Fabrication of charges

SRI LANKA: AUTHORITIES CONTINUE TO STIFLE PROTESTS, HARASS ACTIVISTS AND PUSH REPRESSIVE LAWS

A Statement from CIVICUS forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission The CIVICUS Monitor in December 2023 downgraded Sri Lanka’s civic space rating to ‘repressed,’ with authorities clamping down on protesters, stifling journalists and targeting activists amid mounting public frustration with poor governance and a lack of accountability. In January 2024, Human Rights Watch said […]

SRI LANKA:Is contempt of court unlike any other crime?

By Basil Fernando The purpose of the proposed Bill on the Contempt of Court is to criminalise the acts which may be considered to constitute the offence of contempt of court and to punish it. Clearly, this proposed Bill is meant to create offences under the contempt of court and therefore the purpose is to create […]

SRI LANKA: 202nd commemorative edition of SOCIAL JUSTICE – Sri Lanka is out

The center for religion and society (CSR) Colombo has published the 202nd issue of social justice. This publication started in August 1962 and has been regularly published ever since. Regarding this issue, the publisher states that this edition’s discussion is focus on Rule of Law, Anti-Terrorism law and other issues related to Sri Lanka.  Kindly see […]

INDONESIA: The Second Trial of Mr. Haris Azhar and Ms. Fatia Maulidiyanti, the Prosecutor’s Indictment with Formal Defects and the Lack of Objectivity of the Law Enforcement

Ms. Fatia Maulidiyanti and Mr. Haris Azhar, two Indonesian human rights defenders, returned for their second trial with an agenda for reading the exception or objection note at the East Jakarta District Court. On 17 April, 2023, at the same time that the document was read, the security and human rights situation in Papua had […]

SRI LANKA:Few Reflections on the Sri Lanka’s Independence Day

By Basil Fernando Read the article in Sinhala මෙම ලිපිය සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න As Sri Lanka is to celebrate its 75th anniversary of Independence on the 4th of February, the general reaction of the people around the country this year is one of despondency with serious criticisms about the failure of governance in the country.  The need […]

SRI LANKA: POLICE ON TRIAL: Exercising Authority without Accountability

An article from Daily Mirror forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission • Officers are rarely prosecuted for misconduct, including the brutal use of force on citizens. In rare cases, officers found guilty are given minor disciplinary punishments or given warnings. • The NPC received a total of Rs.127, 764, 000 budgetary allocation in 2018 which was […]

SRI LANKA: The Contempt of Court Law and Practice In Sri Lanka Violates the International Law and Sri Lankan Constitution

Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) , a Regional Human Rights Organization, having seriouslyobserved and studied the manner in which the Contempt of Court law and the way it is practiceLin Sri Lanka, wish to express its deep concern over the violations of International law and the Sri Lankan Constitution itself, by depriving protection of law […]

INDONESIA: Withdraw police officers and stop the seizure of people’s living space in the Wadas village

An Open Letter from the Asian Legal Resource Centre to the Chief of National Police General of Police LISTYO SIGIT PRABOWO Chief of National Police (KAPOLRI) Jl. Trunojoyo Number 3 Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan 12110 INDONESIA Telephone: +62 21 384 8537, 726 0306 Fax: +62 21 7220 669 Electronic mail: info@polri.go.id Dear General: INDONESIA: Withdraw police […]

INDONESIA: Investigate and Prosecute Cases of Violence Allegedly Committed by Police Officers Against Ridwan at Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) regrets the repeated allegations of violence by security forces, this time experienced by Ridwan (21) at Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan Province. The victim was allegedly subjected to violence by 10 (ten) police officers. The violent incident is known to have occurred in several locations, specifically in front of the […]

INDONESIA: Pontianak District Court Decision not serious in Judging Cases of the Destruction of the Mosque Built by Ahmadiyya

In the case of the destruction of the Miftahul Huda Mosque, a total of 22 defendants were involved. On Thursday, January 6, 2022, the Pontianak District Court held a hearing with the agenda of a verdict against 21 defendants in the case of the destruction of the Miftahul Huda Mosque which was built by the […]

INDIA: A botched up counter insurgency operation and murders most foul

Statement | India | 09-12-2021

Fifteen people including one soldier were killed in Mon district of the North Eastern state of Nagaland in India in what the security forces are calling a botched up operation that unfolded in several batches. Though the details of the botched up encounter are still hazy and contested, the gravity of the incident was lost […]

BANGLADESH: Sweeping Empowerment of Executive Authorities with Impunity in Personal Data Protection Bill will Endanger Rights Activism and Research

Bangladesh’s incumbent Government is about to adopt a new law titled “Personal Data Protection Bill” (PDP Bill). Citing the excuse of protecting the right to protection of citizens’ personal data the Bangladesh Government copied the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) of 2016. They revised it, fitting to the conveniences of an authoritarian rule. It has drastically […]

INDONESIA : A man allegedly tortured by a Police Officer of the Medan City Police Sector

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION – URGENT APPEALS PROGRAM Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-011-2021  October 06 , 2021 ——————————————————————— INDONESIA: A man allegedly tortured by a Police Officer of the Medan City Police Sector ISSUES: Fabricated cases, administration of justice, torture, impunity ——————————————————————— Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Commission […]

INDONESIA: Public Defenders under the Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation face terror and intimidation

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION – URGENT APPEALS PROGRAM Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-010-2021  September 24, 2021 ——————————————————————— INDONESIA: Public Defenders under the Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation face terror and intimidation ISSUES: ISSUES: Fabricated cases, terror and intimidation, human rights defenders, administration of justice —————————————- Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from […]

SRI LANKA: The Complaint by a young mother of sexual harassment suffered at the Padukka Police Station

An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission to Inspector General of Police, Mr. C. D. Wickramaratne Inspector-General of Police, Mr. C. D. Wickramaratne New Secretariat, Colombo 01. SRI LANKA Fax: + 94 11 2 440440 / 327877 Email: igp@police.lk Dear Mr. C. D. Wickramaratne SRI LANKA: The Complaint by a young mother of […]

BANGLADESH: Government Abuses COVID-19 Lockdown for Mass Arrests and Muzzling Freedoms

The Bangladesh Government continues its ruthless campaign of gagging freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly. In the spree of muzzling the people’s freedom of expression, hundreds have been arbitrarily detained under the Digital Security Act-2018, Anti-Terrorism Act-2009, Special Powers Act-1974, Official Secrets Act-1923, the Penal Code-1860, and other draconian laws under the incumbent Government of Sheikh Hasina. Investigative Journalist […]

BURMA/MYANMAR: Myanmar Situation Update (17 to 23 May 2021)

A Statement from ANFREL forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Download the Full Statement here The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) released the final comprehensive report of its international election observation mission to the 2020 Myanmar general elections and said “it is its informed opinion that the results of the 2020 general elections were, by and […]

BURMA/MYANMAR: Myanmar Situation Update (3 to 9 May 2021)

A Statement from ANFREL forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Download the Full Statement Here The pro-democracy protests continued across the country in different townships despite the continuing lethal attacks by the junta forces and arrets of protests and the youth. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) figures showed that as of 9 May, […]

BURMA/MYANMAR: Myanmar Situation Update

A Statement from Anfrel forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission The pro-democracy protests continued across the country while the Myanmar community outside of the country also conducted the protests in places such as London, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo and Seoul. The protests started again in Yangon last week just before the ASEAN summit after a […]

BURMA/MYANMAR: Myanmar Situation Update

A Statement from ANFREL forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Download the Full Statement Here The protests continued for the 12th week across the country despite the brutal crackdown. After a weeks- long absence, protesters returned to the streets in downtown Yangon ahead of the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting. The media also reported that more than […]