Regional NGOs have raised concerns about the recent court decision on the alleged murder of human rights activists Munir Said Thalib in 2004. This statement was released by FORUm-ASIA on 1 January 2009. The verdict released on 31 December 2008, during the trial of a senior intelligence official initially charged with the alleged murder, cast [ Read more ]

John Tan, assistant secretary-general of the Singapore Democrats Party, spent Christmas in prison after being charged with contempt of court by Attorney-General Walter Woon. In addition to spending 15 days in jail, Tan and two others (only known as Isrizal and Shafi'ee) were each ordered to pay a fine of S$5000 in costs. The three [ Read more ]

Lasantha Wickramatunga, a high-profile and outspoken critic of the Sri Lankan government, was on his way to work on the morning of January 8 when he was shot and killed by unidentified attackers. Four motorcyclists in black clothes and helmets obstructed his vehicle before smashing through his car window with a steel bar and shooting [ Read more ]

The Karen Women's Organization is demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of a SPDC* soldier who allegedly raped and killed a young girl in Burma's northern Karen State recently. KWO is also asking for the soldier's commanding officer to be punished for failing to take action over the crime. The body of the 7-year-old girl [ Read more ]

Bangladeshis went to the polls on 29 December 2008, in a landmark parliamentary election which signified the end of two years of emergency rule by a military-backed caretaker government. Read the commentary on the elections by FORUM-ASIA. Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina won in a landslide victory in an election marked by a high voter [ Read more ]

A coalition of Southeast Asian civil society organizations called on ASEAN to cooperate fully with the ASEAN People's Centre launched in Jakarta today to honor the former's commitment to make itself a truly "People-oriented ASEAN". Read the press statement issued on 15 January in Jakarta. The centre (APC), first of its kind to promote engagement [ Read more ]

On the 23rd anniversary of the founding of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), FORUM-ASIA along with its 42 member organisations across Asia calls on South Asian governments to respect, protect and promote human rights of all. FORUM-ASIA calls for a more participatory regionalism where civil society groups who represent the diversity of [ Read more ]

Bangladesh's general elections is set to take place on 29 December, after almost two years of a military-backed state of emergency. The interim government said that the elections will happen under a 'relaxed' environment. It is unclear whether that meant a "relaxed emergency or no emergency". It was earlier scheduled for 18 December but postponed [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA member in Cambodia, LICADHO, has released a statement on the Cambodian government's intention to pass a new law which may restrict the legitimate activities of civil society groups. The statement is attached below. As you may be aware, Prime Minister Hun Sen stated in September that the new government intends to adopt – as [ Read more ]

Malaysian human rights group SUARAM released its Overview Report on the situation of human rights in Malaysia in 2008 on 9 December, in conjunction with the International Human Rights Day, which also marked the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948. In its report, which covers major events pertaining to civil and [ Read more ]