49.04

CONTENTS

VOLUME 49 NUMBER 04 – WINTER 2020

1 SPEAKING OVER THE NOISE JEMIMAH STEINFELD

In a year where there has almost been too much news, we reflect on some of the most important stories

MASKED BY COVID The underreported stories of 2020 that need to be heard

8 ANOTHER EXPLOSION FOR LEBANON

ZAHRA HANKIR, KAREEM CHEHAYEB The blast in Beirut made international headlines. Even before that the nation was in turmoil and it has only worsened the mental health crisis

14 WHO WILL REPORT ON NICARAGUA?

JEMIMAH STEINFELD Bianca Jagger tells Index a clampdown on dissent and independent media is reaching new heights

18 REMEMBERING REX CORNELIO RYAN MACASERO

Months on from the murder of Philippines radio host Rex Cornelio we speak to those who knew him about his bravery and his awful death

23 ROYALLY SILENCED PAVIN CHACHAVALPONGPUN

As students campaign against lèse-majesté laws, the Thai exile and royal critic with a Facebook group of two million followers considers their fate

26 ANOTHER BLACK DAY FOR POLAND

KATARZYNA KASIA The attack on women’s reproductive rights caused mass protests. Duda’s re-election gave it legitimacy

4INDEXONCENSORSHIP.ORG

29 TEARING DOWN THE IVORY TOWER KAYA GENÇ

Amidst the noise of the pandemic, a thriving Istanbul university was shut down with litle outcry

32 GANGING UP AGAINST THE TRUTH

CHRIS HAVLER-BARRETT El Salvador’s government do not want you to hear about a potential deal they’ve made with the country’s biggest gang

36 MEXICO’S DEADLIEST STATE STEPHEN WOODMAN

The government’s promise to protect journalists from harm is failing. Just look at the state of Veracruz

39 EUROPE’S NEW ORBAN ANUŠKA DELIĆ

Janez Janša, Slovenia’s new prime minister, is mirroring the extreme policies of his Hungarian counterpart

42 DEMOCRACY VERSUS THE PEOPLE

ANDY MORGAN Mali has seen a government coup following escalating protests. What has caused the unrest?

46 “THE STATE WON’T PROTECT YOU”

NATASHA JOSEPH The death of Robert Mugabe brought so much hope, but improvements to daily life have not come for Zimbabweans. Far from it

49 DYING FOR THE MOTHER TONGUE URADYN E BULAG

Why have people in Inner Mongolia recently taken their lives?

52 HEY, BIG BROTHER – WE’RE

WATCHING YOU RUTH SMEETH We will fight louder and harder for those whose governments have taken away their freedoms

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