Seventh of September this year marked the 5th anniversary of murder of Munir Said Thalib, former chairperson of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD). KontraS, FORUM-ASIA member in Indonesia, issued the statement below on the day calling on the Indonesian government to "leave no stone unturned to facilitate that the truth be ferreted out". [ Read more ]

Finardo Cabilao, the Social Welfare Attache to the Embassy of the Philippines in Malaysia, was found tortured and killed on 7 August 2009. He had combated trafficking and received death threats from trafickers. Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) released the statement below on 2 September, endorsed by 77 civil society organisations worldwide, including FORUM-ASIA. [ Read more ]

Singapore Working Group for ASEAN together with the International Organization for Migration jointly conducted a workshop on Indonesian Migrant Domestic Workers in Singapore at the Singapore Council of Women's Organization Centre on 4th September 2009. (Source: FORUM-ASIA member ThinkCentre, 10 September 2009) Singapore Working Group for ASEAN together with the International Organization for Migration jointly [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA called on the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT) to advocate the Thai government to review the use of death penalty, and move toward its abolition, in a letter on 28 August 2009. The letter came after two convicts were executed in Thailand, the first executions in the country since 2003. The two [ Read more ]

Five individuals, including a human rights lawyer and bloggers, were recently arrested in Vietnam for criticising the government. In a letter on 8 September, FORUM-ASIA urged the government to "protect the right to freedom of opinion and expression in your country" and immediately release those who remain in detention. Five individuals, including a human rights [ Read more ]

Once approved, now rejected: the Bangladesh government objected a human rights programme by FORUM-ASIA member Odhikar, after approving it four months earlier. The objection letter by the NGO Affairs Bureau reached Odhikar's office on 31 August 2009, and it gave no reason for the decision. Ten civil society organisations including FORUM-ASIA expressed their "deep concerns" [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA urgently calls on the Malaysian government to immediately identify, arrest and bring to court rapists and sexual rights violators of Penan girls and women of Baram, Sarawak. The organisation said this is the logical follow-up to the report of the National Task Force formed by the Cabinet to investigate the alleged sexual abuse of [ Read more ]

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) expresses our utmost concern on the announcement from the Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein who has revealed that the Government will make amendments to the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the Police Act, particularly on the right to hold assemblies. (Source: 20 August, FORUM-ASIA member SUARAM) Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) [ Read more ]

Migrant domestic workers in Malaysia are particularly vulnerable to abuses and exploitation, concluded three civil society organisations in the country. On 13 August 2009, the Malaysian Trade Union Congress, CARAM Asia and Tenaganita replied to the International Labour Organization (ILO) questionnaire regarding the ILO Convention on Domestic Workers. Migrant domestic workers in Malaysia are particularly [ Read more ]

Christians' houses were attacked in Gojra, Pakistan, on 1 August 2009. FORUM-ASIA member Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reported that local administration had planned not to intervene, while people were gathered on the day before to "make mincemeat of the Christians". Christians' houses were attacked in Gojra, Pakistan, on 1 August 2009. FORUM-ASIA member Human [ Read more ]