Malaysia: churches under attack

Four Christian churches in Malaysia were attacked with petrol bombs amid tensions over a court ruling allowing the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims in the country.

Thailand: UN protests forcible repatriation of Hmong to Laos

A UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) official protested Thailand’s move to forcibly repatriate some 4,000 ethnic Hmong back to Laos. Some 400 have been removed so far.

Indonesia: protest slaying of West Papuan independence leader

Local leaders in West Papua dispute the official version of the police slaying of Free Papua Movement leader Kelly Kwalik, and deny charges that he was behind recent armed attacks.

Cambodia: Khmer Rouge leaders charged with genocide against Muslims

Former Khmer Rouge head of state and “Brother Number Five” Khieu Samphan has been charged with genocide of Cambodia’s Vietnamese and the Cham Muslim minorities.

Philippines: growing calls for martial law in Mindanao

The first declaration of martial law in the Philippines since the fall of the Marcos dictatorship was just lifted in a province of Mindanao—but armed attacks continue to escalate.

Vietnam: protest eviction of Buddhist monastery

Thich Nhat Hanh has protested the eviction of his followers from a monastery in southern Vietnam’s Lam Dong province. Vietnamese intellectuals have issued a petition to support them.

Mindanao: new fighting threatens truce with MILF

Philippine Sen. Rodolfo Biazon called for suspension of peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), claiming the group helped fight the military during last week’s clash on Basilan Island.

Jakarta: terror targets business confab

Nine people were killed in explosions at the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott hotels in South Jakarta. Some of the victims were attending an Indonesian business forum held at the Marriott.

West Papua: missing officer found dead near Freeport mine

A police officer who was reported missing July 12 was found dead the next day near a mine operated in West Papua by the US conglomerate Freeport. Indonesian authorities blamed Papuan separatists.

CIA chief in Philippines to discuss Mindanao crisis

CIA director Leon Panetta met Philippine President Gloria Arroyo for a security meeting—days after the UN World Food Program suspended aid work in Mindanao in response to a wave of deadly bombings.

Philippines: more terror in Mindanao

A wave of terror attacks again left several dead in the southern Philippines region of Mindanao, including a blast at the Cotabato cathedral blamed on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Indonesia: Muslims blockade mosque to protest Jemaah Islamiyah

The largest mosque on the Indonesian island of Java has been blocked by local residents who fear the militant group Jemaah Islamiyah has been organizing and recruiting there.