Right to redress

PHILIPPINES: “Wheel of torture” symbolizes culture of torture impunity in the Philippines

Dear friends,  We wish to share with you the following statement from United Against Torture – Philippines. Asian Human Rights Commission  Hong Kong ————- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AHRC-FST-011-2014 February 4, 2014 A Statement from United Against Torture (UATC) – Philippines forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission PHILIPPINES: “Wheel of torture” symbolizes culture of torture […]

SRI LANKA: failure to control murder, rape, robbery, torture and ill-treatment, and other crimes

Independence Day Message As the country thinks back on the 66 years since its independence, there is unanimous agreement that the nation has failed to achieve any of the aspirations of independence. What is most glaringly horrendous is the vast numbers of crimes that are taking place. As a consequence, people are living in fear […]

ASIA: AHRC TV – Human Rights Asia Weekly Roundup, Episode 15

The AHRC releases today the 15th Episode, of the Human Rights Asia Weekly Roundupwith special reports from Cambodia. In this week’s programme we bring you the following stories from across Asia; In Cambodia four persons were killed and many others wounded after police opened fire at protestors demanding an increase of the minimum wage. The AHRC […]

THAILAND: Human Rights at Risk as State of Emergency Declared

Under the Emergency Decree on Government Administration in a State of Emergency (2005), the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra decreed a State of Emergency in Bangkok and surrounding areas on January 22, 2014. The Emergency Decree gives blanket powers to state actors to take a wide range of actions to resolve the State of […]

ASIA: AHRC TV- Human Rights Asia Weekly Round up Episode 14

The AHRC releases today the 14th Episode, of the Human Rights Asia Weekly Round up  with special reports from India and Hong Kong. In this week’s programme we bring you a special report from India, on how humiliation and hunger continues in refugee camps in the Uttar Pradesh. Four months after the unprecedented riots that […]

BURMA/MYANMAR: Police, soldiers still getting away with murder

Despite the political and social changes in Burma (Myanmar) of the last two years, police and soldiers continue to enjoy impunity for the murder and torture of civilians. Despite the constant efforts of the families of victims to obtain justice, the military and police institutions are resistant to efforts to have perpetrators in their ranks […]

INDIA: Government overlooked people’s concerns on Mapithal Dam constructions

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers Organization (MDAVO), Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD) and Centre for Research and Advocacy (CRAM), Manipur regarding the final stage II Forest Clearance for Mapithel Dam of Thoubal Multipurpose project in Manipur by the Ministry of Environment […]

BANGLADESH: Fake election will cause further bloodshed

Bangladesh’s incumbent regime is forcing the nation to witness a fake ‘general election’, scheduled tomorrow, 5 January 2014. All the opposition parties, except the allies of the ruling regime, have boycotted this election. The government is accused of extreme politicisation of the country’s civil administration, along with the police, paramilitary agencies, and all key institutions, […]

BURMA/MYANMAR: Amnesty does not free all political detainees

The Asian Human Rights Commission welcomes Order No. 51/2013 of 30 December 2013 by the president of Burma (Myanmar), issuing a general amnesty for all persons imprisoned or facing trial or investigation for certain categories of political offences. The categories include persons accused or convicted of offences under the colonial-era Unlawful Associations Act, for charges […]

ASIA: Conversations with a chameleon (katussa) – some thoughts for 2014

As I wanted to discuss many things, and as I found no one else to discuss these things with, I was happy to see you on a branch of a tree in our garden. I told myself, “Ah, here is someone I can talk to.” As I approached and greeted you, you nodded to me […]

SRI LANKA: Badurueliya Hospital to be reopened after weeklong shutdown

In the early morning of December 27, the authorities addressed a large crowd of people protesting outside Badureliya District Hospital. They had come to support a Member of Parliament who was staging a hunger strike demanding the reopening of the hospital. The authorities announced to the crowd that the hospital would be reopened the next […]

SAUDI ARABIA: Ahmadis persecuted in the Kingdom

The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to forward this statement regarding persons who chose to join the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam and the treatment they received thereafter. It is extremely perturbing that we have to bring to the notice of the world’s community the plight of two innocent, loyal citizens of Saudi Arabia who had […]

SINGAPORE: Handling of riot aftermath exposes national laws and practices that violate international standards

Dear friends,  We wish to share with you the following statement from the Think Centre, an independent non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Singapore. First registered as a business (RCB) on 16 Jul 1999 and today as a society (under ROS) on 20 Oct 2001, the Centre aims to critically examine issues related to political development, democracy, […]

WORLD: When freedom replaced “patriotism”

Article | World | 01-12-2013

Nilantha Ilangamuwa The truth has been placed before us that the passing of laws does not mean people will benefit from them without proper implementation through the criminal justice system in the particular country. In the words of the great poet Rabindranath Tagore, “facts are many, but the truth is one.” Recent violence in Bangladesh […]

PAKISTAN: A prominent lawyer and five other activists were disappeared after their arrest by persons from security agencies

With the change in Army command on November 27, a crackdown against the people in Balochistan started. A prominent lawyer, Mr. Haider KB son of Khuda Bux age 33, resident of Koshkalat, was arrested by plain clothed persons riding in a non registered two door jeep. The police stations in Quetta, capital of Balochistan province, […]

SRI LANKA/AUSTRALIA: LCA condemns country’s worsening rule of law

Dear friends,  We wish to share with you the following article from the Lawyer’s Weekly. Asian Human Rights Commission  Hong Kong ————- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AHRC-FAT-025-2013 November 28, 2013 An article from the Lawyer’s Weekly forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission SRI LANKA/AUSTRALIA: LCA condemns country’s worsening rule of law The Law Council of […]

SRI LANKA: The truth and torture of commissions and ommisions

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from Sri Lanka Brief. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- FORWARDED PRESS RELEASE AHRC-FPR-052-2013 A Press Release from Sri Lanka Brief forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) SRI LANKA: The truth and torture of commissions […]

INDIA: Human rights defender Ms Agnes Kharshiing released; struggle for land rights of indigenous people continues

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received communication from Ms. Agnes Kharshiing, President of Civil Society Women’s Organisation (CSWO), regarding her arrest, denial of bail, and subsequent release. She was arrested on 8 November 2013 when the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) conducted an eviction drive in the Umsawli area of Shillong […]

ASIA: AHRC TV – Weekly Roundup, Episode 6

   The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to announce the launch of its weekly video news bulletin, the Asian Human Rights Commission – Weekly Roundup. The sixth episode, released today, 19 November 2013, covers an exclusive report on the 2nd Asian Alliance Against Torture and Ill-treatment Conference (AAATI), that took place in Hong Kong […]

INDIA: Immediate release of human rights defender Ms. Agnes Kharshiing

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned of the arrest of Ms. Agnes Kharshiing, President of Civil Society Women’s Organisation (CSWO), and subsequent rejection of bail by a lower court in Shillong, Meghalaya. On November 9, Ms. Kharshiing was arrested for protesting against the eviction drive underway in Shillong that has left […]