By Pei Hu
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BANGKOK, Thailand – Jaruek Rangcharoen, a journalist who reported on government corruption was shot last week. Rangcharoen was a regional reporter for the Bangkok-based newspaper, Matichon. Police reported that Rangcharoen was shot several times in the head when he was on his way home from a local market. The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) believes the murder of Rangcharoen was an attempt at silencing the media.

Rangcharoen was reporting on the corruption of local government officials in the central province of Suphanburi. Previously, the governor of Suphanburi has said that Rangcharoen’s articles have brought him in direct opposition with local politicians and businessmen.

Media safety has been a problem in Thailand. In 2005, Santi Lammaninin, a Thai journalist was shot dead near a beach resort. Police said that Lammaninin’s murder was possibly linked to his journalist work.

In August, another Matichon reporter, Athiwat Chainurat, was shot dead in his home. Like Rangcharoen, Chainurat was reporting on local corruption of high-ranking officials. Police suspected Chainurat’s murder was related to news reports written by the victim, which caused conflicts with a high-ranking government officer in the district. The perpetrator for Chainurat’s case has not been found yet.

Due to the danger to journalists in Bangkok, the Press Freedom Association has said, “The current political crisis should not be used as an excuse for allowing impunity to take hold in cases of crimes of violence against the press. Otherwise Thailand could end up in the same tragic situation as the Philippines, where many journalists are murdered each year.”

In addition, Reporters without Borders commented that they “urge the police chief and other competent authorities to move quickly to ensure that both the perpetrators and the masterminds are brought to justice.”

For more information, please see:

APF – Thailand: Journalist Shot Dead Near Beach Resort – 2 November 2005

Bangkok Post – Matichon Reporter Shot Dead at Home – 3 August 2008

Reporters without Borders – Another Provincial Correspondent of Bangkok Daily Gunned Down – 30 September 2008

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

The annual U.S. State Department report on religious freedom heavily criticizes Asian governments’ religion record.  The report says that China’s repression of religious groups intensified during the last year, citing Beijing’s crackdown on Tibetan Buddhists, and its harassment of Christians and members of the Falun Gong as evidence.  The Chinese government undertook a “patriotic education campaign,” which required monks and nuns to sign statements personally denouncing the Dalai Lama. The State Department also found that over the past year, Chinese officials detained and interrogated several foreigners about their religious activities. Officials alleged that the foreigners had engaged in “illegal religious activities,” forcing the cancellation of their visas.

In North Korea, the report said, “genuine religious freedom does not exist.”  According to the report, North Korea government deals harshly with those who engage in religious practices considered unacceptable by the regime. Religious and human rights groups outside the country report that members of underground churches are beaten, arrested, tortured, or killed because of their religious beliefs.  They estimate that 150,000 to 200,000 people are held in political prison camps in remote areas of North Korea, some for religious reasons.  Refugees and defectors who have been in prison said that prisoners held because of their religious beliefs generally are treated worse than other inmates.

The report also condemned Myanmar’s military Junta for restricting spiritual activities and abusing its citizens’ rights.  In Myanmar, “the government continued to infiltrate and monitor activities of virtually all organizations, including religious ones. Christians faced restrictions and Muslims suffered violence and close monitoring,” the report said.  Recently, an independent US group is carrying out unprecedented studies to determine whether Myanmar’s military rulers, accused of rampant human rights abuses, have committed international crimes.

For more information, please see:

AFP – US group studies potential war crimes by Myanmar military – 1 October 2008

BBC – ‘China repression grows’, says US – 19 September 2008

CNN – U.S.: Chinese targeted religious groups before Olympics – 19 September 2008

International Herald Tribune – US criticizes Asian governments’ religion record – 20 September 2008

U.S. Department of State – 2008 Report on International Religious Freedom – 19 September 2008

Voice of America – North Korea Religious Persecution – 30 September 2008

Voice of America – US Religious Freedom Report Faults North Korea, Eritrea, Iran – 19 September 2008

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Asia

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – According to the U.S. based rights group China Aid Association, house church leader Zhang Mingxuan’s two sons were brutally beaten by up to 15 officers of China’s Public Security Bureau.  Zhang’s oldest son, Zhang Jian, was “severely beaten” unconscious when police raided the family’s home in Beijing.  The injuries were serious, and he may lose sight in his right eye.  A younger son was also beaten, China Aid Association added.  The family was evicted from their apartment, and Pastor Zhang was detained in Kunming city, southwest China.

U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesman Robert Wood called on “the government of China to immediately release Pastor Zhang and permit his family members to return home, to condemn the violent acts committed against his sons, and to bring to justice those individuals responsible for such acts.”

However, Chinese government called remarks by the United States, regarding religious intimidation of Pastor Zhang, “groundless” and “irresponsible.”  Jiang Yu, spokeswoman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, “We encourage the U.S. to pay more attention to its own human rights problems, instead of viewing itself as a human rights bodyguard interfering in other country’s internal affairs.”  Jiang also said that Chinese citizens enjoy religious freedoms, but nobody can use religion as an excuse to commit crimes.

Zhang Mingxuan was nicknamed Pastor Bike for having traveled China by bicycle to distribute Bibles and preach the Christian gospel. Chinese officials have harassed members of the house church where Zhang Mingxuan preaches in the past. “During the past 22 years,” said China Aid Association, “Pastor Zhang has been arrested 26 times, beaten and evicted from his home numerous times for his faith.”

For more information, please see:

AFP – US presses China to free EU prize-winning dissident – 23 October 2008

Reuters – U.S. condemns beating of sons of Chinese pastor – 23 October 2008

Voice of America – Religious Repression In China – 28 October 2008

XinHua – China refutes U.S. remarks on religious beating – 25 October 2008

By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar’s military junta claims its recent release of several political detainees and about 9,000 other prisoners marks the dawn of a new political era and another milestone in its roadmap to “disciplined democracy”. At least four other prominent former members of the NLD were also released. The mass release of prisoners has come as a surprise to diplomats and residents in Yangon.

Win Min, the country’s longest serving political prisoner and a veteran journalist and political activist, among those freed last week, says that the release probably signals the start of Junta’s preparations for the national elections in 2010.  The mass release of prisoners has come as a surprise to diplomats and residents in Yangon.  Suu Kyi, however, remains under house arrest in the Yangon residence where she has spent more than 13 of the last 19 years, with no sign she will be freed any time soon.

However, according to Human Rights Watch, repression in Burma has increased since the ruling military government crushed pro-democracy protests a year ago.  A report released by Human Rights Watch last week, says some 2,100 political prisoners are in Myanmar’s jails while “pseudo-political reforms” go on.  It also accuses the international community of failing to demand real reform and accountability from Myanmar’s military junta.

The crackdown that began on September 26, 2007, was a brutal response to growing protests in Myanmar.  Buddhist monks in Rangoon, Mandalay, and other towns across Myanmar staged peaceful marches to protest government policies and poor living standards.  “Last September, the Burmese people courageously challenged their military rulers, and they were answered with violence and contempt,” said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “The repression continues. While a handful of political activists have been released, more are being arrested and thousands remain in prison.”

The group acknowledges that seven political activists were among thousands of prisoners recently released by Burmese authorities.  But it says about 39 political activists were arrested in August and September alone.  It also says the authorities have done nothing to bring justice to the perpetrators of extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests and torture during last year’s crackdown.

For more information, please see:

Asia Times – False dawn in Myanmar – 27 September 2008

BBC – Burmese gloom one year after protests – 25 September 2008

BBC – No progress in Burma, says group – 25 September 2008

Human Rights Watch – Burma: One Year After Violent Crackdown, Repression Continues – 26 September 2008