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The extension of Raja Petra Kamaruddin¡’s period of detention to two years is another example of the nefarious uses of Malaysia¡’s Internal Security Act, But the reaction of ordinary citizens shows the tide may be turning in favour of free expression.  

On 24 September OSCE presented a report on the press situation in the Republic of Azerbaijan during the pre-election period. The report notes that there is no pluralism and no differences in terms of ideological angle or political ideas in the Azeri press.

The 2008 Professor Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize is awarded to Pastor Bulambo Lembelembe Josué, right, for his dedication to end the plight of the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). (25-SEP-08)
 

The Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) has called Pastor Bulambo Lembelembe Josué, right, and congratulated him as the winner of this year´s Rafto Award. Pastor Bulambo expressed his gratitude for the award to the Rafto Foundation and confirmed that he will attend the seminar and award ceremony in Bergen early November. (25-SEP-08)
 

Renewed combat in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has caused a drastic deterioration in the humanitarian situation and immense suffering for civilians, the Congo Advocacy Coalition, a group of 83 aid agencies and human rights groups, said today. The coalition called for urgent action to improve protection of civilians and an immediate increase in assistance to vulnerable populations. Right, militias in Ituri. (25-SEP-08)
 

The 2008 Professor Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize is awarded to Pastor Bulambo Lembelembe Josué, right, for his dedication to end the plight of the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). (25-SEP-08)
 

At the conclusion of the ninth session of the Human Rights Council, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) remains deeply concerned by the lack of mobilisation of a majority of Member States to protect victims of human rights violations in countries where they are the most vulnerable. (24-SEP-08) 
 

On 18 September the Council of Europe (PACE) Pre-election Evaluation Mission conducted a press conference in the office of Council of Europe in the Republic of Azerbaijan. Head of the Mission Andreas Herkel (right) and mission members revealed a statement about the results of their visit to Republic of Azerbaijan.    

26 September marks the 1st anniversary of the Saffron Revolution in Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar). It is one year since we all dressed in red to support the tens of thousands of saffron-robed monks who marched peacefully through the streets of Rangoon. The Burmese people’s frustration with the regime began with the dramatic rise in fuel prices in early August 2007 because it had a direct effect on their everyday lives. The Junta responded with a brutal crackdown on the demonstrators. Many monks and activists are still in prison. (22-SEP-08)
 

Navanethem Pillay, right, the top United Nations human rights official, has called for ensuring the protection of Afghan civilians, as new figures show an almost 40 per cent increase in conflict-related deaths in the first eight months of 2008 compared to the same period last year (22-SEP-08).
 

-We know that human rights are essential to peace, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, right, said in his message to mark the International Day of Peace, which is observed every year on 21 September. This year´s celebrations held special meaning since 2008 also marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (21-SEP-08)
 

18 September, a preliminary meeting of the litigants on the case initiated by Hrodna Regional Department of KGB, asking the court to classify a newspaper, some books, human rights newsletters and music CDs as «extremist materials» took place at the District Court of Hrodna (Western Belarus). Human Rights activists are concerned about the troubling precedent such a clasification might have, if articles of the ´Law on Counteraction of Extremism´ could be used against dissidents. (20-SEP-08)