Stories from 6 October 2012
Cuba: Yoani Sánchez Released After 30 Hours in Custody
Cuban blogger Yoani Sánchez and bloggers Agustín Díaz and Reinaldo Escobar (Sánchez's husband), were released from police custody in Havana, Cuba, after having been detained in the eastern city of Bayamo the previous day.
Bangladesh: Ramu Attacks – A National Shame
Recently religious extremists attacked Bangladesh Buddhist temples and households on charges of the desecration of the Quran. People have protested against these attacks all over the country and Facebook, blogs and online media are filled with messages condemning the attack.
Iran: New Video Claims Mass Protest
A new video shared in YouTube claims mass protest on Wednesday,October 3, as Tehran's Bazzar went on strike.
Reactions to North Korean Soldier Defected to South Korea Across Border
As a North Korean soldier allegedly killed two of his superiors and defected to South Korea, numerous comments were made; Some suggesting a possibility of him being a spy, while other worried for his family left in North Korea.
Venezuela: Chávez Holds Huge Closing Campaign Rally in Caracas
President Hugo Chávez held a final campaign event in Caracas on October 4. Despite the rain, his followers filled major avenues in central Caracas, waving flags and cheering as they showed their support before election day on October 7. Many shared videos of the event on YouTube.
Brazil: Protest Against Privatization Repressed by Police
A peaceful demonstration in front of the City Hall of Porto Alegre, Brazil, on October 4, ended with police brutality and teargas on the protesters, Sul21 reports [pt] (with photos and videos). Students were dancing in protest against the privatization of several public spaces around the city sponsored by Coca Cola...
Preserving Southeast Asia's Peatlands
Peat swamp forests in Southeast Asia cover approximately 35 million hectares in the region. An inter-nation network was set-up to preserve the peatlands which play a ‘critical role in the economy and ecology of the region – providing timber and non-timber forest products, water supply, flood control and many other...
How Indonesia Filters Internet Content
Suara Blogger Indonesia explains how the Indonesian government blocks internet content in the country through the help of local Internet Service Providers. Indonesia has one of the most active social media communities in the world.
Turkey: Kurds Respond on Social Networking Sites to AKP Congress
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan hailed Turkey as a rising democratic power at the Justice and Development Party (AKP)'s conference last week. But criticism was vibrant on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, accusing the Prime Minister of repressing Kurdish masses while advocating for the freedom of others, such as the Palestinians.
Turkey: Thousands Protest in Istanbul Against War on Syria
Turkey's military has attacked Syrian targets in response to the killing of five Turkish civilians by Syrian government forces. In Turkey, the slogan Savasa hayir, which means “no to war,” became top trending topic among Twitter users on Thursday morning. And since the cross-border military action mandate has been approved, social networks have been divided on the issue, creating a firestorm of opinions from activists, pundits and the like.
Thailand: Films Chosen for Historical Registry
Thailand's Culture Ministry and the Thai Film Archive have identified 25 films to be included in the country's historical registry. Blogger Wise Kwai discusses the importance of some of the films in the list.
Saudi Arabia: Secret Trial Continues, So Does Activist Refusal
Earlier today, the Riyadh Criminal Court held the fourth hearing session for the ongoing trial of prominent human rights defenders and reformists Mohammad al-Qahtani and Abdullah al-Hamid. The first two hearing sessions were public, but when the judge decided to held the third hearing session secretly, they decided to leave.
Iran: Call for Online Action to Save A Political Prisoner
Activists call for urgent online action to save Gholamreza Khosravi,a political prisoner,from execution in Iran.
Tajikistan: Mixed Reactions Over Russian Base Deal
Russian President returns from a visit to Tajikistan with a deal that extends Moscow's lease on its military base in the Central Asian country for another three decades. Within Tajikistan, reactions to the arrangement differ from praising the authorities for a "win-win situation" to criticizing them for a "national humiliation".
