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Kiswahili Bloggers this week

Ndesanjo Macha · 09:46 · Sub-Saharan Africa

Tanzanian Kiswahili bloggers continue to write about the presidential and parliamentary elections taking at the end of the month. Mwandani comes across an open letter of advice addressed to the “incoming president,” Jakaya Kikwete.

Although Tanzanians have not yet cast their votes to elect the new president, the ruling party’s victory is a foregone conclusion. Miruko does not understand the meaning of election if the results are known long before the election. Tanzania elects its president and members of parliament every five years.

Kazonta thinks it is a joke that the Prevention of Corruption Bureau (PCB) conducted a seminar on ways to combat corrupt practices in election campaigns few days before the election. He does not know why PCB waited this long.

As unemployment becomes one of the main social problems facing young people in Tanzania, Gaphiz reports about an organization using a bilingual website (Kiswahili and English) to address this problem.

Funguajicho, a Tanzanian student in Uganda, discusses Ugandan politics, particularly the the return of the leading opposition candidate, Dr.Kiiza Besigye, from exile in South Africa

Harakati writes a long article about the dangers of Tanzanian “Bongo Flava” artists losing cultural identity by copying everything from America. “If you are singing and dressed like 50 Cent, why should I listen to you instead of 50 Cent?,” he asks.

Ngurumo wonders who owns the National Electoral Commission wants to punish Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (the party of democracy and development) for using national flag colors on its campaign materials.

Issa Michuzi posts photos of Dar Es Salaam twin towers and of himself dancing with the Maasai in Arusha, Tanzania.

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Images from Japan: Sushi

Paul Frankenstein · 09:00 · East Asia

“Sushi” by Sekihan

A young woman ponders the display at a sushi restaurant in Tokyo.

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Pulse of the Saudi Blogosphere

Ahmed Al-Omran · 08:44 · Middle East & North Africa

This week, Abu Hamad has a question to his Saudi readers: “what would you do if Bush and his “junta” decided to invade Saudi?” He thinks that with current state of affairs it is extremely unlikely, but asks his reader not to try to limit their imaginations.

Farooha had a meeting with the Jordanian blogger Ruba Al-Assi. At first, they had a communication problem, so they finally settled for English. According to Farooha, they “had one hell of a time.” And although they had graduated from the same class at the same secondary school in Riyadh, Roba dose not remember Farooha at all, and Farooha remember Roba as “The tall girl.”

Trilancer is disappointed with the low level that Arabic TV shows have reached. He thinks that a major season for TV in the Arab World, such as Ramadhan, only “shows how bad Arabian shows are. From bad to worse, and the only thing new technology has proven is that the problem is with the people, not the resources.”

Nour thinks that Embrace, Cherish, and Care are three magic words that will take Saudis to the top. “If we want to build a nation so strong, bonded by love and respect, all must benefit. We should look at the less fortunate and give them a chance. We the people, not Al-Saud, blame them all you want, it won't change a thing. It won't make any ones life better. (…) Embracing righteous and modestly continuing yet cherishing our religion Islam, all at the same time could never turn against us,” she says.

Prometheus says that religious fanaticism has ruined our lives (Arabic), “and those who promote this fanaticism are ignorant, retarded people,” he added. “We must not follow them and support their extreme opinions.”

Fouad al-Farhan wonders if Google has become the biggest spy in the world (Arabic). On the subject of discrimination against minorities, Jo says “[i]t is one thing to be able to speak your mind and quite another to use your words so that you can incite hatred towards any group of people.” Digital Mind discusses some possibilities to encourage writing books in the Arabic (Arabic) language.

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This weeks voices from Nigeria and Ghana

Edward Popoola · 08:30 · Sub-Saharan Africa

Chippla reports on the Belleveiw plane crash in Nigeria last weekend. He talks about the first few hours after the plane crashed. He gave an account of Nigerian's perception of Bellview Airlines and why Nigerians considered it the safest, until that black Sunday. UKNaija raises questions about the Nigerian search efforts, why the TV station that broadcast the crash site was shut, among others.

TRAE days expresses his view on Nigerians having too much of God in their head. He tells us that hardly will a Nigerian talk without introducing the God sentiments. He gave instances of prominent people in the country that have mentioned God in formal discussions instead of just “talking the talk”

Black Looks reports on Nigerian human rights lawyer, Mrs Hauwa Ibrahim who has won a prize for “freedom of thought”

Abuja City reports on an investigation by the Toxic Trade Watchdog, Basel Action Network (BAN) that mentioning Nigeria as a digital dumping ground for out of date and environmentally unfriendly computer systems. This entry is an eye-opener, particularly now that the number of computer users is increasing in the country.

Staying with computers, Timbuktu Chronicles reports on the “self-serving words of a Microsoft Nigeria spokesperson, Africa has no need for Free Open Source Software “. Why? According to Microsoft ” You can give people free software or computers, but they won't have the expertise to use”. For Microsoft Africa is a huge largely untapped market. It is clear from these statements that they are preparing to battle with open source software provision by FOSS which by its very nature of being free and open has a head start.

Ghana

The Ghana Journal talks about his recent trip to the Northern part of Ghana. His entry discusses the Ghanaian slum lives and the challenges faced by the inhabitants. He reports on the activities of the Ghana Homeless Peoples’ Federation, a network of community-led groups in slums across the country in helping the slum populace. He also has some interesting pictures.

Ramblings of an African Geek has a review of “Bloodchild” by African American writer, Octavia Butler.

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Nepal: Kantipur FM, Democracy and Media

Neha Viswanathan · 04:25 · South Asia

The nature of Government in Nepal has raised a lot of doubts about Nepal's democratic future. The commitment to democracy is questionable given the Media Ordinance of Oct 9 2005. The ordinance imposes heavy restrictions on independent media. This includes banning of publication of materials which could be ‘helpful to terrorists', increasing the fine on publishers and editors and banning of news broadcasts through FM stations. Amendments were made to Nepal's Radio Act, Press and Publication Act and National Broadcasting Act. A mainstream media news report on the Government's perspective can be read here.

Kantipur FM is Nepal's first independent radio station. FM Radio has been an important part of Nepal's mediascape. Since the royal takeover in February 2005, news broadcasts by FM stations have been banned in Nepal. On 21 Oct 2005, there was a ‘visit' by the Government officials to the FM Station. Democracy for Nepal says

The assault on Kantipur FM premises is a window into what is about to happen. The regime is preparing for a showdown. The clouds are gathering. They first made an illegal visit. Then they made an illegal request. When the Kantipur FM people did not comply, they sent the police to gherao the premises. Finally they backed down.

United We Blog! has an excellent photo-essay on the events of the night. According to their account

Around three dozens policemen who arrived in four vans forcefully entered the building of Kantipur FM premises at around 11:15pm and took away eight servers and all the equipment needed to uplink to satellite for airing programs…

The comment space for that post is brimming with ideas and arguments. There are strong views that the ordinance is contradictory to the constitution of Nepal. Kantipur FM moved the Supreme Court of Nepal. The media community appears to have united for this cause. However, the Government has issued an ultimatum to the radio station on 26 Oct 2005 according to Legal News from Nepal.

In what looks like a desperate final assault against Kantipur FM radio station, the government Wednesday gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the station to cancel its operating license… The government has said it has given the FM a “chance” to furnish written clarification within 24 hours mentioning reasons, if any, along with the necessary proof establishing the reasons, as to why the station's license should not be cancelled… The Ministry has said that it will cancel the FM's license if it is not satisfied with the clarification or if no clarification is furnished within the 24-hour deadline.

The future of Kantipur FM is shaky. While the petition has been registered in the Supreme Court, the court has not yet issued a stay order and developments are expected on 30 Oct 2005. It is incredible that an ordinance that affects Main Stream Media, is being defended by blogs and the protest has found an online audience. The restricitions on Media in Nepal are likely to impact democratic processes like elections and legislation. And the assault on Kantipur FM is not an isolated event, but part of a larger design to control media and freedom of expression. In an email exchange with Dinesh Wagle, I was told that

Govt. wants to eliminate Kantipur Group since it is the major force that is criticizing the regime. Kantipur Publications (Kantipur newspaper-most influential, the Kathmandu Post, and FM + Kantipur TV). The other two independent big media houses are APKA (publisher of the Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post- nepali daily), and Himal Media (publisher of Himal Magazine and Nepali Times Weekly). Other broad sheet papers have gone to the royalist fold taking money via the govt.'s One Window Advertisement policy.

In solidarity, agitating political parties backing Kantipur FM have called for a strike on the 28 Oct 2005. We will have more on this issue as events unfold.

Update - The Supreme Court issued a stay order on 26 Oct 2005 with respect to the Kantipur FM station case. However the fight is still on. The bigger issue of the Media Ordinance is still in Court. The hearing on Media Ordinance will start from Sunday. A common perception in Nepal is that the courts are influenced by the Royal Palace. (Thanks to Dinesh Wagle for the update.)

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