Urgent Appeal Update

UPDATE (Philippines): Social Welfare and Development Department provides protection to survivors of Maimbong massacre

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is glad to inform you that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) of the Philippines has issued an order to provide protection and financial assistance to three siblings of Padiwan family who survived a massacre in Maimbong, Sulu on February 1, 2005. (To see case […]

UPDATE (Sri Lanka): No investigation has yet been conducted into the mistaken amputation of a woman’s leg

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) refers to our urgent appeal issued on 22 April 2005 regarding the case of Ms. Citthi Naseera (48) who suffered the amputation of a healthy limb due after the hospital surgical staff failed to correctly ascertain her identity (See further: UA-67-2005). Despite the matter receiving widespread publicity, no […]

UPDATE (Burma): Health and family conditions of jailed villager worsen

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Yoma-3 news service, Thailand about the worsening health and family conditions of a villager jailed illegally for circulating a petition among farmers opposing the forced production of paddy. In our earlier appeal, we reported that the villager, 48-year-old Ko Sein Win, was […]

UPDATE (Sri Lanka): UN Human Rights Committee over-rules government’s objections to admissibility regarding Lalith Rajapakse’s case

[RE: UP-17-2005:  SRI LANKA: Lalith Rajapakse freed; Action needs to be taken against the police who falsely charged him, UP-81-2004: SRI LANKA: Continuing death threats to human rights activists and torture victims after murder of Gerald Perera, UP-77-2004: More death threats to a torture victim and a human rights defender; Witness protection is urgently needed, […]

UPDATE (Thailand): Government commits to giving witness protection to missing lawyer’s family

[RE: FA-06-2004: THAILAND: A human rights lawyer Mr. Somchai Neelaphaijit missing; UA-94-2004: Severe torture victims still in custody while police torturers remain in posts; UP-14-2004: Mr. Somchai Neelaphaijit is still missing and the police may be involved in his disappearance; UP-26-2004: 5 suspects in the alleged abduction of missing human rights lawyer Mr. Somchai Neelaphaijit […]

UPDATE (Indonesia): State intelligence officers delay Munir investigation

Dear friends, According to updated information received by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), the Indonesian police have named two further suspects in the death of human rights activist Munir. They are Oedi Irianto and Yeti Susmiarti, both employees of Garuda, who have been taken in for questioning. Meanwhile, senior Garuda officials responsible for issuing […]

UPDATE (Sri Lanka): The inefficiencies of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka on two torture cases

[Re: Case 1: UA-135-2004: Alleged illegal detention and torture of a man by officers at Kuruwita Police; UA-63-2005: Need for inquiry into police and inquiring officers conduct in investigating a torture victim’s complaint; Case 2: UP-57-2004:  Case of Chamila Bandara; the issue of the Kandy Coordinator and the rights of the people in Kandy for human rights […]

UPDATE (Thailand): Wife of missing human rights lawyer intimidated

[RE: FA-06-2004: THAILAND: A human rights lawyer Mr. Somchai Neelaphaijit missing; UA-94-2004: THAILAND: Severe torture victims still in custody while police torturers remain in posts; UP-14-2004: THAILAND: Mr. Somchai Neelaphaijit is still missing and the police may be involved in his disappearance; UP-26-2004: THAILAND: 5 suspects in the alleged abduction of missing human rights lawyer […]

UPDATE (Philippines): A call for speedy resolution of a case filed against the military in the killing of Indigenous People (IPs) in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has receive updated information from the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) that charges and violations of Indigenous People’s (IPs) rights have already been filed against military forces, led by team leaders Lt. Robert Betita and Lt. Jose Erie from the 25th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army […]

UPDATE (India): District Magistrate was directed by the West Bengal Human Rights Commission to inquire into the police attack on a human rights defender

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from MASUM, a human rights organisation in West Bengal, regarding the case of Mr. Gopen Sharma, a human rights defender who is under attack by the police. The Jalangi police have laid false charges against Mr Sharma based on his wife’s complaint, which […]

SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Questions remain in Sri Lanka’s willingness to save three of its citizens

[RE: UP-39-2005: SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Three Sri Lankans face imminent execution in Saudi Arabia; UP-38-2005: SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Please send a letter to the King of Saudi Arabia urging his intervention to commute the death sentence of three Sri Lankans; UP-34-2005: Death sentence for three migrant workers requires urgent intervention; AS-36-2005: The Government of Sri […]

UPDATE (Sri Lanka): A torture victim’s life is in danger due to threats by the torture perpetrators

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission urgently requests your intervention to provide special protection to torture victim, Mr. Nimal Silva Gunaratne! Mr. Gunaratne was arrested by the Panadurai police in June 2000 and severely tortured by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ranmal Koddithuwakku, the son of the ten Inspector General of Police (IGP), and […]

UPDATE (Sri Lanka): Frightened torture victim refused to give evidence because of police threats

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a torture victim, R. Don Nawaratne Bandara, refused to give his statement in the Panadura Magistrate Court fearing for his life due to severe threats by his torture perpetrators on 1 April 2005.  He further informed the court that he wished to withdraw […]

UPDATE (Philippines): Several protesters, including four priest, beaten by police during a peaceful demonstration in Malate Church, Manila

[RE: UP-29-2005: PHILIPPINES: Two more leaders from the Bayan Muna party are killed in Baguio and Tacloban City, UA-34-2005: Killing of a labor rights activist for the Hacienda Luisita farm workers in Tarlac City, UP-26-2005: Priest supporting for the Hacienda Luisita farm workers in La Paz, Tarlac killed and two others wounded, UP-28-2005: Attempt on […]

UPDATE (Saudi Arabia/Sri Lanka): Three Sri Lankans face imminent execution in Saudi Arabia

[RE: UP-38-2005: SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Please send a letter to the King of Saudi Arabia urging his intervention to commute the death sentence of three Sri Lankans; UP-34-2005: Death sentence for three migrant workers requires urgent intervention; AS-36-2005: The Government of Sri Lanka must take a more proactive stance to save the lives of three Sri Lankans on […]

UPDATE (Saudi Arabia/Sri Lanka): Please send a letter to the King of Saudi Arabia urging his intervention to commute the death sentence of three Sri Lankans

[RE: UA-49-2005: SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Death sentence to migrant workers requires urgent intervention by the Sri Lankan government; UP-34-2005: Death sentence for three migrant workers requires urgent intervention; AS-36-2005: The Government of Sri Lanka must take a more proactive stance to save the lives of three Sri Lankans on death row in Saudi Arabia] Dear friends, The Asian […]

UPDATE (Thailand): Paltry compensation for victims of Narathiwat killings, and still no prosecutions

[Re: UA-143-2004: THAILAND: At least 84 people killed in Southern Thailand on 26 October 2004; UP-65-2004: THAILAND: A list of the victims of the mass killing in Narathiwat province; Immediate international intervention needed; UP-25-2005: THAILAND: Three generals found responsible for mass killing transferred without penalty]? Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has heard […]

UPDATE (India): Government lawyer threatens witnesses to protect accused police officers

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is gravely concerned to hear that even though Partha Majumder disappeared on 5 September 1997 and his family has been fighting a battle to ensure justice ever since, the accused are still at large. (See further UA-171-2004). Furthermore, a complaint has been submitted by the victim’s brother, Mr […]

(UPDATE) SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Death sentence for three migrant workers requires urgent intervention

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the incredibly urgent situation of three Sri Lankan migrant workers in Saudi Arabia currently facing death sentences. (To see the original appeal please view the following: UA-49-2005). Mr E. J. V. Corea, D.D. Ranjith de Silva and Sanath Pushpakumara, are all facing […]

UPDATE (Sri Lanka): Delays in prosecution under the CAT Act questioned by the Supreme Court

[RE: UA-39-2003: Torture of 17-year-old boy; UP-31-2003: Update on torture of 17-year-old boy, Chamila Bandara, by Ankumbura police; UP-38-2003: The security of the torture victim and his mother is severely threatened by the perpetrators; UP-39-2004: No action by the Attorney General to prosecute the torture perpetrators of Chamila Bandara’s case; UP-57-2004: Case of Chamila Bandara; […]