Showing posts with label blogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogs. Show all posts
Friday, July 20, 2007
The Spirit of Bosnia
The Spirit of Bosnia Journal offers essays, articles, narratives, poems and humor reflecting Bosnia's multi-ethnic culture vibrant cultural and literary heritage.
Center For Balkan Development Blog
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Birthdays
From the Justwatch-L discussion group, an article on Montenegro's 1st year of independence. And over at East Ethnia, they're celebrating Radio B92's 18th Birthday.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Employment
While the papers are full with job ads; here are a few positions that just got filled:
Miroslav Lajcak is set to be sixth High Representative to Bosnia; taking over for Christian Schwarz-Schilling.
In Serbia, Tomislav Nikolic of the Serb Radical Party and Seselj political sidekick; recieved 142/244 votes and the post of the President of the Parliament One could probably come to the conclusion that Seselj himself would be voted President; if there wasn't some pesky logistical issue with him being in the Hague.
In that spirit, East Ethnia had designed a list of Government Ministers and officials for the new coalition government.
And if that doesn't work; there is always the dancing robot. I wonder what platform she's running on?
Miroslav Lajcak is set to be sixth High Representative to Bosnia; taking over for Christian Schwarz-Schilling.
In Serbia, Tomislav Nikolic of the Serb Radical Party and Seselj political sidekick; recieved 142/244 votes and the post of the President of the Parliament One could probably come to the conclusion that Seselj himself would be voted President; if there wasn't some pesky logistical issue with him being in the Hague.
In that spirit, East Ethnia had designed a list of Government Ministers and officials for the new coalition government.
And if that doesn't work; there is always the dancing robot. I wonder what platform she's running on?
Friday, April 20, 2007
Turbofolkin'
Turbofolk is a subject of much debate . To make a sort of eclectic sense of it, turbofolk.ba brings you irreverent posts in Bosnian and English on various aspects of the entire turbofolk scene, whether it is seeing scary people like Celo in a limo (perhaps listening to turbofolk ;-) ), or some child prodigy, or deconstructing turbofolk lyrics or Azis the transgendered, Roma rights fighting, Bulgarian turbofolk star.
Balkanmedia has clips of top cds on charts, including some by turbofolk singers; I obviously can't make any comments on the lyrical content, or perhaps lack there of, but just focusing on the music itself, without considering the greater socio-political aspects, and the "taboos" associated with turbofolk; some of the tunes and beats are quite catchy! Although some tunes tend to sound exactly the same after a while (at least to my ears); which perhaps is not something unique to any particular brand of music.
Balkanmedia has clips of top cds on charts, including some by turbofolk singers; I obviously can't make any comments on the lyrical content, or perhaps lack there of, but just focusing on the music itself, without considering the greater socio-political aspects, and the "taboos" associated with turbofolk; some of the tunes and beats are quite catchy! Although some tunes tend to sound exactly the same after a while (at least to my ears); which perhaps is not something unique to any particular brand of music.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Breaking down the walls
I'm sure most people who read this blog are also aware of the Americans For Bosnia Blog; but if you are not, I might suggest paying a visit. For the past few months, Kirk has been disecting Diana Johnstone's book "Fools' Crusade" and has been during a very thorough (and objective) job of analysing and rebutting the main claims and asertions Johnstone has made in the book.
Interpreting Legalese
East Ethnia offers a break down of some major points of the ICJ verdict. As well as a list of links to commentary by lawyers, including those directly involved and not directly involved in the case.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Walking the tightrope
Although dealing with different evidence, different "defendants" (individuals vs. state government) and different courts; the ICJ mixed verdict very much mirrors that of the ICTY's verdicts; which found that only Srebrenica constituted an act of genocide.
With regard to the Jelsic case dealing with atrocities committed in Brcko, the trial chamber found:
"With regard to the first option, the Trial Chamber was not satisfied that a global genocide, that is a genocide in the whole Brcko region, had been demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt. It nevertheless underlined that this finding in no way negated that such a genocide might have taken place in this region, but only that it had not been established to the satisfaction of the court."
While the trial chamber at the Stakic chamber found that:
"Despite the scale of the atrocities, after a careful analysis of the facts and the state of mind of the actors, the Trial Chamber was unable to infer the necessary dolus specialis for genocide, this dolus specialis - or specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a group as such - being the core element of the crime. Thus, the Trial Chamber was not able to come to the conclusion, based on the evidence in this case, that Dr. Stakic or other actors had the necessary specific intent."
And of course, the Krajisnik verdict this past fall was a similar verdict; with the trial chamber confirming that that acts of genocide occured but that there was not the intent to commit genocide, hence his acquittal.
The findings of the ICTY with regards to the entire Bosnia region throughout the entire war, seems to be saying, that genocide occured, but that there was no specific intent for it to occur; or that genocide might of, or probably did occur, but it wasn't proven beyond a resonable doubt. I cannot comment on these verdicts from a legal perspective and I make no qualms about their soundness of their decisions but from a personal personal perspective these verdicts lead to many more questions than answers.
Meanwhile the blogging and internet news world is filled with some interesting comments on the ICJ's mixed verdict. Yakima Gulag gazett contains some interesting comments on the middle of the road verdict, which said that Serbia is not guilty of genocide; but is guilty of failing to prevent genocide.
Meanwhile, Jakob Finci, president of the Jewish community in Bosnia, told BIRN that:
"The verdict says genocide wasn't orchestrated from Serbia but committed by a number of individuals controlled by the government,”
"As such, the verdict has made the delicate situation in the region even more complicated, he went on.“It makes one wonder what exactly the ICJ tried to say in its final statement,” he continued. “On the one hand, it seems that the court wanted to acknowledge that genocide did take place while on the other, it apparently sought and found an option not to blame Serbia for it and pin it on individuals tried and convicted by ICTY,” he added.“The verdict has failed to resolve any of the controversial issue Bosnia and Herzegovina has encountered since 1996; on the contrary, it has made all our problems even more complex,” Finci concluded.
With regard to the Jelsic case dealing with atrocities committed in Brcko, the trial chamber found:
"With regard to the first option, the Trial Chamber was not satisfied that a global genocide, that is a genocide in the whole Brcko region, had been demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt. It nevertheless underlined that this finding in no way negated that such a genocide might have taken place in this region, but only that it had not been established to the satisfaction of the court."
While the trial chamber at the Stakic chamber found that:
"Despite the scale of the atrocities, after a careful analysis of the facts and the state of mind of the actors, the Trial Chamber was unable to infer the necessary dolus specialis for genocide, this dolus specialis - or specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a group as such - being the core element of the crime. Thus, the Trial Chamber was not able to come to the conclusion, based on the evidence in this case, that Dr. Stakic or other actors had the necessary specific intent."
And of course, the Krajisnik verdict this past fall was a similar verdict; with the trial chamber confirming that that acts of genocide occured but that there was not the intent to commit genocide, hence his acquittal.
The findings of the ICTY with regards to the entire Bosnia region throughout the entire war, seems to be saying, that genocide occured, but that there was no specific intent for it to occur; or that genocide might of, or probably did occur, but it wasn't proven beyond a resonable doubt. I cannot comment on these verdicts from a legal perspective and I make no qualms about their soundness of their decisions but from a personal personal perspective these verdicts lead to many more questions than answers.
Meanwhile the blogging and internet news world is filled with some interesting comments on the ICJ's mixed verdict. Yakima Gulag gazett contains some interesting comments on the middle of the road verdict, which said that Serbia is not guilty of genocide; but is guilty of failing to prevent genocide.
Meanwhile, Jakob Finci, president of the Jewish community in Bosnia, told BIRN that:
"The verdict says genocide wasn't orchestrated from Serbia but committed by a number of individuals controlled by the government,”
"As such, the verdict has made the delicate situation in the region even more complicated, he went on.“It makes one wonder what exactly the ICJ tried to say in its final statement,” he continued. “On the one hand, it seems that the court wanted to acknowledge that genocide did take place while on the other, it apparently sought and found an option not to blame Serbia for it and pin it on individuals tried and convicted by ICTY,” he added.“The verdict has failed to resolve any of the controversial issue Bosnia and Herzegovina has encountered since 1996; on the contrary, it has made all our problems even more complex,” Finci concluded.
Mr. Milosevic's Ghost
Although his "untimely" death (and untimely in the sense that it did not allow for a verdict to be rendered; for the people of the Balkans they would be much better off had Mr. Milosevic passed away almost two decades before he ultimately did) rendered the case against him legally obsolete. Nevertheless, Milosevic's presence isn't completely obsolete as Observer at Neretva River ponders what the ICJ verdict has to say about Mr. Milosevic's legal guilt for genocide.
And some days ago, Andras from the justwatch-l discussion group noted that the ICTY has not had unrestricted evidence to the Serbian government's files; and that because the case never actually came down to a verdict, there is no way of knowing whether the ICTY could effectively prove Milosevic's legal guilt.
And some days ago, Andras from the justwatch-l discussion group noted that the ICTY has not had unrestricted evidence to the Serbian government's files; and that because the case never actually came down to a verdict, there is no way of knowing whether the ICTY could effectively prove Milosevic's legal guilt.
Friday, February 02, 2007
New Look
I'm still tinkering around somewhat; and I'm thinking about changing the template (again); but in the meanwhile; I've added several more Balkan blogs to the blogroll; and I'll be re-adding the other links later on (hopefully later on, meaning later on this evening).
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