Threats and intimidation

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes with deep concern on the issuance of a decree banning a religious minority, Ahmadiyah, from spreading their religious practices by the government on 9 June 2008. The AHRC is concerned that the decree would encourage other Muslim groups critical of them to carry out more attacks […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from MASUM, a local human rights group working from West Bengal, India that a woman whose daughter was raped and murdered has been threatened at gunpoint to withdraw her case against the perpetrators.  The local police have refused to perform their duties to cooperate […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that a pastor who was released several days after he was abducted and tortured in captivity now fears for his life. Over a month after the incident took place in May 6, there has not been an adequate investigation or any effort by […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that a torture victim has suffered hearing loss after having been severely assaulted by Excise Officers on 17 May 2008. Furthermore, one of the officers has allegedly attempted to coerce sexual favours from the victim’s wife, urging her to cooperate with them to allow […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a torture victim attempted to commit suicide due to the humiliation he suffered after being tortured by policemen attached to the Sigiriya Police Station on 13 May 2008. When he was released from police custody, the police warned him and his family about […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has obtained further information regarding the case of Mr. Lalith Rajapakse. The AHRC has obtained a copy of his affidavit narrating the facts of the case. Based on the circumstances and the statement he had given, the AHRC is certain that some unknown persons were in fact […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Centre for Rule of Law (CRL), a human rights organisation working in Colombo, Sri Lanka regarding the case of Mr. Lalith Rajapakse, a victim of custodial torture. It is reported that Lalith’s life is at risk once again from the criminals operating […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a Sub Inspector attached to Deniyaya Police Station allegedly tortured a young student in the process of interrogating him on suspicion of carrying out a robbery on 28 April 2008. As the boy denied the charge the police threatened and demanded money from […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that army officers have threatened to imprison villagers in land disputes in two different locations. In Rattanakiri province the threat came from three officers alleged to be Prime Minister Human Sen’s bodyguards and relatives. In Kratie province it came from army officers and five […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) that its convener Dr. Lenin is again receiving life threatening calls over his mobile telephone asking him to stop working for the Dalit communities in the state. The AHRC was informed day before yesterday that […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing to you regarding the illegal house search of a human rights defender Mr. Sushil Kumar Lakhe by the police in Banke district on 11 May 2008. Mr. Lakhe is a well known human rights lawyer in the area as well as the regional coordinator of […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) calls for your immediate intervention into the case of Umesh Lama. On 30 April 2008, Umesh’s sister, who had filed a case under the Torture Compensation Act, was compelled to withdraw her case due to constant pressure from the police, including the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that soldiers continuously threatened and harassed a union president and her fellow workers. The workers, presently holding a picket line in front of their factory, were questioned in separate occasions about personal details of their president. The soldiers were falsely accusing their leader as leftist; […]

Dear friends The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from the Advocacy Forum, a human rights organisation based in Nepal, concerning the case of Mr. Umesh Lama. The AHRC had reported on 21 April, that after being arrested and tortured while in custody, Umesh is undergoing treatment for his injuries (See further AHRC-UAC-078-2008). […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that a businessman and his cousin had been illegally detained by a special investigating unit for days in absence of any arrest orders. They were taken into custody after the unit conducted search at their internet shop allegedly for committing illegal activities. Instead of […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that a journalist has received renewed threats on his life since January 2008 in Cambodia. He was warned “to be careful” and a number of live assault rifle cartridges were found in the yard. The AHRC has earlier reported series of death threats against him, […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), a local human rights organisation working in Uttar Pradesh state, regarding the corruption of the Public Food Distribution System (PDS) shopkeeper. The state government acknowledging the corruption and malpractice cancelled the PDS shop’s license but […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the Paikgachha police had been harassing a family following a land dispute between two persons, which is beyond the jurisdiction of the police. Sub Inspector Mr. Manjurul Alam forced Mr. Mokbul Hawladar to appear before the police along with his wife and children. […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the case of illegal arrest of a man by Payagala police on 18 January 2008 in Sri Lanka. The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) allegedly forced him to sign a statement by detaining him. When he tried to seek help from senior police, the OIC harassed […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Kandy Human Rights Office, a human rights organization, regarding the case of torture of a man by a prison officer in last December and early January. Even though this case was informed to the Prison Commissioner on February 19 but, to date […]