Myanmar poised to grow as country shakes off decades of dictatorship
In the mid-20th century a young Canadian traveller, touring Southeast Asia at a time when backpacking around the world was not only unfashionable but high-risk, gave a bleak review of Burma.
"I have seen no country where chaos, bribery, looting, smuggling, insurrection and political assassination have been so prevalent," Pierre...
Viet Nam: Baldwin Park political activist says deportation will lead to torture and death in Vietnam
Wearing a gray suit and baby blue tie, Vinh Tan Nguyen held both the Vietnam and U.S. flags in his left hand Tuesday morning as he explained why U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals judges should not deport a pro-democracy activist back to communist Vietnam.
Some 100 supporters — about...
Myanmar: As Myanmar readies to lead ASEAN, some question whether move is premature
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei - Just a few years ago Myanmar was an isolated dictatorship that embarrassed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with its dismal human rights record. Now it's poised to take over leadership of the 10-nation bloc for the first time — a move critics say...
Vietnam’s suppression should not be rewarded
As China’s power grows, Vietnam has been working hard to build closer relations with the United States. Vietnam’s president visited the White House in July; it has encouraged U.S. involvement in territorial disputes between China and several Asian countries, including Vietnam; and it is proposing to join the Trans-Pacific...
Indonesia: Cultural heritage rights stymied by lack of law
The absence of a law to protect cultural property has resulted in the appropriation of Indonesia’s cultural heritage by other countries.
As such, the Directorate General of Intellectual Property Rights at the Law and Human Rights Ministry, which oversees the country's intellectual property rights institution, is powerless to address the...
Cambodia: Opposition Asks ADB to Suspend Funding to Cambodia
WASHINGTON DC - Opposition leader Sam Rainsy has asked the Asian Development Bank to suspend funding to Cambodia, whose government he says was not formed legally following the July elections.
In a letter to ADB President Takehiko Nakao, Sam Rainsy, president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, said the country...
ASEAN Confident of Myanmar Chairmanship despite Concerns on Human Rights
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- Despite concerns over Myanmar's sketchy human rights record, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is confident that it is capable of being an effective chairman in 2014, China's Xinhua news agency quoted officials as saying here on Thursday.
The members had not...
Philippines: Labour leader disappeared after he was followed by persons believed to be military personnel in Cavite
On 27 August 2013 Benjamen Villeno, a full-time staff member of the Organized Labor Association in Line Industries and Agriculture – May First Movement (Kilusang Mayo Uno) (OLALIA-KMU) went to Cavite to perform his task as a labour organiser. On the same day, Villeno sent an SMS to his...
Myanmar: Suu Kyi to collect EU human rights prize
Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is to finally receive the EU Sakharov human rights prize she won in 1990 at the height of the Myanmar military crackdown, the European Parliament has revealed.
Suu Kyi, now leader of the opposition in Myanmar and aiming to run in presidential polls in...
Lao PDR: Where is Sombath Somphone?
Oct 10, — Today, Thursday, 10 Oct 2013, marks 300 days of the disappearance of Sombath Somphone, one of Lao PDR’s most prominent activists. Sombath is a long-time and good friend. In the late 1970s, he and I were part of a small group of human rights activists and...
