Malaysia: Backsliding on Rights in UN Spotlight
(Geneva) – United Nations member countries should urge Malaysia to reverse its serious backsliding on human rights at the UN Human Rights Council. Malaysia’s second Universal Periodic Review (UPR) will take place on October 24, 2013.
Fresh repressive actions by the Malaysian government have eclipsed earlier reforms pushed by Prime...
Myanmar: Do ‘rapidly breeding’ Rohingya Muslims really threaten Myanmar’s Buddhist identity?
BANGKOK, Thailand — Along Myanmar’s crescent-shaped western coast, Buddhist communities fear their dominance is under siege.
As in parts of Europe — such as The Netherlands and France — Myanmar’s riled-up patriots warn of a population time bomb: A demographic explosion of Muslims 'breeding' them into oblivion.
The Muslims in question...
Burma’s Suu Kyi Finally Collects 1990 Human Rights Prize
STRASBOURG, France— Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate and long-time political prisoner, has finally collected the European Union’s 1990 Sakharov Prize for human rights. (Burma is officially called “Myanmar.”)
In Tuesday’s stirring ceremony, European Parliament President Martin Schulz said that “23 years later, we welcome you here...
Malaysia: Reject Police ‘Shoot First’ Policy
The Home Minister should be removed for disregarding the right to life and making racial claims, says Human Rights Watch.
The Malaysian government should act to ensure that the home minister’s support for the police to “shoot first” when apprehending criminal suspects is not police policy, Human Rights Watch has...
Sultan of Brunei introduces tough Islamic punishments
The Sultan of Brunei on Tuesday introduced tough Islamic punishments including death by stoning for crimes such as adultery, making his oil-rich realm the first East Asian country to do so at the national level.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah -- one of the world's wealthiest men -- said a new Sharia...
Cambodia: Khmer Rouge Tribunal to Hear Closing Arguments
ANLONG VENG, Cambodia—Three years after indicting four senior Khmer Rouge leaders for allegedly directing one of the worst genocides of the 20th century, a United Nations-backed tribunal will start hearing closing arguments Wednesday in a closely watched trial.
But only two defendants remain. A third accused died this year, while...
Cambodia: Back Independent Election Inquiry
(New York) – Cambodia’s donors and other countries should publicly press the Cambodian government to set up an independent, internationally assisted investigation into disputed national elections in July 2013, Human Rights Watch said today in letters to leaders in France, Australia, and Japan.
Despite numerous credible reports of an unfair...
Malaysia: Upko to Continue Defending Rights of all Malaysians to Use ‘Allah’
KOTA KINABALU: United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO will continue to defend the rights of Malaysians to use the term ‘Allah’ in their worship, said its president, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.
This is because it is within their human rights to use the word that has been part of their...
As Opposition to the Regime Mounts, Cambodia’s Capital Braces for Bloodshed
Cambodia is gearing up for more mass rallies, with up to 50,000 people slated to attend a three-day opposition demonstration beginning Wednesday.
MPs-elect for the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) are boycotting the National Assembly in protest at alleged irregularities they claim cost them victory in recent general elections....
Vietnam’s repression extends to Catholics
WASHINGTON (BP) -- Catholics in northern Vietnam protesting against the long-term detention of two parishioners have run afoul of authorities in the Southeast Asian country.
"Anthony" Nguyen Van Hai, 43, and "Peter" Ngo Van Khoi, 53, were arrested May 22 for "disturbing the public order," according to World Watch Monitor....
