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Geopolitics

ARABICA - A Daily Shot Of What the Arab World is Saying/Hearing/Sharing

ARABICA - A Daily Shot Of What the Arab World is Saying/Hearing/Sharing
Kristen Gillespie


A R A B I C A
ارابيكا

SPEECH & SENTIMENT
*Syrian President Bashar al-Assad gave a closely-watched speech to supporters at Damascus University, carried live on state television, blaming the past three months of violence on an external conspiracy and "saboteurs." Assad promised to form a committee to oversee reforms, and pledged that reforms will be enacted at an unspecified date later in the year. He also blamed the chaos and violence in Syria.

*Angry demonstrations continued throughout Syria after the speech with some people holding signs reading "No to dialogue with killers."

*Al Jazeera led with the headline, "Demonstrations protest Assad's speech." Activists told wire agencies they were hearing that Syrians were angry at being called "terrorists' and "extremists' by Assad and stressed that they are only demanding "freedom and dignity." In response to the speech, the Facebook group "Syrian Revolution against Bashar al-Assad" called on Syrians to turn out and show their anger at the regime.

*Here is a screen grab from the speech, with the crawl reading: "President Assad: ‘Our prosperity is the future. We will take control of events and guide them, and not allow them to take control of us.""

*A Tweeter sarcastically called @SyriaParliament says, "What is most funny about Arab tyrants is they rule for decades, and when you ask for reforms, they say ‘give us time.""

DEMOCRACY & LAW
*Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood tweets, "Brotherhood Leader: Sharia law is higher than the citizenry. Democracy cannot decide what is halal (Islamically correct) or haram (a sin)."

MUSIC & MYSELF
*Jordanian singer Wael Liddawi has a new video posted online by Play FM in Amman. It's called "What's Wrong With Us?" The song begins, "One day, I had an idea to do something. I'd like to help change my country." But people are too busy, too disinterested, too selfish for change, he sings. "We're looking out for ourselves – there is no interest in helping out the country." The video cuts to different people frowning and making an Arabic gesture for "no" when approached by Liddawi. "Let's encourage people around us and create a positive change in our country," the refrain goes.


June 20, 2011

photo credit: illustir

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Geopolitics

D.C. Or Beijing? Two High-Stakes Trips — And Taiwan's Divided Future On The Line

Two presidents of Taiwan, the current serving president, Tsai Ing-wen, and her predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou from the opposition Kuomintang party, are traveling in opposite directions these days. Taiwan must choose whom to follow.

Photo of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen

Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan

Pierre Haski

-Analysis-

PARIS — Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan, is traveling to the United States today. Not on an official trip because Taiwan is not a state recognized by Washington, but in transit, en route to Central America, a strategy that allows her to pass through New York and California.

Ma Ying-jeou, a former president of Taiwan, arrived yesterday in Shanghai: he is making a 12-day visit at the invitation of the Chinese authorities at a time of high tension between China and the United States, particularly over the fate of Taiwan.

It would be difficult to make these two trips more contrasting, as both have the merit of summarizing at a glance the decisive political battle that is coming. Presidential and legislative elections will be held in January 2024 in Taiwan, which could well determine Beijing's attitude towards the island that China claims by all means, including force.

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