Freedom of association

Two young men have been killed in election-related violence in Sri Lanka in the first 5 days following the announcement of the National Elections to be held on October 10. Here is the sequence of events: 

There are 7 people arrested by the police during a demonstration to show support to the former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, whose verdict on his sodomy trial was supposed to be handed down this morning, but was postponed until further notice by the judge yesterday. The demonstration proceeded this morning despite the postponement of Anwar’s verdict as there were about 30 other opposition leaders and reformasi activists were also on trial in the magistrate court for allegedly involved in previous illegal assemblies.

  It is reported that several arrests are taking place in Malaysia, which the human rights activists and observers describe as a crack down on the opposition. The most significant among them is the arrest of Karpal Singh who heads the legal team defending the former deputy Prime-Minister Anwar Ibrahim. He is charged with sedition […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal received from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), calling your support for the Migrants Trade Union (MTU) and the right of migrant workers in South Korea to form and join trade unions. The Ministry of Labor and South Korean government have […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is forwarding to you an appeal letter issued by five Congressmen in the Philippines who are currently facing unjust restraint and the threat of arrest for their stance against the Arroyo government and the recent “state of national emergency”. The five are aware that were they to […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is forwarding an appeal from a labour union of hospital employees, the Bacolod Our Lady of Mercy Specialty Hospital Employees Union (BOLMSHEU), regarding the illegal termination of 31 of their officers and members. The hospital, the Bacolod Our Lady of Mercy Specialty Hospital, illegally terminated the employment […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is forwarding to you an appeal from the National Coalition for the Protection of Workers’ Rights (NCPWR) regarding the murder of Edward Panganiban, a labour rights activist. If you have any question, please contact the group’s email at: ncpwr.st@gmail.com and granahe.st@gmail.com Thank you. Urgent Appeals Desk Asian […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal received by the  Amnesty International group in Reading, England, regarding the sentence of two men involved in a peaceful political ceremony in 2004, who were convicted with treason in 2005. After receiving prison terms, it is reported that the men were beaten […]