Archive for
December 7th, 2006
Stories
Pinochet's Heart Attack: Bloggers Reactions
Last weekend, ex-dictator Augusto Pinochet, was admitted to the hospital because of a heart attack. The situation awoke national feelings of what he symbolises to Chilean citizens. This post is meant to share some of those reactions:
El Chere (ES) on irreverencia (ES), writes:
¿Qué tienen en común el fin de las dictaduras españolas, brasileras, paraguayas, bulgaras, rumanas y paraguayas?. Los dictadores murieron, fueron tomados presos, exiliados o de alguna u otra forma se les saco de la realidad nacional, acá en Chile esto no pasó. Por lo mismo el proceso de transición a la democracia en Chile ha sido tan engorroso, largo, y lleno de rencores. De una u otra forma Pinochet ha marcado el devenir nacional de los últimos 17 años.”
China: Beijing bloggers drop the ball?
There's been a lot of response to police in the southern city of Shenzhen's decision late last month to put two hundred men and women arrested in connection with prostitution on display in the middle of a major intersection for public humiliation. For most bloggers, the questions an act like this raises relate a bit to the issue surrounding sex work, but mostly about how Cultural Revolution-era mob tactics could reappear in today's China.
Many of those bloggers, however, decided only to let the photos speak for themselves. Lian Yue's Eighth Continent, for example, who merely posted two photos, one from the show trial and the second of Indian prostitutes out rallying for World AIDS Day last week, a comparison several other bloggers made. Moogee at Pro State In Flames took a similar approach by collecting different news photos from the show trial.
(more…)
Philippines: A new Constitution next week?
Pro-administration Solons have been transparent in their intention to change the 1987 Constitution which they believe is already obsolete and hinders foreign investments. But few expected that they will attempt to accomplish their goal by changing the rules of Congress in order to pave the way for the swift approval of the Charter Change proposal in less than two weeks, even without the participation of the Philippine Senate.
The Lower House is determined to ignore the opposition of the Senate which may result into a constitutional crisis.
The proposed date for the drafting of amendments in the Constitution will be on December 11 or 12. The Speaker of the House was quoted by the media that the final draft will be ready on December 15.
The “bold political move” of Congress triggered protests from various sectors and individuals.
Ellen Tordesillas prays that this “unconciousnable rape of democracy will finally wake the Filipino nation up.”
The Church was quick in condemning the railroading of Charter Change. In and Out of Season, the blog of a Catholic Archbishop:
“We sense through the media that the highest leadership of the land and of Congress in particular seem to be so “desperate” that they would even change the Constitutional Rules of Congress in order to speedily pursue and accommodate the Constituent Assembly. If the term of our elected officials could be extended by six months to one year to institute the Charter Change by Constituent Assembly, such could further encourage a longer and longer term. The saying goes “when power corrupts, it corrupts absolutely.”
Philippine Commentary gives an analysis on the resolution approved by Congress endorsing Charter Change. A Nagueño in the blogosphere wished the super typhoon which recently hit his home province destroyed instead the House of Representatives.
The Philippine Experience explains why many Solons are in favor of Charter Change:
“Many in the majority bloc are in their last term in office and those who are running for reelection know that the electorate will run them down come election day. This is due to their immoral decision to kill the two previous impeachments. They have nowhere to run and Charter Change is the only way for them to keep their positions and powers intact.”
Arabisc: Prison Adventures and a Yemeni Cure for Aids!
Remember Egyptian blogger Abdul Kareem Nabeel Sulieman? Well, he is still being detained and investigated on five charges, which include incitement to hate Islam, spreading malicious rumours that disrupt public security and defaming the Egyptian President.
From prison, Kareem smuggles notes for his friends to blog and tell the world about his plight. His arrest has made him come to the realisation that speaking his mind has put him in danger.
Links for Thu, 2006-12
Kyrgyz Report says that the shooting of a citizen of Kyrgyzstan by a guard at the US airbase in the country has prompted the country's president to call for a revision of the legal status of the US troops there so they can be tried in Kyrgyz courts.
How happy are Uzbeks? Not nearly as happy as a new opinion poll claims they are says Registan.net.
Using an experience from a hotel in Beijing, Tom Terry discusses how Mongolian authorities could have combined realism and respect for the public in their bungled recent hijacking drill.
Orange Ukraine posts a long-awaited political news roundup.
It doesn't look like Ukrainian legislators are going to be as poor as the rest of the citizens when they retire: Foreign Notes reports on the new budget.
London Sevdah performers need “mindset training“: “To put it into context, many people from Bosnia have suffered badly during the war (and the same goes for some of London Sevdah members) and some of the biggest suffering has come in the form of long term (subtle) mental damage. This means that many Bosnian people have lost their ‘mental bearings' to an extent and are unable to recognise positive facts as much as they previously were able to do (i.e. before war or when they were younger).”
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