By: Yammuna Ghale, Nepal News, August 4, 2009
Women as citizens require various forms of power for their holistic empowerment and contribution to societal, national and international development. In this process, understanding different forms of power is very crucial.
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Burma’s ruler: brutal, reclusive – and a skilled manipulator
By: Benedict Rogers, The Independent, August 3, 2009
The man behind Burma’s secret nuclear plans, Senior General Than Shwe, is one of the world’s most brutal and reclusive dictators. His regime has relentlessly suppressed pro-democracy activists, while in its long war against the ethnic minorities it has used forced labour, rape, extra-judicial killings and torture.
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China: Blame the Uighurs don’t deserve
By: James P. McGovern, Washington Post, August 3, 2009
As co-chair of the House’s Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, I am troubled by the premise of the July 25 news story “China, Uighur Groups Give Conflicting Riot Accounts.” Post reporters chose to blame, in equal proportion, both Uighur human rights leader Rebiya Kadeer and Chinese authorities for waging “an emotional global propaganda war.”
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Philippines mourns ex-president Corazon Aquino
By: Justin McCurry, Guardian, August 2, 2009
The Philippines began 10 days of national mourning today following the death of Corazon Aquino, the former Filipino president whose “people power” movement swept away the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. Aquino, who was 76, had spent more than a month in hospital after being diagnosed with advanced colon cancer last year.
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Philippines: Aquino inspired world through ‘people power’
By: Star Bulletin, August 2, 2009
Corazon Aquino, who showed the world from her Philippines that nonviolent “people power” can topple despotic rulers, remains the conscience of her country and a role model for the world. She died yesterday in Manila, but democracy will continue in the Philippines and freedom will be achievable everywhere because of her inspiration.
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Malaysian dissident pays tribute to Aquino
By: Inquirer.net, August 2, 2009
If her husband personified “Filipino courage in the face of oppression,” former president Corazon “Cory” Aquino was “every surviving victim’s desire for redemption of a cause momentarily ground into dust by brute force,” according to former Malaysian deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim in expressing his praise for the Philippine leader who died Saturday.
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Filipinos mourn Aquino, ‘people power’ President
By: Carlos H. Conde, NY Times, August 2, 2009
Thousands of Filipinos lined up outside a Catholic school here on Sunday for a last glimpse of Corazon C. Aquino, the woman they credited with ushering in democracy nearly a quarter-century ago, ending two decades of dictatorial rule. Mrs. Aquino was president for six years after leading the movement to oust Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1986.
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China: Hundreds detained after protests
By: CNN News, August 2, 2009
Hundreds of people have been detained in connection with ethnic riots in the northwest last month, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported Sunday. Police in Urumqi, the capital of China’s remote northwestern Xinjiang Autonomous Region, said they had detained 319 people in connection with the July 5 riots, according to Xinhua.
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Malaysians protest law on indefinite detention
By: LA Times, August 2, 2009
Police broke up Malaysia’s biggest protest in nearly two years Saturday, firing tear gas and chemical-laced water at thousands of opposition supporters demanding an end to a law that allows detention without trial. Witnesses estimated that as many as 20,000 people took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur to rally against the Internal Security Act.
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Malaysian arrests put in question vow of rights
By: Thomas Fuller, NY Times, August 2, 2009
Soon after coming to power four months ago, Najib Razak, the Malaysian prime minister, vowed to temper the country’s repressive laws and respect civil liberties. But over the weekend police broke up a large rally in Kuala Lumpur, arresting nearly 600 people and reaffirming the governing party’s policy of zero tolerance toward street protests.
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Burma: Suu Kyi’s trial gives rare glimpse into judicial system
By: Marwaan Macan-Markar, IPS, August 1, 2009
A political trial in Burma that could prolong its pro-democracy icon’s isolation by five more years has opened a rare window for the international community to judge the quality of justice in the military-ruled country. Many foreign envoys based in Rangoon, the former capital, have eagerly grabbed this chance.
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Corazon Aquino, ex-leader of Philippines, is dead
By: Seth Mydans, NY Times, July 31, 2009
Corazon C. Aquino of the Philippines, who was swept into office on a wave of “people power” in 1986 and then faced down half a dozen coup attempts in six years as president, died Saturday in Manila, her son said. She was 76.
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Burma: Scores of supporters arrested, as court postpones verdict on Suu Kyi
By: Mungpi, Mizzima, July 31, 2009
Scores of supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi and her party members across the country were rounded up on Thursday, on the eve of the special court in Rangoon’s Insein prison postponing the verdict of Aung San Suu Kyi to August 11. Sources said some of the arrested activists were released on Friday afternoon after the court announced the postponement.
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Burma: Six National League for Democracy members freed
By: Phanida, Mizzima, July 31, 2009
Six members of the opposition National League for Democracy were freed by authorities on Friday. On Thursday the authorities rounded up at least 30 people in a move to pre-empt anti-government protests on Friday, the day the court had earlier fixed to pronounce the verdict on the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi.
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Burma: ‘We all want democracy’
By: Radio Free Asia, July 30, 2009
In a rare interview, an active-duty sergeant in Burma’s military has expressed his frustration at the junta’s handling of the country’s affairs and said that this view is shared by many like him in the army. Experts agree that morale amongst soldiers in Burma’s army is low and may pose a threat to the military regime’s hold on power.
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China: Lawyers hail rights ruling
By: Radio Free Asia, July 30, 2009
Chinese civil rights lawyers have hailed a landmark decision by a court in central China to award the same amount of compensation to a man from a rural community as would be payable to city-dwellers. The landmark ruling is being hailed as a victory by China’s embattled civil rights lawyers, themselves frequently targeted by the authorities.
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Philippines: Interview – Tonyo Cruz on digital activism
By: Mary Joyce, DigiActive, July 30, 2009
I am in the Philippines this week with fellow DigiActivist Lynn Casper to participate in a training organized by the Computer Professionals’ Union. While here I decided to interview one of the country’s most prolific digital activists – Tonyo Cruz – and ask him about digital activism in the Philippines.
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Chinese hack film festival site
By: BBC News, July 26, 2009
Chinese hackers have attacked the website of Australia’s biggest film festival over a documentary about Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer. Content on the Melbourne International Film Festival site was briefly replaced with the Chinese flag and anti-Kadeer slogans on Saturday, reports said.
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CENTRAL ASIA
Kyrgyz President inaugurated after disputed election
By: RFE/RL, August 2, 2009 Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev has been inaugurated for his second term after winning an election that the opposition dismissed as fixed. In his inaugural speech, Bakiev said that he managed to ensure peace and stability in Kyrgyzstan over the course of his first term. Read full article… Kyrgyzstan: World Movement participant arrested Kazakhstan: Activists assail internet law as step back for democracy Kyrgyzstan: Strategic issues, not abuses, are US focus |
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EUROPE
Russia: At least 47 arrested in anti-Putin demonstration
By: Monsters and Critics, July 31, 2009 At least 47 people were arrested in Moscow on Friday shortly before the start of an unauthorized demonstration against the policies of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Among the protesters arrested was opposition politician Eduard Limonov, the Interfax news agency reported. Read full article… Russia: Riot police break up opposition rally Belarus: Freed US lawyer says Lukashenka, Berezovsky colluded on his arrest |
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MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA
Activists protest Israeli cosmetics company
By: One World, August 3, 2009 Bikini-clad peace activists entered cosmetic stores in Washington, D.C. last week to protest a line of Israeli beauty products made in the West Bank. The demonstration followed four others in Israel and New York over the past two months as part of the “Stolen Beauty” campaign. Read full article… Syria’s democracy activist on moving toward peaceful revolutions Morocco: “I’m a 9 per cent!” Egypt: Two bloggers released and another still detained Egypt: Protest group prevented from leafleting Egypt’s challenge to democracy Morocco: New law, but the same old men |
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OCEANIA
Maldives: Journalists at risk
By: Saffah Faroog, Global Voices, July 26, 2009 At least three journalists in the Maldives have been subjected to either physical or verbal abuse and psychological intimidation within a span of the last 10 days. The first case involved Ahmed Zahir (Hiriga), who was attacked by a mob outside the parliament building while he was covering a protest there. Read full article… West Papua: ‘Canceling documentary screening’ |
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Top three places not to go on holiday
By: Survival International, August 3, 2009 As the holiday season enters full swing, Survival International today names three destinations holidaymakers should avoid: Barefoot Resort, South Andaman Island, India, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana, and ‘First contact’ expeditions, West Papua. Read full article… Democracy-support: From recession to innovation Is civil disobedience the next phase? Anti-corruption 2.0: What’s your say on corruption? The I-factor |
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Mauritanie: Aziz – Deux putschs et une élection
By: Jeune Afrique, August 3, 2009 Vainqueur de la présidentielle contestée du 18 juillet, le général Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz s’est construit une image de « petit père du peuple » pendant les onze mois qu’il a passés à la tête de la junte. Il lui faut désormais honorer ses promesses, et vite. Read full article… Venezuela: Trente-quatre médias audiovisuels sacrifiés Iran: Procès des manifestants à Téhéran |
Yemen: Youth empowerment program – Camera as Voice
By: International Research & Exchanges Board, August 4, 2009
Camera as Voice is a program using film to empower youth expression and dialogue to counter extremism and radicalism in Yemen. Camera as Voice is a 12-month-long project that will lead youth in developing film projects that will explore themes of globalization, anti-Westernism, modernization, alienation and community disadvantage.
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