By: CS Monitor, November 30, 2005
A year old, Ukraine's "orange revolution" is receiving strong push back - from outside the country. Autocratic governments from China to Uzbekistan, fearful of the spread of street protests, have cracked down on the type of nonprofit, activist groups that played a key role in Ukraine's about-face to democracy.
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By: Radio Free Europe, December 1, 2005
Two Ukrainian journalists who arrived in Almaty last month to cover the 4 December presidential election are in police detention. They are likely to be deported from Kazakhstan just like their fellow journalists were forced to leave the country last month. Human rights activists and independent political observers say the current wave of expulsions of foreigners is the government's attempt to prevent any attempt to "export" a "colored" revolution to Kazakhstan like those in Georgia, Ukraine or Kyrgyzstan.
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By: Radio Free Europe, December 1, 2005
Azerbaijan's Constitutional Court today approved the results of the disputed 6 November parliamentary elections. Court Chairman Farhad Abdullayev said the outcome of the vote had been confirmed in 115 of Azerbaijan's 125 electoral districts. The court canceled results in six districts, including one where Ali Kerimli, the head of the reformist wing of the opposition Popular Front Party, was leading.
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By: International Herald Tribune, December 1, 2005
HONG KONG Opposition lawmakers on Thursday sharply criticized a plea by the Hong Kong chief executive, Donald Tsang, to support unpopular electoral changes that threaten to turn into a constitutional crisis.
By: Human Rights Watch, November 24, 2005
U.S. Should Cut Relations With Government Forces Who Stormed Courthouse. The Ugandan government should reverse its ban on speech and demonstrations linked to the trial of the main opposition candidate for president, Dr. Kizza Besigye, and end its intimidation of the courts, Human Rights Watch said today. The government issued the ban on speech and demonstrations on November 22 following criticism of the security forces' interference in a hearing related to the Besigye case.
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By: Iran Focus, November 30, 2005
There were more than 420 recorded political protests in Iran over the past month, according to an Iran Focus tally. 120 of the various protests, which included strikes, demonstrations, gatherings, and clashes, were carried out by workers in Iran. Students took part in at least 90 protests over this period while teachers held at least 70 such actions. Other groups held at least 140 protests.
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By: Muslim News, November 30, 2005
In a serious development in Bahrain, the police attacks a peaceful demonstration by the unemployed last night, injuring many and arresting others. Soon after the demonstration started and as it approached the American Mission Hospital, it was attacked from all sides by the police. Witnesses reported numerous casualties amongst the demonstrators as well as several arrests. Police prevented ambulances from entering the area. Citizens volunteered to take the injured to the accidents and emergency department of Salmaniya Medical Center for treatment using their own cars.
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