ARACELI PALAFOX WRITES – Hashtags let Twitter users teleport between the realm of zombie apocalypses and the fury of angry political protests. All the dishes you can imagine are served at this vast digital buffet. These days, anything can become a trend on Twitter by simply inserting a hash tag before…
Tag: human rights
MALAYSIA: Say Goodbye to Human Rights
MARLENA NIP WRITES – Malaysian citizens are watching human rights disappear right before their eyes. Prime Minister Najib Razak and his fellow lawmakers passed new crime-prevention legislation in response to recent organized crime outbreaks. These amendments did not pass without heated debate. In recent months, there have been a number of robberies and high-profile, public…
BAHRAIN: Human Rights Violator Wants to Judge
ELODIE INTROIA WRITES – Earlier this month, the European Parliament issued a warning on deteriorating human rights in Bahrain. Despite its seemingly progressive human rights legislations, NGOs and the international media have exposed the tight grip the kingdom is keeping on its citizens. Bahrain is a beautiful island country where…
MYANMAR: A Buddhist Plan to Segregate Muslims
ELODIE INTROIA WRITES – Religious violence has flared in Myanmar for more than a year. Now a disturbing neo-Nazi-like movement has emerged that aims to contain the rights of minority Muslims. The man critics say is behind the effort: Buddhist monk Ashin Wirathu. Wirathu’s 969 Movement has been widely described as…
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LADY: WHY IS SHE NOT SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THE ROHINGYA?
ELODIE INTROIA WRITES – In view of recent events, journalists and activists have come together to call on Aung San Suu Kyi to raise awareness and be the voice of what the United Nations has called the world’s most persecuted people – The Rohingya.
MYANMAR: Obama Set to Visit Key Asian Nations
President Barack Obama knows he is making history with his 80-hour stop overs in Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), and Cambodia. He will be the first President to visit half of the ASEAN membership while still in his first term. Speculation about Obama’s motives behind the visit have created an influx of…
PAKISTAN: Forced Conversions or Cultural Assimilation?
Of the 180 million population in Pakistan, little more than one percent are Hindus. But increasingly they are said to be fearing for their religious identity — and lives — as more and more coerced conversions have been reported. The Independent Human Rights Commission in Pakistan (HRCP) claims that the…
INDONESIA: Amnesty International Condemns Police Violence
Amnesty International recently released a report condemning police actions in response to the December 24th protests near Bima, Indonesia. The protest came in response to recent approval of an exploration permit given to a gold mining company operating in the region.
JAPAN: Okinawan Newspaper Puts It All on the Record
The relocation of the U.S. Futenma airbase in Okinawa continues to be a pressing issue in Japan’s political discourse. The government has been criticized for its sluggish pace and lack of definitive decisions…
INDONESIA: Jakarta Post Take a Tough Stand on Papuan Death Controversy
Amnesty International has released a stunning report on the death of three peaceful protesters participating in the Third Papuan Peoples’ Congress rally on October 19th that came at the hands of Indonesian security forces…