The future of democracy will very much depend on them. At present, everywhere in Asia there is so much cruelty and horror. Torture is endemic in many countries in Asia. There are wide spread extra-judicial killings and disappearances. Public or national securities laws in many countries give draconian powers to state agencies and the abuse of such power is common.
Confessions are more used in trials ignoring the potential for enormous abuses.
The culprits who abuse human rights enjoy direct and indirect impunity. In several countries in Asia law and order situation has virtually collapsed. Bringing perpetrators of human rights violations and crimes, when such crimes even amounting to crimes against humanity and war crimes, to justice still remain almost impossible. In this regard the situation of Indonesia regarding past crimes of the Soeharto's military dictatorship needs to be specially mentioned. To turn this horror into hope, this cruelty into humanity, we must see beneath the possibilities.