Open Letter

INDONESIA: On Strengthening the Draft TRC Bill

An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission and KontraS to Mr. Yasonna Hamonangan Laoly, the Indonesian Minister of Law and Human Rights Mr. Yasonna Hamonangan Laoly Minister of Law and Human Rights Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said Kavling 6-7 Kuningan Jakarta 12940, INDONESIA Tel: +62 21 525 3004 Fax: +62 21 526 3082 Dear […]

THAILAND: Arbitrary detention and threats to human rights defenders and their families

Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland Dear Special Rapporteurs and Working Group Members, You will be aware of the significant threats to human rights which have followed the 22 […]

SRI LANKA: AHRC complains to the IGP about the notorious torturer Sergeant Basnayake of Chilaw

An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission to the Inspector General of Police We reproduce below a letter sent by the Executive Director of Asian Human Rights Commission to the IGP about two cases of torture by a team led by Sergeant Basnayake, who is an OIC in the Unresolved Crimes Division of the […]

THAILAND: Military courts to process civilians violate international law

An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission to six Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Special Rapporteur on Torture Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful […]

SRI LANKA: An open letter to the President of the Bar Association on professional negligence of some magistrates

SRI LANKA: An open letter to the President of the Bar Association on professional negligence of some magistrates Upul Jayasuriya President Sri Lanka Bar Association (BASL) No. 153 Mihindu Mawatha Colombo 12 Sri Lanka Fax (+94) 11 244 80 90 Dear Mr. Upul Jayasuriya, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has closely monitored the situation of […]

PHILIPPINES: Culture of impunity continues

An open letter from widows in the Philippines to the US President Barack Obama President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500     Dear Mr. President Barack Obama, Greetings with the music of the bamboo flute… We write to you with much hope that your attention will bring light […]

INDONESIA: A good police chief does not tolerate torture

An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission to Bambang Sri Herwanto, the newly inaugurated Chief of the West Sumatra Regional Police Mr. Bambang Sri Herwanto Chief of West Sumatra Regional Police Jl. Sudirman No. 55, Padang, West Sumatra INDONESIA Tel: +62 751 33416 Fax: +62 751 33416 Dear Mr. Herwanto, The Asian Human […]

NEPAL: Two years after her kidnapping and disappearance, what can we do to find out what happened to our mother Chhori Maiya Maharjan?

An Open Letter from the daughters of Chhori Maiya who want to know whereabouts of their mother. They want justice to be served now! It has been two years since Chhori Maiya Maharjan disappeared. She was on her way to Baneshwor, Kathmandu, to meet Surakchya Singh alias Nikki. Nikki was supposed to return NPRs 5 […]

INDONESIA: Bukittinggi Court’s ruling on torture compensation claim is exceptional

An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission to the Head of Bukittinggi District Court Mr. Hirdin Alamsyah Head of Bukittinggi District Court Jl. Veteran No. 219A Kota Bukittinggi, Sumatra Barat INDONESIA Tel: +62 7523 4361 Fax: +62 7523 4362 Email: pn_bukittinggi@yahoo.co.id Dear Mr. Alamsyah, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from […]

SRI LANKA: AHRC calls on the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission to intervene in the death of a suspect in police custody!

Justice Priyantha R. P. Perera Chairman, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka No 165 Kynsey Road, Borella Colombo 08 Sri Lanka   FAX; +94 11 2 694924 / +94 112 696470/ +94 112 689558 Dear Justice Priyantha Perera, SRI LANKA: A request to the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission to immediately call for a report from the Inspector General […]

BANGLADESH: UN should act immediately to save Bangladeshi lives

Mr. Ban Ki Moon Secretary General of the United Nations Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General United Nations S-378, New York, NY 10017 USA Fax: +1 212 963 7055 or 2155 An Open Letter to the UN Secretary General by the Asian Human Rights Commission Your Excellency, the Secretary General of the United Nations, […]

BANGLADESH: UN intervention needed urgently for saving ordinary people’s lives and liberties

Mr. Oscar Fernández-Taranco Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Office of the Assistant Secretary General United Nations UN Headquarters S-378, New York, NY 10017 USA Tel: +1 212 963 5012 or + 1 212 963 7162 or +1 212 963 1234 Fax: +1 212 963 7055 or 2155 or +1 212 963 7055 E-mail: ecu@un.org, inquiries@un.org […]

NEPAL: An urgent call to save the lives of Krishna Prasad Adhikari’s parents, on hunger strike for 41 days demanding justice

An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission to the Home Minister of Nepal Mr. Madhav Prasad Ghimire Home Minister Government of Nepal Simha Darbar, Kathmandu NEPAL Fax: +977 1 42 11 232 Dear Sir, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to voice its deepest concern regarding the sharp deterioration in the health of […]

NEPAL: An urgent call to save the lives of Krishna Prasad Adhikari’s parents, on hunger strike for 41 days demanding justice

An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Nepal Mr. Khil Raj Regmi Chairman -Council of Ministers Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers of Nepal Simha Darbar, Kathmandu NEPAL Fax: +977 1 4211086 Email: info@opmcm.gov.np Dear Sir NEPAL: An urgent call to save […]

INDONESIA: Police should stop wasting energy and resources in pursuing fabricated case against a religious minority leader

An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission to the Chief of the Indonesian Police, Gen. Timur Pradopo Gen. Timur Pradopo Chief of the Indonesian National Police Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3 Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan 12110 INDONESIA Tel: +62 21 384 8537, 726 0306 Fax: +62 21 7220 669 E-mail: info@polri.go.id Dear Mr. Pradopo, The […]

BANGLADESH: Torture-friendly & Corrupt Policing Needs Urgent Reform

An Open Letter by the Asian Human Rights Commission to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Navy Pillay on the occasion of UN International Day In Support of Victims of Torture Ms. Navanethem Pillay United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights OHCHR-UNOG 8-14 Avenue de la Paix 1211 Geneva 10 SWITZERLAND Fax: +41 […]

SRI LANKA: Cases of torture perpetrated by officers of the Sri Lankan Police

An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission to the Sri Lankan Inspector General of Police The Asian Human Rights Commission has written to the Inspector General of Police in order to bring to his notice three particularly brutal acts of torture perpetrated by his officers against innocent civilians. Mr. N K Illangakoon Inspector […]

SRI LANKA: Stop the use of chili by the police during interrogations

An Open Letter from the AHRC to the President of Sri Lanka: Stop the use of chili by the police during interrogations (The following letter was sent to His Excellency, President Mahinda Rajapaksa) His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa President Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Office of the President Temple Trees 150, Galle Road, Colombo 3, […]

INDONESIA: The President is legally obliged to address continuous violations on the rights of victims of enforced disappearance

An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission to the President of the Republic of Indonesia Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono President of the Republic of Indonesia Jl. Veteran No. 16 Jakarta Pusat INDONESIA Fax: +62 21 348 34759 Dear Mr. President, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing to remind you of your […]

PAKISTAN: An Open Letter to the media houses after receiving a threatening email from a journalist

It is not unusual for human rights defender to receive death threats from persons, organisations or governments that do not agree with the stance that has been taken. However, when the threats come from a journalist it reveals the devastating plunge in the right to opinion and expression that has taken place in the country […]