Stories from 8 July 2012
Few Surprises in East Timor Parliamentary Elections
East Timor conducted its parliamentary elections on July 7, 2012. There was a lower voter turn out this year but at least there were no alarming cases of violence and poll fraud. Netizens used the hashtags #eleisaun2012 and #timorelections to cover the elections.
Uganda: Netizens Tweet Top Ugandan Lies
The hashtags #TopUgandanLies and #TopKenyanlies trended on 13 June, 2012, where tweeps shared top lies in the region. To Twitter use, @PhenomenalPPP, top Ugandan lie is "On my way, il be there in 15mins." Read what other lies made to the top Ugandan lies list.
Kenya: Call for Unity Amid Terror Attacks
Only few days before the opening of Global Voices Summit 2012 in Nairobi, Kenya experienced bloody blasts and kidnapping in Mombasa and in the town of Garissa. On 1 July, 2012 masked attackers killed 17 people and wounded 45 in a gun and grenades attacks on two churches in Garissa.
Russia: Parkhomenko Chronicles Krymsk Statements
In a widely shared Facebook post [ru], journalist Sergei Parkhomenko lists a series of contradictory official statements by the Russian authorities about the flooding in Krymsk, arguing that the state is flip-flopping and deceiving the public.
Russia: Krymsk Footage & the Reservoir's Owners
Krasnodar environmental activist Suren Gazarian blogs videos from the wreckage in Krymsk, dismissing the theory [ru] that the flooding was caused by water released from the Neberdzhaevsky Reservoir. Marina Litvinovich, meanwhile, provides background [ru] on the reservoir's corporate ownership, including recent criminal charges against members of its board of directors.
Russia: Krymsk Floodgate Conspiracies
In the aftermath of flooding in Krymsk that has claimed over 140 lives, bloggers debate whether officials are to blame for water that may have been released from a nearby reservoir. Evgeny Shultz tries to debunk [ru] this theory, whereas local Yulia Andropova claims [ru] that her father was present when the...
Rwanda: From Colonialism And Genocide to Recovery
1 July was a very special day in Rwanda as the country celebrated 50 years of Independence and 18 years of liberation which brought an end to Rwandan genocide. It is estimated that over a million people died in a period of 100 days.
Zambia: A President's Joke Gone Too Far?
Zambian netizens have condemned President Michael Sata's apparent lack of diplomatic etiquette after he told former American President George W. Bush that Zambians are grateful when a former colonialist like him come back to pay back what was stolen during his country’s colonial and slavery past. George W. Bush was in Zambia to promote cervical cancer detection and treatment programs for women.
Myanmar: Students Detained for Commemorating Historical Event
Leaders of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions were detained by the government for planning an event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of a military crackdown on student protesters. The arrest sparked online discussion about the historical event and Myanmar's transition towards democracy. The government said students were not detained but merely invited for 'discussion'
Indonesia: Lobby Power of Tobacco Firms
Elizabeth Pisani writes about the lobby power of tobacco companies in Indonesia and the prospects of introducing legislation and programs that would curb smoking in the country
Indonesia: Copyright Law Review
Ario Tamat reviews Indonesia's revised Copyright Law which was passed in 2002.
Hong Kong: New “Red” Elementary School Curriculum Flames Concern
Under pressure from mainland China, Hong Kong's elementary schools have to start a new curriculum on "national education." Recently revealed, its module on the "China model" is full of political propaganda, such as the claim that one party dictatorship is more effective than any other democratic political system.
