Blogging the democratic revolution
We noted that Venezuelan blogger Alek Boyd exposed some stunning tax irregularities among the chavistas in the U.S. here. Now, the chavistas are scurrying to alter their Web sites. This blogger’s work the only accountability this regime has. See Alek’s expose and its aftermath here and here.
If any of you read the story of a Bahraini blogger being arrested for “hate speech,” then this is a very encouraging story for everyone. Chan’ad recounts how a row of 200 peaceful protestors along Hall of Exhibition Avenue were stared down by a phalanx of riot police. Tensions evidently heated up, with protestors staging…
Andy has this week’s news roundup of happenings inside and out of Russia.
Nathan is collecting exclusive information and accounts. One such account is from a Kyrgyz employee working for an international NGO. Notice how big the protests are getting. The most dangerous situation is in Jalal-Abad. In Jalal-Abad, about 10,000 people are continuing blocking the oblast administration and protesting in Central park. Several opposition famous figures are…
John Hawkins has an amazing roundup of quotes from people who predicted that Iraq would be the domino to start a trend of democratization in the Middle East. Check that out!
Cuban thugs and machine-gun goons surrounded the arrogant Venezuelan president, who made the press wait an hour and a half before showing up and then only took five questions. “Coincidentally” they were from from communist newspapers like L’Humanite. If Chavez was looking for bad PR and the opprobrium of the otherwise friendly Parisian media, he…
A lot has unfolded since the last roundup. There have been massive demonstrations organized by Hizb’allah, the deposed Prime Minister has just signed back on, Syria is quickening its pullout, and the U.S. is beginning to accept that Hizb’allah can’t be taken out of the picture yet. As I have said over and over, where…
Both blogger Miguel and blogger Daniel in Venezuela see growing examples of media self-censorship in the light of dictator Hugo Chavez’s all-encompassing media law. The details are disturbing and this is quite serious. Read and compare each of these unrelated news items here and here.
Venezuela for the first time in decades has a first rate soccer team. But given its leadership, it’s still not ready for prime time. Pathetic. See here.
Daniel in Venezuela has a sombre, moving essay grasping for meaning of the strange cases of Venezuela’s soldiers who are being set ablaze in prisons with impunity for unknown reasons by the military. The cowed media whisper it down but the horrified public gazes on. Daniel closes with this warning: But I am not afraid…
This is very interesting. Edith Mirante, author of Burmese Looking Glass and founder of Project Maje once worked for Tiffany’s before her initial visit to Burma. I wonder if she had any influence here.
Although Robert will be doing a lengthy Lebanon post later, I thought that the latest maneuver by Emile Lahoud and the Syrian regime warranted an early post. Lebanese President Emile Lahoud is said ready to re-designate outgoing Premier Karami (who resigned in the face of protests) to form a new pro-Syrian government: The re-designation is…
There has finally been an update to the situation in Moldova, as there has been a relative media blackout post-election. Before anything, recall my latest post: I wasn????????t initially excited about the opposition????????s prospects here, or their ties to Moscow, but this could turn out to be very interesting. While the opposition is somewhat fragmented…
Here is a news roundup for March 8, in as close to chronological order as I think I can get (input welcome!)and then various perspectives from the region’s bloggers, filling out details the media has missed. I will update as more info becomes available. If anyone sees more good Bolivian blogs I have missed, please…
Sorry guys, I’m still working on my research paper. In the meantime, check out The Argus for the latest on the protests underway in Kyrgyzstan on the run up to the re-run this Sunday.
Very busy today, but Daniel is covering the whole thing over at Bloggledygook. Make sure to check it all out. I seem to have a fetish with them, so I’ll do a huge post on the implications of Hizb’allah in Lebanon’s political stratosphere tomorrow.
Just about the time that democracies start sprouting all over, Red China would like to remind everybody not to feel too good: BEIJING — China unveiled a law Tuesday authorizing an attack if Taiwan moves toward formal independence, increasing pressure on the self-ruled island while warning other countries not to interfere. The United States said…
Bolivia’s president has won! Just as one of our excellent Bolivian bloggers, MABB’s Miguel told us yesterday, Bolivia’s President Carlos Mesa has won! Congress this morning voted to reject his resignation. The People Power revolution has beaten Evo Morales and all his mob soundly. Pres. Mesa stays, and not only that, he’s now in a…
This is just a friendly notice that Andy from Siberian Light has purchased a blogad, money that will go toward paying our hosting costs. He has a very good blog that I reference often, and he also provides huge weekly news roundups of what’s going on in Russia. Check him out.
Yes, the Yulia Look is it. And not just the hair.
Regime Change Iran’s latest briefing has some news that is even more interesting than usual. Take a look: Iranian opposition leaders creating a united front against the Islamic Republic. One day after 565 dissidents in Iran published their open letter against the Iranian regime, a major coalition of Iran expatriates announced they are gathering to…
Now, we all know about the huge surge of protests in Lebanon. I have also reported on the protests in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Moldova. But what else is going on in the world? Let’s take a quick look. Kuwait After years and years of waiting, the Kuwaiti parliament is speeding up legislation for women’s suffrage….
Three decades after the late President Anwar Sadat announced the infitah, or economic opening, of Egypt, has the Gift of the Nile finally fulfilled predictions in becoming an economic Tiger on the Nile? A recent article in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reported that Egypt’s stock market has risen 32% this year, the fastest…
In my recent post, Has Qadafi Caught the Spirit?, I wrote that there were mixed signs that Libya’s ruler, Mu’amar Qadafi, was committed to ending his country’s economic and political isolation. In today’s Al-Quds Al-Arabi, it was reported that Libya plans to cut 46,000 government jobs over the next year. As the article notes, Libya…
Bill from Dawn’s Early Light let me know about a conversation between himself and Simon from Simon World discussing the future of U.S.-Sino relations. Being that Simon is both a smart guy and lives in Hong Kong, he knows what he’s talking about. Check it out.