By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - Human Rights Watch urged the Sri Lankan government to address the increase in killings and abductions that have occurred in recent weeks in the Eastern Province.  The Tamil Makkal Vidulthalai (TMVP) has allegedly been behind the acts of violence.

The TMVP is a political group formed when Colonal Karuna, former leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), broke away in 2004.  Read more...

By Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

MANILA, Philippines – Remegio Saladero, Jr., a well-respected activist lawyer, was suddenly arrested on October 23rd on multiple murder charges. Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemned the arrest as politically motivated. Saladero is a member of the New People’s Army (NPA), an armed wing of the Communist Party.

Saladero was arrested at his law office in Antipolo City in Rizal province. The police showed a warrant for a two-year-old murder in the Oriental Mindoro province. Philippines police also confiscated Saladero’s personal belongings.  Saladero was detained in the Calapan City jail and denied legal counsel while he was being interrogated for six hours.  Read more...

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Asia

SRINAGAR, India – On the 61st anniversary of Indian rule in the Kashmir region, separatists took part in a general strike that shut down the area’s shops, businesses, and government offices.  The Indian government deployed thousands of troops in riot gear to patrol the region, and prohibited any gatherings of any more than 5 people.

On Sunday, shots were fired at protesters, killing one and wounding twenty.  A student was killed when shots were fired at a crowd who were throwing stones.  People had taken to the streets, chanting pro-freedom slogans.  Read more...

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – China’s prominent human rights activist, Hu Jia, was awarded the Sakharov prize, the European Union’s highest human rights honor.  Hu is known for his campaign for civil rights, the environment and AIDS victims.  He was convicted last April of inciting subversion, and is currently serving a three-and-a-half-year jail sentence in China.

Hu’s wife, Zeng Jinyan, also an activist, can visit him only when prison officials allow it.  She lives under house arrest with their infant daughter, and reporters are prevented from visiting their home by guards who block the entrance to the apartment building.  Read more...

By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KABUL, Afghanistan - Twenty-three year old journalist Perwiz Kambakhsh was sentenced by Afghanistan’s appellate court to 20 years for circulating an Internet article about women’s rights under Islam.  This new sentence overturned a death sentence he received in January by a court in the northern city of Mazar-i-sharif.  Read more...

By Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Two FBI agents were sent home after investigating the murder of journalist, Khim Sambo, and his 21 year-old son. Months after the death of Sambo and international pressure to solve the case, the United States offered the Cambodian government FBI assistance. However, the two FBI agents, who were helping Cambodian police on the case, pulled-out after 2 weeks of investigation.  Read more...