Asia Pacific

High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

UN rights chief alarmed by sentencing of 152 soldiers to death in Bangladesh

6 November 2013
The United Nations human rights chief today expressed alarm at the death sentences handed out in Bangladesh to 152 paramilitary soldiers for their role in a 2009 mutiny, following reports that they were tortured and their mass trials fell short of human rights standards.
Fishermen's haunt by day, smugglers' den by night, this waterway on the outskirts of Sittwe is reported to be a common departure point for smugglers' boats.
UNHCR/V. Tan

UN refugee agency deplores loss of life in boat tragedy off Myanmar coast

5 November 2013
The United Nations refugee agency today deplored the loss of life in the recent boat tragedy off the western coast of Myanmar, and stressed the need for urgent action to avert such incidents.
Two Kachin soldiers stand guard opposite a Chinese dam in northern Kachin state, where more than 85,000 people have been displaced by conflict.
IRIN/Steve Sandford

Myanmar: UN adviser lauds peace talks in Kachin

5 November 2013
A United Nations envoy today commended the parties to the Kachin peace talks, calling their meeting this week “a significant move forward” in Myanmar’s national reconciliation process.
Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco.
UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

Senior UN political official heads to Maldives ahead of this week’s presidential poll

5 November 2013
A senior United Nations political official will begin a two-day mission to the Maldives on Wednesday to meet with key actors and government officials prior to the presidential election scheduled for 9 November.
Two displaced boys in Rakhine state, Myanmar, play in a river. Daily life is still a struggle for communities like theirs and some people risk their lives at sea in their search for safety and stability.
UNHCR/S. Kelly

UN agency fears sailing tragedies at start of ‘smuggling season’ in Bay of Bengal

1 November 2013
The United Nations refugee agency is concerned that as the rainy season ends in Myanmar and the annual sailing season reopens, people from the Rakhine state are increasingly likely to try to flee, subjecting themselves to exploitation by smugglers.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
UN Photo/Mark Garten

Amidst new violence in Bangladesh, UN chief urges restraint, respect for rule of law

31 October 2013
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is concerned about the latest wave of deadly violence in Bangladesh ahead of parliamentary elections due by January.
Khieu Samphan (left) and Nuon Chea in the Trial Chamber of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).
ECCC

Cambodia: On final day of UN-backed trial, former leaders deny war crimes charges

31 October 2013
Two of the surviving former leaders of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime charged with mass killings during the 1970’s requested to be acquitted today, as closing arguments began at the United Nations-backed war crimes tribunal in the south-east Asian country.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

Maldives Supreme Court undermining democratic process – UN rights chief

30 October 2013
The repeated interventions of the Supreme Court in the presidential election process in the Maldives are undermining the country’s democracy, the United Nations human rights chief said today, calling on reforms to the judiciary to safeguard the rule of law.
Michael Kirby, Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Jean-Marc Ferré

UN-mandated human rights inquiry on DPR Korea ‘not biased’, chair stresses

29 October 2013
Members of the United Nations-appointed inquiry into human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) today reiterated that they are not biased against Pyongyang, as they are poised to finalize their investigative work this week.
Special Representative Ján Kubiš.
UN Photo/Amanda Voisard

Afghanistan: UN mission condemns deadly attack resulting in civilian deaths

28 October 2013
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has condemned yesterday’s attack in the south-eastern province of Ghazni that killed 19 civilians travelling on a mini bus.