Stories about Protest from May, 2013
Tunisia: FEMEN Activist Faces Possession of Pepper Spray Charge
Tunisian FEMEN activist Amina Tyler, 19, is set to appear before a court on May 30 to face a charge of "non-authorized possession of pepper spray." If convicted the young woman could spend up to six months in prison.
Indian Ruling on Vedanta Mining Plans Favours Tribal Rights
India's Supreme Court recently ruled that village councils should make the final decision as to whether controversial British company Vedanta Resources can mine for bauxite in the eastern state of Odisha. Vedanta wants to mine on land that the local Dongria Kondh people hold sacred.
Outrage over Arrest of Two Photojournalists in Spain
The news of the arrest of photojournalist Raúl Capín, in Madrid, was widely shared under the tag #RaúlLibertad on Twitter. Photojournalist Adolfo Luján was also arrested. Many online messages of indignation and against the repression of journalists who report on social protests are circulating.
Yemen Marks Unification Anniversary as South Marches for Independence
A day before Yemen marked the 23rd anniversary of the unification of north and south to form today's Republic of Yemen, thousands gathered in South Yemen in support of independence for the region once more.
South Korea's Child Porn Law Blasted for Restricting Freedom of Expression
A new youth protection law in South Korea, meant to protect children by clamping down on child pornography, is being assailed for its broad language that labels net users who unknowingly downloaded suspicious content and artists who depict children in their work as criminals.
Students Defend Cambodia's Human Rights Record
Some students of Mekong University in Cambodia held a protest after U.N. human rights envoy Surya Subedi delivered a lecture on law of foreign investment. The protesters accused the UN envoy of distorting the human rights situation in Cambodia which they claim is better compared to other countries. But aside...
Brazil's Indigenous Fight Back Against State Development
As Brazil's economy steamrolls forward on the momentum of mega-construction projects, many of the country's indigenous have found their homelands snatched away for the sake of development. The construction of the Belo Monte Dam in Pará and the Olympic Museum in Rio de Janeiro have been marked by clashes between police and activists.
For Two Weeks, Liberia's Media Refused to Report on the President
Liberian independent journalists have ended a nearly two-week long refusal to report on the country's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a blackout they placed on the leader for failing to condemn her security director's comments calling journalists "terrorists".
Iran's Regime Bars Two Top Candidates from Election Race
Once again the Islamic regime's desire for absolute control of political life in Iran surprised many when it announced their selection of only eight shortlisted presidential candidates out of more than 600 hopefuls.
Bangladesh's Planned Coal Power Plant Threatens Sundarbans Mangrove Forest
A plan to erect a coal-fired power plant in Bangladesh next to the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world which straddles Bangladesh and India, is drawing fire from activists in the country who say it would destroy the world heritage site.
'14 Million: Life, Family & Liberty’ Movement Sparks Controversy in Ecuador
"14 million" is a citizen initiative that seeks to protect the rights of the family by opposing the free distribution of the day-after pill and other family planning policies in Ecuador. Even though part of the citizenry supports the movement, others -including President Rafael Correa- reject the group's ideas.
How Big Is Alexey Navalny's Army?
As Navalny's show-trial for lumber embezzlement continues, such questions are perhaps more important than ever. Here are some data-points which could be used to make a rough approximation:
Free Speech and South Korea's Child Porn Law
A DeviantART website user wrote how South Korea's Children and Youth Protection law, that cracks down on child porn, can greatly undermine freedom of expression. Rough English translation appears in the latter half of the post. (There soon will be a detailed GV post on this issue)
Guinea-Bissau Youth Calls for Peace
The Guinean movement Ação Cidadã (Citizen Action) [pt] released an open letter [pdf] on May 8 “from a youth who wants to have their place in their own land in peace, with the freedom and progress they are entitled.” The document calls for young Guineans to mobilize peacefully for peace, democracy...
Thailand's Prime Minister Sues Cartoonist for Insulting Facebook Post
Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is suing a popular cartoonist for defamation over a comment he posted on Facebook comparing the leader to a prostitute for "selling out her country".
Mozambique Mining Protest Ends in Arrests
Three brickmakers who had been arrested by the Mozambican Police while protesting peacefully with hundreds of people “at the gates of Brazilian mining giant Vale”, in Moatize on May 14, 2013, have been set free and are waiting for the verdict, NGO Justiça Ambiental informs denouncing acts of intimidation. The resettled population has been protesting...
69th Anniversary of Crimean Tatar Deportations: Memory and Politics in Crimea
On May 18, some 30,000 people gathered at a rally in Crimea's capital Simferopol to honor the memory of the victims of the 1944 Crimean Tatar deportations and to demand the immediate resignation of Anatoly Mogilev, the chairman of Crimea's Council of Ministers.
Mozambique: Medical Professionals Announce Strike
Medical professionals in Mozambique have announced they will strike. They consider that they were “humiliated, insulted and disdained” in their last meeting with government. This current strike follows a strike earlier this year by doctors. The video announcement is available with subtitles in English, and a number of languages.
Peru: Strike in Iquitos in Protest of Corruption
A 24 hour strike in the city of Iquitos, in the Peruvian Amazon, attempted to call attention to suspected acts of corruption within the Regional Government of Loreto and the apparent involvement with which the Judicial Power is taking these cases.
China: Petition System Reform?
Yueran Zhang from Tea Leaf Nation reviews the Chinese petition system and discusses directions for future reform: Ongoing reforms should include the enhancement of the institutional powers of bureaus of letters and visits. On the other hand, the citizens flooding the petitioning offices, which are considered a last resort, reveal...
