Forwarded Open Letter

As a friend and as one who has visited your great country, and conscious of the historical and cultural links between Myanmar and Sri Lanka, I am immensely saddened to learn of the recent events in Myanmar. As a religious leader, I have to add my voice to the many protests that are being made […]

We, the undersigned Members of Parliament, respectfully urge you and the governments that you lead, to work together in full cooperation to strongly encourage the Myanmar government to deliver genuine political and economical reforms. We are extremely concerned that the Myanmar authorities’ 7-point roadmap is causing more problems for the people of Myanmar and the […]

As human rights defenders, we are very concerned by the news that the British Government is officially hosting the Chief of the Army , General Rukmangat Katuwal in London this week. At the time of the appointment of General Katuwal, we urgently appealed to the Government against his appointment on grounds of his direct involvement […]

As human rights defenders, we are very concerned by the news that the British Government is officially hosting the Chief of the Army , General Rukmangat Katuwal in London this week. At the time of the appointment of General Katuwal, we urgently appealed to the Government against his appointment on grounds of his direct involvement […]

I am given to understand that the International Bar Association (IBA) will hold its Annual Conference in Singapore from 14-19 October this year. While I would very much like to welcome you to my country, I have to highlight to you some very disturbing developments that I believe would concern the IBA. It is apparent […]

Your Excellency, On 18 December 2002, the UN General Assembly finally voted, by an overwhelming majority, the adoption of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). The OPCAT seeks to establish a system of regular visits to places of detention carried out […]

After the election of the Philippines, last November 3, 2006, as member of the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a major United Nations body, the Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP), Purificacion V. Quisumbing, lauded Ambassador Lauro Baja, Jr., the permanent representative of the Philippines to the U.N. for […]

We refer to our earlier statement of October 18, 2006, SRI LANKA [AS-254-2006]: “Show cause notice on lawyer Elmo Perera has no basis in law and is an attempt to silence critical voices among the legal fraternity pursuing public interest issues:. The AHRC is in receipt of the complaint filed by Mr. Elmore Perera to […]

A Forwarded Open Letter to His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa from the International Commission of Jurists Nicholas Howen Secretary-General INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS Commission internationale de juristes – Comisión Internacional de Juristas P.O. Box, 91, Rue des Bains, 33, 1211 Geneva 8, SWITZERLAND Tel: +41(0) 22 979 3800 Fax: +41(0) 22 979 3801 Website: http:/ […]

Mr. Secretary-General, The human rights community of Nepal would like to draw your urgent attention concerning the lack of credible action being taken by the authorities in Nepal to address the culture of impunity that has accompanied the widespread and systematic violations of human rights in Nepal. As you already know, the peaceful democratic movement […]

I write on behalf of Families of the Disappeared. I have seen in the Daily Mirror, Justice Page on August 19, 2006, a letter written by you to the editors of that paper inquiring from them about a photo that has appeared on August 5.  This photo as you have mentioned shows people standing near […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission is forwarding this open letter by C. Dissanayake, of Mt. Lavinia, near Colombo, Sri Lanka which appeared in the Opinions page of the Island Newspaper on August 3, 2006.  The letter mentions the case of the deceased Inspector of Police, Douglas Nimal which was covered by the AHRC in the […]

We submit this urgent memorandum on the above with a view to ensuring transparency and accountability in the proposed legislation. Having examined the Bill, as it stands, we have found several major issues that need to be addressed seriously without further delay. The issues and our suggestions are listed below: 1. The composition of RADA […]