· October, 2010

Stories about Freedom of Speech from October, 2010

Angola: Journalist Murdered: Repression or urban violence?

  21 October 2010

On the 5th of September, journalist Albert Graves Chakussanga lost his life at the hands of strangers who in cold blood shot him down inside his house, in the neighbourhood of Viana in Luanda. According to Reporters without Borders, Chukassanga was killed from behind with a gun equipped with a silencer....

Africa: Journalists Still Struggling for Press Freedom.

  21 October 2010

Reporters Without Borders published the Press Freedom Index today (10/20/2010). The section of the report on Africa mentions that Eritrea is last for the 4th consecutive year and that amongst the French-speaking African nations, Rwanda, DR of Congo, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire and Madagascar show worrisome signs for press freedom. [fr]

Cuba: Plea for Dr. Biscet

  20 October 2010

The daughter of political prisoner Oscar Biscet pens a letter to President Obama; Blog For Cuba republishes it here, while Uncommon Sense says: “This is the moment for friends of Cuban liberty to speak up and act on behalf of Dr. Biscet and other Cubans imprisoned because of their faith...

China: Woser's acceptance speech for the Courage in Journalism Award

  20 October 2010

Tibetan writer and blogger Woser has been awarded by the International Women's Media Foundation for its Courage in Journalism Award. Since she is under monitored and cannot travel outside the country to receive the award, she posted her acceptance speech in her blog (English version translated by A.E Clark).

Egypt: Bad Bad Facebook

  20 October 2010

A TV show discussing Facebook on the Egyptian state-run television channel soon became the source for rumours, mockery, and loads of fun on blogs and Twitter. Tarek Amr has more in this round up of reactions from Egyptian netizens.

China: 50 Cent Party Roams on Internet

  20 October 2010

Lee Chi-Leung from interlocals.net translated an investigative report written by Chang Lei on the history of government hired online commentators, the so-called 50 Cent Party, in China.

Cuba: On Exile

  19 October 2010

“When, at the turn of the year, the prisons are emptied of political prisoners, for a time they’ll lose the stigma of being human rights violators…they are trying to decrease the size and strength of the dissidence”: Iván's File Cabinet suggests that “the proposal to leave Cuba could be expanded...

Cuba: Incomplete

  19 October 2010

“The Cuban Catholic Church reported over the weekend that the ‘process to release the 52 prisoners is completed’, says Uncommon Sense, who adds: “But 13 of those prisoners remain in jail, including 12 who repeatedly have insisted they will not accept release if it means having to take forced exile…”

Myanmar: Advocacy video guide

  19 October 2010

The Witness Blog provides a Burmese version of their training videos that gives human rights activists several tips and techniques on how to document and advance their advocacies.

Brazil: Magazine censored by opposition party

  19 October 2010

The magazine Revista do Brasil, produced by the Rede Brasil Atual, has been censored by the opposition party, PSDB and its candidate, José Serra, for allegedly campaigning in favour of rival candidate Dilma Rousseff, informs [pt] Conceição Oliveira, in her blog, Maria Frô. Rede released [pt] a note repudiating the opposition's...

China: Declaration on Liu Xiaobo's award of Nobel Peace Prize

  17 October 2010

Bullogger contains a declaration on Liu Xiaobo's award of Nobel Peace Prize, signed by hundreds of intellectuals, writers, journalists, lawyers and other citizens, including Xu Youyu and Cui Weiping. It is available in Chinese, English, French and Japanese.

Venezuela: University Students Protest Budget Cuts

  15 October 2010

University students protested budget cuts in Caracas on October 14. Alejandro Tarrae reports on his blog [es] that he saw hundreds of Police and National Guard troops; he realized why so many security forces where in place when he later saw the multitude of students and professors protesting on the...

China: More reactions to a first Nobel Prize

  13 October 2010

Further thoughts on China's first Nobel laureate, Liu Xiaobo, who remains in prison and whose wife is now under house arrest: what the award means for China, its relationship with the rest of the world, and the country's future political game. See also photos of Liu's supporters.