Hong Kong, China — Mario Marigon, a porter who became a union leader at a local firm in southern Philippines, had been working for 15 years in the company until he received a letter terminating him from work. His termination was a result of exposing the company's unfair labor practices.

Hong Kong, China — “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” the most cliché of maxims, is in this case grimly appropriate. The recent withdrawal of statements from two key witnesses in Indonesia’s most high-profile human rights case seems to reflect the nation’s old vices under former President Suharto.

Hong Kong, China — Last Sunday, the head of the military-controlled government of Bangladesh, Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, declared in a national televised address that the stalled general election would be held on December 18. The announcement has given a new ray of hope to people looking forward to a democratically elected government.

Bangkok, Thailand — This week is the one-year anniversary of the Saffron Revolution, the monk-led uprising in Burma. Hundreds of thousands of brave monks, nuns, human rights activists, students, youths and ordinary citizens took to the streets calling for social, economic and political change.

Hong Kong, China — Hindu fundamentalist political parties in India are using the frustration of upper caste Hindus for political gains. A divided society is the best possible environment a fundamentalist political force can expect to exploit. The Nazis did the same under the pretext of unifying Germany, which Hindu fundamentalists in India are merely repeating.

Hong Kong, China — The Sri Lankan government has accepted responsibility for ensuring the safety of internally displaced persons living in the Kilinochchi area, as fighting against the LTTE intensifies. As NGO's and U.N. agencies move away from the area, the job of providing security and basic necessities to locals, now lies with the government.

West Lafayette, IN, United States — Hundreds of employees from nightclubs, discos and dance bars – the majority of them women – took to the streets of Kathmandu to protest the Nepali government’s crackdown on “nude” dancing. In reality, this disco backlash is a symptom of a Nepali society that is decaying and backsliding.

Hong Kong, China — The protest made by Professor Yash Ghai in his written statement to the 9th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council speaks of the rude insults meted out to him by the Cambodian government and their failure to cooperate with his mandate. His protests are courageous, frank and rare in present-day international diplomacy.

Hong Kong, China — In the case against activist Win Maw, the two witnesses to his house search are, it seems, rent-a-witnesses whose names appear in cases against other people that the same officer has been responsible for investigating: different cases, different suburbs, different dates, but always the same two witnesses.

Hong Kong, China — The military-controlled interim caretaker government of Bangladesh began its propaganda of reforming the country's political practices. However, attempts have resulted in failure of democratic reforms, which have caused futher damage to civil and law institutions in the country.

Hong Kong, China — The Indian judiciary is an untouchable "sacred cow,” where there is no open process for the selection, promotion and dismissal of High Court or Supreme Court judges in the country. The entire process is carried out according to the whims of the Supreme Court. All attempts so far to enforce accountability in the judiciary have been vetoed by the judiciary itself.

Hong Kong, China — J.S. Tissainayagam, a well-known journalist is being prosecuted for publishing a magazine. His case raises a fundamental question about the different kinds of criminal trials offered to the accused under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Emergency Regulations as against the accused in regular criminal trials.

West Lafayette, IN, United States — The recently concluded Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota presents a troubling picture of press freedoms in America. The country, which promotes and supports press freedoms across the world has some big issues to deal at home before preaching to others.

Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Sondhi Limthongkul, a Thai media mogul and leader of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, operates two TV stations that broadcast alternative viewpoints not available through state media organs. He is currently facing arrest for what Thai police are citing as treason. The PAD can make a difference only if Thais begin to think differently.

Hong Kong, China — Among the responses to the judicial sacking of the prime minister of Thailand, Samak Sundaravej, a blog summed it up as, “Hosting a TV cooking show = Guilty! Staging a coup and tearing up a constitution = No problem!” However, arguments about the technicalities of whether or not Samak was employed to be a television chef during his time in office, thus violating the 2007 constitution, miss the point.

Hong Kong, China — The Cambodian government has not been happy with the U.N. human rights mandate, which has led to conflicts with the U.N. high commissioner's field office. The mandate to be reviewed by the Human Rights Council this week is causing anxiety in Cambodia's civil society since they fear that if it ends, then the government would cease to honor its human rights obligations.

Hong Kong, China — Bangladesh Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil was arrested and implicated in a graft case lodged by the Anti-Corruption Commission. The government, however, released him on parole without any formal intervention from the court, on humanitarian grounds. Since the state of emergency began, the Bangladeshi government has been "kind" to elite prisoners.

Hong Kong, China — In the Indian state of Bihar devastated by recent floods, a girl who had sought asylum in a flood relief camp was molested by a police officer. While indecent behavior and sexual harassment by the police is common in India, an equally serious issue is that they enjoy complete impunity in the absence of an independent monitoring agency for law enforcement officers.

Hong Kong, China — Sri Lanka has violated the rights of a former district judge by denying his right to a fair hearing, the U.N. Human Rights Committee has judged. The country’s justice system requires scrutiny; the victim in this case was a former judge and those who violated his rights were senior judges.

Hong Kong, China — Two years to the month since the army in Thailand launched its latest takeover of government, the proof of its success is in the mayhem and madness on the streets of Bangkok and the utter farce to which politics there has again descended.

Hong Kong, China — When the writ of “amparo,” or protection, took effect in the Philippines last year, there was hope that this new legal mechanism would offer a legal remedy for victims of killings and disappearances, their family members and witnesses to human rights violations. But now it is being undermined.

Hong Kong, China — The High Court finally compelled the government of Bangladesh to release an imprisoned businessman after authorities initially ignored the court’s order. It took this rich businessman a year and a half to secure his release; for an ordinary person arbitrarily arrested, release may be impossible.

Hong Kong, China — Five women from a tribal area in Pakistan – three of them teenagers – were buried alive last month in a remote village in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. This brutal treatment occurred because tribal leaders opposed the proposed marriages of the three younger women, who were 16-18 years old.

Hong Kong, China — In colloquial slang a school in the Indian state of Kerala is referred to as a “pallikoodam,” meaning “prayer house.” While Christian missionaries originally set up schools as places of learning and prayer, they have now become big business – and opposition to this trend is not tolerated.

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.