Freedom of assembly

SRI LANKA: The Regime’s Politics of Violence Implodes – triple murder and further violence leads to no arrest

On the last day of the 3rd stage of the Local Government Election, two prominent politicians from United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) fought with each other at Mulleriyawa in Kolonnawa in Colombo District, according to reports. Former Member of Parliament and a presidential advisor on trade unions, Bharatha Lakshman Pramachandra, and three of his body […]

MALAYSIA: Stop arrests and intimidation against Bersih 2.0

The Asian Human Rights Commission is seriously concerned about the recent arrests and intimidation by the Malaysian government against the leaders and supporters of the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) in Malaysia. Bersih 2.0, a coalition of over 60 NGOs, planned to hold a rally on July 9 to demand electoral reforms […]

PHILIPPINES: Ombudsman exonerates policemen ignorant of the law from liability

Dear friends,  Despite of our appeal, the Office of the Ombudsman also exonerated the policemen, who were responsible in filing a charge for “serious resistance and disobedience” on seven farmers and four minors, from liability for ignorance of the law. The charge that the police filed does not exist in the list of criminal offenses […]

MALAYSIA: Human rights lawyer sued for libel for blogging alleged violations of migrant workers rights

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) regrets to inform you that the Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn. Bhd. Company, a firm whom we earlier reported to have threatened to commence legal action against a human rights lawyer, Mr. Charles Hector Fernandez, for blogging about alleged violations of the migrant workers rights the company has […]

INDONESIA: Military open fire on protesting villagers in Central Java

Dear friends,  Since Saturday April 16, 2011 several farmers have been injured by military violence in Kebumen regency, Central Java. The actions of the military personnel included beating, kicking and shooting, allegedly with rubber bullets caused several persons injured. Ten villagers were arrested after they protested against the occupation of their land by the military. […]

PAKISTAN: Top judges’ anti workers attitude

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following article from the Labour Party of Pakistan, written by Mr. Farooq Tariq. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- An article from Mr. Farooq Tariq forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission By: Farooq Tariq There are growing trends among the higher courts of Pakistan […]

BANGLADESH: Government fails to protect freedom of religion and assembly of Ahmadiyya community

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the administrative authorities of Gazipur district cancelled permission for the holding of the 87th Annual Convention of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Bangladesh, a religious community having conflicting identity with the majority Muslims, on 6 February 2011 in a sudden decision without any prior notice. […]

SOUTH KOREA: Two human rights defenders received sentences for helping the victims of eviction

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has obtained the details of the judgment in which two human rights defenders Mr. Park Lae-Gun and Mr. Lee Jong-Hoi were given a three-year and one month jail sentence suspended for four years and a two-year jail sentence suspended for three years respectively. They played a role […]

MALAYSIA: A human rights lawyer and public interest advocate faces threats of legal action for blogging about a company allegedly violating rights of migrant workers

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that Mr. Charles Hector Fernandez, a human rights defender and lawyer, is facing threats of legal action by Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn. Bhd. Company, a company employing migrant workers. The Company claimed that Mr. Fernandez posts on the plight of Burmese migrant workers were libelous. […]

EGYPT/PAKISTAN: A vote for sanity in Egypt — a lesson for Pakistan

The act of solidarity by Egyptian Muslims towards Egyptian Copts is a glowing example for countries and communities around the world. And it must be particularly noted that Pakistan could be one of the main beneficiaries of this attitude. As Egyptian Copts prepared to attend mass at churches across the country, thousands of Muslims, including […]

SRI LANKA: Police torture as an indicator of the constitutional degradation of the Rule of Law

Sofie Rordam Sri Lankan citizens are protected against torture and arbitrary arrest in sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. In addition Sri Lanka has ratified the United Nations Convention against Torture and Cruel and Inhuman Treatment in 1994. While the legislation is there, the effectuation is not. The gap between […]

PAKISTAN: Appeasement policy towards religious intolerance leads to murder of a governor

The nation has suffered a great loss due to this tragic murder. A voice of sanity has been silenced. This has happened at a time when the kind of political leadership provided by Salman Taseer is most needed. He stood for basic values which are essential for the stability of Pakistan. His shocking death should […]

ASIA: Christmas and New Year Wishes from the Asian Human Rights Commission

The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year. In all countries of Asia, this Christmas and new year will be celebrated in very difficult conditions. We extend our wishes to all families who are struggling in the midst of these difficulties to fight for their rights. We particularly […]

SOUTH KOREA: Government’s prohibition of entry of activists becomes a mockery

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) strongly condemns the Korean government’s prohibition of entry against activists of civil society movements from other countries without reason and the refusal to grant a visa to the main organiser for ‘World March for Women’ which is going to be held during the G20 summit in Korea. According to […]

INDIA: Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 should be repealed

An Open Letter to the President of India For further information about AFSPA please read INDIA: AFSPA promotes armed insurgency in Manipur   Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil President of India Rashtrapati Bhavan New Delhi INDIA Fax: +91-11-23017290 Dear President INDIA: Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 should be repealed I am writing on behalf of the […]

UPDATE (Thailand): Release Sombat Boonngamanong and all detainees under Emergency Decree

Dear friends,  The authorities in Thailand continue to detain persons without charge under emergency regulations imposed in response to anti-government demonstrations in Bangkok during April and May. In this appeal we bring you the case of one person, Sombat Boonngamanong, who was detained for holding a memorial for victims of the violence on 26 June […]

THAILAND: Chaining of wounded detainees under Emergency Decree

Abhisit Vejjajiva Prime Minister c/o Government House Pitsanulok Road, Dusit District Bangkok 10300 THAILAND Fax: +66 2 288 4000 ext. 4025 Tel: +66 2 288 4000 E-mail: spokesman@thaigov.go.th or abhisit@abhisit.org Dear Mr. Abhisit THAILAND: Chaining of wounded detainees under Emergency Decree The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing to you regarding the treatment of detainees under the […]

PHILIPPINES: Police arbitrarily detained protesting farmers and filed legally incoherent charges against them

Dear Friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that 11 farmers, including four minors, were arbitrarily detained. Legally non-existent charges have been laid against them after the policemen arrested them. The farmers were requesting the landowner’s representative, who had come together with the policemen in Calamba City, Laguna to refrain from […]

INDIA/SOUTH KOREA: More than a hundred villagers including 50 women protesting peacefully injured in police firing and assault

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that more than a hundred villagers were injured in an incident in which the police opened fire and assaulted protestors in Orissa on 15 May. The police have reportedly fired upon the villagers who had gathered at the entrance of their village to prevent […]

INDONESIA: Dozens are injured in police attacks during protests against alleged land grabbing

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Right Commission (AHRC) has been informed that the Indonesian police shot at, arrested and intimidated peasants who were protesting against the alleged illegal occupation of their land by a government-owned plantation company. The land workers have been protesting regularly for years, but rather than address their concerns, the local authorities […]