Exile has not broken young Rohingya people
By Ajas Khan September 28, 2026 Rohingya in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, mark the ninth anniversary of the attacks that forced them to flee their home in Rakhine State, Myanmar, 25 August. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images Nine years ago, I was forced to flee my home in Maungdaw township, Rakhine state, Myanmar. I was 13 years old. I remember how quickly an average day turned into a day when life felt extinguished, leaving behind the place where I grew up with my family. Even now,
The Guardian
Sep 28
Malaysia Begins Repatriation of Asylum Seekers to Myanmar
By Jonathan Head September 29, 2026 The repatriation represents a striking shift in Malaysia's attitude towards the refugees The Malaysian government has started repatriating around 5,000 asylum seekers from Myanmar, under a controversial deal agreed with Myanmar's military ruler Min Aung Hlaing. Three ships from the Myanmar navy are scheduled to leave Malaysia later today carrying the first 1,476 returnees. Human rights groups have condemned the repatriation, saying the retu
BBC News
Sep 28
Philippines Drug War Victims Seek Justice
By Barnaby Lo August 14, 2026 Families of drug war victims testify before the Truth Commission, seeking answers and closure after years of silence. Luzviminda Siapo (L), whose son Raymart is believed to have been a victim of an extrajudicial killing in March 2017 during former President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-illegal drugs campaign, reacts at the close of a Truth Commission session at a Catholic facility in Manila, Philippines, August 14, 2026 [Rolex Dela Pena/EPA] Manila, Ph
Al Jazeera
Sep 28
Malaysia seeks to return Myanmar refugees
By Dr. Azeem Ibrahim 28 September 2026 Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has offered to host Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing as part of an effort to accelerate the return of Myanmar nationals currently in Malaysia (File/AFP) Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has offered to host Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing as part of an effort to accelerate the return of Myanmar nationals currently in Malaysia. At first glance, the proposal appears contradictory. Malaysia has
ARAB NEWS
Sep 27
Pacific leaders urge Jakarta to allow UN visit to West Papua
By RNZ Pacific reporters September 28, 2026 Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale made an emotional plea to Indonesia at UN General Assembly in New York. 25 September 2026. UN Photo Pacific Islands leaders have used their addresses to the United Nations General Assembly to urge Indonesia to allow the UN human rights chief access to West Papua. Pacific Islands Forum countries in 2019 requested that Indonesia allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Papua
RNZ
Sep 27
Tour Guide, Commune Councillor and Two Others Convicted of Plotting
By LICADHO 23 September 2026 Clockwise from top left: second deputy commune chief in Battambang’s Anlong Vil commune Rath Sothy, supporter the Cambodia National Rescue Party Suon Bunlor, second deputy commune chief for the Cambodia National Rescue Party Am Vong, tour guide Pin Poch. Photos supplied and from their Facebook pages. The Phnom Penh Capital Court convicted four Cambodians for plotting this morning and sentenced them each to seven years in prison allegedly over phon
LICADHO
Sep 25
Arakan Army Expands Influence along the Bangladesh Border
By Md. Abu Saim September 23, 2026 On March 14, 2025, Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, along with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, visited Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, raising hopes among the Rohingya community that they could eventually return to their homeland. Back in 2017, the Rohingya population in Rakhine State faced a genocide perpetrated by the Myanmar junta. Behind the scenes, however, another force, the Arakan Army, was also positioning its
Geopolitical Monitor
Sep 23
Malaysia: Forcibly Returning Myanmar Refugees Risks Lives
Human Rights Watch August 3, 2026 Provide Legal Status to Asylum Seekers; Ensure Safety of Rohingya Une réfugiée rohingya donne à manger à un enfant devant les locaux de l'Agence des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés à Kuala Lumpur, en Malaisie, le 27 juillet 2026. © 2026 Hasnoor Hussain/Reuters (Bangkok) – The Malaysian government should reverse plans that would permit the forced return of refugees to Myanmar, where they face persecution and other rights abuses, Human Rights W
Human Rights Watch
Sep 23
Calling for Urgent Action to End Red-Tagging
Commission on Human Rights May 5, 2026 Statement of the Commission on Human Rights calling for urgent action to end red-tagging and protect human rights defenders The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) reiterates its call to eliminate the practice of red-tagging and urges all branches of government to take urgent action to protect fundamental freedoms in the country. The CHR’s findings and recommendations are drawn from the National Inquiry on the Current Situation of Human Rig
Indonesia: President designates spread of LGBTQ (LGBTQI+) culture as Nonmilitary Threat
Amnesty International Indonesia July 7, 2026 Credit: billyhanggara / Shutterstock Responding to recent backlash against online expression of LGBTQI+, which derived from the Presidential Regulation on General Policy for National Defense, which classifies the spread of LGBTQI+ culture as a non-military threat to the state, Amnesty International Indonesia’s executive director Usman Hamid says: “We express our profound concern regarding Indonesia’s Presidential Regulation No. 111
Amnesty International
Sep 22
Pansak cites billion-dollar toll from Thai-Cambodia conflict
An analysis shared by Pansak Vinyaratn says the return of about 900,000 Cambodian workers exposes the two economies’ deep dependence. Veteran Thai policy adviser Pansak Vinyaratn Thailand and Cambodia are paying a mounting economic and humanitarian price for their border conflict, with the mass return of Cambodian workers exposing how deeply the two neighbouring economies depend on each other, according to a third-party analysis shared by veteran Thai policy adviser Pansak Vi
The Nation
Aug 25
Int'l Bar condemns convictions of Cambodian journalists
Cambodia Supreme Court The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) condemns the decision of the Supreme Court of Cambodia to uphold the 14-year prison sentences imposed on journalists Phorn Sopheap and Pheap Pheara, despite accepting an amicus curiae brief submitted by the IBAHRI setting out Cambodia’s obligations under international human rights law. The criminalisation of journalists via the imposition of lengthy custodial sentences for legitimate re
