Odhikar has received threats after publishing a fact-finding mission inquiring into the deaths of men in custody of naval authorities. The government of Bangladesh must investigate this deplorable case properly and thoroughly, make steps to establish the rule of law in the country and protect human rights defenders exposing this case. FORUM-ASIA is alarmed by [ Read more ]

Sri Lanka is the most dangerous place in Asia for journalists. The government of Sri Lanka must protect its media workers, actively investigate crimes against journalists and stop criminalizing dissent. On World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2007, FORUM-ASIA stands in solidarity with media workers that risk their lives to expose human rights abuses and [ Read more ]

24 April last year marks a historic victory of the people’s movement in Nepal. Yet today, people in Nepal continues to suffer from human rights violations while new Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the interim government has not put human rights agenda on its list. The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and [ Read more ]

Swift and effective intervention is necessary after Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal Party (TMVP) made threatening statements against foreign NGO and aid workers. The government needs to recall its obligation to take effective measures for the protection of workers as declared in the UN Declaration of Human Rights Defenders. Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe Minister of Disaster Management [ Read more ]

The Appellate Court in Phnom Phenh convicted Borng Samnang and Sok Sam Oen of the murder of Chea Vichea, former President of Cambodia Free Trade Union Worker. The Court’s ruling raised question of inconsistency with international fair trial standards since it denied to admit the testimony of a key witness. The Asian Forum for Human [ Read more ]

Malaysia must immediately free the 18 Burmese people recently arrested in Kuala Lumpur among some are recognised refugees by the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Dato’ Seri Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Security Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502 PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia. Tel: + 60 3 8888 [ Read more ]

CTF Second Hearing undermines the justice for victims by refusing the cross examination of evidence from independent and reliable sources. Close-door sessions offered to the perpetrators without victims’ participation. The composition of the witnesses is also dominated by majority of perpetrators and actors of violence. An evaluation of the Second Hearing of the Commission of [ Read more ]

CTF has neglected victim’s participation in several hearings. CTF merely asked victims to give “opinions” and not “testimonies”. The Commissioners also failed to verify findings and facts of previous investigations. Such action shall only allow impunity to grow and undermines the original objectives of the establishment of CTF. WE, the civil society in Indonesia and [ Read more ]

At the height of the second public hearing of the truth-finding and friendship-building Commission, Indonesian military officers who were involved in the atrocities that killed more than 1,500 Timorese civilians after the popular referendum in 1999 are avoiding accountability. Pressure on the government of Indonesia to prosecute all perpetrators has grown, but the goodwill required [ Read more ]

Written Statements FORUM-ASIA Written Statement on Institution Building Issues of the UN Human Rights Council 8 March 2007 Human rights organisations in Asia are concerned that many Asian governments are eroding the effectiveness of human rights protection mechanisms, reflected in the current 4th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. Read full [ Read more ]