Global Voices Online » 2007 » November

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Pakistan: Student Protests, Police and the Underground Life

Neha Viswanathan · 17:29

lingua → es

Students in Pakistan have joined activists in protesting the state of emergency imposed in the country. On 3rd November, the Lahore School of Management Sciences (LUMS) released a draft resolution on behalf of the faculty, students and staff condemning “gross political injustices that the nation has experienced in the past few months – more so, we take liberty to condemn the ethereal blockage imposed by the executive by the declaration of a Martial Law in the country.”. RedDiaryPk has the entire text of the resolution

We, the LUMS community, reach a collective consensus that the problems that the military run government declares as responsible for the need to declare the current state of emergency are its own pandemic. We, therefore, refuse to acknowledge any attempt by the government to employ the ‘doctrine of necessity’ and call upon the same to immediately lift the martial law as per instructions of the Supreme Court.

Teeth Maestro has a message from Osama Siddique, a university professor who was arrested. The Emergency Times reports on students of LUMS joining a protest on the 5th of November.

Yes the very depoliticized student society that our leaders have taken for granted and grown so accustomed to, has awoken from its decades long slumber with a roar, that enough is enough. No longer are we going to be conformist to our governments policies, as if we have no choice, no longer are we going to be scared to question or raise our voice because we are intimidated by the state’s power and what may be done to us; no longer are we going to refrain from action, from sheer complacency.

On the 7th of November, over a 1000 students of LUMS gathered as part of a protest. The protest went on despite the police warning them that any protest-related activity, even within the campus would result in a baton charge. It was further let on that the names of the students at the helm of the movement were known, and that they would be specifically targeted. The Emergency Times has a post detailing the protest activities and its consequences.

Right after this, about half the number of initial protestors carried out a silent, peaceful protest where they simply sat down in front of the Main Entrance in front of the police personnel. Most of the protestors placed masking tapes over their mouths, in a show of silent solidarity as they faced the police. At this time, all media personnel attempting to leave the campus were accosted by police with their cameras confiscated. The Police presence since then has multiplied and they are still at the gates. Reports are that they have been ordered to procure at least 15 people for detainment. The administration has denied them thus far. They remain outside. We are not sure what the outcome will be.

In the FAST University campus also held a protest. Metroblogging Lahore provides a timeline of the events at the university.

Police has released the three guys arrested earlier but are still inside the campus insisting that the guys who were holding the placards, charts etc should be handed over to police's custody. The atmosphere is quite tense a the campus. Other faculty members are out there with the students.

Videos are appearing on YouTube of some of the student protests. This one has students marching, and shouting slogans. Another video can be seen here. Some of the slogans I could catch -

“Go Musharraf! Go!”
“Laathi Goli Ki Sarkar, Nahin Chalegi, Nahin Chalegi!” (Trans. This Baton and Bullet Government, Will not do! Will not do!)
“Musharraf ___ gaddar hai” (Trans. Musharraf is a traitor)

Metroblogging Lahore had an update by an alumni of FAST university.

When we, the protesters were just 5-10, they were already 15-20 in number, some in police uniform and some in plain clothes. As the number of protesters grew to around 20 or a bit more when the people passing by also joined us (or just stayed there to watch the ‘drama') the police started getting a bit violent. They started to push every individual to move and started asking them where are you from and noting down the details?

Democracy and Freedom has some live reports on various protests in various universities, including two in Islamabad.

Protest in Islamic University, Islamabad, where hundred of student gathered, same information is with reference to the Quaide-eAzam University Islamabad, where also students boycott the classes & participated in a huge demonstration in campus, Police also reached at both the campuses & successfully performed his duty to arrest some students.

Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the Labour Party documents life on the run at LeftClick.

We bought some more sims on anonymous names. I had to arrange a new place to stay. My friends are fantastic. They are all waiting when I call them to stay the night. I am not staying at LPP comrade’s houses as they are already under surveillance. I had a good night and good sleep after I arrived the place of my friend traveling over one hour in a public bus.

12 comments · »»

Pakistan: A Middle Eastern Perspective

Amira Al Hussaini · 15:16

lingua → pt · es

What are bloggers in the Middle East saying about the latest developments in Pakistan? The reactions range from launching petitions to stop martial law to satire, from advice to lamenting over badly-timed opportunities.

Mideast Youth:
Writing in Mideast Youth, Umar Farooq discusses marital law in Pakistan.

“Emergency as proclaimed by Musharraf’s regime is just a pretty word to replace a visibly harmful noun ‘Martial Law'. Without being partial, it can be easily said that the current step by General Musharraf’s government is in fact an imposition of Martial Law and not that of an emergency,” he explains.

Farooq further adds:

(The) larger population of Pakistan is peaceful. However, due to certain harsh and unjust policies of Musharraf’s regime has made certain areas of Pakistan vulnerable to extremist mindset. Such policies and its effects could only come to end with an end of Musharraf’s regime. However, to attain this goal, the world must help the people of Pakistan by giving a strong message to Musharraf’s regime.
This message should first incorporate an unconditional with drawl of the proclamation of emergency (Martial Law) and then should invoke Musharraf’s regime to ensure free and fair elections in Pakistan, according to schedule.

Mideast Youth is also sponsoring a petition to stop supporting marital law in Pakistan here.

Palestine:
Kabobfest's Will deals with the issue with satire. He writes:

“On behalf of several Arab states, the Palestinian Authority and Israel, KABOBfest welcomes Pakistan to the exclusive club of states under emergency law. Though these are long-time members of this esteemed, exceptional group, a Musharraf-led Pakistan should fit right in…
In solidarity, and to deal with the greatest threat to KABOBfest security, I declare a state of emergency for this blog. I am suspending open commenting access, will rigorously edit and screen posts, and am cutting down on flirtatious dalliance on the KABOBfest e-mail listserv until the “anonymous” terrorists attacking us in the comments section halt their assaults,” he writes.

Egypt:
In Egypt, blogger Zenobia comments on the events in Pakistan in a post entitled Musharaff's Last Dance in Pakistan.

“What you are seeing in Pakistan is Pervez Musharaff's last dance , this is how dictators act when they feel that their thrones and rule are in danger.
What Prevez is doing is not an attack on democracy , what he is doing is just like suicidal attack in order to preserve his existence it is very simple , the man feels that he is unwanted especially after the huge receptions Bhutto had received despite that huge terrible terrorist act,” she notes.

Zeinobia further adds:

“It is very sad to see what is happening in Pakistan , the real Islamic country with a real nuclear power , forget about Iran , Pakistan has a Nuclear weapon already first
Pervez is a real classical example of a dictatorship that depends on both the army and the west , now the west is leaving him behind because depending dictators like Musharaff proved it brought nothing to the west except destruction , the only power the general is depending on is the army and that's why I predict that he will be removed insh Allah soon enough either by an army coup just like the one he led from a couple of years and brought him to the rule
By the way that rush of arrests in Pakistan reminds me so much with the infamous September arrests that proceeded directly the assassination of President Sadat , Fool Musharaff should learn for the other's mistakes.”

Turkey:
From Turkey, Metin feels that the developments in Pakistan have overshadowed the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the US.

“Of course, the situation in Pakistan with Musharraf, the former poster child of the U.S. until Benazir Bhutto came back on the scene, overshadowed the Erdogan visit . . . once again, poor timing by the Turks,” he writes.

4 comments · »»

Kazakhstan: Media Wars

Adil Nurmakov · 06:34

lingua → pt · zht · zhs

As the Rakhat Aliyev affair spins, and the ex-ambassador and former presidential son-in-law continues blackmailing the country’s authorities with discrediting materials, including publication of illegal taps of telephone conversations between the top officials, a number of websites have been recently blocked in Kazakhstan. “No explanations on the reasons of filtering were provided”, mantrov reports.

A Kazakhstan-born blogger now living in Australia, weathercock, says he has a “pathologic reaction to restriction of free speech on the post-Soviet space, especially in Kazakhstan” and undertakes a commitment to repost all of the censored kompromats “just for their exotic nature”. “Where would you find another country, where the top-ranking officials speak with each other in a way the American gangsters did in 1930s”, he notes.

Meanwhile, the blockade of disfavored websites was not a final stage of the government’s excessively neurotic reaction – last week, several independent newspapers were raided by police and regulatory bodies in an apparent attempt to hinder their publication. As a result, some of them were denied printing facilities and failed to appear in print. Shortly after that, chief editors of these newspapers had a meeting with Minister of Information Yertysbayev. (more…)

1 comment · »»

Korea: Special Compartments for Women on the Subway

Hyejin Kim · 02:55

What do you think about special compartments for women on the subway? One reason given for its necessity is to protect women from male sex criminals. A new policy that Seoul suggested causes a new kind of battle between men and women.

도쿄 경찰에 따르면 지난 2005년에 검거된 지하철 성추행범은 총 1853명이었다. 포르노 왕국 일본의 치한은 그룹으로 움직인다. 즉 사이쿄센과 신주쿠 등과 같이 이동 인구가 집중되는 역의 혼잡을 틈타 한 여성을 둘러싼 2인 이상의 치한이 조직적으로 성추행을 자행하고 있는 것.

이에 치한 퇴치용 어플리케이션인 접촉 경고 프로그램(Anti-Groping APPli)이 큰 인기를 끌고 있다. 휴대폰을 이용한 이 어플리케이션은 굵은 글씨체로 치한에게 “실례합니다. 나를 더듬었나요”라는 1차 경고를 보낸다. 그 뒤로 2차 경고인 “이건 범죄입니다”라는 메시지가 나간 뒤에도 범행이 반복되면 “경찰서에 같이 가시죠”라는 메시지를 보낸다. 그럼에도 그치지 않는 추행에는 ‘열 받아 (Anger)’ 아이콘을 눌러 주위 사람 모두가 들을 수 있도록 경고음을 울릴 수 있다.

지하철 성범죄 발생에 있어서 한국도 심각하기는 마찬가지다. 서울시와 경찰청의 통계자료에 따르면 작년 서울 지하철에서 일어난 범죄 1379건 중 성폭력 범죄가 610건으로 44％였다…

이에 열차 내 CCTV의 설치와 여성 전용칸 마련이 거론되기에 이르렀다.

그런데 이를 둘러싸고 쓸데없는 남녀 갈등이 조장되고 있다. 이건 남녀의 문제가 아니라 성범죄에 있어서 가해자와 피해자의 문제일 뿐이다. 불체자 지문채취를 떠올려보라, 다수의 선량한 외국인 노동자 중에 불순한 범죄자들이 섞여 있기에 그 인권 침해적 소지에도 불구, 그들을 향한 지문채취를 요구할 수 있는 것이다. 전용칸 설치에 대해 반발하는 남성들은 외국인 노동자 전체를 잠재적 범죄자 취급하는 지문 채취에도 반대할 것인가?

교실에서 떠드는 아이 때문에 전체가 벌을 선다고 해 보자, 누구를 비난해야 하겠는가? 바로 떠든 아이들이다. 같이 벌을 서는 여자 짝꿍이 아니란 말이다. 역시 전용칸을 둘러싼 불만에 대한 화살은 주 피해자인 여성이 아닌 성범죄자들에게 돌려져야 한다.

여성 전용칸이 특별 우대로 보이는가? 웃기지 말라. 가리봉동의 불체자들이 휘두르는 칼에 맞지 않기 위해 입는 안전 조끼와 같은 것이 전용칸인 것이다. 남성들과 똑같은 요금을 지불하고 이용하는 전철 전 칸을 안전하게 이용할 권리를 박탈하는 성범죄자들에게 쫓겨 타야 하는 것이 전용칸이란 소리다.

이를 남녀 대결의 구도로 모는 세태가 심히 한심스럽다….전용칸은 피해를 받을 것으로 우려되는 여성들을 일정 공간에 피신시키는 것으로서, 남성들에게 있어서 이용할 칸수가 줄었다는 것 외에 가해지는 특별한 변화가 없는바 쓸데없는 피해의식에 사로잡힐 이유가 없다고 본다. 한마디로 누가 성추행범인지 알 길이 없으니 당하기 싫으면 피하라는 식의 소극적 정책이 전용칸 사용이 아니던가. 켤코 남성 전체를 성추행범으로 몰아 시행되는 것이 아니다.

지문채취, 선량한 노동자들을 떠올리면 미안한 마음이 들게 하는 요구이다. 마찬가지로 여성전용칸, 역시 선량한 남성들에게 초래될 불편을 생각하면 미안하기는 마찬가지다. 그러나 당장의 피해자 발생을 막기 위해 그만한 희생과 불편은 감수해 줄만도 한 것이 아닐까 한다….

남자도 불편하고 여자도 불편하다. 여기서 욕을 먹어야 하는 것은 다름 아닌 성범죄자란 소리다…

According to the Tokyo Police, a total 1,853 people were arrested for sexual harassment on the subway in 2005 in Japan. More than two men work together in crowded stations, such as Sinjuku and Saikyosen.

In order to prevent sexual harassment, a warning program (Anti-Groping APPli) using cellularphones is popular now. The program gives a first warning to a sexual criminal, “Excuse me. Did you touch me?” and second warning is “this is a crime.” If it continues, “let’s go to the police.” The last warning “Anger” gives the warning sound in order to let other people know.

Regarding sexual harassment on the subway, Korea is also very serious. According to the statistics of Seoul Metropolitan City and Police, 610 (44%) of 1,379 sex crimes happened on subways in Seoul last year…

Therefore, the establishment of CCTV inside subway and special compartments for women will be made now.

But this issue has caused conflicts between men and women. This is not a problem between men and women. It’s about problems between perpetrators and victims about sexual harrassment. Think about forceful fingerprintings of illegal migrants. Even though we know most of them are good people, but there is a few criminals and therefore we can demand fingerprintings. Will men who oppose special compartments for women on the subway also oppose fingerprintings of illegal migrants which treat all of them as potential criminals?

Imagine that all students have to be punished because of a noisy student. Who will be blamed? It is the student who is noisy, not others who are punished at the same time. Like this, criticism to complain about special compartments should be toward sexual criminals, not toward female victims.

Do you think that women’s special compartment is a special treatment? Don’t be absurd. It’s like a safety vest that people in Karibong-dong wear not in order to be stabbed by some illegal migrants. Even though women pay the same fare with men, women should be kicked to the special compartments to protect themselves from sex criminals who take those women passengers’ rights away.

It’s pity that some people try to make it as a battle between men and women…The special compartment is a place where women can hide themselves in a special space. There are going to be no special changes except that men will use less compartments. Therefore men don’t have to feel victimized. In other words, it is a very passive policy that women should avoid sexual criminals in order not to be victimized. It doesn’t mean that all men are sexual criminals.

Fingerprinting… it’s a demand that we should feel sorry for nice laborers. In addition, the apology toward nice men about special compartment for women causes. But in order to prevent more victims, we should put up with sacrifice and discomfort.

Men are not comfortable. Women are not comfortable either. Whom should be blamed here is sex criminals.

Some male bloggers have different opinions of this new policy.

최근 서울시가 ‘여성이 행복한 도시'라는 슬로건을 내걸고, 각종 공약과 사업을 내놓고 있다. 그런데 그 사업 중의 하나인 ‘여성 전용 택시 (일명 핑크 택시)'와 ‘지하철 여성 전용칸' 사업을 지켜보고 있노라면, 우리 사회의 여성 보호 정책이 나가도 너무 나갔다는 생각을 하게 된다. 여성을 보호하겠다는 취지가 나쁘다는 것이 아니다. 그 방법과 발상이 완전히 잘못되었다는 말이다. 남성 전체(남자 택시 기사)를 잠재적인 범죄자로 낙인찍는 위와 같은 정책은 아무리 목적이 좋아도 그 수단의 불합리함과 억지스러움으로 인해 환영받을 수 없다. ….

지금 우리 사회는 ‘남녀평등’의 문제에 있어 ‘진보’와 ‘퇴보’를 동시에 겪고 있는지도 모른다. 한 편에서는 남녀평등으로 인해 실질적인 이득을 얻고 있는 사람이 있는 반면에, 다른 한 편에서는 알게 모르게 불평등을 당하는 경우도 있기 때문이다. 사회는 평등과 변화를 향해 나아가는데 아직도 우리 사회의 남성과 여성들은 이런 현실을 현명하게 받아들일 준비가 되어 있지 못하다. …하지만 여성들을 수동적이거나 순종적인 존재로 여기는 인식의 시대는 끝이 났다. 많은 남성들이 이러한 시대적 흐름에 순응하며 산다. 그러니 여성들 역시 자신의 삶과 진로에 대해 독립적이고 적극적으로 판단해야 하는 시대인 것이다. 그러나 많은 남성들은 자신들이 필요할 때는 남녀 평등을 외치다가도 결정적인 순간에는 ‘여자니까', ‘남자니까'를 들이대는 여성들의 이중성으로 인해 혼란스러워하고 있으며 배신감을 느끼고 있는 것이다. …여성 전용 택시를 만든다고 해서 문제가 해결되지 않는다는 것이다. 급한 일로 택시를 타야 할 여성이 있다고 하자. 그런데 남자 택시 기사가 여성이 자신을 범죄자로 생각한다는 이유로 탑승을 거부한다면 여성들은 그것을 합리적이라고 받아들일 수 있을까?

지하철 여성 전용칸의 문제도 마찬가지이다. 지하철 성추행 등의 문제가 있다고 해도, 여성 전용칸을 만들어 여성을 보호하겠다는 발상은 그릇된 것이다. 남성들 전체를 범죄자로 낙인찍는 정책은 정당하지 않으며, 효과도 미지수이다. …

Recently Seoul City made a new slogan, ‘City where women are happy’ and make various public promises and plans. One of them is ‘taxi for women (pink taxi)’ and ‘special compartment for women on the subway.’ This is a completely wrong perception regarding women in society. I don’t say the policy for protecting women is bad. The methods and ideas are not right. The policy potentially indicates all men are bad. Even though its purpose is good, the means can’t be welcomed.

…Now our society experiences ‘progress’ and ‘retrogression’ about the equality of men and women at the same time. On the one hand, there are inequalities. While society looks for equity and changes, men and women in our society are not ready to wisely accept the reality yet. The time when we think of women as passive and obedient beings is passed away. A lot of men accept this current. Therefore, women should be independent in their own lives and actively judge their lives and paths. But many men feel betrayed when women cry out equality of men and women when it is necessary, but in the important moment, they emphasize sex, ‘men’ and ‘women.’…. To make separate taxis for women is not going to solve problems. Think about a woman who needs to take a taxi urgently. But a male taxi driver can turn down her because the woman might regard him as a criminal… then how will women take this situation?

The special compartments for women on the subway are same as well. Even though there is sexual harassment on the subway, protecting women through the special compartments is not an appropriate idea. The policy to assume that men are all criminals is not right and the effect is also questionable….

Complaints for the new policy are not a few.

어쨋거나 저쨋거나 여성전용칸을 2량이나 만든다면.남성전용칸, 노인전용칸, 어린이전용칸도 만들어 주세효.

여성전용칸에 안타는 여성은 성희롱 해도 되는거?
여성전용주차장도 짜증나 죽겠는데 아니 무슨 여성(性)이 무슨 장애인가? 왜 여성전용 주차장이 따로 있어.
…남자라서 억울해요.

If there will be two compartments for women, there should be compartments for men, the elderly, and children.
Can we harass women who are in general compartments? I despise parking lots for women. Are women handicapped? Why do we need special parking lots for women?… I don’t feel it’s fair because I’m a man.

Harsh criticisms about this policy from male bloggers let female bloggers speak out as well.

조선시대부터 박혀있는 남성우월주의 사상이 이렇게까지 끈질기게 남아있을줄은 몰랐네요….
여성부가 생긴 이후로 우리나라 여성인권이 조금 올라가니까 그게 또 보기 싫다며 우르르 몰려와 물어뜯고
지하철 성추행 문제가 많아 여성칸을 따로 만들자니까 왜 여성칸만 만드냐며 찌질대는 인간들을 보니…이건 뭐…여성인권문제는 아직도 멀었다는 생각이 듭니다.

I didn’t expect that male supremacy from the Chosun Dynasty is still so strong. Since the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family was launched, women’s rights have been going up a little bit and some men are not happy about it. Due to many sex harassments on the subway, there are people who criticize why we just make the special compartments for women… I think that fair women’s rights are still far away.

There are other kinds of reactions as well.

이에 대한 여자들의 반응은 엇갈립니다.
전용칸을 이용하는 사람은 당연히 더욱 강화해야 한다는 쪽이지만,
어떤 여성단체는 오히려 ‘여성격리'라며 비판한다네요.

About this, women’s opinions are various. While some women think that it should be stronger, other women’s organizations criticize it as ‘segregation of women.’

However, not a few netizens question the efficiency of the policy.

…여성전용칸이 생기더라도, 나머지 공용칸에 여자들이 타는 한 성추행범죄는 그녀들을 대상으로 여전히 기존과 같은 비율로 일어날겁니다. 다만, 여성전용칸에 탑승한 여자들은 안전하겠지요.. 하지만, 전체적인 면을 볼때 지하철 성추행이 감소될꺼라고 믿어지지는 않네요.. 마치 범죄가 많은 동네에 살기 싫어 몇몇 가족이 이사를 간다면, 그 이사를 간 가족이 범죄에서 안전하게 되는 것이지, 동네 자체가 범죄에서 안전해지는 것은 아니라는 것입니다.

성범죄 예방을 위해서 여성전용칸이 필요하다고 하시는 분들께 질문 드립니다.. 여성전용칸 이외의 공용칸을 탄 여자들의 성범죄 노출에 대해서 복안은 있으신지요? 만약, 복안이 없다면, 여성전용칸의 존재에도 불구하고 여전히 여성들은 지하철 성범죄에 노출됨을 인정하는 것이겠죠. 반대로 공용칸에 탄 여성들에게 성범죄 노출에 대해 다른 복안이 있다면 굳이 여성전용칸의 존재가 필요하지 않다고 봅니다.

…even though there will be special compartments for women, as long as women will use other compartments, sex crimes will happen same. Maybe women in the special compartments will be safe. But in a bigger perspective, I don’t believe that sex crime on the subway will decrease.

Even though several family members move to other places from villages that have high crime rates, it doesn’t mean that the village after their leaving will be safe. The people who moved out would be safe, but the village will be the same.

I would like to ask people who insist on the special compartments. Have you thought about preventions for women who are in the non-special compartments? If you don’t have any suggestions, that means there will be still potential sex crimes targeting those women. On the other hand, if you have solutions for those women, it means the special compartments are not so necessary either.

Or some other suggestions are shown.

이왕 하는 김에 테마지하철을 해보는 것은 어떨까요? 1992년 12월 설치됐다 운영이 흐지부지된 서울지하철 열차 내 여성전용칸이 2008년부터 다시 운영된다. 커플칸, 솔로칸, 여성칸, 남성칸, 어린이칸, 노인전용칸, 변태전용칸, 취객전용칸 등등.

How about making theme subways then? We tried the special compartments for women on the subway in December, 1992, but it was abolished. The new policy will operate from 2008…. Compartments for couples, singles, women, men, children, elderies, perverts, and drunken guys…

2 comments · »»

UAE: Justice for Alex

Amira Al Hussaini · 00:02

lingua → bn · ar · fr · mg · zht · zhs · es

While sexual abuse and rape cases are usually brushed under the carpet in Arab countries and hidden from the prying eyes of local and global media, a recent case to grab the international headlines is making its way back to the UAE blogosphere.
It is the unsettling story of a 15-year-old French boy, Alexandre Robert, who was kidnapped and gang raped in Dubai. What is more alarming is that one of the three suspected rapists tested positive for the deadly HIV Aids virus in 2003.

The UAE Community Blog linked to the story and published excerpts from it, generating criticism from readers.

“Dubai looks good on the outside but still living in the dark ages on the inside.
Westerners should stay out of there until they modernize their justice system. That poor boy was brutalized and the doctor acted like a savage, too. What most people don't know is that to those dark age Muslims, kafir (infidel), like women, are fair game,” comments reader Criminals in Dubai.

Another reader, who signed off as Anonymous, shrugged off the case, saying justice would not be met. He writes:

If there was such thing as justice, then alcoholics and drug dealers should be the 1st ones in line to be executed for causing alot more trouble on the streets and night clubs.
- Indians/Asians will be the 1st target followed by east Europeans/Africans then comes the other trash (White/Local etc…)
This case will be dismissed like any other, why even bother to post this story while we all know nothing's gonna happen.

Another anonymous reader sends a wake up call for Dubai, saying:

Wake up Dubai, if the UAE want to be on the top or the best in everything; it should start with the basics first (education, health, justice)…then it may consider building the highest towers and the biggest malls.

On the other hand, Bahraini blogger Ammaro said the case shouldn't be used to tarnish Dubai's reputation.

“As much as it is a horrible act,this incident should not be used as a stereotype or a generality to describe Dubai, because the local culture is very respectfull and descent. However, people are very angry at this incident,including me and something should be done to those criminals.Don't forget UAE is still concidered one of the safest places in the world,” he said.

Rosh echoes similar sentiments. He writes:

“It's very unfortunate this has happened. Please don't confuse Dubai or UAE with actions of 3 perverts.
All said , it is amongst the safest places on earth - and whatever people say of human rights - safety is it's most valued commodity. It's not perfect however, it's much better than many places and have miles to go to achieve equality, transparency and justice for all (which I personally don't think exist in any nation today, in it's truest form)
I pray the 15yr old does not develop HIV. Please say a prayer for him, and let justice take it's course.”

Alexandre's mother is also taking her son's struggle online and has launched a site dedicated for the case, in English and French.

In her introduction to the site, Veronique Robert, writes:

I dedicate this website to all the children of the world whose wounds were never recognized, their words never heard and their suffering never known.
I dedicate this web site to all the mothers of the world even the ones of my son's aggressors.
To all the Pakistani, Filipino, and Indian mothers who were expelled from Dubai to their countries of origin with their little children, wounded in their hearts, flesh and minds.
This web site is open to all the mothers of the world united in the same Combat.
Tears have no identity, no religion. We must unite so when tears run, it will no longer be in loneliness but in front of the whole world’s eyes , with many hands to wipe them.

Ms Robert also calls upon the authorities in Dubai to immediately implement the following procedures to protect children caught up in similar situations:

We therefore request from the authorities of Dubai the creation of:
* Reception facilities within the police force for minors victims of rape, be they boys or girls.
* Recognition of their status of victims
* The immediate taking of precautionary measures, after a rape, against all types of infectious illness and sexually transmissible diseases (AIDS, Hepatitis, MST) with adequate means such as trithérapy, etc…
* Psychological Follow-up for as long as it is needed.

Otherwise, she is encouraging readers to boycott Dubai.

Until these elementary measures have become law in the super rich
Emirate of Dubai, we kindly request you to join the support group called www. boycottdubai.com
With your determination and your support, the children victims of rape shall learn again to live a normal life, restructuring themselves physically and morally. Hopefully to smile at life again,” notes Ms Robert.

The site's support page has had more than 4,300 comments on it so far.

The case is currently being heard in a Dubai court, where Alexandre testified earlier today.

4 comments · »»