Land rights

INDIA: Paddy crop failure hits Nuapada farmers hard

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Krushak Shakti Sangthan (KSS) about paddy crop failure having hit farmers hard in Nuapada district of Odisha. KSS has also informed the AHRC that most of the farmers had incurred loans for growing crops and the crop failure has thus exposed them to […]

INDONESIA: Sukamulya villagers fight for their land but face attacks and criminalization

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from national human rights organizations regarding forced evictions and police brutality. These actions have been taken against residents of Sukamulya village, Kertajati sub-district, Majalengka regent, West Java province. Local government supported by the police forcibly evicted residents of Sukamulya village. This village is the […]

INDONESIA: Local farmers arrested and prosecuted after reclaiming their land

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from a prominent human rights NGO, the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Surabaya branch office. It is regarding the arbitrary arrest of 40 farmers and two university students by police officers of the Blitar police resort (Polres Blitar). All of […]

INDIA: Police kill 4 citizens protesting land acquisition on CM’s watch

Statement | India | 03-10-2016

The Police firing, killing 4 citizens, including a minor, in Dadikala Village of Barkagaon Block in Hazaribagh District of Jharkhand, has not come out of the blue. The state authorities were well aware of the popular anger against forced acquisition of villagers’ lands for a coal mine project of the NTPC Limited (NTPC), a public […]

INDIA: Another starvation death at Dumchipara Tea Garden

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from MASUM about yet another starvation death in Dumchipara Tea Garden owned by Duncans group. The tea plantation has been shut down for a while now and this has exposed workers to hunger and starvation. The AHRC demands immediate intervention and urges the authorities […]

PHILIPPINES: Private security guards harass indigenous Lumads for land

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned about the harassment of the members of the TINDOGA (Tribal Indigenous Oppressed Group Association), a Lumad organization, by private security guards belonging to Pablo Lorenzo. Lorenzo is claiming the ancestral land of the Lumads. CASE DETAILS: (Based on the documentation by the Katungod Lumad […]

BANGLADESH: Police attack, torture, and kill villagers to facilitate land grab

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the Bangladesh Police have opened fire and thrown sound grenades and tear gas at protestors of Gondamara Village, in Banshkhali Upazilla of Chittagong, on 16 May 2016. During the operation, the police arrested Mr. Dudu Mian (70), father to Mr. Liakat Ali, Convenor […]

INDIA: Watered Down Verdicts Will Make Drought Drama Recur

Article | India | 18-05-2016

The Supreme Court’s rap to the Union and to various state governments for their apathy to drought victims is welcome. But, it is akin to a few drops sprinkled onto a parched desert under the oversight of unconscious executive governance. The verdict in the writ petition, filed by Swaraj Abhiyan on 11 May 2016 (Swaraj Abhiyan v. Union […]

PAKISTAN: Aerial and land operations in Balochistan, for boycotting military sponsored elections

April 24, was the frightening Sunday for the poor families including shepherds and daily wage earners of different parts of the Baluchistan in a drive to punish Baloch folks for boycotting by-elections conducted under the supervision of military to get the candidate from ruling party to win. The separatist and nationalist groups claim that the […]

PAKISTAN: Demanding land rights is not terrorism

An article from Kissan Committee forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission By Farooq Tariq A massive repression of the peaceful peasant movement, the Anjuman Mozareen Punjab (AMP), is underway. Most of its leadership has been arrested under false anti-terrorist laws. Dozens of members are missing, while over 50 remain behind bars. All have been […]

INDONESIA: Land rights activists attacked and killed for protesting illegal sand mining

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the killing of environmental activist, Mr. Salim (known as Salim Kancil) and the attack on Mr. Tosan in Selok Awar-Awar Village, Lumajang Regency, East Java Province, Indonesia. The two activists were attacked by thugs who were ordered and supported by the Head of […]

INDONESIA: Jakarta Governor forcibly evicts and attacks thousands of Kampung Pulo residents

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the forced eviction and viscious attack on residents in Kampung Pulo, Jakarta, Indonesia, conducted by the Jakarta Governor, and supported by the police, the military, and the civil service police unit (Satpol PP). The Governor ignored due process of law and did not […]

INDONESIA: Army grabs customary land and ignores law enforcement

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding land confiscation conducted by the Indonesian Army in Urut Sewu, Kebumen Regency, Central Java Province. The Army has not obeyed the law; it has claimed the land without supporting evidence. The conflict has not been resolved since 2011 due to lack of law […]

INDIA: Massive displacement and loss of livelihood in wake of Mapithel Dam construction

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal from the Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur, regarding the displacement and injustice faced by villagers affected by the Mapithel Dam construction. For more information, please contact: Jiten Yumnam Secretary, Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur Sega Road, Hodam Leirak Imphal Manipur […]

INDIA: Farmers seek permission to die in order to live

Article | India | 17-07-2015

by Avinash Pandey Photo © Sarath Kuchi Seven farmers have recently sought the governments’ permission to end their lives. They have drafted applications and submitted them – as per protocol in any “normal” application – to the Office of the Tehsildar (local revenue officer) in Wardha District, Maharashtra. What’s more, the seven have even received […]

NEPAL: People in pain

An article from the Kathmandu Post, written by Dipendra Jha forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission by Dipendra Jha Torture has evolved into a chronic problem in Nepal, particularly after the end of the decade-long Maoist conflict. In October 2012, the Committee against Torture concluded that torture is systematically practiced in Nepal. Data by […]

PHILIPPINES: Massive displacement of indigenous peoples due to aerial bombardment

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission is deeply concerned about the aerial bombardment in the mountains of Sarangani province, Mindanao due to military operations, resulting in massive displacement of indigenous Blaans in the area. Soldiers also threatened and forced confessions from villagers on locations of rebel groups in their community.  CASE DETAILS: (Based on information received from […]

BURMA/MYANMAR: Detained Student Protestors in Immediate Need of Medical Attention and Hygienic Environment

Poor and unhygienic conditions in Tharawaddy Prison has resulted in students and their supporters detained there for over 3 months to be afflicted by diseases and ailments. During the brutal crackdown on 10 May 2015, students and their supporters protesting against the National Education Bill were injured, but no medical treatment has been provided to […]

INDONESIA: The Army grabs land after a brutal attack on farmers

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information regarding a brutal attack on farmers by the Indonesian Army. The alleged attack in Ramunia Village, Pantai Labu Sub-district of North Sumatera Province, came with the intent of grabbing farmers’ land. Army personnel of Regional Military Office, North Sumatera Province (Kodam I Bukit Barisan), along […]

PHILIPPINES: Husband and daughter of murdered land rights activists suffer trauma

Dear Friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) regrets to inform you that the husband and daughter of a murdered land rights activist, Elisa Tulid, are suffering trauma as a result of her death. Elisa’s husband Danny Boy, and daughter, have been observed “staring into space”, “quiet and uncommunicative,” after witnessing the murder of the […]