· October, 2007

Stories about Human Rights from October, 2007

The War in Abkhazia – ‘Cyxymu’ Remembers

  20 October 2007

Blogger cyxymu - whose Russian-language blog is devoted to the “memories of Sukhumi, the war and the pain” - spent the second half of September marking the 14th anniversary of the storm of the Abkhaz capital, which dealt a final defeat to the Georgian forces in their war with Abkhazia. Lyndon Allin translates from some of cyxymu's entries, and reviews and comments on the others.

Latvia: Protest Rallies

  20 October 2007

All About Latvia writes about the rallies taking place in Riga and about the imminent end of the current government: “Foreigners here observed that to make Latvians come out in such large numbers, you have to really piss them off. And people are pissed.”

Taiwan: 2007 Taiwan Pride Parade

  19 October 2007

On October 13th, the fifth Taiwan Pride Parade took place in the eastern district of Taipei. Close to fifteen thousand people joined in this activity. The theme this year is “Rainbow Power.” Participants are divided into seven groups, wearing and holding seven different colors to form a huge rainbow on...

Japan: Starving in the Land of Plenty

  19 October 2007

The recent story of a man starving to death as a result of not being able to receive welfare assistance, made famous thanks to his having documented his last days in a diary, sparked many Japanese bloggers to reflect on the broader implications of their country's welfare policy. Read some of their thoughts on the issue in today's post.

Ukraine: Tragedy in Dnipropetrovsk

  18 October 2007

On Oct. 13, a gas explosion destroyed much of a 10-story apartment building in Dnipropetrovsk, killing at least 23 people (including seven children). LJ user didaio (Denis Davydov) has been at the site of the tragedy, blogging about it ever since it occurred.

Poland: Katyn

  17 October 2007

Kinuk writes that Katyń, a new film by Andrzej Wajda, wasn't as good as the famous director's other work: “Towards the end of the film, we see the efficient (if one can call mass murder efficient) and organised methods by which these 20,000 officers were killed. Over and over, men...

Serbia: Antifa vs Neo-Nazi in Novi Sad

  17 October 2007

Belgrade 2.0 has been covering the Oct. 7 “neonazi, clerofascist rally” and the “citizens counter-rally” in Novi Sad: preparations; a report and two videos; and a guest-blogger's report. Also, another report from Pustolovina: adventure in Serbian.

Ukraine: UPA's 65th Anniversary

  17 October 2007

Ukrainiana posts a comprehensive entry on the history and the 65th anniversary of “Ukraine’s underrecognized Insurgent Army” (UPA): “Attempts at re-educating and reconciling elderly people contrary to their beliefs should be abandoned. But revisiting Ukrainian history and recognizing, for future generations, the people and events misrepresented in Soviet textbooks makes...

Cuba: Press Freedom Index Ranking

  17 October 2007

Referring to the Reporters Without Borders annual index rating of the level of press freedom around the world, Uncommon Sense says: “Cuba's specific rating almost is irrelevant. What counts is the company it keeps at the bottom of RSF's rankings each year.”

Former Soviet Union: Pyotr Grigorenko's Centenary

  17 October 2007

Window on Eurasia writes about the “neglected centenary” of General Pyotr Grigorenko: “People like the late general are a rarity. Anyone who met him – and I was fortunate enough to do so – counts himself privileged. But even more, all those living in the post-Soviet states now are his...

Ukraine: Is Victimhood Profitable?

  16 October 2007

MoldovAnn takes a critical look at programs for “the so-called ‘children of Chornobyl'” and other Chernobyl-related aid efforts: “I do believe aid organizations want to help people have better lives. But when I hear them talking about ‘we’re going to support this community because it’s not too far from Kyiv...

Ukraine: Leninesque Bandera Monument

  16 October 2007

Foreign Notes reports: “Last weekend a statue of Ukrainian nationalist leader Stepan Bandera was unveiled in Lviv. Rather embarrassingly, some observers say the statue resembles those of Lenin, erected in many Ukrainian cities in the latter half of the last century.”

Iran:Mehrnoush Solouki in trouble

  16 October 2007

According [Fr]to freeSolouki, French-Iranian film director,Mehrnoush Solouki, is accused of making propaganda against Iranian government.Solouki came to Iran after receiving permission to make a documentary.She was arrested without being accused of any wrongdoing.