Tens of Thousands Still Isolated From Assistance, Abuses Continue

(New York, December 21, 2011) – The Burmese government should make a long-term commitment with humanitarian agencies to provide relief to Burma’s war-torn Kachin state, Human Rights Watch said today. Since June 2011, an estimated 50,000 ethnic Kachin have been displaced due to fighting between the Burmese army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), and many are in great need of humanitarian assistance.

BANGKOK, 18 December 2011 – The Open Forum for Democracy Foundation (PollWatch), The People Network for Elections in Thailand (P-Net), and the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) called for a restructuring of the electoral system in Thailand in an endeavour to more fully realize the democratic rights of Thai voters.

Truth panel seeks separate custody centre for political detainees

Human rights and political activists welcomed the government's decision to set up a separate jail to detain political prisoners, though one person voiced doubts as to whether those detained over lese-majeste charges should be included or not. This idea comes as part of recommendations from the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT).