Torture

[RE: UP-81-2004: SRI LANKA: Continuing death threats to human rights activists and torture victims after murder of Gerald Perera; UP-77-2004: SRI LANKA: More death threats to a torture victim and a human rights defender; Witness protection is urgently needed, UP-76-2004: SRI LANKA: Gerald Perera died after gunshot; His family needs urgent protection, UP-74-2004:  SRI LANKA: […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) shares the concerns expressed by the Secretary General of the United Nations in his statement on the human rights situation in Nepal. Time and again the AHRC has stressed that regional governments such as India, international governments and bodies such as European Union, national political parties and the King […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 24, 2004 AS-68-2004 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission The initial arrest in torture victim Gerald Parera’s murder case The initial arrest in Gerald Parera’s murder case confirms the analysis made by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) when the AHRC came to know that Gerald was shot in […]

On the 21 November 2004, Gerald Mervin Perera, victim of a well-known torture case was shot as he was travelling to work in a bus in the early hours of the morning.  In his pocket was the summons issued by the High Court of Negombo, summoning him to give evidence in a torture case against […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Sanjay Somnath Gaikwad, a driver in Rahata town, Maharashtra, was mercilessly beaten by police personnel at 10:30 p.m. on 11 November 2004, and is now fighting for his life in a hospital.  It is reported that Sanjay filed a complaint against two members […]

Around two hundred Nepalese are now have been witnessed to be crossing the border into India every hour, escaping the atrocities of both government and Maoist troops. Clearly, the violence in Nepal is intensifying. Recent reports speak of highly deliberate and aggressive strategies on both sides to harass and intimidate civilians. Others reveal deeply worrying […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has obtained further information about institutionalised torture at a police station in Ayutthaya province, north of Bangkok, Thailand. The latest information relates to a case of torture and forced confession in March, involving two victims.  Earlier, one of the victims, Metta Saiphan, was referred to as the […]

[RE: UP-77-2004: SRI LANKA: More death threats to a torture victim and a human rights defender; Witness protection is urgently needed, UP-76-2004: SRI LANKA: Gerald Perera died after gunshot; His family needs urgent protection, UP-74-2004:  SRI LANKA: No action from the government to protect torture victim even after attempt on his life, UA-157-2004: SRI LANKA: Torture victim pursuing criminal torture […]

It has now been eighteen days since the shooting of Gerald Perera in broad daylight, while he was travelling to work on a bus. Gerald died three days later, on November 24th, from the injuries that he had sustained during this attack. Although the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is now enquiring into the case – […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is pleased to announce that the two cases of torture and cruel and inhuman treatment recently reported as having occurred in Lumpini (Bangkok) and Ayutthaya police stations (UA-153-2004) have been transferred to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). The DSI is headed by a police officer, but […]

There is much evidence that shows that in Sri Lanka, which already suffers from the endemic use of torture, the authorities are failing to take steps to eliminate this abhorrent practice, in line with the county’s obligations to its people and under international law. Instead, the authorities are taking measures that will facilitate the use […]

The proposal now being discussed within the government of Thailand to introduce a national security law allowing prolonged detention without judicial recourse is an invitation for national disaster. Such a law would only exacerbate the already volatile security situation in the country, while at the same time violating the principles underpinning the constitution of Thailand […]

The assassination of the High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya took place on the 19th of November. To date, no one has owned up to the responsibility for the failure to provide security to the Judge, who held senior position in the judiciary. In any democracy or in any country that respects the rule of law, […]

Several newspapers reported on 29 November 2004 that the Bar Association of Sri Lanka has taken a stand to instruct lawyers not to appear for those persons accused of the murder of a Colombo High Court judge. Its president, Ikram Mohamed, is reported to have said that although every suspect has the right to retain […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is gravely concerned by a strong attempt to increase torture in Sri Lanka. Gerald Perera’s case is one example. Torture victim Gerald Perera, who was going to give evidence before Negombo High Court against several police officers involved in his torture case, was shot on 21 November […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is gravely concerned by another case of death threats on a torture victim and a human rights defender, following the death of Mr. Gerald Perera, a torture victim who succumbed to his injuries yesterday after being shot by an unknown person on 21 November 2004. (See further: UP-76-2004, UP-74-2004 and UA-157-2004) […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is very sorry to inform you that Mr. Gerald Perera, a torture victim who was shot by an unknown person on 21 November 2004, succumbed to his injuries at around 1:00pm local time on 24 November 2004, at the Colombo Hospital, Sri Lanka. (See further: AHRC statement AS-51-2004 and […]

It is now five days since the shooting of Gerald Mervin Perera, who died yesterday, November 24. However, as yet there have been no arrests. Nor have there been any reports of progress in investigations. In fact, there do not appear to be any serious inquiries at all. As Gerald Perera was due to stand […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) announces with great shock and sadness that Gerald Mervin Perera, who was due to give evidence in court against seven police officers accused of torture, passed away at around 1pm local time today, 24 November 2004, at the Colombo General Hospital, Sri Lanka. He had been in a critical […]

Since the attempted murder on last Sunday, November 21 of Gerald Perera, a victim of police torture in Sri Lanka, no protection has been provided to either him or his family. Gerald, who was shot in advance of giving evidence against the police in the Negombo High Court (case no. HC 326/2003), is struggling for […]