Stories about War & Conflict from April, 2012
US War Drones in the Philippines
A Radical's Nut looks at how US war drones or “unmanned aerial assault crafts” violates Philippine sovereignty and endanger the lives of ordinary Filipino civilians.
Syria: Activist Rima Dali Arrested in Damascus for Calling for End to Killing
"Stop the killing. We want to build a Syria for all Syrians." These were the words on the banner that Rima Dali held in front of the Syrian Parliament in Damascus on Sunday, April 8 just before her arrest.
Mali: A War, a Declaration of Independence and Conflicting Objectives
Things have been moving rapidly in the civil war that is tearing Mali apart. On Friday, April 6, Tuareg rebels of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) proclaimed the “Independence of Azawad.” In this crisis that threatens to sweep across the entire Sahel region, several actors with conflicting objectives are playing a dominant role.
Colombia: “Lend Your Leg” Campaign Raises Awareness about Antipersonnel Mines
On April 4 the "International Day for Mine Awareness" took place as part of Lend Your Leg. During the day netizens shared opinions on Twitter on what this harsh truth means for the world, and especially Colombia, using the hashtags #Remángate and #Lendyourleg.
Sri Lanka: The White Van Adbuctions Continue
Groundviews reports that twenty nine disappearance have been reported in Sri Lankan media between February and March 2012, and so far little has done to find/rescue those people and end...
Uganda: LRA Rebels React to KONY 2012 Video
The Lord’s Resistance Army has responded to a viral video calling for the capture of its leader Joseph Kony: LRA has taken a jab at the US and the Invisible...
Mali: An Introduction to the Tuareg Population
The blog of the Tuareg movement Temoust Survie publishes a post (via information from l'Express [fr]) that provides [fr] a brief introduction to the Tuareg culture : “we are a nomadic people living...
India: The ‘Coup’ That Never Was
On 4 April, an article in 'the Indian Express' reported about an attempted coup mentioning that two key Indian Army units had moved towards Delhi without notifying the government on the night of January 16-17. Everybody from the government to the common people have dismissed the Indian Express front-page story.
Argentina and the Falkland Islands: 30 Years After the Armed Conflict
Argentina and the Falkland Islands faced a major anniversary of the armed conflict that began on April 2,1982 and lasted until June of that year. Argentinians, Britons and Falklanders express themselves on the Internet 30 years on, when sovereignty still hasn't been resolved.
Armenia: Young Author Faces Military Censorship
Hovhannes Ishkhanyan, a 24-year-old former conscript in the Armenian military, has found himself in hot water in the former Soviet republic after penning a literary work detailing life in the country's army.
Mali : Freedom of Press also Under Threat
The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that several journalists covering the aftermath of March 22 coup in Mali were attacked and threatened by the junta. The media adviser for the...
Syria: Ali Mahmoud Othman, the “Eyes of Baba Amr”, Detained
Video activist Ali Mahmoud Othman, head of the Media Office of Baba Amr, has been siezed by the Syrian goverment. Friends and colleagues believe he is being subjected to severe torture. His detention is a huge blow to citizen journalism in the country.
Afghanistan: Investigation into Uruzgan incident complete
Nick Fielding writes that investigation into the February 2010 tragedy, when 23 Afghans travelling in three vehicles in Uruzgan province were attacked and killed by US helicopters, is over.
Afghanistan: RAWA, a Female Taliban
Mohammad Amin Wahidi writes about a women group called RAWA in Afghanistan that is reportedly miusing the funds of international donors, while operating as the Taliban's aide in promotion of...
Colombia: 10 ‘Last’ Armed Forces Hostages Released by FARC
On Monday April 2, four soldiers and six policemen kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were released. In February the group had announced that they would abandon kidnappings and release the remaining hostages.
Argentina: Covering the 30th Anniversary of the Falklands War
Lillie Langtry from the blog Memory in Latin America looks at the Argentine media coverage of the 30th anniversary of the start of the Falklands War. Lillie also shares some...
Mali : Coup Leader Steps Down as Tuaregs Enter Timbuktu
As Junta leader Sanogo announces that he vows to “re-establish, from today, the Malian constitution of Feb. 25, 1992 and the institutions of the republic”, and set up a transition...
