EUROPE

Cuban dissidents disappointed at EU move to lift

sanctions
By: EU Business, June 20, 2008
Leading Cuban dissidents on Thursday expressed disappointment over the
European Union's decision to lift their sanctions against Cuba, fearing it could
lead to further crackdowns. The sanctions, which restricted high-level
diplomatic contacts and offer some symbolic support for political dissidents,
were imposed in 2003 after Cuba jailed 75 dissidents and executed three
young Cubans who had attempted to escape to the United States.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1213921922.27

Russia: State-harassed English-language paper closes

By: IFEX, June 20, 2008
The Committee to Protect Journalists is disturbed by the closing of the
alternative English-language biweekly "The eXile" in Moscow. The paper
announced on its Web site last week that it was forced to shut down after
nervous investors withdrew support in the wake of a politicized audit of its
content.
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/94676/

Armenia: Protesters gather in Yerevan amid heavy

police presence
By: RFE, June 20, 2008
Protesters have gathered in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, for the first major
opposition demonstration since 10 people died as a result of postelection
violence in March. The demonstrators have gathered outside the
Matenadaran library of ancient manuscripts in the capital center, despite
initially being denied permission to gather by city authorities. Police on June
19 warned protesters to stay away from the center, saying they had
permission to rally only at a location on the outskirts of Yerevan.
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2008/06/2d50120d-c0c9-405f-a65c-
ee452bcdbf74.html

Armenia: European Court rules in favor of

embattled TV station
By: CPJ, June 19, 2008
The European Court of Human Rights ruled Tuesday that Armenia’s repeated
denials of a broadcasting license to the independent A1+ television station
violated Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. According
to the verdict, the Armenian government must pay the station 20,000 euros
(US$31,000) in damages.
http://www.cpj.org/news/2008/europe/armenia19jun08na.html

MIDDLE EAST/ NORTH AFRICA

Iranian Kurdistan: Woman activist sentenced to 5
years prison
By: UNPO, June 20, 2008
21 year old Hana Abdi, former student of PayamNoor University of Bijar, and
member of women's association of AzarMerh in Kurdistan (west of Iran) has
been sentenced a 5 year prison term in a remote town on the Iranian
frontiers. According to Mr.Sharif, her attorney, the so called revolutionary
court has charged her with assisting a crime which was to be a threat against
National Security.
http://www.unpo.org/content/view/8317/115/

Morocco: Court orders newspaper to stop

publishing testimony about repression
By: RSF, June 20, 2008
A Rabat court yesterday ordered the Arabic-language daily Al Jarida Al Oula to
stop publishing hitherto unpublished testimony about repression under the
late King Hassan II which senior officials gave to an official truth commission
called the Equity and Reconciliation Panel (IER).
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=27574

Human rights activists in Arab world face countless

threats
By: Haaretz, June 19, 2008
Human rights defenders around the world face a wide range of government-
initiated obstacles, including assassinations, arbitrary arrests, judicial
harassment, unfair trials, threats and stigmatization, two human rights
groups said Thursday in Cairo when unveiling their annual report.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/994481.html

Morocco frees but surveils W. Sahara political

prisoner
By: ASVDH, June 19, 2008
Moroccan authorities in the occupied Western Sahara released Mohamed
Boutabaa (age 20yrs) today. This political prisoner spent one year behind
bars in the local prison of El-Ayoune (the 'Black Prison'). However, Moroccan
security forces have deployed a massive presence to Mr Boutabaa's
residence in order to deter visits to the recently freed prisoner.
http://asvdh.net/english/?p=454

Morocco: Photographer questioned over photograph

of demonstration
By: All Africa, June 18, 2008
What is left of press freedom in Morocco? The first six months of 2008 have
been marked by an avalanche of trials and repressive judicial and
administrative decisions. At the same time, promises by Prime Minister Abbas
El Fassi's government to reform the press law have still not materialised. No
bill has yet been submitted to the chamber of deputies.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200806190033.html

Iran: Statement of more than 1,200 women’s and

equal rights activists
By: IRHV, June 17, 2008
On the date of June 12, 2005, from the collective heart of that entity which
has gradually come to be known as “the collective of like-minded activists of
the women’s movement,” and which has, in the course of two years,
welcomed into its fold many groups of women working toward a common
purpose, there arose a large gathering in front of the University of Tehran.
http://www.ihrv.org/inf/?p=357

AFRICA
Zimbabwe’s election: An African appeal
By: Open Democracy, June 20, 2008
It is crucial for the interests of both Zimbabwe and Africa that the elections
on 27 June 2008 are free and fair. Zimbabweans fought for liberation in order
to be able to determine their own future. Great sacrifices were made during
the liberation struggle. To live up to the aspirations of those who sacrificed, it
is vital that nothing is done to deny the legitimate expression of the will of
the people of Zimbabwe.
http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/democracy_power/africa/zimbabwe-s-
election-an-african-appeal

Zimbabwe's opposition ponders election boycott

By: CNN, June 20, 2008
Zimbabwe's opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, is
discussing pulling out of next week's presidential runoff, a source close to the
MDC leadership told CNN. The news came as President Robert Mugabe
vowed to leave office only "when land is returned to the country's black
majority," despite the threat of fresh sanctions from the European Union.
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/06/20/zimbabwe.violence/?iref=m
pstoryview

Mugabe rejects Mbeki plan to delay Zimbabwe

election
By: Bloomberg, June 20, 2008
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe rejected a plea by South African leader
Thabo Mbeki to cancel next week's presidential run-off election and form an
interim government with the opposition, according to two officials with
knowledge of the decision.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=avF3EV2TtlLc&ref
er=africa
Zimbabwe: Mugabe challenger 'may quit poll'
By: BBC News, June 20, 2008
Zimbabwe's opposition MDC will announce on Monday whether the party will
withdraw from the 27 June presidential run-off, a party source told the BBC.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai is said to be under pressure to pull out in view
of escalating poll-related violence.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7465122.stm

Zimbabwe: State hunts down MDC supporters who

fled rural areas
By: SW Radio Africa, June 20, 2008
We have received disturbing reports from activists and MDC supporters who
were hounded out of their rural homelands and are living a life of hide and
seek, pursued by ZANU-PF agents. One activist who fled from his rural home
and is in hiding said state agents are referring to the campaign as “Operation
Tsuro ne gwenzi”, meaning hunt both the targets and those who shelter
them.
http://www.swradioafrica.com/news200608/hunted200608.htm

Zimbabwe: Raped for opposing Mugabe

By: BBC News, June 20, 2008
Twenty three-year-old Zimbabwean Maidei [not her real name] struggled to
talk about her ordeal at the hands of Zimbabwe's ruling party youths who
were keeping her captive. Nearby the Zanu-PF base in rural Mashonaland
West province, she told me about how she had been raped and abused for
two weeks.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7465101.stm

Zimbabwe: Getting people participating is a process,

not an event
By: Terraviva, June 19, 2008
Amidst the turmoil surrounding the Jun. 27 presidential run-off in Zimbabwe,
it is doubtless something of a challenge to muster enthusiasm for plans
relating to the country's next general elections. Gender activists intent on
having more women voted into office in 2013 are undaunted, however.
http://www.ipsterraviva.net/Africa/viewstory.asp?idnews=1931

Concern about media crackdown and opposition

harassment in Uganda
By: HRH, June 8, 2008
The Human Rights House Foundation (HRH F) is deeply concerned about
recent infringements on basic rights and freedoms of both the media and the
opposition in Uganda. While the media have experienced temporary
detention of editors and journalists, confiscation of equipment and material,
and initiatives by the authorities to further tighten relevant legislation,
including the Constitution, the opposition has been subjected to arrests and
interrogation, violations of the right to assembly, and physical attacks on
leading members.
http://www.humanrightshouse.org/dllvis5.asp?id=6681

AMERICAS
Brazil: Media conviction for "electoral propaganda"
By: IFEX, June 20, 2008
Reporters Without Borders considers as "absurd" a conviction for "electoral
propaganda" against the daily "A Folha de São Paulo" and the magazine
"Veja" after they published interviews with a prospective candidate for
municipal elections in São Paulo in the south-east of the country.
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/94674/

Brazilian Indians in London in bid to save Amazon

By: Survival, June 20, 2008
Two Brazilian Indians will arrive in London next week to make a desperate
plea for help to save their Amazon forest home. The Indians’ tribes and their
land are under attack from Brazilian farmers who have shot and wounded ten
people, burned bridges and thrown a bomb into an Indian community.
http://www.survival-international.org/news/3387

ASIA/ SOUTH ASIA

700 Tibetans detained in Nepal protest
By: AFP, June 20, 2008
Police in Nepal detained more than 700 Tibetan exiles protesting outside the
Chinese embassy and formally arrested three top activists for alleged anti-
China activities, officials said. "We have rounded up hundreds of Tibetan
protesters. The number is over 700," said Nawaratna Poudel, a police officer
outside the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu -- the scene of almost daily
protests.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h3hd56Gz_PGtyu79IshP6ZPNsz5A

Press freedom vanishing from Thailand

By: Phukette Gazette, June 20, 2008
In his speech before the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand on
Wednesday, Asean Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan delivered what might
best be described as a severe reality check for Thai citizens. Citing statistics
from Freedom House, the New York-based monitor of media freedoms around
the world, he noted that less than a decade ago Thailand ranked 29th out of
194 countries surveyed, putting it among the top 15% in the world. In its data
released last month, however, the agency's 'Freedom Index' saw Thailand in
127th place.
http://www.phuketgazette.net/articles/article6566.html

Thai protesters clash with police

By: Al Jazeera, June 20, 2008
Thousands of demonstrators demanding the resignation of Thailand's prime
minister have surrounded the main government complex in Bangkok, the
country's capital. Security personnel held back the up to 100,000 protesters
for three hours on Friday before a group finally pushed through police
barricades to reach gates surrounding the prime minister's compound.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-
pacific/2008/06/20086204447455789.html

Vietnam: Lingering effects of Agent Orange

By: HRT, June 20, 2008
‘Doc’ Bernie Duff, 58, a former medic in the Vietnam War, recently led a
1,700 kilometre walk from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi to raise awareness of
the problems still faced by those suffering from the effects of Agent Orange.
http://www.humanrights-geneva.info/Vietnam-Lingering-effects-of-Agent,3235

Burma: Police visit detained NLD members’ families

By: DVB, June 20, 2008
Police officers and members of the Union Solidarity and Development
Association warned the families of National League for Democracy members
detained yesterday not to talk to anyone about the arrests.
http://english.dvb.no/news.php?id=1452

Pro-junta gang attacks Suu Kyi supporters in Burma

By: ABC, June 20, 2008
Pro-junta thugs have broken up a rally by supporters of Burma democracy
icon Aung San Suu Kyi on her birthday on Thursday. At least six truckloads of
the so-called 'Masters of Force' gang members waded into the crowd outside
the headquarters of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy in the former
capital, Rangoon.
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200806/s2280351.htm?tab=lat
est

China 'punishes' Tibetan rioters

By: Al Jazeera, June 20, 2008
Twelve people involved in rioting in Tibet's capital Lhasa in March have been
handed down "punishments" by the courts, China's state media says. It is
not clear what sentences the 12 received but reports said 42 people in total
had been punished over the anti-China protests.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-
pacific/2008/06/20086201501727404.html

China 'frees Tibetan protesters'

By: BBC News, June 20, 2008
China has released more than 1,000 people involved in unrest in Tibet earlier
this year, Chinese media say. The official Xinhua news agency quoted a
senior official saying those freed had been held for minor offences connected
with the unrest in March.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7466313.stm
China: New website for a free Tibet
By: Global Voices, June 19, 2008
“With the start of the Beijing Olympics less than 50 days away,” writes cold
mtn at the Tibet Will Be Free blog, Students for a Free Tibet is stepping up its
Olympic campaign efforts with a new website. Check out their new strategy
and video here.
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/06/19/china-new-website-for-a-free-tibet/

China's Olympics euphoria tempered by Tibet riots,

quake losses
By: China View, June 19, 2008
The Tibet riots and last month's deadly earthquake have changed the
Chinese people's outlook on the Olympics from one of innocent enthusiasm to
a more sober and measured attitude. Hu Jianqiu, a 43-year-old Olympic
volunteer who is to drive for foreign sports officials, admitted that his initial
reason for applying to work for the Olympics was out of passion.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/19/content_8402421.htm

"Tibet's Cry For Freedom" documentary produced

By: AHN, June 19, 2008
Australian filmmaker Lara Damiani has produced a documentary about the
Tibetan freedom struggle called "Tibet's Cry for Freedom." The documentary
was inspired by the plight of Tibet and includes interviews with the Dalai
Lama.
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011327817

No show trials for Burma’s protestors

By: UPI, June 19, 2008
Nearly a week ago, the Asian Human Rights Commission issued an appeal on
behalf of U Ohn Than, who is imprisoned in Kanti in upper Burma. The 60-
year-old was among the few who protested last August against the
government’s unannounced dramatic increase in fuel prices, precipitating the
historic monk-led revolt in September.
http://upiasiaonline.com/Human_Rights/2008/06/18/no_show_trials_for_burma
s_protestors/9582/

UK and France press for Burmese democracy

By: 10 Downing Street, June 19, 2008
Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have called for
immediate democratic reform in Burma, and the release of pro-democracy
activist Aung San Suu Kyi.
http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page15808.asp

Maldives: Supreme Council bans Hassan Saeed’s book

By: Minivan News, June 18, 2008
The government’s Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs has banned a book co-
authored by former attorney general and presidential candidate Dr Hassan
Saeed, Freedom Of Religion, Apostasy and Islam, on the grounds that it
“violates Islamic principles”.
http://www.minivannews.com/news/news.php?id=4605

CENTRAL ASIA
Tajikistan: Khorog residents protest against central
government
By: Eurasia Daily Monitor, June 20, 2008
On June 18, residents of Tajikistan's Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast
(GBAO) staged protests in Khorog, the oblast's administrative center. Some
300 people demanded that the government withdraw troops that were
dispatched to the oblast a few days ago to capture field commanders from
the 1992 to 1997 civil war who are allegedly hiding in the area (CA-News,
June 18).
http://jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2373163

Kyrgyzstan: Confidential files, "illegal" worship and

expulsions
By: Forum 18, June 20, 2008
Demands by Kyrgyzstan's National Security Service (NSS) secret police to see
confidential files on individual students at Bishkek's Protestant United
Theological Seminary seem to have been the catalyst for the expulsion in
June of its rector, New Zealander Edward Sands. "I have always regarded
these as confidential and told them that," Sands told Forum 18 News Service.
http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1145

Kyrgyzstan: Questioned for six hours at the Ministry

of Interior
By: HRH, June 18, 2008
Two employees of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee´s office in Bishkek,
Elena Mamadnazarova and Ivar Dale, right, were questioned at the Ministry of
Interior (MVD) for six hours yesterday. The two were questioned about the
activities of the office, about their legal grounds of residence in the Republic
of Kyrgyzstan and the registration of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee´s
(NHC) office. By the end of the questioning, NHC reached an agreement with
the MVD.
http://www.humanrightshouse.org/dllvis5.asp?id=6697

Uzbekistan: 'Muzzled again'

By: International Crisis Group, June 18, 2008
It was on. Then, it was off. Next, on again. And off again. Finally, Uzbekistan
held its “media freedom” conference without having to host any of those
pesky journalists and civic activists who might ask questions like, “How is it
that you’ve signed international conventions on freedom of expression and
yet no independent media outlets exist in Uzbekistan?” Or “Why are so many
Uzbek journalists in exile, in prison or in the cemetery?”
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5500&l=1

HR defender hospitalized after police beating in

Azerbaijan
By: HRH, June 16, 2008
The Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) is seriously concerned about the
alleged threats and beating by Azeri police last Saturday of Emin Huseynov,
right, a well-known human rights defender. The gross violations followed in
the wake of the police´s breaking up of a marking of Che Guevara´s 80th
birthday in the Alaturka Cafe in Baku.
http://www.humanrightshouse.org/dllvis5.asp?id=6696

ARTICLES OF INTEREST
'Media should strengthen role as human rights
advocates'
By: ABS CBN, June 20, 2008
Families of victims of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings on
countless times have thanked the media for keeping their quest for justice
alive by continuously reporting on the hundreds of cases of human rights
violations in the country.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=122353

Steadfast in protest - Observatory's annual report for

2007 is out
By: HRH, June 19, 2008
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint
programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), releases its 2007 Annual Report
today. The report focuses on the year-round fight for human rights and
includes contributions from Hina Jilani, right, Desmond Tutu, Barbara
Hendricks, José Ramos Horta, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel and Wei Jingsheng.
http://www.humanrightshouse.org/dllvis5.asp?id=6706

The International Center on Nonviolent Conflict is pleased to circulate this

daily selective digest of world news related to past, present and potential
nonviolent conflicts, including active civilian-based struggles against
oppressive regimes, nonviolent resistance, political and social dissidence,
and the use of nonviolent tactics in a variety of causes. We also include
stories that help readers glimpse the larger context of a conflict and that
reflect on past historical struggles.

If you have specific items that you would like us to include in the daily digest,
please send them to us. If there is a news or information source that you
believe we may not be accessing, for purposes of selecting items, please
bring that to our attention. Thank you.