Columns

An article by Dr. Rubby Das published by the Asian Human Rights Commission Mental health and well-being are fundamental to our collective and individual ability as humans to think, emote, interact with each other, earn a living and enjoy life. If there is discrepancy or disruption in mental well-being, which is must for an individual’s […]

Contributors: Reema Omar An article by Reema Omar published by the Asian Human Rights Commission Reema Omar http://www.dawn.com/news/1090810 ON Feb 26, 2013, the United Nations Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) published its report on Pakistan, following its visit to the country in September 2012. The report expressed concern at the continuing practice […]

An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission Eleanor Roosevelt (1884—1962) (Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt): “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” James Madison (1751—1836) (Federalist Paper #47): “The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a […]

An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission CAMBODIA: Plus ça change…   Plato (429-347 B.C.): “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” Nikita Krushchev (1894-1971): “Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build bridge even […]

Contributors: Amir Murtaza An article by Amir Murtaza published by the Asian Human Rights Commission The Pakistani nation has been united in pouring salutes and tributes to Aitzaz Hassan, who has sacrificed his life to save the lives of his fellow school children.  The fifteen-years-old hero of the country had captured a suicide bomber targeting […]

An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission Confucius (551-479BC): “Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.” Albert Einstein (1879-1955): “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Leaders of both the Cambodian People’s Party and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party each […]

An article by Waqr Gilani published by the Asian Human Rights Commission Waqar Gillani http://tns.thenews.com.pk/pending-matter/#.UsrywTqqob0 Four and a half years after she was first charged with blasphemy, what exactly is happening with Aasia Bibi and her casePeople seem to have forgotten Aasia Bibi while she languishes in one jail or the other for the last […]

An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission As we are only days away from the New Year of 2014, I find it apt and beneficial to end the year of 2013 with this article. Someone more philosophical than I wrote that today is yesterday’s future. In the days, weeks, months, and […]

An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission In one week, from Nov 18 to Nov 25, the much talked about plan of opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party leaders to hold two mass demonstrations in Phnom Penh, one on Human Rights Day on December 10 “for all people who have suffered […]

An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission In one week, from Nov 18 to Nov 25, the much talked about plan of opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party leaders to hold two mass demonstrations in Phnom Penh, one on Human Rights Day on December 10 “for all people who have suffered […]

Contributors: Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission As Cambodia’s government is delegitimized by ongoing political deadlock resulting from the dispute between the Cambodian People’s Party and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party over the outcome of July elections, it is unfortunate that very few Cambodians understand that […]

An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission The more Hun Sen attempts to ignore grievances of the increasingly vocal cohort of Cambodian voters who allege election irregularities and fraud, the more the emboldened and determined opposition party demands an independent impartial joint CNRP-CPP investigation committee to seek more accurate accounting of […]

Contributors: Nadeem Anthony An article by Nadeem Anthony published by the Asian Human Rights Commission Even no one knows about the sunrise of September 22, 2013 could be the last morning and last sunset of those Christian men, women and children, unjustly lost their lives in deadly suicide blast at the All Saints Church, Kohati […]

An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission As per his usual custom, sixty-year-old King Norodom Sihamoni clasps his hands in a show of traditional Khmer respect, his face wears a ready soft and gentle smile. The king was a graceful dancer in his youth and is known never to have wanted […]

An article by Ou Ritthy published by the Asian Human Rights Commission In ASEAN countries’ contemporary politics, “ASEAN Spring” describes election as a means to bring about change. This ASEAN’s political trend has impressively transformed the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam (throughout its fight for political freedom), Malaysia, and now Cambodia. Citizens in ASEAN have demanded their governments […]

An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission There is no problem that lacks a solution, though we may not like our choices. Manmade problems are solvable through imaginative, productive, creative thinking and carefully thought-out action. Some predicaments are harder to deal with than others. The pain from the loss […]

Contributors: Amir Murtaza An article by Amir Murtaza published by the Asian Human Rights Commission In the last ten years, the country has experienced multiple disasters of gigantic proportions – both natural and man-made. While the loss of life and property is insurmountable, it is equally disturbing to see such a high number of children […]

Contributors: Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission I must admit to being pleasantly surprised when my (reluctant) suggestion that 40,000 Cambodians would likely greet Cambodia National Rescue Party leader Sam Rainsy on his arrival from self-imposed exile on July 19, turned out to be way off the […]

Contributors: Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission My last two articles in this space — “Building leadership for young Khmers,” and “Understanding nation building” — describe my long term goals for the developing leaders in Cambodia. I hope also to address other elements of nation-building with a […]

An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission I owe this article to a number of Cambodian participants at the May 18 Cambodian Leadership Conference (CLC) in Tacoma, Washington, where I gave a keynote address on Building Leadership for Young Khmers, and two lecture-discussion sessions on political socialization and political culture. After […]