FORUM-ASIA expresses its deepest condolences and solidarity with victims and survivors of the natural disasters currently affecting lives of people in Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and the Pacific. (Bangkok, 6 October 2009) The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) expresses its deepest condolences and solidarity with victims and survivors of the natural [ Read more ]

The wide spread use of torture against political prisoners in Burma has been condemned by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), which issued a statement below on 28 September 2009 in Mae sot, northern Thailand. The wide spread use of torture against political prisoners in Burma has been condemned by the Assistance Association for [ Read more ]

On the International Peace Day on 20 September 2009, FORUM-ASIA member INSEC called on the Nepalese government to immediately implement pledges for peace process promised earlier.  On the International Peace Day on 20 September 2009, FORUM-ASIA member INSEC called on the Nepalese government to immediately implement pledges for peace process promised earlier.  We respect the [ Read more ]

The World Forum for Democratization (WFDA) held its third biennial conference from 16-18 September 2009 in Seoul, South Korea, without one Uyghur participant who was denied to enter the country. He was detained for 48 hours in the airport, while the government was considering to send him to China. Below is the letter by the [ Read more ]

The enactment of the new Islamic Criminal Code calling for adulterers to be stoned to death and whipping for sex outside of marriage in Aceh, Indonesia, has shocked many quarters. This statement was released by FORUM-ASIA on 26 September 2009 and endorsed by Commission for Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Indonesia's NGO Coalition for International [ Read more ]

The United Nations Human Rights Council concluded its general debate yesterday, under "agenda item 4: human rights situations that require the Council's attention". This crucial agenda item is to provide the Council with the opportunity to bring to attention country-specific human rights situations. Regrettably, however, this was not the case at the 12th regular session [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA condemns the arrests of 15 human rights defenders in Sarawak, Malaysia, on 16 September 2009. Their arrests were a clear form of intimidation and aimed to silence their voices and the voices of their communities who are questioning the construction of large dams in the area. The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development [ Read more ]

Malaysian civil society presented detailed recommendations about the national process of selecting the representatives of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. The letter was sent to the Malaysian Prime Minister on 9 September 2009. Malaysian civil society presented detailed recommendations about the national process of selecting the representatives of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on [ Read more ]

Forty-two Malaysian non-governmental organisations, including FORUM-ASIA member, Suaram, boycotted "Human Rights Day Event" by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) on 9 September 2009. The commission celebrated its 10th anniversary on that day, and the organisations said it cannot be recognised as a human rights day because of the commission's failures. Below is their [ Read more ]

In September 2008, the Cambodian government announced its intention to prioritise the Associations and NGO Law, without any disclosure of its objectives. The government has been silent, despite statements by civil society for dialogue and transparency. Below is the statement on 1 September 2009 by more than 200 civil society organisations in the country. In [ Read more ]