Human rights
Civil and political rights
King calls for vote free from threats or intimidation
A leaked statement from King Norodom Sihamoni circulated on social media since Sunday, nearly a month after he signed it, calls on citizens to vote for their preferred party in the upcoming elections without “worry of suppression, threats or intimidation”. The statement, signed by the ...
Rakhine Advisory Commission presents 30 recommendations
The Advisory Commission on Rakhine State yesterday presented almost 30 recommendations of action that the Myanmar government can take to immediately improve the situation on the ground in Rakhine as the commission released its interim report. Kofi Annan, Chair of the Advisory Commission, said the ...
University staff warned of behaviour’ on social media
Lecturers of a northern university will have to think twice before posting a message on online media. Offending posts may affect staff performance reviews and salary adjustments, according to university rules that came into effect on February 20. The rules describe the use of online media ...
Critics skeptical of new privacy legislation
Myanmar’s newly enacted privacy and security protection law received skepticism from several civil society groups that said the legislation was “incomplete” and failed to fully ensure the protection of individuals’ privacy and freedom of expression as it was adopted hastily and without public consultation. The ...
Big team to defend human rights policies at UN
Thailand has 46 officials in Geneva, more than any other country, for its second review at UN rights body. After years of international criticism over its human rights policies, a 46-member delegation is strong enough to defend Thailand’s position before the Human Rights Committee on ...
Approach to disability questioned
Well-intentioned donor organisations working to assist the disabled often adopt an approach that is ineffectual in Cambodia, according to the doctoral research of Cambodian scholar Monyrath Nuth. Based at RMIT University in Australia, Nuth authored an extensive case study examining whether the “rights-based” approach to ...
Thai province provides training for Lao journalists
The Radio and Television Professional Association in Phetchabun province, Thailand, in cooperation with the Institute of Physical Education Phetchabun Campus Stadium, is extending its assistance to Lao National Radio and Lao National Television for personnel training. A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on the initiative was ...
Thailand ‘unaffected by US report’
Foreign minister Don Pramudwinai on March 5 said the US 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices will not effect Thailand even though the annual report criticised the ruling junta for curbing rights and freedoms in the Kingdom. “The report does criticise the current limited freedom of ...
Lawyer says authorities violated student protester’s rights
High court lawyer U Robert San Aung who is representing Ko Nyan Myo Aung, a student who staged a one-man protest earlier this month, has applied to the court to take action against the authorities for allegedly violating the privacy rights of his client. Ko Nyan ...
Phuket hospitals rejecting migrant workers’ insurance
Some women are forced to abandon their babies at hospitals as they’re being denied universal health coverage. Financial difficulties in the healthcare system is leading to pregnant migrant workers only in Phuket province being denied access to Universal Coverage health insurance scheme when they deliver babies. Usually ...
