Stories about Protest from January, 2013
Přednádraží Still Stands: Czech Roma Community Resists Evictions
In August 2012, the Ostrava City Hall issued a 24-hour eviction order to the owner of the 11 buildings at Přednádraží. Approximately 100 families of the local residents refused to move out. Many simply did not have anywhere else to go. Five months later, twelve families still remain at Přednádraží, including six children. Daniela Kantorova reports.
Togo: An Open Letter to Denounce Violence Against Journalists
On January 14, 2013, Maxime Domegni, Secretary General of the National Union of Independent Journalist of Togo (SYNJIT) and Sylvio Combey Combetey, President of the Network of African Journalists on Human Security and Peace (RAJOSEP) published [fr] a press release to denounce violence against journalists in Togo. The release details a skirmish...
Reconciliation Day in Southern Yemen
Thousands of people from all six southern provinces in southern Yemen flocked to the city of Aden over the past few days in order to participate in the carnival of "reconciliation and forgiveness". The carnival commemorates the civil war in former South Yemen which took place in 1986.
Protesters Trap QMM Staff in Madagascar over Land Dispute
Bill at Madagascar Tribune reports that protesters held Rio Tinto QMM Staff hostages [fr] on January 11 in Southern Madagascar. After armed forces disrupted the protests with tear gas and freed the staff, police proceed to arrest a dozen of protesters [fr] today. Rio Tinto executives threatened to exit the country after the...
Podcast: China's Southern Weekend Incident
Sinica hosts a discussion on the recent Southern Weekend incident in China. They look at what brought on the protests, the social media response and what the incident suggests about the way China's new government will handle media relations.
Malaysians Gather for the ‘Uprising of the Citizens’
Tens of thousands joined the ‘Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat’ (Uprising of the Citizens) rally in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia organized mainly by Opposition forces. The rally highlighted the campaign for clean elections, free education, and environment protection.
Russian Internet Easily Distracted by Beavers
Amid scandal and legislative controversy the RuNet is sidetracked by quirky recipes and celebrities.
“We Are All Hazara” Protests Across Pakistan
Thousands across Pakistan and worldwide are showing solidarity with the Shia Hazara minority, as their sit-in protest enters its second day in the country's southwestern city, Quetta.
Long Prison Terms for ‘Dissident’ Vietnam Bloggers
Vietnam convicted 14 Vietnamese bloggers and human rights defenders for participating in “activities aimed at overthrowing the people's administration.” The activists were given long prison terms which range from 3 years to 13 years.
2012: A Year of Revolt and Social Change in Francophone Countries: Part 1 of 2
The year 2012 was marked by armed conflicts in Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. There were elections in Senegal, Quebec and France, while demonstrations for change took place in Chad, Madagascar and Togo. Debates raged on issues such as immigration, the economic crisis and equality in marriage laws. This is the first part of a review of the year 2012 in Francophone countries.
Discussing the Caribbean's Rape Culture
The disturbing gang-rape - and subsequent death - of a young woman in Delhi, India, has elicited global outrage and discussion about gender-based violence. A handful of Caribbean-based bloggers have been sharing their thoughts, not the least of which is that rape is a men's issue.
Internet Boycott Leads to Resignation of “La Comay” in Puerto Rico
On 8 January, social networks were flooded with reports of the resignation of producer Antulio "Kobbo" Santarrosa, the man behind the puppet personality La Comay, probably the most controversial show in Puerto Rican television. His resignation was caused by pressure from social network users.
Russia's Protest Movement Is Back (to Usual)
For those of you who have been living under a rock for the past year: the Russian protest movement—which sprung to life in December 2011—has collapsed. Trusted demonstration speakers are selling toothpaste on TV, top bloggers are accused of pedophilia, and recent rallies have attracted smaller crowds. In other words, Russia's opposition—as it's been known throughout the Putin years—is back to usual.
China: Significance of the Southern Weekend Incident
Sino Stand analyzes the social and political implications of Southern Weekend incident in China. Indeed it is a surprising signal that many of China’s youth are primed to push for change.
Delhi Rape Case Sparks Death Penalty Debate in Singapore
Many Singaporeans expressed grief over the death of the Delhi rape victim who came to be known as Amanat in the world. The tragic death of Amanat in a Singapore hospital also sparked a lively discussion on gender equality, violence against women, and the use of death penalty in rape cases.
Ecuador: “Children of the Jaguar” Documentary Wins National Geographic Prize
"Children of the Jaguar" is a vivid documentary that helps us to reflect on the damage caused by multinationals who attempt to exploit the oil reserves of the Ecuadorian Amazon forest and on the constant struggle by local inhabitants to defend their lands.
Cubans Defend Themselves Against Esperanza Aguirre's Accusations
The president of the People's Party in Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre, stated that she did not recognize "any justice on the island of Cuba" and called the time that Ángel Carromero spent in prison "torture," after he was condemned to imprisonment in Havana for "involuntary manslaughter," in the car accident that cost the lives of Cuban dissidents Oswaldo Payá and Harold Cepero. The Cuban blogosphere reacts.
Dueling Demonstrations Surround Same-Sex Marriage in France
For several months there has been a raging debate in France surrounding 'universal marriage' (i.e. same-sex marriage). Those who oppose same-sex marriage Commitment 31 want for the whole nation, not merely the parliamentarians, to engage in the debate.
Support Southern Weekend Against Censorship in China
Around 1000 Guangzhou citizens gathered outside Southern Weekend office building to express their support for the newspaper against the Propaganda Department's brutal censorship of the New Year Greeting editorial. Below is a youtube video uploaded by Chen Ye showing the protest scene. (via acopy.net)
China's Mass Incidents in 2012
China's Legal Daily[zh] published a summary of the 2012 Mass Incident Research Report, analyzing Chinese social media as an increasingly significant factor in mass incidents. DANWEI has translated some highlights of the report.
Spain: New Year, New Party, New System
“Happy 2013! The year in which we will reinitiate the system." This was the first message that appeared on Twitter on December 31st at midnight from Partido X, Partido del Futuro (Party X, Party of the Future), a new political group that has burst onto the Spanish Internet scene with force.
