Stories about Protest from March, 2021
The price of dissent: Women and political activism in Vietnam
Women "should think that our fight is not only against dictatorship ... It is also a fight to free ourselves from our own ideological constraints, from the prejudice that we impose on ourselves."
Timeline of the second month of military coup and terror in Myanmar
Images and videos of the brutality unleashed by Myanmar's military are widely shared on social media. Despite the terror tactics, pro-democracy forces are fighting back.
Cancellation of conference on 50th anniversary of the Bangladesh War of Liberation sparks criticism
The organisers gave no reason for the cancellation, but some see it as a worrying sign of the erosion of intellectual freedom.
Pakistan bans TikTok for the second time
TikTok was blocked in Pakistan for 10 days in October 2020. Access was restored after the app's parent company ByteDance assured authorities it would bolster moderation.
Jordanians protest a year under a defense law with no gains, as COVID-19 cases spiral
Repeated government failures, shaky political managements of crises, compounded with the worsening pandemic-hit economy and draconian emergency laws drove people to protest across the kingdom.
Protests erupt in Bangladesh after writer arrested under the Digital Security Act dies in prison
Ahmed was arrested after he criticized the government's pandemic response on social media. He was charged with "tarnishing the image of the nation" and "creating hostility" -- all offenses under the DSA.
Kenya police turn to Twitter PR as the arrest of a blogger goes against public opinion
“Somehow, the [Directorate of Criminal Investigations] believes that PR, and specifically ‘live-tweeting,’ will change Kenyans' perception without bringing about the much needed reforms within the force.”
Myanmar's anti-coup protesters include DIY shields, women’s sarongs in their defensive arsenal
Myanmar's security forces have become more brutal in suppressing the anti-coup movement but protesters have devised creative and unusual tactics to survive and avoid the riot police.
Twitter could be fully blocked in Russia within the next month
Russian internet regulator Roskomnadzor says it is prepared to block Twitter completely if the platform continues to ignore its requests to take down content flagged as illegal.
An interview with a blogger who connects Myanmar and Hong Kong's dream for democracy
"Exchanges among activists could help reflect on the inadequacy of local protests and develop a wider horizon in understanding the significance of the pro-democracy movement in Asia."
Sunday's death toll rises to 71 in crackdown on anti-coup protesters in Myanmar
"These shooting[s] are totally unacceptable. They are not dispersing the protests. They are just murdering the people with violence."
Sri Lanka reverses decision to bury COVID-19 victims on remote island after protests
Iranaithivu islanders objected to the Sri Lankan government’s decision to allow the burial of COVID-19 victims, following the reversal of a ban on cremations that affected Muslim and Christian communities
‘This goes way beyond brutality': Myanmar coup and the military's violent suppression of democracy
Myanmar protesters are being killed for resisting the military government. As violence continues to worsen, many are appealing for urgent UN intervention.
‘Aurat March’ 2021 presents feminist healthcare manifesto in Pakistan
Saying that COVID-19 enabled a "Pandemic of Patriarchy," the marchers demanded the government increase the health budget to 5 per cent of GDP so that women may get better healthcare.
In the streets and online, Myanmar's citizens unite in creative opposition to the military junta
"The protests have also been highly inclusive, welcoming people representing a diversity of professions and identities, including people from a range of religious faiths and from the LGBTQ community."
Jamaica's first vaccination day brings optimism, though COVID-19 numbers continue to soar
"As more people get vaccinated, share their experiences, and the effects of fewer [...] severe cases of disease are documented, more people who are currently hesitant about [vaccination] will become willing."
Online rape threats connect Lebanese activist to ‘thousands of other women’ facing abuse
Maya El-Ammar: "Thanks to our experiences with gender-based violence in the offline world, we have rationalized the reality that our virtual world would naturally mirror our off-screen existence."
Baloch protests in Iran underscore repression against the ethnic minority
Sandwiched between borders of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, the Baloch population is a disenfranchised minority relegated to the fringes of society, provided little economic opportunity, and systematically targeted by state violence.
Scenes from Myanmar’s deadliest week as coup enters second month
"They are so determined to see the death of the military dictatorship, there is simply no way their movement can die."
On International Women's Day, Trinidad & Tobago citizens #ChooseToChallenge gender-based violence
In the wake of two recent high-profile murders, Trinbagonians advocated for tangible steps to be taken to protect women.
Coup and resistance in Myanmar: A timeline of the first month under the 2021 military junta
From the coup to violent crackdowns and arrests, February 202a was a month of turmoil in Myanmar. But the people are fighting back.
