FORUM-ASIA has issued a statement to express its deep concerns over the arrest of five South Korean human rights defenders for violating the Act on Assembly and Demonstrations on 6 November. The court subsequently issued a preventive detention order on 8 November 2008, and denied them bail. To date, 32 other civil society organizations, in [ Read more ]

The Human Rights Education Institute of Burma has released a report entitled "Forgotten Future: Children Affected by Armed Conflict in Burma".  The report explores the six grave categories of violations against children outlined by the UN Secretary General. Introduction to the report is stated below: The top generals in the State Peace and Development Council [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA’s member in East Timor, Judicial System Monitoring Programme has issued a statement on the implication of court cases in the law of civil procedure. Read the statement inside. Civil law deals with legal complaints between private individuals or companies, as opposed to the criminal law, which covers matters that effect society at large. Since [ Read more ]

A forum on minority issues has been established according to Human Rights Council resolution 6/15 of 28 September 2007, to provide a platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation on issues pertaining to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities.   This forum will also provide thematic contributions and expertise to the work of the independent [ Read more ]

The Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI)/ Abolish ISA (Internal Security Act) Movement (AIM) challenges the government on its ISA detentions, in the wake of the Foreign Ministry's recent statement asking Obama Barack to release two Malaysian citizens from Guantanamo Bay camp. The GMI/AIM statement is provided below: The Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI)/ Abolish ISA Movement (AIM) [ Read more ]

The government has yet to respond to the final report of the Commission of Truth and Friendship which was submitted to it on 15 July this year despite the latter having spent about USD4.5 million of the public’s money for its operating expenses. Below is a press statement issued by several civil society organisations in [ Read more ]

According to Dili-based Justice System Monitoring Programme (JSMP), a new Penal Code draft will be slated soon for review by the National Parliament. It appears to address most of the criticisms levelled at earlier attempts by civil society. Such a law would list all offences in criminal law in Timor-Leste. In accordance with The United Nations Transitional Administration in East [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA expressed its grave concerns over the recent harassments and interruptions by the Vietnamese government on peaceful religious vigils in Hanoi. A series of religious vigils over rights to church property were held since August 2008 in Nunciature and the Thai Ha Church in Hanoi. The government reacted with electric batons and tear gas. According [ Read more ]

For Cambodia's police and armed forces, impunity is the rule of law. In recent months Phnom Penh has been witness to a spate of shootings perpetrated by police or Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) personnel. FORUM-ASIA's member in Cambodia, LICADHO, details in its website various cases of police abuse and violence.  These individuals at the [ Read more ]

More than 75 participants from mass and civil society organizations, trade unions, and government ministries participated actively in the Lao national consultation on the ASEAN Declaration on the protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers from 2-3 October in Vientiane. During the Consultation, the participants shared information on the situation of Lao migrant [ Read more ]