Activists Call for Vietnamese Dissident’s Release Ahead of Trial
Detained Vietnamese activist Dinh Nhat Uy who goes on trial Tuesday for “abusing democratic freedoms” should be freed unconditionally, rights groups and his lawyer say, questioning the basis for the charge he faces and the law under which he is accused.
Uy, 30, will be tried at the Long An...
Malaysia: The pettifogging Jakim
All religions are branches of one big tree – George Harrison
The Oct 4 court verdict that ‘Allah’ can no longer appear in the Herald weekly publication has revealed more than meets the eye. Not only was the ruling a gross abuse of the judiciary, the decision also exposed the...
Cambodia: NGOs see gap in rights record
A group of NGOs condemned rampant abuses of sexual and reproductive health rights in Cambodia last week, just days before the government submitted a human rights progress report to the United Nations.
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights, in cooperation with the Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS...
At the helm of ASEAN, Burma needs authentic change
Burma or Myanmar has received a new great reward on 10 October for its over-the-top political changes, taking the wheel of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) even with critics’ warnings that the step was hasty. A long time ago, friendless rogue was properly granted the rotating chair...
Dignity in Decent Work: Protect Domestic Workers From Abuse
“I woke up at 4:15 a.m.,” Asma said. “I was exhausted when I went to sleep at 10 p.m. I only had five minutes’ rest … I did not get any days off salary.” Asma is one of an estimated 1.8 million women and girls in Indonesia who...
Bali IGF: Surveillance, Human Rights, Governance Of Internet Resources, “Multistakeholderism”
The revelations of mass surveillance by the US and other intelligence services are expected to considerably influence the 8th Internet Governance Forum in Bali, Indonesia this week.
There is a fear, said Robert Guerra from the Canadian Citizen Lab, that the surveillance topic will drive other issues and outcomes of...
EU Parliament Dissatisfied with Lao Efforts to Locate Missing Activist
A European parliamentary delegation has expressed dissatisfaction with the Lao government’s explanation of the disappearance of prominent local activist Sombath Somphone, who was last seen 10 months ago being stopped in his vehicle at a police checkpoint in the Lao capital Vientiane.
The second European Parliamentary visit to Laos this...
Wombs for hire: Aussie couples flock to Thailand to find surrogates
‘James’ and his partner ‘Mikey’ (not their real names) are getting to know their newborn baby girl.
The men have been in a committed relationship for 5 years. They wanted a family – so much – they had to break the law to create it.
“We just went for it,” says...
Vietnamese Dissident Calls Conviction Unjust
A Vietnamese activist says his conviction for using the social media site Facebook to criticize the government was unjust.
In an interview with VOA's Vietnamese Service after being released, Dinh Nhat Uy said he should not have been charged under penal code.
"My posts on Facebook regarding the protection of Vietnam's...
Pitfalls of social media: Vietnamese man convicted for posts on Facebook
Dinh Nhat Uy, 30, was found guilty under Article 258 of the penal code, Huy Ha Son said.
"It is not house arrest but he has to report his movements to the local police," Son said.
The case attracted attention in Vietnam's blogosphere for being the first to focus on the...
