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July 11th, 2009
Stories
Colombia: Where to Find the Best Buñuelo
The buñuelo is a typical Colombian snack that can elicit hunger pangs with the mere mention of the word. That is what recently happened with a group of Colombian twitterers, who chose to discuss their favorite places to buy the buñuelo, as well as some of their favorite aspects of the typical snack.
Made from flour and cheese, then formed into balls, the buñuelo is typically fried and can be purchased by street vendors or other shops that sell to hungry customers. Although the buñuelo can vary among Latin American countries, the Colombian buñuelo is typically consumed during the holiday season, but is also eaten year-round.
Buñuelo by MundoNeko and used under a Creative Commons license. http://www.flickr.com/photos/36303292@N00/212493296/
Camilo García of the blog Hyperconectado [es] collected responses to the question posed to his fellow twitterers in the capital city of Bogotá. Where can one find the best buñuelo? He writes:
El buñuelo es rico. Punto. Tostadito y esponjadito, grande o chiquito, no importa… es simplemente rico. Por esta razón y gracias a la colaboración de Twitters colombianos se crea La Ruta del Buñuelo en Bogotá que busca ubicar y destacar los mejores buñuelos de la ciudad.
Many twitterers such as Catalina Alba, Victor Solano and Hector Linares responded to the call. They referred to specific points in the city where one can find the best buñuelo.
The online discussion regarding where to find the best version led into tips how to best eat a buñuelo and the sharing of anecdotes. José Carlos García R writes:
Como comer #buñuelo: Yo lo muerdo a la redonda, lo dejo como manzana mordida de caricatura y luego me como los polos.
Photo of frying buñuelos in Colombia by Cirofono and used under a Creative Commons license: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ciroduran/83584367/
He also remembers a curious story:
Recuerdo una noticia de una imagen de la virgen que apareció en un #buñuelo Orad antes de morder tu #buñuelo, hermanos. Josecarlos 2:12
All the talk about the buñuelo led some to rush out to buy the snack to munch on, but it also led to some messy consequences. In Bogotá, @Mkorsario wrote:
hay boronas de #buñuelo en el teclado……. todo por culpa de twitter
Georgia: An Interview with DvOrsky
Giga Paitchadze (center on right), Caucasus BarCamp, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia © Onnik Krikorian
Giga Paitchadze, better known online as DvOrsky, is no stranger to the Caucasus section of Global Voices Online. In June last year, Paitchadze spoke about the Caucasus BarCamp held in Tbilisi, and a few months later about the role of new media during the August war with Russia.
In the second of a series of audio interviews with bloggers in or dealing with the South Caucasus, Paitchadze updates Global Voices Online on the development of new media in Georgia in the aftermath of the conflict as well as the recent opposition protests in April.
Unfortunately, the Skype connection was not the best and one part plagued with clicks making it inaudible had to be edited out. However, most of the interview is available to listen to or download below. Paitchadze's blog is at http://www.dgiuri.com [GE].
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Brazil: Digital mob demands the Senate President's resignation
"Get Out, Sarney", the Twitter version by Lactobacilo Morto blog
Overnight, the #forasarney Twitter hashtag became one of the hottest on the social media network, making it to the trend topics on June 30th. At first glance, it seemed that the Internet was again being used as a potential political instrument for many people to voice their own opinions. Not only has the Twitter profile Fora Sarney [Get out, Sarney, pt] gained over 5,000 followers, but the newly created Fora Sarney [Get out, Sarney, pt] blog has already amassed 14,000 comments – through these tools, calls to march against the three times elected Senator José Sarney because of his nepotistic style have been made.
The Brazilian streets have gathered hundreds of people protesting in Brasília, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. In the capital, Brasília, an example of the fun poking and mockery of the politician can be seen in the video below, uploaded by thyede, where most people claim to have heard about the demonstration through blogs or Twitter, although only a small percentage of those protesting online showed up for the live action:
From Macapá, Alipio Júnior [pt] also reports that a protest took place in the northern Brazilian state that elected Sarney:
Cerca de 200 pessoas foram as ruas para pedir o afastamento de José Sarney da presidência do senado na capital do Amapá. Tudo foi organizado via internet através de blogs e pelo Twitter, movimento que também sensibilizou pessoas de outras cidades importantes como Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo e Brasília. Um carro de som estava a disposição dos cidadãos revoltados e envergonhados com a atitude do senador Maranhense mas eleito pelo Amapá.
However, nepotism is not a novelty in Sarney's political history – he is well known for keeping power within his family and employing relatives or staff from the family under the Senate’s payroll. The fact that has raised much other discussion on the blogosphere is why only now people have started to demand that Jose Sarney (PMDB) step down as the Brazilian Senate’s President. As the Dona Farta [pt] blog points out, the unlikely and surprising element in the mobilization is that, even though Sarney has been accused of many wrong doings over the years, it is only now that people have realized he is not a politician to be trusted:
(…) Porque tá rolando essa mobilização toda aí, né, por conta do Sarney, e coisa e tal. Todo mundo gritando “Fora, Sarney”, todo mundo querendo queimar o velho em praça pública, como se tivessem descoberto assim, do dia pra noite, que, “Oh, meu Deus, ele não presta!”
(…)
O que eu disse lá no Twitter, que provocou todo o mimimi, foi que eu estava (como de fato estou) de saco bem cheio desse carnaval “Fora Sarney”. E que as pessoas deviam lembrar de dizer FORA para qualquer político na hora de elegê-los, naquele processo democrático pelo qual passamos periodicamente chamado ELEIÇÕES.
[…]
What I said on Twitter, which has provoked all these complaints, is that I have had enough of this “Get out, Sarney” carnival. What people should remember is to say “GET OUT” to any politician at election time, in the democratic process that we go through from time to time and we call ELECTIONS.
Scared, Senator José Sarney has said that he is not leaving and nobody is going to oust him from the Senate Presidency. Photo: Geraldo Magela/Agência Senado
Although supporting the point of view above that most people protest but only know very little about underling issues, the memecarbono [pt] blog says that the protest is worthwhile. The blog also recalls Sarney's other recent wrong doings.
Mas…
Porque fora Sarney?
A maioria não sabe e repete simplesmente porque é o que todos, embalados por @rafinhabastos, estão repetindo desde o dia 16/07/2009 e pensam que é pelas recentes denúncias envolvendo o senador José Sarney, mas há razões mais antigas para a escolha deste político para um dos primeiros gritos por um governo limpo.
O primeiro movimento “Fora Sarney” foi em 2006 quando ele utilizou a justiça para tirar do ar o blog da jornalista Alcineia que o criticava. A propósito, agora Alcinea Cavalcante mantém seu blog no Blogger.
Desde então o atual senador faz parte do imaginário do Internauta cidadão como um símbolo do cerceamento da liberdade de expressão.Vários cidadãos mais atentos tem observado como o @inagaki que essa “mobilização” está para o exercício da cidadania na mesma proporção dos álbuns de Vanilla Ice para o hip hop.”
Why ‘Get out Sarney'?
Most people don’t know and simply follow what everyone else, headed by @rafinhabastos, has been saying repeatedly since 16/07/2009 [editor's note: the correct date seems to be 16/06/2009] and they think that it is because of the recent accusations against Senator José Sarney, there is however an older agenda for people singling Sarney out in this demand for a clean government.
The first “Get out Sarney” movement was in 2006 when he made use of the Justice system to shut down journalist Alcineia's blog [pt] who had been criticizing him. By the way, she maintains her blog in Blogger nowadays. Since then, the current Senator has become part of the netcitizen's imagination as a symbol of the restriction of freedom of speech.
Many more diligent citizens like @inagaki have noticed that “what this mob means for civic exercise is the same as that of Vanilla Ice records for hip hop”.
On Fora Sarney blog [pt], it is possible to get a flavour of Sarney’s biography:
Ex-presidente da República e atual senador pelo Amapá (onde raramente põe os pés, registre-se), Sarney representa o que mais de atrasado e deletério existe na política brasileira. Construiu sua carreira pública sempre aninhado ao lado das forças mais reacionárias da sociedade.
Começou embalado nos braços da extinta e golpista UDN (União Democrática Nacional), aconchegou-se no colo arbitrário da ARENA (Aliança Renovadora Nacional) – tentáculo civil da ditadura militar, a quem ingratamente abandonou quando os ventos mudaram de lado. Carreirista exemplar, foi bafejado com a sorte dos oportunistas e alçou-se à Presidência da República com a morte de Tancredo Neves, de quem era vice na chapa eleita pelo Colégio Eleitoral em1985.
Os feitos mais relevantes do seu mandato foram afundar a economia numa inflação estratosférica (80% ao mês, quando deixou o poder) e popularizar o uso de jaquetões e tinturas capilares em tons cajus.
À sombra reconfortante e providencial da atividade política, o prócer maranhense construiu um sólido patrimônio pessoal, formado, entre outros bens, por inúmeras fazendas e uma poderosa rede de comunicação (jornais, emissoras de rádio e televisão), obtida por meio de concessões do governo, que garante a influência e a eternização do clã Sarney no cenário político maranhense.
He started cradled in the arms of the coupist and now defunct [ally of the dictatorship] UDN Party (National Democratic Union), made himself comfortable in ARENA's arbitrary embrace – that is the National Renewal Alliance Party the civil arm of the military dictatorship that he ungratefully left behind when the political situation changed. An exemplar careerist, he was blessed with an opportunist's luck and reached the Country's Presidency with the death of Tancredo Neves, to whom Sarney was vice-president in an alliance elected by the Electoral College in 1985.
The most relevant achievements during his term were to shrink the economy to bleak inflation (by 80% per month, when he left office) and to make fashionable big blazers and dying hair in cashew nut shades.
Shadowed by comforting and convenient political activity, the Maranhão's chief has built up a huge personal property portfolio, having, among other assets, a number of farms and a powerful broadcast network company (including newspapers, radio and TV), acquired through government's broadcast license, which guarantees the Sarney clan a lifelong influence over the political scene of Maranhão.
What if Sarney steps down?
Right now, as in the past, the accusation against Sarney is nepotism: he has employed numerous members of his family in many public jobs in the Congress. For decades the same family has governed Maranhão, one of the most culturally wealthy and beautiful of the Brazilian states, but also one of the most miserable in the nation. According to Mello [pt], it is a place “where nepotism and self-exaltation reign shamelessly”. He believes the political moment should be analyzed a little bit more deeply, to show that there is only one reason why only now there is pressure against Sarney:
Já fiz duas postagens aqui sobre a intensa pressão em cima do senador José Sarney (que só Deus e a justiça amapaense sabem como conseguiu se reeleger batendo a valente Cristina Almeida (PSB)…). Nas duas, perguntava: coincidência ou Serra? E recebi vários questionamentos, como se eu estivesse defendendo Sarney e não, ao contrário - e era o foco das postagens - denunciando a utilização de antigas e manjadíssimas acusações contra o ex-presidente, logo agora que ele foi escolhido presidente do Senado, é aliado de Lula e inimigo declarado do presidente eleito pela mídia José Serra. Daí a pergunta: coincidência ou Serra?
Porque acusações contra o senador Sarney vêm do tempo em que ele ainda nem usava bigodes. Quem procurar na caixa de pesquisas aqui do blog vai encontrá-las aos montões.(…)
Because accusations against Senator Sarney date back to the times in which he didn't even have a moustache. Those who look for them here in the blog's search box will find a lot of accusations against him. […]
The criticism against Sarney can be followed on many blogs such as Nova Corja [pt] in which the official picture of Sarney as the President has been given a caption claiming he had nothing to do with the Senate crisis, one of the statements José Sarney used in his defense when one crisis broke out after another in the House:
In quotes: "The crisis is the Senate's one, it is not mine" And underneath: "Handsome". Official picture of 31st Brazilian President José Sarney. Agência Senado/modified by Nova Corja
Não é preciso escrever nada sobre o papelão que José Sarney (PMDB/AP-MA) faz como presidente do Senado. Mas sempre teremos sua galhardia literária para entreter os imortais na Academia Brasileira de Letras.
Posted by the Nova Corja blog and Fora Sarney website, below is a video made by Glauber Rocha showing the poverty of the Maranhão state. The voice over is of a Sarney speech, when he took up local government office in 1966.
Glauber Rocha/Youtube
Nevertheless, in a post entitled the Weimar Republic, Oleo do Diabo [pt] discusses what would happen if Sarney leaves his position in the Senate nowadays, analyzing the current political scenario:
O que está em jogo, afinal, não é o destino de Sarney, mas a cadeira de presidente do Senado num momento em que a oposição, com apoio obstinado e histérico da mídia, se prepara para iniciar a CPI da Petrobrás. A mídia está louca para trocar Sarney por outro menos comprometido com a governabilidade. Fale-se o que quiser de Sarney, mas ele tem prestado um importante apoio ao presidente Lula.
O Senado é o calcanhar de aquiles do governo Lula. É onde a oposição é mais forte. Por isso, a mídia se ocupa tanto do Senado, porque sabe que é ali que pode surgir um ataque efetivo ao presidente Lula. O Senado pode votar um pedido de impeachment. Pode atrasar indefinidamente a liberação de um orçamento. Pode destruir, através de uma CPI bem orientada, a reputação de uma candidata…
The Senate is the Achilles’ heel of the Lula government. It is the place where the opposition is strongest. Therefore, the media invest so much time reporting on the Senate, because they know that an effective attack against President Lula can break out there. The Senate can vote a request for [the president's] impeachment, it can delay the liberation of public budgets indefinitely. It can undermine the reputation of a [presidential] candidate too, using a well-guided parliamentary investigation…
President Lula is publicly backing Sarney. Photo: Jane Araújo/Agência Senado
Not as popular at the moment as #ForaSarney, here is also the hashtag and blog #ficasarney [Don't go, Sarney, pt]. These have been popularized by those who think there is no better alternative than Sarney at the moment. If he steps down, the Senator to take over his place is the opposition PSDB Senator Marconi Perillo, accused of irregularities in the 2006 elections. If this happens, President Lula might be in a lot of trouble when the time comes for the Senate to vote and decide provisory measures and other decisions involving legislative and executive power. Nevertheless, it seems that the Senate is always going to be in the news headlines and debates on the blogosphere, now that they have voted for the redistribution of land in the Amazon forest (to be signed or vetoed by Lula) and they are about to investigate the national oil giant Petrobras.
Azerbaijan: Youth activist, prominent blogger imprisoned after trial behind closed doors
In what might be the first case of a prominent blogger being assaulted and detained in the South Caucasus, two youth activists were yesterday imprisoned for two months pre-trial investigative detention in what many consider to be a travesty of justice.
Denied access to the trial held behind closed doors, one Facebook status line update reported that the German Human Rights Ombudsperson, coincidentally in Baku at the time, considered its conduct to be in violation of Azerbaijan's international commitments.
The evening Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizada were assaulted and later detained by police, Global Voices Online Azerbaijan author Ali S. Novruzov informed readers of the case. Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) also reported on the incident.
Emin Milli is known as a critic of the government who is very active in social networks like Facebook. Hajizada is one of the founders of the OL Youth group, which highlights the social problems of young people with popular videos shared on Youtube and social networking sites.
Human rights activist Leyla Yunus said the way the activists were attacked and then arrested leads her to conclude the whole incident could've been planned by the special services and police. She cited the case of Qanimat Zahid, editor in chief of the “Azadliq” newspaper, who was sentenced to four years in prison on hooliganism charges after being attacked by an unknown person.
The U.S., German, and Norwegian embassies have expressed concern and hope that the government will punish those who attacked the activists and release Milli and Hajizada.
Considered by many to be two of the most prominent youth movements, both OL! and the AN Network have been prolific in their use of new media tools such as blogs, social networking sites and YouTube to promote non-violence, modernity, tolerance and democracy in Azerbaijan.
We believe that to ensure a healthy future, Azerbaijan needs independently thinking, well educated and capable youth. The youth should also carry the responsibility for the future of the state and statehood. […] “OL!” Movement is a movement of the youth who, regardless of their nationality, language, religion and gender, strive for the sustainable and comprehensive development of Azerbaijan.
The young activists and their friends had already appeared on the radar screen with a protest demonstration dispersed by police in May during which Mili had also been detained along with several others. Indeed, on the day of the trial, RFE/RL wondered if it wasn't some of this work which attracted the attention of the authorities.
We wrote yesterday about the arrests of two Azerbaijani youth activists. The video above, produced and distributed by the OL and AN youth movements, is the type of thing that likely got them into hot water.
The head of OL, Adnan Hajizade, is one of the two arrested.
In the video, members of OL are making fun of the government for its “waste” of oil money. After local media reported that Azerbaijan had imported two donkeys from abroad each for a price of $41,000, one of the donkeys holds a press conference:
Reaction was quick to appear online. Utilizing Facebook and Twitter, updates on their detention and later trial appeared on the Internet.
Personal reflections on the incident also appeared on blogs. Fighting windmills? Take a pill. was particularly upset.
Two days ago I was hanging out at the roof party hosted by our friend, drinking wine, chatting with my friends, enjoying weather and life in general. “I love Baku in summer”, I said. And really felt happy about living in this city once, for a long time.
Today everything seems different. Weather is annoying, trees are too green, people are meaningless and two close friends of mine are beaten up, detained and pressed charges in something so obviously set up.
Seven hours in front of the police stations, three hours of sleep hugging laptop and anger, screaming inside of me.
[…]
Four years ago I would get shocked hearing similar stories about injustices in Turkmenistan from a friend of mine. Today I'm living my worst nightmares, fighting for the freedom of two of the best Azerbaijanis, I'm proud to be friends with.
I'm exhausted, worried and angry.
Ask me if I love Baku in summer now.
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines was similarly distressed, and especially when sentence was passed down. The blogger, however, also notes the effect the case has had on many young people in Azerbaijan.
This post doesn't have a title. This post doesn't have a theme. This post is simply about my frustration and disappointment. This post is about a let- down and everything else that is negative and that I can't explain in words, because, sometimes words are not enough! And finally this post is about outrage and anger about what happened today! Adnan and Emin were sentenced to two months of imprisonment based on charges of hooliganism!!!
[…]
What happened to my country? Why Azerbaijan has become this place where people lie, where there is no trust, where there is so much corruption, that when you get in line, you automatically start thinking that you ought to pay for the line to actually move?! Why there is no more justice?!
[…]
Now I am just checking the facebook and the updates I missed on during these few hours that I didn't have connection to the internet. I see sadness, I see rage, but most importantly I see no hope! Some of the posts are full of anger, others hatred, while some are words of support for Emin and Adnan!
A Facebook page has been set up in support of Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizada. There is also a petition which can be signed online here. OL! has a YouTube channel here. Updates on the case can also be found on the OL! blog.
Malaysia: Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trial
Malaysia’s opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is charged with sodomising a 23-year old male aide. Anwar believes the charge is politically-motivated. His supporters and partymates accuse the government of fabricating the crime. The sodomy trial, which has been postponed several times, is scheduled to resume next week.
This is the second time that Anwar was charged with sodomy. The first time was in 1998 which led to the imprisonment of Anwar. Kenny Gan, Suara Keadilan highlights the impact of the 1998 trial on Malaysian society
…the political, social and legal turmoil caused by the sacking of Anwar Ibrahim and his subsequent sham trials will forever be etched into our national consciousness with deep scars of shame and regret that will not easily heal.
Malaysian Mirror writes about the relationship of the internet and the Malaysian judiciary in relation to the Anwar trial
Given the vibrant liberated space of the Internet, all Malaysian judges are now working under the added pressure of the public gaze. Not giving a written judgement in any controversial case is ground for much uproar in cyberspace. Any written judgement is also swiftly posted on the Internet and dissected by one expert or another into smithereens.
You could say that, in this new age of digital instant communication, the judges presiding over Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy case are themselves on trial in the virtual court of public opinions, no matter how much they resent it.
linasoo for Sarawak believes that if Anwar is jailed, he will become a “celebrated martyr”
If he is found guilty and jailed, he would just go on to become a celebrated martyr for his cause…
He has proven to be a political leader extraordinaire, attracting a wide array of different but talented individuals to join in his political struggle, while whipping up mega crowds to feverish frenzy with his mesmerising oratory.
Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan asks if Malaysia can survive a second Anwar prosecution
The question is, can we, as a nation, go through a second Anwar prosecution?
The whole prosecution (1998) was a disgrace. I remember someone saying then that the trial robbed this country’s citizens, in particular our children, of their innocence, as we had a daily fare of sodomy, semen-stained mattresses and the like.
…it is my opinion that what we are doing to Anwar Ibrahim is starkly similar to what is happening to Aung San Suu Kyi. I ask, show me the difference between the two. I ask, how can we condemn the latter and do the former?
I call on the government to immediately review the Anwar prosecution in the public interest and because it is the right thing to do. If the government takes this step, it will certainly regain some credibility.
Farish Noor urges politicians to remove antiquated sex laws
Apart from civil society groups that have struggled for gender equality, hardly any of the country's mainstream political parties have ever bothered to highlight that some laws in Malaysia governing sexual difference and activities are antiquated. They do not, and perhaps never did, reflect the reality of sexual life in Malaysia.
So, while Anwar supporters come to his defence, no politician of note has had the courage to state bluntly that Malaysia has outdated laws in a country where a healthy degree of oral and anal sex is taking place, and has always taken place.
Are we to accept this prevalent attitude among our politicians who can cry “sodomy!” only when it suits their interests, but who would otherwise be quite content to allow the prevailing status quo to remain unchallenged?
Photographer Huey Mei was present during the Anwar trial last July 8. Check out the pictures of the trial. A sample of twitter reactions on Anwar’s sodomy trial
cabbageben: “So Anwar f**ked some a** GET OVER IT ALREADY! Fill our newspapers with something of more substance!”
ziadrazak: RT @tunfaisal: Anwar lost support of d rakyat? :) 150 turnout instd of 5k; all mobilised by bus? … may b they r off 4 sightseeing :)
mprakash98: Sodomy 2: PKR calls for 5,000 ppl in black shirts to turn up but only 15 turned up. March fizzles out.
Philippines: Bomb scare grips the country
Several Philippine cities have been hit by bomb blasts in the past week. Bombs exploded in Jolo, Iligan City, Kauswagan, Cotabato City and Datu Piang. In Metro Manila a plot to bomb the office of the Ombudsman, Department of Agriculture and in Katipunan, Quezon City was discovered by authorities. More than 60 bomb attacks have been reported this year in the country.
Who is responsible for the recent bomb explosions? The government accuses separatist rebels of masterminding the attacks. Government critics believe the bombings were the handiwork of the military. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the bomb attacks.
The Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society urges all groups of all faiths in the southern Mindanao island to be “more vigilant and strengthen their unity and solidarity in the face of these bleak incidents.” The group adds:
This is NOT a Muslim-Christian conflict. Let us clear our minds and fortify our greatest resolve not to allow these dastardly acts to successfully sow suspicion and animosity that could lead to conflict
Mindanao Peoples Caucus asks whether the bombings are linked to the forthcoming presidential elections:
Who is doing this and what are their motives? Is there a grand design that is spinning a desired political scenario? Are we already witnessing before our eyes and at the expense of our people a build up scenario for 2010 (elections)?
Luis Teodoro reminds readers to learn from the lessons of history:
…the Marcos (former Philippine president) military orchestrated a series of bombing incidents and bomb threats to convince the middle classes of the need for the government to take drastic measures in the face of the threat not only to the daily routines but also to the very lives of the populace.
Rep. Teddy Casino suspects that the bombings were meant to distract the attention of the people from “real issues and the threat of emergency rule”:
The lack of conclusive information on the motives and perpetrators of the bombings reinforces the suspicion that either there is a failure of intelligence or the obfuscation is deliberately orchestrated to divert the public's attention from the real issues and the threat of emergency rule. (President Gloria) Arroyo remains as the sole beneficiary of what's going on.
Noel Colina warns that
The bombing of a church in Cotabato is a terrorist act! It prepares the ground for declaring military rule and benefits the hawks in gov't.
The bombings are affecting the behavior of many people. A bomb scare is gripping the country, especially Metro Manila, the nation’s political and economic capital. The Construct shares how many establishments are getting paranoid over the bombings
I visited a bank and they were locked down like the Armageddon is coming. The security guards were frisking everyone…They had to open the door and lift security shutters before letting anyone in.
Letters to Mindanao is disappointed over the government response to the bombings
Government’s response to the incidents is dismal to say the least. All they did was to pass the buck and blame the incident to a convenient target. It does not help at all, in fact it builds more animosity between and among the peoples of Mindanao.
Please, no more bombing.
No more blaming.
Spirituality Page notes that the mysterious bombs exploded a few weeks before the president is about to deliver her last State of the Nation Address
Now my question is, why the series of bombing before Arroyo's SONA (State of the Nation Address) where she will dictate the Congress to convene as constituent assembly and declare a martial law simply to extend her term in office? Hmmmm, sorry I have speculatedly answered my question in the way I phrased it. Well, who else will not speculate about these mysterious bombs?
Blame ‘em.
Twitter reactions on the bomb blasts
shylahbabe24: I'm bored. The weather is so hot! I am at the internet cafe. Our work was suspended. There's a bomb threat in our building.
chie2287: already in cagayan de oro via bukidnon. heard abt a bombing in sm davao this morning. was just there yesterday! gahd! scary!
Normankonrad: Unlike the purported QC bomb attempts, the Mindanao bombings had to be deadly to lend credence that there is real and present danger.
ilipam: my heart goes to the victims of the recent bombings in Cotabato City…
francesgm: Now tell me, are these blasts (and bomb threats) a prelude to declaration of martial law? I dont know too. Nothing is impossible in this …
lenytl: There's no need to bomb the front of the Church and hurt the innocent if you want to be heard down south in Mindanao.
ercg: what satisfaction do people get when they set off a bomb in the midst of a busy establishment, thus kill innocent people?
bongmontesa: The oldst trick in the playbk: bomb a xtian church so dat muslms bcom suspects. Bomb a mosque so dat xtians bcom suspects. Dont b fooled.
Twitter users from Cotabato and Iligan where bombs exploded a few days ago
nina_charisse: paranoid about the bombing here in cotabato,a lot of people were dead… if people want to be safe,then they should trust in God & stay home
hellojogsy: trying to focus on my work despite of the bombing incident in the city and being burglarized in our store..
Links for Sat, 2009-07
Nyirenda writes about a plan by the Malawi Government to come up with a list of professionally qualified Malawians who are based abroad to comprise a Malawi Government Publication to be known as Malawi WHO IS WHO.
Rafiki Kenya writes about questions from Africans for Barack Obama: “In the meantime, the White House has shared an interactive map which samples 43 of the more than 5,000 questions received. There are pertinent questions about the ever-present vice of corruption”
The Benin Epilogue posts full transcript of speech delivered by Barack Obama in Ghana.
TIWA starts a petition for reduced sentence of an injured Chinese worker Liu Hanghuang who stabbed to of his Taiwanese employers after he failed to commit suicide.
Uber Desi on the recent ICT research conducted by Lirneasia.net across 6 Asian countries. The findings indicate that communicating via ‘missed call' signals is a common way for people to save on calling costs.
Nick Fielding comments on the development around presidential election campaign in Afghanistan talking about the deals that President Karzai is cutting to try to keep his position.
Pravdin reviews the Uzbekistan's performance on the “The Failed States Index 2009”, released recently by the Fund for Peace.
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