Archive for
May 23rd, 2009
Stories
Bahrain: Our Need For Indians Is Like Our Need For Air
Earlier this month, Bahrain announced that it would be ending the system of sponsorship of foreign workers, meaning that from August workers will no longer be dependent on their employer, but sponsored directly by the government's Labour Market Regulatory Authority, and will be permitted to change jobs without their employer's consent. The move is designed to stop the practice of Bahrainis sponsoring large numbers of workers, usually from the Indian subcontinent, and charging them a “visa fee” to work with another employer.
However, for some in Bahrain, which has demographic tensions and a problem with unemployment amongst its citizens, the idea of it becoming easier for foreigners to work in the country is worrying.
Blogger Mohammed Marhoon describes a recent experience:
للوهلة الأولى افتكرت أنّه يريد ابتياعي “عبوة مياه”، إلا أني لم أرى أيّ عبوات بين يديه ونوضح هنا ما نقصده “ماي صحة”، بالهندي “بوني” وأولاد ميري يقولون “water” حتى لا نتعرض للمسائلة أو ننتمي للمنظمات الإرهابية على أي حال، فتحت النافذة، وإذا به يستجدي: “بابا.. فقيير أنا فلوس مافيي، الله يهرم واديك، فقييير بابا.. فقيير بابا”، أستغربت حينها، أكان صدفة أم أن هناك مثله مئات!؟ وهنا لن أسلّط الضوء على الفقر والعوز فمثله من جاليات أخرى قاطنون شوارع المنامة بطولها وعرضها وليس بغريب عليكم إلا أنّ هندي يشحذ، أول مرّة أشوف!
At first I thought he wanted to sell me a bottle of water, but I didn’t see any water bottles in his hands. Here I should clarify that I mean mineral water, in Hindi “pani”, and what Mary's children [English-speakers] call “water”, so we are not subject to questioning or accused of belonging to any terrorist organisations. At any rate, I opened the window, and found he was asking for help: “Baba, am poor…I no money…God mercy your parents… poooor, baba, am pooor, baba.” I was surprised. Was it by chance, or are there hundreds like him? I won't focus on poverty and need here, as there are other communities just like him living all over Manama, and it isn't strange to see them - but this was the first time I’d noticed an Indian begging!
تستقطب منطقة المنامة يوم الجمعة من ساعات الصباح الأولى الهنود وهم “ضاربي دهن الراس”، “وثياب مكوية”، “وأذواق مختلفة” وتلاقح ثقافات وطقوس، فتجدهم يتبادلون التحايا ويتحاضنون “Hug’” ويصطفون لصلاة الظهر، يتدفقون من كل حدب وصوب.. لينتهي الحال الجلوس على عتبات باب البحرين عصرا.. وارتياد الكورنيشات.. يوم حافل لديهم..
The early hours of Friday morning in the Manama souq area attract Indians, with their oiled hair, ironed clothes, and different tastes. It is a meeting of cultures and rituals. You see them exchanging greetings and hugs, then lining up for the midday prayers. They come from all over the place, and in the afternoon end up sitting by Bab Al Bahrain, or visiting the corniche [waterfront promenade]. It is a busy day for them…
إذا ما نظرنا للأعمال المتعددة التي يقوم بها “الهنود” في خدمة الشعب من أصغرها حتى أكبرها، فمن غسيل السيارات، بيع الياسمين في الطرقات إلى بناء الشاهقات، المحلات التجارية، رياض الألعاب، وصولا لمدراء و”كبارية” أينما “قلبت” وجهتك فثمّة “هندي” ولا غرو في ذلك!
If we look at the numerous jobs Indians perform in serving people, from the youngest to the oldest, these range from washing cars and selling jasmine on the streets, to building skyscrapers, shopping complexes and playgrounds, all the way to being managers and tycoons. Wherever you turn your face there is an Indian, and this is no surprise!
تجدهم مصطفين بنتظام طابور طويل على آلة السحب الآلي “A.T.M” ذلك لأخذ كشف الحساب، على أرباب العمل أن يمنحوا الهنود شهادة راتب ليزيحوا بذلك العناء النفسي والهوس لدى عامليهم “يجي فلوس”،”ما يجي”، “ناقص موجود”،”أرباب كنجوز”.. ويخفوا علينا “شوي”.
الهنود هم أكبر الجاليات المنتشرة في العالم التي تقدر عدد أفرادها حوالي 25 مليون هندي يعيش حول العالم! شريحة واسعة في البحرين مع فتح باب “فري ويزا” راح يكون الوضع مرعب! أكرر أول مرّة أشوف هندي “بابا فقيير.. بيزات مافيي” يطلب في وضح النهار من السيارات المارّة هنا وهناك! اليوم متعقّد من الهنود صراحة..!!!
You find them lined up orderly in a long queue for the ATM, in order to get their account balances. Employers have to give the Indians a salary slip to relieve their workers from the stress of thinking, “Is the money coming?”, “It’s not coming”, “Some is missing”, “My boss is greedy”, and “This is too little”.
Indians are the community most widely spread around the world. It is estimated that 25 million Indians live abroad. A large number are in Bahrain and with opening the door to free visa workers, the situation will be scary! As I said, this was the first time I had seen an Indian saying, “Baba, am poor, no money.” In broad daylight he was asking the cars passing here and there. Frankly, I think today I have developed a complex about Indians.
Kuwait: Cinema Censorship, Quality Woes and Limited Telecom Services
Amer Al-Hilal here, salutations from scorching hot Kuwait! Following the Kuwaiti elections and all the previous political drama, bloggers are now focusing their energies on entertainment and technology posts, with Cinescape, the Kuwaiti national cinema company monopoly, taking the brunt of the criticism from younger viewers due to quality control and censorship woes.
We start off with BlogAllAlong in a post entitled ‘Do You Feel Relaxed At A Kuwait Cinema?‘ which criticizes a study publicized by Cinescape (the Kuwait National Cinema Company) claiming that 96 per cent of audience members in Kuwait are satisfied with the cinemas and overall services. BlogAllAlong highlights the print and sound quality of the films, the excessive editing which now includes political themes (Cinescape does not have a ratings system like the rest of the Gulf countries) and more.
The blogger defends her point of view concerning her dissatisfaction with Kuwait cinemas:
Cinescape is using a study made by FAME (Film Audience Measurement and Evaluation), based in UK, which claims 96% of the movie-goers are not distracted, and happy with the movie visit. I tried to reach this study but this is the closest I got. The study as Cinescape puts it means that out of every 100 people I ask, only 4 should say they get distracted. I’m not sure how the case is in UK, and, but I’m sure it’s a totally different story here, and Cinescape is trying to fool advertisers with such numbers for the following reasons:
1- In the UK, people are usually more considerate to others watching the movie. If they don’t like it, or if they need to go out for something, they would do it quietly and try to bend low to avoid distracting others. They won’t at least stand up to clean their popcorn leftovers from their shirts during the film. Not to mention also how many people insist on coming late, and then taking all time they need to set down.
2- They enforce age limits there. Why does it matter so much? Cause here after they strip you of any food item before you go in, and then you pay triple the price or more for some snacks, you go inside to a +18 movie, and in the middle of the movie, a few months old baby starts to cry! Why on earth was this baby allowed inside anyways? You can keep out my bottle of water but you failed to see this baby going in?
3- Films here are censored (badly): Not only for porn and offensive scenes, but its reaching blood scenes in a vampire movie, and lately a friend of mine told me how a major political scene about the US immigration was censored. This doesn’t make any sense, and I doubt any movie-goer would be ok about it.
4- Quality of the movie: I’ve been to Flags of our Father, great war movie, and the sound was distorted. How disappointing? Other movies part of the screen was eaten from bottom and top a little.
I for one had cinema as a weekly thing. Now, I only go once every few months for the sake of change, or when there is a big hit movie I dont wanna miss or have spoiled. In those cases, I have to take great care in avoiding noisy and distracting audience. Most often than not, I can’t avoid distractions. I know many many people who also stopped or cut-short they cinema visits for the same reasons. So is the 96% satisfaction even close to real in Kuwait? Or is it just that people have no where else to go?
Marzouq in a post for Z District called ‘KNCC Confectionary And Seating‘ criticizes the seating arrangement reservations and the limited concession food availability from ‘Cinescape' stating the poporn is subpar, for example:
Just recently going to the movies I remembered how bad the popcorn and nachos tasted at the KNCC. The popcorn was dry and really lacked flavor, and the Nachos were slightly stale. Even though they didn’t look that good I wanted them for the movie. I understand that KNCC wants to make as much money as possible from the film viewers, but still providing such bad quality food is very sad. I don’t know why they don’t produce sweet popcorn which is easily available from any company in the UK. They can get better recipes to make popcorn, how they can screw up popcorn so bad bewilders me. Honestly the popcorn that you make in your microwave tastes better then the one KNCC has, I just hope that at some point in time they hope to improve the food and selection, outsourcing would be better for them but knowing how closed minded they are I doubt they would even consider it citing quality control as an issue.
Alarzala in a post titled ‘Cinescape‘ criticizes the programming system at the Kuwait National Cinema company, in which it screens direct-to-video trash such as ‘Shark In Venice‘ and older films such as ‘White Noise 2‘ (2007) and blames the company for insulting the intelligence of its customers. Alarzala published two stills confirming his suspicions about the aforementioned films:
From http://3erzala.blogspot.com/2009/
Moving on to technology, NumberXIV in a post entitled ‘Telecommunication Monopoly in Kuwait‘ laments the monopoly that grips certain Telecom and ISP sectors in the country, stating that Kuwait is behind the rest of the Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia in opening up the sector. The blogger explains:
We suffer from the monopoly exercised by the Telecommunication Companies in Kuwait pertaining to new mobile technology such as Blueberry and IPhone.We have three telecommunication companies but unfortunately the BlackBerry services are strictly monopolized by Zain company,while in some countries in the region like SaudiArabia,Qatar and UAE the IPhone and Blackberry services are officially open for all the companies without any restrictions. The telecommunication technology is developing rapidly in the world while here in Kuwait it is so inferior even to the much poorer countries. I really don’t know until when this miserable situation will continue.This unfair monopoly is really pushing the hackers forward to invent all possible and illegal ways to connect between IPhone and Blackberry among the users in Kuwait. Believe it or not ,even Skype is blocked and no one can benefit from its fantastic services and technology except the hackers!! SO,in order for a user in Kuwait to be up to date with the latest technology in telecommunications,he/she must convert to a HACKER!! I THINK IT IS TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO LAY DOWN NEW LAWS TO STOP THIS UNFAIR MONOPOLY AND OPEN A NEW ERA OF COMPETITION AMONG ALL THE THREE TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES IN KUWAIT WHICH WILL BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE USERS OF THESE ADVANCED SERVICES.
Morocco: Therapy Abroad, Apathy at Home
The global economic downturn seems to be affecting tourism worldwide, a sector upon which the Moroccan economy is heavily dependent, when it doesn't simply rely on agriculture.
Earlier in March this year, the Moroccan authorities have come up with a novel idea and launched an advertising campaign targeting main western markets to attract more travellers. Road shows were organized across western European countries. A website available in three different languages (French, Spanish and English) was created with a fashionable, trendy design and eccentric format, purporting the concept of Morocco as a healing destination. The site lists a series of imaginary modern diseases that may occur as a result of current insecure economic times and proposes Moroccotherapy, humorously, as an efficient treatment.
The ad seems to have struck a chord with blogger The View From Fez:
The Morocco Therapy website is beautifully designed and comes with its own doctor. It is available in English, French and Spanish. After an introduction by the good Doctor Karam, you are invited to take a rather bizarre test to see just what ails you. Then it is on to the diseases.
Targeted markets are democracies where arguably authoritarianism is no longer a “disease” that needs treatment.
Beyond the clichés, and with the forthcoming communal elections due in June 12 fast approaching, many bloggers reveal less glorious aspects of their country's political realities.
The Maid — Ouarzazate, Morocco by Cromacom in Flickr
Fatima, nicknamed La Marocaine, interviewed by fellow Moroccan blogger Le Politiquonaute Marocain, expressed deep concerns about the prospects of democracy in her country - the official line being the country is in a transition period and a rhetoric that hasn't changed in 10 years:
Transition. Ce mot me rappelle une citation de Hervé Serieyx “nous sommes toujours dans une période de transition entre deux périodes de transition” ! […]
[S]ur le fond, le pouvoir est toujours concentré entre les mains du roi. Alors transition démocratique je veux bien mais la transition est censée avoir un horizon et pour le cas du Maroc, j'ai peut-être raté un épisode, mais je ne le vois pas.
Basically, power remains concentrated in the hands of the monarch. Therefore, call it democratic transition if you like, but this is supposed to have a horizon. So, in the case of Morocco, unless I've missed an episode, I don't see any.
Many analysts, including Reporters Sans Frontières, have recently deplored the steady decline in the country's freedom spaces. Blogger Taha Balafrej quotes a report labelling Morocco as an authoritarian country:
C’est le classement 2008 de The Economist Intelligence Unit qui le dit !
Sur 167 pays examinés, le Maroc figure à la 120ème place, dans la catégorie régimes autoritaires. Les trois autres catégories sont celles des démocraties pleines, des démocraties avec des défauts et des démocraties hybrides.
Out of 167 countries, Morocco ranks 120th, in the category of authoritarian regimes. The three other types of regimes are full democracies, flawed democracies, and hybrid regimes.
Other bloggers go as far as calling for a boycott of the next polls. Abu An'naji is one of them. Under the title “I Boycott, Then I Exist“, the blogger defiantly sends a message to electoral officials:
لم تتركوا لنا الخيار، لقد أصبحت قضية كرامة أن نقاطع و ألا نشارك ككومبارس في مسرحيتكم الرديئة….المقاطعة خيارنا و حقنا.
This sentiment is similar to the position expressed by Mimoun Um Al'id who comments sarcastically:
هذه الأيام نسمع كثيرا أن لنا حقا لا يجب أن نفرط فيه , و يحثنا المخزن [أو النظام] على أن نمارس هذه الشعيرة الوطنية , لماذا لا يختار هو بنفسه من” يمثلنا ” ويرضاه لنا دون أن يزعج نفسه و يتحمل مشاق المجيء إلى هذه المداشر البعيدة النائية , فكثيرة هي الحقوق التي لم نستفد منها و
لا بأس أن نتنازل أيضا عن هذا الحق التافه
!
But not all bloggers agree with the boycott approach. In an interview with Politiquonaute, award winning blogger Larbi, and one of the most influential Moroccan bloggers, pleads for a change from within the system:
[M]on rêve c’est d’être un jour maire d’une petite ville (genre Oued Zem ou Ksar Lekbir :) pour la transformer et mettre l’action des élus locaux au service des citoyens pour améliorer leur quotidien.
A y réfléchir sérieusement, un élu local ou un maire à plus de possibilités d’agir et changer les choses au niveau de sa commune. Et j’irais même jusqu’à dire plus qu’un député au parlement qui, au niveau national et en l’état actuel des institutions ; n’est là que pour la figuration politique.
When you seriously think of it, a local deputy or a mayor have more opportunities to act and change things at the level of their community. And I'd go as far as to say that they have more possibility than a national deputy who -with the current state of affairs- is reduced to play the role of a political dummy.
Egyptian Tycoon Sentenced to Death
Egyptians witnessed the most unexpected verdict in the history of their judiciary system: Billionaire Hesham Talaat Moustafa, along with his hired hitman Mohsen El Sokary, have both been sentenced to death for their roles in the murder of Lebanese singer Suzanne Tameem. The gruesome murder took place in Dubai, UAE, and Thursday's sentence was met with shock and bewilderment as the blogosphere comes to terms with the verdict.
Egyptian prolific blogger Zeinobia broke the news:
On May 21, Judge Muhammadi Qunsuwa announced the case will be referred to Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa, the nation's highest religious official, who will rule on Moustafa's death sentence on June 25.
Shocking as it is to everyone, the verdict left the convicted in awe. Journalist Ahmed El Desouky was among the first who reported the reactions from the court to the Egyptian online community saying:
Reactions fluctuated, between approval and support to the verdict to sympathy and sadness. In her post, Desert Cat was surprised that both Moustafa and El Sokary received the same verdict:
Ahmed Shokeir answered her question in the comments section of this post saying:
The Egyptian real-estate tycoon’s supporters on Facebook, reacted to the verdict on “Free Hesham Talaat Moustafa’ group as well.
Ashraf Elmanwaty said:
I still have hope HTM will be free… This is an over reaction judgment
While Miral El Ramlawy wrote:
90% of Egyptians do NOT believe he did it and the court owes it to the Egyptians to announce what they based the verdict upon!! Phone calls that don't have any explicit message is NO PROOF…we are waiting for justification!
After the shock, analysis took place. Zeinobia explains:
• when the judge says that that the papers of the convicted will be sent to the grand Mufti for consulting means in most situations that that convicted will face the death penalty. The death penalty needs the opinion of the grand Mufti to support it from the religious point of view ,the Sharia point of view to fulfill justice.It is not everyday that you order the death of someone.
• In most cases if not all of them the grand Mufti approves and supports the judge’s verdict.
She then continues:
• Second in case of Hisham and Sokary,the judge will announce the final verdict on the next 25th of June 2009 ,which is nearly about month and 5 days ,I believe it is a long period to stand in the death row.
• Third when the judge announces the final verdict , the lawyers of the convicted will have the right to [appeal].
So there might be a second round which is what we will figure out on June 25th.
Meanwhile, there are questions and doubts about Hisham’s high profile real estate business. The Mideast Institute Editor's blog reports:
The Talaat Mustafa Group (TMG), a huge real estate conglomerate through which Mustafa made his billions, doesn't want any stockholders to worry just because the company's founder and namesake is under a death sentence. A TMG official reassures investors:
Sawaftah said that TMG’s corporate structure prevents “the absence of one individual” from affecting its activity
Korea: The Death of the Least Corrupt President in Korean History with the Corruption Scandal
Roh Moo-hyun, the previous president of Korea, died today. Suffering from the bribery scandal and investigation from the prosecution authority, the previous president who tried to live a quiet life in his hometown after his governance jumped off of a mountain behind his house. Without any clear evidence of bribery, the pressure from the judiciary and continuous chasing by theof media seemed to lead him to make the dramatic decision. His death shocks Korea. People are upset about this news and pending chaos in politics are cautiously predicted. People’s reactions seem to start from the Internet first.
A storm of posts and opinions regarding this shocking news:
한국이 그를 죽였다
역사는 당신을 기득권층에 맞서 서민들을 위해 싸운 대통령으로 영원히 기억할 것입니다.부디 저 세상에서라도 편히 쉬시고 다음에 태어나실때는 당신의 고귀했던 이상과 뜻을 마음껏 펼 수 있는 곳에서 태어나시길 빌겠습니다.
이나라의 사법부는 국민을 위한데 있는것이 아니라 권력에 빌붙어 가진자만을 위해 존재한다!!내주위에 돈은 없지만 옳은길을 가는 친구가 있다면 나또한 사비를 털어서라도 그를 도울것이다..도데체 노대통령이 무엇을 얼만큼 잘못했단단 말인가!!전직 대통령이 고향에서 환경운동하면서 살겠다는데 도데체 현정부는 무엇이 그리도 그가 미웠단 말인가!!오바마는 힐러리도 함께 손을 잡고 미국의 미래를 위해 정치하는데..노무현 대통령은 우리 서민의 희망이였다[…]
진정한 우리의 대통령이셨다는걸 훗날 역사는 말해줄것입니다.
현재 전세계 유튜브 , 구글 이용국가중 유일한게 대한민국만 어떠한 덧글도 달지 못하게 봉쇄되어있다 . 언론에서는 정확하지 않은 노통의 비리문제에 대해서 연일 발표를 하고 외신들은 조중동같은 언론의 말을 전할뿐이다 . 글로벌 개념의 매체에서의 한국민 덧글 봉쇄로 조중동의 발표가 진리인것처럼 포장되어 세계인들에게 알려지고 있다…. 얼마나 치밀하고 악독한 독재가 진행되고 있는지 다들 눈을 크게 뜨고 느껴보아라.
What did the current government do?
[…]착잡한 심정을 지울 수가 없다. 2002년 대선 때, 그렇게도 지지했었고 그 후 그렇게도 비판해 오던 사람이었는데…어쨌든 그가 대중에게 가장 가까이 다가선 인물이었고, 많은 젊은이로 하여금, 또한 네티즌으로 하여금 정치에 관심을 가지고 바라보게 만든 인물이라는 사실을 부정할 사람은 없을 것이다. 그의 죽음을 전해들은 이명박 대통령의 모습을 TV에서 보았다. 기분 탓인지는 모르겠지만 굉장히 초췌해 보인다. 설마하니 노무현이 자신을 내던져 가면서까지 무언가를 주장하리라고는 생각하지 못했을 거다. 아마 이명박 대통령은 그 누구보다도 노무현 전대통령의 서거에 가장 큰 충격을 받았을 거다. 여러가지 의미로.역시나 오늘 노무현 전대통령의 죽음을 애도하는 사람들이 모였다. 설마했지만, 역시나 전경들이 출동했다. 그리고 그를 추모하고자 모인 시민들과 충돌이 일어났다. 게다가 그의 서거가 알려지자마자 수사 종결을 선언하는 엽기적인 짓을 하기에 이른다. 이로서 이명박 정권은 그 스스로 또 하나의 업적을 기리게 된 것이다.
-전직 대통령을 살해한 정권.
-The government that murdered the previous President.
Did obssessed investigation and news before the detailed investigation cause this tragedy?
결국 노무현 대통령이 모든것을 않고 떠났습니다.”누구도 원망하지 마라. 운명이다.”평생을 권력과 싸워왔지만 결국은 어쩔수 없음을 운명으로 받아 들이시며 우리 곁을 떠났습니다.검찰…. 조중동…. 한나라당…. 이명박…. 이제 만족하십니까? 속 시원하십니까? 그토록 원하는것이 이것이었습니까?
People don’t want to acknowledge this news.
[…]그런데 왜 당신은 몸을 던지셔야만 했나요. 너무나 슬픈 일입니다. 살벌한 독재시대 때 온몸으로 싸우셨던 노무현. 그 독재시대를 주물럭거리며 통치했던 사람들은 부끄럽게도 버젓이 살아있는데.왜 당신이 먼저 가야만 합니까. 부패를 넘어 수많은 민주인사들을 죽음으로 몰고 갔던 시대의 비겁자들은 저렇게 시퍼렇게 살아 뻔뻔하게 살아있는데.[…]
Supporters or non-supporters have the same feeling
[…]학교에서 배웠던 ‘정치'는 학교 밖에서의 ‘정치'와 너무도 달랐었다. 기존 정권에 대한 실망도 컸지만 그래도 그가 말한 ‘소신'과 ‘원칙'에 대한 믿음과 그만한 기대가 있었기에 그를 응원했었다. 열렬한 지지자는 아니었어도 보수 정권과 언론의 돌팔매질에도 꿋꿋한 그를 한 국민으로서 보호해 주고 싶었다. 그래서 난 오히려 거침없이 발언을 하는 그의 모습도 나쁘지 않았다. 오히려 인간적이다 싶었다.[…]
This post shows how everyone over the weekend react to this sudden tragedy. Many netizens wrote letters to him.
한 주의 피로를 풀어보려고 늦잠을 잤습니다. 무척 고된 한주를 보내고 맞이하는 토요일의 아침잠은 달콤했습니다.하지만, 늦잠을 자고 일어나 보니 세상이 난리였습니다.믿기지 않았습니다. 믿을수가 없었습니다.하루를 멍하니 뉴스만 바라봤습니다.똑같은 뉴스가 되풀이 되고 있음에도, 화면 가득 익숙한 사람의 얼굴만이 나오고 있어도 실감이 나질 않았습니다. 하루를 마감할때 까지 멍하니 있었습니다. 배도 고프지 않고 그냥 멍하기만 했습니다.
하지만 이제 인정해야 할것 같습니다. 노사모 회원도 아니고, 참여정부에 대해서 비판도 많이 했지만, 당신의 정치철학만은 위대하다고 느꼈습니다.암울한 해충의 시대에 들어서면서 부터 더욱 절실해졌습니다. 기득권에 대한 당신의 함성이 이토록 크게 느껴질때가 없었습니다. 그리고 당신이 우리와 같은 모습으로 넉넉한 웃음을 짓는 것이 큰 위안이 되었습니다.시간이 지나서야 당신의 외로움이 이해가 되었습니다. 기득권과 권위에 대한 당신의 도전이 얼마나 무모하고 위험한것이었는가를 깨닫게 되었습니다.정치적 철학을 이야기 하는 정치가는 많지만 실천하는 정치인은 별로 없습니다. 그런 의미에서 당신은 스스로 험난한 길을 마다않고 실천했습니다. 안주하지 않고 무모한 길을 묵묵히 걸어갔습니다.쉬운길을 택하지 않고 어려운 길이더라도 열정과 신념을 가지만 할수 있다는 것을 보여주었습니다.소수가 아닌 모두가 평등하다는 기본 원칙을 스스로 보여주었습니다.반백년을 이어온 오만한 권위로 부터 승리할 수 있다는 것을 보여주었습니다.아마도 그것은 희망이었던것 같습니다.모진 매를 맞아도, 비바람이 몰아치는 날씨에도 묵묵히 걸어가던 당신의 모습을 이제서야 기억합니다. 왜곡과 박해는 있어도 진실을 감출수 없다는 당신의 말도 기억합니다. 사람들은 바보 노무현이라고 불렀지만, 알듯 모를듯 웃음짓는 당신의 미소를 기억합니다.아마도 그것은 원칙과 소신을 가진자만이 느낄수 있는 여유로움이었던것 같습니다.
이제 인정해야 할것 같습니다.당신이 세상을 떠났다는 사실을 말입니다.그리고 기억해야 할것 같습니다.당신이 하고자 하는 말이 무엇이었는지, 우리가 해야할것들이 무엇인지를 말입니다.어제는 내가 세상에 태어난 날이었습니다.그리고 다음날은 당신이 세상을 떠난 날이 되었습니다. 잊지 못할것 같습니다.당신이 꿈꾸던 세상과, 이루고 싶었던 많은 것들은 결코 잊혀지지 않을겁니다.당신의 목소리를 듣던 사람들이 자라고 성장해서 당신이 꿈꾸던 세상을 만들수 있을겁니다.고생 많으셨습니다.이제 차별과 억압이 없는 그곳에서 행복한 시간 보내시길 바랍니다.
삼가 고인의 명복을 빕니다.
But I think I have to acknowledge it now. I am not a member of Rohsamo (association that loves Roh Moo-hyun). I criticized your governance, but I always thought your political philosophy is great. Since this horrible period (current government) started, I have felt more desperate to you. I have never felt how important your voice against the vested has been. And your familiar smile like ours comforted me. As time goes by, I could understand your loneliness. I realized how dangerous and risky your challenge against the vested and the authority was. There are many politicians who talk about political philosophy, but there are a few who make those happen. But you didn’t hesitate and tried to implement. You didn’t stop and kept walking your way. You didn’t choose the easy way. You showed that passion and belief can make it happen even though the process is not easy.You showed everyone not a few is equal. You showed that we can win against arrogant authority that has been kept more than 50 years. I remember you who kept walking in harsh times and storm weathers. I remember you said that even though there are distortion and persecution, the truth can’t be hidden forever. People called you dumb Roh Moo-hyun, but I remember your smile. The smile could be only from the person who has his own principles and belief.
Now, I think I have to acknowledge the fact that you left this world. And I should remember what you would like to say and what we have to do. Yesterday was the day I was born in this world. And today is the day you left this world. I will not forget. I will not forget the world you have dreamt and you would like to accomplish. The people who listen to your voice will grow up and will make the world you dream. You did so many things. I hope that you have nice time in a place that doesn’t have any discrimination and pressure.
I pray for the repose of your soul.
Korea: North Korea cancels all contracts with South Korea at the Kaesong Joint Industrial Complex
North Korea cancels all contracts with South Korea at the Kaesong Joint Industrial Complex.
There are several posts about this news.
[…]북한이 계약서 알기를 휴지조각정도로 알고 있으니 그들과 신용이란게 생길 수 없죠. 신용이 장사의 기본이란건 누구나 알거라 봅니다. 아고라 바보들은 경제적인 비판이 들어오면 항상 개성공단은 경제적 문제보다는 북한에게 자본주의의 맛을 들이기 위한 조치라고 하는데 자본주의사회에서 계약이 갖는 의미는 상당히 중요한데 그게 왜곡된 자본주의의 맛이란 거의 양아치들의 삥뜯기나 다를바 없겠져. 또다른 바보들은 개성공단 폐쇄하면 북한이랑 관계 경색되어서 전쟁날거라고 하는데 그런 사람은 거의 망상환자라고 봐야 할겁니다. 북한도 아는것중 하나가 남한쳐들어가면 자기들이 지구상에서 지워져 버린다는 점입니다. 지금 돌아가는 것으로 보아서는 결국 개성공단은 폐쇄될겁니다. 그리고 아고라 바보들은 MB 가 석고대죄한거 처럼 말할겁니다. 개성공단 폐쇄되면 물론 당분간 남북관계 냉냉할겁니다. 한집에 사는 식구끼리도 언제나 웃는 얼굴로만 살지는 않습니다. 그렇다면 오히려 가식적인 집안이져 ㅡㅡ;; 남북관계도 마찬가지 아닐까요? 계약서 알기를 휴지조각쯤으로 아는 북한이라는 어린이에게 자본주의 교육시키는 남한입장에서 가끔은 매도 들어야 할겁니다.
개성공단 남북 합작사건은 애초부터 남측의 짝사랑에서 시작된 잘못된 태동이었다 금강산관광 개성관광도 마찬가지이다 우리는 인도주의적 견지에서 북측에 실질적인 도움을 수없이 베풀었다 도움뒤에 따라오는것이 동족으로서의 화답이었으면 얼마나 좋았겠는가? 저들은 도와주고 뒤돌아가는 우리의 뒤통수에 항상 총구를 겨누어왔고 그행태는 지금도 변함이없다 동족의 어려움을 도우려는 의도는 당연하고 순수하고 아름다운것이지마는 북한의김정일은 이를 역이용하고 군비를 팽창하는데만 혈안이되고 인민들에겐 혜택을 주지않고있다. 잘못된태동을 반성하며 기업들의 존폐기로의 문제가있겠으나 정부에서 좋은방안을 강구해서 개성에서 철수해야할것이다.
북한이 “6.15를 부정하는 자에게 6.15혜택을 줄수없다는 것은 자명한 이치”라며 새로운 조건에 합의하지 않으면 “나가도 좋다”고 발표했다. 이명박 정부는 출범과 동시에 2000년 6.15공동선언에 대해 “남북기본합의서”를 지키면 된다는 투로 말하면서 “결과적으로 우회적 파기선언”을 했다. 대북강경책!!이었다.
한나라당과 청와대 그리고 극우진영은 김대중, 노무현 양정권의 대북정책을 퍼주기로 확정짓고 “10년간 퍼주기해서 그 돈으로 미사일 만들었다” “인민을 굶겨가며 그돈으로 핵무기 만들었다”고 공격해 왔다. 그리고 이명박 정권의 성립후에 그러한 주장에 근거하여 이제 “더이상 퍼주는 방식의 대북정책은 없으며”, “남북관계에도 새로운 질서를 만들어야 한다”고 호기롭게 말했으나……. 북한의 강경한 입장에 따라 새로운 질서는 오히려 북한의 주도로 잡혀가고 있는 것으로 보인다.
6.15 공동선언의 결과로 공단이 생기고, 이를 위해 군사시설도 영향을 미쳤고, 싼임금으로 생산활동을 할수 있었는데, 이명박 정권이 그 선언을 “지켜야할 협약”에서 ‘제외'시켜버렸으므로, 합의결과에 따른 공단운영과 임금조건 등 여러특혜를 거두어들이는 것이 당연하다는 것이 북한의 주장이다. 간단명료한 논리다.[…]
한쪽에서는 경제영토가 개성과 금강산까지 넓어진 것으로 북한과의 경제협력은 우리가 퍼준것이 아니라 받은 것이 훨씬 크다는 주장을 하기도 했다. 최전방 군사지역인 이들 지역에서 북한군이 이동했을 테니 맞는 말이기도 하겠다. 이제 개성공단 문제가 더이상 풀리지 않으면 철거될 수 있을 것이고, 철수하거나 이동했던 군사력은 다시 더 남쪽인 이들지역으로 이동할수도 있다. […]
The Grand National Party, the Blue House, and extreme ultrarightists have been criticizing North Korean policies of Kim Dae Jung and Roh Moo Hyun Governances, “they have dug money out to North Korea for 10 years and North Korea made missiles with that,” “North Korea made nuclear weapons with the money while people there have been dying to starvation.” Based on those arguments, the Government announced “there is not going be a North Korean policy to dig out our things to them,” “We need a new relation between North and South Korea…..” But now after the strong attitude of North Korea, it seems that the new order has been led by North Korea.
After the 6.15 Joint Declaration, factories have made, it has also influenced weapon facilities, and cheap labor fee could be possible in Kaesong. But the Lee Government “excluded” the declaration from “agreements we have to follow” and therefore North Korea insisted that conditions of management and of salaries and benefits that North Korea has given to South Korea based on the negotiation of the 6.15 Joint Declaration should be canceled. That’s a simple logic.[…]
Some people say that we had more economic land because we obtained Kaesong and Mt. Keumkang. Therefore we just didn’t dig our things out of North Korea and actually we obtained more benefits. And it is right that due to this North Korean soldiers left from the forefront. If the negotation between North and South Korea regarding the Kaesong Industrial Complex is not going well, those soldiers who left the forefront might come back south.[…]
[…]북측은 남측 기업에게 개성공단의 광활한 토지를 장기 저임대료로 임대해 주었고, 임대료를 5년 간 유예해주는 특혜까지 제공했다. 이는 6.15공동선언과 < 우리민족끼리>라는 민족적 대원칙과 남북통일을 위한 북의 결단으로 볼 수 있다. 그런데 남쪽과 언론에서는 적반하장으로 개성공단에 대해서 ‘퍼주기'라 하고 북에서 ‘외화벌이'를 위해 개성지역을 개방한 것이라고 왜곡된 주장을 일삼았다. 이런 적반하장의 주장을 들으면서도 북측에서 그 동안 개성공단을 지속시켜 왔던 것은 < 우리민족끼리>라는 대의와 ‘통일 기반'을 위해서 남측의 악의적인 왜곡선전까지 감내해온 것이라 생각된다. 그런데 맹박정부 들어서 6.15공동선언과 10.4합의를 부정하고…[…]
Links for Sat, 2009-05
Russian ads in Ukraine; Yulia Tymoshenko's hairdo; labor minister's text message interaction with her daughter regarding a government job offer for her father; the Crimean Tatars' situation and the mess in the Crimean capital's city council - at Ukrainiana.
Sublime Oblivion rates a number of “Russia-watching” blogs by their design.
There is a new compulsory activity in Dili every Friday morning: the city stops to clean up the public spaces. Wiernie Walshe tells us about it in a guest post called “Limpeza Geral. Or, sweeping dirt by force“.
Unzipped says that the incumbent Mayor of Yerevan, Gagik Beglarian [AM], has started blogging ahead of next week's municipal election in the Armenian capital. However, the blog wonders why the blog has appeared only a week before the potentially controversial vote, but also says that with comments so far heaping praise on the ruling government party candidate, Internet users have hardly missed much.
African Elections Project posts Malawi Elections 2009: Key Presidential Results at a Glance.
With a Grain of Druska writes that in Lithuania, “it is time for a younger, more energetic leader.” Eternal Remont mentions president-elect's karate skills: “[…] who wants to see the judo master Putin go against the black belt Grybauskaite in an ultimate fighting match?” More updates - at Lituanica: Dalia Grybauskaite's bio; the candidate that outgoing president voted for; possible replacement for Grybauskaite as EU commissioner; major policy changes under Grybauskaite aren't likely; Grybauskaite's views on economic development.
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