Open Letter

To: Asian Your Excellency, As a diverse coalition of human rights organizations, we write in advance of the 2009 Human Rights Council elections to urge Asian states to present a competitive slate for election to the Council. General Assembly resolution 60/251, which established the Council, specifies that Council members shall be elected directly and individually, […]

To: African Your Excellency, As a diverse coalition of human rights organizations, we write in advance of the 2009 Human Rights Council elections to welcome reports that African states plan to present a competitive slate for election to the Council. General Assembly resolution 60/251, which established the Council, specifies that Council members shall be elected […]

To: Latin American and Caribbean Your Excellency, As a diverse coalition of human rights organizations, we write in advance of the 2009 Human Rights Council elections to urge Latin American and Caribbean states to present a competitive slate for election to the Council. General Assembly resolution 60/251, which established the Council, specifies that Council members […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing this special appeal to you out of grave concern that a person currently being detained in Myanmar is seriously incapacitated and could die for want of adequate medical attention. The detainee in question is Ma Su Su Nwe, 39, who was convicted of five charges and sentenced […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is informed that Guria, a human rights organisation working in Uttar Pradesh against human trafficking is waiting for police assistance since the past four hours to rescue women and children from brothels in Allahabad city.  Guria has informed the AHRC that today, on an application filed to the Allahabad […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing to you in your capacity as the Director of Internal Security under the Internal Security Act 2008 to protest in the strongest terms a recent report of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) that human rights defenders in southern Thailand may in fact be militants disguising themselves […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to once again draw your attention to the complaint of five men, known as the Abadilla Five, for violation of rights which the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) had investigated nearly 13 years ago in July 1996.  In the conclusion of the CHR’s investigation, it already recommended the […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to draw your attention to the complaint of five men, known as the Abadilla Five, pending before your office. The case, which bears Case No. OMB-P-C-041269/CLP-C-04-1965 (“CHR, et al. vs. S/Supt. Romulo Sales et al”), was endorsed by the Department of Justice (DoJ) in January 2003 for your […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to draw your attention to the case of eight women and four children, residents of Khair Mohammad Khokhar Goth (village) Tando Allah Yar, Sindh province, who were arrested by the police from four cities of the province on the night of November 24, 2008. Since their arrest they have […]

Mr. W. Dayaratne, President, Bar Association of Sri Lanka Hulftsdorp Colombo 12 Sri Lanka Facsimile: 94 11 2448090 Email: wdaya@slt.lk Dear Mr. Dayaratne, By now the Bar Association must be aware of the letter issued by a group calling itself Mahason Balakaya to the registrars of courts and human rights lawyers making death threats to anyone […]

(The following letter was sent today to the following Sri Lankan authorities: Inspector General of Police, Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, National Police Commission and the Rapporteur on the Question of torture and other cruel and inhuman treatment). October 13, 2008 Professor Rajiva Wijesinha, Secretary Ministry of […]

September 30, 2008 SRI LANKA: An Open Letter to Lawyers and Intervene to defend the lawyers of Sri Lanka against attacks, threats and intimidation The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) based in Hong Kong wishes to bring to your attention the serious threat to lawyers in Sri Lanka by way of attacks, death threats and […]

(Please note that a similar letter was also sent to the Secretary to the Ministry, Prof Rajiva Wijesinghe) September 21, 2008 Hon. Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights 2, Wijerama Mawatha Colombo 7 SRI LANKA Fax: +94 11 269 3284  E-mail: info@dmhr.gov.lk  Dear Mr. Samarasinghe, Re: A man who sought your […]

Dr. Yakin Ertürk United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women C/o OHCHR-UNOG 1211 Geneva 10 SWITZERLAND Fax: +41 22 917 9016 Dear Dr. Ertürk Re: The burial of five women while We are bringing to your notice the burial of five women from a tribal area while still alive in Baba Kot, a remote […]

The AHRC writes with deep concern that 25 persons, including three children and a lady have been murdered in separate incidents from February to June of this year in Davao City. The manner in which the victims were murdered appears to have connections with the unabated vigilante killings in the area. In a report by […]

July 22, 2008 Hon. Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights 2, Wijerama Mawatha Colombo 7 SRI LANKA Fax: +94 11 269 3284  E-mail: info@dmhr.gov.lk Dear Mr. Samarasinghe, Re: An appeal to save the life of a witness in the A man named, Sainool Miswar, was murdered on 3rd July, 2008. He had […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) seeks your kind intervention regarding an illegal inquiry and harassment initiated by the Government of Sri Lanka against four reputed human . The facts relating to this incident are as follows: On 12 July 2008 a group of police officers from the CCD visited the office of the Right […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to convey its appreciation to the response taken by your office by immediately conducting an investigation into the killing of three persons on pretext of “legitimate encounter” by policemen in Tanauan City on 22 May 2008. As you are aware, soon after the death of the three persons […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to bring to your urgent and immediate attention the serious situation faced by journalists in Sri Lanka. In a letter received by the AHRC addressed to the Secretary of Defense, Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksha, it is reported that Mr. Rajapaksha summoned and reprimanded Mr. Sanath Balasooriya and Mr. Poddala […]

The AHRC in its letter to you on May 5, has asked the Supreme Court to take appropriate action to ensure that the appellate review of the Abadilla Five case is effectively conducted. We have also asked the Court to promptly resolve the merits of the Petition for Review on Certiorari filed by the appellants. […]