Bangladesh: Extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances amidst political impasse must end

(Bangkok/Dhaka, 10 February 2015) - The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), express deep concern over the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances by the security forces of Bangladesh, centering on the current confrontations between the ruling Awami League (and its 14-party Alliance) and the BNP-led 20- Party Alliance over free, fair, credible and participatory national elections under a neutral interim government, which has resulted in large scale violence and human rights violations all over Bangladesh.

Sisters in Pain and in Strength

Amina Masood Janua - mother of three – searching for her disappeared husband Masood Janjua since 2004 – founder of the NGO Defence for Human Rights in Pakistan. To express her solidarity with Shui Meng, the wife of Magasaysay award winning development worker Sombat Somphone who disappeared on 15th December 2012, wrote a letter to her. Both have never met each other. They have been introduced to each other by AFAD.

We are sharing their letters to give you a glimpse of their love and their commitment to truth and justice.

145 groups: Make Enforced Disappearance of Sombath Somphone Central to Lao UPR!

A petition spearheaded by the Sombath Initiative calls on governments and the UN Human Rights Council to put the enforced disappearance of Sombath Somphone at the centre of the Universal Periodic Review for the Lao PDR.

Endorsed by 145 organisations from six continents, and sent to over 40 missions to the United Nations in Geneva, the petition asserts the disappearance of Sombath Somphone parallels a decisive reversal in democratic space, signals a deterioration of the human rights situation throughout the country, and is the most visible manifestation of a broader and deeper malaise pervading the Lao PDR.

An Open Letter to Pope Francis

Dear Pope Francis,

¡Bienvenido a las Filipinas! Welcome to the Philippines! By now, I’m sure you’re already flooded with messages poured upon you by my fellow Filipinos. Thus, my voice will be just another amongst the crowd.

My voice comes from a place of complex stories, identities, ideologies, and perspectives. I am an agnostic theist. I am gay. I am highly critical of how your church treats LGBT people and women. I am also highly critical of the Philippine government and of government as a general concept, whether applied to a state or to a religious group.