· June, 2012

Stories about Human Rights from June, 2012

Sudan: Unshackling the Sudanese Revolution

  24 June 2012

Unlike other countries in the region, Sudan is grossly underreported, and this was ever so evident during Friday and Saturday’s street demonstrations. The Sudanese government keeps a tight grip on local media and bans journalists from reporting on issues of human rights and corruption.

Greece: Immigrant Knifed on Election Night

  22 June 2012

Violence against immigrants has been steadily mounting in Athens since last year's spate of attacks, especially before the recent elections which saw the extreme right Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn) party gaining 18 seats in parliament. A video surreptitiously filmed in an Athens subway station on election night, June 17, and captioned in English, fleetingly shows...

China: Space Missions or Social Development?

  22 June 2012

On June 16, China successfully launched its Shenzhou-9 capsule into space. Some netizens have criticized the government's excessive spending on a space mission whilst basic social needs are still lacking in many parts of the country.

Bolivia: “We want a democracy of participation”

  21 June 2012

Peter Lackowski from Upside Down World interviewed Oscar Olivera, “an activist, thinker, and writer based in Cochabamba, Bolivia. He was a leader during the uprising in 2000 in Cochabamba in which the people of the city threw out Bechtel, the multinational corporation that had privatized all the water in the...

Ai Weiwei's lawyer was missing as the tax hearing approaches

  21 June 2012

Upon the hearing of the Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei’s tax case hearing on Wednesday, Ai told the Guardian that he was warned by the police to stay away from the court. Ai also said his legal consultant, Liu Xiaoyuan, has been unreachable since he was told to meet state...

Nepal: Justice For Amar Bahadur Bam

  20 June 2012

Nepali worker Amar Bahadur Bam was wrongly accused and convicted for a crime in Dubai in 2003 and was tortured to give a false confession. He is currently on a death row and his family had no knowledge of him for years. Save Amar Bahadur is a Facebook campaign which...

Trinidad & Tobago: Speaking Out Against Sexual Abuse

  19 June 2012

The case of a 12-year old girl, who recently gave birth to her stepfather's child in Guyana, gets Outlish talking about feminism, education and the everyday reality of women in the Caribbean, while journalist and blogger Lisa Allen-Agostini says it is time to speak out about child sexual abuse.

Cuba: Two Protests, Many Arrests

  19 June 2012

The Ladies in White (Las Damas de Blanco) are again top of mind with Cuban diaspora bloggers. As one of the oldest and most respected opposition entities on the island, their peaceful protests - and regular arrests by state security forces - continue to attract attention. The most recent confrontation happened this past weekend as members of the group attempted to carry out two protests in Havana.

Togo: Violent Police Clash With ‘Save Togo’ Protesters

  19 June 2012

A peaceful march by the 'Save Togo' collective on June 12 degenerated into a stand off with security forces and around 120 injuries were recorded. Amongst other things, the protesters are calling for the implementation of recommendations relating to torture and wide ranging constitutional change. Other demonstrations are scheduled for the coming week.

Colombia: 72-year-old Man Demands A Decent Life

  18 June 2012

Via Facebook, Arlovich Correa [es] shares the story of a 72-year-old Colombian man who decided to climb to the top of an antenna, putting his life in danger, to demand a pension and better quality of life. Correa expresses his indignation at the people who walked by and told the...

Togo: Protests for Human Rights Repressed with Violence

  18 June 2012

The Association “Collectif Sauvons le Togo (Save Togo) ” published images and videos  of violence following marching protests [fr] for Human Rights and Democracy in Lome, Capital City of Togo on June 12 and 13. Hundred of protesters were injured [fr] and dozens were arrested [fr].

Understanding the Violence in Western Myanmar

  16 June 2012

Dozens dead, more than two thousand houses burned down, and thirty thousand residents have been displaced by the communal violence in Rakhine State, west of Myanmar. Who are responsible for these deaths? How was the internet used to spread hate and racism? What are the views of ordinary citizens on this very complicated issue?

India: Activist Facing Arrest For Exposing Church Miracle

  15 June 2012

Sasi at Random Thoughts reports that Sanal Edamuruku, the President of the Indian Rationalist Association, is facing arrest for proclaiming that the “dripping cross” outside Vile Parle’s Velankanni church is not a miracle, but the result of a natural action. A petition is online to call for dropping the complaints...