Judicial system

In the midst of the judicial crisis the government has opened yet another front in the hopes of exercising damage control in an attack on a television station that has been airing open discussions on the latest developments with regard to the political situation and also the judicial crisis. For the past several weeks the […]

On March 3 2007 Prime Minister Hun Sen received from his party, the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), full power to eradicate the land grabbing that has been plaguing the country for many years. With this full support, Hun Sen set out to wage “a war against land grabbers” whom he has identified as “CPP officials” […]

A radical mosque and its affiliated seminaries have greatly increased their influence in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan after the mass protests throughout the country against President Musharraf’s action against the chief justice, Justice Iftekhar Choudry. The male and female students and leaders of Lal mosque and its affiliated seminaries, Hafsa and Fridia, are […]

The Sri Lankan government’s propaganda war regarding Amnesty International’s campaign based on an innocent slogan in which they call on all Sri Lankans to ‘play by the rules’ is reminiscent of Don Quixote tilting at the windmills. At the first sight it may appear ridiculous for anyone to oppose a call . This is, after […]

[NOTICE: To facilitate your intervention of the urgent appeals issued by the AHRC, we have developed a new automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of all the Indonesian authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. […]

[NOTICE: To facilitate your intervention of the urgent appeals issued by the AHRC, we have developed a new automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of all the Indian authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from its local partner Neervazhi based in Thrissur, Kerala state that an under trial prisoner was tortured to death while in remand custody. The AHRC is informed that the victim Mr. Shaji complained to the magistrate that he was subjected to torture in custody. […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that the governmental authorities have started investigations regarding the case of the alleged torture of three men by the Army in Paikgachha, Khulna district, in which one person died (for further details please see: UA-029-2007). In the updated information, we have learned that an Assistant […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information that the government authorities have started an investigation into the case of two torture victims, Mr. Muzibur Rahman and Mr. Waheduzzaman, who were arbitrarily arrested, detained and tortured by the army in Khulna district (For original urgent appeals, see: UP-019-2007; UP-015-2007; UP-011-2007; UA-367-2006; UP-232-2006). Over a two day […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from local human rights organisation KONTRAS about the alleged violent disturbance at a conference organized by the National Liberation Unity Party (PAPERNAS), by a group called the Indonesian Anti-Communist Front/Front Anti Koumnis (FAKI) at Batu in East Java on 4 March 2007.  The incident […]

Any intelligent talk about corruption and malpractice in a justice system must start by recognising that it is by definition systemic. The way that judges, prosecutors and police work depends largely upon how they are organised and administered. While there may be individuals among judges, prosecutors and police who abuse their powers more than others, […]

Indonesia signed the International Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment on the 23 October 1985 and ratified it on the 28 October I 998 by the Law No. 5/1998. Since its ratification, there have been numerous calls by the CAT Committee- for instance in its “Concluding Observations: Indonesia” (01/11/2002. […]

I refer to the complaint made by Dr. Lenin Raghuvansi [please refer to your case number 5840/24/97-98] of a well planned assassination attempt on his life. The attempt was on 18.02.1998. He has given detailed information that his house was surrounded by police officers from Ramnagar police station in an attempt to assassinate him the […]

Why is it that judges in Pakistan seem completely unable to apply the fundamental legal principle of habeas corpus and order police or military officers to produce detained or arrested persons in court? In the latest hearing on persons alleged to have disappeared after being detained by state officers, the Sindh High Court on January […]

On January 16 the government gazette of Bangladesh announced that the interim president, Professor Iazuddin Ahmed, signed into law the separation of the country’s subordinate judiciary from the executive. This extremely important action was taken, after many years of delays, in accordance with an order from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court six days […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Surendra Thapa was severely beaten up by senior police officers of the District Police Office (DPO), Surkhet district in Nepal on 15 October 2007. After he disclosed this incident to the public, he has faced constant threats of dismissal from his job. […]

[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 […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that legal action has been taken against 12 lawyers practicing in the Supreme Court, including three top lawyers who are former or current heads of the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Bangladesh Bar Council, relating to the violent incident at the Supreme Court […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  AS-215-2006 September 14, 2006 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission CAMBODIA: Law abolishing parliamentary immunity is unconstitutional & unacceptable On August 31 the National Assembly of Cambodia adopted a new law regarding its members. The Law on Members of Parliament is intended, among other things, to regulate parliamentary immunity, including […]

[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 attached below […]