Today three years ago, Munir Said Thalib, Indonesia's prominent human rights defender was poisoned on the way to the Netherlands. Munir, who made enemy with powerful military figures have been tirelessly exposing their dirty works not only on crimes against humanity but also the involvement in illegal logging, drug trafficking and weapon smuggling. Munir's legacy [ Read more ]

This coming session of the United Nations Human Rights Council will decide the future of the Working Group on Minorities. FORUM-ASIA  calls on the Human Rights Council to protect the voices of minorities at the United Nations and continue the mandate of the Working Group on Minorities. (Bangkok)FORUM-ASIA calls on the 6th Session of the [ Read more ]

At the 1st Regional Consultation of ASEAN and Human Rights (26 – 28 August 2007) organised by FORUM-ASIA and SUARAM (a FORUM-ASIA member), 23 organisations and individuals endorsed an open letter demanding the Burmese government release all protesters detained for demonstrating against state decision to increase fuel prices. They also called on the ASEAN members [ Read more ]

Last week's sudden hike of fuel price in Burma triggered protests in the country and the authorities arrested numerous people despite the calling from international community to respect people's right of associate. Burmese and Thai activists release a joint statement to call upon Burmese junta to revoke the fuel price and stop the violence. The [ Read more ]

The Mongolian government has tried to stifle justice by detaining a human rights defender. FORUM-ASIA and the Center for Human Rights and Development (CHRD), FORUM-ASIA member, demand the release of Mr. Kh. Bat-Yalalt and condemn the Mongolian government for denying justice to their people. The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and the [ Read more ]

The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee, an NGO coalition that includes ADHOC and LICADHO (FORUM-ASIA members), released a statement expressing concern over an appointment to the Appeals Court that violates the principles of judicial tenure and independence. PHNOM PENH:  The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), a coalition of 23 NGO members, is deeply concerned [ Read more ]

Nepal Government’s proposed bill on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission gives provisions to grant amnesty to the perpetrators of human rights violations committed during the 10 year armed conflict, denying victims’ right to truth, justice and reparation. In June 2007, Nepal’s Ministry of Peace and Reconciliation drafted a bill to make provisions for the Truth [ Read more ]

Convened by SUARAM, FORUM-ASIA member, GMI is a forum against the Internal Security Act (ISA) in Malaysia that welcomes the release of some of those being held under the ISA. However these detainees are still under restrictions while many others remain in detention.   Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) has received information that four ISA detainees who [ Read more ]

At an event organised by Law and Society Trust, a FORUM-ASIA member, civil society gathered to honour Reverend Father Jim Brown, one year after his disappearance. Consequent to this meeting, an open letter was written to urge the President to take immediate action to solve the spate of disappearances in the country. On 12th August, [ Read more ]

Odhikar, FORUM-ASIA’s member in Bangladesh, urges the Caretaker Government of their country to end the harassment faced by university students at the hands of army personnel. Odhikar expresses its deep concern at the actions of police and Army personnel undertaken yesterday and today in response to protests by students of Dhaka University and other educational [ Read more ]