· April, 2012

Stories about Protest from April, 2012

Russia: Gun Rights Advocates Rally Around Tula Hero

RuNet Echo

Russian gun ownership laws are long and restrictive. In early April, when a small-scale farmer in Tula used a kitchen knife to kill three armed robbers that threatened him and his family, the incident sparked a new dialogue about gun rights and self-defense in Russia.

30 April 2012

Portugal: Eviction Prior to Freedom Day Awakens Squatting Movement

As the pent-up frustrations of citizens in Portugal keep growing a year since the international “bailout” of the country's public debt, the annual celebration of Freedom Day on April 25 marking the Carnation Revolution that ended a 41-year dictatorship in 1974, gained renewed momentum.

30 April 2012

Malaysia: Thousands Joined Bersih 3.0 Protest

Thousands of Malaysians gathered in the streets in support of Bersih 3.0, a campaign for electoral reforms. But police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowd. Hundreds were arrested. Netizens share their Bersih stories

30 April 2012

Tunisia: Clashes Over Future of State Television

On April 25 a sit-in outside the offices of Tunisia's state television network that had lasted almost eight weeks came to an end. Protestors demanded the “cleansing” of the network of Ben Ali supporters, and also opposed suggestions of its privatisation.

29 April 2012

Bahrain: Where is Abdulhadi Alkhawaja?

For some days there has been no news of imprisoned Bahraini human rights activist Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, who has been on hunger strike since February 8. It is feared that Alkhawaja is either being force-fed or is in a critical state.

28 April 2012

Philippines: Counterinsurgency Primer

Karapatan, an alliance working for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines, uploaded a PDF copy of its comic book entitled Oplan Bayanihan for Beginners. The book...

28 April 2012

Malaysia: Rare Earth Processing Plant Creates Backlash

An Australian mining company has established a processing plant in Kuantan, Malaysia. But many Malaysians are incensed that this plant was constructed without consulting the residents. Netizens debate whether the government should stop the operations of the rare earth processing plant

27 April 2012

Tunisia: Uproar at Kiss of President's Hand

On April 26 a video featuring two men kissing the hand of interim Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki made a buzz on the web. Kissing the hand of the president is seen as a relic of the rule of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and against the values of post-uprising Tunisia.

27 April 2012

South Africa: Urban Road E-Tolling Looms Despite Public Resistance

Despite public outcry, legal challenges and protest actions from civic organisations and labour unions, urban road e-tolling is set to go ahead in Gauteng province in South Africa. This is a roundup of what South African netizens are saying about the cashless payment system for road operators.

26 April 2012

Chile: Reasons to Protest Again

On April 25, 2012, students took over the streets again to protest for an inclusive and good quality public education after several months of "silence". Here we share some of the reasons they gave on Twitter for renewing their protests.

26 April 2012

Puerto Rico: Student Detained After Performance Deemed “Indecent”

Charlene Jane González de Jesús, a student at the University of Puerto Rico, was detained by state police last Thursday, April 19 at the institution's Río Piedras campus after taking her top off in public as part of a performance art piece in protest of gender inequality. The case has ignited intense debate on blogs and social media networks.

25 April 2012

Cuba: Resorting to Hunger Strike

Cuban netizens, primarily from the diaspora, are once again blogging about instances of police abuse in the country and how the island's justice system routinely makes hunger-strikers out of prisoners of conscience.

25 April 2012