Human rights defenders

PHILIPPINES: Another four activists face threats in General Santos City

PHILIPPINES: Threats against human rights and political activists; inaction by authorities to ensure their security and protection; inadequate police investigation; violence against women; complete collapse of rule of law —————————————————— Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes with deep concern regarding the safety of another four activists who have received threats from unknown […]

THAILAND: Attempt to abduct human rights commissioner and Thailand’s role in the UN Human Rights Council

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing to you further to open letters to the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Lawyers Council of Thailand regarding the apparent lack of a response from the government of Thailand to the alleged attempt to abduct a member of the NHRC, Vasant Panich, who […]

THAILAND: Suspected attempt to abduct National Human Rights Commissioner

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is outraged at a systematic attempt to intimidate and possibly abduct a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Thailand. Vasant Panich has informed us that on June 28 his vehicle was followed and that there was a clear pattern of surveillance on him and […]

UPDATE (Thailand): Important programme to commemorate human rights defenders and discuss failed investigations

[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; […]

UPDATE (Burma): Human rights lawyer’s licence revoked; ILO steps up pressure; cases go to Supreme Court

[UA-119-2006: BURMA: Court appeal against lawyer jailed for helping farmers contact ILO headed for Supreme Court; UA-071-2006: BURMA: Two villagers jailed for reporting extortion; UP-054-2006: BURMA: Appeal again thrown out of one court; another ridiculous day in another] ——————————————————————— BURMA: Extortion; impunity; illegal detention; un-rule of law; attacks on human rights defenders ——————————————————————— Dear friends, […]

CAMBODIA: Government set to curb rights and activities of NGOs

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has come to learn of the Cambodian government’s intention to enact a law which would highly restrict the rights and activities of NGOs in the country. The decision to do this has come at a time when leading political figures have openly criticised the role of NGOs […]

INDONESIA: Threats to victims and human rights defenders by civilian paramilitary groups

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the disbanding of a peaceful gathering held by victims of the 1965 massacre, in Bandung, Indonesia on 20 May 2006 by civil militia groups. About one hundred persons belonging to the Laskar Siliwangi (Siliwangi Army) and Pemuda Panca Marga (The Youth of Military […]

SRI LANKA: Honouring Suranjith Hewamanna, a model courageous lawyer

The Asian Human Rights Commission expresses deep sadness on the occasion of the passing away of Suranjith Hewamanna in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Hewamanna was one of the bravest lawyers in the country during one of the hardest times faced by the judicial and legal professions. He embodied the fearlessness and conviction associated with advocacy at […]

PHILIPPINES: Threat and intimidation of human rights lawyer and activist

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that unidentified men riding motorcycles reportedly spied upon human rights lawyer, Jobert Pahilga and activist, Ms. Marissa Dumanjug-Palo in separate incidents. Pahilga reported that two men riding on a motorcycle pursued him through his neighborhood when he went for a court hearing. On […]

SRI LANKA: Sixth day of mourning against executive interference into the judiciary and other independent institutions — Sri Lanka is ceasing to be a law based society

The numerous appointments to key national commissions by the executive president, contravening constitutional requirements, are a very clear indication of Sri Lanka’s drift from a law-based society to one in which the law plays a significantly reduced role.  While criticism against presidential actions has pointed to matters including the fact that no person is above […]

UPDATE (Thailand): Second call for special investigation chief to resign; EU expresses concern in Somchai case

[RE: FA-06-2004: THAILAND: A human rights lawyer Mr. Somchai Neelaphaijit missing… 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 […]

INDONESIA: Flawed state institutions unable to uncover Munir’s killers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 2006 AS-092-2006 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) INDONESIA: Flawed state institutions unable to uncover Munir’s killers Close to two years after the death of Indonesia’s leading human rights activist Munir Said Thalib, little has been revealed regarding why he was killed and who was responsible. Local […]

UPDATE (Sri Lanka): Absence of a functioning human rights commission in Sri Lanka

SRI LANKA: Political undermining of the Human Rights Commission; absence of leadership within the Human Rights Commission; government control; failure to implement the 17th Amendment —————————————————— Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) once again writes to reaffirm its concern regarding the future of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRC). On 4 […]

PHILIPPINES: Labour leader survives ambush by police in Imus, Cavite

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you about an attempt made on the life of labour leader Gerardo Cristobal (35) in Imus, Cavite at around 6am today. Cristobal and his companion, Juliet Tayoto, were riding a car passing a crowded street in Barangay (village) Anabu, Coastal when another car, in […]

THAILAND: Department of Special Investigation or Department of Sporadic Interest?

Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) again appears to have lost interest in the case of abducted human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit. After local human rights defenders obtained the cooperation of the Central Institute of Forensic Science to search an area of the Mae Klong River in Ratchaburi Province during late March, the DSI director-general, […]

UPDATE (Indonesia): High Court rejects appeal in Munir’s case

[RE: UA-164-2004: 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 follow […]

UPDATE (Thailand): First call for special investigation chief to resign over Somchai case

[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; […]

THAILAND: No obligations, just public relations

An article in Friday’s Thai Day supplement to the International Herald Tribune quoted an officer of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) working on the case of abducted human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit as saying that “the case is proving very difficult” because “the DSI only took up the case late last year” (‘DSI condemned […]

THAILAND: Here is Angkhana, there is Porntip… where is Sombat?

In recent days a visitor to the banks of the Mae Klong River in Ban Pong of Ratchaburi province, west of Bangkok, might have noticed a little dinghy moving about in the middle of the swollen water, a small group of people watching from the shoreline. The dinghy has been occupied by forensic professionals, divers […]

UPDATE (Thailand): Serious developments in case of disappeared human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit

[RE: FA-06-2004: THAILAND: A human rights lawyer Mr. Somchai Neelaphaijit missing… 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 […]