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Crackdown

Zimbabwe: Update – Second break-in at offices of ZESN in Masvingoposted on: 2013/02/21

On 21 February 2013, the offices of Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) in Masvingo were raided for the second time this week and several items were stolen. The incident follows a raid on ZESN's offices in Masvingo and Harare on 18 and 19 February respectively, during which confidential material was stolen.

Zimbabwe: Raids on the offices of ZESNposted on: 2013/02/20

On 19 February 2013, the offices of Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) in Harare were raided by plain-clothed police.Earlier that day, at approximately 2am, unidentified men broke into and raided the offices of ZESN in Masvingo, a town in south-eastern Zimbabwe.

Cuba: Ongoing brutal crackdown on human rights defenders during peaceful demonstrationsposted on: 2011/09/07

Since 17 July 2011, as many as seventy human rights defenders have been subjected to physical attacks, harassment, arrests and detentions while exercising their legitimate right to hold peaceful demonstrations calling for the release of political prisoners in Cuba.

Further Information

It is believed that these attacks form part of a brutal crackdown orchestrated by Cuban Government forces working under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior. Front Line expresses deep concern that similar attacks may be perpetrated against human rights defenders during similar demonstrations. Front Line previously issued an urgent appeal on 10 August 2011 following assaults on members of Damas de Blanco (Ladies in White) by pro-Government groups and police officers on 7 August 2011 in Santiago de Cuba and Palmarito de Cauto, in the eastern province of Cuba. Damas de Blanco is a human rights organisation which advocates for the release of political prisoners in Cuba.

On 4 September 2011 eleven members of Damas de Blanco were detained in two cities in Matanzas province; 5 in Colon and 6 in Cardenas.

Bahrain: Widespread crackdown on human rights defendersposted on: 2011/04/05

Over the past two weeks, human rights defenders in Bahrain have been subjected to an intensifying campaign of arrests, raids, threats and harassment as the authorities have cracked down on dissent following large-scale pro-democracy protests in February 2011.

Malaysia: Crackdown on members of human rights organisation HINDRAFposted on: 2011/02/23

Between 13 and 21 February 2011, some 80 volunteer members, and other individuals associated with the human rights organization Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) were arrested and detained throughout Malaysia before being released without charge.

Further Information

HINDRAF is a coalition of Hindu non-governmental organizations working on promoting the rights of the Hindu communities in Malaysia. The arrests and detentions are reportedly related to the organization's ongoing preparations for an anti-racism march, which is due to take place on 27 February 2011.

On 21 February 2011 at approximately midday, Mr Gobalakrishnan Manickam, a member of the Malaysian Human Rights Party (which is also involved in the organization of the aforementioned march), was arrested at his home in Batang Kali by policemen who reportedly did not possess a valid Court Order for his arrest. He was subsequently denied contact with his lawyer and family members until his release.

Bahrain: Human rights defenders attacked during fatal police crackdown on peaceful protestersposted on: 2011/02/17

Early in the morning of 17 February 2011, a number of human rights defenders documenting human rights violations, including members of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human rights (BYSHR) and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), were assaulted during alleged indiscriminate attacks against individuals taking part in the ongoing protests in Bahrain.

Further Information

Information received by Front Line indicates that on 17 February 2011 at approximately 3am, the Bahrain special security forces launched an attack on the large group of peaceful protesters who had gathered at Pearl roundabout in Al-Manama, using teargas, rubber bullets and shotguns.

It is alleged that the security forces waited for the protesters, many of whom were camping at the roundabout, to fall asleep before launching indiscriminate attacks on the crowd from the bridge that faces the Pearl roundabout. Protesters, including women and children, ran for cover only to be confronted and attacked by more police coming from the opposite direction.

The police are reportedly continuing to attack anyone who may appear at the Pearl roundabout.

China – Government crackdown on human rights defenders for commemorating the 60th anniversary of the UDHRposted on: 2010/10/08

Front Line is seriously concerned following reports received of a widespread police crackdown, including a wave of arrests and incommunicado detentions of human rights defenders, in the context of their commemoration of the the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).