages.
Sudan: Video Declarations on Darfur Genocide by the Perpetrators
A video recently released by Aegis Trust shows the testimony of four men who state they actively participated in the violence and massacres on Darfur, and who are not afraid to call it genocide. The video was uploaded on The Hub and it is hoped that people will see it and then pass it on to others in order to spread this information.
Pakistan: Acknowledgment At Last
CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan reports that Pakistan has formally “acknowledged that ‘some part of the conspiracy’ behind the November attacks in Mumbai took place in Pakistan”.
Azerbaijan: General's Assassination
Thoughts on the Road comments on yesterday's assassination of Lieutenant-General Rail Rzayev, commander of Azerbaijan's air force, in Baku and speculates on possible motives for the killing.