Monthly Archives: March 2012

Burma’s April 1st elections are a crucial step toward assuring the international community that the country is making meaningful progress toward democratic reform, says independent watchdog Freedom House. The organization welcomes the decision to allow foreign observers to monitor the … Continue reading →

In its 2012 Annual Report unveiled in Washington D.C. this week, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) named Vietnam as one of the world’s worst religious freedom violators along with Burma, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, … Continue reading →

Since June 2011, the Burmese government has committed serious abuses and blocked humanitarian aid to tens of thousands of displaced civilians during the fighting in northern Kachin State, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report released today. Some 75,000 ethnic … Continue reading →

Burma’s new law on the right to peaceful assembly falls far short of international standards, Human Rights Watch said today. President Thein Sein signed the assembly law, the Law Relating to Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession, on December 2, 2011. … Continue reading →

The Chinese authorities should not forcibly return any more North Korean border-crossers caught en route to South Korea, after it emerged that nine people were sent back, Amnesty International said. At least 40 North Koreans are said to be currently held … Continue reading →