Human rights in Asia: serious problems in 10 countries

[Matt25]

asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=5154

• Politically motivated torture, kidnappings and killings increased dramatically across Asia last year as governments took advantage of what has been described as an erosion of democracy. One of the region’s leading human rights groups released its annual report yesterday, in which it blamed the deteriorating situation on “adventurous” governments taking advantage of the collapse of institutions such as judiciaries and other upholders of the rule of law. The governments of Cambodia, Nepal and the Philippines came in for particularly heavy criticism in the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission’s “The State of Human Rights in 10 Asian Nations – 2005”, which also focused on Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan, South Korea and Sri Lanka…

Philippines representative Alfonso Cinco, legal consultant to the Franciscan Justice and Peace Office in the city of Cebu, described last year as “probably the worst” year for human rights in his country since the collapse of the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship in 1986. A total of 874 violations had been committed, including 151 political killings, a 100 per cent increase. “This is clearly a part of the state campaign against legal, progressive organisations because almost all of the human rights violations were committed while the military was conducting counter-insurgency operations,” Mr Cinco said…

In Cambodia, where Prime Minister Hun Sen has been accused of moving towards a Myanmar-style military dictatorship, a weak judiciary was also blamed for carrying out a government-orchestrated policy of silencing critics by having them arrested and jailed. Mr Hun Sen’s government and others accused of violating rights and freedoms claim strong-arm tactics by their militaries and police are necessary to maintain stability. Basil Fernando said that for the promotion of the human rights it is necessary that governs and international organizations support the movements for the democracy.

 

[sadie2723]

Lets not forget the recent event in Belarus where all Catholic priests were asked to leave before new years or be arrested. I think that as a community we need to address this. These people need to be dealt with and freedom of religion needs to be preserved.

Brad

PS. Love those that hate you.

 

[Matt25]

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4625120.stm

            'No progress' on Burma rights vow                 
         
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Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi is one of the country’s political prisoners

                                     **Burma's military rulers have not made any progress towards democracy despite their promises of reform, according to US-based group Human Rights Watch.**  In its 2006 World Report, the rights organisation described the situation in South East Asia as dismal. It criticised Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra for overseeing a steady erosion of respect for human rights. Other countries mentioned included China, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, North Korea, Vietnam and PNG.

“Impunity from prosecution for human rights violations is the most important problem in the region, and the most widespread,” said Brad Adams, Asia division director at Human Rights Watch (HRW)…

The report also criticised the situation in Thailand. It describes Prime Minister Shinawatra’s security legislation in the Muslim-majority south as “draconian”. The report said that China was particularly violent towards protesters, restricted religious freedom and continued to curb freedom of expression by victimising journalists and censoring the internet.

It also said that domestic workers in Singapore and Malaysia continued to face a range of abuses, from sexual violence to trafficking.