Archive for
August 22nd, 2005

   

Stories

Iranian bloggers worried about New President's Cabinet

Farid Pouya · 12:57 · Middle East & North Africa

S'can-Iranic writes that most of President Ahmadinejad's nominees for his cabinet have been members of Islamic Revolutionary Corps or closely worked with it. Revolutionary Guards is considered main faithful force to hardliners. In recent years member of this army have been more and more involved in business and trading.
It is clear sign that country is going to be militarised and Revloutionary army has their word to say on any decision in goverment. Majid Tehranian, a US based Communication Professor, in his interview with WashingtonPrism said this kind of militarization has already happened in country centuries ago. Ancient dynasty Abbasid Khalifa brought at its service Turkish slave soldiers. But after a while these slave soldiers started to control country and become more powerful than Kalifa!!

Dokhtarak from Shiraz reports that in streets there are much more control to check women's makeup or their cloths. In many cases people got arrested and spend a night or two in prison. There are signs that we go back to pre reform period and people will understand that there was (is) a DIFFERENCE between reformers and conservatives!! By the way good news is that Ganji, jailed journalist, broke his hunger strike after 70 days. Bad news is he is still in jail and other political prisoners such as Manoucher Mohamdai, jailed student leader since 1999, continues his hunger strike after 40 days.

1 comment  · read »

Bangladesh: Blogspeak on the Blasts

Neha Viswanathan · 05:10 · South Asia

Hit by over 400 bombs, the Bangladeshi blogosphere provided perspective into the events of August 17 2005.

Bongo Vongo believes this to be the work of fascists. Rezwan asks pertinent questions and attempts to find some answers. ElectrikBlues writes an open letter to all Bangladeshis and asks:

a terrorist attack that involves the explosion of over 500 bombs is an endeavor that requires the involvement of at least 2000 people. chances are, you know someone who was involved in the planning and implementation of this attack. wife, brother, sister, husband, son or cousin - you definitely know someone who had a role to play. the question is not why they did it, but rather why they did it.

More unanswered questions at A way in the world.

Unheard Voices provides details, gives an insight into the the group blamed through quotes and the leaflets found at the blast sites, and links to an article by Zafar on how Bangladesh cannot claim that it hasn't been warned. Wamy asks, “Why should we expect anything better?” saying,

For we allow the corrupt elite to run the country. Instead of overthrowing them from power, we praise them and nourish them and hope that someday these democratically elected corrupt leaders will do something really good for us, for the country.

The links between political instability and the blasts. Similar reflections on democracy and the responsibilities that come with it at Imtiaz's weBlog. The blog also provides the translations of the leaflets of the Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh group claiming responsibility for the blasts.

2 comments  · read »
Page 1 of 6