Press Release

(Hong Kong, January 31, 2011) A Burma-based rights group has released a report with its findings on research of the 2010 parliamentary elections, describing most people in the country as disinterested or disbelieving in the electoral process, and the process itself as fraudulent.  According to Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP) in the 51-page English […]

An Interview with Fr. Robert Reyes on the murder of Gerry Ortega (Hong Kong, January 26, 2011) In the interview linked below, Fr. Robert Reyes, an associate of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), talks about his close friend and associate, Gerry Ortega. Gerry was murdered on January 24 at a market in Puerto Princesa […]

(Hong Kong, January 18, 2011) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) will send international and domestic observers to attend the reading of the verdict on January 21 in the appeal case concerning the disappearance and presumed killing of human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit, its executive director announced today.  “This is an historic case of tremendous […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year. In all countries of Asia, this Christmas and new year will be celebrated in very difficult conditions. We extend our wishes to all families who are struggling in the midst of these difficulties to fight for their rights. We particularly […]

(Hong Kong, December 10, 2010) The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to draw your attention to Rizana Nafeek, the Sri Lankan maid, who has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia. On the Human Rights Day, 2010 the AHRC implores you to remember her and all the other people still facing death sentences all around […]

(Hong Kong, December 10, 2010) For Human Rights Day in 2010 the Asian Human Rights Commission presents the reports on the state of human rights in eleven countries in Asia; Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, South Korea and Sri Lanka.  The Director for Policy and Programme Development, Basil Fernando, introduces the Report in a video presentation, addressing the general picture that emerges […]

(Hong Kong, December 9, 2010) The excitement and uncertainty generated by the release of Aung San Suu Kyi in November, immediately following thoroughly rigged elections reflects the principle of government through confusion and the un-rule of law that Burma’s military has used to remain in power for half a century, the Asian Human Rights Commission […]

(Hong Kong, December 9, 2010) Anti-human rights forces and their allies have re-emerged to take control of key national institutions in Thailand and are digging in to fight for political control of the country, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) warned on Thursday.  In its annual reports on human rights conditions in Asia released to […]

(Hong Kong, December 8, 2010) The campaign to seek pardon for Rizana Nafeek needs to be continued as there has been no change in her situation. Her file is now pending before His Royal Highness the King of Saudi Arabia who can make one of the following three decisions:  • To pardon and release her,  […]

(Hong Kong, December 7, 2010) The Asia Human Rights Commission has been actively engaged in the appeal for the imprisoned Sri Lankan maid, Rizana Nafeek, since it first came to light in 2007. The case has now reached a most important point as Rizana’s file has been forwarded to His Royal Highness, the King of […]

(Hong Kong, November 30, 2010)  Assassination of a torture victim and the death of criminal justice in Sri Lanka  On November 22, 2004 at 11:30 am, Gerald Perera, a torture victim who was to give evidence in the High Court of Negombo against six police officers from the Wattala Police Station who brutally tortured him, […]

(Hong Kong, November 26, 2010) Illegal Arrest, Detention and Torture at Beruwella Police Station We produce below the translation from the original Sinhala YouTube presentation of the testimony of Samarasinhage Psupakumara.  S.I. Udayanga of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Beruwella police asked a driver to go for a hire. The driver is Samarasinhage Psupakumara […]

(Hong Kong, November 24, 2010) To all Honourable Ambassadors and Consul Generals Serving In Saudi Arabia  I am making this appeal on behalf of the Asian Human Rights Commission to request your kind intervention to save the life of a young Sri Lankan girl, Rizana Nafeek who is facing beheading in Saudi Arabia.  This young […]

(Hong Kong, November 10, 2010) Korean civil society groups have published their official report on fact-finding research for the POSCO project launched by the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Orissa government in 2005. The fact-finding team composed of two lawyers and a human rights activist who are experts on monitoring of human rights violations […]

(Hong Kong, November 5, 2010) The Asian Human Rights Commission on Wednesday launched a new campaign webpage on the case of Chiranuch Premchaiporn, the director of the independent online news service Prachatai, who is facing multiple criminal charges over material that readers posted onto her website. The webpage, which is mostly in English but also […]

Hong Kong, November 2, 2010) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is pleased to inform you that the four men, three of whom were illegally arrested and detained, were acquitted by a local court from two charges of illegal possession of explosives. The court found that the cases laid against them “exhibits a straightforward violation […]

Since October 28, 2010, the Asian Human Rights Commission’s (AHRC) website has been subjected to a concerted “cyber-attack” in which computers with hidden locations and identities have been used to flood the website’s servers with fake requests, in order to overload it. This has resulted in visitors not being able to access the website’s content […]

(Hong Kong, October 29, 2010) Following the arrest of the student leader, Mr. Udul Premarathne, the Asian Human Rights Commission has today written to the Inspector General of Police of Sri Lanka, Mr. Mahinda Balasuriya urging him to ensure that there is no illegal use of police powers against Mr. Premarathne. As torture is endemic […]

(Hong Kong, October 27, 2010) The Asian Human Rights Commission on Wednesday launched a new campaign webpage on the case of Phyo Wai Aung, who is being unjustly tried over a bombing in Burma during April over which he denies any involvement.  Police officers tortured Phyo Wai Aung severely for more than a week to […]

(Hong Kong, October 26, 2010) The death sentence of Rizana Nafeek has been confirmed and her case is now before an advisor to his Royal Highness the King who has the power to pardon her. There is good reason to grant her a pardon as no real crime is involved when a 17 year-old girl […]