20 May 2009

Stories from 20 May 2009

Madagascar: Protester Freed, Journalists Demonstrate Against Censorship

The Malagasy online community was relieved to hear the news that Razily, a protester who was arrested in late March, was seen in public and he seems well and about. While much is still unknown about the circumstances of Razily's release, many bloggers hope that this event signifies the beginning of a return to normalcy with respect to the conduct of the country's security forces.

20 May 2009

India: Election Analysis

Law and Other Things posts some contrasting interpretation of the results of the recently concluded parliamentary elections in India.

20 May 2009

Sri Lanka: Concern For The IDPs

Musings from Toronto comments: “Whether the pro-LTTE diaspora's fear of the Sri Lankan Government is ludicrous or otherwise; their concern for the displaced civilians is certainly one I support.”

20 May 2009

Maldives: The First Free Parliamentary Election

The Maldives has witnessed significant political changes in the last five years: introduction of political parties in 2005; ratification of an amended constitution in August 2008; and the first multi-party election held in October 2008 which brought a democratic government. Hence, the parliamentary election held on May 9 was crucial as the new parliament will be entrusted with the task of passing key laws that will be a milestone in the country’s transition to democracy.

20 May 2009

Bhutan: The Net Generation

Dorji Wangchuk was surprised to see TV and internet savvy Bhutanese kids doing well in international knowledge in a quiz competition but lacking knowledge of their country's culture and history.

20 May 2009

Malawi: Bingu wa Mutharika Leading

Bingu wa Mutharika is leading in the presidential election in Malawi: “Partial Electoral Commission (EC) results announced at 10:30am today show Bingu wa Mutharika, presidential candidate for Democratic Progressive Party...

20 May 2009

Cuba: Blossoming Blogosphere

“A lot has changed in the ‘Made in Cuba’ blogosphere,” reports Generation Y, for whom there is “no greater happiness than to see the rise of so many plural, different...

20 May 2009

Dominica: Brain Drain

“When are we going to realize that knowledge is a wealth-creating asset to our country’s development?”: Dominica Weekly is concerned about the island's brain drain.

20 May 2009

Jamaica: Big Money?

“It is a sign of the times, showing how Jamaica’s economy is suffering, devalued you could say”: Jamaica Salt says that the country's new 5,000 dollar bank note is “not...

20 May 2009

Jamaica: Thief!

“Some police, no wonder why the crime rate in Jamaica is so high. When you call them you can't get an answer and when they do finally arrive…they are basically...

20 May 2009

Guyana: R.I.P.

“An era has quietly passed and hardly anyone has paid any notice”: Imran Khan pays his last respects to the Guyanese tradition of broadcasting death announcements.

20 May 2009

Azerbaijan: Respect

Fighting windmills? Take a pill comments on the system of Hormet or “respect” in Azerbaijan. In a post which defines how corruption and connections work in the countries of the...

20 May 2009

Indonesia: Army plane crash

An Indonesian army plane carrying more than 100 passengers crashed in East Java. Twitter user ari197 comments: “Indonesian soldier is dying not because of war but because of old device/weapons/planes/ships.”

20 May 2009

Taiwan: Minister encounters protest at WHA

Some Taiwanese students protested against the Taiwanese Health Minister Yeh Ching-chuan (葉金川) who is attending the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva. The students claimed he was selling out Taiwan...

20 May 2009