DemocracyNews
Monthly Electronic Newsletter of the World Movement for Democracy

DemocracyNews is a means of facilitating interaction among World Movement participants. A monthly e-newsletter, it enables participants to call for collaboration on democracy projects, announce upcoming activities and events, report on the results of recent work, and call for action on behalf of World Movement participants who are facing danger as a result of their efforts to promote democracy.

CONTENTS

DEMOCRACY ALERTS/APPEALS
1. Iran’s One Million Signatures Campaign Activists Harassed
2. Eighteen Protesters on Trial in Singapore

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS
3. Project on Middle East Democracy Adds Country Pages to Web Site
4. Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy Launches New Web Site
5. United Nations Democracy Fund Opens Third Round of Funding
6. Center for International Private Enterprise Announces 2009 Essay Competition
7. Call for Applications: International Human Rights Training Program 2009
8. Call for Applications: Columbia University’s Human Rights Advocates Program
9. Call for Papers: European Conference on African Studies
10. Call for Applications: Arthur C. Helton Fellowship

CIVIC EDUCATION
11. International Center for Not-for-Profit Law Holds Workshop on Teaching NGO Law

CIVIL SOCIETY STRENGTHENING
12. Report on Volunteering and Social Activism Released

CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE
13. International Peace and Development Training Center to Hold Several Trainings
14. The Asia Foundation Releases Public Opinion Poll in Afghanistan
15. Somali Civil Society Organizations Network Issues Statement of Solidarity

ELECTIONS
16. Zimbabwe Election Support Network Releases Post-Election Report

GENDER ISSUES AND SEXUAL MINORITY RIGHTS
17. Women’s Learning Partnership Publishes Tool for Family Law Reform
18. Center for International Private Enterprise Launches Online Forum for Women Entrepreneurs
19. Salzburg Global Seminar Makes Recommendations for Including Women in Peace Processes

GOOD GOVERNANCE, TRANSPARENCY, AND ANTI-CORRUPTION
20. Mo Ibrahim Foundation Publishes Index of African Governance

HUMAN RIGHTS, EQUALITY, AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE
21. Burmese Organizations Issue Report on Aftermath of Cyclone Nargis
22. Forum-Asia Issues Several Statements on Human Rights Violations in Sri Lanka and Tibet
23. Nigeria’s Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Voices Concern about Rivers State Public Procurement Act
24. New Tactics in Human Rights to Hold Online Discussion
25. Five Activists Honored with 2008 Human Rights Defender Awards
26. Rafto Foundation Awards 2008 Prize to Pastor Bulambo Lembelembe Josué of DRC

LABOR UNIONS AND WORKER RIGHTS
27. New Study Exposes Human Cost of China’s Economic Growth

MEDIA, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
28. Media Advocacy Group Threatened in Sierra Leone
29. Odhikar Issues Fact-Finding Report on Tortured Journalist

TOLERANCE AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
30. Human Rights Watch Calls for End of Crackdown on Catholics in Vietnam

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

DEMOCRACY ALERTS/APPEALS

1. Iran’s One Million Signatures Campaign Activists Harassed
Women’s Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace (WLP) reports that on October 26, officials at Imam Khomeini Airport confiscated the passport of Sussan Tahmasebi, a women’s rights defender and member of the One Million Signatures Campaign, thereby preventing her from travel.  Later in the day her house was searched and property seized, including books, CDs, and a laptop.  Last week the home of another Campaign member, Parastoo Alahyaari, was searched and her personal property and campaign materials seized.  Tahmasebi and Alahyaari are required to present themselves before the Security Branch of the Revolutionary Courts.

Earlier in the month, on October 6, Iran Human Rights Voice (IHRV) reported that three One Million Signature activists Ronak Safarzadeh, Hana Abdi, and Fatemeh Goftari were moved to solitary confinement.  Ms. Safarzadeh, a student and feminist activist, was arrested in her residence last year because of her association with the One Million Signatures Campaign.  About a month later, Ms. Abdi, who is also a feminist activist, was arrested on the same charge. 

The One Million Signatures Campaign calls for an end to discriminatory laws against women, such as men's uncontested right to divorce, polygamy, and child custody.

To read more about Tahmasebi and Alahyaari, go to: http://learningpartnership.org/en/advocacy/alerts/iranwomenarrests0307

To read more about the prisoners’ condition, go to: www.ihrv.org/inf/?p=1068

To read more about the One Million Signatures Campaign, go to: www.we-change.org/spip.php?article19

2. Eighteen Protesters on Trial in Singapore
According to the Singapore Democratic Party, on October 23, the trial began for 18 activists charged for protesting outside the Singapore Parliament House on March 15, 2008.  The trial is set to end on November 7.  The hearing is the first in the history of Singapore where a group of activists defied the law that prohibits the gathering of five or more persons in public. The protest was part of the “Tak Boleh Tahan” or the “Can't take it anymore” campaign to draw attention to poverty in Singapore and the government's greed in continuing to raise fees and prices even as wages of the people shrink.

During the protest, the individuals were confronted by the police and 12 were arrested.  They and six others were subsequently charged on two counts: for participating in an assembly and for participating in a procession.  The activists are challenging the law as unconstitutional.  World Movement participants Dr. Chee Soon Juan and Ms. Chee Siok Chin are among the 18 individuals on trial.

To read about the trial, go to: http://yoursdp.org

To read previous alerts, go to: www.wmd.org/democracynews/oct08.html#3

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

3. Project on Middle East Democracy Adds Country Pages to Web Site
The Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) recently added a section to its Web site that highlights open-source information and analyses for various countries.  Each Web page features a “country backgrounder” that provides essential information on political reform.  The Web pages are intended to be a comprehensive resource that presents readers with a variety of perspectives, drawing not only from NGOs, academia, and think tanks, but also from government and congressional sources.  Currently, POMED is featuring five countries: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Turkey.

Go to: http://pomed.org/country-pages

4. Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy Launches New Web Site
The Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) recently launched a new Web site that enables the organization to share information more effectively with its partners and democracy advocates worldwide.  With this new Web site, NIMD has in fact launched a broader online knowledge center with a new set of tools to document, share, and exchange information about its work with partners and others.  With the new tools, partners can also easily set up and manage their own Web sites.

Go to: http://blogs.nimd.org/archive/2008-10-10/nimd-has-a-new-website/media

5. United Nations Democracy Fund Opens Third Round of Funding
The United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) will open its third round of funding from November 10 to December 31, 2008.  Applications can be filled out online and must be completed in either English or French.  Projects should focus on one of the following themes: democratic dialogue and support for constitutional processes; civil society empowerment; civic education; citizens’ access to information; and participation rights and the rule of law in support of civil society.  UNDEF’s primary purpose is to strengthen the voice of civil society and ensure the participation of all groups in democratic practices.

Go to: www.un.org/democracyfund/index.htm

6. Center for International Private Enterprise Announces 2009 Essay Competition
In October, the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) announced its annual youth essay competition, an opportunity for youth around the world to get involved in a global civic discussion on issues that concern them.  The contest is open to young people ages 18-30 and has three general topics: Citizenship in a Democratic Society, Educational Reform and Employment Opportunities, and Entrepreneurship & Leadership.  Essays should be 2,000-4,000 words in length and must be submitted by March 1, 2009.  CIPE is offering a $1,000 honorarium for the winners, and will publish the top three winning essays in its ECONOMIC REFORM FEATURE SERVICE, which is distributed to more than 3,000 subscribers.

Go to: www.cipe.org/essay

7. Call for Applications: International Human Rights Training Program 2009
Equitas, a Canadian-based human rights organization, will be holding its 30th International Human Rights Training Program (IHRTP) on June 14 – July 3, 2009.  This annual three-week education event will bring together over 120 participants from 60 countries. The IHRTP is an intermediate-level program and provides a unique opportunity for human rights workers and educators to deepen their understanding of human rights and of the essential role of human rights education in effecting social change.  The application deadline is November 21, 2008; all applicants must speak either English or French fluently.

Go to: www.equitas.org/english/programs/IHRTP.php

8. Call for Applications: Columbia University’s Human Rights Advocates Program
The application for the 2009 session of the annual Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) at Columbia University is now available. HRAP is designed to prepare proven human rights leaders from the Global South and marginalized communities in the U.S. to participate in national and international policy debates on globalization by building their skills, knowledge, and contacts.  The Program features a four-month residency at Columbia University in New York with a structured curriculum of advocacy, networking, skills-building, and academic coursework.  Key issue areas include environmental injustice; labor rights violations; ramifications of resource extraction; public health crises; unsustainable development; and intolerance, xenophobia, and social exclusion related to globalization.  Applications are due December 19, 2008.

Go to: http://hrap.hrcolumbia.org

9. Call for Papers: European Conference on African Studies
The 3rd European Conference on African Studies, entitled “Respacing Africa,” will be held on June 4-7, 2009 in Leipzig, Germany.  Individuals are invited to submit paper proposals for presentation on the themes of over 100 planned panels.  Themes include conflict resolution, poverty reduction, gender issues, and the growth of youth movements.  To submit papers, individuals must register as official Web site users. After confirmation of registration, individuals can upload a <.doc> or <.pdf> file to the panel in which they would like to participate.

Go to: www.uni-leipzig.de/~ecas2009/approvedpanels

10. Call for Applications: Arthur C. Helton Fellowship
The American Society of International Law (ASIL) is now accepting applications for its 5th annual Arthur C. Helton Fellowship Program.  Helton Fellowships provide financial assistance in the form of “micro-grants” for law students and young professionals to pursue field work and research on significant issues involving international law, human rights, humanitarian affairs, and related areas.  The micro-grants are intended to ensure that these individuals have access to modest amounts of funding that can often stand between them and their first professional opportunities to become effective practitioners, experts, and scholars of international law.  The deadline for applications is February 13, 2009.  The Helton Fellowship Program, established in 2004 on the recommendation of the ASIL Honors Committee, recognizes the legacy of Arthur Helton, a remarkable ASIL member who died in the August 19, 2003 bombing of the UN mission in Baghdad along with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Viera de Mello and 20 others. 

Go to: www.asil.org/helton-guidelines.cfm

CIVIC EDUCATION

11. International Center for Not-for-Profit Law Holds Workshop on Teaching NGO Law
On September 12-14, the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) held a workshop in Kyiv, Ukraine, on teaching NGO law.  Over 30 professors and ICNL experts from 12 countries participated in the event and shared their experiences teaching NGO Law.  The event was co-hosted by the Ukrainian Academy of Municipal Management, an educational institution in Ukraine, which has offered the first course on NGO law in Ukraine for the past three years.  The purposes of the workshop were to share knowledge and experiences among participants to promote the introduction of more courses on NGO law in universities throughout the Newly Indpendent States (NIS), to contribute to the development of NGO law as an academic subject, and to expand knowledge of teaching methodologies.  The event provided an opportunity for active exchanges of experiences and cross-border learning among the representatives of academic institutions from across the NIS.

Go to: www.icnl.org/knowledge/news/2008/10-3.htm

CIVIC EDUCATION

12. Report on Volunteering and Social Activism Released
On October 24, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program released “Volunteering and Social Activism: Pathways for participation in human development,” a report based on a study undertaken by the three organizations in 2007-2008.  The background study finds that volunteering and social activism are important strategies for fostering people’s participation in social change and human development, and that volunteering, like social activism, can be purposeful and change-orientated.  Volunteering can influence agenda-setting, policy-making, decision-making and representation, and is also an important mechanism for promoting empowerment, personal transformation, and social inclusion.

Go to: www.worldvolunteerweb.org/resources/research-reports/global/doc/volunteerism-and-social-activism.html

CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE

13. International Peace and Development Training Center to Hold Several Trainings
In November-December 2008 in London, England, the International Peace and Development Training Center (IPDTC) will be offering four training sessions: Integrating Early Warning & Comprehensive Prevention (November 25), Systemic Peace-building (November 26-28), Introduction to Peace-Building (November 29), and Improving Effectiveness and Impact in the Design, Development and Implementation of Peace-Building Projects and Programs (December 1-3).  These intensive programs are designed for policy makers, aid and development workers, journalists, practitioners, and conflict specialists.  The deadline for applications for all four training sessions is November 14.

Go to: www.patrir.ro/training

14. The Asia Foundation Releases Public Opinion Poll in Afghanistan
On October 28, the Asia Foundation released "Afghanistan in 2008: A Survey of the Afghan People," a report that summarizes the findings from its fourth public opinion poll in Afghanistan.  The poll covers the largest population sample ever surveyed at one time in all 34 Afghan provinces.  Since 2004, the Asia Foundation has conducted four surveys, which have aimed to establish an accurate, long-term barometer of public opinion across Afghanistan to help assess the direction in which the country is moving in the post-Taliban era. The 2008 survey captures the Afghan public's perceptions of reconstruction, security, governance, and attitudes towards government and informal institutions, as well as poppy cultivation, the status of women, the role of Islam, and the impact of media.  The poll suggests that 38 percent of survey respondents say the country is moving in the right direction, while 32 percent say it is moving in the wrong direction, and 23 percent have mixed views. The Asia Foundation asserts that there is a clear trend towards greater pessimism over the last two years.

Go to: www.asiafoundation.org/country/afghanistan/2008-poll.php

15. Somali Civil Society Organizations Network Issues Statement of Solidarity
On October 23, 30 civil society organizations met at the Peace and Human Rights Network (PHRN) office in Mogadishu to discuss how best to draw upon the African Democracy Forum (ADF) for solidarity and advocacy around the current situation in Somalia.  The organizations also issued a statement of solidarity, calling on Somali organizations to support the peace process, encourage traditional means of peace building, and condemn any kind of violence against civilians. 

Go to: www.wmd.org/documents/1108dnews15.pdf

ELECTIONS

16. Zimbabwe Election Support Network Releases Post-Election Report
On October 8, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) released a post-election update covering the period from July 1 to October 5, 2008.  The report focuses on election-related court cases and petitions, presidential petitions, the proclamation summoning parliament, attempts at a political settlement, the appointment of Provincial Governors and Councilors, and the Basic Commodity Supply Enhancement Program (BACOSSI).   ZESN concludes that the country emerged from the 2008 elections, politically, socially and economically battered given the political violence that took place during the run-off.  ZESN calls for electoral and major political reforms in order to have an environment that will facilitate the conduct of free and fair elections.

Go to: www.zesn.org.zw/pub_view.cfm?pid=224

GENDER ISSUES AND SEXUAL MINORITY RIGHTS

17. Women’s Learning Partnership Publishes Tool for Family Law Reform
Women’s Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace (WLP) recently published “Guide to Equality in the Family in the Maghreb,” an innovative advocacy tool for reform of family law in Muslim-majority societies. Theguide outlines the process that led to the reform of Morocco’s family law, one of the most progressive among Muslim-majority societies.  Family law governs every aspect of a woman's life from minimum age and conditions for marriage, to divorce, child custody, and the right to work or travel.  Therefore, WLP believes that reform of family law is crucial to women's ability to participate on equal terms in both family and public life.  In each thematic module, theguide presents the current state of the law, then proposes religious, human rights, sociological, and domestic legal arguments for reform, well-supported by relevant data.

Go to: www.learningpartnership.org/en/publications/other#guidetoeq

18. Center for International Private Enterprise Launches Online Forum for Women Entrepreneurs
The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) has launched the Community of Women Entrepreneurs (CWE) to share ideas, experiences, best practices, and resources to empower women economically and politically.  Members of this community are leading entrepreneurs and business advocates who share their knowledge and receive fresh ideas from their peers in return.  CWE uses an online discussion forum to support a culture of entrepreneurship, expand the opportunities for women in business, and advocate for a better business environment. 

To visit the online forum, go to: www.reformsnetwork.org/women 

To participate in the community, send an email to: partners@cipe.org

19. Salzburg Global Seminar Makes Recommendations for Including Women in Peace Processes
In September, the Salzburg Global Seminar, an international institution dedicated to candid dialogue, fresh thinking, and the search for solutions to global issues, gathered more than 60 leading thinkers from policy, practice, and research to identify actions to be taken by key stakeholders to enact inclusive peace-building processes. The participants, representing UN agencies, NGOs, academia, and the private sector met to identify critical gaps in policies and the implementation of those policies related to the full and equal participation of women and civil society in peace processes and to articulate strategies to close those gaps.  Participants examined progress in implementing the United Nations Security Council Resolution (SCR) 1325 and in securing the contributions of civil society as a whole in peace building processes.

For more information on the Salzburg Global Seminar’s recommendations, go to: www.salzburgseminar.org/mediafiles/MEDIA44735.pdf

Including civil society in peace processes was highlighted in the World Movement’s August 2007 installment of “What’s Being Done On…Democracy NGO Participation in Formal Peace Negotiations.”  A special section of the installment was dedicated to women’s involvement in peace negotiations.  For World Movement resources on including women in peace processes, go to: www.wmd.org/wbdo/aug07/wro.html

GOOD GOVERNANCE, TRANSPARENCY, AND ANTI-CORRUPTION

20. Mo Ibrahim Foundation Publishes Index of African Governance
On October 6, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, a London-based African initiative, published its 2008 Ibrahim Index of African Governance.  This comprehensive ranking of sub-Saharan African nations according to governance performance against 57 criteria is based on data gathered since 2006.  Overall, it indicates that two-thirds of African countries have improved governance performance. 

Go to: www.moibrahimfoundation.org/the-index.asp  

HUMAN RIGHTS, EQUALITY, AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE

21. Burmese Organizations Issue Report on Aftermath of Cyclone Nargis
In October, a number of Burmese civil society organizations released “Post-Nargis Analysis – The Other Side of the Story,” a report that aims to contribute to understanding of the human rights situation in Burma after Nargis and to impact considerations of international donors on how best to reach those in need.  The idea of compiling the report emerged from a workshop organized by the Another Development for Burma project in August-September 2008.  In this workshop, representatives from civil society organizations based in Burma’s border areas came together to discuss the role of international financial institutions in Burma, both in general and in the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA) process. When studying the PONJA report, the participants realized that it failed to describe the obstructions of aid and human rights abuses committed by the Burmese military regime in the areas affected by the cyclone, even though they and their networks inside the country had witnessed many cases of such abuses throughout the relief phase.  Therefore, these independent civil society organizations have issued this new report.

Go to: http://appartnership.googlepages.com/Post-NargisAnalysis.pdf

22. Forum-Asia Issues Several Statements on Human Rights Violations in Sri Lanka and Tibet
In September, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia), together with its partner organizations delivered statements at the 9th Human Rights Council session in Geneva on the human rights situations in Sri Lanka and Tibet.  It also released statements on the Universal Periodic Review, on the potential advisory committee to be formed by the Human Rights Council, and on the effective implementation of human rights education.

To read Forum-Asia’s statement on Sri Lanka, go to: http://tinyurl.com/6remrl

To read Forum-Asia’s statement on Tibet, go to: http://tinyurl.com/5g94wj

To read Forum-Asia’s statement on the Universal Periodic Review, go to: http://tinyurl.com/67c8f5

To read Forum-Asia’s statement on the potential advisory committee, go to: http://tinyurl.com/6czmcf

To read Forum-Asia’s statement on human rights education, go to: http://tinyurl.com/5uw7sf

23. Nigeria’s Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Voices Concern about Rivers State Public Procurement Act
On October 7, the Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (IHRHL) in Nigeria issued a statement expressing its concern over the lopsided implementation of the Rivers State Public Procurement Act, which is supposed to establish a legislative assembly for the River peoples.  IHRHL believes that the Act has been carried out in name only and that its current implementation is encouraging corruption.  IHRHL calls on the governor of Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure the proper implantation of the Rivers State Public Procurement Act.

Go to: www.wmd.org/documents/1108dnews23.pdf

24. New Tactics in Human Rights to Hold Online Discussion
On November 15-19, New Tactics in Human Rights (New Tactics) will feature an online discussion on “Human Rights in Higher Education: Incorporating Practical Experience.”  Advancing human rights education at all levels of the education system is critical for building public awareness, understanding, and cultures that foster human rights.  The dialogue will feature ideas, experiences, and methods from higher education programs for incorporating practical experience into participants’ human rights curriculums to better prepare the next generation of human rights advocates.

Go to: www.newtactics.org/en/user/register

25. Five Activists Honored with 2008 Human Rights Defender Awards
On September 15, Human Rights Watch (HRW) awarded five activists the 2008 Human Rights Defender Awards.  The awardees include the co-founder of Burma’s Assistance Association of Political Prisoners and World Movement participant, Bo Kyi; Mathilde Muhindo of the Democratic Republic of Congo; Saudi human rights lawyer Abd al-Rahman al-Lahim; founder of the Sri Lankan human rights group INFORM Sunila Abeysekera; and Uzbek journalist Umida Niazova.  These human rights defenders will be honored at the 2008 Human Rights Watch Annual Dinners in Chicago, Geneva, Hamburg, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Toronto, and Zurich.  

Go to: www.hrw.org/english/docs/2008/09/15/global19810.htm

26. Rafto Foundation Awards 2008 Prize to Pastor Bulambo Lembelembe Josué of DRC
On October 30, the Rafto Foundation, a Norway-based human rights organization, awarded Pastor Bulambo Lembelembe Josué of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with its 2008 Human Rights Award.  He received the 2008 Rafto Award for his work with civil society, especially women.  The DRC faces a grave humanitarian crisis. Pastor Bulambo Lembelembe Josué brings hope for peace, reconciliation and human dignity to a people who have long suffered from the conflict in the DRC.  The most frequent targets of this hidden war are women.  In the last 10 years in the DRC, hundreds of thousands of women have been raped, many in excessively brutal gang rapes.  The Rafto Prize is an annual human rights prize awarded in memory of Professor Thorolf Rafto.  The awardee is generally an active participant in the struggle for the ideals and principles underlying the Human Rights Charter.  Previous award recipients include Thich Quang Do of Vietnam, Lidia Yusupova of Chechnya, and Rebiya Kadeer of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China.

Go to: http://rafto.no/?page=20&news=50

LABOR UNIONS AND WORKER RIGHTS

27. New Study Exposes Human Cost of China’s Economic Growth
On September 29, the Hong Kong-based China Labour Bulletin and Canada’s
International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development (Rights & Democracy) released a report that reveals that a large part of China’s remarkable economic development has been achieved at the expense of the basic rights of millions of former state-owned enterprise workers.  “No Way Out: Worker Activism in China’s State-Owned Enterprise Reforms” is based on five years of research.  It draws extensively on China Labour Bulletin’s litigation in defense of worker’s rights.  The publication studies the many ways the restructuring and privatization of China’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the last 20 years have violated the human rights of the workers laid-off in the process.  Documented violations include the systematic exclusion of former SOE workers from official channels of redress, criminalization of labor protests, and the denial of workers’ rights to social security, an adequate standard of living, freedom of association, and freedom from arbitrary detention.

Go to: www.dd-rd.ca/site/media/index.php?id=2302&subsection=news

MEDIA, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

28. Media Advocacy Group Threatened in Sierra Leone
On October 17, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that members of the Society for Democratic Initiatives (SDI), a Sierra Leone media advocacy group, have been receiving death threats after publishing a report on press conditions in late September.  SDI’s report, “The State of the Sierra Leone Media: A Year of Velvet Glove,” praised the country’s press freedom developments, but also cited impunity in attacks against journalists and the presence of criminal defamation laws as problems.  Director Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai told CPJ that he and Information Officer John Baimba Sesay have received threatening phone calls nearly every day in October.  SDI has filed a complaint with police in Freetown. 

Go to: www.cpj.org/news/2008/africa/sierra17oct08na.html

29. Odhikar Issues Fact-Finding Report on Tortured Journalist
On October 8, Odhikar, a human rights organization based in Bangladesh, issued a fact finding report on tortured journalist Noor Ahmed.  Noor Ahmed, the editor of the daily newspaper DOINIK SYLHET PROTIDIN and also the General Secretary of the Sylhet Press Club, alleged that on April 7, 2007, several officers of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested him and subjected him to severe torture.  Noor was released on bail on September 3, 2007, but with severe injuries.  Moreover, he has not been able to return to his profession due to threats from the RAB.  To produce the fact-finding report, Odhikar representatives spoke with Noor Ahmed, witnesses to the torture, and the relevant law enforcement agencies.  Summaries of those interviews are included in the report.

Go to: www.wmd.org/documents/1108dnews29.pdf

TOLERANCE AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

30. Human Rights Watch Calls for End of Crackdown on Catholics in Vietnam
On October 6, Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a statement calling on the Vietnamese government to immediately release those Roman Catholics who were arrested recently for holding peaceful prayer vigils in Hanoi.  HRW also calls on the Vietnamese government to hold police and others responsible for attacking Catholic parishioners accountable.  Vietnamese authorities have recently used tear gas and electric batons to disband peaceful Catholic prayer vigils in Hanoi, and bulldozed properties considered sacred to Vietnamese Catholics.  According to HRW, hundreds of unidentified individuals, some in the blue shirts of the Communist Youth League, have harassed, cursed, and spit at parishioners and destroyed church statues.  On September 19, 2008, authorities detained and beat a reporter covering these events.  As many as eight Catholic parishioners participating in the vigils have been arrested since the latest round of protests began in mid-August.  The Vietnamese government closely monitors religious organizations, and restricts the activities of those that choose to operate independently or do not affiliate with officially authorized religious organizations under the control of the government. Hundreds of Vietnamese are in prison for peaceful religious or political activities.  

Go to: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/10/04/vietna19915.htm

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

• Women’s Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace (WLP) – www.learningpartnership.org
• Dr. Chee Soon Juan, Singapore Democratic Party – http://yoursdp.org
• Ms. Chee Siok Chin, Singapore Democratic Party – http://yoursdp.org
• Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) – http://blogs.nimd.org/weblog/media
• Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) – www.cipe.org
• International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) – www.icnl.org
• CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation – www.civicus.org
• African Democracy Forum (ADF) – www.africandemocracyforum.org
• Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) – www.zesn.org.zw
• Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) –  www.forum-asia.org
• Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (IHRHL) – www.ihrhl-ng.org
• New Tactics in Human Rights (New Tactics) – www.newtactics.org
• Rafto Foundation – http://rafto.no
• Assistance Association of Political Prisoners – www.aappb.org
• China Labour Bulletin – www.clb.org.hk
• International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development (Rights & Democracy) – www.dd-rd.ca
• Society for Democratic Initiatives (SDI) – http://sdi.seacem.com