Global Voices Online

Oneworld Multimedia reports on illegalities in the office of the Armenian president. About 60% of government officials have received appointments to positions despite not having done military service.

Registan.net and Democracy Rising discuss Dariga Nazarbaeva, the daughter of the country's president (a biography can be found here), and the ongoing fallout from the murder of a leading opposition politician in Kazakhstan.

Seidenstrasse says that political pressure is causing difficulties for his organization's work in Uzbekistan. In particular, pressure from the government is leading to hesitance of local organizations to partner with foreign NGOs. (Link in German)

Peter of neweurasia reports on the arrest of two Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalists in Turkmenistan. The location of and charges against the reporters are unknown.

Onnik Krikorian has photos from Armenia's Kosh Prison in the Aragatsotn Region. Last week, he reported that he was pleasantly surprised by the conditions at the prison.

Both Colombia and El Salvador are off to the polls on Sunday for congressional elections. This prompts Adam Isacson to post a translation of a who's who chart of Colombian candidates, their parties, and their main positions. Hunnapuh, on the other hand, has a far less serious list of “tips for election day (ES).” First tip: don't get wild drunk the night before.

Luís Afonso Assumpção is not happy with leftist protesters that gather in his city of Porto Alegre during various conferences and summits.

Melissa Draper guest-blogs at Blog from Bolivia with her thoughts on International Women's Day in Bolivia and what level of participation women have achieved in the new Movement Towards Socialism administration.

Diego is back with his semi-annual post from Buenos Aires. Just back from a trip to Uruguay, he explains how actress Tara Reid plans on saving the world, one party at a time.

Oleksandr of Messages From Canada explains why he thinks Ukrainian politicians have to take part in pre-election debates and why many aren't willing to. He concludes: “Dear leaders of political parties of Ukraine, debate now, when you have the chance and have to do so. Otherwise, one beautiful day you will be debated by Ukrainian nation again…”

Stephan Clark of Everybody I Love You compares free pancakes served in Kharkiv on Maslenitsa in order to advertise Ukrainian political parties to “that great American political tradition, the parking lot hot-dog give-away.”

LEvko at Foreign Notes writes about the demographic situation in Ukraine, an ever depressing topic.

Dan McMinn of Orange Ukraine writes about Ukraine's relationship with Transnistria: cracking down “on smuggled goods out of a country whose economy is based on smuggling” - and the reactions this new policy is getting.

Maidan: An Internet Hub for Citizens Action Network in Ukraine reprints Stephen Bandera's report on Ukrainian freedom of information activists and their campaign to publicize secret governmental documents “that bear the ‘not for publication' stamp.” So far, the justice ministry has agreed to provide the dates and titles of nearly 100 secret resolutions and orders issued by the government of Victor Yanukovych in 2002-04. The activists are also demanding declassification of secret decrees issued by Victor Yushchenko in 2005.

W. Shedd of The Accidental Russophile links to a video featuring a number of car crashes that allegedly took place in Moscow's newly-constructed Lefortovo Tunnel. Pretty wild.

Yuri Mamchur of Russia Blog writes about a cheaper Russian alternative to FedEx, UPS and other such services - and a faster and more secure alternative to the local post service: passenger trains.

Charlie Ganske of Russia Blog criticizes Reuters' coverage of Russia's Middle East policies and responds to Richard Pipes' Wall Street Journal piece (”emblematic of a deeper problem in how the West views Russia”) with shallow remarks summarizing earlier arguments presented on the blog.

Yosef Ardi explains what lies in wait for U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice when she makes her first official visit to Indonesia. In particular, he talks about the possibilities of Indonesia tilting more toward China.

Jakartass comments on the drop in the number of Indonesian billionaires on Forbes' magazine's list of the world's 50 richest individuals: from ten in 1996 to two a decade later. “You've got to feel sorry for them.”

Worried that the local traditional media will ignore the action, bloggers in Malaysia are covering protests against a recent hike in fuel prices. Jeff Ooi at Screenshots is compiling some places on the Net where you can find more grassroots journalism.

Zuco reacts to news of anti-Singapore demonstrations in Thailand and Australian hostility to permitting Singapore Airlines to fly from Sydney to L.A. He writes: “Very soon, we might have to ask “that” American question: “Why do they hate us so?”"

Six Months in Hanoi bids an emotional farewell to Vietnam. “My experience of leaving Hanoi was of suddenly seeing the loss of a whole community. I know I will return, but I will never regain that world.” It took him a week before he could write about it.

View from Iran, an Iran based blogger, talks about Iranian public opinion about nuclear issues. Blogger says “Why do Iranians mistrust everything the government tells them, but trust their spin when it comes to the nuclear issue?” We were wondering last night. If you have followed the nuclear issue at all, then you know that it is reported that Iranians support their government in this issue. Yet, when you hear Iranians on the street respond to reporters (and to me and to K…) they always say “We support nuclear ENERGY.” You would be hard-pressed to find an Iranian who would say “We need nukes. We are willing to be isolated for nukes.”

Jennifer Woodard Maderazo wants to see something done about the many unsolved homicides of young women in the border town of Juarez, Mexico.

Mr.Behi, an Iran based blogger, writes about Iranian nukes and American ambassador in the United Nations. Blogger says I am not sure if the nucks are the real issue just like the case of WMD of Iraq. I am getting ready for Bolton to take a toothpaste tube from his pocket saying “Iran has produced this amount of enriched Uranium”. This is so vividly scripted.

OhmyNews! hosts a forum discussion between Robert Einhorn, advisor to the International Security Program of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington, D.C.-based foreign policy think tank, and Peter Beck, Northeast Asia Project Director for the International Crisis Group, on the bogey men being used by various parties to influence domestic public opinion.

“The wife of and daughter of imprisoned labor activist Yao Fuxin have gone to Beijing to petition delegates of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on during their annual sessions,” reports Human Rights in China. Yao is in poor health, and his family is appealing for him to be released on medical parole.

Shenzhen Ren reminds us of the mass mobilization of young intellectuals to the countryside during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), and of Stefan Landsberger's excellent online collection of CR posters and memorabilia.

The Opposite End of China comments on a recent political risk assessment report produced by the Economist Intelligence Unit, which rates conflict between China's haves and have-nots as the most likely contributing factor to political instability in China.

Guyanese Muslim blogger Qays' defends the use of the word “sainthood” in the context of Islam, sparking a dialogue in the comments thread about manifestations of Islam in Guyana and Trinidad.

“I am glad to have the Chinese government join me in condemning many things that I have over the years contributed money, signed petitions, and cast my vote in order to defeat,” writes Chinese Law Prof. “But its report is more a schoolyard nyah-nyah than a real response to criticism of its own record.”

“After this affair, I have undertaken a deep self-reflection, how I debased myself for a little flyspeck of profit,” wrote Web movie producer Li Yuejun in a Chinese newspaper regarding videos and photos of a woman crushing a kitten and other small animals. “I have hurt far too many people, and have stained what is lofty and holy. I am willing to accept anything the organization or work unit choose to do. I am willing to accept the righteous condemnation of the good-hearted citizens,” says Li, in a translation provided over at Danwei.

Food Labels get a Hindu group a little angry. Kellogs at the receiving end says Pickled Politics.

Bahas has a roundup on the human rights situation in Nepal.

A bumper paddy crop in Sri Lanka may pose marketing problems for farmers - at Janapathi Blog.

Azad Forever captures some of the nuances of the recent controversies to hit Muslims - “
Muslims, as social and conscious human beings should also denounce cowardly acts committed by Muslims, like killing innocence people, just like how Muslims condemn some stupid Danish cartoons against their symbol of faith.”

Molara Wood will be appearing in Oxford tomorrow…” Afam Akeh, Nnorom Azuonye and myself will form a quartet with Chuma Nwokolo Jr at the event.”

This week is santation week in South Africa and the government has promised to eradicate bucket toilet systems by the year 2007. African Houseit “”We have set targets especially on bucket system and we are saying that by 2007 we would have eradicated all the buckets that we have in our country.”

Grandiose Parlor comments on the attempts by sections of the Nigerian public who support the President's wish to run for a third term.

Abeni worries that the murder of the government's press secretary may be politically motivated.

Passion of the Present points to two reports on Darfur from eye witnesses accounts on the violence. “As part of the “Tour of Darfur; Eyewitness to Genocide,” a national speaking tour sponsored by the Save Darfur Coalition, Steidle discussed his firsthand experience of witnessing the mass murder of African Tribes in Darfur, which Steidle describes as “systematic ethnic cleansing.”

Ethioblog reports that the population of Ethiopia will increase by 100% by 2050

New Zimbabwean blogger, Acoustic Motorbike, comments on a new campaign in South Africa against sexual violence called “One in Nine”. The campaign is centered on the fact that in South Africa only one out of every 9 rape cases is reported.

At Renouveau Congolais, blogger JB Labika summarizes (FR) the entanglements of three strands of influence in the DRC as the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. He talks of the relationship between the Congolese Government, the European Union and foreign business based in the DRC. It's a power triangle in which he says all three sides benefit.

Photographer Stefan Falke posts photos of of the members of the Keylemanjahro School of Arts & Culture in Cocorite, Trinidad, holding copies of MOKO JUMBIES: The Dancing Spirits of Trinidad, the book in which Falke chronicles the school's activities in images. Moko jumbie is the term used in Trinidad for stilt dancer.

The Limey posts a press release from the Bermuda Professional Photographers Association which alleges that the government is violating its own guidelines by hiring foreign photographers to shoot Bermuda tourism ads.

Sergey Belyakov at RUBLog links to two online photo collections: the Russian Photography Collection, 1917-1945, and Albert Hajrullin's Moscow and St. Petersburg pictures.

Dan McMinn at Orange Ukraine writes about the potential Yushchenko-Yanukovych coalition following the March 26 election: “As Taras Kuzio, among others, has repeatedly said, one of the greatest failings of the Yushchenko government is that it reneged on its promise ‘Bandits to Jail!' in favor of the informal ‘Bandits to Parliament.'”

Michael Farris examines Jarosław Kaczyński's rise to power - his ‘expanding' to power, that is: “It's certainly been a virtuoso performance and I have no idea how much longer it can last.”

Victor Yanukovych, an election-rigging “expert,” says the upcoming parliamentary election will be rigged, despite victory forecasts for his party. Scott W. Clark of Foreign Notes comments on this unwise campaign strategy: “Discredit an election that it looks like you'll do well in. That will lay the groundwork for what? A court challenge of the election in which you do well?”

The L Files reports on Playboy billboards put up all around Slovenia, featuring a rather naked woman, and the reactions of Slovenians to it. Michael at The Glory of Carniola covers the billboard, too, and also writes about foreigners coming to Slovenia to get married.

Giustino at Itching for Eestimaa comments on how some Russian media are detached from reality when it comes to the language issue: “If you live in a country where the overwhelming majority of the people speak one language, you are going to need to know that language to work a service job. […] How can reality be seen as discrimination? […] Or even in Russia's home territory, can you get a good paying job in Moscow speaking only Votyak or Chechen?”

Democracy Guy, Tim Russo, has been serializing his experiences as, well, a democracy guy. The former National Democratic Institute employee is currently on chapter 15, in which he recounts his experiences observing the 1998 Armenian election.

Susan of SueAndNotU reports on the ladykiller of Tbilisi.

Betsy of Stanmenistan writes about experiencing Women's Day as an American in Kazakhstan.

Columbia's Harriman Institute held a conference on assessing social change in Central Asia today. Musing Under The Tenement Palm liveblogged the sessions (keep scrolling down).