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Russia: Pro-Putin Rally in Vladivostok Causes Controversy

Masha Egupova — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:18:02 +0000

The Feb. 18 pro-Putin rally - a Puting - in Vladivostok. Photo by Alexander Hitrov/LJ user alexhitrov, used with permission.

Rallies in support of the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin - also known as Putings, a combination of the words “meeting” and “Putin” - took place in many Russian cities last weekend. One such Puting caused a scandal in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok, which is renowned for its strong support of the opposition and for anti-Kremlin moods in general.

A local news portal VL.ru uploaded a video showing that the participants of the Feb. 18 rally received money after the event. VL.ru reporters asked if the participants were satisfied with Putin’s policies and reforms. Respondents used various clichés, saying that Putin “raised Russia from its knees” and provided stability for the country.

Vladivostok's online community actively discussed the nature of the events and the fact that people had been brought to the rally on buses in an organized way. Apparently, someone had motivated, mobilized and gathered them. The turnout of 2,000 to 4,000 people is a very rare case for Vladivostok, where even the most popular anti-government protests could hardly count 500 people.

Lists of participants and payments at the Feb. 18 pro-Putin rally in Vladivostok. Photo by Alexander Hitrov/LJ user alexhitrov, used with permission.

This case would have been forgotten fast if the discussion of it had not spread virally. The local authorities added fuel to the flames as well.

Regional trade unions had organized the rally, and they were the first to be blamed for handing out the money. Viktor Pinsky, head of the Primorsky Region's Federation of Trade Unions, said [ru] that the demonstration “brought together more than 4,000 people who are not indifferent to the fate of Russia, who trust Vladimir Putin and support his candidacy for the presidency.”

Trade unions said [ru] that all the media materials and videos available online were nothing but a provocation, and that the videos were fake and people were acting on them. That is why trade unions would like to initiate an investigation into the matter. PM Putin’s Chief of Staff in Vladivostok believes [ru] that the oppositional forces were outraged by the fact that 4,000 people showed up for the pro-Putin rally and were thus trying to sabotage the event.

Various bloggers, journalists and news organizations have provided images of the people who had lists of the participants and were handing out money (500 rubles = 16 USD). These images are widely available online: LJ user alexhitrov - a Vladivostok-based photographer Alexander Hitrov - posted a comprehensive photo report [ru] from the rally on his blog, and LJ user hajoff posted a few more images in the Vladivostok LJ community, here [ru].

Even if the trade unions claimed that people participated in this rally voluntarily, why would someone have lists of participants and cross the names out? LJ user temniykot wrote [ru]:

I've been to the rally. Haven't heard about or seen any “payments” - but it is true that people from regional enterprises were being brought in and marked as “was there/wasn't there,” and that people were being brought on buses from somewhere, and that the pensioners were being given jackets (and some were taking four [jackets per person]) […].

According to all reports, the event was well-organized: posters had been prepared and printed beforehand, people wore jackets with pro-Putin slogans on them, and organizers provided hot food, tea and a musical performance for the participants. It is obvious that Putin’s supporters had enough money for all this, but where does the funding come from? If it comes from the state budget, then this case should clearly be investigated. And this time, it should be investigated not in favor of the trade unions.

Russia: Navalny vs Kadyrov

Veronica Khokhlova — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:29:57 +0000

At Jamestown Foundation Blog, Valery Dzutsev reports that Ramzan Kadyrov, the President of Chechnya, has called politician and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny “a real chatterbox” - and Navalny retaliated by publishing (here and, later, here; ru) “the results of his investigation of the Chechen police’s car inventory acquisitions, naming and shaming several people in Kadyrov’s entourage […].”

Brazil: Quilombo Community in Bahia About to Be Evicted

Sara Moreira — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:43:29 +0000

One of the oldest slave descendent communities in Brazil, Quilombo Rio dos Macacos, where around 50 families live, has a date for eviction: March 4, 2012. The claim for the land comes from the Navy of Brazil, that intends to broaden a condo for its officers in that territory, in the border area between Salvador and Simões Filho, state of Bahia.

Several social movements have demonstrated against [pt] the “flagrant disrespect for fundamental human rights”, motivated by what some describe as “institutional racism” [pt].

Among the community [pt] there are “people older than 100 years who were born in the same place where they have lived until now”, and who [pt] say that “they won't allow themselves to be evicted”.

Sisters who were born and grew up in the community, 110 and 84 years old. Photo by Racismo Ambiental (CC BY-NC 2.5 BR).

In a short documentary published by the collective Bahia na Rede, members of the community complained [pt] “that [they] are trapped in the area whose access is controlled by the military, facing difficulties in coming in and going out, and suffering daily threats of eviction and aggression in an area which is recognized by the Palmares Foundation [a public institution linked to the Ministry of Culture that aims to promote and preserve the afro-brazilian culture] as quilombola's territory”:

sob regime de tensão e violência, aterrorizados: [os quilombolas] garantem que passam a noite acordados com medo de morrer (soldados passeiam à noite toda pelas suas roças) e têm medo de sair pois quando voltar poderão encontrar a casa derrubada. O acesso à comunidade é controlado pelo portão de entrada da Vila Militar, um condomínio de residências de sub-oficiais da Marinha; e os conflitos vêm, sobretudo, com a construção desta Vila, a partir de 1971. As famílias da área foram removidas e desalojadas. Hoje estão proibidas de plantar e sendo expulsas da área.

Under a regime of tension and violence, terrified: [the quilombolas] ensure that they spend the night awake afraid to die (soldiers walk all night around their crops) and are afraid to go out because when they are back they can find the house torn down. The access to the community is controlled by the entrance gate of the Military Village, a housing condo for sub-officers of the Navy, and the conflicts [have] come especially with the construction of this town, since 1971. The families of the area were removed and displaced. Today they are forbidden to plant and are being expelled from the area.

Land is a right

Descendants of original peoples from Africa who, during colonialism, were taken from their land to become slaves in Brazil, the Quilombolas now see themselves under threat of losing their homes again, despite their right to the land they inhabit enshrined in the constitution. The representative of the Rural Workers' Lawyers Association (AATR), Pedro Diamantino, in an “Act in support of the quilombola Rio dos Macacos community”, which took place on February 6, explained[pt] the legal framework:

"Demarcation and titling of the indigenous and quilombola territories, now!" Direct action by the Resistência Quilombola in the no Fórum Social Temático in Porto Alegre, January de 2012. (the image links to a video by Coletivo Catarse)

o artigo 68 das disposições transitórias da CF [Constituição Federal] garante “aos remanescentes das comunidades dos quilombos que estejam ocupando suas terras” a propriedade definitiva, porém este artigo até hoje não foi regulamentado, o que gera instabilidade jurídica. A demarcação de terras quilombolas atualmente está lastreada no decreto federal 4887/2003, que é um instrumento jurídico insuficiente para garantir a posse definitiva da terra.

The Article 68 on the transitional provisions of the CF [Federal Constitution] guarantees “the remnants of quilombo communities who are occupying their lands” definitive ownership, but this article has not yet been regulated, which creates legal instability. The demarcation of quilombola's lands is currently backed in Federal Decree 4887/2003, which is a legal instrument that is insufficient to ensure the final possession of the land.

And the federal MP Luis Alberto added [pt] that:

tramitam na Câmara dos Deputados um projeto de emenda à Constituição Federal (CF) que pretende avocar para o poder legislativo a regularização das terras quilombolas – hoje à cargo da Fundação Palmares e do Incra – e outros projetos que pretendem anular todos os decretos em favor dos quilombos.

A draft amendment to the Federal Constitution (FC) is being processed in the Chamber of Deputies; it intends to call back the regularization of the quilombola's lands - nowadays under the responsibility of Palmares Foundation and INCRA - and other projects that aim to revoke all the decrees in favor of quilombos.

The lands occupied by the Quilombo Rio dos Macacos was donated by the city hall of Salvador to the Brazilian Navy in mid 1960. At the time, the existence of inhabitants was registered [pt] and the Navy was made responsible for any compensation that might arise from the transfer of land.

By the end of 2009, the Navy presented a proposal of eviction to the Justice. One year later, the Judge of the 10th Circuit Court of the Judicial Section of Bahia granted [pt] it; the eviction was scheduled for November 4, 2011 - exactly one month after the certificate of recognition of Rio dos Macacos as Quilombola Community was published on the Diário Oficial da União, from which a Self Recognition Certificate came out. The order of eviction ended up being postponed [pt] for 4 months by the Federal Justice, but until today March 4, 2012, remains as the date for expulsion.

We Are Quilombo Rio dos Macacos

We are Quilombo Rio dos Macacos. Public domain.

The year started with a protest outside the wall that surrounds the Naval Base, and where President Dilma Rousseff was spending holidays. Tania Lobo published on Youtube a set of photos of the protest showing the signs held by the demonstrators, which read “Are you going to allow this President?”, “Navy wants to expel Quilombola Rio dos Macacos community”, “Community (…) asks for just, legal and immediate solution”, and “Navy forbids INCRA to enter the community Rio dos Macacos”.

Meanwhile, solidarity actions have multiplied, such as the collective declaration [pt] “Somos Quilombo Rio dos Macacos” (We Are Quilombo Rio dos Macacos), by several public figures, musicians, poets and activists from Bahia's movements.

A page on Facebook with the same name, as well as many blogs, have republished the community's manifesto, which demands for:

providências imediatas por parte da Presidenta da República e pelo Ministro da Defesa, pelo fim da violação dos direitos humanos, pelo garantia dos direitos quilombolas e pela imediata regularização fundiária do Território da Comunidade Quilombola Rio dos Macacos

Immediate action by the President of the Republic and the Minister of Defence, for the end of human rights violations, for ensuring the rights of quilombolas and for the immediate regularization of the Territory of the Quilombola Community Rio dos Macacos

The 2011 report on Quilombola's Land [pt], published by the Comissão Pró-Índio from São Paulo on February 15, reveals that during the first year of Dilma Rousseff's government, only one Quilombola Land was titrated by the federal government, and that “the score of quilombola lands titrated in Brazil has reached 110, which means that only 6% of the estimated 3000 quilombola communities in the country have the title of their land.”

Tunisia: Court Quashes Verdict Ordering the Filtering of Pornography

Afef Abrougui — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:06:27 +0000

This post is part of our special coverage Tunisia Revolution.

Today, the Cassation Court of Tunis (highest court of appeal) threw out a verdict to censor pornography on the Internet. On May, 26, 2011, a court of first instance issued a ruling ordering the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI), to filter X rated websites. On August, 15, 2011, the ruling was affirmed by the court of appeal.

The judicial decision ordering the filtering of pornography, was harshly criticized by bloggers, and free speech advocates, who believe that such step could limit freedom of speech, and thus pave the way for the return of censorship.

Today's verdict was welcomed by netizens, supporting an absolute net freedom.

Outside the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI) in Tunis, Tunisia by Jillian C. York

Reporters Without Reporters Tunisia office, was the first to report the court's ruling:

#ATI - la cour de cassation casse le jugement et renvoie le procès en appel.

#ATI cassation court quashes the ruling, and refers it back to the appeal

The news quickly spread, and reactions via the micro blogging website, Twitter started pouring in. Here is a selection of reactions:

@RODE86: Ya7ya el 3adl! Ya7ya el 3adl!

@RODE86: Long live justice! long live justice!

@HBHassine: je suis heureuse qu on reconnaisse enfin que les Tunisiens sont adultes et responsables! #contrelinfantilisationdesTunisiens #ATI

@HBHassine: Glad that it has been finally recognized that Tunisians are adults, and responsible! Against treating all Tunisians as infants

@yassine95140: La bonne nouvelle, qu'on soit pour ou contre la décision de la cour, c qu'on a la preuve d'1 séparation réelle d pouvoirs. #ATI #TNAC #TNGOV

@yassine95140: Whether we are for or against the court's decision, the good news is that we now have evidence of a real separation of powers

Others have aired more suspicious and careful views.

@El_7oss: Ces connards de la cassation pouvaient aussi casser le jugement sans renvoyer en appel #ATI

@El_7oss: These cassation idiots, they could have quashed the verdict, without referring it back to the court of appeal

@Selim_: bien. Mais c pas fini

@Selim_: Good. But this is not over

@omessaoud: Le renvoi de l'affaire #ATI en appel à nouveau est un renvoi de responsabilité pas une victoire. #free404 #tunisie #censure

@omessaoud: referring back the #ATI case to the appeal court is a delay of assuming responsibilities, and not a victory. #free404 #tunisie #censure

This post is part of our special coverage Tunisia Revolution.

Brazil: Global Act “We Are All Pinheirinho”

Raphael Tsavkko Garcia — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:42:39 +0000

A global act in solidarity with the population expelled from their homes at the Pinheirinho community has been called on Facebook for Thursday, February 23. The idea is to demonstrate in front of Brazilian consulates and embassies all over the world.

Syria: Citizen Journalist Rami Al Sayed Killed in Homs

Amira Al Hussaini — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:14:27 +0000

Citizen journalist Rami Al Sayed, whose videos and live-streaming of the bombardment of Homs showed the world the daily carnage in Syria, was killed yesterday, reports Ahmed Al Omran, on the NPR news blog.

Armenia: Activists #Occupy Yerevan Park

Liana Aghajanian — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:43:56 +0000

This post is part of our special coverage #Occupy Worldwide.

Green spaces in Armenia continue to dwindle at an alarming rate, but a small yet dedicated group of environmental activists has also grown in recent years. Now, after launching campaigns for the country's endangered Teghut Forest, saving the Trchkan waterfall from destruction, and confronting officials over the sale of land to copper companies, the group has moved its fight to the capital, Yerevan.

After the municipality authorized the erection of shops in Mashtots Park, one of the city's last remaining green spaces, the activists have for almost two weeks taken part in their own ‘Occupy' movement, which received widespread coverage last year when it spread to over 95 cities in 92 countries. Evicted last week from occupying the construction site, more than 100 of the environmental activists broke through a police cordon to demand a reversal of the decision to build in a public park.

The activists stayed until sundown in almost freezing temperatures with some such as @asenqte tweeting several photos of the scene.

Activists in Yerevan Park. Image posted by @asenqte

The hashtag ‘#OccupyMashtotsPark‘ was also spread on Twitter before Monday night's action and used by Armenian news outlets and individual journalists as well as bloggers and activists [hy]:

@vtaang: ով ա գալիս գնանք Մաշտոցի այգի? հիմի, դուրս եմ գալիս տանից… #OccupyMashtotsPark

@vtaang: Who is coming to Mashtots Park? I'm leaving the house now… #OccupyMashtotsPark

@vtaang: ես գնացի, ժող. ջան միացեք, էս քաղաքը առանց են էլ լրիվ կանաչազրկվել է, իրոքից ինչ կմտածեն ու ինչ կշնչեն ապագա սերունդները OccupyMashtotsPark

@vtaang: I'm going. Dear people, unite, this city has been left green-less, really - what will future generations think and breathe. #OccupyMashtotsPark

Livestreams also appeared online:

@Kornelij: Live from #Yerevan mayor http://www.livestream.com/savemashtotspark #OccupyMashtotsPark

@Kornelij: One more channel from #Mashtots bambuser.com/v/2383669 #OccupyMashtotsPark

Videos were uploaded by citizen journalists with one by Epress showing students from the Yerevan State Linguistic University in action chanting with activists and carrying signs:

Another uploaded by environmental news agency EcoLur features popular artists and musicians voicing support for the activists and condemning the city's decision to construct the shops:

Caricaturist Vrej Kassouny, whose work has depicted the environmental struggle in the small South Caucasus country before, posted a video of the creation of his illustration, Green Mashtots, (featured below) on his Facebook fan page. It depicts the statue of the park's namesake, creator of the Armenian alphabet Mesrop Mashtots, flanked by high end brand boutiques.

PanARMENIAN.Net / Vrej Kassouny

Some of the activism was initiated by the ‘Մե՛նք ենք այս քաղաքի տերը' (We are the owners of this city) Facebook group [hy], which has over 4,000 members and advocates for the protection of green spaces. Activists posted their thoughts, sharing videos, photos and links to news stories about the occupation.

Among the photos posted, group member Hovhannes Sargsyan shared one of dozens of protesters entering the construction site:

Some like Facebook user Arpine Zargaryan also used the group as a forum to post a statement on the intent of the struggle, which she stressed was purely environmental and not political, and asked that it be shared across social networks [hy]:

բոլոր այն մարդիկ, ովքեր թյուր, և պայքարի բուն թեմային կապ չունեցող լուրեր են տարածում, թող ԱՍՏՎԱԾԱՎԱԽ լինեն ու լռեն!!!

Every one who is spreading information that has nothing to do with the original theme of this struggle, let them stay God-fearing and silent!!!

ՄԵԿԸՆԴՄԻՇՏ ՀԻՇԵՔ!!! ՄԱՇՏՈՑԻ ԱՅԳՈՒ պայքարը բնության, շնչող բայց անլեզու ծառերի, կանաչ Երևանի, մաքուր քաղաքի և ԲԱՐՈՅԱԿԱՆ ԲՆԱՊԱՀՊԱՆՆԵՐԻ պայքար է ձեր ու ձեր զավակների համար

ALWAYS REMEMBER!!! Mashtots Park's struggle is about nature, living but voiceless trees, green Yerevan, having a clean city and that of ethical ecologists for you and your children.

Outspoken environmental activist Mariam Sukhudyan also posted a message of support in the group from Norick Markosian, an Armenian Diasporan abroad:

TO THE BRAVE ACTIVISTS AND CITIZENS OF ARMENIA:

Since I am a Diaspora Armenian, I cannot be there physically to participate in the protest that has been going on in the Mashtots Park for a while. Believe me when I say, I have been going to sleep, and awaken with every single one of you in my mind. Your individual faces are vividly in front of my eyes at every moment. My biggest wish is to have the… opportunity to meet every one of you, shake your hand, and give you the biggest hug that I can. With your un relentless protest and iron will you are demonstrating that all hope is not lost. You are proving that, although our country is run by bunch of money hungry thugs, but there are still people left who have not lost the human side of their character. You are proving that there are people who care for the land that belongs to us, not to them. I hope that your persistent struggle is the beginning of the end to this dark days of our history. YOUR GENERATION IS OUR HOPE, YOU ARE OUR TOMORROW. KEEP ON GOING, VICTORY WILL BE OURS.

Many believe the construction of shops are illegal and linked to oligarchs and other government-connected businessmen, a problem Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian vowed to end late last year. According to some media outlets, for example, the boutiques to be installed in the park are reportedly owned by the brother of the ex-mayor of Yerevan, Gagik Belgaryan. Reports also allege that parts of the park are owned by Armenian Minister of Health Harutyun Kushkyan and Migran Poghosyan, Chief of the Compulsory Enforcement Service.

In response to the outcry, Yerevan's Mayor Taron Margaryan issued a statement in which he welcomed the public's involvement and touted the construction as a temporary solution for shop owners whose places of business were removed from Abovyan Street in downtown Yerevan. However, that didn't prevent construction from resuming during evening of 20 February, continuing into the early morning to ensure that activists wouldn't be around to disrupt workers:

@unzippedblog: FB reports say building works in #Yerevan park restarted at night, with police presence,when no activist around #OccupyMashtotsPark #Armenia

CivilNetTV, the online broadcasting channel of the Yerevan-based Civilitas Foundation captured the news on video:

According to a Facebook event, Մաշտոցի այգի, օր 12-րդ (Mashtots Park: Day 12) [hy], protesters have vowed to press on from at the construction site with a full schedule that includes a guitar concert and a meeting with ethnographer Aghasi Tadevosyan. Police have also offered to hold a roundtable with civic groups to discuss the “legal grounds for the police actions” in the park.

This post is part of our special coverage #Occupy Worldwide.

Egypt: One year after the revolution, 10% of its Social Media Documentation is already gone

Bernardo Parrella — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:45:53 +0000

One year after the Egyptian revolution, 10% of its Social Media Documentation is already gone. An article on US magazine The Atlantic explains how this is happening, quoting a study conducted by a phD student in computer science and Web preservation at Old Dominion University. “Twitter gives us a new version of ‘the first rough draft of history.' But tweets are fragile things.”

Global: Vigils in Solidarity with Tibetans

Oiwan Lam — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:48:36 +0000

Since early February 2012, a series of global vigils have taken place in all over the world to express solidarity with Tibetans, following a call from Kalong Tripa Dr. Lobsang Sangay. As February 22 is the Tibetan New Year, activists are calling for another round of solidarity action.

Lobsang Sangay's statement can be found in YouTube and below is part of the transcript of the English version:

A map on global vigils in solidarity with Tibetans on February 8, 2012.

Ever since the invasion of Tibet, the Chinese government has claimed that it seeks to create a socialist paradise. However, basic human rights are being denied to Tibetans, the fragile environment is being destroyed, Tibetan language and culture is being assimilated, portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama are banned, and Tibetans are being economically marginalized. Tibet is in virtual lockdown. Foreigners have been barred from travelling to Tibet now and the entire region is essentially under undeclared martial law.

I urge the Chinese leadership to heed the cries of the Tibetan protestors and those who have committed self-immolation. You will never address the genuine grievances of Tibetans and restore stability in Tibet through violence and killing. The only way to resolve the Tibet issue and bring about lasting peace is by respecting the rights of the Tibetan people and through dialogue. As someone deeply committed to peaceful dialogue, the use of violence against Tibetans is unacceptable and must be strongly condemned by all people in China and around the world.

I call on the international community to show solidarity and to raise your voices in support of the fundamental rights of the Tibetan people at this critical time. I request that the international community and the United Nations send a fact-finding delegation to Tibet and that the world media be given access to the region as well. The leaders in Beijing must know that killing its own “family members” is in clear violation of international and Chinese laws, and such actions will cast further doubts on China's moral legitimacy and their standing in world affairs.

During Chinese Vice President Xi Jingping's visit to the United States last week, Tibetan activists greeted Xi and the group of organized supporters with stories about human rights conditions in China.

Below is a YouTube video taken on February 15 in Muscatine, Iowa:

As the Tibetan New Year is approaching, a number of Hong Kong activists have organized a candle night vigil [zh] outside the China Government Liaison Office to mourn for those Tibetans who have self-immolated to call for a free Tibet. In addition, more than 240 have signed up for a Butter Lamp Pray event* to express their solidarity with Tibetans:

In Tibet, from 27 Feb 2009 to 19 Feb 2012, 23 Tibetans have self-immolated to protest for a free Tibet and the return of The Dalai Lama. 15 of them had lost their lives. Under the repressive circumstance in Tibet, self-immolation is an ultimate act of nonviolence demonstration. Tibet question seems so far away from us, but as a human being, it doesn’t mean that we can do nothing. At least, we should pray for the death.

One of the spiritual practices among Tibetan Buddhists is to offer a lighted butter lamp that represents the illumination of wisdom and to purify bad Karma. Following their belief, we shall also light for the Tibetans who have self-immolated and pray for Tibet.

* Disclosure: the writer has been added as a host of the Butter Lamp Pray Facebook event.

Thumbnail and featured image shows annual Tibet Freedom March in central London, UK, by sinister pictures, copyright Demotix (12/03/11).

Pakistan: Caution For Social Media Activists

Rezwan — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:54:31 +0000

Pakistan Blogzine informs that a notice has been published by a leading Shia activist forum to warn Shia and other human rights activists to be aware of impostors who are reportedly monitoring internet to identify and potentially harm social media activists.

Haiti: Online Reaction to the Duvalier Decision

Flora Thomas — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:24:15 +0000

At the end of January 2012, the investigative magistrate looking into human rights charges against Haiti's ousted dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, came to the decision that “the statute of limitations had run out” on those human rights abuses - but apparently not on Duvalier's misappropriation of public funds.

Haitians, both on the island and throughout the diaspora, have had to watch as the greater charges against the formerly feared dictator fall away and he heads to court for what may turn out to be a slap on the wrist for financial impropriety. Amnesty International, which presented evidence of the human rights violations committed under Jean-Claude Duvalier's reign, cried foul over the verdict. Bloggers were as equally unforgiving.

One of the most riveting accounts of Haitians' reaction to the Duvalier decision has been on flickr, where in a photoset entitled “Protesting Duvalier Decision”, Etant Dupain told the story in photos - and added some informed commentary that gives valuable context to the situation:

A Country Without Justice is a Car Without Headlights, Haitians Protest Controversial Decision on Duvalier

On February 7, 2012 dozens of Haitians gathered in front of the Ministry of Justice in a demonstration organized by several civil society organizations to call for justice in the case of Jean-Claude Duvalier. After thirty years of the dictatorial rule of the Duvalier family, an era marked by oppression, massive human rights abuses, murders, disappearances and total violation of Haitians' fundamental human rights, a popular rebellion forced J.C. Duvalier to flee to country on February 7, 1987 - 25 years ago. Last week a judge made the controversial decision to not prosecute Duvalier for his crimes against humanity. This decision is now in an appeals process in Haiti and under scrutiny from human rights organizations and the international community.

HAITI Land of Freedom saw the judge's decision as a blatant denial of Duvalier's crimes against humanity, and noted that:

Human rights groups criticized the decision and qualified it as unfair and politically motivated.

The blogger also drew attention to the fact that:

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay was disappointed after learning about the decision. Pillay asked the Haitian officials to guarantee that the former dictator is prosecuted for international crimes.

War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity Have No Remedy

This report [fr] from Haiti Press Network, gave a clearer idea of the impact that those crimes have had on the Haitian people:

Nous les survivants et survivantes de la dictature Duvalier qui avons payé très cher ce droit collectif à la liberté d’expression et d’association, dont nous jouissons tous aujourd’hui. Nous qui nous sommes trop longtemps tus, voulant oublier des blessures, complices involontaires de l’impunité, nous disons aujourd’hui c’est assez, lit-on dans un document distribué à la presse.

Juger Duvalier et ses sbires, poursuit-on, pour les meurtres, les tortures et les exécutions commis alors qu’il était chef suprême du pays, de son armée et de ses milices, est la seule garantie que demain, ces libertés et nos droits fondamentaux seront respectés par ceux qui prétendent nous gouverner.

We, the survivors of the dictatorship of Duvalier, who have paid a very high price for this collective right to freedom of expression and association which we enjoy today. We who, too many times, stay silent trying to forget the injuries, involuntary accomplices of impunity, today we say stop […]

Judging Duvalier and his henchmen for the murders, the tortures and the executions committed when he was the supreme chief of the country, of its army and of its soldiers, is the unique guarantee that tomorrow this freedom and our rights will be respected by those who pretend to govern us.

Justice for the 30,000 Victims of Duvalier; He must Be Judged

The decision has stirred up such controversy that there's even an open Facebook discussion group [fr] about it, called “Justice pour les victimes de Jean Claude Duvalier” (”Justice for the victims of Jean-Claude Duvalier”). Twitter was also an active discussion forum; some people showed the virtual middle finger to the former dictator, while others questioned the level of accountability in Haiti.

Interestingly, @RPrestonT tweeted:

@durandis: In my opinion, Haitians no longer view #Duvalier as the biggest problem since the others that followed did same or worse

Of course, the former dictator has also been tweeting his perspective, here.

The Justice System Must Arrest, Judge & Condemn Jean Claude Duvalier, Criminal

Diaspora blogger Elsie was upset over the decision [fr]:

Soit exactement 26 ans que le peuple haïtien se démène tout seul pour se libérer de la politique indigne, violente et méprisable de l'extrême-droite et des duvaliéiristes.

Exactly 26 years that the Haitian people struggle alone to free themselves from the shameful, violent and despicable politics of the extreme right and the Duvaliérists.

She also posted a video that shows…

Des militaires qui se mettent gratuitement à donner des coups de baton, à une femme habillée en blanc. Une femme sans défense dont le seul tort est de marcher dans la rue à ce moment là.

Soldiers who freely dole out blows with a stick, a woman dressed in white. A helpless woman whose only crime is to walk the streets at that time.

…prompting her to ask:

Qui a dit que le crime ne payait pas?

Who says crime does not pay?

Elsie also wrote a post [cr] questioning the Martelly/Duvalier connection:

Ayisyen aletranje mèt pare kor yo pou yo pran plis bafl pi devan si yo pa fè makaj sere sou tandem Sweet Michey-Baby Doc sa a…komanse poze tèt nou si se pa Jean-Claude Duvalier k'ap dirije Ayiti par lentèmedyè Sweet Mickey.

Haitian people living outside be ready to receive more “strokes” if they don't look more seriously
about the tandem Sweet Mickey-Baby Doc…let us start by asking ourselves if it is not Jean-Claude Duvalier who is governing Haiti through Sweet Mickey.

Haitian Protesters tell Martelly: Stop Tolerating Criminals in the Country, Duvalier Must be Judged

Dying in Haiti published a post by Amy Wilentz that also examined those political links…

Since his return in 2011 from a 25-year exile, Mr. Duvalier — Baby Doc — has managed to insert himself into semi-polite society, even finagling a seat near the new president, Michel Martelly, at the memorial ceremony for the victims of the 2010 earthquake. The president has filled many positions in his government with former Duvalier officials and their relatives. In short, he is rehabilitating Mr. Duvalier — and along with him, the extrajudicial code he and his father, François Duvalier, governed by. Last month, Mr. Martelly proposed a blanket pardon of Baby Doc — who has been accused of corruption and human rights abuses — telling The Associated Press, ‘I do believe that we need that reconciliation in Haiti.'

…and drew the conclusion that:

Mr. Duvalier must be prosecuted for his crimes against humanity. If they are dismissed, it will send a cheering message to past and future perpetrators of similar abuses. If he is tried and convicted, those who have relied upon impunity will know that they, too, risk a turn in the dock.

In the midst of all this legal uncertainly, one thing is for sure: bloggers will continue to keep a close eye on the appeals that are sure to follow this controversial verdict.

The images used in this post are by Gaetantguevara, used with permission. Visit Gaetantguevara's flickr photostream.

Line Lerus contributed to this post.

United States: Another Assault Against Immigrant Culture

Elizabeth Rivera — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:53:23 +0000

The decision to eliminate the Mexican-American studies program from public schools curriculum, which had been implemented in Tucson, Arizona, in 1998, has caused outrage. For many, the dismantling of the program and the confiscation of a great number of books is the living example of the ultra conservative agenda that is threatening the cultural and historic breadth of this region.

The decision approved in January by the Superintendent of Tucson's Independent School District, John Huppethal, is based on ARS-15-112 statute of HB 2281 Law. As explained by Jasmine Villa in LatinitasMagazine this law forbids courses or classes that:

Promote the overthrow of the United States government.

Promote resentment toward a race or class of people.

Are designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group.

Advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals.

Here's a list of some of the confiscated books:

“Rethinking Columbus: The next 500 years” by Leslie Silko

“The Tempest” by William Shakespeare

“Pedagogy of the Oppressed” by Paolo Freire

“Occupied America: A History of the Chicanos” by Rodolfo Acuña

“Chicano: The History of the Mexican-American movement for Civil Rights” by Arturo Rosales

“500 years of Chicano History in Images” by Isabel Martínez

Click here to read the full list.

Here is a video of the students and teachers protest against the prohibition of ethnic studies in Tucson:

As expected, the solidarity that the state wanted to control has been felt not only in Tucson but in several regions across the United States. Junot Díaz, Laura Esquivel, Ana Castillo, among other writers as well as various organizations dedicated to education, literature and freedom of expression have publicly rejected this unconstitutional action.

Online petitions have been created as well as blogs to support the re-installment of the Mexican-American Studies Curriculum. Banning History, for example, is accepting videos where people appear reading, singing or illustrating pieces of the censored books.

"You can't censor books", street art from Tucson, AZ. Photo by Flickr user crjp. Published under CC BY-NC-2.0 Licence.

Teacher Activist Group, TAG in collaboration with Rethinking Schools, also launched a campaign to raise awareness called “No history is illegal: a campaign to save our stories”. They have also created an extended curriculum based on the lessons of the banned program, complemented by lessons on the fight for freedom of speech and cultural diversity.

Definitively, this solidarity wave will gain strength because it is a very effective antidote to the abuse of power, fear and racism. In March the Librotraficante caravan will arrive from Houston, Texas to Tucson, Arizona to hand out censored books.

Here is a video on the caravan project organized by writer Tony Díaz.

Hong Kong: Videos Against Homophobic Bullying in Schools

Oiwan Lam — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:05:42 +0000

“I am who I am” is a video advocacy project against homophobic bullying in schools in Hong Kong. It is convened by a lesbian rights organization, Nui-Tong-Xue-She (女同學社) in Hong Kong. Below are some statistics about homophobic bullying in Hong Kong collected by the organization in its campaign website [zh]:

•   2005年，民政事務局委託顧問公司進行民意調查，發現性傾向歧視在校園頻生，接近六成的受訪者認為同性戀學生在學校受到一般至非常嚴重的歧視。
•   香港女同盟會於去年進行的「香港女性因性傾向受歧視狀況」調查亦再次確認校園是性傾向歧視的重災區，高達31%的歧視行為在校園內發生，居於5項範疇的性傾向歧視狀況的首位。而同學、教職員以及學生更是第二位最常作出歧視行為的人。
•   香港小童群益會「性向無限計劃」於2009年展開網上調查，了解現正就讀中學或離校少於三年的同志青少年在學時的經歷。調查發現高達81.7%的同志青少年曾向同儕或師長隱藏自己的性傾向，並為此感到孤單(57.4%)、不安(39.8%)，甚至萌生自殺的念頭(18%)，而針對性傾向的欺凌行為仍然猖獗，受訪學生曾遭遇社交排斥、杯葛(39.8%)、言語暴力(42.3%)以至肢體傷害或性騷擾(13.5%)。

Video advocacy project against homophobic bullying in schools "I am who I am"

- A survey conducted by a research consultant appointed by the Home Affair Bureau in 2005 showed that homophobic bullying in schools was very common. About 60% of the interviewees agreed that homosexual students are suffered from discrimination in schools.

- Women Coalition of Hong Kong [zh] conducted another survey last year (in 2010) that reaffirmed previous finding concerning homophobic bullying in schools. The survey shows that about 31% of the discriminatory bullying happened at school campus and sexual orientation discrimination is most common among other forms of discrimination (such as racial). The bullies are usually students and sometimes involved teachers.

- An online survey among young homosexual communities conducted by The Boys & Girls Clubs Association of Hong Kong under its “Touch Project” [zh] in 2009 found that 81.7% homosexual youths hid their sexual orientations from friends and teachers in schools and as a result, 57.4% felt lonely, 39.8% felt anxious and 18% were suicidal. Among different forms of homophobic bullying, verbal violence was most common (42.3%), followed by social exclusion and boycotts (39.8%) and 13.5% of the interviewees said that they were suffered from physical attack and sexual harassment.

The video project began back in November 2011. The organization will release seven interviews via sexual minority and LGBT friendly media workers and politicians. Below is the project's promotion video:

So far three interviews have been released. The interviewees are:

Brian Leung - Host of “We are Family”, an LGBT-friendly radio programme , RTHK
Funny Wong - Female-to-male trans-man
Eva Tam - Lesbian (released in January 2012)
Heihei - Mr. Gay Hong Kong 2010
Joanne Leung - Male-to-female trans-woman (released in February 2012)
Cyd Ho - LGBT-friendly Legislative Councilor
Lam Woon-kwong - Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission (released in December 2011)

South Korea: Judge Who Lampooned President on Social Media Resigns

Lee Yoo Eun — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:37:45 +0000

In South Korea, Judge Seo Gi-ho, who posted an insulting message ridiculing the President on Twitter and his Facebook wall, has resigned amidst controversy.

Although, on the face of it, it appears that the the resignation was due to his poor evaluation result, his fellow judges and activist groups alleged that the judiciary's intention was to gain the favor of the President by punishing Seo, who had made the headlines for lampooning him. They also added that the review process was not transparent enough and Seo had actually scored well enough to be re-appointed.

February 17, 2012, was Judge Seo's last day in office. About a hundred people gathered in front of the Justice building to throw him a small resignation ceremony. Seo's support group, “The Eyes of the People”, gave Seo a new ‘People's Judge' robe as a way of showing that even though he failed to get re-appointed, the public acknowledged him as a judge.

: Seo wearing the new ‘People's Judge' robe. Posted by Wiki Tree, Used under CC By-SA 2.0

On December 7, 2011, Seo's highly sarcastic post [ko] regarding the President (which is extremely difficult to translate, given the puns and hidden context) created quite a bit of commotion in Twittersphere. It can roughly be translated into something like ‘Don't get intimidated. Or his Highness will give you a big yeot (taffy)” [meaning that the President will cause people great problems. In modern times the Korean phrase “eat yeot” (엿 먹어라) has a vulgar meaning, comparable to using the f-word in English].

It was not good timing, as it came amidst the free trade deal with the United States. Other judges too, turned vocal and began to post a similar lampooning messages on their social media accounts. However, conservative media blew Seo's case out of proportion and this one post made such a big headline, that Seo was reprimanded by the Supreme Court some weeks later.

Now, after his recent controversial post on Facebook, he has failed to get re-appointed, something which rarely happens to judges in South Korea. (According to one local news report, out of all the judges who held post from 1988, there are only five judges, including Seo, who did not get re-appointed after their first ten year term ended.)

: Seo's last day in his office, Post by Wiki Tree, Used under CC By-SA 2.0

Responses sprang up in Twitter and Blogosphere. Baek Chan-hong (@mindgood) tweeted [ko]:

학교든 직장이든 사람을 내보내려면 평가결과를 알려주어야 함에도 대법원은 근무평가를 통보하지도 않고 서기호 판사의 재임용을 거부. 사법부 스스로 얼마나 불합리하고 비상식적인지를 보여준 것.

Whether it is a school or workplace, when you kick people out, you have to notify them the evaluation result. But instead, the Supreme Court choose not to announce the result and went on rejecting the reappointment of Judge Seo, thereby proving how unjust and irrational they are.

Twitter user @iron_heel, quoting Seo's remark, expressed his support [ko]:

저는 쫓겨났다고 생각하지 않습니다. 10년 담임제 임기를 마치고 잠시 떠나는 것이라 생각합니다. 저의 재임용 탈락은 부당하고 위법입니다. 받아들일 수 없습니다. 소송을 벌일 겁니다 - 서기호 판사 : 꼭 이기시길 !

‘I don't think that I was kicked out. I believe that this is just a temporary break after my 10 year term in the office. But still the decision to turn down my re-appointment is unfair and illegal and I cannot accept it. I will file a lawsuit.' - Please Judge Seo, you should win!

Chegal Myeong-Hyeon (@Quantuminist) tweeted [ko]:

@jonghee1 이제 국민 대표판사 1호가 탄생했지요. 서기호 판사님, 꼭 복직하시길…

This means we see the first-ever ‘people's judge' who will represent people's voices. I really hope Judge Seo is reinstated.

His acquaintance and supporters have even set up a special twitter account @babopansa to consolidate and retweet links about Mr.Seo and to rally people for protests and sign online petitions. This tweet [ko] is from Seo's fellow judge:

이제는 법원이 잘못된 길을 간다고 생각이 들 때, 그 말을 하려고 한다. 그 동안 침묵하는 다수였으나 소리 내는 모난 돌이 정을 맞는다 해도 이제는 침묵하지 않겠다. via 남원지원 김영훈 판사

From now on, I will say something, when I feel that the Court is walking the wrong way. I've been one of the silent majority, but from now on I will not remain silent even though that may cost me pain and persecution. Written by Judge Kim Young-hun of Namwon Province.

This tweet [ko] urged people to sign online petitions:

[ON국민절찬서명중입니다] http://bit.ly/x2Jo3Q 1. 서기호 판사의 복직! 2. 정치권력개입NO! 독립과 개혁! 3. 양승태 대법원장 사퇴! #99% 이시죠?트위터와페이북계정으로서명할수있습니다!

[We are gathering peoples' signatures now] (We demand) 1. Reappointment of Judge Seo. 2. Halt political powers' influence (on the court) and calling for the independence and reform of the Justice office. 3. Resignation of the Chief Justice of Supreme Court, Yang Seung-Tae. Are you one of #99 percent? Please sign (the petition) with your Facebook and Twitter account!

Another tweet [ko] notified a special (Catholic) Mass that will be held to support Seo.

‘서기호 판사(분도)와 사법정의를 위한 미사'가 19일(일요일) 오후 2시 가톨릭청년회관에서 진행됩니다. 공지영 작가도 참석할 예정이라네요. 일정 확인해보시고, RT 부탁드리겠습니다.

A special ‘Mass for Judge Seo Gi-ho and for judicial justice' will held in the Young Catholic Association Hall at 2 pm on Feb 19. Writer Gong Ji-young [note: South Korea's best-selling author who strongly voices out her opinion in various social issues] will be there too. Please check your schedule and retweet this message.

Things are heating up also within the justice community. According to one news report, some are predicting that the court's decision to drop Seo, may provoke mass-scale protests among young judges.

Ecuador: Citizens React to Verdict Against Newspaper El Universo

Louella Mahabir — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 01:22:13 +0000

On Thursday, February 16, the highest Ecuadorian court upheld a verdict in favour of President Rafael Correa in a libel case against newspaper El Universo, one of the major dailies in this South American country.

It's been less than a year since President Correa sued the newspaper, it's directors and the editor for slander against him for an opinion column [es] written by Emilio Palacio. The column refers to the alleged directive of the president to fire shots at civilians during a revolt on the September 30, 2011. Palacio [es], author of the column and former editor, is now seeking asylum in the United States; while journalist and former director Carlos Pérez is currently exiled in the Embassy of Panama in Quito [es] after the news broke and the sentence against the newspaper was confirmed.

Correa's lawsuit is the first action taken by the highest court of justice in Ecuador, the new National Court of Justice, which was initiated just three weeks ago. The sentence against El Universo demands $40 million U.S. dollars in damages and 3 years in prison for each offender. Ruptura [es], a political news source in Ecuador, compares the economic value of the sentence:

cuarenta millones equivalen a 40 veces el caso más importante de desaparición y crimen de Estado, como es el caso Restrepo; o son el equivalente de 600 años de sueldo presidencial.

40 million equates to 40 times the cost of the most important cases of disappearances or crimes against the state, as in the Restrepo case; or it's the equivalent to 600 years of a presidential salary.

President Rafael Correa and Carlos Pérez, ex-director of El Universo –Photo reproduced under authorisation of the newspaper El Comercio, Quito - Ecuador

Lawyer and blogger Silvana Tapia, who writes in the blog Lunas Azules [es] (Blue Moons), analysed the legal proceedings from which the sentence was arrived. Silvana believes that, “the law must correct concrete actions, not repercussions much less the characters of persons”, and outlines:

Del universo de conflictos que pueden aparecer en la vida de una persona, una mínima parte debería resolverse mediante la aplicación de la ley penal: conductas que vulneran bienes jurídicos esenciales como la vida y la integridad física y sexual. Por supuesto que el buen nombre y el honor son atributos de la personalidad, pero es el derecho civil, que se ocupa de los perjuicios que pueden causarse unos particulares a otros, el que está llamado a restablecer el equilibrio cuando se presentan polémicas como la generada por un artículo de opinión que utilizó con descuido e incuria, los adjetivos y los epítetos.

In the universe of conflicts that can occur in the life of a person, a minimal part should be resolved with the application of the legal system: conducts that threaten essential judicial privileges like life, personal and sexual integrity. Of course, a good reputation and honour are personal attributes, but this pertains to civil law, which handles prejudices directed at others, and is called upon to re-establish equilibrium when controversies arise due to opinion articles in which certain adjectives and epithets are used indiscriminately and in negligence.

Despite efforts by organisations like the Human Rights Foundation and Human Rights Watch to eliminate the penalty for defamation in Ecuador [es], the National Court of Justice declared it would follow through with its decision. However, the Ecuadorian population remains unsure on whether this is a good judgement or a bad one, brought forward by the criticism and haste [es] with which the final decision was taken.

Manuel Ignacio López in the blog Today and now [es] believes, just as Fernando Balda [es], that Correa's government has a team of followers lined up in an organised system on social networks which allows results like the one from last Thursday in the National Court of Justice. But López points a finger at those who defend Correa's actions as agents of the government:

…Unos repiten su discurso de los sábados. Otros escriben cartas a los diarios y organizaciones diciendo que aquí no pasa nada. Otros lo acompañan a las audiencias, avalando el abuso con su presencia. Otros, que incluso fueron periodistas o editorialistas, prefieren ser cómplices con su silencio. No quieren perder sus privilegios. A ellos se suman periodistas de medios del Gobierno que defienden estos abusos que antes hubiesen rechazado a toda voz. Cambian su defensa de la libertad de expresión por la defensa de sus puestos.

Some repeat Saturdays' drivel. Others write letters to newspapers and organisations saying that nothing is going on here. Others, accompanied by audiences, swallow the abuse with their presence. Others, including journalists or editors, prefer to be accomplices with their silence. They don't want to lose their privileges. They are all a bunch of agents of the government who defend this abuse that they themselves rejected with all their might in the past. They would trade their freedom of expression to keep their posts.

While the Ecuadorian Association of Editors and Journalists (Aedep), the National Journalists Union (UNP), and Fundamedios (Andes Foundation for the Observation and Study of Media Arts) question the sentence [es] some Ecuadorean Twitter users [es], like Economics and Finance student Sebastián Lucero (@gamuzeins) [es], disagree:

Ser periodista no da carta libre para injuriar y lanzar epítetos sin fundamentos. La falta de ética y profesionalismo se paga.

Being a journalist doesn't give anyone the right to insult and throw names without due cause. Serves them right for their lack of professionalism.

On the other hand, lawyer and Twitter user Pablo Garzón (@pgarzon) published a series of tweets on the day of the sentence:

@pgarzon [es]: En tu casa, con tus amigos, déjales saber que lo de El Universo no fue un juicio justo, se violaron normas y procedimientos elementales.

In your house with your friends, let it be known that the El Universo judgment was unfair, norms and basic rules were violated.

@pgarzon [es]: Si no leías El Universo, si te cae mal Emilio Palacio, no importa. Ahora podrán cometer el mismo atropello a cualquier diario, entiéndelo!

If you didn't read El Universo, if you don't like Emilio Palacio, it doesn't matter. Now, it can happen to any newspaper. Get that into your head!

Other Twitter users used #ElUniverso [es] and #LibertadDeExprexión [es] (”Freedom of speech”) when referring to the sentence. Byron Mayorga (@bmayorga) [es], editor general of the tech blog Bitscloud [es], wrote:

El tema #ElUniverso debió haberse resuelto bajo otras instancias: mediación, arbitraje.

The El Universo matter ought to have been dealt with in a different manner: mediation, arbitration.

To which Ivan Danilo (@monoarre) [es] responded:

@bmayorga Mediación cuando ambas partes quieren negociar, aqui no hubo tal.

Mediation is when both parties want to negotiate, here, there was no such thing.

At the root of the release of the news of this sentence, the comments in an article [es] in newspaper El Comercio have hinted at a national march being organised for the March 8 in rejection of the court's ruling. The management and staff of El Universo organised their own protest in Quito and Guayaquil [es]. On Twitter, journalists Roberto Villavicencio (@robvillavicencio) and Gabriela Fajardo (@GabyFajardo) (1, 2, 3) shared photos of the two hour protest in Quito during the night of February 16.

But not all Ecuadorians support these protests. From Guayaquil, Josue Castillo (@Azulito0) [es] writes:

Se los ve bonitos a los payasos que trabajan en el#Universo en lugar de trabajar están parados como todas las cosas.

The clowns that work at El Universo look good instead of working they're just standing, just like everything else.

From Quito, Victor Constante (@viconst) [es] says that the protests show that there is freedom of expression in the country:

Estos plantones confirman que en Ecuador sí hay libertad de expresión. Celebro la condena a los difamadores de EL Universo!

These protests confirm that in Ecuador there is freedom of expression. I celebrate the condemnation of defamation at El Universo.

This conversation around freedom of expression in this Andean country will continue to be a heated topic of discussion in the upcoming days. However, Nila Velásquez, the new director of El Universo, has said that there will be no significant changes [es] at the newspaper.

Parts of this post are based on a post published of February 17 on Silvia Viñas' personal blog.