Harry's Place

Efraín Ríos Montt, the former Guatemalan dictator who in the 1980s approved the massacre of Indians and refugees during the country’s civil war, has been convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity.
Judge Yasmín Barrios sentenced General Ríos Montt, 86, to 80 years in prison. His co-defendant, José Mauricio Rodríguez Sánchez, who served as the director [...]

Even before Hugo Chavez’s death was officially announced, his anointed successor Nicolas Maduro showed signs he was not entirely in touch with reality when he told the people of Venezuela:
“We have no doubt, the time will come in history when we can create a scientific commission to show that Comandante Chávez was attacked with this [...]

The good news from Cuba is that– after years of being denied permission to travel abroad– the great dissident blogger Yoani Sanchez (Generation Y) has obtained a new passport which will allow her to visit other countries.
By her own account Sanchez has on some 20 occasions been rejected for the much-detested exit visa that for [...]

I’ll have more to say about President Obama’s inaugural address later. But first:
Long-time readers of this blog may recall that even though I supported George W. Bush’s opponent in the 2004 presidential election, I was favorably impressed by much of his 2005 inaugural address. I observed:
Large parts of President Bush’s inaugural address could have been [...]

The attack on the US consulate in Benghazi and other violence has obscured the good news about post-Gaddafi Libya, according to David J. Kramer and Arch Puddington of the human rights group Freedom House.
They write in Foreign Policy:
Perhaps the past year’s most surprising development was Libya’s impressive progress toward democracy. For decades, Libya had ranked [...]

The website Arseh Sevom reports:
Isa Saharkhiz, Keyvan Samimi and Hila Sedighi are three of the 41 writers to receive 2012 Hellman/Hammett grants, awarded by Human Rights Watch, for their commitment to free expression and their courage in the face of persecution.
Mr. Saharkhiz a veteran journalist arrested shortly after the June 2009 presidential elections. To this [...]

Even though this video is produced in the Hungarian language, it is worth a glance for a reminder that while the Roma population in Eastern Europe remains largely trapped in poverty, a new generation of urban, educated and politically aware young Roma are emerging. Thankfully.
They will need the solidarity and assistance of friends internationally if [...]

Cross-posted from James Bloodworth at Obliged to Offend
When things are grim at home it can be easier to seek comfort in developments abroad. And boy, are things grim at home right now. Stagnant levels of pay, an economically incompetent government determined to erode hard-fought workers’ rights and a lacklustre opposition. And worst of all, [...]

Passing on an appeal from Labour Start.
Yacine Zaid, a trade unionist and human rights activist, has been abducted by unknown men in Algeria.
The IUF, the global union federation for food workers, has launched an urgent appeal to the Algerian government to intervene to secure his release now.
Please take a moment to send off your message [...]

Human Rights Activists New Agency reports:

At least 35 activists helping refugees of Earthquake were arrested tonight in Haris, [East] Azarbaijan [province], after their relief camp was attacked by Iranian Security forces. In addition, one activist was arrested yesterday.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), activists arrested tonight are: Vahed Kholoosi, Shayan [...]