Ethiopian PM promises fair election investigation News
Ethiopian PM promises fair election investigation

[JURIST] Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi [Wikipedia profile] promised Friday that an investigation into allegations of fraud in the May 15 election, which left Zenawi in power, would be "totally transparent and fair." Zenawi said the investigation, which includes international observers, shows his Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) [Wikipedia profile] is committed to fairness. Police killed 36 people and arrested thousands more [JURIST report] when street demonstrations and violence erupted following the elections. Zenawi defended the crackdown on protestors, who were defying an order banning public demonstrations. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.