REPORT: THE STATE OF THE WAR AGAINST THE STATE

CHINA CLAMPS DOWN

In response to the recent protests, China is sealing off Tibet and expelling the foreign media. One wonders, however, whether China will go all the way and implement the "Hama model" and/or the Burmese approach I blogged about some months ago. See Strategist for a sophisticated discussion of China's mounting strategic difficulties in Tibet. 

KOSOVO PROTESTS

Serbian demonstrators are continuing to ramp up violence in northern Kosovo. Since the breakaway province declared independence last month, Serbs within a sliver of northern Kosovo have been a disruptive force, rioting and attacking multi-national forces and members of the ethnic Albanian majority. Serbian police officers and civil servants have also refused to recognize both Kosovo's government and the authority of the UN/NATO forces. Some believe that the northern Serbs will try to secede and join up with Serbia proper.

In the short term? Perhaps not. But the long-term prospects for Kosovo aren't good--they have fallen short of their goal of being recognized by 100 countries, Serbia refuses to accept their independence and could be involved in fomenting the northern unrest, and the UN/NATO troops may balk at the prospect of putting down a nationalist Serb revolt. Unless Kosovo can convince the northern Serbs to remain part of Kosovo or do something to dial down nationalist fervor, this scenario will become increasingly more likely.

KENYA POLL VIOLENCE WAS PLANNED

Little surprise here--the violence against the majority tribe was planned, says Human Rights Watch.

Comments

[Adrian]

Why are Kosovo and Tibet part of the war against the state? Both regions are trying to form a state for themselves, rather than weaken the state system.

[A.E.]

Was just a catchy title I threw together to try to bring some kind of organizational coherence to some unrelated news items, thought it sounded better than "Various Items, pt. 12."

[Kotare]

I quite like "Various Items, pt 12". "State Update" could be another option.

Also, thanks for the link.

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