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Nepal Revolution: Victory

Paramendra · 19:17 · South Asia

The April Revolution in Nepal is a landmark in the country's history. People poured out into the streets for 19 days in all towns, villages, cities. The country was totally shut down. And the king caved in. This is a victory for non violence, for democracy.

Democracy For Nepal celebrated the obvious victory, but it is also guarded as to the Maoist response: 18 Days Of April Revolution: Victory, Maoist Reaction To Democratic Victory: Not Right, Declare Constituent Assembly On First Day Of Parliament.

Dinesh Wagle, the founder of United We Blog,was recently in New York City: and was extremely unhappy he had missed the April Revolution.

It appears that a constituent assembly finally feels possible, the Madhesi community needs to work to attain equality for the first time in Nepal: it is a civil rights issue. Madhesi Rights: Total Equality.

United We Blog as always has great on the ground coverage and commentary: Leaders Vow to Preserve People’s Power, Roadmap of New Nepal, King Renounces, All Eyes on SPA, People’s Power.

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Bloggers react to Colombo bomblast

Mahangu · 16:44 · South Asia

Reports of the recent bomb explosion in Colombo trickled in to the Sri Lankan blogosphere today, with veteran political blog Nittewa being the first to pick up the story.

Meanwhile, new comer Moju threw up a thread that got some discussion going, and although this as usual quickly degenerated in to trolling, a few commentors left some good links.

Thank you Advocate, for these youtube videos which feature TV captures of some post blast footage.

Although I've summed up a little of my past experiences with bombs in this post on my personal site,

The actual scene of an explosion is nothing like the glamorous setups you see in movies or on TV. There’s a lot more gore than cinema, and none of the music to keep you psyched. The smell of flesh and fear, entwined, inseparable. A stench that climbs up your nostrils and stays there, lodged between your nose and your mind.

most other Sri Lankan weblogs have been suprisingly quiet on the issue.

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Voices from Central Asia and the Caucasus

Ben Paarmann · 14:46 · Central Asia & Caucasus

Zhenkov Cathedral, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Welcome to the latest roundup from the Central Asian and Caucasian blogosphere, brought to you (almost) bi-weekly by neweurasia's Ben, James, Peter and Luke.

As usual, we take you through the countries alphabetically. Unfortunately, the Azeri blogosphere is still underrepresented in our roundup - so if you're a blogger writing on/from Azerbaijan, be sure to drop us a line with your link. (more…)

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Elections' Race Between “Two Lefts”

Iria Puyosa · 13:12 · Americas

The official announcement of Teodoro Petkoff’s candidacy turned Venezuela 2006 presidential race on. Since April 20th, when the announcement was made, the Venezuelan political debate has been focused on what the editor of daily newspaper Tal Cual has to offer to the voters. Venezuelan bloggers have been debating Petkoff’s announcement from diverse perspectives:

Rayas y palabras highlights the ability to lead democratic dialogue as the main characteristic that differentiates Petkoff from President Chávez, who leans toward authoritarianism. According to HLP’s judgement, both leaders are not far apart regarding their approach to social policy.

Blog de RomRod points out that Petkoff’s major drawback is his lack of electoral machinery to reach the poor neighborhoods where Chávez’s personal appeal penetrates.

UnoConTodo claim that Petkoff’s candidacy generated hysteria among chavistas. Nonetheless, pro-Chávez blogs have been only copying and pasting a few articles from other pro-government sites in which Petkoff is labeled as neoliberal and accused of being an IMF agent. The best pro-Chávez blogs, such as El espacio de Lubrio are avoiding the topic of the country's most famous guerilla fighter, Teodoro Petkoff, running for President.

The strongest criticisms against Petkoff come from abstentionists, who characterize the socialist democratic leader as a Trojan horse, infiltrated by chavismo in order to break the opposition boycott against the elections. Meanwhile, libertarian bloggers regard Petkoff—as well as the others presidential candidates — as Little Chávez, populists, who are not going to promote the country's economic development.

English posts that contain "Teodoro Petkoff" per day for the last 30 days.

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tag: Venezuela - 2006 Presidential Elections / Teodoro Petkoff

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Dahab Spring Tears

Haitham Sabbah · 12:14 · Middle East & North Africa

Another black day! Yesterday, Egypt was having a national holiday, Sham an Nessim, just few days after the Coptic Easter, which means that many Egyptians were in Dahab as well as foreigners. At about 19:15 local time, three different explosions rocked the tourist town of Dahab. It was reported that at least 23 dead and up to 150 people were injured.

Condolences, sadness, condemnations and anger are floating all over the Egyptian blogsphere. Some blogger wonder what's keeping the Egyptian president from firing the Interior minister.

Ibn ad Dunya from Fustat blog said:

I would think that an imadiate result would be the sacking of the Minister of Interior, Habib al Adly. it’s unprecedented in recent history that a minister of Interior gets to keep his portfolio after three major terrorist attacks. Usually the president’s paticience is not that long.

Free Soul is depressed:

It is enough to listen to the news everyday to get you into deep depression, I don’t know how to express my emotions but it seems like I am lost.

It seems the ethics I have has no real meaning, they are nonsense, they don’t have any meaning but in my fake world, but in the real outer world they mean nothing, they don’t exist.

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African music #7

Obi · 08:58 · Kenya , D.R. of Congo

Nothing beats a music festival. You meet like the music lovers, people interested in the genre and enjoy the good party vibe. And though you know the lineup in advance you have no idea what antics will be displayed on stage. With these musings I look forward to the 4th London African Music Festival taking place between the 19th and 28th of May 2006. Looks set to be a brilliant showcase with artist like Kanda Bongo Man and Cheikh Lo (left) taking center stage. Get a ticket, catch a show (there are a few free foyer performances so no excuse). Welcome to the African Music roundup.

Found a really cool online African music show, African Beat, hosted by David Vandy and Executive Producer Matthew Lavoie (Voice of America). I really dig Vandy's presenting energy with a beautiful selection of music streaming out of my computer's speakers. What did one do before the internet? Great show (available in various media formats). Soundtrack to this roundup. Enjoy.

First massive big up to MsaniiXL for winning the Kenyaunlimited Best entertainment blog award 2006 (the kaybees). MsaniiXL, in addition to an appreciation post, writes about poet and rapper Muki Garang:

“If “ya'll” havent heard about Muki Garang, he is an emcee that has been doing his thing for minute, he also does poetry(I know one of KBW fam posted something about this but it escapes me who, apologies are in order)”

The post provides a video stream to one of Muki's music videos and some great links to other artists. Muki is a Nairobi based Sudanese rap artiste.

Still on the topic of Sudanese rap artistes Street Knowledge reviews the album, “ceasefire”, by Sudanese rapper, Emmanuel Jal:

“You may have heard the story behind this more than the music, but definitely don’t sleep on the sound, which is deep no doubt. Jal’s garnered much press as a rapper who was conscripted as a child into the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in the war that has torn up Sudan the last few years.”

Emmanuel has an excellent website with loads of media for your enjoyment. Good stuff.
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