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Trinidad and Tobago: Election results

Nicholas Laughlin · 21:46

lingua → pt

After a five-week campaign period — which left some bloggers frustrated and angry, and provoked others to parody and satire — voters in Trinidad and Tobago went to the polls yesterday to elect the 41 members of the House of Representatives. (The party with a majority in the House forms the government.) In the weeks leading up to election day, the major opinion polls couldn't agree on the likely result, with some suggesting a small lead for the ruling People's National Movement (PNM), and others showing the PNM running neck-and-neck with the opposition United National Congress (UNC) and a new third party, the Congress of the People (COP). Campaign spending hit a new high, achieving what blogger Andre Bagoo described as “complete market saturation”:

And come Monday, after the millions are spent, millions which could have gone toward a day-care programme to help children with special needs, like my nephew, we will have another politician in office, with another song to sing.

Election results in Trinidad and Tobago generally come down to a small number of marginal seats where neither the PNM nor the UNC has a clear majority, and in the country's first-past-the-post electoral system third parties have often managed to win a significant number of votes without capturing any seats. As election day dawned, political analysts and ordinary citizens alike waited anxiously to see whether the COP would break this trend, and whether the party would “split the vote” in the marginal. “Remember, you get the government you deserve,” warned Club Soda and Salt, a Trinidadian living abroad.

Many bloggers posted photos of their index fingers stained with red electoral ink, proof of their having voted (and proof against multiple voting). “The day I voted for the first time,” Haveworld captioned his photo. “I voted. Did you?” asked The Manicou Report. “I've done my part,” said Lifespan of a Chennette. “My part in this first stage anyway.” Georgia Popplewell of Caribbean Free Radio gave an account of her trip to the polling station, and shared her memories of the historic 1986 election: “the first and only time I ever felt deeply involved in an election campaign, not to mention hopeful about the outcome.”

Meanwhile, IZATRINI.com posted the results of a (pretty unscientific) Facebook election poll. 1,884 Facebook members voted, with a clear majority opting for the COP. “This certainly says something about Trinidad and Tobago's youth,” IZATRINI remarked.

But once the polls closed at 6 p.m. and the first results began trickling in from the polling divisions, a very different scenario emerged. “It looks bad,” wrote Further Thoughts, a Trinidadian blogger living in the United States, who liveblogged the election night coverage via Internet radio. “It seems to be PNM or UNC first, COP second. But it’s consistently behind, and well behind.” Later Further Thoughts reported the result: a PNM victory. “Three-party elections don’t work in a two-party system.”

The final tally: 26 seats for the PNM, 15 for the UNC, and none for the COP, despite the latter party winning about 25% of the popular vote, a bigger chunk than the UNC, according to preliminary figures. “The inadequacy of the first-past-the-post system is just glaring,” commented Further Thoughts.

The second largest group of voters have no representation. Yes, we get to cast our votes. Yes, elections are mostly free and fair. No, this isn’t democracy.

He tried to rationalise the COP's situation:

There’s a real constituency of people who want something different. They are a third party, waiting in the wings, waiting to happen. A third force in a two-party state, coming together once every few decades, then fading back, sitting uncomfortably in one party or the other.

KnowProSE.com, who lives in Prime Minister Patrick Manning's constituency, was rudely woken at 3 a.m. by noisy celebrations:

This level of noise at this hour — which is actually against the Law unless there is a variance — certainly does not make me feel happy that the PNM won…. The grasshoppers are dancing outside. I wonder how the ants who have to go to work in a few hours feel?

The morning after the election, some bloggers tried to figure out what the PNM victory would mean for the nation. Jumbie's Watch was pessimistic:

The “creeping dicatorship” will now become a galloping executive presidency…. I foresee a situation somewhat like Pakistan.

“I've got a lot to say about this,” fumed Mindsight (warning: he uses strong language):

We've got 5 more years of the PNM, and for better or worse they are my government. They are going to be the key to true change over this period, and it's up to the voters (as they're the only ones who in my opinion care) to hold them to the promise of change.

Further Thoughts tried to understand the UNC's campaign strategy — the party had gone into the elections with two co-leaders and no clear indication of who would have become prime minister, had they won a majority of seats. Was it part of a plan by former prime minister Basdeo Panday to make his daughter (newly elected as an MP) party leader?

Georgia Popplewell, meanwhile, was puzzled by Patrick Manning's decision — announced in his vistory speech — to be sworn back into prime ministerial office at an unconventional location. KnowProSE.com wondered why more Trinidadian bloggers weren't commenting on the results. And The Secret Blog of Patrick Manning, a parody blog launched a few weeks before the official start of the election campaign, announced it had reached “the end”:

Seems I’ve achieved what I set out to do here. Or perhaps I’ve failed miserably. It was fun while it lasted.

12 comments · »»

Morocco: Local Hip Hop Goes International

Jillian York · 16:41

lingua → fr · es

This week, the hype in the Moroccan blogosphere is all about the launch of a new documentary - both at home and abroad - about Morocco's burgeoning hip hop scene. The film, entitled “I Love Hip Hop in Morocco” and put together by Fulbright scholar Joshua Asen and filmmaker Jennifer Needleman, follows Asen as he works with local artists to put together a three-city hip hop festival. Hip hop has become incredibly popular in Morocco over the past few years; most recently, H-Kayne and Bigg - two artists featured in the film - appeared in a major advertising campaign for Maroc Telecom.

Laila Lalami saw the film over the weekend and shared her opinion:

The picture follows several hip hop bands (H-Kayne, Fnaire, DJ Key, Bigg, Brown Fingazz, and Fati Show) as they attempt to set up a hip hop festival in three big cities: Meknes, Marrakesh, and Casablanca. They try to get funding and sponsorship, they rent space, they get permits, they print flyers, they rehearse, and as we follow them through this journey we get a rich portrait of these artists. We visit with DJ Key at home and hear about how he abandoned his work in an architecture firm to focus on hip hop. We hear about the choices they make in their lyrics. For example, the members of Fnaire refuse to use the word ‘fuck' (”We don't talk like that”) while solo rapper Brown Fingazz defends his use of the epithet ‘nigga' to refer to himself and his friends in the medina. They share their struggles, particularly with freedom of speech and with logistical support. They talk about their private lives. The only woman rapper in the film is a young high school girl in Fez, whose parents are extremely supportive, but who has to win the crowd when she goes on stage during the festival. If you have a chance to see this film at the festival near you, don't miss it.

The Morocco Report shares some history of Moroccan hip hop:

For those of you unfamiliar with the scene, you need only look around any of Morocco’s bigger cities (and even some of the smaller towns) to see kids dressed in the latest hip-hop fashions (a phrase often taught in English language schools) and Yankees caps, imitating their favorite American, French and now Moroccan hip hop stars.

Popular Moroccan MCs include Bigg, who speaks fluent English and raps about the problems facing his country; H-Kayne, one of the oldest groups and from Meknes, where I lived for two years; and Fnaire, another group featured in the documentary.

A comment on the post reads:

I saw the West Coast Premiere of ‘I Love Hip Hop in Morocco’ at the Arab Film Festival–San Francisco. Josh Asen was there and took questions about the film. I really enjoyed the film and wish that more people would take the idea of “hip hop diplomacy” more serious. If you liked this film…check out the trailer for ‘Sling Shot Hip Hop’ on You Tube. It’s a similar idea, but covers the Palestinian Hip Hop groups around Gaza, West Bank, Akka, Lid, Tel Aviv and more. Director Jackie Salloum has been working on it for a few years and it’s similar to ‘I Love Hip Hop in Morocco.’ In fact, I asked Josh about it after the premiere and he said ‘Sling Shot’ inspired him to make this film.

Lalla Lydia praises the movement:

These festivals, like the Slam ou Klam Festival in Fes (I think it shows a lot that one of Morocco's most “traditional” Arab cities is also the home to such an innovative world music scene) featuring improv rap slamming, DJ spinning, breaking and musical performance by Morocco's most prominent artists are receiving support not only from a small number of Americans who are plugged into the scene there, but more importantly from the American government in Morocco itself. It's so cool that chose to develop this program with the support of his Fulbright scholarship.

I Love Hip Hop in Morocco will be showing next at the Queens International Film Festival in Queens, New York. If you're in the area, be sure to check it out!

1 comment · »»

Bangladesh: War Criminals and Denials

Rezwan · 15:55

lingua → de · zht · zhs · es

During the Liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971 most of the people of the nation supported the fight for independence from Pakistan except for a few groups being the fifth column. Jamaat-e-Islami is the oldest religious party in Pakistan and its Bangladesh chapter collaborated with the Pakistan army to unsuccessfully prevent the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. Besides providing information of the pro-independence forces to the Pakistani army Jamaat also created many militia organizations such as Razakar, Al badr, Al shams in order to capture and eventually kill freedom fighters of Bangladesh. A large section of the intellectual community of Bangladesh was murdered by Al Badr and Al Shams when they saw the defeat was coming. Jamaat was subsequently banned, then restored in 1978 as the progressive political parties in Bangladesh in power allowed them space and made them qualition partners eventually.

Recently Bangladeshis were outraged by the Jamaat-e-Islam’s leader Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid’s statement that “Jamaat did not work against the Liberation War in 1971 and there are no war criminals in the country” and former Islami Bank chairman and Jamaat-e-Islami think-tank Shah abdul Hannan's remark that the liberation war was only a “civil war”. Drishtipat Blog has summarized lots of denials, response, analysis, politics and fact files on this issue and a heated discussion took place in the comments section.

E-Bangladesh thinks this is an attempt to rewrite history and comments:

this contradicts with the Jamaat leaders statement during the liberation war in 1971, in which they sided with Pakistan and aided Pakistani army to kill and rape Bangladeshis which resulted in one of the worst genocides of the world.

demons Shadakalo did not try to hide emotions:

I want to see these snakes tried for war crimes before they die of natural causes.

Tacit questions the intentions of Jamaat and comments:

“With their announcement, Jamaat has in effect heralded politicking back into Bangladesh’s mainstream discourse.”

Lal Dorza reports that Jamaat leaders are vowing that no case has been brought [bn] against the alleged war criminals so why should people call them criminals. In 1974 a general amnesty was declared for some of the war criminals.

However Eskimo reminds [bn] that the amnesty was not a blanket one but limited to only those persons who did not have specific charges against them. The 3rd world view quotes Dr. Hasan, convenor of War Crimes Fact Finding Committee, a group investigating war crimes by Pakistani army and their local collaborators in 1971, who calls Muzahid's statement a blatant lie:

“We have strong evidence and documents against the people who were involved in war crimes during the Liberation War and what is needed now to bring the culprits to justice is an initiative.”

In 1994, a national people's inquiry commission conducted a trial on eight war criminals of Bangladesh (including Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid) and presented a report in 1995 which can be found here. The report concludes:

The Inquiry Commission after reviewing the offences of the accused and related laws came to a conclusion that these criminals can be tried under the International Crime (Tribunal) Act 1973. To make the sovereignty of Bangladesh safe and sound, to ensure peace, human rights and dignity these criminals (killers, collaborators and war criminals) must be brought to the justice. The commission strongly recommends trial of these offences.

However for unknown reasons the succeeding governments of Bangladesh failed to take any actions against them. Leading commentators also suggest that it is high time to take actions against the war criminals. Because of lack of solid evidence after 36 years it would be appropriate to implement other measures like establishing a truth commission to deal with these crimes.

Bloggers like Eskimo are demanding [bn] that Jamaat should not have the right to be active in politics in Bangladesh. They are pointing out that its main agenda is to form a religious state which is in contradiction to the current state of democracy, judicary, constitution and social structure of the country. Some bloggers even put together an website called “Ban Jamaat-e-Islami” to propagate their protests.

Mash posts some video footages and newspaper articles on the 1971 genocide of Bangladesh. ShadaKalo posts some images of the genocide the Pakistani army and their collaborators committed against the Bangladeshis in 1971 and reiterates the words:

I will not forget. I will not let you forget.

118 comments · »»

Guatemala: The Challenges for the Next President

Renata Avila · 12:48

lingua → pt

Photo by Renata Avila

In Sunday's run-off election in Guatemala, it is predicted that Alvaro Colom Caballeros is the virtual winner at this time according to the results of the TSE. Illegal trafficking of drugs, extreme corruption, and organized crimes are only a few of the issues that the new president of Guatemala will face.

According to The Black Box [ES] blogger the next President will have a tough task:

Además de combatir la pobreza y la inseguridad, el Presidente electo deberá lidiar con un Congreso sumamente fragmentado. Su partido, la UNE, sólo cuenta con 51 diputados de un total de 158. Es decir, el 32 por ciento de la Asamblea Legislativa

Besides fighting poverty and insecurity, the elected President will have to face a fragmented Congress. His party, UNE only has 51 congressmen of 158. That is 32 % of the Congress.

In addition to the votes dividing rural and urban areas, Guatemala is a country in transition with scars from the past and slow development. There is always such utopian possibility of a better future, even in the country with complex problems and bloggers express hope.

Colom's victory was a surprise for many people, as Buried Mirror blog asserted:

Alvaro Colom, in something of an upset, apparently has defeated Otto Pérez Molina in the race for president of Guatemala. Colom had lost his one-time lead and was trailing in most polls. Colom took most departments, although Perez appears to have won Guatemala City, thanks to his anti-crime message. Turn-out was low.

The day of the elections was calm, cold and windy. There was a large number of Guatemalans that stayed home from the polls, and the elected President won mainly in the rural areas but not in the city. Here I compiled all the questions, all the requests, all the demands and needs that Guatemalan bloggers would like to let the new President to know:

The message of CIEN blog [ES] is exhorting people to respect the results of the elections, he said:

Cuestionar la legitimidad de quien resulte vencedor o la limpieza de las elecciones en anda ayuda a la estabilidad política del país. Además que, probablemente, no estemos preparados para ese tipo de escenario dado el desgaste institucional que ha sufrido recientemente el TSE. Dado que no se puede descartar un escenario en donde la diferencia entre uno y otro candidato sea mínima, corresponde a los candidatos y sus partidos mostrar la madurez y responsabilidad que el caso amerita.

To question the legitimacy of who might be elected or the transparency of the elections will not help the political stability of the country. Also, we are probably not prepared for such a scenario given the poor image of the TSE recently. Given the fact that we cannot dismiss a situation where the difference between one candidate and the other will be small, is up to the candidates and their parties to show the maturity and responsibility of the case.

Blogger Homo Homini Lupus [ES] will like to know whether the next President will negotiate with “narcos” :

Mañana decidiremos quién será el hombre que se hincará en algún palacio en el oriente del país y rendirá pleitecía a los grandes narcos que se encargan de dar las fiestas de pueblos y cabeceras con regalos que “Don X” entrega desde avionetas cada año. ¿Cuando estaremos listos para empezar a dar los nombres de “Don X”? ¿Cuándo reconoceremos que Guatemala es tan caudillista como lo fue durante el gobierno liberal del s. XIX? Claro, la excepción ahora es que ya no hay fiestas de Minerva sino, las fiestas son en Huite, Jutiapa y Zacapa.

Tomorrow we will decide who will be the man on his knees in some mansion in the orient of the country, pleasing the big drug dealers that provide parties in towns and places where Don X gives presents from a small plane each year. When will we be ready to give names to “Mr X”? When will we recognize that Guatemala is so “caudilista” as it was during the liberal government in the XIX century? But of course, the difference is that nowadays there is no party in Minerva but parades in Huite, Jutiapa and Zacapa.

Blog Cachacero [ES] says:

Haber que nos esperan en estos cuatro años mas, ojala no sean cuatro años mas de atraso ni que continúe este gobierno tan desorganizado y tan malo como el que tuvimos ahora.

Lets see what will be our destiny the next four years, I hope there will be no more under-development or a disorganized government as bad as the one we just had.

Blogger Guate360 [ES] wants on his post dedicated to the next President the demands of Guatemalans:

1. Que el crimen organizado se mantenga alejado de las instituciones públicas, siendo a su vez perseguido de manera incansable.
2. Que el crimen organizado y la delincuencia común sientan temor de la ley, devolviendo a los guatemaltecos el valor de sus vidas, la tranquilidad y ahuyentando la psicosis colectiva que ha invadido nuestra sociedad.
3. Que la totalidad de la población goce de acceso a los servicios básicos de educación, salud y seguridad.
4. Que el presupuesto general de la nación sea distribuido sabiamente a las instituciones que puedan solventar las necesidades más fuertes de nuestro país.
5. Que la generación de empleos sea prioridad, enfocándose en la productividad del país para que este atraiga inversiones, principalmente, repatriando y conservando capitales, y posteriormente, atrayendo capitales extranjeros hacia actividades que no demuestren como nuestra única ventaja competitiva, el bajo costo de mano de obra no calificada.
6. Que el Gobierno central funcione en total austeridad.

1. That organized crime be far from the control of public institutions and prosecuted without restraints

2. That organized crime and criminality will fear the rule of law, giving back to the citizens the value of their lives, peace by freeing them from the collective psicosis they live nowadays.

3. That the entire population may access education, health care and security.

4. That the Guatemalan general Budget will be distributed wisely among institutions that can solve the urgent needs of the country.

5. That the creation of jobs will be a priority, focusing on the productivity of the country so we can attract investors to the activities that focuses more on our cheap labor

6. That the central government functions with total austerity.

As elected President, Colom made his first statements, according to Blog Democracia Multicultural [ES]:

Dijo: “Hay una deuda histórica con los pueblos indígenas que debe ser atendida.

He said: “There is a historical debt with indigenous peoples that has to be attended to”.

The elected President defined himself as democrat, according Cronicas Efimeras [ES] who said:

Esperemos que este nuevo viraje sirva para enfocarse más en el rezago de las masas

Let's hope that the new orientation might help to focus on the under-development of the majority

Proudly I can said that our democracy is working and that Guatemala is an example of peaceful elections, of transparency and accountability of the results where new media played an important role. This democratic process left us as legacy a peaceful way to change authorities, and some illusions of a better future.

2 comments · »»

China:Korean professor under catcalls

Bob Chen · 12:31

lingua → mg · pt · jp · de · es

Professor Zheng Zaishu

On 31st, October, several Chinese portal websites released the news: the Korean professor Zheng Zaishu in Ehwa University suggested that, contrasted with the common sense, the Chinese mythology mainly originated from Korea. His theory was based on the fact that many gods mentioned in Chinese mythology Legends of Mountains and Seas could be found in Goguryeo frescos.

Below the text, the websites furthermore attached a list that numerated the controversies on culture between China and Korea from 2005 to now, including those on Dragon Boat Festival, the origin of printing (one of the 4 great inventions of China) and traditional Chinese medicine.

Soon, Chinese blogsphere began to protest against his theory. in 163.com, for example, more than 3000 replies put Professor Zheng Zaishu under critiques. More than half of the replies despised Korea as a country of self-contempt that tried to seek comfort in self-deception and steal culture from its neighbor China. Many netizens stroke back the professor’s idea by claiming that Koreans are actually descents of Chinese. The most widely cited comment, a metaphor concerning plastic surgery, straightforwardly disdains Korea. Because most of the catcalls had impolite remarks, a netizen from Korea (the location is shown on the website) urged Chinese netizens not to abuse, but was soon inundated under the 100 pages of discussions. In a survey by 163.com, 1960 people vote the option that Korea is a “small country with provincial people”, while 1244 people think “we Chinese had better rescue our culture rather than to dispute with others”.

(No netizens' comments directly quoted to avoid further controversy)

27 comments · »»

Hong Kong: Illegal 14K Design

Oiwan Lam · 08:13

On November 1, 2007, Hong Kong Police force took action against a local household design chain store, G.O.D (Goods of Desire), confiscated 88 T-shirt with a “14K” logo and arrested 17 people, some were designers and some were shop keepers. The police claimed that they were in possession of triad society goods.

14K is a local triad group. The police also claimed that it is illegal to wear the T-shirt as it is illegal for anyone to wear triad accessories. The penalty can be up to HKD100,000 (USD74,000) and three years imprisonment.

The police action has resulted in public outrage. As one of the articles under the association ordinance, “claim to be a triad society member”, has been applied to arrest netizens a few months ago. Local bloggers pick up the issue quickly and some urged the government to amend the law.

The meaning of 14K does not necessarily stands for triad society; it can be 14K gold or monthly salary figure. Therefore, LittleOslo made his own T-shirt with a logo “monthly salary 14K”:

Memory-Melody-Mentality also made a T-shirt with a dog face to create a satire: If wearing a 14K T-shirt would make you a triad society member, then wearing a dog T-shirt would probably make you a dog. According to the law, a dog with more than 20 kg has to wear a less-than-1.5 m belt or it would be caught by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. So remember to tie yourself to a belt and ask your friend to hold it firmly if you wear a dog-face T-shirt!

Diumanpark pointed out that the implementation of the law can be more flexible:

有法，不一定要死板地執行，可以容許一定的彈性，因為用法的是人。

Even though the law exists, it is not necessary to implement it strictly and mechanically, it can allow some flexibility. It is people behind the law.

給住好啲的人情，並不是縱容這件T恤賣下去。首先，如果市民覺得這件T恤非常反感，衝擊社會，大可批評售賣的公司，像猶太人對納稅設計般施壓，逼令收回。

To give discretion for G.O.D doesn't mean the society encourages the selling of this T-shirt. If people find the t-shirt annoying and against the society's moral standard, they can criticize the company, similar to the boycott of Nazi design that pressed the company to recall the product.

偏偏警方選擇在沒有任何準備下突擊搜查，令人側目。誠然，警方有權搜捕，可以做大龍鳳給傳媒看，也可以做給黑社會看，但這個行動背後，會進一步破壞一個liberal的社會環境。

However, the police choose to search the shop without giving any warning. Such action is very conspicuous. Of course, the police has the power, they can self-directed the show for the mass media, for the triad society. However, such action would also destroy the atmosphere of a liberal society.

Henryporter revisited the history of the Association Ordinance and called for a legal reform:

有關黑社會的概念經已改變，過往黑社會滲透校園所引發的青少年罪案，慢慢已被無所隸屬的小規模童黨所取代；隨著公民意思的加強與警隊效率的提高，黑社會所能勒索、敲詐的範圍大規模縮少…當然，社會仍有人時刻擔心黑社會死灰復燃，所以一些基本的條例如：「身為三合會成員」、「自稱三合會成員」、「煽動他人加入三合會」、「向三合會施予援助」等，都有保留的必要。不過當社會環境與風氣已有所轉變的今天，「書寫或講三合會術語」、「穿戴有三合會組織名稱或術語的飾物」、「使用任何三合會儀式」此等定罪範圍較為廣泛的條例，是否可有放寬的空間？

The concept of triad society has changed. In the past, triad society penetrated into schools and induced teenage crime, now the situation has been replaced by small scale teenage peer group. As the civil society is more mature and the police more effective, there is less and less triad society blackmailing activities… Of course, our society may still be worried that the triad would become active again, we therefore need to preserve some articles to make illegal “triad society member”, “self-claim triad society member”, “instigating other to join the triad society”, “giving assistance to triad”, etc. However, with a new social environment, we can amend articles on “writing or talking in triad language”, “wearing accessories with triad society's name or language”, “performance of triad ritual”, etc.

The blogger provided some triad language examples:

某些數目字如426、438、415、432皆代表著黑社會某些職位，只要簡單一句：「我係426」也構成刑事罪行…

Some number combinations such as 426, 438, 415, 432, they stand for certain position within the triad. According to the existing law, when someone said, “I am 426″ s/he would face a criminal charge.

Ben Ng criticized that the police action has threatened individual's freedom and creativity.

這種不斷被強化的泛道德主義令人心寒。這不單是扼殺創意，而是威脅個人的自由空間，香港趨向缺乏容忍包容，什麼都可道德上上綱上線的單色城市。

This kind of pan-moralism is very frightening. It not only kills creativities, but also threatens individual freedom. Hong Kong is becoming less and less tolerant; the city is turning into a mono color city with black and white moral principle.

Life is but an empty dream asked a simple question: is such action capable of crushing triad society? If yes, then it is such an easy job. If not, what is the purpose?

透過打擊這些自以為穿上諧音tee就是黑社會就可以好型但九成九又與黑社會無關的人，阻止社團風氣蔓延‧‧‧這場騷代價是貴，但荒誕感及狐疑度認真值回票價。

So the crushing down of triad is the crushing down of those who found themselves cool by wearing T-shirt which gives free vocal association with the triad, even though 99% of them have nothing to do with the triad. Well, this is to stop the triad culture… the police show is really expensive, but the ridiculous and incredible performance is worthy of price.

In respond to Ben Ng's opinion, Life is grey wondered if creativity can override morality:

創作不等如正確，創作不一定要支持。創作不應受道德規範，但發表了，就要考慮到對社會的影響。

Creative work is not equal to correctness, and we don't have to always support creative work. Maybe creative work shouldn’t be restricted by morality; but we have to consider the impact of the resulted product towards the society.

Daihung also disagreed with the saying that the 14K design is just for fun. Nazi's logo is no fun at all.

However, Tiney pointed out that we can criticize the design being banal or vulgar, however bad taste, it shouldn't become a reason for this kind of arrest.

Erynnyes called those who supported the police action hypocrites :

黑社會，不論中外，也是創作題材，英、美、日本、台灣、甚至今天中國大陸，也有以黑社會作為題材創作的電影，若以香港警方今次邏輯，豈非要全禁止這些電影在港播放？那不是教壞年青人？

創意，從來是無界限，不論是踩政治、還是道德界線，因為創意從來是由挑戰權威而來，若今次香港連這些Ｔ恤也容不下，要上網上線，香港，還怎可以叫創意之都？

Triad society, no matter it is in the East or the West, is a theme for creative work. In U.K, U.S, Japan, Taiwan, and China, there are popular movies about the triad. According to Hong Kong police's logic, we have to ban all these movies in Hong Kong then? Because they set up bad example for our youth?

Creativity is borderless; it frequently steps onto the borderline of politics and morality. Creativity has a tendency to challenge authority. If we can't tolerate the T-shirt and insist to uphold the black and white principle, how can Hong Kong become a creative city?

0 comments · »»

Pakistan: All Martial and No Law

Omer Alvie · 07:32

lingua → pt · bn

If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it is probably a martial law. President Musharraf can call it what he likes, Emergency or Amer-Jensee (as he pronounced in his speech on television) but in all intents and purposes it is martial law. The legality of enforcing such an emergency is more than questionable and the official reason (war on terror) is laughable to say the least. Musharraf could have claimed “aliens are attacking” and it would have been more credible.

Minos' Mine Kampf presents his analysis of the situation in his inimitable fashion.

Well, the kid gloves are finally off. The smiley mask, too, is slowly being dissolved by the vitriol oozing out of dilated facial pores. Dear Leader San, sans Chaplinesque mustache, stands before us in all his pint-sized totalitarian glory. A strongman-the-laaltein (trans.lantern) for our weird and wonderful times. A Sodomise-’em Hussein in the making. Der Führer Redux in khaki, whom we should face with right arms raised in reverent salutes, chanting Sieg Heil (or else crawl back into our little foxholes and go back to sleep).

In order to address the threat of religious extremism and terrorism, the government cracked down on the judges, lawyers, the media and human rights activists, while the religious extremists and suspected terrorists I suppose let out a collective “phew!” and went about their business.

Pak Affairs explains the reasons for “Martial Law – Lite“

Musharraf caught in the middle of this has been trying to strike a balance by appeasing its people and at the same time keeping NATO and US off the limits from entering Pakistani territory. It’s tough to be in Musharraf’s shoes at this point where he is trying to hold the country’s dignity in place and yet not agitate a wounded bear, the US.

The Chief Justice and most of the Supreme Court and high court judges were removed and their replacements were sworn in under the banner of “out with old and in with the new” and the subsequent protests resulted in the arrests of many lawyers. There's a complete blackout on all private Pakistani news channels and it has also been reported that the government has tried to restrict the publication of a supplement on the emergency situation by the Jung newspaper. By the way, Musharraf still believes in press freedom as he claimed in his speech. I guess he was talking about the freedom to get censored by the government.

Silsila-e-Mah-o-Saal asks an important question of supporters of Musharraf, while Windmills presents a fable that is worthy of publication as an opinion piece in a broadsheet newspaper in Pakistan.

There were rumours yesterday about President Musharraf being placed under house arrest by a faction of the army who were displeased with his abuse of authority. This rumour resulted in the Karachi stock exchange taking a massive hit. But Freedom and Democracy highlights an interesting video clip from GEO News that discusses the latest Supreme court order that warns Core commanders and servicemen from taking part in unconstitutional activities. Perhaps there was something to this rumour after all. (Although the news clip is in Urdu, the order itself is read out in English).

Baithak presents an update on the media's reaction to the emergency.

The anchor persons are saying that the people are angry (at the imposition of Emergency.) But from what we see here, across the channels, the media hosts appear angrier.

Procrastination presents a detailed review of Musharaf's address to the nation. (The post includes excerpts from the speech including the video of the speech.)

You’ll notice the “I” in Musharraf’s speech, i.e. “I did this, I did that” and his conflation of him and Pakistan and how everything he has done and is doing is for Pakistan. That is of course the staple of such speeches, I still remember Zia’s speeches.

Metroblogging Lahore presents a summary of Press views on the situation, while Metroblogging Islamabad highlights the link to the Dawn News channel live web cast.

Well, that's it for the current round up on views from the Pakistani blogosphere. I'm off to Karachi (Pakistan) for a short visit. It is short because my wife has placed Martial Law (more appropriately Marital Law) on my trip. She qualifies the reason as War on Terror. Hey, if Musharraf can use that excuse, why can't she!

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Egypt: Final Chapter of a Torture Case

Lasto Adri · 02:05

lingua → ar · pt · es

After months of waiting and speculation, justice is served at last in an Egyptian saga in which a driver was sodomised and tortured by police - who captured their criminal activities on tape to further humiliate their victim.

The night before the latest “Torturing” trial’s eve, Hossam el Hamalawy wrote:

The trial of Captain Islam Nabih and Corporal Reda Fathi–the Boulaq el-Dakrour Police Station sadists who tortured, sodomized driver Emad Kabeer and filmed the abuse to further the humiliation–is expected to come to its final chapter, with a verdict to be issued this Monday, 5 November, at

Dar el-Qadaa el-Aaly, 9am…

Finally, today, Sand Monkey delivered the good news saying:

The Impossible took place today. Justice was served! The Police Officer who sodmoized Emad El Kebeer by sticking a broomstick up his ass and videotaped him on his cellphone and was put on trial for it just got a sentence today: 3 years in an Egyptian prison. This, as far as I remember, is a first. A Police Officer held accountable.

And Abna’a Masr wrote a more detailed post after the trial, adding..

أصدرت محكمة جنايات الجيزة حكمها العادل في قضية تعذيب عماد الكبير ، و أدان الحكم الذي تلاه المستشار سمير أبو المعاطي الضابط إسلام نبيه عبد السلام و أمين الشرطة رضا فتحي بجريمة هتك عرض عماد الكبير بعصا وتصوير الواقعة في قسم شرطة بولاق الدكرور قبل عامين، و حكم بثلاث سنوات سجناً مع الشغل لكل منهما بعد ثبوت صحة الأدلة والشهادات التي قدمها دفاع عماد الكبي

Giza Criminal Court issued its verdict in Emad Al Khabeer's torture case. The judgment read by the Counsellor Sameer Abu Al Ma’aty, sentenced the officer Islam Nabih Abdel-Salam and the constable Reda Fathi in the police crime of sodomisation of Emad with a stick and videotaping in Bulak El Dakror police station two years ago. In addition to that, Islam and Reda, were sentenced to three prison years to prison each after proving the validity of evidence and testimony presented by the defense of Emad Al Kabeer.

Meanwhile, Zeinobia feels the sentence was too short. She writes:

Oh yes for three years only !!!!
Well it is a double edged rule with my all respect , yes it is a great thing and a victory for all those who believed in the right of “Emad” that “Nabih” is found guilty and is going to jail , yet this is too short sentence , three years only !!!
The disaster is not in the rule but the justification of the rule by the Judge “Because of the young age of the accused “Nabih is 27 years old” and their small experience we decided to jail them for three years only !!!!!!!!!!!!”
Young age and small experience !!!
With my all respect when “Emad” was abused he was younger than me , “Emad” 's father died after watching that clip ,small experience , I am sorry but this is a torture case , does torture need expertise so the penalty would be longer than 3 years !!!???

The Arabist adds:

It’s good news in an otherwise pretty awful case — remember that al-Kabir, a bus driver, was sentenced last January to three months of prison for “resisting arrest.” We’ve covered the case a lot as part of the “al-Adly videogate” scandal, when bloggers published several videos of torture in Egyptian police stations.

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