· April, 2008

Stories about Human Rights from April, 2008

Thailand: Boycott Tesco Lotus campaign

  30 April 2008

British company Tesco Lotus has sued three Thai journalists in just one month for writing about the “aggressive” operations of the global retailer in Thailand. As a protest, Fable supports a worldwide boycott campaign of Tesco Lotus.

Ethiopia: Teddy Afro denied bail

  30 April 2008

Nazret links to an article about the Ethiopian musician Teddy Afro: “The Federal High Court of Ethiopia has this morning denied bail for the release of Tewodros Kassahun (Teddy Afro). The 30-year-old sensational singer, who is accused of a hit and run homicide, will spend the duration of his trial...

Cuba: Passing Sentence

  30 April 2008

Child of the Revolution, Uncommon Sense and Ninety miles away…in another country all comment on Raul Castro's decision “to commute most death sentences to 30 years to life in prison.”

Bahamas: Abuse of Power

  30 April 2008

In the Bahamas, Womanish Words blogs about an environmental fundraiser gone awry: “The Royal Bahamian Police Force needs to know that we the new and awakened public doesn’t sit by silently anymore when bad cops are allowed to run rampant, to violate our human rights in raids like this one.”

Zimbabwe: Truth and Justice Coalition

  28 April 2008

There is Truth and Justice Coalition in Zimbabwe: “The Institute for a Democratic Alternative for Zimbabwe (IDAZIM) has initiated, with full support from civil society, labour and legal organizations, the Truth and Justice Coalition on Zimbabwe. Its objectives are to identify perpetrators and seek legal redress for the victims of...

Uganda: Mwenda, 3 others arrested in newspaper raid

  28 April 2008

(UPDATE: Andrew Mwenda has been freed on bond, see his letter to supporters on the TED blog.) Bloggers and independent media outlets in Uganda are reporting that three journalists and a photographer at The Independent, an opposition newspaper based in Kampala, have been arrested and that the paper's offices have...

Southeast Asia: Rice and food price crisis

  28 April 2008

The Southeast Asian region, home to several emerging and developing economies, is also struggling to cope with the global food price crisis. Bloggers discuss the impact of the crisis in the region.

Hong Kong: Shame

  28 April 2008

Danish artist Jens Galschiot has been denied for entering Hong Kong as he is planning to attend a peaceful demonstration during the Olympic Torch relay. Galschiot has made a sculpture called “pillar of shame” after the June 4 incident. Kursk criticized that the HK government added one more shame to...

Japan: Nagano red for Olympic torch relay

  28 April 2008

The Japanese leg of the Olympic torch relay came to an end on Saturday without serious incident, but many Japanese bloggers who attended the event were left with lasting -- and often bitter -- impressions. With all the red flags, many bloggers pointed out how Nagano, for one day, seemed to transform into China.