Torture

INDONESIA: Military judges must effectively prosecute torture and death of Papuan man

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), a national human rights organization, regarding the case of torture and death of Mr. Isak Dewayekua (23), an indigenous Papuan. Army personnel of Yonif 755/Yalet unlawfully arrested and detained Isak and tortured […]

AHRC TV: Activist assaulted in Sri Lanka and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 227

This week Just Asia begins with Sri Lanka, where well-known rights activist Amitha Priyanthi was attacked by two motorcyclists on July 6. Dressed in black, with helmets covering their faces, the assailants hit Ms. Amitha on her head and other parts of the body, and took her handbag and mobile phone. There is reason to […]

INDIA: Fake rumours and spate of mob lynchings destroying the rule of law

Statement | India | 04-07-2018

For several months now, rumours of traveling child snatchers have been floating around the country, spreading fear through Whatsapp messages and Facebook posts. Recently, the consequences of these rumours was the lynching and killing of two men from Guwahati who ventured into the tribal region of Karbi Anglong in Assam, and, of a group of five […]

AHRC TV: International Day in Support of Victims of Torture and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 225

This week Just Asia focuses on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, marked annually on June 26. Torture is a crime under international law. It is absolutely prohibited and cannot be justified under any circumstances. Despite this, torture persists in all regions of the world. Concerns about protecting national security and borders […]

NEPAL: Preventing torture

An article from my Republica forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Torture, though labelled as inhuman treatment, is still prevalent in Nepal despite the state’s obligation and repeated commitment to prevent it. Nepal is obliged to prevent torture because it has signed and ratified United Nations’ Convention against Torture (CAT) in 1991. As the world stands […]

INDIA: Victims of torture need effective accountability mechanisms

A Statement on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture June 26th every year is marked as the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) works closely with victims of torture through its network of partner organisations across the countries it works in. […]

INDONESIA: Twenty years reform failed to increase standard of justice for torture victims

A Statement on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture Torture remains a serious problem in Indonesia, even though it has been 20 years since it ratified the International Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT). There are also various national regulations prohibiting torture: […]

SRI LANKA: Moving towards mental torture

A Statement on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture Globally, June 26 is celebrated as a day of solidarity for victims of torture. All over the world, various kinds of events are held in order to highlight the issue of torture and various ways to overcome this perennial problem. […]

NEPAL: Addressing torture essential to cementing political change

A Statement on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture Nepal underwent political change in 2017, with local level elections held for the first time in 20 years. This was a significant step in ending the country’s political transition following the civil war (1996-2006). After a decade-long conflict in Nepal, the number […]

AHRC TV: Terror attacks in Indonesia and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 221

This week Just Asia begins with terror attacks in Indonesia. The country’s second largest city of Surabaya saw yet another suicide bombing on Monday morning, at the police station. On Sunday, three churches were attacked, killing at least 11 persons, and injuring 41 persons during Sunday mass. This was one of the worst attacks on […]

PHILIPPINES: Rights group slams acquittal of police officers in illegal arrest, torture of security guard Rolly Panesa

A Statement from Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (KARAPATAN) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Karapatan expressed disappointment on the ruling of the Regional Trial Court Branch 36 of Calamba, Laguna yesterday, May 16, 2018, on the criminal cases filed by security guard Rolly Panesa against four police officers and other John […]

AHRC TV: Death penalty for sexual assault of children in India and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 220

This week Just Asia begins with India, where the government has cleared an ordinance introducing the death penalty for those committing sexual assault of children younger than 12 years. The ordinance has come under fire as such a serious change in the law has been attempted without proper debate and consultation in parliament. Furthermore, the […]

INDONESIA/ASEAN: Joint media statement by H.E. Associate prof. Dinna Wisnu and H.E. Mr. Edmund Bon Tai Soon, representatives to the ASEAN INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (AICHR)

A Statement from H.E. Associate prof. Dinna Wisnu and H.E. Mr. Edmund Bon Tai Soon, representatives to the ASEAN INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (AICHR) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Human rights experts* from the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) call on urgent action by ASEAN to develop a ‘whole-of-ASEAN approach’ […]

INDONESIA: Light punishment for unlawful arrest and torture to death of Mr. La Gode

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from the Commission for the Disappearances and Victims of Violence, KontraS (a national human rights organization). It concerns the results of a Police Ethic Mechanism lodged against three Police Officers of the Sula Police Station (Polres Sula), North Mollucas Province. After carrying out […]

AHRC TV: Indian activist killed after filing RTI application and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 214

This week Just Asia begins with India, where social activist Poipynhun Majaw’s body was found near a bridge in Meghalaya. According to the police, the preliminary inquiry suggests he was hit on the head with a wrench, leading to his death. While the motive for his murder has not been ascertained yet, Majaw had recently […]

NEPAL: Plain-clothed police hit innocent citizen for not paying bribe

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance (THRDA) that Mr. Santosh Shah was stopped by plain-clothed Assistant Sub-Inspector Bal Kanhaiya Thakur while he was on his way to Rautahat District to deliver sweets. The police officer demanded a bribe of NPR. 500. When Santosh […]

INDONESIA: Anti-corruption activist brutally attacked after filing police report

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the case of violence against Mr. Ali Nurdin, the chairperson of Gempur, a non-governmental organization (NGO), in Pariaman Lima Koto Kampung Dalam sub-district, Padang Pariaman regency, West Sumatera province. Nurdin was brutally attacked after filing a police report against the misuse of funds […]

AHRC TV: Rohingya children victims of trafficking and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 213

This week Just Asia begins with Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, where young girls are being trafficked into prostitution. A BBC News investigation team went to Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh, for an undercover investigation, and found that foreigners seeking sex can easily gain access to children who have fled conflict in Burma. The Rohingya refugee crisis […]

INDONESIA : Peasants in Rokan Hilir brutally attacked to force them to hand over their land

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding a brutal attack against a local famer in Rokan Hilir Regency, Riau Province. Mr. Rajiman, a local palm oil farmer along with his wife and child are victims of torture, ill-treatment, terror and intimidation. These actions were committed by an employee of Mr. […]

PHILIPPINES: UN bodies, int’l rights organizations decry Duterte government’s fake terrorist list UN bodies, int’l rights organizations decry Duterte government’s fake terrorist list

A Statement from Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (KARAPATAN) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Aside from the statements of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein and two UN special rapporteurs on the inclusion of the names of UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous […]