13 April 2009
Stories from 13 April 2009
Bangkok protests: Black Songkran
Songkran, the Thai New Year celebrated from April 13 – 15, is supposed to be a joyous event in Thailand. But this year’s Songkran has been described as the “Black Songkran” in reference to the chaotic and violent confrontation between soldiers and anti-government protesters. Two protesters were killed and more than one hundred were injured during the clash in the streets of Bangkok.
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Fiji: ‘The Media has been Muzzled'
In relation to the press, Fiji's new government installed “information officers” at newspapers, television and radio stations to enforce regulations against publishing any story “negative in nature” regarding the extraordinary recent constitutional events. In a letter to media organizations, the government pointed out they should broadcast “news that is pro-Fiji.”
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Iran: Environmentalists Campaign to Save Isfahan
Iranian environmentalists are using online media tools to save different cultural monuments such as The Si-o-se Pol or "33 Pol" (bridge of 33 arches) an architectural masterpiece in the heart of the Iranian historic city of Isfahan (Esfahan). A battle is ongoing between authorities that want to develop a new metro project and concerned citizens.
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Egypt: April 18 Declared Anti-Harassment Day
A Facebook campaign calling for a silent demonstration on April 18 against the harassment of women and girls in Egypt is slowly gathering momentum. The call for allowing Egyptian women to move around in safety in their country, was sparked after blogger Asser Yasser's harassers were acquitted. Marwa Rakha reports on the campaign in this post.
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I do not support capital punishment, in this instance there have no other alternative. What these killers have done is...