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More than six months after an exhibition organized as part of the Aichi Triennale in Japan was shuttered following political and violent threats, the Taipei Museum of Contemporary Art in Taiwan announced that it would host the show in its studio space in the spring.

Following the opening of the exhibition After Freedom of Expression?, which focused on the history of censorship in Japan, in August, the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art in Nagoya received numerous death threats by phone, email, and over fax over its inclusion of a comfort woman statuea monument that commemorates Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery by Japanese troops during World War IItitled Statue of Peace.

While the organizers of the exhibition cited the safety of museum staff and visitors as the reason for the closure, the participating artists and others opposed to the decision condemned the move as censorshipthe topic of comfort women remains a sensitive issue for Japan. Many expressed concern over the number of local lawmakers, including Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura, who spoke out against the exhibition. The Cultural Affairs Agency which previously pledged to provide 78 million yen in financial support to the triennial later declared that it would not pay.

The controversy prompted more than a dozen artists, including Tania Bruguera, Pia Camil, Minouk Lim, Pedro Reyes, and Javier Tellez, to sign a letter addressed to the shows organizers, which read: We consider it an ethical obligation to stand by the exhibiting artists voices and their work being exhibited. Freedom of expression is an unalienable right that needs to be defended independently of any context.

While artistic director Daisuke Tsuda publicly apologized to the artists whose works were in the exhibition and for the strong sense of indignation and disappointment felt by the artists who ultimately withdrew works from the triennial in protest, he also defended the action and said that the exhibition drew threats beyond our expectations.

A government-appointed review board led by Toshio Yamanashi, director of the National Museum of Art, in Osaka later found that the closure and removal of the sculpture by Kim Seo-kyung and Kim Eun-sung was justified. It concluded that Tsuda deviated from the concept of the show by incorporating several new works when it apparently was only supposed to feature pieces that had previously been censored by the state. It also stated that Tsuda failed to effectively communicate with curators, administrators, and others involved in the festival, which was held from August 1 to October 14.

While the exhibition briefly reopened in October, it was only on view for a few days and visitors had to enter a lottery in order to see it.

See the article here:
Aichi Triennale Exhibition Will Be Restaged in Taiwan Following Censorship Controversy - Artforum

In 2019, deliberate internet censorship cost African economies a collective USD 2.16 Bn. The shutdowns, mostly orchestrated by governments, have been on for many years.

Though such restrictions have been going on for many years, last year was the worst year in terms of amount of money foregone. So, for 2020, what should African businesses and individuals expect?

Internet shutdowns are becoming a trend in Africa. Period. The Global Cost of Internet Shutdowns in 2019 report finds that most internet shutdowns occur in response to protests or civil unrest surrounding elections.

Usually, these web and social media blackouts occur when governments want to restrict the spread of information and maintain their power grip. This does not not only toy with citizens freedom of expression, but also with their right to information.

The first major internet shutdown in Africa for last year is proof that the reports findings are correct. In Zimbabwe, the administration of Emmerson Mnangagwa executed a web blackout to quell protests arising from the ridiculous hike in fuel prices. It marked the first time for such to happen in the Southern African nation, which made Zimbabweans clamor for the return of their former leader Robert Mugabe.

A similar event occurred in Sudan, where the government shutdown the internet for weeks. The intention was to smother the protests against the generals who seized power after Omar al-Bashir was ousted by military forces in April.

These series of disturbing events occurred after Sudan-wide demonstrations against his rule. After shutting down the internet to curb malpractice during national exams in June 2019, Ethiopia went on to sustain the blackout due to failed military coup attempts.

The examples are endless, but the trend is certain. Whats more, the report by Top10VPN says that there is little to suggest that internet shutdowns will stop in 2020. This comes in spite of their negative impact on the global economy, human rights and the democratic processes.

Simon Migliano, Head of Research at Top10VPN, told WeeTracker that internet shutdowns have become a popular strategy across Africa during times of political unrest. This seems to be undeterred by condemnation by the United Nations and human rights organizations around the world.

Given that the rate of internet shutdowns has been increasing over the last three years, we have every reason to expect that there will be more in Africa this year, particularly in regions like Ethiopia and Sudan where elections are on the horizon, he said.

Simons predictions are not implausible, because truly, there are a couple of elections to be held in Africa this year. Also, some of these polls are being held in countries where internet censorship has occurred in the past. These include Chad, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, Egypt and Liberia.

Peaceful and fair elections are encouraged across the continent, but theres a likeliness that internet censorship will occur in these countries. Togo is likely to join the crop, as it prepares to hold the first African presidential election of the year on February 22nd. Factors that will make for an internet censorship in the West African country are numerous.

The current president, Faure Gnassingb, has been in power since 2005, after the death of his father. His regime is to be extended as hes to be the only candidate on the ballot. Faures father seized control of the small country in 1967. Protests upon protests have registered displeasure over the seemingly dynastic rule of the Gnassingbs.

The internet may ultimately not shutdown in Togo, but the other promising crop of countries on the continent make us beg to differ. The nations aforementioned are known for civil unrest, long-ruling presidents and military shakedowns. Take Sudan for instance, where their last internet censorship led and resulted in to military open-fire on the nations citizens.

African businesses are actually better off expecting internet censorship this year and put things in place to enable them cope. Businesses that only exist online or on social media wont be able to operate at all during a shutdown.

According to Simon, those that have physical locations or provide services should be aware of alternative ways to communicate with suppliers, employees and existing or future customers.

On the signs of an internet shutdown, Simon said that any election or authority-related protest or form of unrest can be seen as a precursor to an internet shutdown. The reality is that unless a business operates completely offline, an internet shutdown will undoubtedly have some negative impact on their ability to successfully function, he says.

All businesses can really do is ensure that they have a means of staying connected and, where possible, find alternative methods of carrying out activities that would usually be done online.

A 2017 report by CIPESA on internet censorship revealed that the impact of being dumped offline is not a binary issue. The survey titled Calculating The Economic Impact Of Internet Disruptions In Sub-Saharan Africa, said that even after internet access is restored, the impact of a cut-off continues to resonate.

Economic losses caused by an internet disruption persist far beyond the days on which the shutdown occurs, because network disruptions unsettle supply chains and have systemic effects that harm efficiency throughout the economy, the report noted.

Internet disruptions, however short-lived, undermine economic growth, disrupt the delivery of critical services, erode business confidence, and raise a countrys risk profile.

Theres not exactly many options available when a business is disrupted by internet censorship. Simon explains: For many people, its just the old-fashioned way: telephone or fax! If an affected business is close to a region where internet remains available, then its a case of travelling there to conduct the most urgent matters via laptop and mobile internet before returning home. Of course, thats not an option for many. This is why internet shutdowns are so damaging.

Featured Image: New York Times

Link:
Internet Censorship In Africa Is A Trend In Africa - What To Expect In 2020 - WeeTracker Media

ISTANBULThe debate over the Istanbul Canal infrastructure project has the potential to turn into an existential one between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. In politics, emotional arguments hold sway just as much as rational ones. For now, Imamoglu has all the emotional ones. His motto against the project reads: Either the canal or Istanbul. If Erdogan loses this debate, it could be very costly for him.

In 2011, Erdogan announced his seemingly crazy project to dig a canal to connect the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara in a second location. The Bosphorus strait, which divides the European and Asian sides of Istanbul, already connects the two seas, and the passage of ships through the strait is regulated by the Montreux Convention.

A new canal to the west of the city is expected to reduce traffic through the Bosphorus and mitigate the risks that arise from such traffic. Turkish Transport Minister Mehmet Cahit Turhan claimed that initial revenue from ships passing through the canal would be $1 billion per year. This number is hard to justify particularly because the reason why vessels would prefer the canal over the Bosphorus remains unknown. The government claims that the canal will reduce waiting times and thus freight companies will prefer paying the premium.

Erdogan has a fascination with megaprojects. He built a third bridge over the Bosphorus, the third and largest airport in Istanbul, and many other large-scale infrastructure projects. These helped him win elections in the past, but now he is advocating what could become a white elephant at the worst of times. In a shaky economy with a 14 percent unemployment rate, increasing taxes, and no fiscal room for maneuver, Erdogan will have to convince an increasingly environmentally aware Turkish public that resources should indeed be allocated to this project now.

The environmental impact assessment for the canal, on the other hand, suggests that 200,878 trees alone will be affected by the project. In the expected seven-year process of realizing the project, an average of 360 explosions a year will take place, and approximately 4,000 tons of ammonium nitrate fuel oil will be used, according to geological experts. This is a hard sell. And this time, he has a formidable opponent; Imamoglu is putting up a tough fight against the project.

The debate over the canal project reignited when Turhan declared on Nov. 28 that awarding contracts for the construction of the canal would begin soon. The project, which is envisaged to be completed in less than a decade, includes settlements along the canal banks, which would create a new city of around 500,000 people. (The opposition claims 2 million people would move in.) Replaced soil is planned to be used in creating artificial islands. The budget is estimated at $15 billion, according to Turhan.

A project of this magnitude will have long-lasting and irreversible consequences on the environment and the economynot to mention repercussions from a military standpoint. After all, once the canal is dug, the old city of Istanbul will effectively become an island, which, Imamoglu recently claimed, would render the city defenseless. In the case of a military threat, troops will have to be deployed to the island either through the bridges over the canal or the Bosphorus.

Yet the debate in Turkey is far from a technical one. The most salient argument of the pro-canal camp is the revenue that could be generated as ships pay for passage. It is not clear yet why ships would pay to use the canal when there is free passage available 25 miles to the east, through the Bosphorus. The assumptions are feeble, and calculations are vague. In a nationwide survey conducted in December 2019 by Istanbul Economy Research, a polling firm, 49 percent of the public did not agree with the statement that the project will generate new sources of revenue.

The government is aiming to gather support strictly along political lines; amid partisan bickering over the project, Imamoglu has chosen to rely mostly on technical and environmental counterarguments instead. The mayors concerns include the loss of agricultural fields, possible negative outcomes in the case of the long-expected Istanbul earthquake, and destruction of the citys flora. He will need to provide more detailed evidence in the future, but for now his arguments seem to be sticking. Thousands of Istanbulites rushed to the Istanbul Provincial Environment and Urbanization Directorate to file appeals against the projects environmental impact assessment.

In addition, the public in general is not informed. The same poll from Istanbul Economy Research shows that public knowledge regarding the project is staggeringly low. About 49 percent of the participants indicated that they had no information on the project, whereas 40 percent said they were somewhat informed about the project. Only 11 percent claimed that they were well informed. With 12.5 percent of locals claiming to be well informed, Istanbul residents are only slightly more aware of the key issues.

Erdogan has described the project as his dream and has once again based his strategy on ideological polarization. His coalition partner, Devlet Bahceli, the head of the Nationalist Movement Party, followed suit and described the irrational opponents of the project as unpatriotic. Paradoxically, both leaders were against the project at different points in history. Former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit had introduced the idea in 1994, when he was a member of Parliament, and Erdogan was a staunch opponent at the time, when he was a mayoral candidate in Istanbul. Likewise, Bahceli had described the canal as a crazy project that will enable theft back in 2011 when it was first introduced by Erdogan and Bahceli was still in the opposition ranks.

It is part of a wider trend. The Turkish public is becoming increasingly sensitive to environmental issues. In the past decade, countless protests have taken place across Anatolia, particularly in opposition to hydroelectric power plant construction. Most recently, thousands of people gathered in the province of Canakkale to protest gold mining projects that would harm the environment. The common thread of these protests is that they include people from all political denominations.

Imamoglu has seized the opportunity to position himself against Erdogan in a debate of national significance in order to strengthen his bid in the next presidential elections. He is pressuring the president on both the economic and environmental repercussions of the project. Both resonate with the public. On the economic front, it is not clear how the project will be financed. If it is indeed through public funds, voters will ask if this is the right allocation of resources when the budget deficit increased by 70 percent in 2019 to reach $21 billion and the recent raise to the minimum wage was a measly 15 percent, leaving those who earn it well below the poverty line.

So far, the government is standing firm. Erdogan announced that the canal will be built whether they like it or not. But it is far from certain that his usual rhetoric will suffice to win over the crowd this time, particularly when the debate concerns issues of genuine importance to voters.

After the repeat Istanbul municipal elections, which Erdogans party lost twice, Imamoglu is gearing up for a second win against Erdoganthis time on the national scene. If Imamoglu can manage to win the crowd in the debate over the canal project, it could deal a deadly blow to Erdogan in the run-up to 2023 presidential elections.

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In Turkey, a Battle Over Infrastructure Could Shape the Next Presidential Race - Foreign Policy

National hero, public enemy, Uber driver.

Thats the headline accompanying an interview with former Turkish international footballer Hakan kr in German newspaper Die Welt.

kr is considered one of Turkeys greatest ever players, and he still holds the record as Turkeys top scorer on the international stage.

But he now lives in exile in the United States, working as an Uber driver.

He is a wanted man in Turkey and is under police protection. Accused of taking part in the attempted coup in 2016, he says Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan took everything away from me - my right to freedom, the right to explain myself, the right to work.

He served in Erdogans AKP party for two years before stepping down over a corruption scandal. kr, 48, tells the newspaper he is an enemy of the government, not the state or the Turkish nation.

He is not the only sports star to find himself on the wrong side of his countrys strongman president, who has been accused of using the coup attempt to bolster his own power and shut down his enemies.

In similar situations are Kurdish footballer Deniz Naki, NBA baskeball player Enes Kanter, and Turkish-German boxer nsal Arik.

Deniz Naki, a Turkish-German of Kurdish origin, played for St Pauli and Paderborn in Germany and represented the German under-19 and under-20 teams. After moving to a Turkish club, in 2017 he was given a suspended 18-month prison sentence, charged with spreading terrorist propaganda in support of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party.

Read more: 'If Ozil wants to talk about racism, he should look at Turkey'

Euronews interviewed him in the summer of 2018 after he criticised fellow Turkish-German footballer Mesut Ozil for quitting the German national team over alleged racism.

Does racism occur in Germany? Of course it does. But it isnt only Germanys problem, but a global problem, Naki said at the time, adding Ozil should react to what happens in Turkey.

In 2018 Nakis car was shot at on Germanys A4 highway earlier in what he claimed was a politically-motivated attack. He was banned from playing football in Turkey, and he told Euronews he could be arrested if he returns there.

NBA player Enes Kanter had to flee a training camp in Indonesia in 2017 after police came looking for him. While the anti-Erdogan activist was in Romania, he found out his passport had been invalidated and declared himself stateless. Thanks to NBA lawyers and diplomatic pressure from the US, he managed to return to the US, but since then he has lived in fear for his safety.

He decided against travelling to London for a game after reports emerged Turkey had asked Interpol to have him put on the Red Notice list - a request to locate and arrest him.

This all happened after he tweeted in 2017 that his father had been arrested in Turkey, referring to Erdogan as the Hitler of our century.

Kanter risks four years in prison for insulting Erdogan on social media.

After the failed coup, nsal Arik openly criticized Erdogan and his constitutional reform the following year. He once stepped into the ring wearing a T-shirt with the words "The country belongs to Ataturk, not Tayyip,'' referring to Turkeys founding father, who implemented secular reforms in the country.

AWBU World Champion in 2016, Arik never walks alone in Kreuzberg in Berlin for safety reasons, according to German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel. He is constantly insulted and threatened online by Erdogan's supporters, accused of being a traitor.

The 39-year-old from Nuremberg can no longer travel to Turkey, as he also faces the prospect of imprisonment. He could be jailed for 15 years, after releasing a rap song critical of Erdogan. His family, he says, are under constant pressure from the authorities at home. He recently applied for a visa to go on holiday to the United States, but the application, he reported, is proceeding slowly.

Excerpt from:
Meet the Turkish sports stars on the wrong side of President Erdogan - Euronews

Despite officially maintaining diplomatic ties with the country, Israels military has addedTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans aggressive policies in the region to its list of challenges in an annual assessment for the coming year, The Times of Israel learned Tuesday.

This is the first time Military Intelligence has included the policies of the Turkish leader on this report.

Relations between Israel and Turkey have been increasingly strained under Erdogan, who routinely speaks out against the Jewish state and allegedly allows Palestinian terror groups to operate freely in his country.

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Though in its assessment, which is presented to Israeli decision-makers each year, the military does not see a direct confrontation with Turkey in the offing in 2020, the countrys increasingly bellicose actions in the region have made it one of the top dangers to watch for the coming year.

The assessment did not detail any specific threat from Turkey toward Israel, but rather indicated that policies pursued by Erdogan, whose Islamist party is allied with the Muslim Brotherhood, was behind the cause for concern. Those issues were not inherent to Turkeys outlook and would not necessarily outlive Erdogan, the assessment indicated.

In recent months, Ankara has been stepping up its expansionism, conducting military operations in next-door Syria and proposing to establish a gas pipeline to Libya, despite the fact that this would likely violate the territorial waters of Israeli ally Greece.

In an interview with Channel 13 last month, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said it was Israels official position that such a Turkish-Libyan pipeline would be illegal.

But that doesnt mean were sending battleships to confront Turkey, he said.

In October, following a Turkish invasion of Syria as part of Ankaras fight against Kurdish groups there, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon told the UN Security Councils monthly Middle East meeting that Erdogan has been destabilizing the region through violence and supporting terror organizations, adding that Turkeys shocking incursion into Syria had come as no surprise.

Erdogan has turned Turkey into a safe haven for Hamas terrorists and a financial center for funneling money to subsidize terror attacks, he said. Erdogans Turkey shows no moral or human restraint toward the Kurdish people. Erdogan has turned Turkey into a regional hub for terror.

Danon said Erdogan was dragging his country down an imperialist path. He threatens journalists, persecutes religious minorities and promotes anti-Semitism.

More here:
In first, Turkey leader's hostility noted as 'challenge' in annual intel report - The Times of Israel