Urgent Appeal Update

THAILAND: Drop all charges before trial against two student activists

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding two student activists who have been arrested in Chaiyaphum province, north eastern Thailand, for distributing anti-constitution flyers. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), the Phu Khiao Provincial Court postponed an evidence examination session. This is due to the fact that […]

THAILAND: Three Human Rights Defenders acknowledge charges due to publishing Torture Report

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding on-going judicial harassment of three human rights defenders who support and protect torture victims in Thailand. On 26 July 2016, Mr. Somchai Homlaor, Ms. Pornpen Khongkachonkiet and Ms. Anchana Heemmina, co-editors of a torture report, reported to the inquiry officer at the Muang […]

PAKISTAN: Life of lady teacher in danger as police release perpetrators without producing them in court

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the death threats against a lady teacher and her husband after a senior police officer initiated an inquiry on the Urgent Appeal and proceeded to exonerate all the perpetrators. One member of the National Assembly from Sindh provincial ruling party allegedly used […]

PAKISTAN: Police release four abducted women and two men after taking ransom

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the abduction of four women and two men amidst fighting between two influential armed tribes, the Thaheem and Qambrani. Police from RD 44 Police Station, Jacobabad, kept the women illegally, holding them for ransom for 11 days at a private location, releasing […]

THAILAND: Sirikan denied all charges relating to her performance as “Lawyer”

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the ongoing judicial harassment of Ms. Sirikan Charoensiri. She is a human rights lawyer and legal and documentation officer at Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). On 22 October 2016, Ms. Sirikan reported to the police at Bangkok’s Samranrat Municipality Police Station. […]

THAILAND: Ongoing Judicial Harassment Against Human Rights Lawyer “Sirikan Charoensiri”

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding judicial harassment against human rights lawyer Ms. Sirikan Charoensiri. The AHRC wishes to note that it has been seven months since she reported herself to the Prosecutor’s Office in Bangkok for a hearing on the prosecution order of her offence on concealing […]

THAILAND: Student activists petition public prosecutor to acquit case

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the Phu Khiao Provincial Court scheduling a plea hearing for two student activists who have been arrested in Chaiyaphum province, northeastern Thailand, for distributing anti-constitution flyers. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), on 15 August 2016, the Phu Khiao public […]

THIALAND: Prosecution of four student activists and journalist under Referendum Act continues

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the Ratchaburi Provincial Court scheduling a conciliation hearing, for four activists and one journalist, indicted for alleged offences against Section 61 of Constitution Referendum Act B.E.2559 (2016) and the against the Announcement of Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) No. […]

INDONESIA: Weak independent team fails to prove involvement of high ranking officials in illegal drug trade

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the case of Haris Azhar, a human rights defender and executive director of the Commission for the Disappearances and Victims of Violence / KontraS, a prominent national human rights NGO. After Haris disseminated information on the alleged involvement of high ranking police […]

THAILAND: Ongoing judicial harassment of pro-democracy activists and Prachatai reporter

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding four activists and one journalist, indicted over anti-draft constitution leaflets. The Public Prosecutor has asked the Court to revoke the defendants’ right to vote for ten years. UPDATED INFORMATION: (Based on documentation by Thai Lawyers for Human Rights) On 29 August 2016, […]

INDONESIA: No perpetrators indicted in the torture and death of Marianus Oki

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the investigation into the torture and death of Mr. Marianus Oki, a suspect who had been detained in Banat Manamas police post (Pospol Banat Manamas). While the investigation has been conducted by police investigators of the North Central Timor regency police resort […]

SRI LANKA: 14 year old rape victim reveals that a woman constable beat her at the police station

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information revealed by the young victim herself, which we wish to bring to your notice. On the 7th of July when she went to the Haputale Police station, a police woman constable, had beaten the young girl, and told her that when she is […]

INDONESIA: Judges fail to meet standard of fair trial in activist murder case

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about the result of the trial process with respect to the assault and torture to death of Mr. Salim Kancil, a land rights defender and environmental activist, who fought against illegal sand mining in Selok Awar-Awar Village, Lumajang Regency, East Java Province. The judges […]

PAKISTAN: Apellate Court upholds 40 years’ sentence for human rights defenders to bar Baba Jan from elections

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information that the Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit Baltistan (GB), a newly occupied territory of Pakistan federation, has hurriedly upheld the sentences of 12 human rights defenders for 40 years, with a fine of Rupees 500,000 each, to debar their leader, Mr. Baba Jan, […]

INDONESIA: Judges failed to apply a high standard for a fair trial in the murder case against a human rights defender

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information, provided by the Indonesian Forum for the Environment, a branch office of Jambi province (WALHI Jambi). It is regarding the brutal attack and murder of Mr. Indra Pelani, a land rights activist. Judges did not take into consideration the alleged involvement of the […]

PHILIPPINES: Manobo farmers filed criminal charges to the authorities

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that at least 94 officials including government official of North Cotabato, police and military officers were filed criminal charges by the farmers who was illegally arrested, tortured all the human rights violations committed against the Kidapawan violent dispersal of 6,000 farmers last April […]

PAKISTAN: Gang raped victim attempts suicide the third time after continuous denial of justice from courts

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information that Ms. Nasira Parveen, a victim of police excess and inhuman torture, has attempted self immolation after her case for action against the Station House Officer, Kasowal Police Station, Punjab, was dismissed by a civil judge. The delinquent officer was exonerated of all […]

INDONESIA: Independent autopsy reveals anti-terror unit tortured victim to death

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the death of Mr. Siyono while in the custody of Indonesia’s anti-terror police unit (Densus 88). Without proper investigation or court verdict, the police arrested Siyono on allegations of terrorism and tortured him to death. Subsequently, the police gave money as compensation […]

THAILAND: Southern land rights activist subject to death threat

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from Protection International Thailand (PI) and Human Rights Lawyer Association (HRLA) that on 8 April 2016 Mr. Supoj Kansong, a land rights activist and a key witness to the assassination of Mr. Chai Boonthonglek, was ambushed by an unidentified gunman. UPDATED INFORMATION As […]

PAKISTAN: Two years have passed still the student leader is missing, the government failed to fulfill its responsibility

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the disappearance of a Baloch student leader, who was arrested two years ago, on 18 March 2014, by persons from the nation’s military intelligence agency, the ISI. Since then his whereabouts are unknown, and he was not presented in any court of […]