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Family members of Burma prisoners wait outside Insein Prison in Yangon Oct. 12, 2011 following an announcement that more than 6,300 inmates would be released. Unfortunately, very few of those were political prisoners. (Pic: AP)

Burma forms committee to oversee release of political prisoners

By Zin Linn Thu, Feb 07, 2013 4:01PM UTC 0 Comment

Burma formed a committee Wednesday to look atthe remaining political prisoners serving their terms in prisons throughout the country so as to grant them liberty, the New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported this week. Government of Burma has been granting amnesty to prisoners of conscience serving their terms in prisons across the nation, though some...

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Australia: Boat people to experience homestay

By Rowena Dela Rosa Yoon Thu, May 03, 2012 5:39PM UTC 5 Comments

Detainees stage a protest on a rooftop of the Villawood Detention Centre in Sydney in March. (Photo: AP)

Following the launch of the Community Placement Network (CPN) today, about 5000 asylum seekers will be able to experience a decent life in a homestay program. The 6-week refugee homestay, an initial scheme to ease overcrowded detention centres, is expected to kick off two weeks from now. CPN is designed to accommodate asylum seekers released from...

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Amnesty International puts spotlight on North Korean prison camps

By Nathan Schwartzman Fri, Jul 29, 2011 6:42AM UTC 0 Comment

Amnesty International has assembled a collection of photos and video testimony regarding the gulag of prison camps in North Korea. There’s a press release for the videos, which contains links to the various components at the bottom....

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Greens, human rights activists condemn Australia-Malaysia deal

By Rowena Dela Rosa Yoon Mon, Jul 25, 2011 10:23PM UTC 2 Comments

Long before Australia signed the deal with Malaysia to swap asylum seekers in exchange for the intake of recognized refugees, the Australian Greens have repeatedly condemned the Malaysian Solution, calling it inhumane. Now that the deal was officially announced Monday, all hopes of finding homes for 800 asylum seekers looking to be settled in Australia are...

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Amnesty: China crackdown on lawyers expands

By AP News Thu, Jun 30, 2011 3:23PM UTC 0 Comment

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese authorities are increasingly resorting to attacks and secret detentions in a crackdown on activist lawyers that has worsened this year amid government efforts to prevent the growth of an Arab-style protest movement, a rights group said Thursday. Amnesty International said the government also has suspended or revoked lawyers’ licenses to stop...

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