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Political Dissent

Friends, family members and fellow dissidents on Tuesday buried Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, a prominent critic of Cuba's socialist government.

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N. Ireland police find unexploded bombupdated: Sat Apr 28 2012 15:34:00

Northern Ireland police find an abandoned van containing a device with 600 pounds of explosives in Newry.

Cuban authorities release 'Ladies in White' marchers, dissident saysupdated: Mon Mar 19 2012 12:01:00

Cuban authorities have released dozens of members of the "Ladies in White" group after detaining them, a dissident said Monday.

Cuban dissidents removed from churchupdated: Fri Mar 16 2012 09:23:00

Thirteen Cubans who occupied a church in Havana in the hopes of meeting with the pope instead were escorted from the building late Thursday by police, the Havana Archdiocese said.

Cuban dissident dies after hunger strikeupdated: Fri Jan 20 2012 12:41:00

A Cuban prisoner who went on hunger strike to protest his arrest for taking part in a demonstration died Thursday, according to other dissidents in the country.

Chinese donate money to Ai Weiweiupdated: Wed Nov 16 2011 11:13:00

Chinese citizens donate money to dissident Ai Weiwei in the latest standoff between China's government and its people.

Only moral victory possible against China, dissident saysupdated: Wed Nov 16 2011 11:13:00

Outspoken dissident artist Ai Weiwei said he believes only a moral victory is possible against the Chinese government in his tax evasion case.

Raul Castro's daughter, dissident blogger clash onlineupdated: Wed Nov 09 2011 10:19:00

Cuban President Raul Castro's daughter joined Twitter to set the record straight about an interview she did abroad, but ended up arguing with one of the communist island's prominent dissidents online.

China orders controversial artist to pay back taxesupdated: Tue Nov 01 2011 22:14:00

The Chinese government is ordering outspoken artist Ai Weiwei to pay 15 million yuan ($2.3 million) in back taxes, a move Ai calls "retaliation against a dissident."

Yemen's president addresses nation amid deadly violenceupdated: Mon Sep 26 2011 05:56:00

Newly returned from three months out of the country, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh addressed his people Sunday, blaming "terrorists" for the deadly violence at anti-government protests.

Freed China dissident artist Ai under restrictionsupdated: Thu Jun 23 2011 18:50:00

Dissident artist Ai Weiwei has been released on bail -- apparently with conditions -- after he spent nearly three months in prison on charges of tax evasion, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported Wednesday.

Outspoken Chinese artist is free but has to stay quietupdated: Thu Jun 23 2011 17:27:00

He is China's most outspoken critic. But when he won his freedom after three months in prison, it came with a cost -- that he keep quiet.

Pro-, anti-government protesters fill Iraq squareupdated: Fri Jun 10 2011 13:08:00

A pro-government protest calling for the execution of accused insurgents overshadowed a smaller anti-government protest at Iraq's Tahrir Square Friday.

11 reported dead in clashes between Yemeni protesters, security forcesupdated: Wed May 11 2011 18:03:00

Live ammunition fired by Yemeni security forces left 11 protesters dead in Sanaa and Taiz on Wednesday, witnesses said, as a human rights group called for an end to the use of deadly force by government troops.

Cuba denies dissident beaten by police before deathupdated: Tue May 10 2011 06:11:00

Cuba denied on Monday that the recent death of a dissident was caused by a police beating and accused "counterrevolutionaries" and the foreign media of "fabricating lies."

China arrests dissident in crackdown, human rights group saysupdated: Wed Apr 13 2011 22:33:00

China has arrested a pro-democracy activist, the latest detention in the government's effort to prevent the Arab world's "Jasmine Revolution" from spreading into China, a human rights group said Wednesday.

Witness: Daraa tense as troops, security forces flood cityupdated: Mon Mar 28 2011 12:15:00

Syrian security forces flooded the restive cities of Daraa and Latakia on Monday, patrolling the streets, protecting government buildings and in at least one case clashing with protesters, according to witnesses.

15 killed in clashes between protesters, security forces in Syriaupdated: Thu Mar 24 2011 11:09:00

Escalating violence between Syrian security forces and anti-government protesters claimed 15 people Wednesday in the city of Daraa, witnesses and rights activists said. Syrian state television reported the government fired the governor of Daraa province, a flash point of anti-government protests.

Church: 10 Cuban dissidents, including Nobel nominee, to be releasedupdated: Fri Mar 11 2011 06:47:00

Ten Cuban prisoners -- including a doctor nominated last month for the Nobel Peace Prize -- will be released from prison, the Roman Catholic Church said .

Witnesses describe use of force outside Sanaa Universityupdated: Tue Mar 08 2011 18:11:00

Dozens of anti-government demonstrators were wounded Tuesday when security forces fired into the air and shot tear gas into a crowd of tens of thousands of protesters who had massed in front of Sanaa University, witnesses said.

Activists demand change in peaceful Jordan protestupdated: Tue Mar 01 2011 02:04:00

A large demonstration in downtown Amman on Friday ended peacefully a week after clashes erupted between pro-government and anti-government demonstrators near the Al Husseini Mosque.

Tribal groups joining protests against Yemeni presidentupdated: Sat Feb 26 2011 13:49:00

Leaders of two tribal groups in Yemen say they will join protests demanding President Ali Abdullah Saleh's resignation following violent crackdowns on demonstrators in Aden.

Remembering hunger striker who diedupdated: Wed Feb 23 2011 21:16:00

Cuban dissidents remember hunger striker on first anniversary of his death. CNN's Shasta Darlington reports.

Yemen's president compares protests to 'influenza'updated: Mon Feb 21 2011 12:05:00

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh rejected demands Monday that he step aside, comparing the anti-government protests in his country to a virus sweeping through the region.

Violent protests in Yemenupdated: Mon Feb 21 2011 12:05:00

CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom reports on the wounded during anti-government rallies in Yemen after gunfire broke out.

Opposition protests in Iranupdated: Sun Feb 20 2011 15:08:00

Witnesses say security agents on motorcycles are riding onto sidewalks to disperse opposition protests in Tehran, Iran.

Word from inside Libya of more protestsupdated: Sat Feb 19 2011 21:07:00

CNN's Fionnuala Sweeney reports on the anti-government protests turning bloodier in Libya.

Libyan demonstrators say they'll soldier on despite violent crackdownupdated: Sat Feb 19 2011 21:07:00

Libyans opposed to longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi vowed to hit the streets again Sunday, saying a violent crackdown by security forces since demonstrations began last week has energized their ranks.

As violence returns to Yemen protests, president blames foreign plotsupdated: Sat Feb 19 2011 14:49:00

As the ninth day of protests left six wounded Saturday, Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh blamed the roiling unrest on foreign agendas and a plot against Yemen's stability, according to the state-run Saba news agency.

Large crowd takes to Sanaa streetsupdated: Fri Feb 18 2011 13:48:00

Hurling rocks and brandishing sticks, demonstrators march through Sanaa, Yemen.

Obama condemns crackdowns as thousands march in Yemenupdated: Fri Feb 18 2011 13:48:00

Hurling rocks and brandishing daggers and sticks, supporters of longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh plunged into a crowd calling for his ouster in Sanaa on Friday as rising momentum in Yemen sprouted similar protests in other towns.

Yemen's dagger cultureupdated: Thu Feb 17 2011 15:09:00

If everyone is packing a dagger, will protests turn into knife fights? CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom reports.

1 dead, many hurt in Yemen clashes, protester, opposition figure sayupdated: Thu Feb 17 2011 15:09:00

One person was killed and more that two dozen were hurt in a fresh round of anti-government protests in Yemen on Thursday, eyewitnesses and an opposition lawmaker reported.

Anti- and pro-government protesters clash again in Yemenupdated: Tue Feb 15 2011 09:23:00

Pro- and anti-government protesters clashed in Yemen's capital city Tuesday, with scuffles breaking out for at least the fifth day in the row, a witness said.

Government supporters, foes clash again in Yemenupdated: Tue Feb 15 2011 03:42:00

For at least the fourth day in a row, clashes broke out between pro- and anti-government protesters in Yemen's capital Monday morning.

Yemen follows Egypt in protestsupdated: Tue Feb 15 2011 03:42:00

CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom reports from Yemen, where anti-government demonstrators fill the streets.

Yemen protesters: 'First Mubarak, now Ali'updated: Sun Feb 13 2011 20:20:00

Hundreds of anti-government protesters marched toward a presidential palace in Yemen on Sunday, calling for regime change in the Middle Eastern country.

Yemeni protesters march toward palaceupdated: Sun Feb 13 2011 20:20:00

Hundreds of anti-government protesters marched toward a presidential palace in Yemen on Sunday.

What's next for Egypt?updated: Sat Feb 12 2011 15:10:00

Arab affairs analyst Mona Eltahawy talks with CNN's Wolf Blitzer about the changes for the Egyptian people.

Fresh clashes in Yemen over support for governmentupdated: Sat Feb 12 2011 15:10:00

Brief clashes erupted Saturday in Yemen between hundreds of pro- and anti-government demonstrators who staged rival rallies in the capital.

A 'democracy Renaissance?'updated: Fri Jan 28 2011 19:02:00

President John F. Kennedy once said, "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."

Irish police arrest 5 suspected IRA dissidents, release 1updated: Thu Jan 13 2011 16:59:00

Police in the Republic of Ireland released one man but were continuing to question four suspected IRA dissidents after the discovery of what officers described as "a bomb-making factory," they said Thursday.

Cuban dissident unable to accept prizeupdated: Tue Dec 14 2010 22:52:00

An empty chair will represent Cuban dissident Guillermo Farinas Wednesday when the European Parliament awards him a top human rights prize.

China cracking down on dissidentsupdated: Fri Dec 10 2010 08:03:00

CNN's Jaime FlorCruz reports on those who have lost freedom for criticizing Beijing's government.

Large rise in Northern Ireland bombings, report findsupdated: Thu Nov 04 2010 13:43:00

Bomb attacks by dissidents in Northern Ireland nearly quadrupled over the past six months from the period before, a report from the Independent Monitoring Commission said Thursday.

Cuban dissident wins European Parliament freedom prizeupdated: Thu Oct 21 2010 22:41:00

Cuban dissident Guillermo Farinas was awarded the European Parliament's 2010 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on Thursday.

Two suspected dissidents arrested in Irelandupdated: Sat Oct 16 2010 10:25:00

Two suspected dissident republicans were arrested after authorities found a bomb in their car, Irish police said Saturday.

Death toll in Thai explosion climbs to 4updated: Sun Oct 10 2010 22:14:00

Thai police Wednesday linked a powerful explosion at a suburban Bangkok apartment building to anti-government protesters.

Cuba to free more prisoners, human rights leader saysupdated: Mon Oct 04 2010 22:12:00

Cuba is set to further empty its jails, adding at least another nine inmates to a list of those it plans to free, a human rights leader said Monday.

Clashes in N. Irelandupdated: Thu Jul 15 2010 14:14:00

Police officers injured in clashes in Belfast, Northern Ireland, reports journalist Peter Taggart.

N. Ireland tense as marching season beginsupdated: Thu Jul 15 2010 14:14:00

The summer marching season has long been an annual flashpoint between Northern Ireland's Protestant and Catholic communities, despite the peace process which has brought stability to the province in recent years.

Cuban dissidents arrive in Spainupdated: Wed Jul 14 2010 08:14:00

Seven Cuban former political prisoners start new lives in Spain. CNN's Al Goodman reports.

Cuban dissident's hunger strike overupdated: Sat Jul 10 2010 17:24:00

Cuban dissident Guillermo Farinas ends his months-long hunger strike. CNN's David Ariosto reports.

Cuban church identifies 12 more dissidents for releaseupdated: Sat Jul 10 2010 17:24:00

Cuba's Roman Catholic church has identified 12 more jailed dissidents who are expected to be freed in what would be the largest Cuban prisoner release in more than a decade.

Cuban dissident ends hunger strike; Spain to take Cuban prisonersupdated: Fri Jul 09 2010 11:18:00

Cuban dissident Guillermo Farinas said Thursday he ended his months-long hunger strike after the nation's Roman Catholic Church announced Wednesday that the Cuban government will soon release 52 political prisoners.

Cuban political prisoners drop to 167updated: Tue Jul 06 2010 10:15:00

The number of political prisoners held in Cuba has dropped by 34 inmates since January, the island's unofficial commission on human rights and national reconciliation reported Monday.

Amnesty blasts Cuba's 'climate of fear'updated: Thu Jul 01 2010 18:46:00

Amnesty International report accuses Cuba of creating a climate of fear among journalists. CNN's David Ariosto reports.

Amnesty urges Cuba to end political repressionupdated: Thu Jul 01 2010 18:46:00

Cuba has created a "climate of fear" among political activists and journalists working on the island nation, according to a report released Wednesday by the human rights group Amnesty International.

Freed dissident talks with CNNupdated: Fri Jun 25 2010 12:51:00

Cuban authorities released political dissident Darsi Ferrer this week. CNN's David Ariosto reports.

Church: Cuba to free dissident, transfer six othersupdated: Sat Jun 12 2010 09:42:00

In the latest sign of compromise between Cuba and church leaders, Cuba's Roman Catholic Church says the government has agreed to free one jailed dissident and relocate six others to prisons closer to their homes.

Cuba transfers political prisonersupdated: Thu Jun 03 2010 07:26:00

CNN's David Ariosto reports on Cuba moving jailed dissidents to prisons closer to their families.

Rights activist: Cuba starts relocating jailed dissidentsupdated: Thu Jun 03 2010 07:26:00

Cuba has begun moving some of its jailed dissidents to prisons that are closer to their homes, according to Elizardo Sanchez, head of Cuba's independent Commission on Human Rights and National Reconciliation.

Pro-government demonstrators swarm human rights march in Cubaupdated: Thu Mar 18 2010 17:30:00

Hundreds of pro-government demonstrators in Havana, Cuba, chanted "this street belongs to Fidel" as they surrounded a slow-moving march of human rights protesters Thursday.

Cuban dissidents kept from political prisoner's funeral, activists sayupdated: Wed Mar 10 2010 10:33:00

Cuban President Raul Castro said Wednesday he regretted the death of a prisoner after a prolonged hunger strike, even as human rights activists reported 30 people were detained on the way to the dissident's funeral.

One dissident's vowupdated: Wed Mar 10 2010 10:33:00

A Cuban dissident says he will starve himself to death unless the government releases 26 political prisoners.

Calls to free dissidentupdated: Thu Feb 11 2010 09:55:00

CNN's Anjali Rao talks with Kwame Appiah of the Pen American Center about the jailing of Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.

Iran warns against expected anti-government protestsupdated: Wed Feb 10 2010 23:48:00

Heightening its warnings as anticipated anti-government protests approach, Iran's government says it will arrest protesters and hold them until April if they disrupt state-sanctioned marches to commemorate the overthrow of the Shah of Iran.

Iran puts 16 protesters on trialupdated: Mon Feb 01 2010 06:28:00

Sixteen opposition protesters went on trial Saturday in Iran on charges that they tried to overthrow the government, state-run media said.

Iran hangs two men, but why?updated: Mon Feb 01 2010 06:28:00

CNN's Reza Sayah reports on the fallout over Iran's recent execution of two men for reasons that are not clear.

Vaclav Havel protests jailing of Chinese dissidentupdated: Thu Jan 07 2010 09:10:00

Former Czech President Vaclav Havel showed up at the Chinese Embassy in Prague Wednesday to protest the imprisonment of a Chinese dissident, the official Czech News Agency reported.

Chinese dissident awaits fateupdated: Fri Dec 25 2009 01:20:00

CNN's John Vause reports from Beijing on the trial of China's leading pro-democracy dissident.

Protesters mark Human Rights Day in Cubaupdated: Fri Dec 11 2009 03:27:00

A few hundred pro-government demonstrators swarmed Havana's streets on Thursday, encircling a small group of female protesters marching in support of International Human Rights Day.

Cuban dissidents ramp up protest with fastupdated: Sun Nov 15 2009 00:02:00

Cuban dissidents holed up in a Havana house for 36 days started a liquids-only fast this week that led a doctor to order one of them to go home for health reasons, one of the protesters told CNN on Friday.

British mercenary pardoned over Equatorial Guinea plotupdated: Tue Nov 03 2009 05:50:00

British mercenary Simon Mann, jailed last year for his part in plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea, has been granted a presidential pardon, the country's Information Ministry said Tuesday.

China sentences activistupdated: Fri Oct 10 2008 03:21:00

China sentences dissident Hu Jia to prison for alleged subversion. CNN's Jaime Florcruz reports.

Laura Bush visits Myanmarupdated: Fri Aug 08 2008 03:48:00

First Lady Laura Bush visits a refugee camp on the border of Thailand and Myanmar. CNN's Dan Rivers reports.

Bush thanks troops in Seoulupdated: Thu Aug 07 2008 00:36:00

President Bush meets with U.S. troops in Seoul and thanks them for the sacrifices they've made.

Cuba alleges U.S. envoy carried funds to dissidentsupdated: Mon May 19 2008 21:28:00

Cuban officials on Monday accused the top U.S. diplomat in Havana of delivering private funds from American groups opposed to Fidel Castro to dissidents in Cuba.

FSB: A Tiananmen rebel turns capitalistupdated: Thu Mar 27 2008 18:32:00

I'm standing in an elevator on the ground floor of the Information Science and Technology building at Tsinghua University in Beijing. It's a cold, sunny morning. A stiff breeze has banished the city's habitual blanket of brownish-gray smog, and the air outside is crystalline. I start to introduce my translator to Shen Tong, an American entrepreneur, and his team of Chinese engineers and sales representatives. But Tong shakes his head sharply, and I fall silent. We are not alone.

Opposition parties reach dealupdated: Thu Feb 21 2008 18:59:00

Pakistan's two main opposition parties say they will form a new government. CNN's Reza Sayah reports.

Witnesses: Cuban dissidents beaten, arrested in churchupdated: Wed Dec 05 2007 14:00:00

Cuban state security agents followed anti-government protesters into a Catholic Church this week, detaining about a dozen dissidents after hitting and kicking some of them, according to witnesses.

Shots fired around besieged Manila hotelupdated: Thu Nov 29 2007 04:04:00

Several military officers defied a deadline to surrender after storming out of their coup trial Thursday, taking over an upscale hotel and demanding that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo resign.

Yahoo settles dissidents suitupdated: Tue Nov 13 2007 23:56:00

Internet giant Yahoo has settled a lawsuit brought by the families of a Chinese dissident and a journalist, who claim they were jailed after the company cooperated with Chinese authorities, according to court documents.

Missing monks in Myanmarupdated: Tue Oct 02 2007 07:01:00

Images of a brutal crackdown are getting past Myanmar censors. CNN's John Vause reports. Viewer discretion advised.

Myanmar: 13 dissidents arrestedupdated: Wed Aug 22 2007 01:10:00

Myanmar's military rulers arrested 13 leading dissidents on Wednesday in a series of midnight raids in Yangon designed to quash protests against rising fuel prices and falling living standards.

FSB: A Tiananmen rebel turns capitalistupdated: Tue Apr 17 2007 05:58:00

I'm standing in an elevator on the ground floor of the Information Science and Technology building at Tsinghua University in Beijing. It's a cold, sunny morning. A stiff breeze has banished the cit...

China arrests dissident lawyerupdated: Fri Oct 13 2006 00:27:00

China has arrested outspoken human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng on charges of inciting subversion, his lawyer said on Thursday, extending a government campaign to curb activists challenging its authority.

Thai PM willing to meet compromiseupdated: Tue Feb 28 2006 21:22:00

Thailand's opposition Democrat Party leader has rejected an offer from Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to discuss ways to resolve the political impasse over plans to boycott next month's snap elections.

CNNMoney: Group alleges Yahoo! complicit in Chinese dissident arrestupdated: Wed Feb 08 2006 17:54:00

A freedom of speech group has accused Yahoo! of complying with the Chinese government's program of cracking down on dissident political speech on the Internet.

Cuban dissidents rally in Havanaupdated: Fri May 20 2005 11:16:00

In what organizers called an unprecedented event, dissidents from groups opposed to Fidel Castro's communist regime gathered publicly Friday and chanted "Down with Fidel."

Cuba dissidents plan historic meetingupdated: Thu May 19 2005 16:51:00

Workmen Thursday were putting the final touches on tile floors and toilets built in the back yard of a Cuban dissident, the venue for what would be -- if police don't stop it -- an unprecedented meeting of opponents of Cuba's communist government.

Fortune: WHO OWNS THIS COMPANY, ANYHOW? To protect their huge and illiquid stockholdings, institutional investors are increasingly callinupdated: Mon Jul 29 1991 00:01:00

UNDER the infelicitous banner of ''corporate governance,'' institutional investors are banding together to demand -- and get -- a bigger say in how companies are run. The movement was led by the hu...

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