Simon Cooper& Ruth Riordan, Istanbul Since 1982, 122 people have given their lives in unlimited hunger strikes, known as death fasts — in struggling for the human rights of political prisoners in Turkey. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the
-
-
An August 8 Casablanca protest against Israel's war against Lebanon and the Occupied Palestinian Territories drew thousands, according to the Morocco Times. The Times reported: "Hailing the resistance of Hizbollah, the demonstrators called for peace
-
At an August 28 press conference in Jakarta, activists expressed disappointment over a recent decision by the governments of Indonesia and East Timor to extend the mission of the Truth and Friendship Commission (KKP). They also called for the KKP to
-
Doug Lorimer The August 7 Washington Post reported that after a "predawn raid by Iraqi troops and American military advisers on a stronghold of Shiite cleric Moqtada al Sadr erupted into a two-hour gun battle Monday", pro-US Iraqi PM Nuri al Maliki
-
Doug Lorimer On August 28, UN secretary-general Kofi Annan told journalists that Israel had committed 70 violations of the UN-ordered truce that ended the assault on Lebanon, compared to four by Hezbollah. Israeli officials argue that their
-
Kim Bullimore An investigative committee established by Israeli "defence" minister Amir Peretz to examine the military conduct of the war against Lebanon was suspended on August 22 after only a single day's work. It was suspended amid growing calls
-
Stuart Harrison, Toronto A 23-year-old sergeant in the US National Guard has become the latest deserter from the US military the September 1 Toronto Star reported. Corey Glass signed up for an eight year National Guard stint in 2002, believing he
-
Max Lane On April 5, the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) issued a resolution calling for the closure of the huge Freeport mine, a demand that had been raised by student protesters at a March 15-16 demonstration and at protests earlier in the year in
-
The September 9 Haaretz reported that during Israel's 34-day war against Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces fired 1800 cluster bombs containing at least 1.2 million bomblets into Lebanese towns and villages. Haaretz reported that soldiers in IDF
-
Coral Wynter, Caracas Venezuelan political activist Miguel Laffe and three friends, members of the Communist Party Youth of Venezuela, were invited by the Farabundi Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) to be international observers of the March
-
Jim McIlroy & Coral Wynter, Caracas Spokespeople for the main Venezuelan left parties that are campaigning for the re-election of socialist President Hugo Chavez on December 3 have generally supported Chavez's September 9 call for the formation of a
-
Stuart Munckton Associated Press reported on March 29 that Venezuela's oil minister Rafael Ramirez has said US oil giant Exxon Mobil is no longer welcome in Venezuela. Exxon Mobil had attempted to resist new legislation passed by Venezuela's