Report paints grim picture of Asian rights abuses

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Malfunctioning democracies and legal systems are the main causes of violations of human rights and the rule of law in many countries around Asia, a new rights report says.

The study said respect for human rights had worsened in most countries in the region and that people had become increasingly discontent over the authoritarianism of democratically elected governments and military regimes.

They are distressed as extra-judicial killings, disappearances and torture continue unabated.

They are also disappointed over the ineffectiveness of parliaments, judiciaries, police forces and prosecution systems to address these deficiencies, said the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) in its study on 11 Asian nations, released on Thursday.

It also hit out at secret arrests and assassinations in the region, which are often done in the name of the fight against terrorism.

"(Asia's people) are angry at the use of martial law and emergency and terrorism laws that steal their rights in the name of making them secure," it said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061222/wl_asia_afp/asiarights_061222081957