Egypt: Egyptian journalists are trying to turn their revolution

A journalist's flagship national television driven from Tahrir Square, the editors called for the resignation, an editorial upset overnight ... Egyptian journalists working for state media try, too, to make their revolution.

"During the first 10 days of the protest movement, coverage of events by the Egyptian media has been shameful, denounces Rasha Abdulla, director of Journalism and Mass Communication from the American University in Cairo, cited by the U.S. daily" The Washington Post. "It was like they were living on another planet."

Since then, things began to change."The change is radical, confirms Wael Qandil, editor of the independent daily" Al-Shourouk. "The editors who spent their time to kowtow to power calling for transparent elections and the official media are now allowed to deal with Muslim Brotherhood members who were previously excluded from the media landscape. "

"The revolution in Al-Ahram!"

In "Rose el-Youssef," one of the four main government dailies, the employees demanded the resignation of their editor, Abdullah Kamal, and managing editor, Karam Gabr.For the second consecutive day, journalists and employees have demonstrated Wednesday in front of the newspaper's headquarters, preventing the executive to join its offices. In "Al-Jumhuriya," another state-run daily, the atmosphere is the same, the editor Ibrahim Ali being disowned by his staff.

Within the daily "Al-Ahram, the most widely distributed in Egypt, the voltage is also keen. According to the website of the newspaper, more than one hundred employees gathered in the lobby on Tuesday, demanding permanent contracts."The revolution throughout Egypt, the revolution of Al-Ahram '!" They chanted, repeating also slogans against corruption but also against the newspaper owners.

Their editor, Omar Saraya has yet made these days a 180 degrees. "Until now, he was a pillar of the regime of President Hosni Mubarak said Tamer Ezzedine, FRANCE 24's correspondent in Cairo. It now shows friendly demonstrators." In a forum, Omar Saraya praised the "nobility" of the revolution, calling on the regime to rapidly implement reforms.

But these last-minute reversals are not always pay.The television star presenter Egyptian Amr Adib, come talk to those camping for more than two weeks in downtown Cairo, was jostled and insulted before being driven from Tahrir Square.

"Take the train"

The journalists of Radio and Television of State, meanwhile, tried to protest on Wednesday to denounce the coverage of recent events on their media. "The gathering could not take place, they were only forty at the headquarters of Radio Television, said Tamer Ezzedine.But several groups have formed on Facebook to say they were not accepting the lies that were disseminated. "

Another journalist in the crosshairs of the profession, Makram Mohammad Ahmad, President of journalists' union. As the responsible official media, he has been appointed by the Head of State. At a demonstration outside the headquarters of the union, members of the organization have called to leave his post. They also allege that the union not to have expressed its solidarity with the Egyptian journalist Mohamed Mahmoud Ahmad, was killed while covering the protests.

According to his wife, Mohamad Ahmad Mahmoud filming clashes from the balcony of his office when security forces shot him, to the head, January 29.He died six days later from his injuries.

To Wael Qandil, if the change in tone is real, it is still too early to speak of genuine freedom of expression. "The state media following the evolution of official discourse, he says, they are just trying to take the train. But those who would use a real freedom of expression are still under attack of power. "

BURMA: Prime Minister Thein Sein appointed president of the country

AFP - Prime Minister of Burma and retired Gen. Thein Sein, was Friday appointed president of the country, officials said official sources at the end of a process that allows the junta to lock the power.

According to a timeline announced for several days, Thein Sein, including 47 to 65 years in the army, was promoted to the highest political position by a committee of MPs elected in the November elections, and appointed by the military junta .

"Thein Sein was elected by a majority of votes," said a senior Burmese official.

Tin Aung Myint Oo, also a former general, and Sai Kham Mouk, a member of the Shan ethnic group and part of the Solidarity Party and the Union Development (USDP, pro-junta) were in turn appointed Vice-Presidents.

Thein Sein will come in the weeks to form a government.

The only unknown of the new Burmese regime, but perhaps most important, concerned Than Shwe, 77, who ruled with an iron fist since 1992 and has, so far, given no information about his future.

If the army is unquestionably at the head of the country, will play the role as chief, also feared that powerful, is the subject of numerous rumors and speculation.

Burmese sources have assured that he would retire.

But analysts say that after a reign of terror in the country for nearly two decades, it will retain a function, even the background, to avoid retaliation and to ensure his safety and that of his clan.

CHILE: Santiago opened an investigation for the first time in the death of Allende

Chilean Justice announced Thursday the opening of its first investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of President Salvador Allende died during the coup of General Augusto Pinochet that toppled the leftist government, September 11, 1973.

"We'll see whether or not there was suicide and under what circumstances," said a judicial source, who requested anonymity.

Salvador Allende, elected president of Chile in 1970 to lead a leftist coalition, was killed by gunfire in the presidential palace, bombed by the air force during the coup led by General Pinochet.He was 65.

An autopsy concluded that Allende had committed suicide, but the results are disputed by some political sectors and organizations defending human rights.

"Justice will investigate what has not been investigated," he simply stated the prosecutor of the Court of Appeal, Beatriz Pedrals.

It was she who on Wednesday opened proceedings in this case and in 725 other cases of violations of human rights during the dictatorship (1973-1990), never previously treated for lack of complaints.

"Last year, the lists of victims of the Rettig Report (National Commission for Truth and Reconciliation) have been reviewed and this information was intersected with the complaints so far.We then saw that many cases had not been the subject of proceedings, "said the judiciary.

The judge assigned to coordinate these issues has asked the Attorney Pedrals to complain instead of victims of dictatorship, which ended in 3150 killed or missing and 28,000 cases of torture.

Currently, 560 former military personnel are prosecuted for crimes committed under military rule.

Files opened Wednesday correspond to cases of missing and dead prisoners "whatever the reason," said the judge. It may for example include people killed by a bullet "lost" during a protest.

"We must investigate all crimes.We speak more than 700 cases that have never been investigated, including that of Allende, which gives more weight "to the proceedings, responded Lorena Pizarro, president of the Association Parents of Disappeared Detainees.

The arrival in power of Allende had worried the conservative sectors of Chile and the United States, who feared that his "Chilean road to socialism" do not rock the South American country in the communist camp.

Washington had decided to act secretly with the CIA, sponsoring and supporting the coup against Allende, who had nationalized the major mining resources of the country, such as copper, at the time controlled by U.S. multinationals.

The United States has long supported the then military regime and its economic policy, modeled on the precepts and ultra-liberal monetarists of the Chicago School.

Pinochet died in 2006, 16 years after he left office without having been tried.

Allende's widow, Hortensia Bussi, had fled to Mexico after the coup but had continued to fight the dictatorship. She herself died in 2009 at the age of 94 years.

The couple had three daughters, Carmen Paz, Beatriz, who died, and Isabel, Socialist MEP.