Image

War on Civil Liberties: Canadian Citizen Abandoned by His Government

The Canadian government has really had it in for Abousfian Abdelrazik. Abdelrazik, a Sudanese-Canadian, went back to Sudan in August, 2003 to visit his sick mother, but he was thrown in jail, "at our request," according to a document from the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS). He claims to have been beaten in prison. He was released the following year, only to be reincarcerated again in November, 2005, for another seven months. Sudanese authorities told him that he was being held at the request of Canadian and American governments.

Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Lock (USAF)

The Complexities of Zimbabwe

Robert Mugabe
Chido Makunike looks at the various competing interests in Zimbabwe, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Robert Mugabe and the West in relation to what the Zimbabweans are hoping to get out of democracy. Over a month after Zimbabwe's March 29 elections, the winner of the presidential poll remains unknown. The delay adds considerable additional complexity to the many undercurrents of the country's problems.

Image

Polarizing Bolivia: Santa Cruz Votes for Autonomy

Photo: Bolivia Indymedia
A vote for autonomy in Santa Cruz, Bolivia was passed by approximately 82% of voters on Sunday, May 4th. The vote endorses a move by Santa Cruz to, among other things, gain more control of gas reserves in the area and resist the central government's break up of large land holdings. Clashes during the vote in Santa Cruz left 35 injured. One man died from asphyxiation due to tear gas fired by police forces. The vote and conflict marks a new phase in the polarization of Bolivia, and a new challenge for the region.