15 March 2012

Stories from 15 March 2012

Colombia: New Pension System ‘Colpensiones’ Sparks Protests

  15 March 2012

After the government announced the transfer of the Social Security Institute [es] (ISS), a public pension fund, to Colpensiones  [es], the new state entity that will administer the pension system starting April 2, the Central Union of Workers (CUT) called for protests [es] that were carried [es] in different cities. This has...

Trinidad & Tobago: Political Fiction

  15 March 2012

The Eternal Pantomime says that it is becoming “very hard…to keep up with the many stories and angles to this new scandal with the PM’s travel assistant”, adding: “This govt is a fiction machine and churns them out faster than the Sweet Valley High series.”

Cuba: Antúnez Released

  15 March 2012

Uncommon Sense reports that “Cuban human rights activist Jorge Luis García Pérez Antúnez was released from jail Wednesday, three days after he was arrested.” Pedazos de la Isla supplies more details.

Colombia Orders Arrest of Colombian Ambassador to Peru Jorge Visbal

  15 March 2012

Colombia's Attorney General ordered the arrest [es] of Colombian ambassador to Peru, Jorge Visbal Martelo, for alleged links with paramilitary groups. After the order Visbal resigned [es] and is expected to return to the country, as confirmed by his lawyer. Twitter users [es] are connecting him [es] with former President Alvaro...

United States: Errors During the Republican Campaign

  15 March 2012

Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney are not only competing to become the Republican candidate who will face Barack Obama this coming November, but also for whom commits the greater number of errors in a speech or interview. In his recent visit to Puerto Rico Santorum declared that speaking English was a prerequisite for it to become the 51st state.

Colombia: A “Football for All” Bill Proposed in Congress

  15 March 2012

Since the biggest TV cable operators could not reach a deal with the Colombian football administration for the rights of the domestic tournament matches until 2016, a Senator proposed a bill in order to break the “monopoly,” so the matches can be broadcast on over-the-air channels (only one of the...

Uganda: Yes We Kony!

  15 March 2012

A social media campaign to raise support for the arrest Ugandan guerrilla leader and wanted war criminal Joseph Kony has taken a humorous twist. Parody videos about the campaign are currently circulating online.

Brazil: Ministry Silences Report on Human Rights in Belo Monte

  15 March 2012

Brazilian journalist Leonardo Sakamoto comments [pt] on a news [pt] about a report he wrote for the government that denounces human rights abuses [pt] in the region affected by the Belo Monte Dam. The news points that almost one year after the visit, the report hasn't been formally discussed by...

China: Secret Arrest Law Passed

  15 March 2012

Samuel Wade from the China Digital Times translated some initial reactions from Twitter on the passing of a controversial amendment to China’s Criminal Procedure Law which provides legal ground to secret arrest and detention.

China: End of Chongqin Model Upon the Removal of Bo Xilai?

  15 March 2012

The former Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader of Chongqing, Bo Xilai, has been removed from his post and replaced by Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang. Some believe that it signifies the end of the Chongqing model, which adopts a Maoist populist approach to justify a hard-fist crackdown on organized crime. Does it mean that China will be more open now to initiating political reform?

Syria: Crackdown Against Journalists Continues

With thousands killed, tortured, arrested and disappeared, the Syrian struggle continues amid unprecedented brutality. In its attempt to silence activists, the regime has stepped up its crackdown against journalists, bloggers and video activists. Salma Yafi, a student of Journalism and member for the National Development Party, is one of the regime's latest victims.

Lebanon: Picture An Arab Man

Rania Massoud repost on her personal blog [fr] her article published by Lebanese daily L'orient-Le jour about a photography project undertaken by Tamara Abdul Hadi. “Picture an Arab man” wishes to update the image of today's Arab men by photographing men from every Arab country in the nude.