From military-ruled Myanmar to the free-wheeling democracy of the Philippines, Southeast Asia came under fire for human rights violations in a new report by the US State Department.
Only Singapore and Brunei from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations were spared criticism in the US State Department's report entitled "Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The US Record 2003-2004."
The report criticised Myanmar's military junta for continuing to be hostile to all forms of political opposition.
It also accused the junta of extrajudicial killings and rape, forcibly relocating persons, using forced labor, conscripting child soldiers and reestablishing forced conscription of the civilian population into militia units.
The report came as President George W. Bush extended for another year trade and investment sanctions on Myanmar and the junta launched a national convention without first releasing democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
More than 1,000 people continue to languish in Myanmar's jails "for the peaceful expression of their political views," the report said.
It also hit out at the "poor" human rights record of Cambodia, Indonesia and Laos.
In Cambodia, the State Department questioned "political killings" and what it called a climate of impunity for violence.
"There were credible reports that some members of the security forces tortured, beat and otherwise abused persons in custody, often to extract confessions," it said.
More than 380 new rights abuses cases were filed in Cambodian courts during the past year, including unlawful arrests, extrajudicial killings and threats and intimidation, including political threats.
The report said although Indonesia made progress in its transition from decades of repression and authoritarian rule to a more pluralistic and representative democracy, its "overall human rights record remained poor."
Soldiers and police officers committed widespread violations, including extrajudicial killings and torture, notably in Aceh and Papua Provinces, according to the report.
It added that "a weak and corrupt judicial system frequently failed to hold violators accountable."
The report noted that the Indonesian military took greater steps to punish human rights abusers within its ranks but -- as with the civilian justice system -- the punishment in many cases did not match the offense.
In Laos, the security forces were accused of abusing detainees, especially those suspected of insurgent or anti-government activity.
The people of Laos lacked basic freedoms, including freedom of speech and expression, with the communist government controlling the domestic media, it said. Several political prisoners remain in Lao jails, serving long sentences.
The report cited human rights abuses in Malaysia which it said resulted from the government's policy of restriction on certain political and civil rights.
"This policy has led to certain human rights abuses, including detention of persons without charge or trial, limits on the impartiality and independence of the judiciary and restrictions on freedom of the press, association, assembly and religion," it said.
The report said the judiciary had been undermined and accused police of human rights abuses.
In the Philippines, the State Department said, security forces were responsible for "extrajudicial killings, disappearances, torture and arbitrary arrest and detention."
Also cited were widespread corruption in the judicial system and police forces.
The report on Thailand also focused on extrajudicial killings, with the government criticised for the largely unresolved 1,386 narcotic-related deaths during a three-month state sanctioned war on drugs last year.
The Vietname government was accused of "significantly" restricting freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly and association.