Weichegud! Et Politics - (http://weichegud.blogspot.com/2005/11/who-will-tell-their-stories.html) likens the present political violence in Ethiopia to 1978 when:

“The generation Ato Meles belongs to went on protest marches on the streets of Addis Ababa in the early 70s without the indignity of being mowed down. They were demanding a revolution - the usurping of the Ethiopian constituency, and the deposing of the Emperor. They held placards calling the Emperor a ruthless dictator who had to be brought to justice. They told the world that they were standing for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten.”

Yet they were not shot down whilst this time “those same people are pointing their guns at children” all in the name of “protecting the constitution". He concludes that hopefully when this is all over the people of Ethiopia “will have the strength for justice and not revenge!"

Freedom for Egyptians - Freedom for Egyptians (http://freedomforegyptians.blogspot.com/2005/11/freedom-of-expression-at...) reports on the detention of Egyptian blogger/writer, Nabeel Abdul Kareem who has a blog called “Kareem Amer”. Abdul Kareem was taken from his home by state security forces who confiscated his writings. Freedom for Egyptians writes:

“I have read Abdolkarim’s last blog on the Alexandria sectarian violence. Kareem has been a witness to this violence. He wrote his testimony on those black days in Egypt. Detaining him is considered an intimidation or assault on a witness.

In his article, he called for the rejection of hatred in Islam to non-Muslims, hinting to the position of the Egyptian Copts. He witnessed himself the sectarian violence in Moharm Bik district in his home city of Alexandria. He gave in his blog an example how some Islamist thugs burned a liquor store owned by an Egyptian Copt while at the same time allowing a Muslim man to sell alcohol.

Abdul Kareem is not the first North African blogger to be detained. In Tunisia, a blogger spent 18 months in prison and a similar sentence was given to Libyan blogger – both for criticising their respective governments.

The detentions of the three bloggers draws attention to the fact that in many countries the only “free press” are in fact bloggers. Even where professional journalists are subjected to arrest and harassment by their governments at least they are “public” people who have some, albeit often small, protection from their employers. Bloggers on the other hand have no protection; there is likelihood that they may loose their jobs; they may not have the funds for legal representation; their arrest may not become public knowledge.

The Moor Next Door (MND)- The Moor Next Door(http://wahdah.blogspot.com/2005/11/il-stale.html) looks at some of the “World Reaction” to the French riots which are now in their 12th day. He has two examples from the press, the New York Times and the Economist. The former makes the point that the riots have “yet to take on ideological or religious overtones” and in fact some members of other minorities and even white French youths are taking part. MND wonders! There are many possibilities here – could it be that this is just a case of “riot for the sake of rioting. What a Fanoni occurance! Blind violence. All sorts of vicious acts are taking place. Savage acts. It is spreading outside of Paris as well. There needs to be serious change in France. ASAP."

The Economist fails in it’s report (at least this paragraph) by first referring to the two dead boys as North Africans when in fact, one was Senegalese. The report then states there is 10% unemployment and a poor Muslim population when in fact the unemployment amongst minorities is nearly double that and the religion of the rioters is not the issue.

What is amusing are some of the government responses such as:

Iran - “The Iranian foreign minister demanded that France respect its minorities and protect their human rights." (since when is such a "liberal" idea such as human rights believed in by the Islamic Republic?)

Libya – “The Colonel offers "help" to France! Perhaps he will enlighten Mr. Chirac as to how Libya deals with such youths, avec une balle.”

Italy – "Opposition leader Romano Prodi called on the Italian government to take urgent action, telling reporters: 'We have the worst suburbs in Europe. I don't think things are so different from Paris. It's only a matter of time.” I suggest they hurry with whatever they intend to do!

Senegal: “Senegal's president announced his belief that France should « casser les ghettos et intégrer les Africains qui demandent à être intégrés ». (Break the ghettos and integrate the Africans that ask to be integrated." The French need to listen to that one!

Zimbabwean Pundit - Zimbabwean Pundit (http://zimpundit.blogspot.com/2005/11/dell-treatment-for-would-be-protes...) reports on the unabated repression of Mugabe’s government of it’s own citizens.

“In yet another shameless display of how far Harare will go to quash any dissent to their iron fisted grip over the nation, they have arrested 150 leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).”

South African blogger, Floyd’s Perspectives – Floyd's Perspectives (://floydn.blogspot.com/2005/11/sascos-ideological-perspectives.html) has a comprehensive post on the South African student movement which he says has been at the forefront of the struggles in the country. He begins by tracing the origins of the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) and the South African Students’ Congress (SASCO) and then goes on to examine the relationship between the student bodies and the ANC in the anti-apartheid struggle. He concludes by acknowledging that the contemporary struggles of SASCO are ideological ones.

“The major, persistent, consistent, and often indomitable struggles waged by SASCO in campuses are mostly class struggles...Financial exclusions, academic exclusions, democratisation, access and success, conducive learning environment and curriculum content are but some of the ideological struggles SASCO is waging in campuses."

Black Looks - Black Looks (http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks/2005/11/_members_of_par.html) – gives her perspective on the ongoing Paris riots together with a brief description of the events that led to the riots and why they spread after an initial calm down. She highlights some of the similarities of the French riots to those that took place in England in the mid-1980s

“The reasons then are the same as the ones facing North and West Africans in France today; inferior education, lack of job opportunities, appalling housing conditions in run down estates (three arson related fires have taken place this year in properties lived in by West Africans);exclusion from the political process with no representation in government or in the police force; institutionalised racism, racist police who systematically harass young West and North African males.”

She concludes that: “The riots are the outcome of a culmination of experiences and incidents over a period of time, they are not simply happening in a vacuum of nothingness. France will have to face the reality of this otherwise it and Europe will sink into further violence as communities become even more polarised.”

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks, http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks

* Please send comments to [email protected]