West Lafayette, IN, United States — Prime Minister Prachanda, during his visit to Beijing to attend the Olympics closing ceremony, said that Nepal wants to maintain a balanced relationship with both of its neighbors, India and China. This comes after speculations that Kathmandu is moving diplomatically closer to its communist neighbor.

Hong Kong, China — Sri Lanka’s North Central Province and Sabaragamuwa Province elections took place as expected – that is, very violently. The sad thing is that election violence is not regarded as anything abnormal. The incompatibility of free and fair elections with violence seemed to be a matter of no concern.

Hong Kong, China — Nepal’s new attorney general, Raghav Lal Baidhya, this week emphasized the need for restructuring the country’s judiciary and recruiting competent judges. But, as the stories of Nepali torture victims show, even competent judges will not provide justice unless the system is reformed.

Hong Kong, China — Hundreds of migrant workers from Bangladesh have been deported by force from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in the last few weeks, following protests against wages lower than what their employers had initially agreed to pay. Employment agencies and diplomats have completely failed to protect them.

Hong Kong, China — It is an acknowledged fact by international human rights groups that torture is endemic in Sri Lanka. Less well known, but just as prevalent, is the fabrication of crimes against detainees that are bold enough to complain against police torture.

Hong Kong, China — It is really impossible to say anything about the new Constitution of Burma, which passed through a farcical referendum and into law amid the cyclone chaos this May, without suspending a large amount of disbelief. At every turn it hands power back to the army or its proxies.

Hong Kong, China — The people of Pakistan should be saluted and congratulated for their resilient and determined struggle to oust the dictator General Pervez Musharraf. This completely non-violent struggle of various sectors of society is a clear example of the development of a democracy on the basis of consensus.

Hong Kong, China — The ruling Cambodian People's Party won 90 out of 123 seats in the National Assembly in a July 27 election that opposition parties claim was rigged. With the ruling party in control of all major institutions and the judiciary, this means Cambodia will become practically a one-party state.

Hong Kong, China — When an Egyptian woman recently gave birth to seven children in Alexandria, the doctor who delivered them called it "a divine miracle." Compare this story to a "manmade miracle" discovered in Bangladesh, where a set of “septuplets” appeared mysteriously in the home of a retired police inspector.

Beijjing, China — As the final week of the Beijing Olympics begins, China has a lock on gold medals for keeping protests under wraps and away from the public eye. The competition between those trying to voice criticism of the Chinese government and the police trying to prevent them was asymmetrical from the outset.

Hong Kong, China — Against the backdrop of recent bomb blasts in India, a New Delhi judge has found a solution to escalating concerns over internal security. High Court Justice S. L. Bhayana has suggested that the solution is to identify and deport all Bangladeshis staying illegally in India.

West Lafayette, IN, United States — Nepal has gone through momentous changes in the last couple of months. The country’s pragmatism is refreshing, but on its way to achieving the perfect federal republic, the internally displaced population is being ignored and treated as second-class citizens, shaming the entire nation.

Hong Kong, China — The disparate handling of recent criminal cases reveals the absurdities of policing in Sri Lanka. Two cases involving state ministers were not pursued, while a poor construction worker was savagely beaten and imprisoned over the alleged, but unproved, theft of a few gold trinkets.

Hong Kong, China — The rule of law is being talked up in Thailand since the former prime minister’s wife, Pojaman Shinawatra, lost a criminal case and her husband skipped town and bail prior to a hearing against him too. Former Prime Minister Shinawatra Thaksin claims he and his family are victims of “continuous injustice.”

Hong Kong, China — The Philippine police have found an odd way to provide protection to people facing threats. After being criticized for failing to protect journalists, witnesses and activists, the police have decided to issue them guns for their own protection. But this failed to protect slain journalist Dennis Cuestra.

Hong Kong, China — What is simply silly and what is clearly cruel may be relative. However, what Sarath Kumara Naidos, his wife Sriyani, his mother Asilin, his sister Mangalike, her husband Neil and his mother Nandawathie are going through is certainly both silly and cruel by whatever standards.

Hong Kong, China — Almost a year has passed since Burma’s military regime suddenly upped fuel prices, triggering a series of protests. Many protesters were arrested and kept in custody for months. Their cases, now going to court, reveal how far officialdom has strayed from any notions of legality in dealing with dissent.

Seoul, South Korea — U.S. President George W. Bush and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said Wednesday that North Korea should improve its human rights conditions if it wants better ties and hopes to end its diplomatic isolation. Analysts expect a furious response from the North.

Hong Kong, China — Shocking health conditions and deaths from cholera are being reported in Indonesia's most resource-rich region. As of last weekend, 173 deaths had been reported among the indigenous people in the eastern province of Papua, but authorities have failed to respond to the emergency.

Hong Kong, China — Bangladesh held local elections on Monday, the first under the current Election Commission appointed by the military-controlled regime. Chief Election Commissioner Shamsul Huda termed these elections a “test case,” and certainly they raised a number of questions as to their credibility.

Hong Kong, China — Lawlessness leads to happiness for some, but they are criminals, whether civilian or in uniform. Of course the corrupt are also happy, as they are not disturbed by the law. Naturally if these people are at the top they will do whatever they can to diminish the power of the law.

Hong Kong, China — The chairman of Thailand’s human rights body, Saneh Chamarik, has sent an open letter to the United Nations blaming the World Heritage Committee, rather than politicking and self-interested nationalist leaders, for a puerile spat over an historic temple between the governments of Thailand and Cambodia.

Hong Kong, China — Cambodia held a general election on Sunday, and while the National Election Committee was still counting votes, the ruling party already announced it had won. Four opposition parties joined forces on Monday to denounce the results, charging that they had been “manipulated and rigged” by the ruling party.

Hong Kong, China — Bangladesh's President Iazuddin Ahmed is now in a critical situation. The Supreme Court has declared that the president has no constitutional authority to impose any rules that are not related to calling a general election as long as there is no Parliament in the country.

Hong Kong, China — The special session of the Indian Parliament, at which the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh won a confidence vote, illuminates some important aspects of Indian democracy. On the face of it, the Indian Parliament’s decision making was open, participatory and free. But the full story is different.

Manila, Philippines — The human rights community in the Philippines, as well as human rights watchdogs and civil liberties movements in the United States, Europe and Asia, has been protesting the election of the Philippine government as vice president of the U.N. Human Rights Council as a step in the wrong direction.

Seoul, South Korea — South Korea is stepping up its challenge to North Korea over its human rights violations, risking worsening ties. Lawmakers from the Grand National Party submitted a bill this week that would oblige the government to take steps to improve human rights conditions in North Korea.

Hong Kong, China — On July 3 a convicted prisoner, Sainool Miswar, was assaulted and killed at the Negombo Prison in Sri Lanka on the very first day of his sentence. Thereafter an eyewitness, Saiyadu Mohammed Abu Ubaida, was also severely assaulted to prevent him from giving evidence against prison officers.

Hong Kong, China — A Burmese-language monthly published in Bangkok carried a letter from an unnamed senior lawyer practicing in Rangoon. According to the author, to be selected for the test to become an apprentice judge a lawyer must pay the selecting panel 3 million kyat – upwards of US$2,500.

Kochi, India — James Augustine, a school principal in Kerala, India, was killed on July 19 by political party cadres who stormed into a teachers’ training camp to protest the government’s education policies. Sadly, murder, assault and abduction are common in Indian politics.

Hong Kong, China — Sri Lankan police questioned human rights activists this week over statements the police construed as “attempts to demoralize the armed forces,” confirming fears that the government intends to use the legal system to target such groups.

Hong Kong, China — The killing of Yapa Koseng in a vehicle parked at an army base in southern Thailand has attracted interest among news media and human rights groups, particularly since a doctor speaking at a postmortem inquest hearing indicated that his fatal injuries could have been caused only by savage torture.

Hong Kong, China — The daughters of slain Filipino peasant activist Eddie Gumanoy – Rose Anne, 21, and Fatima, 17 – were traveling to the city of Cavite on July 3 when they realized they were being followed. They sent a text message to their mother Maria to meet them at a mall, but the two sisters never arrived.

Hong Kong, China — Aminul Islam is an eight-year-old, third-grade student. On July 8, his teacher got annoyed when he failed to answer two questions. Her punishments left the boy with swollen hands and legs, bleeding eyes and a severe fever. This is not uncommon in Bangladesh, where teachers are from the lowest social strata.

Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Thailand’s 2008 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act forbids the abduction, exploitation, deception and abuse of anyone, with a special mention for children. But with a rich resource of defenseless women, children and young boys from Burma, China, Laos and Thailand, human traffickers have operated for decades.

Hong Kong, China — A clash between Pakistan's new government and the country's Supreme Court is unfolding over the death penalty. On July 2, the Cabinet of Pakistan made the decision to abolish the death penalty and commute current death sentences to life imprisonment. But the Court has rejected the decision.

Hong Kong, China — Prosecutors in Burma can put together a charge of sedition for just about anything: complaining publicly about increased fuel prices or holding talks on their country’s future. So six men who tried to assemble some people and discuss workers’ rights last year should perhaps have seen what was coming.

Hong Kong, China — Renowned Cambodian poet Krom Ngoy noted abuses in the society of his time in the early 20th century and urged his people to abandon them: the rich abusing the poor, the physically strong abusing the weak and officials abusing the people. Yet this habit of abuse remains alive in Cambodian society today.

Bangkok, Thailand — Two months after Cyclone Nargis hit Burma, more than 1 million victims have yet to receive any assistance. The World Food Program warns that almost 1 million people will need food assistance for at least six months. The international community is suspended in limbo while the people of Burma limp on.

Hong Kong, China — Two indicators are widely considered in measuring the legitimacy of a government: first, the way it assumed power and second, its effectiveness in meeting the people’s needs and expectations. The government of Bangladesh meets neither test, except in the eyes of the military.

Bangkok, Thailand — Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) says: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” But, 79-year-old-man has been suffering a variety of inhumane tortures and languishing unjust punishments for 19 years, now entering into two decades. The United Nations must take responsibility to flex its muscles on issue of breaking the principle of UDHR by such unmanageable regime in Burma.

Hong Kong, China — The Sri Lanka Press Institution and the Newspaper Publishers Association are offering a reward for information on the assault of a journalist last Monday. The organizations are taking the action because the government has failed to do so, as it has failed to properly investigate similar attacks.

Hong Kong, China — Thankappan's son Gopi died in police custody in 1988. Gopi's body was found inside a police cell at the Cherthala Police Station in Kerala state of India. It took 10 years for his father to have the case investigated, and another 10 before the guilty officers were punished for the crime.

Hong Kong, China — An Oxford economics professor said in a recent article that the best hope for Burma or Zimbabwe is that military officers might overthrow their dictators. Coups are often premised on the fraud that if things can’t get worse, they can only get better. The Burmese are already repeat victims of this fraud.

Kawasaki, Japan — The parents of Megumi Yokota, one of 13 Japanese abducted by North Korea in the 1970s, called Wednesday for a reinvestigation into the cases of Japanese they suspect still remain in North Korea. Many Japanese fear the issue will be forgotten following the U.S. removal of North Korea from its terrorism list.

Hong Kong, China — Critics have debated for more than a decade as to whether Bangladesh is politically "sick" or already "dead." Now the nation is experiencing a spate of illness among high-profile detainees awaiting trial on corruption charges. It seems that suddenly they all need to go abroad for treatment.

Hong Kong, China — Twelve days after a ferry sank off the Philippine coast, scores of corpses retrieved from the capsized ship have yet to be identified. The country lacks skilled forensics experts capable of doing this job – which also hinders its ability to properly investigate crimes.

Hong Kong, China — June 26 was the U.N. Day in Support of Victims of Torture. As far as Sri Lanka is concerned, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights did nothing to commemorate this day. Instead the statements from the spokesman for the ministry manifested the usual lack of political will to deal with the issue of torture.

Hong Kong, China — Thailand’s human rights agency has been in limbo since September 2006 when the army took power for the umpteenth time. The National Human Rights Commission has not fared well since then. Its confused and contradictory response to the military takeover in some ways typified its deeper problems.

Hong Kong, China — June 26 is the International Day against Torture. Torture thrives when societies see it as a necessity to achieve justice. It seems Indonesia has experienced a change of thinking on this point; in international forums the country has condemned torture, but its record of abuses shows a different picture.