Stories about Human Rights from July, 2008
Czech Republic: Fear of the Olympic China
The Czech Daily Word explains why “Czech athletes are a little afraid to go to China.”
Bosnia & Herzegovina: 7 Serbs Convicted
Srebrenica Genocide Blog reports on the sentencing of “Milenko Trifunović, Brano Džinić, and Aleksandar Radovanović to forty-two (42) years long-term imprisonment, the Accused Miloš Stupar, Slobodan Jakovljević, and Branislav Medan to forty (40) years long-term imprisonment, and the Accused Petar Mitrović to thirty-eight (38) years long-term imprisonment”: “All 7 Accused...
Serbia: Karadžić Update
An update on Radovan Karadžić – at East Ethnia.
Russia: Reaction to Captive Nations Speech
Former Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar comments on the negative Russian reactions to US president's George Bush parallel between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in a recent speech celebrating the Captive Nations’ week. Idel-Ural Kray presents an alternative view (RUS) of the matter.
Latvia, Russia: Views of European Court Ruling
Marginalia presents a Latvian view of the background to and case of Kononov vs. Latvia, which Latvia lost last week in the European Court of Human Rights, whereas Voices from Russia gives a Russian view of perceived Latvian motives for the original war crimes’ charges against Kononov.
Macedonia: New Law for “Preventive Surveillance”
Metamorphosis reviews Macedonian NGOs’ and bloggers’ negative response to “the recent changes in the Law on Criminal Procedure and the Law on Interception of Communications, allowing special investigative measures (surveillance).”
Egypt: A Man's Views on Sexual Harassment in Egypt
In a series of posts tackling sexual harassment in Egypt, Marwa Rakha sheds light on a male Egyptian blogger's interpretation of what is really happening on the ground. "The Sex Files," by blogger Wael Nawara presents a rather interesting perspective on sexual harassment in Egypt.
Mourning a sexually harassed Egypt – Part 2
Reuters published survey on sexual harassment in Egypt is still stirring angry responses from Egyptian bloggers. Marwa Rakha sheds light on more reactions in this post.
Haiti: Quest for Freedom
The Haitian Blogger publishes an article from the Haiti Action Committee Website that “expresses…the aspirations of many Haitian activists who are endeavoring to see Haiti regain its sovereignty and ability to be a self-sustaining, viable and thriving democracy.”
Cuba: Carnival Time
“It is a time to shrug off the slogans, the shortages and the frustrated expectations. Dancing is a magnificent way of forgetting. And so we will have a festival along the same perimeter where, fourteen years ago, Havanans demonstrated their discontent in a social explosion”: Yoani Sanchez looks beyond the...
Guyana: The Value of Life
“Human life in Guyana is treated with such scant regard”: Living Guyana is at a loss as to why.
South Korea: Riot Police Talk
Hyejin721 from Ohmynews! writes a report on a riot police officer's decision to leave the army: “I left the army to save my conscience!”
South Korea: Protest and Repression
CINA re-posts a detailed account of a peaceful protest against the government in last Saturday by an Amercian disapora in South Korea. The protest ended up in police repression and there is a call for international solidarity.
South Korea: Law and Order?
Jamie from Two Koreas highlights two recent incidents showing how the government intends to impose law and order by repressing the civil society and freedom of speech.
Cuba: July 26th
This past weekend, on July 26th, Cuba marked the 55th anniversary of the attack on the Moncada Barracks in Santiago that came to be recognised as the start of the Cuban Revolution. Bloggers react to President Raul Castro's much-anticipated speech at the event.
Afghanistan: Seeking Justice
Despite its reputation for a very conservative brand of Islam, Afghanistan is deeply torn. Before the recent decades of war, the country was more known for its mystical Sufism that attracted crowds of hippies and tourists than anything else; the Soviet War helped entrench a more fundamentalist brand of Islam...
Afghanistan: Violence in the Hazarajat, Protests in Kabul
Afghanistan is one of those countries where minority issues drive nearly everything. They form the basis for why President Hamid Karzai is “the best game in town,” but also why he should resign. They form the fundamental structure of the national government, with ethnic set-asides (Kuchis get 10 seats in...
China: Buying Up All Lawyers
Liu Xiaoyuan highlights and comments on a local report about a district government from Tongliao city in inner Mongolia's suppression of civic right movement by hiring all lawyers in the area to prevent the people from suing the government officials.
AIDS: XVII International Conference call for videos
The XVII International AIDS Conference will take place in Mexico City between August 3rd and the 8th, and Witness' THE HUB has a series of videos uploaded by community members and organizations reflecting diverse approaches to HIV-AIDS related issues. The innitiative is towards creating a repository of work, testimonies, video and photographs to be shared through their site before, during and after the conference.
Soviet History: The Afghan War
The Turkish Invasion writes at length about the Soviet Afghan War and posts pictures from the memorial in Kyiv. Window on Eurasia writes that Russian Afghan War vets “want Moscow to celebrate their war too.”
Czech Republic, China: Pre-Olympics Scandal
The Czech Daily Word reports on the problems in relationship between the Czech Republic and China on the eve of the Olympics.
