Thailand has repeatedly ignored its international obligations to protect asylum seekers, repatriating 163 Hmong Lao.  The Lao government must stop persecuting this minority group; Thailand must respect the rights of those seeking refugee within their borders. (Bangkok) FORUM-ASIA reiterates its condemnation of the government of Thailand for the forced repatriation of 163 Hmong Lao asylum [ Read more ]

The Constitutional Tribunal has dissolved the Thai Rak Thai party. This verdict brings the country near turmoil, straining an already tense political situation – questioning the fairness and validity of the ruling.  Last week’s decision to dissolve the Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT) brings the country nearer to turmoil, intensifying the political situation in the [ Read more ]

Rajasthan teeters on the edge of a caste-based war following the Gujjar community's initiative to change their status from Other Backwards Classes to Scheduled Tribes, a move which is seen as a "demotion" in status. Civil society groups have been silent on the resultant violations to human rights and human dignity that has occurred. Rajasthan has [ Read more ]

In a statement supported by Law and Society Trust, a member of FORUM-ASIA, the Asian Legal Resource Centre details the crisis in Sri Lanka's judicial system.  They call upon the UN Human Rights Council to urge the government of Sri Lanka to take measures to ensure a functioning, accountable judiciary. In a written statement to [ Read more ]

In a joint open letter, FORUM-ASIA members INFORM and LST write to the Sri Lankan president to immediately halt the forced evictions of over three hundred Tamil civilians, expelled from the capital city on an arbitrary basis.  This move will only further entrench ethnic divisions and marginalise the Tamil community. Honorable Mahinda Rajapakse President of [ Read more ]

Eighteen years after the Tiananmen massacre, impunity continues to prevail in China as media is prohibited from reporting about the incident and at least 13 ordinary civilians remain behind bars. The international community should pressure China to uphold its commitment to improve its human rights record prior to the 2008 Olympics and establish the rule [ Read more ]

The Group of 8 (G8) meeting this year will be held in at the Baltic Sea resort of Heiligendamm, Germany on June 6 through June 8. It will undoubtedly address issues that impact human rights, including economic, social, and cultural rights as well as the global imbalance between the north and the south, poverty elimination, [ Read more ]

The abduction and murder of two Red Cross volunteers in Sri Lanka in early June is a horrific reminder of the impunity that rules the country today. The government must conduct an effective inquiry to remedy the systemic loopholes that allows such massive human rights violations to continue. The abduction and murder of two Red [ Read more ]

The recent arrests of Hmong Americans in the United States of America plotting against the government of Laos could potentially increase the human rights violations committed against Hmong in Laos. The government of Laos must uphold its international human rights obligations.  The recent arrests of Hmong Americans in the United States of America plotting against [ Read more ]

The abduction and murder of two Red Cross volunteers in Sri Lanka in early June is a horrific reminder of the impunity that rules the country today. The government must conduct an effective inquiry to remedy the systemic loopholes that allows such massive human rights violations to continue. The abduction and murder of two Red [ Read more ]