The Thai government should set up an independent commission to carry out a prompt, effective, and impartial investigation into the politically motivated violence by all sides during the recent protests and hold those responsible accountable.

The Pakistani government should swiftly reverse its decision to cede de-facto administrative control of the Swat valley in Pakistan’s tribal areas to the Taliban and affiliated groups.

The Bangladeshi government should promptly and thoroughly investigate last week's "crossfire killing" involving Bangladesh's notorious anti-crime force, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

The government of Afghanistan should listen to the Afghan women who are planning to hold a protest on April 15, 2009, at great personal risk, and repeal or reform the Shia Personal Status law.

The Commonwealth and its members should use their combined diplomatic influence to press the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to cease attacks that violate the laws of war and end the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka’s northern Vanni region.

The Sri Lankan government should stop firing heavy artillery into the “no-fire zone” in the northern Vanni area where some 100,000 civilians are trapped by the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, causing skyrocketing casualties.

As Human Rights Watch opens its new Tokyo office today, we write to encourage your government to make the promotion of human rights a higher priority in Japanese foreign policy.