Full Coverage: Democracy

31.05.2005 The assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri set off a chain of events in Lebanon leading to Syria's military withdrawl from the country and new elections. Now it appears that Hariri's son is sweeping to victory in the polls, but is anything really changing in Lebanon?

31.05.2005 Le peuple français vient de dire non au traité constitutionnel. Un non très majoritairement démocratique et européen. Ce faisant, les citoyennes et les citoyens ont d’abord dit non au néolibéralisme, dont le texte soumis à référendum constituait une éloquente défense et illustration.

31.05.2005 The “Women and Society” centre from Sarajevo strongly condemned the decision by the State Electoral Commission to fill its ranks not through a public competition, but that the members should be appointed by the Parliament. At the same time, the Centre reminded at the appalling gender misballance in the Commission and demanded that it is repaired .

30.05.2005 Con circa il 55% dei votanti la Francia ha pronunciato un secco no alla nuova Costituzione europea aprendo di fatto la crisi all'interno del governo. Nonostante secondo i sondaggi sia in vantaggio il no anche nel voto di mercoledi in Olanda, le letture del voto francese in Italia sono attribuite a un “soprassalto emotivo di egoismi nazionali venati di razzismo”. Ma l’editoriale del settimanale Carta spiega come il voto ha voluto bocciare il progetto neoliberista della Costituzione che prevede con la direttiva Bolkestein una concorrenza selvaggia tra lavoratori dei vari paesi. “Un No autenticamente europeo e internazionalista per una Europa solidale, sociale, pacifica, democratica” precisano dal movimento Attac. Intanto ai movimenti transalpini viene lanciata una proposta di convocare nei prossimo mesi una Convenzione dei cittadini europei, a Parigi, in cui gettare le fondamenta di una Costituzione effettivamente democratica.

26.05.2005 La capitale bolivienne a passé la journée d'hier isolée du reste du pays en raison des manifestations et des barrages de routes, auxquelles s'ajoutera aujourd'hui la fermeture de son aéroport international. Le président Carlos Mesa a répété qui continuera son mandat jusqu'en 2007 tandis que se multiplient les doutes sur cette possibilité.

26.05.2005 Although the last-minute deal reached by senators Monday night takes the “nuclear” option off the table, the move allowed some of President Bush's most controversial nominees to move forward and the real fight--over future Supreme Court nominations—is still to come.

26.05.2005 President Mahmoud Abbas' White House visit this week--the first between a Palestinian leader and President Bush--will likely be feted as an example of the Middle East's democratic potential. But it will also serve as an example of democracy's uncertainties, says journalist Howard LaFranchi, as Bush refuses to lessen support for Israel and Congress is unwilling to finance Palestinian aid.

25.05.2005 Presqu’un an a passé depuis le jugement du Tribunal international de justice à l’effet que la construction du Mur par le gouvernement israélien était illégale. Dans son jugement, le tribunal réclamait de l’ONU des actions concrètes pour mettre fin à cette situation. Mais en pratique, rien n’a été fait.

25.05.2005 Uganda is in some financial difficulty as donor countries threaten to follow the lead taken by the UK in withholding aid funds in response to insufficient progress towards true democracy - something of a change from the unpopular conditions of privatisation and free trade.

25.05.2005 WASHINGTON, D.C., May 25 (OneWorld) - The United States has ramped up arms sales to some of the world's most repressive and undemocratic regimes in a misguided attempt to bolster counter-terrorism efforts since the Sep. 11, 2001 attacks on U.S. soil, says a new report from leading arms trade researchers.

25.05.2005 KATHMANDU, May 24 (IPS) - It isn't easy working for Nepal's civil society these days. Groups pushing for the return of constitutional democracy after the Feb. 1 royal takeover are being harassed by state security forces, while rural development workers are squeezed between the army and Maoists as they battle for supremacy of the hinterlands.

24.05.2005 The new cycle of the “School of Democracy” by the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, started at the facilities of the Committee in Novi Sad. The programme is dedicated to youth, high school and university students, and youth Ngo activists, and will last till Friday, May 27.

24.05.2005 The Nepal Press Council has sought written explanation from Nepalese media organisation - Kantipur Publications - regarding a published news item in Kantipur Daily and The Kathmandu Post on May 21 that claimed the government has prepared a strict law to tighten its grip over the media.

24.05.2005 For the first time in Fidel Castro's Cuba, the government allowed a meeting of dissidents to speak their government criticisms freely and openly. The historic meeting, named the "Congress for Democracy in Cuba," was held last weekend and drew 168 participants from all sectors of society, calling for the release of political prisoners, a halt to capital punishment, and a return to multiparty politics.

24.05.2005 Last week's talks between Togolese President Gnassingbe and opposition leaders ended without agreement. Although after April's disputed election, party leaders pledged to form a power-sharing government, an alliance of Togo's six main opposition parties have demanded that before discussions are held, an independent probe into allegations of election fraud be conducted.

23.05.2005 A new report shows incidents of hate crimes against Muslims in the United States increased by 52 percent in the past year. Arsalan Iftikhar, of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, says this trend can partially be attributed to Islamophobic rhetoric from certain right-wing circles.

23.05.2005 A People's History of the United States made Howard Zinn one of America's most renowned intellectuals, examining events from the perspective of those affected, not just those in charge. He discusses his recently published companion volume, which is comprised of the primary source material from well-known figures like Sojourner Truth and Kurt Vonnegut that informed his earlier work.

20.05.2005 Democrats have resorted to the filibuster to block the lifetime confirmation of several extremist judges appointed by President Bush. Taking the extreme step of eliminating the filibuster--through what's being called the "nuclear option"--would roll back decades of progress for the aged, the disabled, and other vulnerable minorities, says civil rights leader Wade Henderson.

17.05.2005 U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has said he will launch the "nuclear option" to change the rules of the Senate Wednesday to push through President Bush's choices for lifetime judgeships. Find out more about this crucial issue, which will have dramatic implications for U.S. civil rights and democracy protections, and find out how you can take action.

17.05.2005 C'est cette semaine qu'on connaîtra le dénouement de la crise politique qui secoue actuellement la Chambre des communes, à Ottawa. En effet, c'est au plus tard jeudi, selon toute vraisemblance, qu'on saura si l'alliance Harper-Duceppe aura raison du gouvernement minoritaire de Paul Martin, lui-même soutenu par le NPD.