By: Asia News.It, August 28, 2009
The Uzbek dissident poet Yusuf Jumaev political prisoner and a staunch critic of President Islam Karimov, is a victim of violence and abuse in prison. This was revealed by Human Rights Watch (HRW), reporting the testimony of his daughter who met him in recent days in jail. The authorities threatened to deny permission for new visits, if the family continues “mount allegations” about abuse.
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CIVICUS condemns repression of democratic freedom in Turkmenistan
By: Devendra Tak, CIVICUS, August 25, 2009
World Alliance for Citizen Participation expresses deep concern about the repression of independent civil society groups in Turkmenistan. With blanket bans on information and extreme levels of opaque governance, Turkmenistan is one of the most oppressive countries in the world. Despite this, many ‘western’ democracies are weakening their stance on the protection of human rights in the country, in large measure due to Turkmenistan’s vast hydrocarbons reserves.
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Kyrgyzstan: A political retreat
By: Ben Judah, Open Democracy, August 25, 2009
Kurmanbek Bakiyev was once hailed as a democrat, ascending to the presidency of this central Asia republic during the “tulip revolution” of 2005. It was hoped that Kyrgyzstan could offer a progressive alternative to the neighbouring authoritarian regimes that surround it. But following a fraudulent presidential election on 23 July 2009 and a growing pattern of arbitrary arrests and draconian control laws, Kyrgyzstan is sliding backwards.
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EUROPE
U.K.: Climate activists stage protests
By: BBC, August 31, 2009 Climate camp activists have staged two protests in London to highlight the threat of climate change. They first staged a demonstration outside the Treasury and then at London City Airport. The protesters say the Treasury is using taxpayers’ money to fund fossil fuel extraction, through its investment in Royal Bank of Scotland. Read full article… Controversial Russian opposition leader detained in Moscow Russia: Moscow police quash anti-Kremlin demonstration, briefly detain 15 protesters No amnesty for Georgia’s political prisoners Natalia Estemirova, champion of ordinary Chechens Romania: Bucharest Court confirms it joins protests on ceasing activity and boycotting elections Belarus: Dictator confirmed rigging presidential elections Belarus: Opposition rallies banned in Vitsebsk center Lithuania: Two decades after massive anti-Soviet protest |
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MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA
Morocco: New jail term for Western Sahara activist
By: via HRW, International, August 31, 2009 The conviction and imprisonment of the Western Sahara human rights defender Naâma Asfari on August27, 2009, for “showing contempt toward a public agent” shows that Morocco continues to punish peaceful activists. The Tantan Court of First Instance sentenced Asfari to four months in prison. It is Asfari’s third conviction in three years. “Moroccan authorities keep finding new excuses to lock Asfari up, but it seems that what lies behind it all is his peaceful activism on the Western Sahara,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. Read full article… Western Sahara: Torture, abductions and disappearances What we Palestinians need Saudi Arabia blocking Twitter pages of activists
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OCEANIA
Fiji editor says censorship suppresses news stories
By: Netani Rika, Radio Australia, August 31, 2009 The editor of one of Fiji’s main daily newspapers has told an overseas audience that government control of the media has resulted in major news stories being suppressed on the orders of military and police censors. Last week the interim government confirmed it would extend emergency regulations for another 30 days, including official censorship under which military and police personnel are stationed in newsrooms to approve all items before they’re published. Read full article…
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Eurasia: Bracing for a technological counter-revolution
By: Stephen Blank, Eurasianet, August 28, 2009 The advent of social networking platforms such as Twitter and Facebook has changed the nature of political dissent. But as this summer’s unrest in Iran and China has demonstrated, authoritarian-minded governments have done their homework, and have kept pace with the revolution in communications. Experts on Eurasian political developments now believe that authoritarian-minded governments in the region are going on the offensive to stifle opposition and roll back civil society. Read full article… Activists launch warming campaign Facebook, Twitter, Flickr & YouTube feed boycott of Whole Foods Report names world’s most repressive countries
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Début de campagne électorale au Honduras en pleine crise politique
By: CRI Online, August 31, 2009 Deux mois après le putsch qui a plongé le Honduras dans une crise politique, le pays d’Amérique centrale a entamé dimanche sa campagne électorale pour les élections de novembre. Les partis politiques disposent maintenant de moins de 90 jours pour mener campagne avant les élections prévues fin novembre. Read full article… Cientos de personas se movilizaron “por un Chile sin represas” Journée Internationale de la Jeunesse: “Prenons en main notre avenir!”
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Civil Voices Festival
By: Civil Society Development Center, August 31, 2009 “Civil Voices” Festival, organized by Civil Society Development Center (STGM), will host various grassroots and local civil society organizations from Turkey and EU member/candidate countries between 25 and 27 September in Istanbul-Turkey. The festival is being organized under “Supporting Civil Society Development and Dialogue in Turkey Project” supported by European Union. Read full article… Exiled Honduran president to speak at Elliott School Wednesday “Rwanda Human Rights Delegation” participates in a GYC program
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By: Anup Shah, Global Issues, November 25, 2003
Mass protests, throughout history have come at a time when enough of the population has been affected by policies of the rulers and elite. They have often been met with brutal, efficient crackdown by the guardians of the elite, be they local police, militias, national militaries, or even another nation’s military forces.
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