NEAR Newsletter December 2003
Welcome to the NEAR Newsletter. In this edition you will find our most recent Action Alerts and also an ‘Academic Freedom in the Media’ section, listing news by country (December 2003). Any comments and suggestions about the content and layout of the newsletter will be gratefully received at roisin.joyce@nearinternational.org.
NEAR Action Alerts *Taken from the NEAR website
China: Internet Dissident Released in China
Liu Di, 23, a psychology student at Beijing Normal University known online by the pen name "Stainless Steel Mouse," arrested for criticising the Communist Party on the internet has been released from prison the 28 November 2003. Liu Di had been held without charge since November 2002 after she allegedly criticised the jailing of a prominent internet dissident, Huang Qi.
Nepal: Fate of Nepalese Teacher Still Unknown
Amnesty International informed that Hari Dev Mandal, a teacher arrested the 26 September 2003 by the Nepalese authorities for no know reason, was reportedly released from army custody at 2pm on 11 November, in the presence of his relatives. He was held at Viman army barracks in Dhanusha. Reports suggest that he was kept blindfolded for the first 13 days of his detention.
China: Biology Professor Sentenced for ‘Subversive’ Essays
Biology professor Yan Jun has been sentenced to two years in prison for publishing several "subversive" essays on the Internet. In one of his writings, the cyber-dissident condemned the lack of press freedom in China. Reporters Sans Frontieres has called on Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiaboa to release Yan Jun.
Haiti: University Officials and Students Attacked
Amnesty International has received reports of violence against the students and the rector of the State University of Haiti while they were protesting against government practices the 5 December 2003. According to the information received, students were attacked by pro-government counter-demonstrators on university grounds, in the presence of police who did not intervene in time to stop the violence.
Kuwait: Researcher detained for lecture on Islamic historical issues
The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is seriously concerned about the detention of writer, journalist and researcher Yasser al-Habib, who was arrested on 30 November 2003. He is believed to be detained in connection with a lecture he had given. BACKGROUND INFORMATION According to International PEN’s information, Yasser al-Habib, who has worked for several Arabic-language newspapers including the monthly al-Menbar (The Pulpit), was abducted on a Kuwait City street on the afternoon of 30 November 2003 by unknown individuals and taken away in an unmarked vehicle.
Russia: Foreign students at People's Friendship University (Moscow) victims of discrimination
Amnesty International is concerned that the response of the emergency services to the recent fire at the Russian People's Friendship University in Moscow may have been hampered by racial prejudice. Amnesty International is urging the Russian government to take immediate measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all students at the university.
** Please continue to send us any relevant cases involving threats to academic freedom and education rights, for potential alerts.
The Network for Education and Academic Rights (NEAR) is a membership-based, non-governmental organisation which facilitates international collaboration between organisations active in issues of academic freedom and educational rights, and committed to promoting an understanding of, and respect for, the values enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
For more information about NEAR, please visit our website at www.nearinternational.org
For further information please contact:-
Roisin Joyce
Deputy Director
roisin.joyce@nearinternational.org