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Government-controlled media in Tunisia have launched a smear campaign against the Tunisian journalist and human rights defender Sihem Bensedrine, who visited the Norwegian Human Rights House earlier this month. (23-MAY-05) 
 

More than 300 hundred opposition activists were arrested and many wounded in a demonstration in Baku on Saturday. The Human Rights House Foundation (HRH) is deeply concerned about the heated tension between the authorities and the opposition before the parliamentary elections due 6 November in the Republic of Azerbaijan. (23-MAY-2005)
 

The Human Rights House Foundation (HRH), Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) and  Swedish Helsinki Committee (SHC) have joinly sent an open letter to the Azeri President  I. Aliyev concerning the recent detention of opposition activists. HRH, NHC and SHC called for the Azerbaijani Government to immediately intervene to create an environment for civil society to act freely and without intimidation all over Republic of Azerbaijan. (20-MAY-2005)
 

On the Liberation Day, May 8th, the Rafto House was involved in arranging a special program at Espeland prison camp outside of Bergen, to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation in 1945. Hundreds of visitors showed up to see Minister of Justice, Odd Einar Dørum, unveiling a memorial over the camp’s prisoners. Other activities included an open air service, a classical concert and the Amalie Laksov prize award ceremony. Throughout the day, the focus was upon the appeal never to forget. (19-MAY-2005)

Tensions between the authorities and the opposition have been heating up ahead of the parliamentary elections due 6 November in the Republic of Azerbaijan. In a statement in April the Council of Europe said the approaching elections would be a fork in the road where “we may become witnesses either to fair and free elections or a bloody confrontation between thousands in the Republic of Azerbaijan.”  (23-MAY-2005)

The Human Rights House Foundation (HRH), Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) and  Swedish Helsinki Committee (SHC) have joinly sent an open letter to the Azeri President  I. Aliyev concerning the recent detention of opposition activists. HRH, NHC and SHC called for the Azerbaijani Government to immediately intervene to create an environment for civil society to act freely and without intimidation all over Republic of Azerbaijan. (20-MAY-2005)

Nearly a decade ago, the Kampala Declaration on Prison Conditions in Africa was drawn up to improve the situation of inmates across the continent. In an ironic twist, however, the capital that gave its name to the initiative has yet to meet the goals of the declaration. The same goes for the rest of Republic of Uganda. (21-MAY-05)
 

Ngawang Sangdrol – a Tibetan Buddhist nun and former political prisoner – made a visit to Republic of Poland. She came at the invitation of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights to give testimony to the current situation in Tibet and to appeal for assistance for her country. (20-MAY-05)

A death threat has been delivered to Soraya Gutiérrez Arguello, President of the non-governmental human rights organization Corporación Colectivo de Abogados ‘José Alvear Restrepo’ in Colombia. Please send appeals immediately. (21-MAY-05)