· April, 2008

Stories about Protest from April, 2008

Hong Kong: Shame

  28 April 2008

Danish artist Jens Galschiot has been denied for entering Hong Kong as he is planning to attend a peaceful demonstration during the Olympic Torch relay. Galschiot has made a sculpture called “pillar of shame” after the June 4 incident. Kursk criticized that the HK government added one more shame to...

Japan: Nagano red for Olympic torch relay

  28 April 2008

The Japanese leg of the Olympic torch relay came to an end on Saturday without serious incident, but many Japanese bloggers who attended the event were left with lasting -- and often bitter -- impressions. With all the red flags, many bloggers pointed out how Nagano, for one day, seemed to transform into China.

Zimbabwe: Post-election violence on the rise

  26 April 2008

The election crisis in Zimbabwe continues: there are reports from the mainstream media, bloggers and human rights organisations about state organised post-election violence against supporters of the opposition, the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has left the country for Botswana fearing for his life and the “ship of evil” continues to draw bloggers' attention.

Ethiopian bloggers defend charged pop star

  26 April 2008

Ethiopian bloggers rushed to the defence of their country's top pop singer Teddy Afro, after he appeared in court charged with the hit-and-run killing of a youth in capital Addis Ababa. Many writers were convinced Afro was being framed by Ethiopian authorities who, they said, resented the singer's huge popularity and veiled anti-government lyrics.

Brunei: Thoughts on racism

  26 April 2008

Cici Khalid doesn't understand why people are always racist. He asks: “How do you feel when other people is making fun of your race?”

Lusosphera: Remembering the Carnation Revolution

  25 April 2008

On April 25 1974, 34 years today, Portugal's 40-year fascist dictatorship, the longest in the history of Western Europe, came to an end with the Carnation Revolution, which also brought independence for the remaining colonies in Africa and Asia. Today Portuguese speaking bloggers from all over the world comment and celebrate.

Russia: “Chernobyl's Other Victims”

  25 April 2008

Window on Eurasia writes about “Chernobyl's other victims” – “the thousands of people who exposed themselves to extraordinarily high levels of radiation while taking part in the clean up” and who now “find themselves not only sick as a result but largely forgotten by the successor governments to the regime...

Lebanon: Roumieh Prison Mutiny II

“The prisoners handed over the seven warders they were holding hostage and returned to their cells after having negotiated and handed over demands to the chief of internal security,” reports Lebanon News Network on the peaceful ending of the prison mutiny.

Lebanon: Roumieh Prison Mutiny

“….of interest to the laymen, Roumieh prison is where the 4 Generals, Assayed, Azar, Hamdan; Hajj are kept … and where many of the Fath El Islam elements are imprisoned … I remain suspicious,” noted GPC on the mutiny taking place at the Roumieh prison in Lebanon.

Armenia: Nationalism & Remembrance

  25 April 2008

The Armenian Patchwork posts some photographs of the 23 April march to the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan by youth affiliated to the Armenian Revolutionary Federation — Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D). The blog says that it was surprised by the nationalism on show.

Iran:Gender apartheid and sexual harassment

Sahel reports[Fa] that “students in Sahand University in Tabriz,in Iran, protested against “gender aparthied” and cultural and social pressure.” It seems that male and female students can not attend same classes together. It is said some girls have been victims of sexual and moral harassment by employees. Watch photos here.

Armenia: April 24 — Genocide Memorial Day

  25 April 2008

Yesterday marked the 93rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocideand the deaths of approximately 1.5 million Armenians in Ottoman Turkey. Every year on 24 April, a date marking the roundup of Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in what is now Istanbul, Armenians commemorate the massacres and deportations worldwide. In Yerevan, this is particularly the case with hundreds of thousands marching up to the Tsitsernakaberd memorial overlooking the capital to lay flowers and pay their respects.

South Korea: Pro Tibet Mobilization

  25 April 2008

CINA forecasts a pro-Tibet protest during the Olympic Torch relay in Seoul the coming Sunday. According to the blogger, the extreme right to the left and the liberals will have a united front in supporting a free Tibet.

China: Biggest Carrefour in the World

  25 April 2008

Xueyong criticized the Carrefour boycott and pointed out that the rise of China is related to the growth of global retailing stores like Carrefour as most of their products are made in China. In fact China is the biggest Carrefour in the World [zh].