Victims assistance & protection

PHILIPPINES: A man is detained for Maguindanao massacre in place of the real accuse

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concern about the continued detention of a man that the police have arrested as a suspect in the Maguindanao Massacre in place of the real accuse. The police harassed his common-law wife by threatening her into admitting that her husband and the person they were […]

SAUDI ARABIA/PHILIPPINES: Melanie Cordon serves out sentence as government turns its back

Dear friends,  Further to our last update, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you that Melanie Cordon, a domestic worker convicted in absentia over a fabricated case, had chosen not to question her conviction but would rather to serve her sentence in prison in order to return home as soon as […]

SAUDI ARABIA/PHILIPPINES: Melanie Cordon case – ‘serve jail term rather than question your conviction’

Dear friends,  Further to our previous appeal, we have learned that Melanie Cordon, a domestic worker convicted in absentia, was told by a government representative that serving her jail term would be more convenient for her than questioning her conviction. The representative, however, is obviously not familiar with her case; and could not provide her […]

PHILIPPINES: Investigate two separate incidents of torture in Basilan

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received details about the torture of two men in separate incidents in Basilan, Mindanao. The group of soldiers who tortured one of them had previously been accused of torturing a boy. The two victims are presently in detention and being prosecuted over questionable charges.  CASE DETAILS: (based […]

SAUDI ARABIA/PHILIPPINES: Melanie Cordon case – government’s neglect & inability to act promptly

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Melanie Cordon, a domestic worker convicted in absentia, has been neglected by the government agencies that have the legal obligation to provide her with assistance.  UPDATED INFORMATION:  On September 14, we reported that Melanie Cordon was convicted for four months over fabricated charges […]

SAUDI ARABIA/PHILIPPINES: Falsely charged domestic worker convicted in trial in absentia

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that a Filipina domestic worker, who was falsely charged for theft, was convicted in trial in absentia. She is presently detained to serve her prison term in Saudi Arabia. She was deprived of any opportunity to defend her case. CASE DETAILS: Ms. Melanie […]

PHILIPPINES: Tortured boy temporarily released to his parent’s custody

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that Asraf Jamiri Musa, a 17-year-old Education student, who was tortured inside a military camp and charged with illegal possession of explosives after evidence was planted on him, has been temporarily released from detention to the custody of his parents. UPDATED INFORMATION: In […]

PHILIPPINES: Soldiers torture a man and set him on fire

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that the soldiers tortured a member of an indigenous minority whom they falsely accused of being a member of an illegal armed group and set him on fire after pouring gasoline on him. The victim was tortured to force him to admit he […]

Human Rights and Democratic Governance

(This is the text of a presentation at A Consultation on Peace and Security in Asia and Ecumenical Responses held on August 1-6, 2011, organized by WCC and CCA) As a start we may try to reflect on some of the concerns expressed by the participants of this meeting who have spoken so far. One […]

INDONESIA: Torture: A heinous act which is not seriously addressed

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following report on the practice of torture in Indonesia for the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture from the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) in Indonesia. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- Download the full report at http://www.humanrights.asia/countries/indonesia/reports/ngo/KontraSTortureReport2011.pdf I. Introduction […]

INDONESIA: Torture Trial Must Be Open to Public

The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) and the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) urge the military to make open to the public the upcoming trial in a case of military torture that was committed against Charles Mali and others in East Nusa Tenggara. Closed military tribunals have in the past contributed […]

THAILAND: Human Rights Organizations urge Thai Government to criminalize torture as a crime, to take effective measure for witness protection and remedy the victims, and most importantly to develop independent investigation mechanism to end impunity

A Joint Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission and other Thai NGOs “Torture is a crime” Statement on International Day Against Torture For Immediate Release on June 26, 2011 “Human Rights Organizations urge Thai Government to prevent and eliminate the use of torture by law enforcement officials in Thailand by implementing its obligation under […]

ASIA: Widespread torture in Asia explained in a new video production

On the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Pictures by the Wayside and the Asian Human Rights Commission, present explaining why torture remains a key problem in Asia. The 15 minute video explains why torture is one of the most difficult human rights issues to address, why the continued use […]

PHILIPPINES: Policemen who tortured a boy offers bribe, intimidates witnesses and complainants to withdraw prosecution

Dear Friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned that the witnesses and the family of torture victim, Jhon Paul Nerio, have either been offered bribes or are being intimidated after testifying in a trial against the policemen. The policemen were attempting to bribe them to retract their testimony and intimidate them to […]

PAKISTAN: Sindh government provides protection to the killers of the Fisherfolk Forum activists instead of the victims and their families

The activists of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and members of civil society was brutally baton charged and manhandled by the police in front of the Provincial Assembly building. Twelve protestors were injured including four women and eight men. The Forum had already informed the authorities some four days before that they would hold a sit-in […]

INDONESIA: West Papua — Violence against indigenous women

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following article written by Fien Jarangga & Galuh Wandita. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- An article from Fien Jarangga & Galuh Wandita, Cultural Survival – Spring 2011 forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission INDONESIA: West Papua — Violence against indigenous women Fien Jarangga coordinates […]

NEPAL: Trial of Hom Bahadur Bagale’s torture case must put an end to a nine-year long denial of justice

Statement | Nepal | 10-05-2011

A Joint Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission and the Center for Victims of Torture-Nepal As the case regarding the torture of Hom Bahadur Bagale will be heard in the Supreme Court of Nepal on 16 May, 2011, the Center for Victims of Torture-Nepal (CVICT) and the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) expect that […]

PHILIPPINES: Hearing for administrative case on policemen who tortured a boy set for April 25

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that the People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) in Kidapawan City, a quasi-judicial body who will hear the administrative case on five police officers, including a police commander, for torturing a 17-year-old boy, is set to be heard on April 25, 2011.  UPDATED INFORMATION:  […]

PHILIPPINES: Concern over how the PLEB is handling the case of the torture victim Jhon Paul Nerio

SPECIAL REPORT: Torture in the Philippines & the unfulfilled promise of the 1987 Constitution ——- An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission to Atty. Fernando Cubero, Chairman, Peoples Law Enforcement Board in Kidapawan City Atty. Fernando Cubero Chairman Peoples Law Enforcement Board City Hall of Kidapawan Kidapawan City PHILIPPINES Tel. No.: +63 64 […]

INDIA: Journalists assaulted in Assam University

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC) that a group of journalists were assaulted at the Assam University campus in Assam. It is alleged that the proctor of the university is behind the incident. The journalists claim that the security staff who attached […]