Malaysia: Borneo Indigenous Blockade Mega Dam as Penan Struggle With Relocation
Indigenous activists in Malaysia have erected two strategic road blockades to prevent the construction of the 1,200 megawatt Baram Dam, the fourth planned as part of the Sarawak government's plan to build 12 mega-dams, Borneo Project is reporting.
The Baram Dam would displace up to 20,000 people and submerge a...
Malaysia: JOAS hosts National land conference
PETALING JAYA: The Jaringan Orang Asal Malaysia (JOAS) is hosting a National land conference, to find a resolution as recommended by human rights commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), on the land rights of Indigenous people, at Penampang, Sabah today.
JOAS president Thomas Jalong said more than 300 participants have registered their...
Indonesia: Major palm oil companies accused of breaking ethical promises
Large palm oil companies that have promised to act ethically have been accused of land grabbing, ignoring human rights and exploiting labour in their African and Asian plantations.
In a damning 400-page investigation, the companies are variously charged with impacting on orangutan populations, destroying tropical forest and burning and draining...
Myanmar: Karen Human Rights Group wins TFD award
The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy announced Nov. 4 its eighth Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award laureate as Thailand-based Karen Human Rights Group.
KHRG is a grassroots nongovernmental organization operating in southeast Myanmar, TFD said. The charity was established in December 1992 by Canadian teacher Kevin Heppner, who began to...
Thailand: Young fighters exposed to exploitation
Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand, with a 700-year-old history, and as with most sports, a yin and yang.
Known as the "science of eight limbs," muay Thai allows striking by fists, elbows, knees and feet, in bouts of five three-minute rounds. As described by the Dictionary of...
Myanmar’s Drive for Peace
KUALA LUMPUR — With Myanmar coming out of the cold after five decades of military rule, President Thein Sein and his deputies are eager to show the world they are making progress on political reforms. The latest government ploy is to pressure minority groups — through a buildup of...
One third of Vietnamese youths do not use contraceptive measures
Unexpected pregnancy remains a big problem as 34.6 percent of young Vietnamese people aged 20-24 do not use contraceptive measures, according to statistics announced on Monday.
The figures were released at a ceremony held in Hanoi on Monday to introduce the State of World Population 2013 Report issued by the...
Shaping Human Rights Policy in ASEAN
Bandar Seri Begawan: A group of civil society organisations, think-tanks and government representatives gathered in Jakarta from October 31 to November 3 for a back-to-back programme to discuss on human rights issues pertaining to the Asean region.
Representing Brunei Darussalam were Hj Awang Hasbollah bin Haji Awang Damit, Vice-President III...
Malaysia: For some, liberal Muslims are the real extremists
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 — Liberal Muslims were “extremists” similar to those resorting to violence, according to an activist from Islamist group Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) who sought to denounce the former group’s moderate tag.
According to Gombak Isma activist Umar Hakim Mohd Tajuddin, the Islamic approach taken by liberal...
Malaysia: More interfaith dialogue on ‘Allah’ issue needed, say Suhakam chairman
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 — There should be more interfaith dialogue on the debate over the use of the word “Allah” so that there will be greater understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) chairman Tan Sri Hasmy Agam said today.
Hasmy noted that the right...
