DemocracyNews
Monthly Electronic Newsletter of the World Movement for Democracy

June 2008

CONTENTS

DEMOCRACY ALERTS/APPEALS
1. World Movement Participant Mikael Danielyan Attacked in Armenia
2.Chee Soon Juan and Chee Siok Chin Convicted and Sentenced in Singapore for Contempt of Court
3. Appeals Issued to Drop Charges against Malaysian Cyber-Activists
4. International Federation of Journalists Condemns Jailing of Journalists in China

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS
5. Uzbek Civil Society Leader Released from Prison
6. Freedom Now Hires Executive Director and Opens Office in Washington, DC
7. Interview with Scholar Larry Diamond at World Movement’s Fifth Assembly

CIVIL SOCIETY STRENGTHENING
8. Report on Civic Resistance in Cuba Published

CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE
9. Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information to Hold Peace Education Workshop

ELECTIONS
10. Civil Society Groups Call on Zimbabwe to Allow Election Observers

GENDER ISSUES AND SEXUAL MINORITY RIGHTS
11. Memorial Foundation Addresses Homophobia in Iran
12. Meeting on Istanbul Action Plan for Women’s Rights Held in Cairo

GOOD GOVERNANCE, TRANSPARENCY, AND ANTI-CORRUPTION
13. Civil Society Group Calls on Liberia to Join Initiative to Recover Stolen Assets

HUMAN RIGHTS, EQUALITY, AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE
14. New Tactics to Hold Online Discussion on Video Advocacy for Human Rights
15. Iran Human Rights Web Site Launched

LABOR UNIONS AND WORKER RIGHTS
16. Human Rights Groups Denounce Bahrain’s Ban on Migrant Workers

MEDIA, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
17. Foundation for Human Rights Initiative Issues Open Letter on Media Freedom in Uganda
18. Alliance of Independent Journalists in Indonesia Issues Report on Violence against Journalists
19. Women’s Learning Partnership Publishes ICT Manual for Human Rights Advocacy
20. CIPE Egypt Office and Ahram Regional Press Institute Hold Forum on Informal Institutions
21. International Federation of Journalists Launch Breaking the Chains Campaign
22. YouTube Starts Citizen Journalism Channel

RESEARCH
23. Conference Will Launch Center for the Study of Imperfections in Democracy

ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
24. Online Petition Launched for International Aid in Burma

YOUNG PEOPLE’S POLITICAL AND CIVIC PARTICIPATIONP
25. TakingItGlobal Releases Special Issue of Online Magazine for Global Youth Service Day
26. Youth Media Network Launched

27. WORLD MOVEMENT PARTICIPATING NETWORKS, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED IN THIS ISSUE

DEMOCRACY ALERTS/APPEALS

1. World Movement Participant Mikael Danielyan Attacked in Armenia
On May 21, Mikael Danielyan, Chairman of the Armenian Helsinki Association and World Movement Fifth Assembly partcipant, was shot and wounded in Yerevan, Armenia following an altercation with Tigran Urikhanian, the former leader of the Armenian Progressive Party.  Artur Sakunts, another human rights defender who arrived a few minutes after the altercation began, told Human Rights Watch (HRW) that he witnessed Urikhanian verbally assault Danielyan, calling him a spy and a “shame to Armenia,” because of his human rights work.   Danielyan sustained light wounds on his chest and neck, and was treated for a sharp increase in his blood pressure by an ambulance arriving on the scene.  

HRW has called on the Armenian authorities to investigate the extent to which the victim’s human rights work was a motive for the attack.  Moreover, on May 27, World Movement Steering Committee member Yuri Dzhibladze of Russia circulated a statement in English and in Russian among participants from Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia.  The statement expresses solidarity with Mikael Danielyan and calls on the competent bodies of Armenia to conduct a swift, impartial, and comprehensive investigation of the circumstances of this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.  The statement has been endorsed by more than 40 individuals from across the region.

To read the World Movement’s statement in English and Russian, go to: www.wmd.org/democracynews/june08demnews01.pdf

For more information from HRW, go to: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/05/22/armeni18918.htm

2. Chee Soon Juan and Chee Siok Chin Convicted and Sentenced in Singapore for Contempt of Court
On June 1, Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) leaders and World Movement participants Dr. Chee Soon Juan and Ms. Chee Siok Chin were convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to 12 and 10 days prison, respectively, in connection with a defamation suit hearing that took place last week.  They began serving their sentences on June 4.  The charges arose during the cross-examination of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and Mr. Lee Hsien Loong in the assessment of damages hearing held at the Supreme Court last week.  Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his father, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, sued the SDP over an article published in its newsletter criticizing the government for lack of transparency and accountability. The courts awarded the case to the plaintiffs in a summary judgment.

In a separate court ruling on May 30, Dr. Chee was also found guilty of speaking in public, which is his fifth such conviction.  He was fined, but since he is bankrupt, he will be unable to pay and will be jailed for five weeks in default.  Dr. Chee has already been imprisoned on six other occasions for various charges, all stemming from his determination to advance democracy.

Ms. Chee participated in the World Movement’s Fourth and Fifth Assemblies in Istanbul, Turkey and Kyiv, Ukraine.  In 2006, however, Chee Soon Juanwas stopped at the airport in Singapore and prevented from attending the Assembly in Istanbul.  His passport was seized, and he was effectively put on city arrest.  Dr. Chee has already been ordered to pay Mr. Lee and other ruling party officials more than US$600,000 as a result of two previous lawsuits. 

For more information from SDP, go to: www.yoursdp.org/index.php/component/content/article/1-singapore/497-dr-chee-and-ms-chee-to-go-to-prison-tomorrow

For an article in the NEW YORK TIMES on the most recent case, go to: www.nytimes.com/2008/05/30/world/asia/30singapore.html?ex=1212811200&en=3e0d486e187fe8ef&ei=5070&emc=eta1

For previous World Movement DemocracyAlerts on Dr. Chee and Ms. Chee, go to: www.wmd.org/democracyalerts/may0808.html

3. Appeals Issued to Drop Charges against Malaysian Cyber-Activists
In early May, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), a FORUM-Asia member and World Movement participating organization, issued an urgent appeal condemning the sedition charges against two Malaysian human rights defenders, Raja Petra and Syed Akbar Ali.  Petra is one of Malaysia’s most prominent bloggers.  On April 25, he wrote an article on his news blog MALAYSIA TODAY about the murder of a Mongolian translator, alleging that Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife were involved.  He was arrested and released on bail on May 9.  His trial is scheduled for October 6, 2008.  Akbar has been accused of posting seditious comments about Malays and Islam in response to Petra’s blog article entitled, “Malaysia’s organized crime syndicate: All roads lead to Putrajaya.” He has been released on bail and will appear in court for a hearing on June 10. 

The two reportedly became the country’s first “Internet citizens” to be charged with sedition under Malaysia’s Sedition Act of 1948.  According to SUARAM, this is a violation of their right to freedom of speech and expression.  In its statement, SUARAM urged the Malaysian government to withdraw all the charges filed against the two men immediately and unconditionally. FORUM-Asia is deeply concerned over the human rights violations against Raja Petra and Syed Akbar and has sent communications regarding this case to the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders and the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

Go to: www.forum-asia.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1821&Itemid=133

4. International Federation of Journalists Condemns Jailing of Journalists in China
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns a new wave of jailing and detention of journalists in China.  Qi Chonghuai, a journalist working for China Legal News, and He Yanjie, a fellow journalist who co-wrote reports with Qi, were sentenced to jail by a court in Shandong on May 13.  Qi was sentenced to four years and He to two years.  Qi’s lawyer, Li Xiongbing, told the IFJ that the court hearing was unusually brief, indicating a lack of due process and consideration of the facts.  Li also accused local police of beating Qi repeatedly during his detention and barring him from speaking with his wife, Jiao Xia.  In another case, environmental activist and freelance journalist Chen Daojun was detained on May 9 on suspicion of “inciting subversion of state power.”  On April 3, writer and activist Hu Jia was jailed in Beijing on the same charge.  On May 3, Zhou Yuanzhi, a freelance writer and social commentator, was detained in Zhongxiang City, Hubei Province, in central China.  IFJ believes that the jailing of Qi and He and the new charges against other journalists in China reveal an increasing clampdown against journalists and writers in China in the lead-up to the Olympics in August.

Go to: www.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-condemns-jailing-of-more-journalists-in-china

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

5. Uzbek Civil Society Leader Released from Prison
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reports that on June 2, after almost 1,000 days in detention, imprisoned Uzbek civil society leader Ms. Mutabar Tojiboeva was released from prison.  Tojiboeva was serving an eight-year sentence for criticizing officials for violently ending a protest in the southern town of Andijon in 2005.  On May 16, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation issued an appeal to prominent rights groups to join them in demanding her immediate release.  Tojiboyeva, leader of the Ardent Hearts Club of Uzbekistan, was detained on October 7, 2005 following her criticism of the killing of hundreds of demonstrators by government troops in May 2005 in the city of Andijan.  As many as 17 different charges were brought against her including “threatening public order,” “membership of an illegal organization,” “slander,” “fraud,” “theft,” “blackmailing local businessmen,” and “tax evasion.”  In May 2006, she was sentenced to eight years in prison in a trial held under heavy security, raising serious questions about its fairness.  On May 15, 2008, Ms. Tojiboyeva was awarded the prestigious Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders. 

CIVICUS’ appeal followed a statement released on May 13 commemorating the three-year anniversary of the Andijan killings and calling on Uzbek President Islam Karimov and his government to protect the rights of citizens and civil society to peacefully protest without threat.  Although the Constitution of Uzbekistan pledges to safeguard the freedoms of assembly and association, repressive laws prevent citizens from registering independent organizations or organizing public demonstrations, particularly those concerned with human rights.  Any activity is regularly monitored by government officials, who use harassment as well as long and cumbersome procedures to deter and prevent peaceful civil society work.  The highlight of this year’s CIVICUS World Assembly will be a public rally on June 21 in the center of Glasgow, Scotland to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as to recognize the ongoing struggle of civil society activists, such as Ms. Tojiboeva, to defend the rights of their communities.

To read the RFE/RL report, go to: www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2008/6/35a99b95-25c7-40e2-8255-815b634e6d5e.html

To read the CIVICUS statement, go to: www.civicus.org/new/media/Statement-Mutaba-May2008FINAL.doc

6. Freedom Now Hires Executive Director and Opens Office in Washington, DC
Freedom Now has announced the appointment of its first Acting Executive Director, Maran Turner, who joins Freedom Now after working with the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) in Johannesburg, South Africa.  In this capacity, she advised on international human rights law and supported the efforts of regional lawyers involved in human rights matters and litigation.  Based in Freedom Now’s new Capitol Hill office in Washington, DC, Ms. Turner will lead Freedom Now as it expands its work helping to free prisoners of conscience.  Freedom Now is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that works to free prisoners of conscience worldwide through legal, political, and public relations advocacy efforts.  In April, Freedom Now organized a workshop on “Freeing Prisoners of Conscience: What Are the Effective Strategies?”at the World Movement’s Fifth Assembly in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Go to: http://freedom-now.org/board.php

7. Interview with Scholar Larry Diamond at World Movement’s Fifth Assembly
The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) conducted a number of interviews at its YouTube Reporting Station at the World Movement’s Fifth Assembly, recently held in Kyiv, Ukraine, including an interview with democracy scholar Larry Diamond.  The three-part interview is now available on the Fifth Assembly Web site.  Additional CIPE interviews, including one with Carl Gershman, president of the National Endowment for Democracy, will be posted soon.  CIPE maintains its own forum on the YouTube Web site.

For the interview with Larry Diamond and information about the Fifth Assembly, go to: www.wmd.org/fifth/index.html

To visit the CIPE Forum on YouTube, go to: www.youtube.com/CIPEForum

CIVIL SOCIETY STRENGTHENING

8. Report on Civic Resistance in Cuba Published
The Cuban Democratic Directorate (Directorio) and the Center for the Study of a National Option (CON) recently released STEPS TO FREEDOM 2006, a comparative analysis of civic resistance in Cuba from February 2006 though January 2007.  This is the latest in a series of STEPS TO FREEDOM reports, which document acts of civic resistance by Cuban opposition activists.  The report includes a list of major achievements by the resistance; an analysis of the pro-democracy movement in Cuba; the development of non-violent actions in 2006; and a record of non-violent acts since 1997.  The 2006 report, and previous reports dating back to 1999, are all available online.

Go to: www.directorio.org/publications/note.php?note_id=1175

CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE

9.Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information to Hold Peace Education Workshop
On August 8-9, the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information (ICPRI) will hold its Third Peace Education Workshop bringing together peace educators, peace studies practitioners, conflict resolution practitioners, mediators, and activists from academia, governmental and community organizations, and others from Israel, Palestine, and beyond.   The workshop will be an opportunity for dialogue and debate on theory and practice.  It will raise critical issues and encourage new insights into the profound peace education developments in Israel, Palestine, and around the world and will provide an excellent opportunity to build connections across multi-disciplinary sectors.  Registration is open through July 31; however, the deadline to submit abstracts is July 24.

Go to: www.ipcri.org

ELECTIONS

10.New Tactics to Hold Online Discussion on Training for Nonviolent Action
On May 16, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced that run-off presidential elections will take place on July 27.  Following the March 29 elections, the ZEC’s initial inability to produce the election results created an environment of chaos and violence in Zimbabwe.  Throughout the month of May, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has issued several updates addressing the escalation of post-election violence specifically targeting election observers and cases of police intimidation.  Most recently, on May 29, ZESN issued a statement questioning the additional application process for local election observers who wish to observe the run-off, even if they were accredited for the original elections.  In the statement, ZESN calls on the Minister of Justice to waive the second accreditation and allow all local observers accredited for the March elections to observe the run-off presidential elections as well.  ZESN also urges the Minister to allow new local observers to be accredited for the run-off election and to decentralize of the accreditation process to other provinces to ensure efficiency.

Also, on May 27, the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), a Ugandan NGO, issued a statement on the pending June 27 election run-off.  In the statement, FHRI calls for the run-off to be conducted within the framework of Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa set by the Guidelines for African Union Electoral Observation and Monitoring Missions 2004; the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections 2004; and Zimbabwe's electoral laws.  FHRI also asks that a peaceful environment be provided for voting, and that both local and international observers be allowed access as necessary.  The statement concludes with an expression of solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe.

To read post-election updates by ZESN, go to: www.zesn.org.zw

To read the FHRI statement, go to: www.wmd.org/democracynews/june08demnews10.pdf
 
To read the DemocracyAlert posted on May 6 concerning the Zimbabwe elections, go to: www.wmd.org/democracyalerts/may0608.html

GENDER ISSUES AND SEXUAL MINORITY RIGHTS

11. Memorial Foundation Addresses Homophobia in Iran
On May 17, International Day Against Homophobia, the newsletter of Omid: A Memorial in Defense of Human Rights, an organization focused on Iran, addressed the issue of homophobia.  In a lengthy analysis, Omid claims that the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to violate the dignity, the privacy, and the right to life of its lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) citizens.  Articles 108 to 134 of the Islamic Republic’s Penal Code impose specific punishments, ranging from 60 lashes to execution, for men and women found guilty of homosexual acts.  Since 1979, thousands of Iranians have been intimidated, harassed in their own homes, arrested, tortured, subjected to cruel corporal punishment, and executed.  Some are diagnosed with psychological disorders while others are forced to deny their sexual orientation or induced to repent as sinners.  According to Omid, 29 years of institutionalized violence and discrimination have driven Iranian gays and transsexuals to an underground life marked by fear.  It has also made them easy targets of violence in recent government campaigns against “hooligans.”  Omid calls on the Iranian government to stop all violence against individuals on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and to repeal the laws that criminalize their sexuality. The reintegration of LGBT individuals into Iranian society can hardly succeed if the State denies their existence, provides them with certificates for psychological disorder, and outlaws their relationships.

Omid: a Memorial in Defense of Human Rights is an electronic database of human rights violations in Iran. The Memorial is dedicated to the victims of the Islamic Republic since the Republic was established in 1979. Omid’s ultimate goal, however, is to provide an impartial historical record that includes victims of human rights violations in Iran since December 10, 1948, the day the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Omid is a project of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation (ABF), a nongovernmental non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of human rights and democracy in Iran. The Foundation, which has no political affiliation, is named in memory of Dr. Abdorrahman Boroumand, an Iranian lawyer and pro-democracy activist who was assassinated, allegedly by the agents of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in Paris on April 18, 1991.  It was founded in April 2001 by his daughters, Ladan and Roya.

To read the newsletter, go to: www.wmd.org/democracynews/june08demnews11.pdf

To learn more about Omid, go to: www.abfiran.org/memorial.php

To learn more about the Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation, go to: www.abfiran.org/english/foundation.php

12. Meeting on Istanbul Action Plan for Women’s Rights Held in Cairo
On May 11, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN), in collaboration with the Cairo Institute for Human rights Studies (CIHRS), held a meeting on women’s rights in the Euro-Mediterranean Region.  The meeting stressed the importance of the Istanbul Action Plan for promoting women’s rights and gender equality in the Mediterranean, which was agreed on and adopted by the European Union and South Mediterranean countries, including Egypt, at the Euro-Med ministerial conference on strengthening the role of women in society held in Istanbul on November 14-15, 2006.  The Cairo meeting highlighted the weakness in implementing of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, the limited participation of women in public life, discriminatory legislation, violence against migrant women, and domestic violence as main obstacles to the full participation of women in society.  Women’s rights NGO representatives from European and Mediterranean countries, including Egypt, Denmark, Finland, Jordan, Syria, Morocco, Tunisia, France, Greece, and Spain, EU and European embassy representatives responsible for activating the implementation of the Istanbul Action Plan, women activists, and researchers attended.

Go to: www.cihrs.org/left_details_en.aspx?left_id=1

GOOD GOVERNANCE, TRANSPARENCY, AND ANTI-CORRUPTION

13. Civil Society Group Calls on Liberia to Join Initiative to Recover Stolen Assets
On May 9, the Actions for Genuine Democratic Alternatives (AGENDA) issued a statement calling on the Liberian Government to join the Stolen Assets Recovery (StAR) Initiative, to recover wealth illegally accumulated and kept in other countries by present and past leaders.  AGENDA’s call comes in the wake of recent revelations made in Monrovia that billions of dollars have been traced to former Liberian Dictator, Charles Taylor, now standing trial in The Hague on war crimes charges.  The StAR Initiative is a partnership between the World Bank and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) that was launched by the United Nations on September 17, 2007, to help developing countries recover assets stolen by corrupt leaders, help invest them in effective development programs, and combat safe havens internationally.  This initiative will foster much needed cooperation between developed and developing countries, as well as between the public and private sectors to ensure that looted assets are returned to their rightful owners.  AGENDA hopes that the government of Liberia will move quickly to join this global initiative.

Go to: www.wmd.org/democracynews/june08demnews13.pdf

HUMAN RIGHTS, EQUALITY, AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE

14. New Tactics to Hold Online Discussion on Video Advocacy for Human Rights
On June 25-July 1, New Tactics in Human Rights will host an online discussion on video advocacy for human rights.  With new Internet technology, uploading videos to share with the world has become accessible to the general public.  Human rights practitioners around the world have found ways to transfer this technology to their own advocacy work.  New Tactics invites participants to join experienced practitioners using video advocacy in sharing methods, resources, and experiences from around the world.  Those who participate will have the opportunity to share their experiences as well as gain ideas and tools to apply to their own efforts.

Go to: www.newtactics.org/dialogues/home

15. Iran Human Rights Web Site Launched
The Association for Civic Society in Iran (ASCI), a nonprofit and independent association established in Zurich, Switzerland, has launched a Web site devoted to human rights in Iran.  Iran Human Rights Voice (IHRV) is a Web-based media outlet that monitors, reports, and provides news and analysis focused on cases of human rights violations among Iranian social and political activists, students, women, ethnic minorities, religious minorities, labor unions, and immigrant communities. The Web site seeks to shed light on precisely what is happening within Iranian society from the perspective of those who advocate for fundamental freedoms and for political, social, economic, and cultural rights.  IHRV maintains a nonpartisan approach in its reporting and monitoring of infringements of people's fundamental rights, and applies only human rights standards and criteria in attempting to protect and report on human rights defenders.  To encourage and promote human rights in Iran, IHRV aims to provide proper and credible documents to educate and gain the support of foreign human rights organizations, journalists, civic groups, NGOs, and universities working in the field of human rights. 

Go to: www.ihrv.org/inf

LABOR UNIONS AND WORKER RIGHTS

16. Human Rights Groups Denounce Bahrain’s Ban on Migrant Workers
On June 1, the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and Migrant Forum Asia (MFA) issued a statement denouncing the Bahraini government’s decision to ban Bangladeshi migrant workers in the country following the murder of a Bahraini national by a Bangladeshi migrant worker.  The statement has been endorsed by over 20 other organizations, including the Solidarity Center.  Less than a week after taking its membership position on the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Bahraini government declared a blanket ban on reissuing work permits to Bangladeshi citizens.  The decision followed the murder of a Bahraini man by a Bangladeshi mechanic in a dispute over a financial matter.  The governments of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have already implemented decisions to stop hiring Bangladeshi workers, allegedly due to the involvement of Bangladeshi individuals in criminal acts.  Recognizing that Bahrain has ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the human rights groups call on the Bahraini government to immediately reverse the ban and reconfirm its stance against discrimination based on race or sex. 

Go to: www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/2214

MEDIA, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

17. Foundation for Human Rights Initiative Issues Open Letter on Media Freedom in Uganda
On May 26, the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) based in Kampala, Uganda, sent an open letter to Honorable Kirunda Kivejinja, Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Information and National Guidance, Uganda, concerning curbs on media freedom.  In the letter, FHRI contends that the legal regime in Uganda is severely limiting the role of the media.  The letter refers to the cases of several journalists at the Daily and Sunday Monitor, The Independent Magazine, and The Weekly Observer that are pending in court on charges of sedition, promoting sectarianism, inciting violence, and criminal defamation.

Go to: www.wmd.org/democracynews/june08demnews17.pdf

18. Alliance of Independent Journalists in Indonesia Issues Report on Violence against Journalists
On May 3, in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day, the Jakarta-based Alliance of Independent Journalists – Indonesia (AJI), a member of FORUM-Asia, issued a short report on violence against journalists.  AJI recorded 60 cases of violence in Indonesia against journalists in various forms.  Between May 2007 and May 2008, there were seven cases of threats, five cases of harassment, seven cases of eviction or expulsion, three cases of imprisonment, four cases of news censorship, 21 cases of physical assaults, and eight cases of lawsuits. Most of the violence occurred in the Jakarta Special Region Province.  The violence against the press and journalists was committed mostly by mobs and thugs, followed by government, military, and police personnel. AJI calls on law-enforcement agencies to stop enabling violence against journalists and to stop their own persecution of the media as it threatens press freedom and the public's right to information.

Go to: www.forum-asia.org/news/in_the_news/pdfs/AJI_statement.PDF

19. Women’s Learning Partnership Publishes ICT Manual for Human Rights Advocacy
“Making IT Our Own: Information & Communication Technology Training of Trainers Manual,” the latest publication from the Women’s Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace (WLP), seeks to improve the technology skills of women activists and to introduce ways in which Information Technology (IT) can be used for human and women’s rights advocacy.   Intended for use in information and communication technology (ICT) training workshops and training-of-trainer institutes, the manual encourages activists to establish ownership of ICTs so that women can be both consumers of information and producers of knowledge.  The manual takes an assemble-your-own approach to training by providing the necessary components —guidelines for participatory facilitation, step-by-step “how to’s” for each technology tool, resources on CD, and an assortment of pre-assembled agendas – so the manual can be easily customized to suit the cultural and technical requirements of any community.  The manual was tested and adapted in ICT training sessions held in cooperation with the Afghan Institute of Learning; the Collective for Research and Training on Development-Action, Lebanon; and the Sisterhood Is Global Institute, Jordan.  The manual is available for purchase through the WLP.

Go to: www.learningpartnership.org/fr/publications/training/ict

20. CIPE Egypt Office and Ahram Regional Press Institute Hold Forum on Informal Institutions
The Center for International Private Enterprise – Egypt Office (CIPE – Egypt) and Ahram Regional Press Institute held its fourth writers forum over two days with the participation of 40 writers, leaders of political parties, senior business reporters, and representatives of business associations.  Discussions on the emergence of informal institutions in business, education, civil, and political society revealed the reasons behind this phenomenon and solutions to avoid the dominance of informal institutions working outside legal frameworks.  Participants agreed that laws regulating business, syndicates, political parties, and provision of public services, such as education, need to be substantially revised for formal institutions to become effective.   Participants raised concerns that the prevalence of informal institutions in all aspects of life in Egypt threatens the legitimacy of the state.  Papers, presentations, and ongoing discussions are available on the Web site.

Go to: www.cipe-arabia.org/Events.asp?id=48

21. International Federation of Journalists Launch Breaking the Chains Campaign
Member unions of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) across the Arab World and Iran launched a campaign on press freedom following a regional conference held in Casablanca, Morocco on May 19-21.  The Breaking the Chains press freedom campaign was officially launched and the report edited during the meeting.  The campaign urges decriminalization of press offenses and condemns the arrests, disproportionate fines, kidnappings, and violence targeting media professionals.  The Breaking the Chains report lists the main legal obstacles to freedom of speech in the Arab World and Iran and records cases of sentenced and jailed journalists. These cases provide a glimpse of the conditions in which journalists work and the atmosphere of intimidation and fear that currently pervades throughout the region.

Go to: www.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-affiliates-in-arab-world-and-iran-launch-the-breaking-the-chains-campaign  

22. YouTube Starts Citizen Journalism Channel
The video-uploading Web site YouTube has launched a new channel called CitizenNews.  Video bloggers (or “vloggers”) who specialize in reporting on what is happening where they live can now subscribe to the channel and let the world see their reports.   One featured participating organization, THE UPTAKE, specializes in recruiting local journalists to spread democracy through media.  In addition to providing citizen journalists with a platform to display their video reports, CitizenNews also allows viewers to comment on such reports, interact with the journalists, and participate in online discussions.

Go to: www.youtube.com/citizennews

RESEARCH

23. Conference Will Launch Center for the Study of Imperfections in Democracy
On June 18-19, the Center for the Study of Imperfections in Democracy (DISC), a research center at the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary, will be launched with a conference titled, “The Qualities of Old and New Democracies.”  The purpose of this launching conference is to initiate a dialogue about the qualities of democracy in the 21st century.  The event will bring together researchers and policy experts from different world regions to engage in in-depth panel discussions on various topics relevant for old and new democracies, such as clientelism, inequality, and corruption.  Combining diverse disciplinary, regional, and theoretical approaches, DISC aims to contribute to a reshaped research agenda for understanding democracy in the contemporary world.

Go to: www.disc-ceu.org

ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

24. Online Petition Launched for International Aid in Burma
In the wake of Cyclone Nargis, which hit Burma on May 3, an online petition has been launched urging the United Nations to apply the “responsibility to protect” doctrine to force international aid into Burma.  The cyclone has claimed over 20,000 lives, and some estimate as many as 100,000.  A half million people are unaccounted for.  Moreover, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has received credible reports that Burmese authorities have expelled hundreds, if not thousands, of displaced persons from schools, monasteries, and public buildings, and urged them to return to their destroyed villages in the Irrawaddy Delta.  The writers of the petition claim that international institutions have offered aid, but are unable to deliver it, because of Burmese government obstacles.  So far, over 9,000 individuals have signed the online petition.

To sign the petition, go to: www.petitiononline.com/nargis/petition.html

To read the HRW report, go to: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/05/30/burma18986.htm

YOUNG PEOPLE’S POLITICAL AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION

25. TakingItGlobal Releases Special Issue of Online Magazine for Global Youth Service Day
In recognition of Global Youth Service Day on April 25-27, TakingItGlobal dedicated the April 2008 issue of its online magazine, PANORAMA, to the stories and experiences of youth volunteers.  The issue features several articles and narratives from youth volunteers in Canada, Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, and the US.  Half are in English, and half are in Spanish.  The issue was written in collaboration with the Waves of Change campaign. 

Go to: http://en.takingitglobal.org/express/panorama/?dc=8.4,81969,en

26. Youth Media Network Launched
May 1 saw the launch of the Youth Media Exchange (YMEX), a collaborative project created by TakingITGlobal and Global Kids, in association with Asia Society.  YMEX is an online social network for youth interested in using digital media tools to share information on major global issues.  It seeks to provide a platform for social networking and other forms of digital media engagement, which have the potential to enable new kinds of learning, empowering youth to become a driving force in creating and shaping a shared future in an increasingly interconnected world.  The Web site aims to be a space where youth link to, embed, or generate the content that inspires them and discuss the global issues that are most important to them; reflect on their abilities to create and examine media; expand their network of contacts and collaborators outside of their communities; and enjoy learning, experimenting, creating, and communicating.

Go to: http://ymex.org

27. WORLD MOVEMENT PARTICIPATING NETWORKS, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED IN THIS ISSUE

• Mikael Danielyan, Armenian Helsinki Association – www.hahr.am
• Yuri Dzhibladze, Centre for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights
• Dr. Chee Soon Juan, Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) – www.yoursdp.org
• Chee Siok Chin, Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) – www.yoursdp.org
• Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) – www.suaram.net
• Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-Asia) – www.forum-asia.org
• CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation – www.civicus.org
• Freedom Now – http://freedom-now.org
• Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) – www.cipe.org
• Cuban Democratic Directorate (Directorio) – www.directorio.org
• Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI) – www.ipcri.org
• Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) – www.zesn.org.zw
• Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) – www.fhri.or.ug
• Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation (ABF) – www.abfiran.org
• Cairo Institute for Human rights Studies (CIHRS) – www.cihrs.org
• New Tactics in Human Rights – www.newtactics.org
• Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) – www.bahrainrights.org
• Migrant Forum Asia (MFA) – www.mfasia.org
• The Solidarity Center – www.solidaritycenter.org
• Women’s Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace (WLP) – www.learningpartnership.org