Human rights defenders

UPDATE (Philippines): Church leader still faces intimidations after attempted murder

PHILIPPINES: violence against activist; impartial and independent investigation; collapse of rule of law ———————————– Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) regrets to inform you that a church leader in Ilocos Sur was again intimidated by unidentified men on 11 November 2006, while he was hospitalized to receive treatment for his injuries in an […]

CAMBODIA: Death threats to an activist working against land grabbing in Ratanakiri

[NOTICE: The AHRC have developed a new automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Cambodian authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Cambodian authorities are […]

PHILIPPINES: Concerted attack on human rights groups must be strongly resisted

In what appears to be a concerted attack on the entire human rights movement in the Philippines, army, civilian and police officials have all made scathing statements describing the work of rights groups there as “propaganda”. On November 15, a group of retired and active senior army officers in the Philippines declared that Amnesty International […]

UPDATE (Thailand): Senior police officer must be investigated

[RE: UP-20-2005: THAILAND: Human rights lawyer still missing after nearly one year; Action needed today to have case transferred; UP-24-2005: THAILAND: Thai minister refuses to act on missing human rights lawyer case; UP-37-2005: Thai PM orders action on missing human rights lawyer, while court hears of torture; UP-45-2005: Wife of missing human rights lawyer intimidated; […]

INDONESIA: Refusal to cooperate with United Nations human rights mechanisms in investigation of Munir’s death

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AS-275-2006 November 06, 2006   A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission   INDONESIA: Refusal to cooperate with United Nations human rights mechanisms in investigation of Munir’s death     The wife of celebrated human rights defender Munir Said Thalib, who was poisoned and died on September 7, 2004 under highly […]

THAILAND: Somchai, Tak Bai, secrets & lies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  AS-269-2006 November 1, 2006 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission THAILAND: Somchai, Tak Bai, secrets & lies The head of the military junta overseeing the interim government in Thailand, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, on October 31 reportedly said that he has information that the mastermind of the 12 March 2004 disappearance […]

UPDATE (Pakistan): Prolonged delay of the investigation into the horrific killing of a human rights activist’s son for two years

[NOTICE: The AHRC have developed a new automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Pakistan authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Pakistan authorities are attached below […]

PHILIPPINES: Gruesome killing of another activist; another one survives attack

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you about the killing of another activist and the attempted murder of his companion in Barangay (village) Soledad, San Pablo City, Laguna on October 18, 2006. Eduardo Millares (50), who was an active member of an urban poor group named Samahan ng Magkakapitbahay […]

THAILAND: Two killings of human rights defenders in the south

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) regrets to inform you of two recent killings of the human rights defenders in the south of Thailand. Both had worked for justice to assist victims of state violence in the area. Their deaths come at a time of worsening violence in the south that is set […]

PHILIPPINES: Another IFI priest receives a death threat

[NOTICE: The AHRC have developed a new automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Philippine authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Philippine authorities are […]

UPDATE (Indonesia): Munir’s murderers remain at large, as official investigations take a turn for the worst

(RE: UA-164-2004: INDONESIA: The family receives death threats for demanding an impartial inquiry into the death of Munir; UP-30-2005: Unveiling of suspect in Munir’s death may end further inquiries; UP-47-2005: State intelligence officers delay Munir investigation; UP-72-2005: Mandate of fact-finding team into Munir’s murder should be extended and made more effective; UP-83-2005: Police fail to […]

UPDATE (Thailand): How did the killers of environmentalist Charoen Wat-aksorn die?

[RE: UA-76-2004: THAILAND: A prominent environmentalist Charoen Wat-aksorn murdered and an independent investigation required; UP-40-2004: THAILAND: Arrest warrant issued against a local politician for the murder of Charoen Wat-aksorn; UP-77-2005: THAILAND: Department of Special Investigation fails to bring justice to Charoen Wat-aksorn case; UP-124-2006: THAILAND: Important programme to commemorate human rights defenders and discuss failed […]

THAILAND: Women’s rights defender on trial–your support is needed

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has been informed by the Campaign for Popular Media Reform, Thailand and other rights defenders there about the ongoing criminal libel case against a prominent women’s rights defender. Ticha Na Nakorn was sued in 2003 by the then-police chief over allegations she made about sexual harassment by a […]

INDONESIA: Government must come clean on murder of Munir

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing to you on the occasion of the second anniversary of the murder of human rights lawyer Munir Said Thalib. September 7, 2004 is an unforgettable day for us. It is a day that has had lasting and resounding effects on countless thousands of people not only in […]

INDIA: Bar Council of India is urged to take immediate actions in the case of illegal arrest, torture, continuing detention and fabrication of charges against a human rights lawyer and activist in Manipur

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing to you to express our deep concern over the continuing detention of Mr. Yengkokpam Langamba Meitei alias Thabi, the Publicity Secretary of the Threatened Indigenous People’s Society (TIPS), Manipur and Mr. Leitangthem Umakanta Meitei, the Secretary General of the TIPS. Mr. Umakanta is a member of the […]

PHILIPPINES: Three more activists killed in latest attacks

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you that three more activists have been killed in separate incidents in the Philippines on August 20, 22 and 24. According to information received from various sources on August 20, peasant leader Hermelino Marqueza was killed in his house in Tandag, Surigao del […]

ASIA: Still a long way to go to rule of law & human rights in Asia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 29, 2006 AS-200-2006 Closing statement of the 6th Human Rights Folk School of the Asian Human Rights Commission ASIA: Still a long way to go to rule of law & human rights in Asia The 6th Human Rights Folks School of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) was held in Hong […]

UPDATE (Cambodia): Three union activists are convicted in an unfair trial

[NOTICE: The AHRC have developed a new automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Cambodian authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Their fax numbers and postal addresses are attached below with this appeal. […]

PHILIPPINES: Stopping the extra-judicial killings must be a priority in your State of the Nation Address (Sona)

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to you in advance of your State on Monday, July 24. While we look forward to what you will be reporting regarding the present situation of your country and future plans, we would like to draw your attention to the state of human rights in the Philippines, which […]

INDONESIA: Threats and kidnapping of human rights defender in West Sumatra

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Padang Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Padang) in West Sumatera, Indonesia that Mr Kamzul Abrar, coordinator of the Forum Peduli Nurani Rakyat Sulit Air (Forum of Sulit Air Care Society) was kidnapped by unknown persons at the Solok market, Sulit Air district, Solok, […]