Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Thailand - excessive force
Thursday 24.6.2021 Cambodia - Latest Developments -
Activists, journalists continue to face reprisals as COVID-19 law exacerbates violations in Cambodia
In recent months, environmental defenders have been charged and convicted for advocacy against environmental destruction. Opposition members, journalists and perceived dissidents continue to face reprisals from the government and from non-state actors. Read more
Thursday 10.6.2021 Indonesia - Latest Developments -
Activists at risk as repression in Papua escalates while Indonesia imposes further net restrictions
Over the last few months, activists from Papua have been arrested and charged for their activism. Those protesting against government policies, including students, have faced harassment, detention and even attacks from non-state actors with impunity. The internet has been disrupted in Papua and journalists have been targeted. Internet laws have been used to silence criticism of authorities in Papua. The authorities are bringing in new internet regulations which poses serious risks to privacy, freedom of speech and access to information. Read more
Friday 28.5.2021 Bangladesh - Latest Developments -
Press freedom under assault in Bangladesh while critics, protesters also silenced
In recent months, journalists have been targeted for their reporting on the pandemic or being critical of the authorities. Some have been criminalised and attacked, including Rozina Islam, Abu Tayeb Munshi and Ruhul Amin Gazi and there is still no accountability for the death of writer and commentator Mushtaq Ahmed. Reports of police brutality and attacks by pro-government groups against anti-Modi protesters in March 2021 have yet to be investigated. Read more
Monday 19.4.2021 Thailand - Latest Developments -
Crackdown on Thai activists continues as new restrictive NGO law proposed
Since the beginning of 2021, scores of activists have been charged for lese majeste, sedition and other violations, including seven leading pro-democracy protesters who have been denied bail. A restrictive new NGO law has been proposed that could be used to muzzle civil society groups and non-governmental organisations. The security forces have used rubber bullets, tears gas and water cannon to disperse protests while the authorities are increasingly invoking the lese majeste laws to restrict public discourse on the monarchy. Read more
Wednesday 24.2.2021 India - Latest Developments -
Indian authorities target activists, journalists as they suppress support for the farmers’ protests
Since early January 2021, the authorities have continued to suppress and demonise the farmers protest movement using excessive force with over a hundred detained and charged as well as blocking roads and protests spaces. Activists supporting them have been criminalised using draconian laws as well as journalists reporting and commenting on the protests. The government has also attempted to silence criticism online. Read more
Monday 1.2.2021 Indonesia - Latest Developments -
Critical voices silenced, impunity for excessive force and unlawful killings in Indonesia
In recent months, police have arrested, charged and convicted individuals for their social media posts, while a journalist was assaulted by the military. Political activists in Maluku and Papua have also been jailed for their peaceful activism. There has continued to be a lack of accountability for police violence during the mass protests against the job creation bill while reports of torture and unlawful killings continued to be reported. Read more
Tuesday 26.1.2021 Bangladesh - Latest Developments -
Artists, journalists and activists targeted in Bangladesh while protesters threatened and attacked
In recent months, the government has used the repressive Digital Security Act (DSA) against artists, including film director Anonno Mamun and folk singer Rita Dewan, while writer Mushtaq Ahmed and cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore remain in detention. A Daily Sangram reporter was also arrested under this law while photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol was finally released on bail following his disappearance in March and detention in May 2020 under the DSA. There have been acts of harassment against relatives of a human rights defender in exile while anti-rape protesters have been threatened, smeared and attacked. Police also attempt to disrupt medical student protests and prevent opposition gatherings. Read more
Wednesday 2.12.2020 Thailand - Latest Developments -
Thai authorities use excessive force, lese-majeste laws to clamp down on pro-democracy protests
There have been ongoing pro-democracy protests in Thailand demanding the dissolution of Thailand’s military-backed government led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the drafting of a new constitution and an end to the harassment of activists and government critics. Over the last month, the authorities have continued to attempt to suppress the protests by using excessive force and blocking public spaces, charging protest leaders for lese-majeste, targeting student protesters and using disinformation tactics
Read more
Friday 30.10.2020 Thailand - Latest Developments -
Authorities escalate crackdown on the youth-led protest movement in Thailand
The Thai authorities have escalated their crackdown on peaceful protests in Thailand in recent weeks. TLHR and Article 19 reported that at least 90 individuals were arrested between 13th and 21st October 2020 and peaceful protests have been dispersed, in some instances with excessive force. Read more
Friday 16.10.2020 Cambodia - Latest Developments -
Arrests of activists dangerously escalate while draft public order law draws flak in Cambodia
Prime Minister Hun Sen is ratcheting up attempts to silence dissent in the country. Over the last few months, we have seen an escalation in arrests of human rights defenders, activists and musicians on trumped up charges. Former members of the banned opposition party Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) continue to be targeted and have been prosecuted and convicted. Their families who have been protesting outside their detention centres have faced repression. Despite the pandemic, the government is introducing new laws and regulations that could be used to restrict civic freedoms, including a public order law and a national internet gateway. Read more
