Algerian Internet Shut down

helgaleena

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Algeria shuts down internet and Facebook as protest mounts - Telegraph
quote
Plastic bullets and tear gas were used to try and disperse large crowds in major cities and towns, with 30,000 riot police taking to the streets in Algiers alone.

There were also reports of journalists being targeted by state-sponsored thugs to stop reports of the disturbances being broadcast to the outside world.

But it was the government attack on the internet which was of particular significance to those calling for an end to President Abdelaziz Boutifleka's repressive regime.

Protesters mobilising through the internet were largely credited with bringing about revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia.

unquote


The search for more democracy spreads from Egypt (where internet was also shut down) to Algeria and also Yemen. Kingdoms such as Jordan and Saudi seem less affected. Nowadays turning off the net is a real bellwether for regime shift, yes/no?
 

vince

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Coincidentally, I have the news on watching a report about Egypt and just now the Aljazeera anchorman said in an ominous tone, "And now let's turn our attention to Yemen".
 

B_stanmarsh14

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Just had word back from me mate...... he's ok, and fortunaly lives in one area, away enough from the troubles, but work wise, he is struggling to get in.

Internet use disrupted in Bahrain as protests turn bloody

Looks like only a 5th of their internet traffic was down, and nothing on the scale like it was in Egypt.
 

helgaleena

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According to the 'Revolution in Wisconsin' thread, Governor Scott Walker is trying to selectively block Internet sites' WiFi access. Third World Usa now. :sad:
 

B_crackoff

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The problem with all Arab elections, is that they are very tribal. It's not like the West at all - we're not seeing leaps towards freedom - more like a regime change.

Mohamed Darif said: "In a conservative society such as Morocco, people do not vote for political groupings but for individuals based on religious and ethnic criteria, and only then consider their political programme."

Unfortunatley, I remember the Algerian miltary, just like the Turks had to, getting rid of a democratically elected regime, because they basically said - God is now in power, we have no more need for elections.

Here's some other background on ME politics
Muslim Elections
 

helgaleena

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Yes, the military 'interim government' gambit can go very wrong. Let's hope actual elections take place in those localities soon. But the subject of the thread is Internet shutdown as a bellwether. China's done it multiple times now.