The first half of the year 2004 has been a very challenging period for the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD). Challenging in the sense that while the phenomenon of enforced or involuntary disappearances remain unresolved and continue unabated especially in Kashmir, India and Indonesia, many untoward incidents occurred which affected AFAD.
1. THE PHENOMENON OF INVOLUNTARY DISAPPEARANCES IN THE SEVEN COUNTRIES WITH AFAD MEMBERSHIP.
In Asia, the phenomenon of involuntary disappearances has reached alarming proportions. Involuntary disappearances in Asia is an unresolved problem and in some countries, a continuing phenomenon. With minimal or even without support from government, organizations of families of the disappeared generally do their work with many impediments.