Cambodia: Human rights groups condemn excessive use of force
It was 20 years on September 24 since the Cambodian Constitution was first signed, marking the end of the UN transitional authority in the country (Untac). Today’s Constitution was drafted in July and August 1993 by 12 persons. One of them told the local press on Tuesday that, while the...
Thailand: Initiative to end abuses in Thai seafood sector weak – activists
BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - An initiative to stamp out human trafficking, child labour and forced labour in Thailand's multibillion-dollar seafood industry lacks teeth and will do little to end the problem in the Southeast Asian country, rights activists say.
Under the "Good Labour Practices" programme, launched in the Thai...
Cambodia: Cambodia Urged To Ensure True Political Representation In National Assembly
A United Nations independent expert said Wednesday that the Cambodian Government must now ensure that the country's National Assembly is truly representative to promote a successful transition to democracy, following the disputed general elections held in July.
"Every country that undergoes a transition to democracy faces a moment when the...
Malaysia: As political ‘phony’ Najib meets Mark Zuckerberg, his govt rams in ‘INHUMANE’ laws
KUALA LUMPUR - Opposition lawmakers reacted sharply to the Malaysian government's proposed amendments to several crime laws, saying these were "more draconian" than they had expected.
They lambasted Prime Minister Najib Razak for taking Malaysia back in time to an era where the government could arrest, abuse, enforce and persecute...
Cambodia: Cambodia releases two jailed for union leader murder
Cambodia's Supreme Court has acquitted two men jailed nine years ago for the murder of prominent opposition activist Chea Vichea.
The move was welcomed by human rights groups, who have described the men as scapegoats who were wrongly convicted.
Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment...
Philippines: UN warns of humanitarian crisis in southern Philippines
MANILA (AFP) - The United Nations warned Wednesday that the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga faces a humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands of people uprooted by a wave of deadly violence.
Hundreds of soldiers and police have been engaged in combat since Sept 9 when about 200 Muslim guerrillas...
Malaysia: Malaysian government proposes new detention without trial powers
(Reuters) - Malaysia's government proposed an amendment to crime laws on Wednesday that would give authorities the power to hold suspects for years without trial, in what critics said was a lurch back to draconian security policies that were only recently eased.
The government is justifying the proposed toughening of...
Viet Nam: Vietnamese Authorities Arrest Prominent Activists in Hanoi
In a relentless crackdown on dissent, authorities in Vietnam arrested on Wednesday two bloggers, an activist and five others, according to one of the detainees.
Police and plainclothes officers detained blogger Nguyen Tuong Thuy, his wife and daughter, and another blogger Pham Ba Hai, as well as activist Nguyen Phuong...
Seventh Press Release of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC)
The ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) concluded its Seventh Meeting convened on 22-24 July 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Meeting was participated by ASEAN Member States (AMS) and the main event was the finalisation of the draft Declaration...
Burma: Continued Prosecutions of Human Rights Defenders
The Asian Human Rights Commission has in a number of recent appeals and statements (AHRC-UAC-105-2013, AHRC-UAC-101-2013, AHRC-STM-108-2013) pointed to the persistent pursuit and prosecution by the police and local authorities in Burma, or Myanmar, of human rights defenders under draconian legislation old and new. Despite the country's continued progress...
