Corruption

PAKISTAN: Military threatens food security of farmers by illegal land grabbing in Punjab

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that the food security of peasants in the Punjab has been threatened by illegal land grabbing by the military for decades. The peasants have been cultivating the land from their forefathers who were asked to settle and cultivate the land in 1913. However, the military-run […]

INDIA: Stifle not the movement breathe life into it

Statement | India | 21-04-2011

The popular movement against corruption in India, led by Mr. Anna Hazare and others, shares broadly, opinions of the average citizen concerning corruption. That, the reign of corruption in the country must be brought under control, if it cannot be immediately eliminated and that there are no adequate domestic legal and executing frameworks at the […]

SRI LANKA: Yogendra receives a death notice

(Hong Kong, April 21, 2011) Devarathnam Yogendra ( 28 ) is the complainant in a bribery case against IP Wijesuriya of the Hatton Police Station, who has been indicted on a charge of obtaining bribes. This charge has been filed on the basis of a complaint made by Yogendra on November 6, 2007 and it […]

INDIA: What is this Jan Lokpal initiative?

Statement | India | 08-04-2011

Despite corruption being rampant in the country, India still does not have an independent and credible functioning legislative and institutional framework to deal with corruption. In addition, there are several other issues like the reluctance and often inability of the investigators to undertake a proper and time-bound investigation, poor prosecution and enormous delays in the […]

INDIA: A responsible government will listen to the people

Statement | India | 07-04-2011

A Joint Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission and (1) Madhya Pradesh Right to Food Campaign Support Group; (2) Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangthan; (3) Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Morch; (4) Sarokaar; (5) Baal Panchayat; (6) Nagrik Adhikar Manch; (7) Yuva Samvad; (8) Prasoon and (9) Vikas Samvad; human rights organisations working in […]

BURMA: Farmers ambushed, attacked and prosecuted for case against army-owned company

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is concerned by the case of a group of farmers who lodged a complaint about attempts of an army-owned company and the powerful Htoo Company to acquire their land at a greatly undervalued amount. The farmers’ complaint was rejected in court on grounds that the land was […]

INDIA: Yet another human rights defender attacked in Odisha

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Badrama Abhyaranya Vikas Parisad and SPREAD, two human rights organisations working in Odisha state, India, concerning the attack upon the life of a human rights defender in Sambalpur district of the state. It is reported that the attack was premeditated and suspected to […]

INDIA: Caste-based discrimination and corruption pushing 83 families to death in Orissa

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received the information that 83 Dalit families of Ranapada village have been deprived of their food security by non-Dalits from about 54 neighboring villages. It is reported that the reason for the aggressive discrimination against the Bauri families (Dalits) is because three women from Bauri community […]

INDIA: Mother of two children thought of suicide, twice, fearing police persecution

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Nervazhi, a human rights organisation based in Kerala, concerning the case of torture and intimidation of a family by the local police in Ernakulam district of Kerala state. The police, reportedly after accepting offers of bribe, abused, tortured and threatened the family asking […]

SRI LANKA: Police begin “investigation” into National Peace Council funding

Statement of the Governing Council of the National Peace Council in regard to investigation being carried on it Last week, the Executive Director of the National Peace Council was called to the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Sri Lanka Police. He was informed that the CID wished to carry out an investigation […]

INDIA: An apology will not end corruption

Statement | India | 10-03-2011

  Despite the slow crackdown on corruption in India, the two recent incidents of assault upon human rights and right to information activists in the country reiterates the fear that fighting corruption is suicidal in India. Of the two incidents, one is reported from Jharkhand and the other from Rajasthan. In Jharkhand, criminals abducted Mr. […]

INDIA: Human rights defender murdered for challenging corruption

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the murder of human rights activist Mr. Niyamat Ansari in Kope Gram Panchayat of Latehar District, Jharkhand state, on 2 March, as well as a similar attempt on the same day upon the life of his associate Mr. Bhukhan Singh. It is reported […]

SRI LANKA: OIC forced disabled rape victim to accept Rs. 10,000 in settlement

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a 23-year-old physically and mentally disabled woman was raped by a neighbour. When the victim’s mother brought her to the Dodangoda Police Station the officers recorded the complaint and arrested the suspected rapist. However, later the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) threatened and forced the mother […]

SRI LANKA: An appeal to save the life of a young Tamil complainant in a bribery case against a police officer

Devarathnam Yogendra ( 28 ) is the complainant in a bribery case against IP Wijesuriya of the Hatton Police Station, who has been indicted on a charge of obtaining bribes. This charge has been filed on the basis of a complaint made by Yogendra on November 6, 2007 and it is alleged that a decoy […]

INDIA: Assam police harass and threatened a rape victim

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), Assam concerning the case of rape of a 20 year-old-woman by her father-in-law. The victim was raped because she belongs to a poor family and was unable to provide the dowry during the time of her […]

SRI LANKA: Independence without civil liberties is a farce

Sri Lanka will be celebrating its independence from the British Empire on February 4, 2011. The lamentation that independence has not meant a great deal to the people of Sri Lanka is commonly heard. However, the causes that created this situation have often not been examined. The very meaning of independence for citizens of any […]

INDIA: Human rights defenders continue to face threats in Varanasi

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information concerning the case of human rights defenders working with Guria receiving threats for their work against human trafficking. Guria is a human rights organisation working against child prostitution and human trafficking in Varanasi city of Uttar Pradesh state. This is not the first […]

INDIA: Woman forced to quit job and denied justice after sexual harassment

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC) concerning the case of Ms. Lara (name changed) a victim of sexual harassment from Assam state. It is reported that the victim had to resign from her job since her superior colleagues tried to sexually molest […]

INDIA: Judge dodging investigation must quit

Statement | India | 19-01-2011

The Kerala High Court Advocates’ Association, in an extraordinary general body meeting held yesterday, resolved to request the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India to undertake an investigation about the charges of corruption alleged against the former Chief Justice of India, Mr. K. G. Balakrishnan and the members of his family. The resolution […]

SRI LANKA: Young Tamil complainant in a bribery case against a police officer faces attempts on his life and is in hiding

Devarathnam Yogendra ( 28 ) is the complainant in a bribery case against IP Wijesuriya of the Hatton Police Station, who has been indicted on a charge of obtaining bribes. This charge has been filed on the basis of a complaint made by Yogendra on November 6, 2010 and it is alleged that the police […]