Myanmar’s Suu Kyi denounces terrorists, silent on Rohingya exodus (Channel News Asia, 6 September 2017)
Myanmar’s Suu Kyi denounces terrorists, silent on Rohingya exodus (Channel News Asia, 6 September 2017) Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi on Sep 6 blamed “terrorists” for “a huge iceberg of misinformation” on the violence in Rakhine state but made no mention of the nearly 125,000 Rohingya Muslims who have fled over the border to Bangladesh…
Read MoreASEAN MPs Warn of Rights Deterioration in Cambodia Amid NGO, Media Crackdown (Radio Free Asia, 31 August 2017)
ASEAN MPs Warn of Rights Deterioration in Cambodia Amid NGO, Media Crackdown (Radio Free Asia, 31 August 2017) Southeast Asian members of parliament expressed “grave concerns” over what they called a “worsening human rights situation” in Cambodia, where the government has launched a crackdown on NGOs and independent media outlets ahead of general elections next…
Read MoreSingapore disputes US human trafficking report (Straits Times, 30 July 2017)
Singapore disputes US human trafficking report (Straits Times, 30 July 2017) Singapore has taken issue with an annual report by the US State Department for depicting an inaccurate and less positive picture of the human trafficking situation here. An inter-agency task force co-chaired by the Home Affairs and Manpower ministries said there were 17 sex…
Read MoreAustralia’s offshore refugee processing causes ‘extensive suffering’ and must end, says UN agency chief (UN News, 24 July 2017)
Australia’s offshore refugee processing causes ‘extensive suffering’ and must end, says UN agency chief (UN News, 24 July 2017) Four years on, Australia’s offshore processing has left some 2,000 people languishing in unacceptable circumstances – causing physical and psychological harm, according to the United Nations refugee agency, which has called for an immediate end to…
Read MoreBack from visit to Myanmar, independent UN rights expert says situation ‘worsening’ (UN News, 24 July 2017)
Back from visit to Myanmar, independent UN rights expert says situation ‘worsening’ (UN News, 24 July 2017) In a statement from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee accused national authorities of “presiding over a worsening security and human rights situation” in the country. Ms. Lee said she catalogued…
Read MoreHuman rights defenders in Viet Nam should ‘never be treated as criminals,’ says UN rights office (UN News, 24 July 2017)
Human rights defenders in Viet Nam should ‘never be treated as criminals,’ says UN rights office (UN News, 24 July 2017) Noting that well-known activist Tran Thi Nga was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment and five years’ house arrest for so-called “anti-State propaganda” for comments posted online, Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the Office of the…
Read MoreThailand: Junta Entrenched 3 Years After Coup (Human Rights Watch, 21 May 2017)
Thailand: Junta Entrenched 3 Years After Coup (Human Rights Watch, 21 May 2017) Thailand’s junta has failed to fulfill pledges to respect human rights and restore democratic rule three years after the military coup, Human Rights Watch Asia director, Brad Adam, has said. The ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), led by Prime Minister…
Read MoreASEAN shelves declaration on rights of migrant workers (Jakarta Post, 28 April 2017)
ASEAN shelves declaration on rights of migrant workers (Jakarta Post, 28 April 2017) ASEAN member states have failed to reach a consensus on a highly anticipated migrant workers’ protection instrument, prompting the region’s senior officials to shelve the declaration for the next summit in November. For months Indonesia and the Philippines had played up the…
Read MoreASEAN human rights law’ taking shape (Bangkok Post, 10 May 2017)
ASEAN human rights law’ taking shape (Bangkok Post, 10 May 2017) Established in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year celebrates its 50th anniversary. In retrospect, the organisation has progressed well in accommodating differences between countries and has contributed much to fostering peace and cooperation in the region. We should also not forget the…
Read MoreAustralia’s Aboriginal children ‘essentially being punished for being poor’ – UN rights expert (UN News, 4 April 2017)
Australia’s Aboriginal children ‘essentially being punished for being poor’ – UN rights expert (UN News, 4 April 2017) Stressing that the rates of incarceration for Australia’s indigenous peoples have reached astounding, “tsunami” proportions, a United Nations human rights expert called on the authorities to respect the peoples’ right to self-determination, to full and effective participation…
Read MoreThai-owned mine in Myanmar investigated for human rights violations (CAN, 5 April 2017)
Thai-owned mine in Myanmar investigated for human rights violations (CAN, 5 April 2017) The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC) has opened an official enquiry into the Heinda tin mine in Myanmar’s Tanintharyi region for alleged human rights violations. A delegation led by NHRC commissioner Tuenjai Deetes visited the area earlier this year to gather…
Read MoreVietnam’s Quiet Human Rights Crisis (The Diplomat, 17 April 2017)
Vietnam’s Quiet Human Rights Crisis (The Diplomat, 17 April 2017) According to most metrics commonly used to measure level of human rights abuses, Vietnam boasts one of the world’s most authoritarian police states. But activists say that far too little attention is paid to Vietnam even as other Southeast Asian countries are routinely condemned by the…
Read More