Stories about Human Rights from January, 2009
The plight of the Rohingya
The Rohingya have been called “trafficked victims”, “refugees”, “forced migrants” and “illegal migrants”. The Irrawaddy provides a comprehensive background to the situation of the Rohingya. This issue has involved Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh and even the United States.
Slovenia: Honoring Auschwitz Survivors
Dr. Filomena dedicates a post to her grandfather’s sister, an Auschwitz survivor: “She was not a Jew, she was not Roma, she was simply the sister of a man who would not bow to the territory-hungry aggressor who’d tried to make his Slovenian family deny its roots and turn its...
Poland: Racism, Bad Roads and Euro 2012
Writing about Euro 2012 and racism, the beatroot concludes: “There are some nasty little racists at Poland’s football stadia, but believe me, Poland’s roads are a lot bigger threat to the fabric of society – and international football tournaments – than those idiots.”
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Call for Justice
“Let the courts speak loudly on behalf of all the little children whose voices are silenced by these criminals”: Blogging from St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Abeni is all for throwing the book at sexual offenders.
Trinidad & Tobago, U.S.A.: Bye Bye Bush
Notes from Port of Spain has a few parting shots…um…thoughts on former President George W. Bush.
Cuba: Political Prisoners
Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense reports on the experience of some of Cuba's political prisoners because he believes that “it is a truth that one day will set them, and their country, free.”
Haiti, U.S.A.: Obama & Abortion
Haitian diaspora blogger Finian says: “This is where Obama loses my support. I believe abortion on demand is wrong.”
Iran:The first mixed football game draws punishment
The first mixed football (soccer) game — females vs. male teenagers — since the 1979 Islamic revolution led to punishment, as an Iranian football club said it had suspended three officials involved. Coralit,an Iranian blogger, says [fa] that some people filmed the match by their mobiles and these films were...
China and U.S: The Timing of Charter 08
Roland discusses about the timing of Charter 08, a joint statement for political reform signed by more than 300 intellectuals, in relation to the politics in the U.S to account for its impact.
Russia: Pro-Government Rallies
Window on Eurasia writes about “Moscow’s plan to organize pro-government demonstrations.”
Russia: More on Markelov and Baburova
More on the killings of Markelov and Baburova – at Sean's Russia Blog.
Russia: “Mourning Markelov”
Robert Amsterdam writes: “Russia was a safer place when Markelov was still alive, because at the very least, his advocacy was ultimately emblematic of moral outrage – seemingly our last defense.”
Russia: Anastasia Baburova's Blog
Excerpts from the blog of Anastasia Baburova, a 25-year-old journalist killed in Moscow last week, translated from Russian – at OpenDemocracy.net.
Russia: “Should People of Color Go to Russia?”
Moscow Through Brown Eyes wouldn't advise “a young person of color” to come to Russia for long-term study: “The world is large and there are many options. You shouldn't have to fear for your life every day.”
Poland: Obama, BBC and ‘CIA Prison’
The beatroot writes about a BBC reporter's failed attempt to find out whether Poles were “pleased with Obama” for his decision to shut down Guantanamo “and all rendition camps, one of which was in Poland.”
Poland: Katarzyna Hejna on Feminism
Katarzyna Hejna talks about feminism in Poland – at Polandian.
Latvia: Riga Riots Followup
A followup on the Riga riots: Free Speech Emergency in Latvia reports on “an informal movement of non-violent resistance, called The Penguins (Pingvini).”
Bulgaria: School Access for Disabled Kids
Maya's Corner translates excerpts from Mogilino, a Bulgarian-language blog, on how the “Bulgarian authorities deprive disabled children of education.”
United States: Nedjo Ikonic's Deportation Case
Kirk Johnson of Americans for Bosnia writes that “the ever-vigilant Daniel at Srebrenica Genocide Blog has passed along a disturbing story about a US District Judge who evidently doesn't think that Federal law–at least not the Genocide Accountability Act–is something he should be bothering with”: “In short–faced with Serb illegal...
Middle East, Balkans: Comparing the Conflicts
Marko Attila Hoare and Jasmin Ademovic discuss at Greater Surbiton whether “Israel today [is] like Serbia in the 1990s.”
Sri Lanka: Journalists Are Fleeing
In Mutiny reports that some of Sri Lanka’s top columnists and media personalities are fleeing from the country fearing for their lives.