Arbitrary arrest & detention

(RE: UA-11-2002: Attacks on human rights defenders, destruction of property, public use of weapons with impunity)  UPDATE (INDONESIA): Further attacks on human rights defenders, public threats made with impunity  ———————————————————————-  Dear Friends  We are including here a joint statement by 48 Indonesian NGOs in response to another attack by the FBR (Betawi Brotherhood Forum) on […]

AHRC has previously released an urgent appeal and update on the arrest and detention of Dr Salai Tun Than, who held a one man protest in front of Rangoon Town Hall last November 2001.

A case of gang rape and sexual exploitation against Dalit minor girl INDIA: Caste based discrimination – a distinct case of racial discrimination on the basis of work and descent; right to life & fair trial and justice; abduction, gang-rape and sexual exploitation against Dalit minor girl ———————————————————– We are shocked to learn that a […]

Dear Friends,  We are sending you updated information regarding our previous appeal (UA-39-2001) about Mr. S. K. Pradhan, secretary-general of the Peoples Forum for Human Rights and Development (PFHRD) in Bhutan, and urge you to take ACTION NOW for the immediate release of Mr. Pradhan.  To briefly review the case, Mr. Pradhan was arrested on […]

Last resort’ for asylum seeker Stephen Khan AUSTRALIA: Mandatory detention and denial of the right to asylum, denial of independent fair trial, serious risk of ill-treatment if expatriated ——————————————————————— AHRC has previously issued urgent appeals drawing attention to the brutal treatment of asylum-seekers and the appalling conditions in detention centres in Australia. Since last year […]

Dear friends, The political detention of a Kyrgyz opposition parliamentarian, Mr. Azimbek Beknazarov, 47, has taken a turn for the worse with reports of him being brutally beaten while in prison. Hundreds of Kyrgyz people are continuing their weeks’ long hunger strike over his treatment – at least one has already died in this protest. […]

Further to our Urgent Appeal of 28 January 2002 regarding the arrest and detention of Dr. Salai Tun Than in Rangoon, Burma, for holding a peaceful one-man protest, we have received additional details of the Professor’s arrest and his distinguished biography. 

We have received astounding news relating to the inhumane treatment and dismissal of a nun by her order. Sister Vanaselvi osm, a woman who has completely devoted her life to the service and upliftment of the poor in India, had been arrested (on 20 November 2001) and detained by the Suramangalam police on baseless charges.

We wish to alert you to a case of serious miscarriage of justice in Sri Lanka. A young Tamil woman, Ms. Victor Joyce Scholastica, has been imprisoned for almost four years under the Prevention of Terrorism Act on the vague charge that she had allegedly \”made a sign or a gesture which could be a sign, to two purported accomplices\”. Her family believes that she is being held in prison as a substitute prisoner for her former fiance, who is not in the country.

NEPAL: Innocent arrest and detention without any criminal evidence ———————————————————– We have learned that Mr. S. K. Pradhan, secretary-general of the Peoples Forum for Human Rights and Democracy (PFHRD) based in Nepal, one of the human rights organisations with general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, was arrested on […]

Dear Friends  Thank you for your continued action for justice for the 19 persons arrested and detained in Bandung, Indonesia, for their legitimate protest against impoverishing labour laws and fuel prices. It seems that the cases against the 12 remaining in prison pending trial were found by the court to be so weak that all […]

Dear Friends, The following is an appeal for the release of a 35-year-old Tibetan ethno-musicologist, Mr. Ngawang Choephel, who is in prison on charges of espionage by the Chinese government. The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) urges you to join the campaign for Ngawang Choephel by taking the following suggested action. Thank you. Urgent Appeals […]

Dear Sir’Ma’am   People’s watch is a human rights organization in India. We were informed that 19 people are being detained since their arrest on June 15 in association with the legitimate protests against the changes to labour laws and increases in fuel prices. We understand that labour conditions are already relatively poor and that […]

The pro-democracy ‘reformasi’ movement in Indonesia is facing a severe backlash. After one and a half months in jail, and with the presidency crisis resolved, the ‘Bandung 19’ political prisoners need your Urgent Action to call for their release. All the information you need for this action, including a sample letter, is included below. Please read as much as you can, but most importantly write the letter to Pres. Megawati.

AHRC MEDIA Release  28 June 2001  Australia: High Commissioner Appointee responsible for atrocities  Former detainee under General Perera speaks out  Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is issuing today an eyewitness account [attached] of extreme physical and psychological torture, overcrowding and hundreds of disappearances/extrajudicial killings at an illegal military detention camp (in Wehera, Kurunegala district, 25 […]

Dear Friends, Regarding our earlier urgent appeal (29-05-2001) on brutal treatment of asylum seekers in Australia, we are sending you some news update to draw your continuous attention and support. Thank you. Urgent Appeals Desk Asian Human Rights Commission ============================= The Australian Immigration Minister, Philip Ruddock, has made a scathing attack on a report calling […]

Dear Friends, Regarding the arrest of ten Malaysian activists and political leaders, We’re sending you updated news and the following letter received from one of our Malaysian friend who is struggling to launch Anti-ISA campaign as well as to release detainees. This letter clearly shows us that what’s going on and what kind of things […]

According World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), on February 28, 2001, the well-known 56-year-old writer Mr. Emin Usman died in detention in the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) of Uzbekistan. Mr. Usman was arrested by militia officials near his house in Navoi Kolkhoz in the region of Tashkent on February 11, 2001. After his arrest, Usman was detained in the basement of MVD. It was not until the fifth day after his arrest that his lawyer, Ahmadjon Cautov was able to meet with him.

HOTLINE ASIA  SPECIAL URGENT APPEALS  SUA010113(1): FREEDOM TO PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY AGAINST BLASPHEMY LAWS, RELEASE THE PEACEFUL PROTESTERS – PAKISTAN  January 13, 2001  SUMMARY  Fr. Arnold Heredia (60), former Executive Secretary of the Committee for Justice & Peace Karachi, was among 17 protestors arrested and detained in Karachi at 4.00 p.m. on 10 January, 2001. As […]

The military rulers of Burma are clearly renewing their efforts to destroy the National League of Democracy (NLD), which was overwhelmingly elected to rule the country ten years ago, but never allowed to govern. The generals seem to be gaining confidence, believing that they can increase oppression without any consequences for their growing international relations, especially in the ASEAN. The sample letter and addresses for this Urgent Appeal are at the end of this email, but first here is the latest information and also some background information. The following actions give evidence of a new crackdown: