Stories from 9 June 2007
El Salvador: Newspaper Refuses to Publish FMLN Critique
The Salvadoran daily La Prensa Gráfica recently refused to publish a piece from opposition party FMLN criticizing current President Tony Saca, as it claimed it is a private company that reserves the right to publish anything they see fit. The blog Hora Cero [ES] places the information on his site...
Brazil: Open Letter to New York Times
Colin Brayton of the New Market Machines writes an open letter to the editor of the New York Times regarding the work of reporter Larry Rohter. One complaint is “Your Latin American correspondent, Larry Rohter, frequently repeats, verbatim, the press-relations talking points of dubious actors, without attribution, and omits the...
Senegal: Mourides claim new holy place
Le Blog politique du Senegal writes that like Touba, Darou-Mouhty will now be a quasi-independent holy city [Fr] where political and folk activities, music, indecent dress, and the use of cigarettes and alcohol are all forbidden. Senegal says that “mouride exceptionalism” is become more serious and worrying, that these areas...
Sierra Leone: Memorial for plane crash victims
Togo-iTunes posts photographs of a memorial ceremony for those who disappeared in a plane crash in Sierra Leone.
Senegal: Election draws only 35% turnout
Le blog politique du Senegal questions how the government can consider a 35% a good voter turnout rate [Fr], calling it payback for the last election which was plagued by fraud and irregularities. Those in power should see that this low turnout reflects the deep discontent and lack of trust...
France to increase explusion of illegal immigrants
Et Si Nous Parlions writes the French Ministry of Immigration and National Identity, which he sarcastically calls the Ministry of Expulsions and Official Racism, plans to expel 25,000 illegal immigrants [Fr] this year, an increase of 5,000 over the previous year.
A Lebanese conspiracy theory
Tunisien Doctor writes that the Hariris, the Lebanese government and most Lebanese Sunnis wanted to manipulate [Fr] the radical Islamic groups based in the Palestinian camps to place pressure on the Shiites, only to have them turn against them. Some of his readers accuse him of giving undue credence to...
Benin: The Call of Voodoo
Babilown writes about a new edition [Fr] of Les Appels du Vodun (The Call of Voodoo).