Archive for
December 5th, 2005


Stories

Chilean Elections: Bloggers' View 

a small portrait of this author Rosario Lizana · 23:12

Less than one week from the presidential election which will take place on December 11, some political blogs have been posting on the candidates' possibilities at present. “Elections 2005”, a blog which covers the press, analyzes the latest polls which give Michelle Bachelet, the only woman candidate (the favourite) a lesser percentage than previous polls, as none of the candidates, as the present surveys show, would obtain more than 50% plus one of the total voting. If Bachelet keeps falling down, the present scenario, could drastically change, with a greater possibility for any of the two candidates from Alianza for Chile, which have been running separately against each other and against Bachelet, to be elected in a second, run-off election in January 15, 2006. If this would happen, the right wing will have the chance to win the election, and put an end to sixteen years of governance by the coalition of the center and left parties named La Concertación (since the Military government which ended in the early 1990).

The political science professor Patricio Navia, posts his analysis of the last CEP, (Centre for Public Studies) survey, where he explains the loss of Bachelet s popularity from 63,9 % in june, to 53, 9% October as the result of the questioning, by the leaders of her political campaign, of the economic model followed by the current socialist president, Ricardo Lagos which is highly accepted. Navia, thinks, that a segment from La Concertación, which currently approves the growing economy, is more comfortable with the proposals of one of the candidates, from La Alianza (The Alliance); the entrepreneur Sebastián Piñera, than with the possible changes in economic policies that could take place under Bachelet s government. Sebastián Piñera has been growing steadily in the polls from a 18,1% in june to a 24,4% in October.

The last CEP Survey, of Novemeber, shows Michelle Bachelet at 39%, Sebastián Piñera at 22%, Joaquín Lavín with 21% and finally, Tomás Hirch with 3%.

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Afghanistan Blogs: Journals, Zaher Shah & Taliban 

This author has no photo Farid Pouya · 21:25

Garderah (Link in Persian), an Afghan blogger who recently visited Afghanistan, writes that many Afghans are surprised at the high number of private journals, radio stations, and television channels that operate alongside government ones. Garderah says he is disappointed to see that govermental journals talk more about Zaher Shah, former king, than about the Afghan President or government Ministers. He adds that he doesn't understand the reason(s) why these journals call Zaher Shah the father of the nation.

Afghan Warrior (Link in English) writes about the burning of dead Taliban bodies.

“Most Afghan people don't really care about the burning of the dead Taliban bodies because they don't have a good memory of the Taliban. During their government life was very hard and they were teasing people for no reason. In my opinion the last decision of the US military that some local Afghan National Army and national police will be consulted in the cleanup operations would be very useful…”

Afghan Lord (Link in English) talks about his visit in Tehran. He says it is a nice city but the situation is very tough for youth. Regarding internet filtering, he says,

“I couldn’t believe that Filtering in Iran is very hot when I was in Kabul. But now when I am going to read news about military or checking my Flickr photos I can't go inside. Suddenly a message appears: “This is restricted due to Un-Islamic issues in it!!!!!”

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This Week in Palestinian Blogs: Freedom Made In West Bank and Gaza 

a small portrait of this author Shaden Abdul Rahman · 16:55

The 29th of November was the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. A candle vigil was held in East Jerusalem. Wish that by next year occupation will be history, that we celebrate the 29th as the day that brought us all together to protest the partition of the Palestinian land into two separate states in 1947 and affirm our rights of the land.

News of the Blogsphere:

Following up the Palestinian parliamentary elections, Barghouti wins internal Fatah elections, Barghuti is seen as a successor to president Abbas. It is worthy of mention, that Fatah elections did not go smoothly, at all. Hamas's list of candidates is ready, and Ariel Sharon threatens to arrest Hamas candidates immediately if they go through Israeli military roadblocks.

Four activists from CPT were kidnapped in Iraq. A CPT's press release says the four men were on their way to meet with members of the Islamic Scholars Association. Palestinian political parties condemned the crime and demanded the release of the four CPT while Palestinians in West Bank and Gaza demonstrated and called for their immediate release, describing them as friends and appealing to the Iraqi people through signs in Arabic and English. Please sign the petition. One of the four activists is Tom Fox, a fellow blogger who is waiting in the light.

Photo credit: International Solidarity Movement

Sabbah reports that a reporter from Al Jazeera was arrested in the West Bank by the Israeli occupational forces. Awad Rajoub, Palestinian reporter was arrested at his home in Al-Khalil (Hebron). Rajoub reports for Al-Jazeera Arabic Website. He also writes for Islam Online and Al Sharq Qatari newspaper.

Rafah Pundits writes about the shortcomings of Rafah Crossing, the crossing is opened only four hours everyday while thousands line up waiting for their turn. More importantly, Palestinian analyst says the situation is not much different, Israeli occupational forces still decide on who is permitted to enter and who is not remotely with the aid of their surveillance cameras. Other problems addressed are the restrictions on the Egyptian side, problems leaving Gaza Strip and more. Rafah Pundits reported earlier that Shaul Mofaz, the Israeli Defence Minister, threteaned to shut down Rafah Crossing.

umkahlil confesses: I'm in love!

What we talk about:

If you are not with us then you are against us! seems like Haitham Sabbah was inspired by Bush, or wait, I think that Bush was inspired by zionists and Haitham was only venting out his frustration. Thankfully, some still believe in that “Religion belongs to God, but the homeland belongs to all”, and be it a Muslim, Christian or Jewish (randomly ordered), those who inhibited the land of Palestine centuries ago before they were kicked, twice in 1948 and 1967, have the right to return.

peacepalestine posted a very interesting interview with Mahmoud Musa, the academic director of the Canadian Center for Comparative Cultural research and president of the Association for One Democratic State in Palestine/Israel. Mahmoud Musa believes that the Palestinian Authority should dissolve itself and form a human rights party that will struggle for political and social democracy for the people of Palestine.

Violations of human rights were (and being) committed by Israeli occupational forces, some of them were recognized and reported and many were not :

they have shelled a house, setting it on fire while its residents still inside, they are carrying out an ethnic cleansing policy in order to save some space for new settlements, fired rubber-coated bullets, sprayed tear-gas as they broke into an Israeli detention facility of Palestinian prisoners leaving behind more than 20 detainees injured, and implementing a new policy of torture and impisonment of children.

The little things that matter…

Gilad Atzmon, dedicated a ballad to the people murdered by the Israeli occupational forces in Palestine. Now what was more delightful to hear, Gilad's delightful music or him calling Bush, Blair and Sharon“the three biggest killers of mankind”?

Freedom Clothing Project now offers you the first “Made in the West Bank and Gaza” clothing label in the UK. Dress for a better world!

nasrawi made a trip to Jerusalem, he says the annexation reflected on the residents, tension is in the air . He also took some lovely pictures of the old city.

The sounds of Palestinians waiting, with the patience of cactus, on checkpoints is recorded as unforgettable tunes and acoustics by several artists from around the globe. Checkpoint 303 is the electronic expirement of recording the daily nightmare of Palestinians living under occupation.

Dude, Are you a zinoist? (yes or no). The questionnaire was made by two of peacepalestine's commenters.

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This week in the Ethiopian Blogosphere 

This author has no photo Sokari Ekine · 13:55

The Ethiopian blogosphere continues to hit hard at the repressive dictatorial government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Meskel Square and Nazret.com both point to a Channel 4 special report entitled “Ethiopia's Agony” which can now be viewed online.

Meskel Square writes

EPRDF supporters will not like its angle, summed up by a report by the same reporter Inigo Gilmore in The Observer - “Democratic dawn fades in Ethiopia” as abuses come to light.


Nazret highlight the key points of the Channel 4 programme:

“43,000 Ethiopians in Dedesa Concentration camp, over 30 died; Mass Burial and attrocities perpetrated on citizens; free press and text messages banned; International Community Patience running out”

Redeem Ethiopia, critically examines an article from the November 10th edition of The Economist, entitled “Ethiopia, a darling of the West turns nasty.”

In its conclusion the article shocks Ethiopians and anyone who follows events in Ethiopia. It states:

“Many, perhaps most, Ethiopians and many foreign observers argue that, despite the government's recent bloody brutality, Mr. Zenawi is still the best man to keep Ethiopia on a path to development.”

Using this simple sentence in its conclusion the Economist tries to absolve Meles by telling the reader that despite all the brutality, most Ethiopians still hold him in high regard. This statement can only leave the unsuspecting reader wondering what miracles this man must have performed to have such grand sins absolved by the very people he is brutalizing. It convinces the reader that he too must accept (at least not oppose) Meles Zenawi in the interest of the greater good that Ethiopians and others expect from him. The reader is asked to hop on to the bandwagon of support; albeit one that only exists in the writer’s mind.


ET Blog Diaries calls on the international community to pay attention before it is too late to the “Atrocities in Concentration Camps in Dedessa” committed by Meles' government.

Finally the EU representative in EThiopia admits that “We have not witnessed anything like this in Ethiopia before” refering to the Dedesa concentration camp where the Fascist Meles regime is holding thousands of Ethiopian youth. The crimes of Bosnia and Rwanda are being repeated in Ethiopia. We cry out to the world to be truthful and condemn this man and withold the money.


Ethiopian Politics points to an article in the New York Times by Meron Agonafer, which asks “What the U.S. can do to restore a genuine government in Ethiopia?” Meron Agonafer calls for British Prime Minister, Tony Blair to evict Meles from the Commission for Africa.

“ndeed, it is an open secret that Tony Blair has been promoting Meles Zenawi, the notorious autocrat, as the “new leader” of Africa. Of course, if the word “new” is meant to indicate an introduction of ethnic division, abject poverty, intense repression, mass killing, yes, Tony Blair is right on the mark. His poster boy has a master plan to keep Ethiopia in perpetual conflict and misery which will eventually destabilize the Horn of Africa. And the last thing the world needs is lawlessness in that region.

Ethiopundit examines the ruling party of Ethiopia which he describes as “familiar massive and ruthless corporate / totalitarian empire“.

From owning every square centimenter of land in a nation of 70 million onto control of billions in aid annually and total dominance of the commanding heights of a whole national economy, the Politburo's holdings represent the greatest concentration of wealth under unitary control from Cairo to the Cape.

Weichegud!ET Politics - brilliant as usual this time takes a look at the possible contents of Prime Minister Meles' “Diary” written in “solitary confinement solitary confinement in four-by-four meter cells make for some good reading once Prime Minister Meles settles in in the mansion next to Mengistu in the sprawling suburbs of Zimbabwe?”(where he lives as an “official guest of President Robert Mugabe)

Dear Diary,

As I have been telling you for the past three weeks, like all great leaders I am misunderstood and unappreciated during my time. In 20 years, when I head the World Bank’s “Office of What do we do with former despots”, people will finally realize the wisdom with which I led Ethiopia………………..By the way, it is vexing that other African countries are mimicking my tactics without giving me proper credit. Thieves, all of them. Museveni finally came to his senses and arrested that anti-peace opposition traitor Kizza Besigye and charged him with treason and terrorism.

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