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Southeast Asia slammed for human rights abuses in new US report
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WASHINGTON- From military-ruled Myanmar to the free-wheeling democracy of the Philippines, Southeast Asia came under fire for human rights violations in a new report by the US State Department.
Only Singapore and Brunei from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations were spared criticism in the US State Department's report entitled "Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The US Record 2003-2004."
The report criticised Myanmar's government for continuing to be hostile to all forms of political opposition.
The report came as President George W. Bush extended for another year trade and investment sanctions on Myanmar and the government launched a national convention without first releasing democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The US report also hit out at the "poor" human rights record of Cambodia, Indonesia and Laos.
In Cambodia, the State Department questioned "political killings" and what it called a climate of impunity for violence.
"There were credible reports that some members of the security forces tortured, beat and otherwise abused persons in custody, often to extract confessions," it said.
More than 380 new rights abuses cases were filed in Cambodian courts during the past year, including unlawful arrests, extrajudicial killings and threats and intimidation, including political threats.
The report said although Indonesia had progressed to a more pluralistic and representative democracy, its "overall human rights record remained poor."
Soldiers and police officers committed widespread violations, including extrajudicial killings and torture, notably in Aceh and Papua Provinces, according to the report.
It added that "a weak and corrupt judicial system frequently failed to hold violators accountable."
The report noted that the Indonesian military took greater steps to punish human rights abusers within its ranks but -- as with the civilian justice system -- the punishment in many cases did not match the offence.
In Laos, the security forces were accused of abusing detainees, especially those suspected of insurgent or anti-government activity.
The people of Laos lacked basic freedoms, including freedom of speech and expression, with the communist government controlling the domestic media, it said. Several political prisoners remain in Lao jails, serving long sentences.
In the Philippines, the State Department said, security forces were responsible for "extrajudicial killings, disappearances, torture and arbitrary arrest and detention."
Also cited were widespread corruption in the judicial system and police forces.
The report on Thailand also focused on extrajudicial killings, with the government criticised for the largely unresolved 1,386 narcotic-related deaths during a three-month state sanctioned war on drugs last year.
The Vietnamese government was accused of "significantly" restricting freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly and association.
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Only Singapore and Brunei from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations were spared criticism in the US State Department's report entitled "Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The US Record 2003-2004."
The report criticised Myanmar's government for continuing to be hostile to all forms of political opposition.
The report came as President George W. Bush extended for another year trade and investment sanctions on Myanmar and the government launched a national convention without first releasing democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The US report also hit out at the "poor" human rights record of Cambodia, Indonesia and Laos.
In Cambodia, the State Department questioned "political killings" and what it called a climate of impunity for violence.
"There were credible reports that some members of the security forces tortured, beat and otherwise abused persons in custody, often to extract confessions," it said.
More than 380 new rights abuses cases were filed in Cambodian courts during the past year, including unlawful arrests, extrajudicial killings and threats and intimidation, including political threats.
The report said although Indonesia had progressed to a more pluralistic and representative democracy, its "overall human rights record remained poor."
Soldiers and police officers committed widespread violations, including extrajudicial killings and torture, notably in Aceh and Papua Provinces, according to the report.
It added that "a weak and corrupt judicial system frequently failed to hold violators accountable."
The report noted that the Indonesian military took greater steps to punish human rights abusers within its ranks but -- as with the civilian justice system -- the punishment in many cases did not match the offence.
In Laos, the security forces were accused of abusing detainees, especially those suspected of insurgent or anti-government activity.
The people of Laos lacked basic freedoms, including freedom of speech and expression, with the communist government controlling the domestic media, it said. Several political prisoners remain in Lao jails, serving long sentences.
In the Philippines, the State Department said, security forces were responsible for "extrajudicial killings, disappearances, torture and arbitrary arrest and detention."
Also cited were widespread corruption in the judicial system and police forces.
The report on Thailand also focused on extrajudicial killings, with the government criticised for the largely unresolved 1,386 narcotic-related deaths during a three-month state sanctioned war on drugs last year.
The Vietnamese government was accused of "significantly" restricting freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly and association.
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