Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Angkhana Neelaphaijit, the widow of kidnapped and certainly murdered Somchai Neelaphaijit, has written to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to urge the Thai government to do something it has failed to do for at least a year – make progress on her husband’s criminal disappearance in 2004.

Niigata, Japan — Phorn Sarith, a 37-year-old Cambodian logger, died when Thai soldiers reportedly fired on 25 loggers working near the Thai-Cambodian border last Saturday. Since September Thai soldiers have killed six Cambodian loggers, wounded several more and arrested others; the Thai government has done nothing.

Hong Kong, China — Prakash Karat, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), criticized the Copenhagen accord for being non-binding and blamed U.S. lobbying, while India’s Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh praised the accord for its lack of binding measures. Neither politician is sincere about global warming.

Jakarta, Indonesia — Ever since Papua became a province of Indonesia in 1969, peace between the indigenous Papuans and Indonesia’s security forces has never been achieved. The province remains poor, with poor public services and poor protection of human rights. A peace process is needed to change this.

Hong Kong, China — India’s Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan has warned that riots could result if the country’s courts do not redress the judiciary’s inability to deliver decisions in a timely manner. When court cases can take a decade to be resolved, especially for the poor, frustrations mount and violence can ensue.

West Lafayette, IN, United States — Nepal’s online media reported in late November that police found a dead baby's head near a river in Kathmandu. This has sparked a debate on the right to life; but the fact that baby girls are still killed in the name of culture shows that Nepal’s barometer remains very low when it comes to measuring this right.

Hong Kong, China — The world Human Rights Day on Thursday passed in Sri Lanka without anything to celebrate. The legal investigative mechanism of complaints into rights abuses has been suppressed by deliberate political manipulations, which hands over the investigations to political authorities. This makes the assertion of rights difficult.

Jakarta, Indonesia — Three shameful cases brought before Indonesian courts recently reveal that the country’s legal system is in very poor shape. The law is applied forcefully against the poor and vulnerable, while the rich and powerful evade it with impunity.

Hong Kong, China — India’s opposition parliamentarians have demanded that the Indian government send a delegation to Sri Lanka to verify the situation of the Tamil minority in the island. But they have ignored the plight of low-caste and tribal peoples in their own country and the violence that rages in many Indian states.

Hong Kong, China — Bangladesh just celebrated the Eid al-Adha festival, which teaches the lesson of “sacrifice.” Muslims sacrifice cattle and other animals in Islamic rituals, but police extort money from cattle traders who then raise the price of animals, so the burden of "sacrificing" extra money falls upon the common people.

Niigata, Japan — On Dec. 10 ASEAN’s new Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights will have its first opportunity to celebrate Human Rights Day. There are many concerns as to whether this commission will be more than just a propaganda organization, given the poor human rights records of many of its member states.

Hong Kong, China — Early this month a team of civil society activists visited Manipur, one of India's most militarized states. The director-general of police informed them that in the past 10 months the police had killed over 260 persons in the state and that each of them was a terrorist.

Hong Kong, China — The hottest topic of discussion in Sri Lanka is the forthcoming presidential election, set for the end of January, 2010. The focus of people’s interest is not the country’s major economic, political or social problems. Rather, it is which individual will become the most powerful person in the country.

Hong Kong, China — Thailand’s deputy prime minister is reportedly planning to use an internal security law to stop upcoming rallies against his government in Bangkok. To help implement this, Police Lieutenant General Santhan Chayanont, known for his persecution of protesters in southern Thailand, has been brought to the capital.

Washington, DC, United States — A “progressive and systematic overhaul” of its society is what Cambodia needs, according to Dr. Naranhkiri Tith, a former U.N. civil servant and professor. He argues that Cambodia’s monarchy and traditions hold it back and prevent new ideas and capable leadership from emerging.

Hong Kong, China — Two graves were ripped open and the bodies stolen within hours of each other in the Philippines province of Bataan earlier this month, in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence and frustrate an ongoing investigation into how these two men died. Their families believe they were killed by policemen.

Jakarta, Indonesia — The Indonesian House of Representatives has recommended to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono that he establish an ad hoc human rights court to deal with the unresolved cases of abduction and disappearance of student activists in 1997 and 1998, but it seems no progress has been made.

Beijing, China — A 55-year-old Chinese rights activist has been stranded at Narita Airport in Tokyo for more than two weeks, after being refused entry to his home city of Shanghai, China, where he tried to return from Japan on Nov 3. Feng Zhenghu has been living on snacks and drinks mostly from sympathetic Chinese travelers.

Hong Kong, China — The Bangladesh Supreme Court issued a suo motto ruling against the government and a paramilitary force on Tuesday regarding the deaths of two persons in shootouts. This is the first such action by the court against widespread extrajudicial killing. Could it lead to an end of this deplorable practice?

Hong Kong, China — This week, Burma’s military dictator Senior General Than Shwe visited Sri Lanka. He is an unwelcome visitor in many places due to the complete destruction of democracy in his country, but his welcome by the Rajapakse regime comes as no surprise. Politically, Sri Lanka is coming to resemble Burma.

Hong Kong, China — A young man in Thailand was shot twice by a drunken policeman during a fight that erupted at a concert. The man survived. The police negotiated a deal with the victim's family and paid them cash to silence the issue. Such police violence is routine and cover up requires no special effort or intelligence.

Niigata, Japan — Press freedom in Cambodia has gradually declined from “partly free” in 2008 to “no freedom” in 2009. But the same cannot be said if the medium of publication is the Internet. Rather, online press freedom is emerging as the new "digital democracy" in the country.

Colombo, Sri Lanka — The Sri Lankan government has announced it has resettled close to half the 280,000 persons who were displaced during the civil war. Many have been relocated to areas devoid of basic infrastructure and given only US$218 per family. The government must lift restrictions on NGOs that want to help these people.

Hong Kong, China — Not only is the Filipino electorate likely to have to choose between “evil and lesser evil” in the country’s general elections next May; as the names of contestants are being announced it appears they might end up choosing from a list of convicts, coup plotters, lawbreakers and human rights violators.

Hong Kong, China — Presidential and parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka are expected in the coming months. The government is relying on its victory over the LTTE to consolidate its power for a further term. But the electorate must insist the executive president be subject to the rule of law.

Hong Kong, China — Around 1,500 Bangladeshi workers went to work Saturday to find a “closed” sign on their factory door, and their wages unpaid. When they went to the street to demonstrate against this injustice, the government sent riot police, who opened fire, killing at least three people and wounding many more.

Jakarta, Indonesia — The chief of the Indonesian National Police issued a regulation earlier this year regarding human rights protections for those in police custody, prohibiting arbitrary arrest and detention as well as torture. Although this is positive action, the regulation is useless, as torture by the police continues.

Hong Kong, China — An onlooker videotaped the murder of a 26-year-old man by three police officers in the rough seas near Bambalapitya Railway Station in Sri Lanka last Thursday. The images have shocked the nation; but this is not likely to bring justice to the man’s family or changes in police behavior.

Hong Kong, China — It was obvious from the start that the purpose of the new ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights is not to protect human rights. ASEAN has created the commission so that member governments and their own ineffectual rights institutions can push complaints of abuses outside their borders.

Niigata, Japan — Cambodia held its first National Forum on Climate Change in Phnom Penh last week, and issued its draft position ahead of December’s Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. It said it would do "its utmost" to reduce greenhouse gases, but developed countries must help in its efforts.

Hong Kong, China — There is a debate in the Philippines as to whether producers of a popular reality show discriminated against non-Tagalog-speaking competitors by preventing them from speaking in their native dialect. The Philippine government would argue that discrimination based on race is nonexistent in the country.

Jakarta, Indonesia — Human rights defenders in Indonesia are increasingly being reported to the police, accused of lies, defamation and criminal acts. This is of high concern, as it is occurring while the government is promoting reforms, the spirit of democracy and respect for human rights.

Hong Kong, China — The editor of Satana, a local newspaper in Sri Lanka, has complained of receiving constant death threats over the past few days. Strangers have visited his house in search of him, and police have ignored his complaints. He is now living in hiding, fearing for his life and unable to continue his work.

Hong Kong, China — Bangladeshi politicians exercise double standards when dealing with both the people and the government. They campaign for the rule of law when in opposition, but violate it when in power. They claim to be "brand ambassadors" of human rights, but behind closed doors they propagate torture.

Hong Kong, China — The people of Sri Lanka always look forward to the rainy season, which begins in October, as it brings many blessings. But for the 300,000 people in camps for internally displaced persons, it will bring enormous adversity. They may have to live with leaking roofs, overflowing gutters and swamp-like conditions.

Hong Kong, China — Burma’s government claims to welcome complaints about malpractice, inefficiency and corruption against those in public service. But a recent case of a man imprisoned for repeatedly complaining about electricity problems speaks to how easy it is, in an irrational system, for the complainant to wind up in trouble.

Washington, DC, United States — History is often interpreted according to ideological or political motives. Often, U.S. bombs dropped on Cambodia are seen as a catalyst for the rise of the Khmer Rouge. But it was Prince Norodom Sihanouk who allied with the Khmer Rouge and called on Cambodians to overthrow the government that had overthrown him.

Hong Kong, China — Three years ago, when over 300 people were buried alive in a mudslide in Leyte, central Philippines, foreign aid poured in to help victims. But most of it ended up being used for purposes they were not intended for. This is a common practice where aid is diverted leaving little or nothing for victims.

Hong Kong, China — The house and office of Sri Lankan opposition politician Ranga Bandara were burned to cinders this week, reportedly under government instructions. The incident underscores the dangers faced by members of the opposition and their families, and the lengths to which the government is willing to go to silence them.

Hong Kong, China — Incidents of extrajudicial killings in Bangladesh have increased following comments by a number of Cabinet ministers. In May, the country's Home Affairs Minister Sahara Khatun said that extrajudicial killings occur only when law enforcers come under attack and that they have the right to save their lives.

Jakarta, Indonesia — Indonesian police were quick to act when the Corruption Eradication Commission began an investigation into their chief detective. They responded with a counter-investigation of two commissioners, charging them with abuse of authority. Yet they could not be bothered to investigate the case of a raped child.

Hong Kong, China — The government of India’s Uttar Pradesh state has been spending millions of dollars in tax money to erect statues of Chief Minister Kumari Mayawati and other Dalit, or low-caste, leaders of India, in a state where people lack food, clean water and decent employment. This is a petty and selfish abuse of power.

Hong Kong, China — Nearly five months have passed since the Sri Lankan government claimed victory over terrorism by defeating the LTTE. It also claimed that peace had arrived. But security forces and emergency laws remain in place as they were during the war. This cannot generate a peacetime mentality.

Hong Kong, China — When the Supreme Court of Thailand found a former deputy minister and two ex-officials guilty in a case of an illegal scheme involving two- and three-digit lotteries, media interest abounded. But in Burma, a similar case involving three teenage girls has attracted no attention at all. The three are now in prison.

Hong Kong, China — The home minister of India’s Kerala state, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, said at a public event last week that criminals in the state are well organized and have better knowledge and equipment than the state police. Ironically, he is in charge of the police force he was disparaging.

Niigata, Japan — In Cambodia Buddhism is the state religion, guaranteed by the Constitution, and about 95 percent of the people are Buddhists. However, in recent times, a gradual decline in moral standards among Buddhist monks and the political affiliations of some of their leaders have raised serious concerns.

Seoul, South Korea — A 75-year-old South Korean man committed suicide on Monday by throwing himself into the path of an oncoming train, apparently in grief as he failed to join a group allowed to visit North Korea to meet their long-lost relatives.

Hong Kong, China — It is common knowledge that some corrupt policemen in the Philippines extort money on the pretext of enforcing their duties. But one incident, involving three police units that squabbled in open court over the custody of a detainee in order to claim the reward for his capture, stands out as exceptional.

Hong Kong, China — Russian novelist and Nobel laureate Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn added the word “gulag” – the former Soviet Union’s forced labor camp system – to the human rights vocabulary. Today in Sri Lanka the entire population is experiencing the same horror under security forces that act outside the law.

Seoul, South Korea — Improvement of human rights conditions in North Korea is highly unlikely as long as its communist leadership maintains its nuclear arms and keeps Stalinist shackles on its economy, South Korean officials and activists said at a human rights forum in Seoul on Friday.