Stories about Human Rights from February, 2011
Egypt: Revolution's Not Over, Army Attacks Protestors
One month after a revolution began to demand political reform, Cairo's Tahrir Square was again the scene for bloody violence as the Egyptian army moved to quash continued protests for civilian rule. Two weeks since the ouster of dictator Hosni Mubarak, Egypt remains grappled in a tug of war between protestor demands for immediate democratic reform and a potent military refusing to cede power.
Bahrain: Day of Mourning Observed
Friday (Feb 25) was officially announced as a 'Day of Mourning' for all the martyrs who have fallen since Bahrain's Day of Wrath protests, which started on February 14th 2011. Netizens reflect on the day.
Haiti: Challenges & Hopes
Kevin Fortuna at Concern Blogs visits Haiti and writes about his experience.
Yemen: “Our blood is not cheap” (Videos)
Tens of thousands of protesters across Yemen rallied for and against President Ali Abdullah Saleh after Friday prayers. Two protesters were shot dead in Yemen's second-largest city Aden on Friday, February 25, in what appears to be confrontations between anti-Saleh groups and police. At least 34 others have been wounded, mostly by live gunfire.
Cuba: Marking Zapata's Anniversary
Diaspora blogger El Cafe Cubano posts photos from a march in honour of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, while Uncommon Sense reports that “Cuban independent journalist and activist Guillermo Fariñas…said the government's crackdown this week has only elevated Zapata's status in Cuba”; Havana Times says that the first anniversary of his death...
Côte d'Ivoire: The Difficult Legacy of Houphouët-Boigny
To better understand the origins of the current political crisis in Côte d'Ivoire, it is necessary to place recent events in their post-colonial context. Anna Gueye traces the history of the Ivorian political crisis and the reactions of bloggers in the face of the latest news.
Libya: Refugees Leave as Humanitarian Aid and Journalists Trickle in
As Libyan dictator Muammer Al Gaddafi continues to cling to power, killing protesters who are standing up against him in the process in the most brutal and horrendous crackdown to date, the influx of refugees trying to escape from Libya continues to grow. And as the death tolls rise, aid convoys and journalists continue to trickle into the country.
Iran: Opposition leader sent a message in You Tube
Mehdi Karroubi, one of leading opposition leaders, sent a message on You Tube just before being placed under house arrest. He said the opposition leaders are faithful to their promises.
Cameroon: Photos of Army Brutality
The Chia Report has published some of the first pictures to be published by any International media depicting the brutalization of peaceful protesters by forces of Biya's Special Intervention Brigade in Cameroon.
Macedonia: Reactions to Government’s Anti-Abortion Campaign
The Macedonian government’s campaign for “explaining the consequences of abortion,” re-started during the winter holidays, incited reactions by bloggers and civil society organizations, which mainly interpret it as an attempt to take Macedonia back to the Middle Ages.
Mexico: Reports of Growing Violence Against Human Rights Activists in Chihuahua
Hemispheric Brief reports that, “A recent uptick in violence against human rights defenders in the state of Chihuahua continues to be met with impunity and silence by the Mexican government.”
Turks & Caicos: The Courage to Protest
The tcipost wonders if protests in the Bahamas might serve to “wake the people of Turks and Caicos up”.
Cuba: Zapata Vive
“The fact that Zapata’s death came about through starvation is one more piece of the hunger we have endured for over half a century”: Crossing the Barbed Wire explains why Orlando Zapata Tamayo's death “was not in vain”.
Libya: “The Point of No Return”
The last gasps of Muammar Al Gaddafi could be counted in hours. But after the Libyan leader recently threatened to kill protesters and members of the military defying his regime, the hours will be spent nervously. In areas of the country no longer under Gaddafi control, people are beginning to document human rights abuses.
Yemen: At the Boiling Point? (Video)
President Saleh of Yemen has begun offering concessions to opposition protesters, ordering security forces to protect demonstrators. But most people don't appear ready to take the ruler at his word. Meanwhile, large anti-government protests continue to take place. The government's goodwill could be tested in a planned pro-government march on the nation's capital on Friday.
Tanzania/Tunisia: Common thread between Tanzania and Tunisia
Kate discusses similarities between Tanzania and Tunisia: “These two countries, relatively unknown for large scale unrest, are plagued by a hideous manifestation of totalitarianism, the use of state security organs, notably the police and the so called anti-riot units, to suppress what would be considered perfectly understandable responses to unemployment...
Cameroon: Video: Police Brutality
A video showing police brutality in Cameroon following nation-wide anti-government protests calling for President Paul Biya to step down.
Serbia: Reactions to the Story of Serbian Mercenaries in Libya
According to some sources, Serbian military pilots took part in the bombings of the Libyan protesters. Sasa Milosevic translates a few Serbian netizens' reactions to this allegation.
Libya: Obama Speaks, Tweeps Heckle
United States President Barack Obama broke his silence on Libya in a speech at the White House on Wednesday, but his words did little to satisfy the listening masses on Twitter who for the most heckled the president in tweets throughout the speech.
Poland: Prosecuted Blogger Hopes For a Different Verdict
Jakub Górnicki continues to report on the case of Łukasz Kasprowicz, a Polish blogger who was sued for defamation by a local official and is now banned from blogging by the court.
Libya: Feeling the Iron Fist in Tripoli (Videos)
What is happening in Tripoli? Afraid of levels of violence Muammar Al Gaddafi will inflict on the city while clinging to power, Libyans -- and the rest of the world -- want to know. With the city virtually closed to foreign media, videos, photos and Twitter tells us all we know.
