Blogging the democratic revolution
After the demonstrations on May 1, 1000 journalists took it upon themselves to rally for press freedom in their country that no longer has it. About 1,000 journalists have marched in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, to demand the restoration of press freedoms following the royal takeover. Severe restrictions, including censorship, were imposed on the media after King Gyanendra seized direct control of Nepal in February. Although a state of emergency has been lifted, the restrictions remain. An international media watchdog has said that violence is “a daily reality” for journalists in Nepal. Police watched Tuesday’s rally by journalists but did…
Ahead of the September 2006 presidential elections, the United Civic Party has begun drafting a party platform that addresses all spheres of development within the country. They are hoping to pave the way for a democratic Belarus. The United Civic Party (UCP) has gotten down to developing a program that could be used by a single opposition candidate as an election platform in next year????????s presidential campaign. As UCP leader Anatoly Lebedko told BelaPAN, the document should become a positive alternative to the course of Aleksandr Lukashenko????????s government. ???????We will draw voters if we create an attractive picture of Belarus????????…
London 02.05.05 ö With the purpose of continuing with the previous article I shall comment today upon the main reason for Hugo Chavez’s sustained popularity in Venezuela; his ability to win political allies throughout the region and the foundations upon which his alliances are built. To begin with the unravelling of the Chavez phenomenon one must look out for the X factor, that ‘thing’ that makes him irresistible in the eyes of people. Ideological affinities and charisma aside I am of the opinion that Chavez’s ‘charm’ is the US Dollar. Having dismantled the meritocratic system that had governed Petroleos de…
Instapundit links a superb items on how technology is fuelling revolution in the Middle East and Central Asia. It’s a must-read. Read it here.
The king of Nepal ended the state of emergency on April 30, two days earlier than the three month constitutional mandate. The order followed talks with India and Kofi Annan, who pressured him to restore democracy and civil liberties in the country. What followed was the emergency lifted, but the complete retainment of power and a fresh crackdown. Hundreds of political opponents and dozens of journalists remain in jail, and several student activists were shot the same day of the lift. People are fed up. They don’t want to be treated like dogs anymore. To celebrate May Day, the people…
Natan Sharansky, author of perhaps my favorite book “The Case For Democracy,” has submitted his resignation to Ariel Sharon to protest the unilateral disengagement of the territories. JERUSALEM (AP) – Cabinet minister Natan Sharansky, a frequent critic of Israel’s peace moves with the Palestinians, submitted his resignation Monday in protest over the planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Sharansky, a former Soviet dissident whose imprisonment there made him a hero to world Jewry, wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that he opposes making unilateral concessions to the Palestinians. Sharansky, the author of “The Case for Democracy,” a…
I have just posted the weekend edition of my Biweekly News Bulletin. This is a regular feature which I am beginning just this past week. This is the link: Window on the Arab World, and More!
Bolivia’s excellent Miguel Buitrago, who blogs in English, warns that big trouble may begin tomorrow in Bolivia. The Congress is set to vote on the question of taxes and royalties on Monday, May 2, and Coca King Evo Morales, fresh from being succored by Chavez and Castro in Havana this past week, is in no mood for backing down. As such, Bolivians will be deprived of the opportunity to develop their resources and Bolivian natural gas faces a great future underground. If the worst happens, Evo Morales should be so proud. But Bolivians may not stand for it, and that…
The most amusing thing about world revolutions is that there always are a pack of decadent Marie Antoinettes out there somewhere, living it up large, while the underlings seethe. In modern times, Indonesia’s Soeharto Kids are the benchmark, but Marcos, Ceaucescu and Saddam also are notables, and one day, the Saudis of Marbella will be, too. But for now, it turns out Venezuela’s got a Marie-Antoinette class of fast, trashy, loaded wastrels whose antics are eyed with lurid disgust by Venezuela’s opposition. The other day, one of these Chavista new-class princelings trashed his Lamborghini – yes, Lamborghini – out on…
Finals week is upon me, so today I am not sure how much I will be blogging. However, I realize that I don’t pimp my advertisers quite as much as I should, so every Sunday I think there should be a post thanking them for their free market exchange. So what I ask of you is to support Publius Pundit by clicking on our advertisers to show them that you appreciate them as well! Jim Rose How Capitol Hill Works If you haven’t done so already, purchase The Case For Democracy in order to catch up on today’s main foreign…
Regime Change Iran’s week in review is up and available. Interesting developments on that side of the Middle East, as always. Here your ironic quote of the week: Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said, “human rights are a weapon in the hands of our enemies to fight Islam.” Wow.
Fidel Castro’s Big Dumb Houseboy down in Caracas will listen to any sweet talk from his hairy Havana caudillo provided he says it nicely enough. That was why it was so easy to convince the hulky fool to turnnnnnn the checkbook, uhrrrr …. precious oil resources … over … to Castro’s own loving care. Fidel, you see, has convinced Chavez that he knows his wants and needs better than even Chavez himself. And can take care of Venezuela’s oil supply mucccccchhhhhh better than the Venezuelans can. It all makes perfect sense. Doesn’t it? Miguel Octavio has the deadly lowdown on…
Randy Paul has a short item on Miguel Inzulza of Chile winning the post as OAS Secretary General. He points out differences in media coverage on this somewhat mysterious issue. Why was it so controversial? Inzulza had been Hugo Chavez’s candidate, which is in itself a minus, because Chavez is the Foremost Troublemaker in our hemisphere. On the other hand, Inzulza is a Chilean, and with Chilean attitudes, apparently this was enough to convince Condi Rice to accept him as the U.S.’s candidate, too. If he’s good enough for Condi, I am going to bet he’s O.K., too. Now, with…
Over the past two months there have been protests in Ingushetia demanding the president resign over corruption. So far, things have gone generally peacefully. But read this recent report on RFE/RL and you will see just how corrupt those authorities are, and how they put down the protests by defaming them with fake fliers before arresting them. Prague, 30 April 2005 (RFE/RL) — Police and army troops used force on 30 April to disperse a protest in Nazran, the capital of Ingushetia, and detain its organizers. Officials had earlier warned the protest organizers, including Ingushetian Parliament Deputy Musa Ozdoev, against…
Whether the MSM reports it or not, Latin America has been heating up with Cuba and Venezuela seeking to destabilize and undermine democracy throughout the entire continent. At a time when the Community of Democracies is meeting in Santiago, Chile, its virtual antagonist composed of the most criminal minds in the western hemisphere converged on Havana to seek an alternative to free trade and democracy. I have never in my life seen such a perverted brothel of lowlifes, making perhaps the most up-front declaration of intentions I have ever heard. HAVANA (Reuters) – The leaders of Cuba and Venezuela relished…
Michael Totten declared victory from the tent city earlier today, noting that the elections have been officially confirmed for May 29. Read his entire post, as it is very thought provoking. The elections are to be held a month from now in four parts, 0n May 29, June 5, June 12 and June 19. They couldn’t agree on new election rules, so they had to constitutionally settle for the 2000 law. Not to much dismay, of course, as this is easily another big victory for the revolution. Under the 2000 law, districts remain much smaller and in single mandate status,…
Since the emergency can only constitutionally last for three months though, it’s kind of by default. KATHMANDU, April 30 (Reuters) – Nepal’s king ended a state of emergency two days early, the Palace said on Saturday, but the sudden midnight proclamation does not reduce extraordinary powers he seized in February’s royal coup. Politicians said it was a positive move but advised caution and urged the king to hold talks with political parties. Constitutionally, the three-month state of emergency granting the military extra powers of search, arrest and curfew had to end or be formally extended by midnight on Sunday. King…
I posted the other day an interview by RFE/RL with Kyrgyz interim president Bakiev who said he wants separation of powers and a stronger presidency. I argued, in short, for a stronger legislature. The Constitutional Council, which is supposed to debate the reforms necessary before the July 10 election, convened for the first time and thinks that a stronger legislature is absolutely pertinent. Kyrgyzstan’s new Constitutional Council today held its first meeting to discuss constitutional reforms expected to be implemented before presidential elections scheduled for 10 July. Proponents of amending the constitution say the reforms will give more authority to…
Alvaro Vargas Llosa, an author of The Complete Guide To The Perfect Latin American Idiot (it has a whole chapter on Castro worship) and now, Liberty for Latin America: How to undo 500 years of state oppression will be interviewed by Jim Lehrer of PBS. Alvaro Vargas Llosa is one of the world’s foremost experts on Latin America. Like Hernando de Soto, he’s a Peruvian, and he’s now at the Independent Institute, in Oakland. When people ask me where I learned about the place, I always point in his direction. He is one of the most brilliant and interesting intellectuals…
The Community of Democracies are meeting right now in my favorite city, Santiago de Chile, which I think is a fine country to hold such an event in. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is leading the U.S. delegation through this three day event from April 28-30. In the company of the democratic friends, she spoke of no less than the end of political tyranny worldwide. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday it is the historic duty of the world’s democracies to eliminate political tyranny. She addressed officials from more than 100 countries at the Community of Democracies meeting…
I’d find it hard to disagree with this. The West African Bar Association (WABA) has called for the cancellation of the results of Togo’s election and formation a government of national unity, according to a statement from its president, Femi Falana. “Any attempt to form a national government on the basis of the flawed elections will be resisted by the Togolese people,” Falana observed in a statement in Lagos Tuesday. Falana said he was not surprised by the violence that greeted the declaration of the result of the presidential election, won by candidate Faure Gnassingbe of the ruling party, because,…
Arthur Chrenkoff can go ahead and put this one under good news from Iraq. Almost three months after the elections in January, Iraq’s National Assembly voted overwhelmingly Thursday to approve a Shiite-led cabinet, establishing the first elected government in Iraqi history. The assembly chamber burst into wild applause after a show of hands revealed that 180 of 185 legislators in attendance had voted in favor, with almost a third absent. A traditional Islamic chant of praise – “God’s blessings be on Muhammad and on his family” – went up soon afterward. But the divisions that had delayed the government’s formation…
Ever wonder how Chavista-dom is changing the face of Venezuelan society? Blogger Daniel walked into a Caracas restaurant now frequented by the nouveau elite of the newly wealthy Chavista class and encountered a plethora of hoggishness. He dubs this new Marie Antoinette class of communist thugs the Boliburguesa, or, Bolivarian Bourgeois. Believe it or not, they’re out there. Daniel then wrote an essay of manners a la Voltaire or Samuel Pepys. You have to read it here!
Instapundit alerts us to a Babes of Cairo sighting, see it here.
After hundreds of thousands protested in Mexico this weekend in defense of Obrador, Fox announced the resignation of the attorney general. MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s attorney general has stepped down, in an apparent attempt to free President Vicente Fox’s government from a controversial legal battle with a popular leftist mayor. Rafael Macedo de la Concha led a campaign that stripped Mexico City Mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of immunity so he could stand trial on charges that he defied court orders in a land dispute. If Lopez Obrador is found guilty, he could be blocked from running in next year’s…