Human rights

The United Nations on 11 August denounced “shockingly” long prison terms imposed by Thailand for insulting the monarchy and urged authorities to amend the law and release those convicted. Thai military courts on 7 August jailed two people for insulting the monarchy, one for 30 years and the ...

With tourism on the rise in Myanmar, the sector must better prepare for an influx of orphanage and child-sex tourism – problems that are already prevalent in the more travel-worn neighbouring countries, a report by three NGOs has warned. The tourism impact assessment was conducted by ...

Cambodian authorities arrested six demonstrators 26 July as they protested against the recent passing of a controversial law regulating non-governmental organisations, officials and a rights group said. The six demonstrators — five men and a woman — were among dozens who rallied outside of the parliament building ...

A Myanmar court has fined two journalists 1 million kyat ($800; £514) each, after finding them guilty of defaming the president. Nine other staff from the Myanmar Herald were acquitted in the case, which was filed by the information ministry last November. Keep reading ...

Eleven opposition activists, including a US citizen, were handed lengthy prison sentences yesterday for their roles in a protest at Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park last year that turned violent and left dozens injured. In a decision that came as a surprise to many, judge Lim Makaron ...

A Phnom Penh Municipal Court deputy prosecutor has decided to charge prominent human rights monitor Ny Chakrya in a case that rights groups have labeled a bald-faced attempt to suppress criticism of the Kingdom’s judiciary. The case stems from two Siem Reap Provincial Court officials who accused Chakrya ...

Six ethnic Montagnard Christians who fled Vietnam and illegally entered Cambodia to seek refugee status have arrived safely in the capital Phnom Penh, the provincial coordinator for Adhoc has said. The coordinator said the group fled Gia Lai province in Vietnam’s Central Highlands on 16 July and arrived ...

Cambodia’s prime minister has added his voice to growing outrage over a vicious attack by a businessman on a female TV star that was captured on video. Hun Sen called property tycoon Sok Bun’s actions intolerable and warned that his wealth would not help him escape ...

Proceedings have ended in the controversial trial of two Thailand-based journalists facing criminal defamation charges for reporting on the alleged involvement of Thai naval forces in human trafficking. The charges against Alan Morison, the 67-year-old Australian editor of independent Thai news website Phuketwan, and reporter Chutima Sidasathian, ...

After a barrage of condemnation from the United States, the European Union, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and a host of human rights groups, over the Thai government’s “forced deportation” of of 109 Uighur men back to China, Beijing has come to Thailand’s rescue. It has ...