June 1 – Former Soviet Republics: UZBEKISTAN
Judges in a court in Tashkent have closed a local branch of the American Council for Collaboration in Education and Language Study. This expulsion is the latest on a growing list of foreign nongovernmental organizations that have been banned in Uzbekistan. The court argues that the organization is accused of sending more than 100 schoolchildren to the United States as part of an exchange program without official documents.
June 1 – International Organizations: UNITED NATIONS
The newly formed United Nations Human Rights Council replaces the discredited Human Rights Commission, which has been criticized for protecting countries with questionable human rights records. The new council has 47 members including China, Cuba, Russia, and Saudi Arabia that are criticized for their human rights abuses. The United States refused to join the new body, saying the reform did not go far enough to prevent the countries with poor records from winning the seats.
June 3 – Europe: RUSSIA
Venezuela receives a delivery of 33,000 Russian assault rifles, the first shipment out of 100,000 that President Hugo Chávez ordered from Moscow. The United States recently imposed an arms sales ban on the country, and accuses Chávez of destabilizing Latin America. Venezuela, whose military equipment is reportedly outdated, insists that it has the right to buy arms for defensive purposes.
June 3 – Latin America: VENEZUELA
Venezuela receives a delivery of 33,000 Russian assault rifles, the first of 100,000 that President Hugo Chávez has ordered from Moscow. The United States has recently imposed an arms sales ban on the country, and accuses Chávez of destabilizing Latin America. Venezuela, whose military equipment is reportedly outdated, insists that it is its right to buy arms for defensive purposes.
June 5 – Latin America: PERU
Former president Alan García wins the majority of the votes in Peru’s presidential election, defeating his nationalist rival Ollanta Humala after an aggressive campaign. García regards his victory as a defeat for Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, who had given strong support to Humala. The president-elect faces the challenge of uniting the politically divided country. García previously served as Peru’s president from 1985 – 1990.
June 6 – Latin America: CHILE
Secondary school students clash with police in the Chilean capital, Santiago, during protests over education reforms. At least 262 people are arrested, and roughly 20 journalists and police officers are injured in the turmoil. Students want a complete overhaul of the educational system, and university students and unions support their cause. The government has agreed to increased funding and free transport for some students, but student leaders say that key demands remain unmet.
June 7 – Latin America: BRAZIL
About 500 people are arrested and 25 hurt in violence after landless Brazilian farm workers storm a congressional building in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia. The demonstrators are thought to belong to a militant offshoot of the country’s main landless group, the Landless Rural Workers’ Movement (MST). The protestors’ main demands include an end to what they call slave labor and a legislation to speed up land reform.
June 8 – Middle East: IRAQ
The militant leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq and Jordanian national, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, is killed by an air strike on a safe house in eastern Iraq. Al-Zarqawi is responsible for brutal killings of thousands of Iraqi Shias and U.S. forces in Iraq. He has been linked to multiple Iraqi bombings, assassinations, and beheadings.
June 9 – Europe: RUSSIA
Russia agreed to forgive $700 million in debt relief owed to them by the world’s poorest countries. The move is due partly to the pressure from nongovernmental organizations such as Oxfam as well as the positive impact from previous debt relief measures.
June 12 – Africa: ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe and China sign a $1.3 billion agreement to hopefully solve Zimbabwe’s severe energy shortage. According to the deal, China will build new coal mines and thermal power stations in the Zambezi valley. The deal is one result of strengthened relations between the two countries.
June 13 – Africa: NIGERIA/CAMEROON
According to an agreement brokered by the United Nations, Nigeria agrees to hand over the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon. Nigerian troops stationed in Bakassi and thousands of Nigerian citizens who live there will leave the area within 60 days. The territorial dispute led to a military conflict between the two countries in the 1990s.
June 14 – International Organizations: UNITED NATIONS
According to an agreement brokered by the United Nations, Nigeria agrees to hand over the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon. Nigerian troops stationed in Bakassi and thousands of Nigerian citizens who live there will leave the area within 60 days. The territorial dispute led to military conflict between the two countries in the 1990s.
June 14 – Former Soviet Republics/Europe: GEORGIA/MOLDOVA
Separatists in Georgia and Moldova agreed to support each other’s independence aspirations. In response to the referendum in Montenegro last month, they argue that self-determination is a universal value and should not be used selectively. They also call for continued military support from Russia to continue stability in the region.
June 15 — Europe: LITHUANIA
Zigmantas Balcytis has been named the new prime minister filling the gap left by the previous prime minister’s resignation amid allegations of corruption. Balcytis, a member of the left-wing Social Democratic Party, faces the need to create a governing coalition and to restore confidence in the government. Allegations of corruption have plagued the Lithuania government and attempts to form a grand coalition have failed.
June 16 – North America/South Asia: UNITED STATES/AFGHANISTAN
The U.S. military and Afghan forces kill about 40 Taliban insurgents during air and ground attacks in Paktika province in southeastern Afghanistan. Paktika is an isolated mountainous province bordering Pakistan and is the main stronghold of Taliban and al-Qaeda rebels.
June 17 – Latin America: BOLIVIA
The Bolivian government announces a $7 billion anti-poverty plan that will be partially funded by the recently nationalized gas industry. The scheme aims to create 100,000 jobs a year for the next five years in public works programs. It also intends to improve delivery of basic public services such as school meals and access to clean water. Bolivia is the poorest country in South America.
June 19 — Europe: SPAIN
Voters in the Spanish region of Catalonia vote overwhelmingly for a charter granting their region more independence from Madrid. The measure gives Catalonia more control in taxation, judiciary, airports, ports, and immigration. The charter will also give the Catalans a nation status within Spain. The Spanish government, Catalonia’s ruling Socialists, and moderate nationalists supported the charter. The conservative Popular Party and leftists both opposed it.
June 24 – East Asia: PHILIPPINES
Philippines President Gloria Arroyo signs a law that abolishes the death penalty. Two weeks earlier, the country’s parliament voted overwhelmingly for the bill. As a result, 1,200 prisoners on death row will have their sentences changed to life imprisonment.
June 26 – East Asia: EAST TIMOR
East Timor’s prime minister, Mari Alkatiri, resigns after thousands of street protesters demanded his resignation. Alkatiri has been blamed for recent violence in the country caused by his move to dismiss 600 soldiers. His opponents also accuse him of creating a hit squad to eliminate his political rivals. Alkatiri is known for his involvement in East Timor’s independence movement and his successful negotiations with Australia over the country’s right to oilfields. However, many view him as an arrogant politician.
June 27 – East Asia: VIETNAM
Vietnam’s parliament appoints Nguyen Minh Triet as the country’s new president and Nguyen Tan Dung as prime minister. Both new appointees are loyal Communist Party members, but they are seen as reformers. The president and prime minister are the most powerful post after the head of the Communist Party. The new leaders are expected to fight corruption and push for privatization and economic deregulation.
June 29 – Middle East: PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Amid continued artillery bombardment of the Gaza Strip, Israeli military forces seize and detain 8 Palestinian ministers and 64 legislators and other officials in the Hamas government. The bombardment of Gaza, which was taken in response to the seizure of an Israeli soldier in Gaza, has left the majority of the population without electricity and has destroyed much of infrastructure. Amnesty International calls this Israeli action a collective punishment of the Palestinian people.
June 30 – Middle East: KUWAIT
Kuwaiti reformists gain four seats in the parliamentary elections, taking a total of 33 out of 50 seats. For the first time, the women were both voters and candidates. However, none of the 28 females candidates were elected. It is hoped that the victory of the reformists will help women candidates in the future.