By: Mialy Andriamananjara, Global Voices, April 25, 2009
A series of unfortunate decisions taken by the Andry TGV Rajoelina, High Authority for the Transition (HAT) government, is seriously threatening freedom of speech in Madagascar. First, there was the arrest of three demonstrators, most famously, “Razily”, the young man seen bearing a flag in this amateur video, before being thrown into a pick up truck and callously beaten by soldiers.
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Violence on the rise in DR Congo
By: BBC News, April 24, 2009
Civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have subjected to escalating reprisals at the hands of armed groups, aid agencies say. The atrocities, which include rape and arson, come amid continuing fighting between the army and Hutu militiamen. In the Lubero territory in North Kivu 250 homes were been burned down in the last week, Oxfam said.
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Silent song: Women and Zimbabwe’s liberation
By: Nyardazai Mugaragumbo-Gumbozvando, Pambazuka, April 23, 2009
As Zimbabwe celebrates 29 years of independence, Nyaradzai Mugaragumbo-Gumbonzvanda honours the ordinary women who fought for freedom and life with dignity, and reflects on the meaning of the liberation struggle both for her late mother Mbuya Rozaria Dizha and for Zimbabwean women of different generations.
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AMERICAS
US: Members of Congress arrested in Darfur protest in front of the Sudanese Embassy
By: Tom Scheck, Minnesota Public Radio, April 27, 2009 Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison and four other members of Congress were arrested in Washington D.C. this morning, while participating in a protest in front of the Sudanese Embassy in Washington. They were criticizing the president of Sudan for alleged atrocities in the country and for expelling 16 aid agencies from Darfur. Read full article… Demonstration in US against Ethiopia’s regime Venezuela: Making sense of Chavez Peru asylum for Venezuela mayor US: Real protest means sacrifice US: Protesters, police clash outside IMF meetings US: Hundreds protest to save child soldiers in Uganda US: Union activist appointed to Labor Department Bolivia: Water people of Andes face extinction Venezuela: Trade union CTV to stage march on May 1 for labor rights and democracy US: Lynn Nottage always points a provocative pen
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Afghan’s Karzai says will amend controversial law
By: Reuters, April 27, 2009
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Monday the Justice Ministry was amending a controversial law which contains harsh provisions on women that critics have called a step back toward Taliban-era controls. The law, which applies to Shi’ite Muslims who make up about 15 percent of Afghanistan’s population, requires women to satisfy their husbands’ sexual desires. Opponents say this could be used to justify marital rape.
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Burma: Political pluralism is the only answer
By: Htet Win, Mizzima News, April 27, 2009
Addressing domestic issues is by far the most crucial need in delivering Burma from the vicious circle of political impasse and economic hardship, which has for several decades disgraced the country and its over 50 million citizens. While most countries around the world work to balance their bargaining position in the international theater by playing to their economic strengths and addressing the needs of their people, Burma’s generals continue to hoard the country’s resources not only from political opposition groups, but from the entire population of the country.
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EU extends sanctions against Burma
By: BBC News, April 27, 2009
The EU has extended sanctions against Burma and renewed calls for the release of political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The sanctions, which have been in place since 2006, were extended for one year. But at a meeting in Luxembourg, EU foreign ministers offered to review the sanctions issue if Burma’s government showed signs of democratic progress.
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China spiritual group endures despite 10-year ban
By: China Digital Times, April 26, 2009
Ten years ago, Falun Gong gained sudden international attention when 10,000 followers staged a silent protest around Zhongnanhai, the central government compound in Beijing, and authorities banned the spiritual group from practicing in China.
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Thai protesters hold first rally since crackdown
By: Amika Ahuja, AP, April 25, 2009
Thousands of supporters of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra held their first anti-government rally Saturday since their protests earlier this month turned violent and were forcibly stopped by the army. Meanwhile, one of Thaksin’s chief critics was released from a hospital Saturday under tight security, eight days after a brazen assassination attempt left bullet shards in his skull.
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Tibetan students protest in China
By: AFP, April 25, 2009
Hundreds of students at a Tibetan school in China’s northwest held a daring protest, demonstrating over education conditions, locals and an overseas Tibetan group said Saturday. The protest took place Friday morning among Tibetan students at the Xiahe middle school in Gansu province, the proprietor of a local hotel told AFP by telephone. “The students protested on Friday. There were no protests today,” he said without giving his name.
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India: Tribes stage mass protest against British mining company Vedanta
By: Survival, April 25, 2009
Several hundred tribespeople today staged a protest against FTSE-100 company Vedanta, as it bids massively to expand its controversial aluminium refinery in Lanjigarh, Orissa. The refinery occupies land belonging to the Majhi Kondh tribe, and lies at the foot of the Niyamgiri hills, home of the isolated Dongria Kondhs. Both tribes took part in the protests.
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Maldives: Death of mother and child sparks protest
By: Dhivehi Observer, April 24, 2009
More than 50 people protested for the closure of ADK hospital today following the death of a mother and her baby through medical negligence, they allege. Friends and family of 37-year-old pre-school teacher Aisthah Shaheen Mohamed, who died yesterday, gathered to demand an investigation into the cause of her death.
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China: Police swoop on Beijing University
By: RFA, April 22, 2009
Authorities in Beijing have begun moving to clear large numbers of people from the capital who have a grievance against the government as security tightens, with local residents and petitioners reporting detentions in several sensitive locations. Hundreds of protesters have traveled from all over China to the capital’s prestigious Beijing University following recently reported remarks about petitioners by a professor there.
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