Full Coverage: Democracy

24.01.2008 Activists in Pakistan have come heavily on an ordinance to curb electronic crime. The government’s move of prohibiting the use of Internet and SMS is being seen as curtailment of freedom of expression and civil liberties. Pakistanis were extensively using blog sites to criticise the state of affairs in the country.

18.01.2008 Bhutan’s peaceful transition from absolute to constitutional monarchy will be over with the elections for national assembly on March 24. In December last year, the national council was elected. Two new political parties – The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa and the People's Democratic Party – are in the fray.

17.01.2008 In a recent report, Amnesty International India and Human Rights Watch have demanded an impartial enquiry into all acts of human rights violations that took place in the eastern India’s Nandigram area. Local farmers protesting state acquisition of land had clashed with ruling party supporters, leading to a spurt of violence since early 2007.

15.01.2008 Human Rights advocates are urging consumers and merchants to shun Burmese gems at the military government's latest auction of precious stones. Human Rights Watch has attacked the gem trade for propping up the military dictatorship and it is felt that western boycotts could significantly hamper the junta’s profits.

07.01.2008 UNITED NATIONS, Jan 7 (OneWorld) - Amid fears that ongoing violence could take many more human lives in Kenya, rights activists are calling for the government in Nairobi to allow an independent investigation of the presidential poll results.