Full Coverage: Democrazia

30.04.2008 WASHINGTON, Apr 30 (OneWorld) - The mainstream League of Women Voters lashed out at the U.S. Supreme Court this week, calling its decision on voter identification "a disgraceful decision by a court that has no credibility on election issues."

28.04.2008 Nepal Maoists owe their impressive performance in the recently held elections to the support of the marginalised communities. It is now up to the former rebels to prove themselves and come up to the expectations of these people whose interests have long been ignored in the past.

24.04.2008 BANGKOK, Apr 23 (IPS) - A rising star within the ranks of Burma's military regime is reported to have unveiled a plan to ensure the junta gets its way at the May referendum for a new constitution, according to information revealed to IPS.

22.04.2008 Frail but fierce Irom Sharmila has been on hunger strike for the last eight years demanding a repeal of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Manipur. The Act empowering armed forces to shoot and kill insurgents continues to be grossly misused in the north-eastern Indian state.

18.04.2008 ASUNCION, Apr 17 (IPS) - An indigenous woman has an excellent chance of winning a seat in Congress for the first time in the history of Paraguay, in Sunday's general elections.

15.04.2008 That they would be a force to reckon with, nobody denied. But they would do well in the polls has come as a surprise. The results declared so far in Nepal’s Constituent Assembly elections indicate that ensuring a simple majority for the Maoists is now almost a certainty.

15.04.2008 As a first legislative step towards getting rid of the remnants of Emergency, the new Pakistani government has tabled a bill in the national assembly seeking to revoke the draconian gag imposed on the country’s electronic media. A separate bill is also round the corner that will undo the restrictions on print media.

12.04.2008 WASHINGTON, Apr 11 (OneWorld) - African development experts here are cautiously optimistic that Zimbabwe's election process, while still disputed, will bring about historic change for the country's 12 million people.

11.04.2008 Even in his criticism of the Chinese authorities in handling the current standoff in Tibet, the Dalai Lama never lost his composure. In a recent interview, the Tibetan spiritual leader has reiterated his stand that he wants a ‘meaningful autonomy’ for the protection and preservation of Tibetan ecology and culture.

10.04.2008 ASUNCION, Apr 10 (IPS) - For the first time in Paraguayan history, a woman is running for president in the elections on Apr. 20, as the candidate of the Colorado Party, which has governed this country continuously for 61 years.

10.04.2008 Nepal’s historic poll began early this morning. About 17.6 million eligible voters will have a choice to elect a Constituent Assembly that will decide the fate of the 240-year old Shah dynasty in the country.

09.04.2008 Nepal has sealed its border with India ahead of polling for security reasons. At least 20 people are reported to have died in election-related violence, including yesterday’s killing of a candidate from a prominent party. Final preparations are on with poll officials reaching 21,000 polling stations dotting the country.

08.04.2008 Cadres of Maoists and other political parties in Nepal continued to clash with each other until the last day of campaigning. Over 200 poll-related incidents of violence in the last one month have been recorded. It is now to be seen how peacefully the elections take place on April 10.

07.04.2008 Campaign is in full swing for the historic April 10 Constituent Assembly polls in Nepal. In its final assessment report, the UN has urged political groups to refrain from violent and intimidating tactics. The report also says that there have been attempts to buy votes using state resources.

04.04.2008 When recently Bhutan took its first steps towards democracy, the international community and media showered praise on its monarch. But for those living in exile for past 17 years and more, will this herald a new chapter in their lives and will they be able to return to the land that they consider their own?