Index on Censorship weekly round-up

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Friday, 25 August 2023
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Campaigning for Emmerson Mnangagwa during the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe. Photo: Dj CkyBlue

The headlines this week have been dominated by the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin and the arrest of Donald Trump - understandably so. But while we try to figure out what exactly happened to the Wagner chief and ponder what that mugshot ([link removed]) does to the Donald's popularity, I wanted to highlight the stories of importance that were relegated in this crazy news week. In no particular order -

Zimbabwe went to the polls on Wednesday. It was chaotic and scores of activists were arrested. This followed a nasty election campaign in which President Emmerson Mnangagwa (nicknamed "The Crocodile") and his party, Zanu-PF, used all the "dirty tricks" in the book, as reported by Kudzai Mashininga for Index here ([link removed]) . The results are not fully in yet but the general consensus ([link removed]) is that even if the opposition did somehow overcome the obstacles to win, there's little chance The Crocodile will accept it.

While the world celebrates the 50th anniversary of hip hop this month, Myanmar has gone in the opposite direction by sentencing rapper Byu Har ([link removed]) to a whopping 20 years in prison for a video published on social media. In it Har criticised the Junta and complained about electricity shortages. For this he was charged with incitement to destroy the state.

In another example of using the most inflammatory language to silence those you don't like, pro-government media in Belarus reported ([link removed]) this week that Viasna, and all of its branches, has been labelled an "extremist formation". Its resources and websites were also added to the “list of organisations, formations, individual entrepreneurs related to extremist activities.” This opens up anyone using these resources to potential repression from Lukashenka's regime. Currently five Viasna members are behind bars. In the words of a colleague (prior to this news no less), it might be easier to ask who isn't in jail in Belarus right now than who is?

In the same vein it might be easier to keep track of the international journalists not barred from Russia compared to those who are. Putin has just expanded ([link removed]) the already long banned list.

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Index's Tyrant of the Year ([link removed]) 2022, continues to earn his stripes. After his recent announcement that he would carry out a census of the country’s disappeared, which critics believe is a tactic to manipulate and downplay the numbers, the head of the National Search Commission stepped down ([link removed]) . Karla Quintana did not reveal her motives for resigning. Obrador welcomed it at his daily news meeting yesterday. Human rights groups, on the other hand, expressed their concern, fearing it will further derail attempts at justice for the victims.

And finally, in the most glamorous dissident move ever, an activist from China took to jet skis ([link removed]) to escape the country. He should we awarded full marks for effort. Instead he's been arrested for illegal entry into South Korea. While his identity has not yet been verified, local reports believe it's Kwon Pyong, a critic of President Xi Jinping.

So these are the highlights, or rather lowlights. Enjoy your weekend.

Jemimah Steinfeld, editor-in-chief


** Nigeria - a country just for men?
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A woman protests in Lagos, Nigeria. Photo: Adekunle Ajayi / Alamy Stock Photo

Nigeria’s elections earlier this year perpetuated the marginalisation of women. Women are getting fed up. “It’s always men making policies for women. Policies about our bodies, policies about our movements, policies about our lives,” Nimisire Etomimo, a gender equality advocate and writer who joined in a 2022 protest, told Index. Can these protests go anywhere? Chidinma Iwu reports ([link removed]) .


** Send a postcard of support to Jimmy Lai
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Left: Painting by Lumli Lumlong. Right: Messages 1..." (2015) by the Hong Kong visual artist, curator and writer, Mei Yuk Wong

Jimmy Lai is a 75-year-old businessman and founder and publisher of Apple Daily, a Hong Kong newspaper that was forced to close in 2021 after the Chinese Communist Party's crackdown on pro-democracy protests in the city. A longtime critic of the party, Lai is one of the most high-profile pro-democracy campaigners to have been arrested in Hong Kong since the Chinese government enacted the National Security Law in June 2020. Lai was charged with violating the National Security Law in August 2020. His trial for that case is scheduled for September 2023, but since his arrest he has been convicted on separate charges of fraud and organising illegal protests.

Index has launched a campaign to allow Jimmy's well-wishers to send him postcards containing messages of support which we will forward to him in prison. Find out how to take part here ([link removed]) .

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** From the archive
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** How to argue with an emotional person
by Timandra Harkness
Autumn 2018
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Throwing around facts seldom changes people's minds, annoyingly. So how do you win a debate, or at least ensure it stays civilised and you're all still friends at the end? Read this handy guide ([link removed]) .

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Index on Censorship defends people's freedom to express themselves without fear of harm or persecution. We publish censored writers and artists, monitor and campaign against censorship, and encourage debate.

We rely on donations from readers and supporters. By donating ([link removed]) to Index you help us to protect freedom of expression and to support those who are denied that right.
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