Stories from 20 June 2006
Colombia: Troubling Statistics
Adam Isacson reviews a recent and troubling report evaluating official “programs to demobilize and reintegrate former combatants, especially ex-paramilitaries.”
El Salvador: “Defending the ILEA”
Tim Muth says that the controversy surrounding the “International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) which will use US personnel to provide training of police, judges and prosecutors from around Latin America” is not a simple matter.
Caribbean: New Amerinidian articles
At the Amerinidian issues blog The CAC Review, Maximilian C. Forte announces the publication of six new articles in KACIKE: The Journal of Caribbean Amerindian History and Anthropology.
Trinidad & Tobago: Auf Wiedersehen, Deutschland
“So God is a Paraguayan, it seems,” writes Jeremy Taylor in response to Paraguay's 1-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago this evening at the World Cup, and answering a question he raised in an earlier post where he described the scenes in Trinidad: “Even the banks are closing early so...
Venezuela: Rifles Pointed at Whom?
Miguel Octavio has translated a post by Ana Julia Jatar questioning Chavez’ purchase of firearms from Russia (ES).
Pakistan: All about Arrandu
People and breathtaking descriptions of Arrandu in Pakistan by Shirazi - “This village is located ‘on’ the Pakistan Afghanistan boarder. Dir-Chitral Road bifurcates near village Mir Khanni and a jeep able track along Kunar River leads to Arrandu through Domail Nisar and onwards into Afghanistan.”
Nepal: Women and the Revolution
Paramendra on women and the revolution. “This is so very wrong. This is offensive. The April Revolution might not have earned the women total equality yet, but it sure earned them and everyone else the right to peaceful assembly. Why were they roughed up? Senior ministers should have come out...
Mexico: “When will the results be announced?”
There is a good chance that election day will make for a close race in Mexico. Ana Maria Salazar tells readers when they might expect definitive results.
Bangladesh: Children in the developing world
Mash at Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying reflects on the recent illness of his little daughter and illness in the developing world – “It takes only commitment and some resources from the developed world. The $10 billion we spend every month in Iraq could instead change the face...
Mexico: Teachers Protest in Oaxaca
While much of the country remains focused on the daily football happenings across the Atlantic, a small insurrection of protesting teachers and their sympathizers has taken to the streets of Oaxaca demanding for higher pay and the resignation of state governor, Ulises Ruiz Ortiz. Those protests turned violent last Wednesday...
Immigration Checks in French Hospitals
Senegalese blogger Semett posts (Fr) a Medecins du Monde petition protesting the new French policy of conducting immigration checks in hospitals. Excerpt from the petition (Fr): “The right to care is inscribed in the preamble to the French constitution. It is a fundamental human right. It must never be used...
Ukraine: Coalition Combinations
LEvko and Scott W. Clark of Foreign Notes are discussing possible Ukrainian parliamentary coalition combinations. LEvko also provides a flashback that shows how the partnership that seems likely now would have been impossible just a few years ago.
Slovakia: Coalition Combinations
Lemuel of Deleted By Tomorrow is upset about the results of the election and discusses the most likely coalition combinations. Doug Muir of A Fistful of Euros looks at the results and makes coalition forecasts as well.
Czech Republic: Museum of Communism
Peter Myers of Adventures in Moldova writes about his adventure in Prague – a visit to the Museum of Communism: “However, I do sense that the Czech Republic and Slovakia have moved on rapidly since 1989, unlike Moldova. Why have they moved on while Moldova has stayed behind?”
Albania: Notes on Driving
Traveller One of Stepping Stones shares her notes on the “Albanian Rules of the Road”: “Seatbelts. Only for babies. No wait. Albanian babies and children never wear seatbelts, so why should you, a full grown adult. In fact, why do manufacturer's even bother to put them in cars destined for...
Albania: Restaurants Torn Down
Alwyn Thomson of Our Man in Tirana writes about and posts pictures of the demolition of a number of local restaurants in downtown Tirana: “All the premises that were destroyed consisted of extensions that had been built onto existing structures. Presumably, these businesses never had permission to build these extensions,...
Albania: Uighur Ex-Prisoners
Alwyn Thomson of Our Man in Tirana provides an update on the fate of the five Uighurs, who were moved to Albania from Guantanamo, but are unlikely to settle there.
Albania: Corruption
Alwyn Thomson of Our Man in Tirana cites the results of a survey on corruption in Albania and realizes that healthcare is “the most corrupt public service insitution in the country.”
Belarus: Library Opening Security Measures
Ivan Lenin of Rush-Mush translates a note most likely posted by president Lukashenko's security on the eve of his appearance to take part in the opening of a new library.
Turkmenistan: Enemies of the Motherland
Peter of neweurasia writes about accusations from the Turkmen government that implicate the French government and the OSCE in a plot to overthrow the Turkmen government.
Armenia: Saving Forests
Oneworld Multimedia reports on efforts to save Armenia's forests.
