19 September 2011

Stories from 19 September 2011

Cuba: Talented Singers

Havana Times interviews Cuban singer Evelyn Garcia Marquez “who comes from a family of recognized musicians” and posts an update on the health of popular singer-songwriter Sara Gonzalez, who is...

19 September 2011

Afghanistan: Taliban propaganda on the internet

Nick Fielding writes about Taliban's presence on the internet with public relations accounts in popular social networks, including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube as well as videos disseminated through cellphones in...

19 September 2011

Afghanistan: Local police units failing

Nick Fielding reviews a new Human Rights Watch report on the creation of the Afghan Local Police last summer, noting that impunity-driven militias participated in murderous tribal vendettas, targeted killings,...

19 September 2011

Southeast Asia: Press Freedom Heroes

Three Southeast Asian journalists (Cambodia's Hang Chakra, Malaysia's Zulkiflee Anwar Ul Haque, and Thailand's Chiranuch Premchaiporn) were recognized by the Human Rights Watch for their promotion of press freedom in...

19 September 2011

Malaysia to Overhaul Security and Censorship Laws

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak surprised everybody during the Malaysia Day celebration when he announced an overhaul to several controversial acts related to national security, censorship, speech and freedom of assembly

19 September 2011

Cameroon: What if We Did Not Vote on October 9?

In Cameroon, the October 9 presidential election does not seem to be generating much interest amongst the general public. For many Cameroonians, this election has no real stake and voters don't see casting their ballot as worth the trouble, since the outcome is already in favor of incumbent President Paul Biya.

19 September 2011

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.

19 September 2011