The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) strongly condemns the declaration of the state of emergency in the Philippines. At the same time, we also condemn the attempted military take-over, which the declaration was based upon. Both are actions that undermine the already weak democratic processes in the Philippines. These acts have muddled [ Read more ]

While many international non-governmental organizations have openly welcomed the draft resolution on the United Nations Human Rights Council, FORUM-ASIA is concerned that there are less significant or substantive changes to the present Commission on Human Rights, which has been discredited for its double-standards and ineffectiveness. Although the draft resolution puts forth various technical changes, it [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA along with Human Rights Watch, Global Witness, the International Federation for Human Rights and the Asian Human Rights Commission has issued a joint statement calling for Cambodia's international donors to intensify pressure on the Cambodian Government, in order to end its repression of fundamental human rights as well as the pillaging of Cambodia's state [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA, together with its member organisations, submitted six written statements on key human rights issues in three Asian countries to the 62nd session of the Commission on Human Rights. The statements addressed the issue of extrajudicial killings as well as the rise of religious intolerance in Bangladesh; the crackdown on democracy and gross violations of [ Read more ]

FA has released its comments on the latest “Co-Chairs’ Text” as of 1 February 2006 on the proposed Human Rights Council (HRC). The comments were passed on to the concerned governments’ representatives via the New York-based NGOs who are monitoring closely the ongoing negotiation process. FA has released its comments on the latest “Co-Chairs’ Text” [ Read more ]

While FORUM-ASIA welcomes the royal pardon granted to Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy, fellow opposition parliamentarian Cheam Channy and the release of human rights defenders earlier, it is concerned that these may be mere temporary concessions in the face of condemnation of the Prime Minister’s strong arm tactics by Cambodian and international civil society groups, [ Read more ]

Joint Appeal of NGOs, civil society organizations and trade unions around the world expressing deep concern over the Royal crackdown on democracy and gross violations of human rights, as well as continued conflict with the Maoists (Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist) in Nepal. They note that despite the lifting of the state of emergency on April [ Read more ]

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), together with its Cambodian member organizations ADHOC and LICADHO, writes the Committee on Human Rights of Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parlimentary Union (IPU) to welcome and comment on the resolution of IPU on Mr. Cheam Channy, Member of National Assembly of Cambodia, adopted on October 19, 2005. [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA welcomes the release of five detained Cambodian activists. Yeng Virak, Director of the Community Legal Education Centre, was released on bail on January 11, 2006. On January 17, Kem Sokha, President of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR), Pa Guon Tieng, Director of (CCHR), Rong Chhun, President of the Teacher's Association, and Mam [ Read more ]

FORUM-ASIA demands the immediate launch of independent investigations into the human rights violations by the Hong Kong police during the protests at the WTO meeting in December 2005. These include the abuse of detainees, not providing interpretation facilities, use of excessive force etc. The mass restriction of movement amounting to de facto detention and exposing [ Read more ]