UNHCR to airlift aid to Typhoon Haiyan survivors in Philippines
Baku – APA. The UN refugee agency announced on Monday, 11 November 2013, that it was organizing an emergency airlift to the Philippines, where an estimated 9.8 million people have been affected by last Friday’s devastating Typhoon Haiyan, United Nations Department of Public Information in Azerbaijan told APA.
UNHCR has...
Cambodia: ILO calls for protection of union leaders
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has urged authorities in Cambodia to protect trade union leaders following a clash between striking garment workers and armed forces earlier this week, where a woman was killed.
"The ILO country office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR also demands that competent national authorities take...
Activists Criticize Vietnam’s Election to UN Rights Council
International human rights groups are voicing concern over Vietnam's election to the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division, said he believes Vietnam, which became one of 14 new members on Tuesday, will play a negative role.
"I hope the government of Vietnam...
Vietnam: Censors keep everyone guessing | Index on Censorship
Vietnam’s government keeps cultural activities from web comics to concerts under its watchful eye, for sex as much as sedition. Art, music, pop stars, books, comics, web comics, blogs, foreign news, lifestyle magazines, television subtitles, newspaper articles, research, the findings of market research, unflattering film footage, photographs, song lyrics,...
Landmark Legal Case in Singapore: Convicted Drug Trafficker’s Death Sentence Commuted To Life
The High Court of Singapore has spared the noose for convicted drug trafficker in a move human rights activists are describing as a “landmark,” given the city-state’s aggressive prosecution of narcotics dealers. Yong Vui Kong, a Malaysian native who received the death penalty in 2008 after smuggling in 47...
Malaysia: Marina to take legal action against Isma
PETALING JAYA: Sisters in Islam (SIS) board member Marina Mahathir will be sending a letter of demand to Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) soon to retract their accusations; but she was short of revealing when the letter will be sent.
“My lawyers will be sending out letter of demand first with...
ASEAN role in promoting democracy lauded
BALI—The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam said more needs to be done to promote effective political cooperation in the region as Association of Southeast Asean Nations (Asean) approaches its 2015 target to realize the Asean Community.
He was attending the opening session of the Bali Democracy Forum VI...
Cambodia: Vendor Killed as Protesters Clash with Police
PHNOM PENH - One woman was killed and at least five others were wounded when protesters clashed with police outside the home of Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday.
The woman was a rice vendor who was shot in the chest and died later in the hospital, after demonstrating workers...
Activists welcome ruling saving drug mule from gallows
Human rights groups today welcomed a Singapore court's decision to spare a Malaysian drug trafficker from the gallows but called for the outright abolition of executions in the city-state.
High Court Judge Choo Han Teck yesterday re-sentenced Yong Vui Kong, 25, to life imprisonment and 15 strokes of the cane...
69 Political Prisoners Released In Myanmar
Myanmar on Friday announced the release of 69 political prisoners, including several prisoners of conscience.
Among those released is the prominent Karen women human rights activist Naw Ohn Hla, who was sentenced to two years in prison with hard labor after peacefully protesting a copper mining project in August this...
