Following reports of beatings, torture, and abuse, including against minors, Amnesty International accused the Philippine police of using "unnecessary and excessive force" during anti-corruption protests on 21 September in Manila. The authorities have taken special security measures ahead of another mass rally on 30 November. Fears are growing of more violence and a possible pre-emptive crackdown.
UN experts are urging Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur to dismantle fraudulent recruitment networks and protect migrants from abuse. Growing indebtedness is a major factor. Migrants from Bangladesh are the largest group of foreign workers, with more than 800,000 active work permit holders as of June this year, or 37 per cent of the total foreign workforce.
A young Muslim man in a relationship of "mutual respect" with a Christian woman has gone before the Constitutional Court to challenge Article 2 of the Marriage Law because of its ambiguity. Currently, the Civil Registry Office only register marriages performed by religious authorities. Two justices are calling for laws to better respect rights.
The military and the pro-government BGF militia raided the Shwe Kokko complex. According to local sources, however, the BGF moved out its bosses before the raid, and thousands of workers fled after being warned. Washington and Beijing have launched parallel initiatives against the activities that finance this criminal activity, but many analysts remain sceptical; without targeting the networks linking the military, militias, and criminal groups, raids risk being merely window dressing.
In southern Malaysia, expansion of water-based cooling systems for data centres has been halted for 18 months. Among the causes are drought and the distribution of water resources, which are lacking in the south, where investments are concentrated. With 48 data centres, Johor would become a regional hub by 2030.
A new serious landslide in Central Java province has caused at least 18 deaths and numerous missing persons. Rescue efforts are hampered by a deep fracture in the ground, and new rains could widen the area affected by the disaster. Climate change and geological conditions are putting the entire country at increasing risk.
