politics

Our Observer’s experience of a caucus in Iowa city

Julien — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:27:36 +0100

Want to know what a caucus is really like? Our Observer Sam Sadden took part in one in Iowa city. Here are some photos of the event and Sam's take on the evening's events.

We caucused in the cafeteria of a local high school. The organiser of the caucus explained the process to us. In total we were 288 people at this precinct. He explained that for a candidate to be "viable," 15% of the people in attendance needed to be in the candidate's group, so 44 for ours. Our precinct had 4 delegates to divide, this number being decided from the turnout of votes from 2004 I believe. I had multiple people supporting different candidates ask me who I was going to support and if I would consider their candidate. Along the walls of the cafeteria, posters and tables were set up by volunteers. Most candidates had a table set up with food, cookies and drinks. It is a very open atmosphere. Once the organiser had given his instructions, we were given 30 minutes to decide which candidate we wanted to support by walking over to their table."

Post your questions to our observer, Sam Sadden

A blogger thrown backstage of the ANC

Julien — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:01:59 +0100

Our observer Ndumiso Ngcobo was the only blogger who was able to attend the ANC (Africa National Congress) congress which ends on Friday. He sees the election of Jacob Zuma, who succeeds Thabo Mbeki as the party leader. Ndumiso Ngcobo follows the week's events and offers a fresh look at the ANC with a humorous parody.

Satellite dishes forbidden in Turkmenistan

Julien — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:52:49 +0100

www.neweurasia.net

According to this blogger, who specialises in post-soviet countries, the Turkmenistan regime does not support liberalisation. It was recently confirmed by the fact that the new president decided to prohibit satellite aerials, that he would have more control over information.

On 5 November Radio Free Europe published an article by Gulnoza Saidazimova called "Turkmenistan: a new obstacle for access to the airwaves". The article reflects on the internal policy of the Turkmen leader.

Since taking over this year, new Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has been viewed as a hopeful reformer who might open up one of the world's most repressive societies. But a new order to remove all private satellite dishes from homes in Ashgabat - which critics say could block access to independent information - is quickly tarnishing that image.

The article made me ask myself: Is the West really so naive as to believe in the liberalism of a man who was indoctrinated by Soviet propaganda for several decades, and who later participated in the creation of one of the most repressive regimes in the world? Can the reinstatement of pensions, 10-year schooling, or the abolition of the daily obligation to pledge allegiance to the president be considered as really liberal moves?

This reminds me of when Vladimir Putin was first elected. For the first few years he was depicted as a liberal who would reform Russia. And what was the result? From the relatively liberal country that Russia used to be during Yeltsin's rule, it was transformed into an authoritarian state ruled by the secret service, gradually isolating itself and hoping for a return to "Soviet grandeur". However, when writing about ‘Putin-the-liberal', no one asked the simple question: can a former KGB officer (although "there are no former KGB officers" as Russians like to say) be a liberal?

The same question should be asked in relation to Berdymukhammedov. Can a man who went to a Soviet university, spent half of his life as a faithful servant at the court of Turkmenbashi and never travelled abroad for more than a few days be liberal? I will risk saying that he doesn't even know the meaning of the word.

The west still has confidence in him [...]. But when they realise that he's not interested in democratisation, they will start criticising, and with increasing harshness. What will be the result? Berdymukhammedov - like Islam Karimov or Nursultan Nazarbaev - will feel offended by the west and choose to cooperate with Russia and China. Why? Because for him liberalisation and democratisation is what we now see happening in Turkmenistan. He knows no other liberalisation and can't even begin to imagine it."

Maciula, on neweurasia.net

Online reactions to the 'No' vote in Venezuela

Julien — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:10:49 +0100

Material compiled by Cristiano de Sa Fagundes, our regional editor for Latin America.

Hugo Chavez counted on the people to support his constitutional reform. But the people didn't follow. This is the first time the Venezuelan president has been defeated since he was elected. The event was thoroughly celebrated by his opponents and closely watched by bloggers throughout Latin America.

Post your questions to contributing bloggers: Emiliano Crespo (Mexico), Nelson Franco Jobim (Brazil), Freddy Armas (Venezuela).