Posts Tagged ‘democracy’
June 16th, 2010
On 13 June, Cairo security forces
arrested 32 demonstrators, angry at alleged police involvement in the death of activist Khaled Mohammed Said. Clashes broke out outside the Egyptian Interior Ministry, where around 200 protestors gathered to argue that Said, who was outspoken about police corruption, had been tortured to death by undercover officers. Human Rights Organisations, including
Amnesty International, have expressed concern at Said’s death. However the police deny any involvement, claiming that he died of a drug overdose, consumed prior to their arrival.
June 16th, 2010
The United States’ sanctions against
Belarus have been extended for one year in the hope of pushing for democratic reform. A White House spokesman reported that the executive order stood in opposition to corruption, censorship and human rights abuses. Despite acknowledging the 2008 release of three political prisoners, the report emphasised that
“serious challenges remain”.
June 2nd, 2010
The
Sudanese government has prevented
three opposition activists from leaving the country, they were due order to attend a Kampala conference organised by the International Criminal Court. The passports of Miriam Al-Mahdi, Mahmoud Saleh and Al-Bukhari Aljaali were confiscated by security forces. The
International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Sudanese President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir in 1998, following allegations of genocide during the country’s bitter civil war.
April 16th, 2010
Web censorship and a compliant media are allowing the Thai government to turn the country into a police state, says Giles Ji Ungpakorn
(more…)
February 25th, 2010
The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has welcomed the release of Chandana Sirimalwatte, editor of the opposition Sinhala newspaper Lanka, on February 16 after 18 days in detention without charge. Lanka is aligned with a political party that had strongly backed the rival candidate.
Sirimalwatte was taken into custody on January 29, two days after President Mahinda Rajapaksa was declared
re-elected to a second term in office. According to IFJ sources, Sirimalwatte’s unconditional release was ordered by a magistrate’s court after the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Sri Lankan police failed to present charges against him.
The IFJ meanwhile continues to be concerned for the welfare of
Prageeth Eknaligoda, a senior journalist and political commentator who has been missing since January 24.
February 15th, 2010
Burma’s junta has released the co-founder of the National League for Democracy,
Tin Oo after nearly seven years in detention. Tin, who established the League with Aung San Suu Kyi, has been granted freedom shortly before a UN envoy is due to visit Burma to evaluate the regime’s progress on human rights. His release has prompted hopes that Aung San Suu Kyi will also be free.
February 11th, 2010
Sri Lanka’s
President Mahinda Rajapaksa dissolved parliament on Tuesday, and announced general elections as the opposition called for nationwide protests over the arrest of defeated presidential candidate
General Sarath Fonseka, the former army chief. Fonseka was arrested on Monday night, Rajapaksa won the presidential poll on January 26 amid opposition claims of widespread electoral fraud. Yesterday, government supporters clashed with thousands of opposition protesters over the arrest. The opposition accused the President of ordering Fonseca’s arrest on fabricated coup charges to prevent a further challenge from him in parliamentary polls. According to the Civil Rights Movement (CRM), demonstrators were physically attacked by government supporters who were prepared with sticks and large stones.
Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary-General, has expressed concern over the arrest, as has the
US. “Democracy today in Sri Lanka is nonexistent,” said
Ravi Rajakarunanayake, a member of Parliament from an opposition party that had backed General Fonseka. “It is very tense here today.”
The Free Media Movement (FMM) and other
IFEX members report that Sri Lankan journalists continues to be arrested and intimidated as part of a post-election crackdown. The authorities have detained and questioned many journalists, blocked websites and attempted to expel a foreign journalist, fostering a climate of fear.
Five Sri Lankan media organisations have expressed concerns about attacks on the media and this week two journalists from the MTV television network were assaulted.
February 9th, 2010
A court in Myanmar is scheduled to announce a verdict on imprisoned dissident
Nyi Nyi Aung (Kyaw Zaw Lwin) on Wednesday. Aung spent years campaigning for Burmese democracy in exile before obtaining American citizenship. Upon a return visit, he was imprisoned and is charged with forgery, possession of undeclared foreign currency and failure to renounce his Myanmar citizenship. In December, 53 members of Congress sent a letter to Myanmar’s leader, Than Shwe, seeking Aung’s immediate release and calling his detention and trial “inconsistent with both Burmese and international law.”
Aung could face 12 years in prison. “Activists are frustrated by the lack of noise from the U.S. government when he is a U.S. citizen,” said Elaine Pearson, the deputy Asia director at
Human Rights Watch.
