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Belarus has shut down the internet amid a controversial election

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Re: Belarus has shut down the internet amid a controversial election

#91

Post by bitL »

danielam wrote: post #11

I just posted a link[0] with some of Friedman's response to what's going on. TLDR: aside from Belarus' geopolitical importance and predicament, it sounds like what's going on is largely a matter of speculation, though the events of the last decade read in light of geopolitical realities seem to suggest Russian involvement. [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24121275

It looks plausible that Russia is trying to follow the US playbook in Ukraine, i.e. a controllable quasi-chaotic removal of a person in power that goes against their interests and outlived his usefulness (this time enlarging Russia), while getting a popular support for it and making sure the other party (US) can't do the same. I don't think Russia can afford losing another buffer separating it from EU, so anything is possible.

Re: Belarus has shut down the internet amid a controversial election

#92

Post by sam_lowry_ »

zihotki wrote: post #88
sam_lowry_ wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yesterday, there were reports of Russian mercs arriving to help Lukashenka fight his people. Just saying.

Belorussian here, there are no proofs for that yet, only rumors.

There was a video of strongmen wearing Russian uniforms yesterday. And texts about Russian mercs arriving in cargo helicopters at the Maryina Gorka airfield.

That's all we have so far, indeed.

Re: Belarus has shut down the internet amid a controversial election

#93

Post by actuator »

arcticbull wrote: post #80
jammucoder wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My friend, although I feel the same as you about the 2G connectivity issue, I should remind you that just 3 years before 370 abrogation, schools in Kashmir were shut for 8 Months [1] after the killing of Terrorist by security forces. This is the J&K I have grown up in. "Stopping terrorism" sounds like just another narrative, but not to those who have lived with its consequences. [1] https://www.indiatoday.in/india/st…

What does that have to do with internet speeds? Citation needed.

He doesn't because from the data at least in the open, it does not even prove that situation has improved drastically there. I recall reading recent news about local politicians being killed there.

Re: Belarus has shut down the internet amid a controversial election

#94

Post by est31 »

grecy wrote: post #46
est31 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any country which has the capability of shooting down satellites has more influence than countries which can't do it. But even a country with like 100 million residents, if it doesn't have a space program (or someone protecting it with a space program), it doesn't have much of a say.

Even countries that have the ability to shoot down satellites probably aren't going to shoot down hundreds or thousands of starlink sats, which is what it would take to end coverage.

Good point, and indeed they can't, but they can cause a mess by shooting down a few. The other satellites will have to evade the debris which will cause headaches to the operator company.

Re: Belarus has shut down the internet amid a controversial election

#95

Post by [deleted] »

majjaa wrote: post #81
jammucoder wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm typing this from Jammu. Since 370 abrogation last year, number of terror incidents in J&K is down by 40%. Every story has two sides. While I hope the govt brings back full 4G connectivity soon, I am grateful to them for taking the terror situation seriously.

OMG! The Indian r/t_d sub members are also on hackernews. No place is safe.

[deleted]

Re: Belarus has shut down the internet amid a controversial election

#96

Post by [deleted] »

keenmaster wrote: post #40
echlebek wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry to hear you are struggling with internet access, but I don't see how the actions of India create legal precedence in Belarus?

He's being sardonic. Assad, Putin, Lukashenko, Modi, Bolsonaro, Duterte...they all use pseudo-legalistic justifications for authoritarian action. Assad in particular went as far as cataloging thousands of his torture victims to give an official veneer to the circumstances of their death. This is even though it seems insane to record evidence of one's own gruesome crimes of genocide. https://www.hrw.org/report/2015/12…

[deleted]

Re: Belarus has shut down the internet amid a controversial election

#97

Post by JumpCrisscross »

echlebek wrote: post #32
2Gkashmiri wrote: post #29

this is nothing. shameless plug. I am a kashmiri typing this from 2G internet which apprently is the only acceptable thing for the indian government to allow me. 4G access has been stopped since 5 AUGUST 2019. a freaking year has passed and no high speed internet. I didnt have 2G for like 7 months. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revocation_of_the_special_stat... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Kashmir#Cens…

Sorry to hear you are struggling with internet access, but I don't see how the actions of India create legal precedence in Belarus?

> I don't see how the actions of India create legal precedence in Belarus?

It's a precedent for the world ignoring such actions.

Re: Belarus has shut down the internet amid a controversial election

#98

Post by nickysielicki »

tapvt wrote: post #21

A case where I feel amateur (ham) radio would be a potential lifeline to the outside world.

http://www.dxsummit.fi/#/?dx_countries=Belarus

Plenty of contacts on the spotter. I don't imagine they're about politics, though.

Re: Belarus has shut down the internet amid a controversial election

#100

Post by actuator »

2Gkashmiri wrote: post #75
arcticbull wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have any evidence limited speeds are the reason for a reduction in terrorist incidents? Unless you have some hard evidence that's a weak-sauce claim. Correlation at best .

children havent gone to school since 5 august 2019 in kashmir. while the world is enjoying the benefits of zoom and stuff, everyone is stuck with 2G. that means no zoom parties, no conference calls, recorded classes are sent via voice notes on whatsapp groups for each class and children write simple exams on paper and photo a picture. things are THAT DEPLORABLE and the narrative "stopping terrorism" is given as an ex…

Yeah, I think the whole situation is such a travesty. I have been following news of that region for a long time now and it is just sad what has happened there over the decades with atrocities committed from both sides.

I firmly believe restricting internet access is just not humane at this point. There is too much dependence on internet and I consider it as a basic right.

I think this heavy-handedness is going to backfire. To treat an infection, you can't just cut off the whole limnb.

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