Military

THAILAND: Student activists petition public prosecutor to acquit case

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the Phu Khiao Provincial Court scheduling a plea hearing for two student activists who have been arrested in Chaiyaphum province, northeastern Thailand, for distributing anti-constitution flyers. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), on 15 August 2016, the Phu Khiao public […]

THAILAND: Government should clarify Joshua Wong’s deportation

On 5 October 2016, Joshua Wong, a student activist who became a global icon for the fight for democracy in Hong Kong, made headlines in media once again after the Immigration in Thailand barred him from entering the country and detained him for around 12 hours at an undisclosed place. He was eventually deported to […]

PAKISTAN: Truth-fearing government, not Almeida, real threat to national security

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) condemns the government of Pakistan for placing prominent journalist Mr. Cyril Almeida on the Exit Control List (ECL), labelling him as a threat to national security, and barring him from leaving the country. This was done in retaliation for reporting a meeting between the military and civilian government on […]

THAILAND: Pattani Court to hear evidence from military officials and others in custodial death case of Mr. Abduldayib Dolah

A Press Release from Muslim Attorney Centre Foundation (MAC) and Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) On 11 October 2016 from 09.00 -16.00 at the courtroom no. 2, 2nd floor of the Pattani Provincial Court (new court), a hearing in the post mortem inquest will take place in the […]

PAKISTAN: Shia killings commence in Army controlled areas, amidst threats of Indo-Pak war

With the arrival of the month of Muharram, killings of Shias have commenced. These killings have occurred particularly in Army controlled areas. On the 2nd day of holy month of Muharram, October 4, two incidents of Shia killings have been reported. Six persons including four women belonging to Shia sect of Islam were gunned downed […]

THIALAND: Prosecution of four student activists and journalist under Referendum Act continues

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the Ratchaburi Provincial Court scheduling a conciliation hearing, for four activists and one journalist, indicted for alleged offences against Section 61 of Constitution Referendum Act B.E.2559 (2016) and the against the Announcement of Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) No. […]

INDONESIA: Army attack and intimidation against journalist covering traffic incident

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding intimidation and violence against Mr. Sony Misdananto, a journalist of Net TV in Madiun, East Java province, by the Army Raider Battalion 501. When Sony recorded army personnel beating up members of the Setia Hati Martial Art (PSSH), the army attacked Sony as […]

THAILAND: End judicial harassment of human rights lawyer Sirikan Charoensiri

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding ongoing judicial harassment of Ms. Sirikan Charoensiri, human rights lawyer and legal and documentation officer at Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). Ms. Sirikan is now facing accusations of sedition under Section 116 of the Thai Criminal Code, as well as violation […]

INDONESIA: Government must earnestly address human rights violation in Papua

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned about six Pacific countries raising the subject of human rights violations in Papua in the General Debate of the Assembly’s 71st Session, on 26 September 2016. The video can be accessed here. The six Pacific countries are Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Tonga. The […]

AHRC TV: Pakistan’s Imdad Ali to be executed and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 141

This week Just Asia begins with an update regarding the execution of mentally ill Imdad Ali. Pakistan’s Supreme Court rejected his mercy appeal, and has set his execution for Tuesday, October 4. The Supreme Court decision arrives despite four United Nations human rights experts having urged authorities in Pakistan to halt Imdad Ali’s execution. The […]

THAILAND: Thai authorities prevent press briefing on state-sponsored torture

Police and public officials have prevented a press briefing of Amnesty International (AI)’s about state-sponsored torture, saying that AI speakers might be charged for not having working permit. On 28 September 2016, at Four Wings Hotel in Bangkok, Special Branch police officers and officials from the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare intervened at a […]

THAILAND: Government redress for Karen people in Kaeng Krachan National Park

On 7 September 2016, the verdict in the landmark case of the Karen people was delivered from the Central Administrative Court in Thailand. It ruled that the authorities did not break the law in burning down six Karen plaintiffs’ properties to forcibly relocate them from the Kaeng Krachan National Park. The Asian Human Rights Commission […]

THAILAND: Abolish all trials of civilians in military courts

On 12 September 2016, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) issued the NCPO Order No. 55/2016under Article 44 of the Interim Constitution; it states that all cases involving offences of the Announcement of the NCPO Order No. 37/2557 (2014), No. 38/2557 (2014), and No. 50/2557 (2014), will no longer be tried in Military […]

AHRC TV: Burning of Karen homes not a violation of law and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 139

This week Just Asia begins with Thailand, where the Administrative Court ruled in favor of the National Park officers who forcibly evicted and burned about 100 houses and rice barns of ethnic Karen villagers in Phetchaburi province. According to the September 7 verdict, since the Karen villagers illegally encroached into protected areas, the park officers […]

THIALAND: The Judicial Harassment of Human Rights Defenders and Torture in the South

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to draw the attention of the interested persons to follow the judicial harassment of three human rights defenders in Thailand. According to the AHRC Urgent Appeals case (AHRC-UAC-065-2016) which was released on 13 June, 2016. The Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF) is an organization that monitors and documents cases of torture […]

THAILAND: Rights of suspects under Martial Law must be respected; prohibition on visits by family must end

(4 September 2016) On 31 August 2016, at 13:30, four men suspected of crimes in Thailand’s Deep South were taken into custody (although they were usually called “invitees” and not “detainees” by the authorities). Three were subsequently released, though one, Mr. Manasae Zoroae, 26, continued to be held at Ranger Taskforce 43 inside the Ingkhayutthaborihan […]

INDONESIA: Justice for Munir, Justice for All – is it true Mr. President ?

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that the assassination 12 years ago, of prominent human rights activist, Munir Said Thalib, has passed without any progress being made. Munir was poisoned to death on 7 September 2004 on board a Garuda Indonesian flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam. Recently, some movement occurred when the court […]

PAKISTAN: Suo motu action on massacre of lawyers must be independent and effective

The dust has barely settled on the Quetta carnage and killing of lawyers that another attack has taken place against the Judiciary. On 2 September 2016, terror once again visited District Court Mardan, Peshawar, KPK Province. The modus operandi was similar: a suicide attacker lobbed a hand grenade before exploding himself at the main gate […]

THAILAND: Ongoing judicial harassment of pro-democracy activists and Prachatai reporter

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding four activists and one journalist, indicted over anti-draft constitution leaflets. The Public Prosecutor has asked the Court to revoke the defendants’ right to vote for ten years. UPDATED INFORMATION: (Based on documentation by Thai Lawyers for Human Rights) On 29 August 2016, […]

PAKISTAN: CPEC being paved with the blood of Baloch lawyers

August 8, 2016, will forever remain etched on the collective memory of the nation for years to come. The planned suicide attack on the lawyers, the crème de la crème of our society, shows the vindictive designs of the establishment. The State has aided and abetted non-State actors to silence the voices of dissent against […]