FORUM-ASIA has appealed to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo, for his intervention in the increased restriction of the right to freedom of opinion and expression of human rights defenders in Singapore. Press Release The UN Special Rapporteur on [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA has condemned the extension of Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest by a year and has called on Burma’s State Peace and Development Council to release her and all other political prisoners. The organisation has also called ASEAN to actively engage in these issues and push the SPDC to start taking steps towards conforming [ Read more ]

Bhutan’s first foray into democratic elections may have demonstrated its commitment to move away from an absolute monarchy, but it is unlikely to be an entirely functional multiparty democracy. A lack of strong opposition, the under-representation of women candidates, the exclusion of ethnic Nepalis from the election process, and the widespread lack of understanding of [ Read more ]

The Burma Partnership, a FORUM-ASIA partner, has called on the Burmese government to immediately release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, saying the junta will be violating its own laws in keeping her under house arrest for longer than the five years permitted by the Burma State Protection Law.  Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must be [ Read more ]

A report on the practice of capital punishment in India has found that the death penalty is being applied arbitrarily, inconsistently and unfairly, and that its use is largely determined by a person’s socio-economic background. India is lagging behind the majority of States that have called for a moratorium on executions and is not abiding [ Read more ]

The Working Group on the Advocacy against Torture and the World Organisation Against Torture have released a joint report on torture and ill-treatment in Indonesia that highlights five main areas of concern: the reluctance of the government to adopt torture provisions, violence against women, a lack of judicial safeguards for children, the widespread use of [ Read more ]

The Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP), a FORUM-ASIA member in Timor Leste, said the recently announced Presidential Decree issued by President Dr Jose Ramos Horta granting clemency to 94 listed prisoners risked devaluing court adjudication and minimising the gravity of prisoners' offences. On 19 May, a Presidential Decree was issued by His Excellency Dr Jose [ Read more ]

The Indonesian Human Rights Monitor  (IMPARSIAL), a FORUM-ASIA member, has criticised the government for not practicing what it preaches in regards to human rights issues. The organisation has highlighted several inconsistencies between laws and the implementation of human rights in the country despite a decade of reforms. “The human rights situation despite a decade of [ Read more ]

The Solidarity for Asian People’s Advocacy (SAPA) Working Group on ASEAN, of which FORUM-ASIA is a member, has welcomed the establishment of a coordinating mechanism to facilitate humanitarian aid into Burma in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, but said it must help the junta overcome its paranoia of invasion and ensure that it will immediately lead to [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA and member organisation Odhikar are alarmed at the passing of a broad anti-terrorism ordinance allowing for the death penalty, life imprisonment, and prison sentences ranging from three to 20 years. The organisations believe it will serve as grounds for the persecution of political opposition, human rights defenders, trade unionists and other activists, and will [ Read more ]