FROM AFRICA:ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi(at left) continues to pursue "reform" in the East African nation, with 24 senior opposition members, civic leaders and journalists making an appearance in a closed court today.
They have yet to be charged with anything, yet have been denied bail. Apparently, protesting over possible election fraud is reason enough for the use of excessive force in the Zenawi government. Of course, when that possible election fraud appears to benefit your party (Zenawi's party now controls 2/3 of the Ethiopian parliament), its so easy to deem protesters enemies of the state.
Wow. Those pesky protesters. I'm sure the families of people like 18-year-old Abyei Mulat find comfort in the fact that both the Meles government and the opposition would rather yell at each other than compromise.
The European Union and US government responded in full force, having the British ambassador publicly...read a note?!?
Well, it was a harsh-sounding note...
IN ASIA....
RANGOON, BURMA - Ah...the perks of being one of the world's most eccentric dictators...
Than Shwe, (at left) the brutal cult-of-personality currently running Burma with an iron fist, has ordered government employees to trek halfway across the country to the world's newest - yet barely finished - seat of government.
The employees were ordered to make the 200-mile journey at exactly 6:30 a.m. Sunday, at the advice of Than's senior...astrologer.
Move over Miss Cleo...
Oh yeah, did I mention this new metaphysical mecca was built with the use of forced labor?
FROM EUROPE...
German publication Der Speigel finally hits the nail on the head when it comes to the current rioting in France and the problems with Europe's not-so-hidden version of Jim Crow...
Meanwhile, back in Paris...
Dominique de Villepin's (at left) government has decided to impose a curfew as a way to end the violent protests.
Yeah, that's going to go over BIG amongst the protestors.
Maybe the French PM should try having the British ambassador in Paris read a note.
That seems to be working in Ethiopia.
6 comments:
The Europe jim crow comment hit a nerve i guess. i remember going to paris like two years ago for a promotional gig and some filming...you always hear about how france is some romantic guetaway plac but i remember seeing all the like black and brown faces bussing tables at the nice cafes. one of the girls i was travelling/working with with said it reminded her of pics from th South during segregation.
Nice talking to you last night BTW...sorry work's been hellish. and my offer still stands ;-)
Hey no problem and thanks for the offer, seriously. But that's not an offer I think I could live with, at least ethically. No hard feelings, k, chica?
Seems a lot of folks have similar stories about Europe, particularly people who've been to Europe and Germany.
Hey, thanks for swing by and the phonecall.
Don't want to get into the middle of that one ;-)
Think what's happening in France and now traveling shows that with all of our problems we still have free speech and that acts as a valve on the boiler
The Burma guy is pretty creepy. Read the wikipedia link. Thanks for the info!
Jessica A.
UCLA
This is exactly the case as I see it; they should be blushing at this one and give up trying to blame it one something else.
Pia:
LOL...
Seriously, free speech is perhaps our greatest freedom.
Jessica:
You're very welcome :)
Alice:
Thanks! I think they've spent more time trying to save face than actually solve anything.
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