The Philippines: Rights group slams PNP for barring visits to political detainees, demands explanation
MANILA, Philippines -- The human rights organization Karapatan slammed the Philippine National Police for barring two of its officers and several others from visiting political prisoners detained at the custodial center in Camp Crame and demanded an explanation for the move.
In a âconfidentialâ memorandum dated December 27, Chief Superintendent...
Malaysia’s Indigenous People Intensify Anti-Dam Battle
The strongest wave of indigenous protests since the 1990s is underway in Sarawak, a Malaysian state on the island of Borneo. On International Human Rights Day, December 10, hundreds of people across the state demonstrated against a series of 12 mega-dams planned by the government company Sarawak Energy.
Bakun dam...
Third week of protests in Cambodia
(Vatican Radio) Tens of thousands of protesters in Cambodia have been staging daily protests over the past three weeks. But Sunday’s demonstration was the largest to date. Observers say it was among the largest gatherings at any political event in the country’s history.
The protesters marched peacefully through the Cambodian...
Amid Cambodia protests, UN rights expert appeals for calm, urges meaningful talks’
Dec 30, 2013 (Menafn - M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- An independent United Nations human rights expert today urged Cambodian authorities to continue to exercise restraint amid daily demonstrations in the capital of Phnom Penh, while also praising the increasing democratic space allowing people to comfortably express themselves in...
ASEAN and Universal Health Care
ASSOCIATION of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has traditionally relied on a mixture of public and private health care with an emphasis on the latter. It is a structure that is likely to continue as more countries in the region begin to move toward the provision of universal health care.
For...
UN wants inquiry into strikers’ deaths in Cambodia
PHNOM PENH (REUTERS) — The U.N. human rights agency urged Cambodia to launch an investigation into the "disproportionate" use of force by security forces last week against garment factory workers striking over pay.
Military police opened fire on workers protesting outside a factory in Phnom Penh on Jan. 3 and...
Asean free-trade pacts weak, ADB study says
BANDAR Seri Begawan—Free-trade agreements (FTAs) in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) tend to be “weak” and could be distracting members from real economic reforms and regional integration, argued a study that reviews progress in the Asean Economic Community.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently published a collection of...
What’s Happening in Cambodia? VOA Speaks with Activist and Analyst Ou Virak
PHNOM PENH — In recent weeks the Cambodia government has cracked down on striking garment workers demanding a doubling of the minimum wage, as well as political opposition groups who accuse the ruling party of rigging the last election. Gatherings of protesters are now banned after clashes with police...
Malaysia: Letting the extremists and right-wing dominate will BACKFIRE – analysts warn Umno
KUALA LUMPUR ― Umno’s continued silence as the voices of Malay right-wing groups grow louder by the day could end up being misconstrued as Putrajaya’s endorsement of extremism and racism, analysts have warned.
By staying passive to appease its supporters in Malay-Muslim Malaysia, Umno also risks having its own grip...
Cambodia: Capitalism for Human Rights?
If you enter Cambodia, you'll inevitably notice a plethora of non-profits that riddle the country. There has been a 75% increase of orphanages in Cambodia since 2005, new schools teaching English herd kids into classrooms, and civil society organizations working on post-conflict issues have taken root in different provinces....
