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Tunisia: clampdown on free speech at WSIS
Along with dozens of other free speech groups, Index on Censorship and Article 19 had long questioned the suitability of Tunisia to host last week´s United Nations World Summit for the Information Society (WSIS). Following days of mayhem, rights abuses and attacks on freedom of expression, Tunisia proved that concerns were justified. Index on Censorship reports from Tunis. (25-NOV-05)
New bill may cause Belarus to end up in worst period of Soviet totalitarianism
The human rights activists of Republic of Belarus are against the introduction of the political articles in the criminal legislation. On November 25, 2005 the chamber of representatives of the Belarusian Parliament adopted in the first reading a bill brought by Mr. Lukashenka before the parliament as an emergency measure. Many human rights activists share the opinion that this bill is quasi-legal and shows that the dictatorship is becoming increasingly scared to lose power.(30-NOV-05)
The World Condemns Azerbaijani Authority for the Violence
The violence, conducted by the law-enforcement representatives toward peaceful demonstrators in Baku on the 26-th of November caused lots of negative reaction both in Azerbaijani society and in international community. The preparation of the Azerbaijani authorities to disperse the peaceful demonstration – dozens of trucks with soldiers of the internal troops, columns of police, 2 water dispersing cars, specially trained dogs, tear gas balloons – shocked the people (30-NOV-2005).
Curfew declared in Lhasa’s Drepung Monastery
-The Norwegian Tibet Committee is seriously concerned about the curfew imposed on the Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, says Chungdak Koren, right, Secretary general of the Norwegian Tibet Committee. The curfew was declared by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) and the People’s Armed Police (PAP) of the government of the “Tibet Autononomous Region” in the aftermath of the protest from the monks of the monastery on 25 November 2005. (30-NOV-05)
Amnesty Norway protests against the 1000 executions in the US
Today, Amnesty International Norway protested against United States, where one will soon reach the 1,000th execution since 1976, with 42 executions so far this year. Right, Secretary General Petter Eide in front of some of the thousand crosses. See the pictures from the demonstration at the Univeristy square in the centre of Oslo below. (30-NOV-05)
Victims of Policy Brutality at Demonstration in Baku
On the 26-th of November the united radical opposition of Republic of Azerbaijan held a protest action against the stolen elections. Though the rally was sanctioned, there took place a brutal violence of police and internal troops at the squire against the peaceful demonstrators. The brutality over women and children, dozens of arrested and missed people, hundreds of injured – the figures are shocking (29-NOV-2005).
– Norway should not support the demobilisation process in Colombia
Norway should not support the demobilisation process that contributes to recycling of paramilitary violators in Colombia, says Borghild T. Krokan at the Human Rights House Foundation. (28-NOV-05) (Norwegian language only)
Election in a climate of fear
Oslo: – The parliamentary elections in the Chechen Republic on November 27 will not be democratic, because people are too scared, Aage Borchgrevink, advisor in the Norwegian Helsinki Committee says. In a new report written together with International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Center “Demos” and the Human Rights Center ´Memorial´, the organisations analyse the political process in the Chechen Republic, described as a cynical and dangerous game, which has contributed to the establishment of a climate of fear. (25-NOV-05). Photo: NHC
Police used tear gas against demonstrators in Baku
Azeri riot police used violence against the opposition protesters who took part in a peaceful rally at the Qalaba square in Baku this afternoon. According to BBC, truncheons, tear gas and water cannon were used to disperse the mass protest. Many activists are injured and 12 journalists have been beaten, reports the TURAN News Agency. Photo: Radio Free Europe (26-NOV-05).