Asia Pacific

The negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), involving 16 Asia-Pacific countries, are failing international standards of transparency and public participation, according to a study titled “RCEP: A secret deal” conducted by several international organizations. “It is quite shocking how representatives of the governments are able to hide behind secrecy, saying that it is necessary for effective negotiations” said…

Approximately 800 Orang Asli indigenous people are blockading since February 15, 2018 at several areas of the Gua Musang district, Kelantan State, Malaysia, in defence of the environment and their customary rights over land and to stop forest exploitation, mining and large-scale monoculture plantations. “We want to block any activity that would destroy the environment”, said the Chairperson of the…