Human rights defenders

India will be evaluated at the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review in Geneva, Switzerland today. The three countries (Troika) involved in the review are Kuwait, Mauritius and Mexico. That these countries have worse records of human rights in comparison to the country they would collectively review suggests how firmly, and perhaps blindly, such processes are […]

(Hong Kong/Geneva/Jakarta 23 May 2012) Today, the Indonesia’s human rights record was reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council in the 13th session of the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva, Switzerland. Key issues, such as the protection of freedom of religion or the human rights situation in Papua, were raised by many UN Member States […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) was deeply distressed to learn that a government employee, who opposed the construction of a huge dam that threatens to submerge the villages of indigenous communities, has been killed. He was murdered after he had allegedly been subjected to an overt surveillance. CASE DETAILS: (Based on the documentation […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you that two journalists have been killed while two others have received threats in separate incidents in April and May. The AHRC is deeply concerned by the ongoing attacks on journalists as a result of their work depriving them of the protection necessary […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned about the killing of an indigenous leader inside his domicile in Bukidnon province. Since 2011, the victim has been receiving threats to his life from members of a paramilitary group due to his anti-mining advocacy in their village. His murder was aggravated by lack […]

A Press Release from the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) 24 April 09h00 GMT GENEVA — Former Swiss President and newly-appointed Chair of the Martin Ennals Foundation, Micheline Calmy-Rey, today announced the nominees for the 2012 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA) at […]

PLEASE MORE DOCUMENTATIONS ON THE CASE OF F M A RAZZAK http://www.humanrights.asia/campaigns/attack-on-fma-razzak ————————————————————- Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) previously issued Urgent Appeals on several occasions regarding the physical attack on human rights defender Mr. F M A Razzak and demanded fair investigation and fair trial to the case. Now, the AHRC has […]

Referring to the reactions of the government of West Bengal to demands of public causes and justice under the leadership of Ms. Mamata Banerjee, as paranoid, would be in fact an understatement. The state government led by the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) that was elected to power – reflecting the people’s wish for change, […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from MASUM, concerning the forced eviction of the residents of 300 houses by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority undertaken on 28 and 30 March 2012. The residents are reportedly victims of hurricane Aila from the Sundarban and those displaced from Nandigram of East Midnapur […]

Mr. Premakumar Gunarathnam the leader of the JVP dissident group and Ms. Dimuthu Attigala a member of the same group are reported to be missing from yesterday night. According to a report, published today in the Daily Mirror, both have been arrested. However the grounds on which they were arrested or the location of the place of […]

The Alliance of Media Organizations is disturbed by the recent wave of hate speeches and slanderous personal attacks directed against media personnel and human rights activists in the country, in the aftermath of the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution on Sri Lanka. Last week, Minister Mervyn Silva, addressing a public rally, threatened to ‘break […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding two activists, Mr. Song Kyung-Dong, poet, and Mr. Jeong Jin-Woo, a member of the progressive party, who suggested the peaceful assembly for solidarity in support of Ms. Kim Jin-sook, have now been charged with numerous criminal offenses. Ms. Kim has occupied the top […]

[RE: AHRC-UAU-003-2009: PHILIPPINES: Human rights and political activists exonerated from murder cases face another questionable charge] ——————————————————————— Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is pleased to inform you that fabricated murder charges filed against a labour leader and other activists have been dismissed on grounds of merit by the San Pablo City prosecutor […]

By Qurat Mirza I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; “and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.” […]

The successful United Nations Resolution on reconciliation and accountability should pave the way for a new period of commitment to cure the wounds of a long conflict, caused upon individuals as well as on the institutional structure of democracy and the rule of law in Sri Lanka. A responsible approach to dealing with the past […]

By Nilantha Ilangamuwa Our lives are spinning out from world to world; the shapes of things are shifting in the wind. What do we know beyond the rapture and the dread?- Stanley Kunitz* “They finished off my husband after two days of torture, and then took me to Hambantota where a number of women were […]

The value of the rupee came down to 131 for a US dollar. This is the highest point reached relating to the value of a rupee ever. In all likelihood, it will go up further even though by artificial means, it may be brought down a little now and then. Thus, the high devaluation of […]

(Hong Kong, March 20, 2011) Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie, an activist from Sulu province who was falsely charged with attempted murders based on evidence taken by way of forced confession, writes from prison his reasons why he submits himself for court trial. In Temogen’s letter dated February 4, 2012, originally written in Tausug Language and posted on his […]

We, the undersigned civil society organisations, are deeply disturbed by the threats faced by Mr. Herman Kumara of NAFSO and Mr. Aruna Nishantha Fernando of All Ceylon Fisher Folk Federation (ACFFF), including an attempt to abduct him, and condemn these attempts to stifle democratic rights and silence activists. According to an affidavit signed by Herman […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes with grave concern that the children of Alejandro “Bong” Reblando, one of the 32 journalists murdered in the November 2009 Maguindanao massacre, have been subjected to overt surveillance in their home in General Santos City. The AHRC is deeply concerned by the targeting of Reblando’s widow […]