FORUM-ASIA and INSEC demands that Government of Nepal dissolve the High-level Probe Commission on Disappearances formed on 21 June 2007 and form new commission in line with the June 1 verdict from the Supreme Court of Nepal. Bangkok/Kathmandu: The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) express [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA expressed concern over reports that the Cabinet of Sri Lanka discussed an "emergency paper" regarding the re-introduction of criminal defamation law last week. FORUM-ASIA reminded the government of Sri-Lanka that bringing criminal defamation legislation back into Sri Lanka’s legal system may mean reintroducing a vague statute, creating the huge possibility for arbitrary, uneven, and [ Read more ]

South Korea and the United States recently signed the controversial Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) where tariffs on nearly 95 per cent of trade in consumer and industrial products will be phased out within three years. However, not only does KORUS FTA face strong opposition from small farmers and trade unionists from both [ Read more ]

More than 7,000 Hmong living in the Petchabun settlement are to be relocated by the Thai military to improve security, among other things. Now the Thai military has restricted media access to the area – so who are they really protecting? At the end of June, a paramilitary task force began relocating over 7,000 Hmong, [ Read more ]

The Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN), of which FORUM-ASIA is a part, released a statement denouncing the use of the death penalty by Asian governments, particularly in the case drug offenses. Rather, the death penalty must be abolished and never used to punish drug crimes. On 26 June, the UN Anti-Drugs Day, the Anti-Death Penalty [ Read more ]

More than 7,000 Hmong living in the Petchabun settlement are to be relocated by the Thai military to improve security, among other things. Now the Thai military has restricted media access to the area – so who are they really protecting? At the end of June, a paramilitary task force began relocating over 7,000 Hmong, [ Read more ]

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples represents the recognition of rights that have been denied for years.  While some debate the feasibility of the declaration, it provides the first comprehensive standards to realise the rights of these marginalised groups. “Over the years, we have witnessed the immense obstacles certain persons and [ Read more ]

The Thai military government must drop the draft Internal Security Act, as it would authorize the government officials to use excessive force, which could result in grave human rights violations such as extra-judicial executions, impunity, and widespread torture. If the act is passed, the security forces will be immune to accountability for criminal, civil, administrative, and code [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA urged Mongolia's Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs to approve the application for registration of a new non-governmental organization called the Citizens' Just Court. It also called upon the Ministry to immediately release Ms. G. Baasan, founder of the said organization. (Bangkok) The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) today urged Mongolia’s [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA and SUARAM, its member organisation in Malaysia, called on the Malaysian Prime Minister for urgent intervention in the case of 318 asylum seekers and refugees from Burma arrested over the past three days. The Malaysian government must respect its promise during its candidature at the UN Human Rights Council in 2006. JOINT PRESS STATEMENT [ Read more ]