Egyptians react to police violence on the web

« My name was Khaled Mohamed Saïd» This is the name of the Facebook group created in memory of this 28 year old Egyptian man who was beaten to death by police in Alexandria on the 6^th June. This new affair of police violence has sparked anger amongst web users.

Horrific and shocking photos of Khaled’s lifeless body are circulating on the web, his face is unrecognizable.

According to this cyber café owner’s eye witness account, which is available online on sharing sites, the young man was dragged out of his establishment by two plain clothed police men and beaten up.

The authorities claim that Khaled tried to swallow a bag of drugs when the police stopped him, and he choked to death. Protestors were not convinced by this version of events and took to the streets of Cairo and Alexandria on Sunday, demandinganswers from the security forces. 

Khaled has become a martyr, a symbol of police brutality in the country. Egyptian web users have been denouncing abuses of power for several years. The blogosphere is scandalized on a regular basis by videos showing acts of torture taking place in police stations.

And amidst this wave of indignation sparked by the death of Khaled, the reaction of this former police officer, living in exile in the US, has had a special echo on the web. Omar Afifi is the author of this book, banned in his country that advises Egyptians on how to assert their rights with the police.

STRIKES IN CHINA

The strikes in foreign owned factories in Southern China appear to be spreading inland. The workers leading the movement are asking that their salaries be in line with the nation’s growing wealth. The Chinese web is doing its best to relay their combat. 16

Several videos of last may’s strikes by Honda employees have been posted online. (laisser vivre) Other images followed, like these ones of KOK employees, a Taiwanese valve and joint manufacturer; they were inspired by the victorious combat of their predecessors.  The strike was hushed up in China.

And a snowball effect appears to be taking place. Radio Free Asia has posted these amateur shots online, we see employees of a cloths manufacturer who have been striking for the past two weeks. They are based in the Henan province, and are demanding higher salaries. There was police intervention during these rallies.

On the web site belonging to the NGO China Labour Bulletin, that seeks to act as a trade union, their spokesman talks of the strikes at Honda subcontractors.  He says even if the victory of employees from the main branch gave hope to other workers in the country, it is not representative of a system when those who revolt run the risk of being fired.

And even though striking is not forbidden in the country, on his blog this lawyer is saying is should be a constitutional right.

http://www.bullogger.com/blogs/ranyunfei/archives/360828.aspx " target="_blank">This blogger deplores the fact that trade unions are just for official decoration. He says that in works councils, managers represent the employees. 

UNICEF MULTIMEDIA DOCUMENTARY

Their names are Félicien, Gloria, Jeannot, Kelvin and Junior ; They come from Goma, the Great lakes Region in the Democratic Republic of Congo. UNICEF has trained these young Congolese how to use a video and have given them cameras. They went to film in refugee camps. The result is this web documentary called “Témoins du dedans”, meaning “Inside witnesses”. It talks about the day to day lives of children in this region of North Kivu that has been ravaged by a never ending war. UNICEF hopes to help Congolese people exorcise their recent history. The documentary is devoid of media filtering and the interviewers and interviewees are all at the scene giving eye witness accounts.

iROCK

Immerse yourself in the “Eurockéennes de Belfort” festival. On iRock, web users can see what goes on behind the scenes; meet musicians, journalists, technicians…and gain a better understanding of the inner workings of a large international festival, as far as the media and logistics are concerned.

VIDEO DU JOUR

The title of this song from 1964 is “It Aint my Fault”. A new version of this classic has been recorded by Lenny Kravitz, Mos Def, the actor Tim Robbins, Trombone Shorty and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. They are targeting the heads of BP. Proceeds from the clip will go towards the fundraising efforts for fisherman and their families in the Gulf of Mexico.