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NORTHEAST ASIA
Preserving hope for reunions
Thousands of war-separated Korean families lost their last sanctuary for reunions after North Korea demolished the Mount Kumgang Reunion Center on Feb. 13. For decades the famous resort had hosted tearful meetings between relatives divided by conflict.
The US$38-million center was a rare symbol of humanitarian cooperation in the Korean Peninsula that was the sole venue for family reunifications, which ended in 2018.
The Inter-Korean Separated Families Association denounced the demolition, which they blamed on deteriorating inter-Korean relations. South Korea’s Unification Ministry described the destruction as an “inhumane act” that tramples on the wishes of separated families and demanded its immediate halt.
The 12-story building was funded by South Korea and built in 2008.
FAST FACTS
- North Korea has begun dismantling the reunion center, with exterior tiles removed from the main building and walls of auxiliary structures being torn down, according to a senior South Korean official cited by The Korea Herald.
- Nearly 100,000 South Koreans who registered to meet their North Korean family members have died waiting for a reunion, according to government data. This is out of the original 134,291 registrants since 1988.
- A 2024 survey by the Unification Ministry showed only 57.2% of separated families still want to see their North Korean relatives, down from 65.8% in 2021, reflecting diminishing hopes that relatives are still alive.
- North Korea declared South Korea its “principal enemy” in 2024 and formally abandoned its reunification goal.
- The demolition follows Pyongyang’s destruction of inter-Korean roads in 2024.
ACTIONS SOUGHT
The Unification Ministry of South Korea is urging the:
- Immediate cessation of demolition activities and preservation of the reunion facility
- International community intervention to address the humanitarian needs of separated families
- North Korea to bear full responsibility for its unilateral demolition of the facility
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Stonewalling detainees’ families
Who knew that a hunger strike – a peaceful act of protest for families desperate for, but denied access, to their loved ones held in detention under Malaysia’s controversial security law – would be treated as a criminal act by state authorities?
These families now face police investigations for their action.
Around 50 demonstrators launched their protest outside the Sungai Buloh prison on Feb. 8 after authorities denied their visitation requests. The demonstration came in the wake of reports of poor medical care and delayed trials for detainees charged under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA).
Police launched an investigation into the hunger strike, citing violations of the Peaceful Assembly Act, which requires rallies to have a five-day advance notice.
Even non-protesters were not spared by the police, who arrested Suara Rakyat Malaysia Executive Director Sevan Doraisamy on Feb. 12. He was arrested for allegedly entering the Home Ministry complex without permission two days earlier when he accompanied families attempting to deliver a memorandum about detainees’ well-being.
Right groups have since condemned his two-hour detention under the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act 1959.
Rights group network Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) has also called for the immediate repeal of SOSMA.
FAST FACTS
- Six police officers were deployed to arrest Sevan for allegedly entering a restricted area in the Home Ministry.
- Before his arrest, Sevan and the families of SOSMA detainees waited over two hours for promised entry passes to the Ministry that were never issued. They wanted to seek clarity into the conditions of their detained relatives.
- SOSMA allows detention without trial for up to 28 days and permits police to block detainee access to family or lawyers for up to 48 hours.
- A similar hunger strike in August 2023 by about 100 family members ended with unfulfilled government promises of SOSMA reforms.
ACTIONS SOUGHT
Rights groups called on Malaysian authorities to:
- Immediately cease all investigations into the peaceful hunger strike and those involved, including Sevan
- Cease all forms of harassment and intimidation against human rights defenders
- Uphold its people’s constitutional right to freedom of expression and assembly
- Repeal draconian laws such as SOSMA and the Peaceful Assembly Act
SOUTH ASIA
Policing the digital space
Nepal could soon be joining the rising tide of digital authoritarianism in Asia as its parliament considers a bill seeking to criminalize anonymous posting and grant the state unchecked powers to monitor and censor online content – all under the guise of combating misinformation.
The Social Media Bill, tabled at Nepal’s National Assembly on Feb. 10, allows individuals to be imprisoned for up to five years and levy fines exceeding US$10,000 for posts deemed harmful to “national sovereignty.”
The proposed bill builds upon earlier restrictions, including a 2023 directive that banned TikTok.
Rights groups warned this marked a sharp departure from Nepal’s standing as one of Asia’s freest countries for press freedom, in which it ranked 74th globally in 2024, according to Reporters Without Borders.
Rights groups FORUM-ASIA and CIVICUS expressed opposition to the bill in a Feb. 13 joint letter, warning that vague provisions on “malicious intent” and “misleading information” would enable arbitrary enforcement and force self-censorship.
The groups emphasized that journalists and human rights defenders rely on digital anonymity to expose corruption and government abuses, drawing parallels to how similar laws in India and Bangladesh have been weaponized to undermine independent media and harass civilians expressing dissent.
FAST FACTS
- The proposed bill revives controversial provisions from the shelved 2019 Information Technology Bill that faced strong public opposition, which raised fears of censorship.
- Under the measure, social media platforms must register in Nepal and store user data locally without independent oversight, enabling mass state surveillance.
- Sexual and gender minorities who depend on anonymous accounts to safely share experiences would – if charged – face up to three months imprisonment or fines.
- The bill does not clearly define terms like “national security,” “integrity,” and “hate speech.”
- Nepal’s Criminal Codes Act of 2018 already restricts press freedom through multiple provisions criminalizing unauthorized recording, photography, private information sharing, and defamation, with violations punishable by up to three years in prison and fines.
ACTIONS SOUGHT
Rights groups called on the Nepal government to:
- Withdraw or substantially revise the bill to align with constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression, right to communication, and right to privacy
- Eliminate provisions that enable arbitrary content removal and mass surveillance
- Conduct consultations with civil society, digital rights experts, and journalists to create legislation that addresses online harms without compromising basic freedoms
GLOBAL / REGIONAL
Pushing for responsible use of climate funds
Climate funds meant to protect Asia Pacific’s most vulnerable communities are highly vulnerable to theft and misuse, with the region’s governments failing to deliver on anti-corruption pledges despite managing billions in climate finance.
Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, released Feb. 11, revealed systemic weaknesses in protecting climate finance across the region, which scored just one point above the global average in fighting corruption.
While financial hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong maintained high scores, countries most vulnerable to climate impacts struggled with corruption.
In Vietnam, 32 wind and solar energy projects came under investigation for abuse of power, while Indonesia’s energy sector faced recurring corruption threats that undermined environmental protection.
The anti-corruption watchdog warned that conflicts of interest and undue influence have allowed lobbyists and wealthy elites to direct policy for their own gain.
The findings highlighted other calls for accountability across the region. In December, environmental groups and communities backed the Philippines’ landmark climate justice arguments at the International Court of Justice while demanding stronger safeguards for climate finance. Filipino community leader Ka-Jimmy Ceguerra pushed for greater civil society oversight of climate funds after witnessing how corruption diverted relief funding from climate-hit areas.
FAST FACTS
- Asia Pacific’s average corruption score of 44/100 barely exceeded the global average of 43.
- In Vietnam – where environmental activists have been harassed and detained for calling attention to destructive projects – 32 wind and solar energy projects were under investigation for abuse of power in 2024.
- Indonesia’s Rempang Eco City project has faced scrutiny over conflicts of interest involving several government officials and a lack of transparency.
- Bangladesh, one of the largest climate finance recipients and one of the most disaster risk-prone countries in the world, faces high risks of fund embezzlement with a corruption score of just 23/100.
ACTIONS SOUGHT
Transparency International called for:
- Governments to root out corruption, which threatens climate action due to the risk of theft, misuse of funds, and undue influence
- Governments and multilateral organizations to embed anti-corruption measures in climate efforts to protect funding and rebuild trust
