Forwarded Statement

(New York, November 24, 2008) – The Sri Lankan government should take immediate steps to address the deteriorating human rights situation in the country’s Eastern Province, where there has been an increase in killings and abductions in recent weeks, Human Rights Watch said today. Many abuses in the Eastern Province appear to have been carried […]

A massive and unlawful crackdown by the Ministry of Justice and police force took place in the Seong-Sang Furniture Factory Complex in Masok (Namyangju City, Gyounggi-Do, Korea) on November 12th, beginning roughly at 9:30am. The crackdown was carried out using over 100 police officers and immigration offices of Seoul, Eujeongbu, and Incheon Airport, large riot police […]

(Further to our statement of yesterday, October 28th we are forwarding the full text of the statement by the Special Rapporteur on Torture and other cruel, inhuman made on October 23rd at the 63rd Session of the General Assembly). 63rd session of the General Assembly Third Committee Item # 64(b) 23 October 2008 New York […]

The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), as well as the Pro-Labor Legal Assistance Center (PLACE), SENTRA, the Counsels for the Defense of Liberties (CODAL), the Public Interest Legal Center (PILC)  and the International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL)-Philippines Chapter condemn the abduction and illegal arrest of Atty. Remigio “Ming” Saladero, Jr, a member of […]

Joint statements at the second substantive session of the PrepCom (6-17 October 2008) Objective 1, section B: Victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance Dear Madam Chair, and distinguished delegations, It is a great pleasure for the International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) and the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) to be […]

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC STATEMENT AI Index No: ASA 37/029/2008 Date: 6 October 2008 In the wake of this morning’s suicide bombing, Amnesty International calls again on all parties in the conflict in Sri Lanka to comply with their obligations under international law to protect civilians. A suicide bomber killed at least 27 people, including retired […]

At the plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka (CBCSL) held on 22 September 2008 the Bishops shared their concerns about the plight of the as a result of the ongoing war in the districts of Mulaitivu and Kilinochchi. We appreciate the efforts taken by the government to ensure that food and […]

Sri Lanka occupies the 92nd position among 180 countries (CPI) 2008 conducted by Transparency International (TI), the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption. Sri Lanka’s score remains at a low 3.2, indicating a serious corruption problem in the public sector. Neighbouring countries except Bhutan, all score below 3.5. Lack of transparency in […]

Dear Friends, We are forwarding the transcript of the statement of Professor Yash Ghai, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Human Rights in Cambodia presented to the 9th session of the Human Rights Council. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AHRC-FST-062-2008 September 23, 2008 CAMBODIA: The statement by […]

ALERT – SRI LANKA 10 September 2008 SOURCE: Free Media Movement (FMM), Colombo (FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 9 September 2008 FMM press release: Another journalist shot and critically injured in Sri Lanka 9 September 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Free Media Movement (FMM) is appalled to note and strongly condemns the attempt made […]

Thank you sir, Hon. Deputy Chairman, I am sad and dismayed to note the empty government benches. This is the all important emergency debate. But where are the government ministers for observations and answers? Look, there is nobody in the front row. There are few seated in second and other rows. Why is this? Implementation […]

A UN media statement: 9 September 2008 -Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed deep concern over escalating and the humanitarian impact of the clashes on civilians. The South Asian nation’s Government has requested that United Nations relief workers relocate from areas witnessing conflict. In a statement <http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3387>, Mr. Ban “reminds all concerned of their responsibility to […]

8 August 2008 – The United Nations refugee agency expressed concern today over the safety of thousands of families fleeing escalating violence in northern Sri Lanka between Government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). “We call on both parties to take immediate steps to ensure the protection of those affected; to allow […]

Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:06:57 +0100 From: CommonwealthNet <CommonwealthNet@interights.org Subject: Sri Lanka found guilty of serious human rights abuses by UN Human Rights Committee In a case brought by leading Sri Lankan human rights lawyer Mr V.S. Ganesalingam of the NGO Home for Human Rights, together with international NGO INTERIGHTS, Sri Lanka has been […]

People of conscience are perturbed that the current war in the LTTE occupied Vanni places the majority of civilians at tremendous risk. Unarmed and trapped in this war zone, large numbers of civilians including children are caught in the intense cross-fire of a deadly armed confrontation. Thousands are already displaced and can flee only to […]

AMID growing insecurity and communal violence in conflict areas in Mindanao, the government is now unleashing another stealth move by allowing Secretary Ronaldo Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to arm conflict-weary civilians with 13,000 shotguns. The reason for this, Sec. Puno says, is to repel Muslim rebels in the provinces […]

Reporters Without Borders calls on the Sri Lankan government to release J. S. Tissainayagam, a Tamil journalist who has been held since March. A government minister has just said he is charged with terrorism on the basis of articles written in 2006 and his activities as the editor of a website. “This respected journalist’s illegal […]

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following statement from the Free Media Movement. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Statement from the Free Media Movement forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission SRI LANKA: FMM appalled at police spokesperson’s justification of minister’s attack on journalists UPDATE – SRI LANKA 11 […]

IFEX – News from the international freedom of expression community ALERT – SRI LANKA 6 August 2008 Newspaper pressured to cancel defence columns by army commander SOURCE: Free Media Movement (FMM), Colombo (FMM/IFEX) – The following is a joint press release by FMM and four other media organisations: 5 August 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka – […]

ALERT – SRI LANKA 30 July 2008 FMM concerned over army commander’s justification of recent attacks against journalists SOURCE: Free Media Movement (FMM), Colombo (FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 29 July 2008 FMM press release: The Free Media Movement is deeply disturbed by remarks attributed to the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant […]