On Monday, 19 June, a historic moment will take place as the newly created United Nations Human Rights Council (Council) convenes its first-ever session in Geneva, Switzerland, until 30 June. The Council has been created to overcome the flaws of the sixty-year old Commission on Human Rights, such as the inclusion of gross human rights [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA is deeply concerned over the recent turmoil in Timor Leste and urges the government to take necessary measures to end political tensions immediately by ensuring full official cooperation with international and national inquiries into deaths which resulted from ongoing violence in Dili, its capital city. FORUM-ASIA is deeply concerned over the recent turmoil in [ Read more ]

On the early morning of 27 May 2006, the ancient city of Yogyakarta was struck by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake, 25 kilometers from the centre of the quake which was under the seabed south of Java Island. The worst hit areas were the Bantul and Klaten districts and the south of the city. The office [ Read more ]

While the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)–FORUM-ASIA member in the Philippines–lauds the effort of the Philippine Congress for passing the Marcos Compensation Bill as a partial victory for the cause of justice and human rights, it also registers its reservations regarding the manner that compensation is viewed by both the Government and the [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA expresses our deepest condolences to the victims of and our solidarity with the survivors of the 27 May 2006 earthquake that struck the city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. So far the earthquake has claimed the lives of more than 5,000 people, with more than 15,000 injured and an estimated 200,000 people displaced – most of [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA strongly condemns the high-handedness of the police who acted violently and aggressively to stop a peaceful protest against fuel and electricity price hikes at the famous Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur yesterday (28 May). These acts were totally unnecessary and constitutes a gross violation of the right to peaceful assembly of the people as [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA expresses deep concern about the recent appointment of Commissioners to the National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (NHRC), which has bypassed the constitutional process, and severely undermines the credibility and independence of the NHRC. It notes that the appointment was made a mere nine days after Sri Lanka’s election to the UN Human [ Read more ]

While FORUM-ASIA welcomed the positive recognition made by Prime Minister Hun Sen to Ms. Louise Arbour, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, following her official visit to Cambodia from 15-19 May 2006, the Cambodian government was urged to  recognise its shortcomings, acknowledge constructive criticisms and invite the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA has requested United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Louise Arbour, who is on official visit to Cambodia from 15-19 May 2006, to take swift actions to address the urgent human rights issues in the country, in particular ongoing forced eviction in Tonle Bassac commune and the selection of Cambodian judges and prosecutors [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA welcomes the election that took place yesterday in New York to bring the new United Nations Human Rights Council to life. Despite the generally disappointing results of the 47 members who were elected, FORUM-ASIA looks forward to constructive engagement with all of the newly elected members and calls upon them to translate pledges into [ Read more ]