Indonesia Co-Sponsors UN ‘Right to Privacy’ Resolution
A United Nations rights committee on Tuesday passed a “right to privacy” resolution pressed by Germany and Brazil, who have led international outrage over reports of US spying on their leaders.
The resolution says that surveillance and data interception by governments and companies “may violate or abuse human rights.”
Fifty-five countries,...
Vietnam Blazes Trail for Gay Rights in Southeast Asia
Vietnam may be regarded as the most repressive Southeast Asian nation in its bid to muzzle dissenting voices and gag public freedoms, but the one-party Communist state is becoming a surprise torchbearer for gay rights in the region.
In the rapidly booming region, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Brunei outlaw homosexuality, while...
Indonesia: Rights abuse victims speak of atrocities
Victims of Indonesia Military (TNI) operations in Aceh, Timor Leste and Papua for the first time made public statements on Tuesday, speaking out about violent oppression and their struggle to overcome adversity.
One of the victims, identified only as M, became a victim simply by being a bystander. The 43-year-old...
Indonesia: Policewomen begin wearing ‘hijab’
Several policewomen in Sidoarjo and Surabaya, East Java, donned the Islamic head scarf or hijab on Friday following the National Police’s decision to lift a ban on wearing the attire.
“This is the National Police chief’s decision. Policewomen are now allowed to wear head scarves,” Surabaya Police chief Sr. Comr....
Indonesia: Patients abandoned as doctors stage rally
Many people in Greater Jakarta were unable to receive medical services on Wednesday as doctors were staging a rally to protest the Supreme Court’s decision to send three of their colleagues to prison for malpractice in Manado, North Sulawesi.
Tuti, 30, said she had to cancel her pregnancy check-up at...
Cambodia: Regional lawmakers group calls on gov’t to probe deaths
An organisation made up of current and former elected representatives from across Southeast Asia has called on the United Nations to investigate the deaths of two people shot by police during protests over the past three months.
In a statement released yesterday, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) slammed the...
Don’t take democracy for granted, urges Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi
''Learn to value what you have.'' It was a simple message from a woman who has more than earned the right to deliver it.
Burmese human rights campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent almost 20 years under house arrest in a fight to bring...
Malaysians believe in death penalty, but not willing to mete it out, survey shows
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians believe in the death penalty but do not want to impose it - even on perpetrators of the most serious crimes.
This seemingly contradictory attitude was among the findings of a recent study by the Death Penalty Project (DPP) on the mandatory death sentence in Malaysia for...
Indonesia: Investigate ill-treatment of protesters and intimidation of journalists in Papua
Amnesty International is concerned about allegations that police ill-treated protesters involved in a pro-independence protest in Papua as well as intimidated journalists who were covering it.
On 26 November, police arrested at least 28 political activists including three women who participated in a pro-independence protest in Waena, Jayapura organized by...
Myanmar: Locals in Rakhine state protest against UN resolution
YANBYE - Local people in a town of Myanmar's western state of Rakhine took to the streets yesterday morning in protest against a United Nations human rights committee resolution urging Myanmar to grant the Bengalis citizenship under the name of Rohingya.
The protesters held their demonstration after seeking permission from...
