South Asia Citizens Web

The eviction plan [in Colombo] will encompass not just unauthorised settlers but even families with legal titles to their lands. Each family will be paid the princely sum of Rs 100,000, as compensation (some ministers receive as much per month, as rent allowance). When private land is appropriated for developmental purposes, owners are paid the market value. Will the legal owners among the evictees receive identical treatment or will they too be paid Rs 100,000 for land which is worth much more?

Tomorrow (Dec 10), all better-governed nations of the world are likely to examine ways and means of improving their human rights standards. In Pakistan, on the other hand, a persistent decline in respect for human rights will be a major cause for concern.

For more than five years the people of Jagatsinghpur, Orissa (India) have borne the brunt of an ambitious and reckless project launched by the Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO) of South Korea and the Government of Orissa (GoO). On December 10, 2010, the South Asia Solidarity Initiative (SASI) and the Mining Zone Peoples’ Solidarity Group (MZPSG) will hold a press conference and protest outside the Korean Consulate in New York City urging the Government of the Republic of Korea to intervene positively and seek an immediate withdrawal of POSCO from Orissa.

Harmful traditional practices that violate the human rights of women and girls are pervasive in Afghanistan, occurring in varying degrees in all communities throughout the country, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a report released today. Speedy implementation of laws that protect girls and women, in particular the Law on Elimination of Violence against Women is needed to help end these harmful practices.

The 81-page report, "‘Trigger Happy’: Excessive Use of Force by Indian Troops at the Bangladesh Border," documents the situation on the border region, where both Bangladesh and India have deployed border guards to prevent infiltration, trafficking, and smuggling. Human Rights Watch found numerous cases of indiscriminate use of force, arbitrary detention, torture, and killings by the security force, without adequate investigation or punishment. The report is based on over 100 interviews with victims, witnesses, human rights defenders, journalists, law- enforcement officials, and Border Security Force and Bangladesh Rifles’ (BDR) members.

"The border force seems to be out of control, with orders to shoot any suspect," said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The border operations ignore the most basic rule of law, the presumption of innocence."