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Employees of the State Department of Internal Affairs in Voronezhsky region enforce their fight against so-called youth extremism. Human rights activists believe that police actions are aimed at suppression of opposition. Authorities authorize nationalist actions and overlook anti-Semitic slogans and xenophobic statements.  Nationalist parties plan to organize a Right March in Moscow. (11-OCT-06)
 

Against the background of the Russian-Georgian conflict the Russian authorities organized the widespread campaign against migrants from Georgia. Human rights activists have been raising alarm. They consider unceasing check-ups as ethnic crackdowns and authorities’ actions – as racial discrimination. (11-OCT-06)
 

Akbar Ganji, far right, an Iranian investigative journalist, turned activist, and Arnold Tsunga, right, a lawyer and a radio commentator from Zimbabwe, will receive the 2006 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA) on Wednesday 11 October 2006, 17h30. Louise Arbour , UN High Commissioner for Human Rights will present the award during a ceremony at the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices in Geneva (Switzerland), within framework of the International North South Media Festival. (11-OCT-06)
 

Yesterday, journalists, editors, publishers, human rights and freedom of expression organisations joined forces to protest the murder of the Russian author, journalist and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaja last Saturday. The silent, dignified protest was well attended, and generated wide press and broadcast media coverage. Below is a picture gallery from the demonstration. (11-OCT-06)
 

The Norwegian shipping company Wilh. Wilhelmsen is establishing a service company in Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar), hidden behind the name of Makara Marine Contractors. The company’s activities will mainly target the oil and gas sector, which is one of the main sources of revenue for the Burmese military regime. (10-OCT-06)
 

The Norwegian Tibet Committee currently distributes information about a fresh campaign whose ambition it is to make the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics a catalyst for change in the People´s Republic of China. The Race for Tibet harnesses the energy of the Olympics and goodwill of people worldwide to call on the People´s Republic of China to end human rights abuses in Tibet and directly engage the Dalai Lama to find a negotiated solution for Tibet. (09-OCT-06)
 

Tomorrow, Tuesday 10 October, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Norwegian PEN and HRH will take part in a silent protest outside the Russian Embassy in Oslo against the killing of Anna Politkovskaya, right, the bravest critic of Russia´s brutal war in the Chechen Republic. HRH strongly encourages everyone in favour of freedom of expression to join us, exactly at noon, in observing one minute´s silence. (09-OCT-06)
 

Yoduk Story, a musical depicting life in a North Korean consentration camp, premiered in Washington on Oct. 5th. In an article on Oct. 6th, The Washington Post describes it as an “energetically performed musical” comparing it to “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Les Misérables” and “a large-scale Passion play/moral plea.” Yoduk Story will be set up in Los Angeles on OCt 19-22.  The Rafto Human Rights House has contributed to the production of the musical, and is working on a documentary about the project. (08-OCT-06)
 

Burma Military regime arrested 5 student leaders including the country’s second most prominent leader, Min Ko Naing. The arrest took place as the UN Security Council met to discuss Burma for the first time in history on Friday, 29 September. Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and Htay Kywe were arrested by Special Police Force on 27 September as they prepared to attend the 18th anniversary of the founding of the National League for Democracy, the political party led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi that won 82% of the seats in parliament in Burma’s last democratic election. (8-OCT-2006)

A Joint Statement on the recent arrest of 88 Generation Students Group leaders was issued on 3th October by Burmese democratic forces in Norway. The statement was signed by 6 Burmese exile groups and calls for an immediate release of political prisoners, a meaningful dialogue between all concerned parties and a a lift of all suppressive measurements. (8-OCT-2006)

Burma Military regime arrested 5 student leaders including the country’s second most prominent leader, Min Ko Naing. The arrest took place as the UN Security Council met to discuss Burma for the first time in history on Friday, 29 September. Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and Htay Kywe were arrested by Special Police Force on 27 September as they prepared to attend the 18th anniversary of the founding of the National League for Democracy, the political party led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi that won 82% of the seats in parliament in Burma’s last democratic election. (8-OCT-2006)
 

Fresh figures from the Norwegian Red Cross unveil that Kurds, together with Pakistanis, top the statistics for forced marriages in Norway. In an open meeting to take place at the Human Rights House in Oslo on Tuesday, the Norwegian Council for the Rights of the Kurds’s (RKR) women’s issues group wishes to address this, informs RKR’s administrator Liv Kjølseth, right. (07-OCT-06)