Europe’s Belarus failure

September 18th, 2012

The EU might be able to help Belarus democratise, but it can’t solve its problems for them. Andrei Yahorau and Alena Zuikova examine a nuanced relationship

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“Welcome to Myanmar, Mr BBC”

August 12th, 2012

In 2007, Fergal Keane reported for Index on the near impossibility of working as a reporter in Burma. Returning in 2012, he found much had changed. But though the military is slowly loosening its grip, restrictions remain
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Burma: Aung San Suu Kyi returns to Europe for first time in 24 years

June 14th, 2012

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi arrived in Geneva today for the start of a 17-day tour of Europe, visiting the continent for the first time in 24 years. The politician, who returned to the southeast Asian country in 1988 and has led its pro-democracy movement, was restricted from leaving Burma for her speaking out against the country’s brutal military regime. During her trip, Suu Kyi will accept the Nobel Peace Prize she won in 1991, but could not collect at the time because of fears of being prevented from re-entering Burma. The activist was this year elected to the country’s Parliament.  

Burma’s media workers dare to dream of free expression

April 4th, 2012

The election of Aung San Suu Kyi was another step in Burma’s advance to democracy. But journalists are aware that the small gains made by the media could be taken back. Tom Fawthrop reports
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Tunisian elections: media reform key to democracy

October 24th, 2011

Tunisians flocked to voting stations yesterday in the country’s first-ever free elections, but only the cultivation of an independent media will safeguard democracy and free expression, writes Rohan Jayasekera 

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Vietnam: BBC and Facebook partially blocked

June 25th, 2010

The BBC and Facebook websites have been partially blocked. The news comes just a month after the authorities began installing tracking software on publicly accessible computers in Vietnam. The software is designed to track user’s activity for 30 days. Local reports suggest that the software has been installed to monitor the number of people accessing digital content discussing democracy, justice, peace and freedom, issues which are counter to the political objectives of the communist state. Internet users in Ho Chi Minh City told the Asia News agency that the government was attempting to block all “radical” sites.

Albania: TV channel fined for exposing minister’s sex demands

June 25th, 2010

A Tirana court has ordered Albania’s Top Channel TV to pay €400,000 compensation to Ylli Pango, the former Minister of Culture, Tourism, Youth and Sport after broadcasting hidden camera footage of him, asking a female job applicant to remove her clothes. Investigative programme, Fiks-Tarif, had sent undercover reporters to investigate allegations that, whilst in office, Pango was offering employment in return for sexual favours. When giving judgement, the court said they found in favour of Pango because the recordings had been obtained illegally.

Syria: Human rights activist jailed for three years

June 25th, 2010

Lawyer and human rights activist Muhannad al-Hassani was sentenced to three years in prison by the Damascus Criminal Court on Wednesday 23 June. Having publicly called for the immediate release of political prisoners and condemned their unfair trials, al-Hassani was convicted of “weakening national sentiment” and “conveying within Syria false news that could debilitate the morale of the nation”. In May 2010, al-Hassani was the winner of the prestigious Martin Ennals Award in recognition of his human rights work. An appeal is being considered.