Stories about Protest from September, 2011
Cuba: Hunger Strike for Human Rights
Pedazos de La Isla posts an interview with Rufina Velazquez, speaking out on behalf of her activist father, who has been on a hunger strike to demand respect for the human rights of all Cubans.
Cuba: “Repression Weekend”
Cuban bloggers are referring to this past weekend as “repression weekend”; new dissidents are detained even as others are released.
China: Calls to Free Blind Activist Met With Violence
After serving a 51-month sentence for disturbing public order, blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng was released in September 2010, but has been kept under house arrest for more than a year by local police in Linyi, Shandong province. Activists campaigning for his release have been victims of violence.
Brazil: Defending Freedom of Religion
Rosângela Basso, of the blog Maria da Penha Neles, posts a series of pictures of a protest in defence of religious freedom in Rio de Janeiro. The blog Bule Voador posted a video and pictures of a protest for the secular state in Curitiba, in the state of Paraná.
Ukraine: Georgiy Gongadze Memorial Rally in Kyiv
Olena Bilozerska (LJ user bilozerska) posts photos and video [uk] from the Sep. 16 Georgiy Gongadze memorial rally in Kyiv. Following a discussion in the comments section of ex-President Leonid Kuchma's role in Gongadze's case, LJ user fidel_80 writes [ru]: “I'm sorry for [Gongadze]. Could someone give me links to...
Ukraine: More on Denis Oleinikov's ProstoPrint Case
Taras of Ukrainiana posts a few videos and comments on the ongoing attacks on Denis Oleinikov's ProstoPrint company: “It’s the police state’s job to keep humor in short supply. And fail.”
France, Africa: Suitcases Filled with Cash Expose the Françafrique Connection
In the wake of the Dominique Strauss Kahn scandal, a new furore is now rocking France and the upcoming 2012 French presidential campaign. Robert Bourgi, a shady lawyer and advisor for "African affairs" has confessed to acting as a go-between for French politicians and Francophone Africa heads of state.
Yemen to the Rest of the World: Silence Kills!
Yemenis have been protesting for democracy and dignity since February 11. Their struggle is being faced with excessive violence by the regime and a deafening silence from the world. Noon Arabia tells us what is happening in Yemen through the eyes and words of ordinary Yemenis in this post.
Brazil: Chained Teachers in the Freedom Square
Brazilian blogger Beto Mafra shared [pt] videos and pictures of a demonstration of public school teachers in the state of Minas Gerais who after 101 days of strike, have chained themselves in front of the Palace of Liberty during a visit of the President Rousseff. The police later charged on...
Cuba: An “Unstoppable March”
Pedazos de La Isla blogs here and here about the “unstoppable march”; Uncommon Sense posts an update on the arrests of dissidents Angel Moya Acosta and Guillermo Farinas that followed that march and Babalu notes that the island “has already recorded almost 200 political arrests this month.”
Angola: The Hot Embers of a Repressed Protest
Recent events have shaken Angolan society and the state. After a large police response to the demonstration against the 32 year-long government of José Eduardo dos Santos on September 3, at least 18 were "unjustly convicted" and sentenced to between 45 days and 3 months in prison.
Ukraine: Raid on Denis Oleinikov's ProstoPrint.com
Updates on the situation with Denis Oleinikov‘s ProstoPrint.com goods-on-demand company, which was raided by the Ukrainian police last week: Courtney Boyd Myers’ Sep. 8 text on The Next Web; on Demotix, Kost Bezginsky's photos from the Sep. 15 brawl with riot police during the “charity fair” in support of ProstoPrint.com,...
Iran: Female Blogger Receives 50 Lashes
These are the words Iranian blogger Somayeh Tohidloo wrote in her blog, after receiving 50 whip lashes in Evin Prison: “Be happy, for if you wanted to humiliate me, I confess that I feel my entire body is suffering with degradation.”
Social Media Uprising in the Chinese-speaking World
Hong Kong In-Media, a media advocacy organization based in Hong Kong has published an e-book, Social Media Uprising in the Chinese-speaking World. The preface of the book, written by Jack Qui Linchuan is posted at interlocals.net, where you can also download a pdf preview of the book.
Cuba: Released/Re-arrested
Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense reports that bloggers who were detained allegedly for taking part in protests commemorating fallen Cuban prisoners have been released; Babalu, however, posted this morning that “Cuban independent journalist Jose Luis Ferrer Garica reports through Twitter that former prisoner of conscience from the Group of 75, Angel...
Iran: Protest Art to Save Lake Urmia
Protesters took to the streets again on Monday in Ardabil, in Iran's Azarbaijan's region, to demand that the Iranian government save Lake Urmia, one of the world's largest salt water lakes. Fred Petrossian reports.
Cuba: Repressive Action
Bloggers chronicle the latest wave of repression in Cuba, here, here and here.
Morocco: Multiple Arrests Against Activists
There has been a sudden surge in arrests among pro-democracy activists and online campaigners in Morocco in recent days. Three have occurred in the past week alone. Little has been reported in the press and it took bloggers to report on the arrests for the mainstream media in Morocco to pick up on the stories.
Iran: The” Crane” was cleared of charges
Greencity reports that Akbar Amini, the man who climbed atop a crane in a show of protest on 14th of February, was cleared of charges. Akbar’s cell mate says Akbar is known as the “Crane” among other prisoners
Japan: Anti-nuclear power demonstration on 911
Buddhika Weerasinghe has posted photos of the anti-nuclear power demonstration held in central Tokyo on September 11th. Several thousand people joined the demo, as can be seen in this video footage [ja] and 12 people were arrested. See also the official site [ja] for the demonstration.
Philippines: The President's Zero Love Life
The bachelor Philippines President Noynoy Aquino's comparison of his love life to a soft drink in a five-day state visit to China not only drew laughter but also criticism online. Activists also used the metaphor to condemn the 'zero' performance of the government on human rights and social spending.
