US criticises SE Asia on rights

Lawmakers reviewed the “troubling” state of human rights in Southeast Asia Wednesday and criticised Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. But they reserved some of their toughest words for Myanmar, demanding an end to United States concessions to its quasi-civilian government. … While no lawmakers mentioned Wednesday’s presidential election in Indonesia that the White House lauded as sign of its maturing democracy, the seven congressmen who spoke found plenty to criticize in region. They took aim at suppression of dissent and religious freedom in Vietnam, the strong-arm tactics of Cambodia’s leader Hun Sen, and the military takeover in Thailand. …

Bangkok Post News Staff
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/world/419849/us-lawmakers-criticise-vietnam-cambodia-myanmar