Iranian Uprising:

Thousands of Iranian activists (and supporters of the uprising Green Movement) have protested in Tehran, the capital of Iran, leading to clashes with Iranian security forces. As the activists, some of which chanting “death to the dictator,” gathered in Azadi Square, security forces fired tear gas into the crowds and detained over 250 activists. The Guardian has reported that one person has been killed in the unrest and dozens injured. Mir Hossein Mousavi, Iran prominent opposition leader, was placed under house arrest. Hamid Dabashi, professor of Iranian Studies at Columbia University, told the Guardian: “With the revolutionary uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, the Green movement (the major opposition force in Iran) has assumed a renewed energy and has become even more radical than it was during the summer and fall of 2009. In today’s demonstrations the slogans were all targeted against Khamenei and Ahmadinejad and the last presidential election are all behind the Green movement now.”

Clashes In South Sudan:

Nearly 160 civilians have been killed in south Sudan during fighting between rebels and the army. The rebels are believed to be led by George Athor. In a recent vote to decide southern Sudan’s independence, almost 99% of people registered voted for the south to separate from the north, with the UN refugee agency expecting over 800,000 to move into southern Sudan this year. Colonel Philip Aguer, of the Sudanese army, said, “We were preparing for peace and we don’t know why (Athor) is waging war at the time when war has ended in Sudan… meanwhile we still maintain the spirit of reconciliation because the amnesty is still holding. So if Athor stops fighting, we will welcome him for reconciliation.”

Chinese Human Rights Activist Beaten:

Chen Guangcheng, a prominent Chinese human rights activist, and Yuan Weijin, Chen’s wife, have been beaten after releasing a video documenting their house arrest, according to Chinese Human Rights Defenders. The video, which shows Chen being spied on, was released by China Aid, a US based activist group. According to Wang Songlian, a CHRD spokesperson, “the beating was not light, but not life-threatening either.” Chen, a self taught lawyer who has been blind since birth, was imprisoned for more than fours after he exposed widespread forced abortions and sterilizations enforced by China’s one child per family policy. Bob Fu, a spokesperson for China Aid, said, “Chen Guangcheng is a hero to man people around the world, a peaceful advocate for human rights and a defender of society’s most vulnerable, its women and children.”

Chevron Fined For Amazon Pollution:

Chevron, the US oil giant, has been fined £5 billion by an Ecuadorian court for polluting a large part of the Amazon. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of 30,000 Ecuadoreans, who have been fighting the case for nearly two decades. The lawsuit was originally filled in New York in 1993, seeking $27 billion in damages from illness, deaths and economic loss due to oil spills. According to Ecuadorean groups, Texaco - which merged with Chevron in 2001 - dumped nearly 68 billion litres of toxic material into unlined pits and rivers between 1972 and 1992. Chevron released a statement calling the ruling a “fraud” and “illegitimate”.


Words: Richard Lemmer

Photo: Flickr user- juanzi 615