Nonviolent action around the world – 17 November 2009 (Part 2)
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By: Human Rights Watch, November 16, 2009
Uzbek authorities should immediately release the human rights defender and farmers’ rights activist Ganikhon Mamatkhanov, who is facing trial on politically motivated charges, Human Rights Watch said today. Mamatkhanov has regularly provided commentary on the human rights situation in Ferghana, in eastern Uzbekistan, to Radio Ozodlik, the Uzbek branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).
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Azerbaijan: Reaction to lack of media attention on Azerbaijan bloggers’ trial
By: Dodka, Global Voices Online, November 15, 2009
Following last week’s sentence on two video bloggers in Azerbaijan, some blogs in neighboring Georgia have posted critical entries condemning the arrest, trial and imprisonment of Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli. This also extends to the relative lack of coverage on the case in the local mainstream media as Dv0rsky notes angrily.
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Council of Europe head ‘very concerned’about human rights in Azerbaijan
By: Eurasianet, November 14, 2009
A Baku court this week sentenced two young Azerbaijani bloggers, Adnan Hajizada and Emin Milli, to two and 2 1/2 years in prison on hooliganism charges, in a case that has brought international attention to declining media freedoms in the oil-rich South Caucasus state. Western governments and international organizations like the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have strongly condemned the case against Milli and Hajizada.
Read full article…
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EAST ASIA
Barack Obama criticises internet censorship at meeting in China
By: Tania Branigan, The Guardian, November 16, 2009 Barack Obama criticised internet censorship as he spoke to students in Shanghai today and praised freedom of expression and political participation. The US president told the gathering of 400 young people that his country regarded such liberties as universal values. But he stopped short of direct reference to human rights abuses in China, as some activists had urged. Watch the video… China detains dissidents ahead of US visit Open letter to President Obama by Chinese political dissident The 5th Chinese blogger conference: Micropower and a broader world Human rights situation inside Tibet |
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SOUTHEAST ASIA
Burma: Suu Kyi requests talks with junta chief
By: F. Wade and T. Soe, DVB, November 16, 2009 Detained Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has requested a rare meeting with the leader of the country’s ruling junta, Than Shwe, in a letter sent last week to the capital Naypyidaw. It is the second letter in a month that Suu Kyi has sent to Than Shwe, who has presided over the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) since 1992. Read full article… Burma: Junta continues suppressing freedom of expression Burma: Monks boycott junta chief in Sri Lanka Activists urge halt to Burma tourism |
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OCEANIA
Global lobby for West Papua takes off
By: Ilya Gridneff, The Age, November 13, 2009 Three Papua New Guinea politicians have joined an international campaign to support West Papuans persecuted by Indonesian authorities. The PNG MPs reignited the controversial issue on Friday one week before the Indonesian government starts repatriating up to 700 West Papuans who live in PNG’s capital Port Moresby or towns along the shared border. Read full article… Human rights group questions over extrajudicial killing of Papuan
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AFRICA
Gabonese government suspends multiple publications
By: Ricci Shryock, VOA, November 16, 2009 Gabon’s National Communications Council has suspended at least six publications for what it says are ethical violations of journalism. Press freedom groups in West Africa and the United States have condemned the Gabon council’s actions. Less than three months after the election of president Ali Bongo, the government-controlled media-monitoring body in Gabon has suspended six private newspapers. Read full article… Nigeria: Concern, anger over new anti-media bill Zimbabwe: Lawyers protest increasing state intimidation |
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New Greenpeace chief has fought apartheid, poverty
By: Donna Bryson, News9, November 16, 2009 An African took over as director of Greenpeace Monday, bringing experience honed as a teenage opponent of white rule in South Africa and a network of powerful contacts to the battle against global warming. Greenpeace was founded 38 years ago by activists who wanted to stop the United States from conducting underground nuclear tests in a region off Alaska that harbored endangered sea otters… Read full article… International PEN marks Day of the Imprisoned Writer World finally agrees to ambitious anti-corruption protocol A broader network for digital activism Media relations and good practices in awareness-raising campaigns Nonviolent struggle and religious pacifism not wed together |
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Honduras: “L’attitude de certains médias lors du coup d’État a jeté le discrédit sur l’ensemble de la profession”
By: RSF, November 13, 2009 Geovanny Domínguez, directeur de la rédaction du quotidien Diario Tiempo à Tegucigalpa, a accordé un entretien à Reporters sans frontières au cours d’une mission effectuée au Honduras du 1er au 7 novembre 2009, rassemblant au total sept organisations internationales de défense de la liberté de la presse. Cette initiative commune donnera lieu à la publication d’un rapport, le 23 novembre prochain. Watch the video… Columbia: Bailaron “Thriller” para protestar en Universidad Tecnólogica de Pereira Espacios culturales que acomodan el activismo y refuerzan el compromiso dentro de sus comunidades |
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People Power and Unarmed Resistance (Review)
By: Stellan Vinthagen, Resistance Studies, November 15, 2009 Transnational solidarity can be crucial for movements of nonviolent struggle- in helping them emerge, in accessing contacts and resources, and in applying leverage on a regime or corporation. However, some “transnational advocacy networks” have been criticised for “taking over” from local organisers and ultimately having a disempowering impact. Read full article… Iranian memoir by freed prisoner Haleh Esfandiari Ten tactics is translated into ten languages |
By: Suzanne Scholte and Carlos Wilson, U.S. Western Sahara Foundation, November 13, 2009
The following letter has been transmitted to the Moroccan Embassy calling for the release of Aminatou Haidar and other Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders and calling for the Moroccan government to end its violence against the Sahrawi people and allow their disagreements with them to be resolved peacefully and justly in conformance with international law. The text of the letter follows below.
Your Excellency,
We are writing on behalf of the U.S.- Western Sahara Foundation, a bipartisan group of American citizens, over concern over the recent arrest and detention of Aminatou Haidar in the Laayoune Airport. Ms. Haidar was recently visiting the United States to receive the Civil Courage Prize from the Train Foundation in recognition of her peaceful advocacy for human rights for the Sahrawi people. As you know, she also won the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award last year. These United States based organizations recognize and applaud her peaceful, non-violent advocacy work. While we appreciate the long-standing friendship the Kingdom of Morocco enjoys with the United States, we cannot ignore the violations being committed against the Sahrawi people by the Kingdom of Morocco. We urge you to call upon your government to immediately release this brave and noble woman as well as the Sahrawi human rights defenders: Brahim Dahane; Ali Salem Tamek, Ahmad Anasiri, Ms. Dagja Lachgar, Yahdih Ettarrouzi, Saleh Lebayhi, and Rachid Sghayar. Please call upon your government to end their violence against the Sahrawi people and allow your disagreements with them to be resolved peacefully and justly in conformance with international law.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Scholte
Chairman
U.S.-WS Foundation U.S.-WS Foundation