Statement

A Statement by the UN High Commissioner from the Asian Human Rights Commission on the occasion of Human Rights Day 2009 ASIA: Statement by the UN High Commissioner The concept of non-discrimination lies at the heart of human rights. For this reason, it has been designated the official theme of this Human Rights Day, which […]

The AHRC is publishing its 2009 annual human rights report on India. A pre-publication version of the report can be downloaded at: http://material.ahrchk.net/hrreport/2009/AHRC-SPR-003-2009-India-HRReport2009.pdf In the first week of November this year, the Director General of Police, Mr. Y. Joykumar Singh, of Manipur state publically admitted that 260 persons had been killed so far by the state […]

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following statement from the Headquarters for the enactment of the legislation on the provision of temporary housing for the displaced in Seoungdong-gu. The statement was translated into English and edited by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- FOR IMMEDIATE […]

On the occasion of the International Human Rights Day 2009, the AHRC has published its annual report on the situation of human rights in Indonesia. The report highlights the problem of ongoing torture and killings by the police as well as military violence. Several necessary institutional reforms have been delayed while, in Aceh, the local […]

The transition of Nepal from an absolute monarchy to a federal, democratic republic has claimed the lives of at least a few thousand persons. Several hundred women and men lost their life by participating in the armed struggle against the government. The government killed much more number of persons to silence and terrorise the population […]

The AHRC is publishing its 2009 annual human rights report on Bangladesh. A pre-publication version of the report can be downloaded at: http://material.ahrchk.net/hrreport/2009/AHRC-SPR-001-2009-Bangladesh-HRReport2009.pdf. Once again the Human Rights Day on December 10 is knocking on the doors of Bangladeshis who have suffered gross violations, whether custodial torture, the extrajudicial killing of their loved ones, or the […]

After the country’s democracy was restored 23 years ago, the days where the police and military were ruling over the civilian authority were deeply felt again, most notably by the citizens of Maguindanao, a province in southern Philippines, after it was placed under martial law by Proclamation No 1959 last Friday, December 4. The scenario […]

The AHRC will soon publish an annual report on Pakistan for 2009. A prepublication report of the version can be down loaded at: http://material.ahrchk.net/hrreport/2009/AHRC-SPR-006-2009-Pakistan-HRReport2009.pdf . In Pakistan this Human Rights Day looks set to be no different from those of previous years. It is instead a painful reminder that another year has passed in which a number […]

On the 10th of December Human Rights Day is celebrated the world over. It reminds us of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, which symbolized the start of an era based on a respect for human dignity and on the obligations of states to protect human rights. But what kind […]

No action has been taken by the Pakistani government for the recovery of Dr. Lutfullal Kakakhel, a high-profile scientist and university vice chancellor, who was abducted on November 6 and who remains missing. The family of Dr. Lutfullah Kakakhel is deeply concerned for his deteriorating health condition, as he has high blood pressure and cholesterol […]

Successive governments and courts are conspicuously avoiding the trying of corruption cases against the former top hierarchy of the armed forces. The concept of national security has been misused by the official authorities who, perhaps unintentionally, made it possible for the officers of the armed forces to make huge amounts of money through illegal methods. […]

(On the 10th December, Janasansadaya a Sri Lankan human rights organisation will hold a seminar on police reforms. This statement is issued on the occasion of this seminar pointing out some major problems obstructing such police reforms). The problem of policing is very much at the forefront of discussion these days. It would not be […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  AHRC-STM-243-2009  December 8, 2009 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission PHILIPPINES: Irrationality and double standards in Maguindanao’s martial law When President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Proclamation 1959, declaring a state of martial law, except in some areas, in the province of Maguindanao she was following the recommendations of top commanders of […]

The existence of independent and strong media is a prerequisite for the working of a free and just society that governs itself by the rule of law. The role of media in establishing such a society is to act as the eyes and ears of the people, forming the collective conscience of the nation. After […]

It was officially announced yesterday, December 5, that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has placed Maguindanao, a province in central Mindanao where the November 23 massacre took place, under the State of Martial Law. President Macapagal-Arroyo signed the Proclamation, No. 1959, placing the province’s 36 Municipalities, except the areas previously identified as having been occupied by Moro […]

It is evident by recent events that the state intelligence agencies remain above the law and are spending more time and resources on monitoring freedom of expression rather than doing their professional duties. In a recent incident the house of a journalist, Mr. Kamran Shafi, was attacked in late night hours with small arms fire. […]

The Indian media often report with contempt the killing and maiming of the citizens by non-state actors. The limited debate in the country upon the issue is centred on the illegitimacy of violence used by the terrorists, insurgents and armed resistance movements, and is highly polarised. Except for the effort of a few publications like […]

A Study of Police Torture in Sri Lanka by Morten Koch Andersen and Basil Fernando The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to inform you about the publication of a new book on the failing judicial systems and the issue of the endemic torture practiced at police stations in Sri Lanka. This study is a result […]

(“We don’t care about it, we don’t know about it” – the Acting Head of the Provincial Police)     As it has been widely reported, 57 people-including two human rights lawyers and 30 journalists – were slaughtered on November 23 in Maguindanao, a province in central Mindanao. While much of the stories and worldwide […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  AHRC-STM-233-2009 November 27, 2009 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission NEPAL: The DPKO must repatriate Major Basnet to Nepal to stand trial Major Niranjan Basnet is an officer of the Nepal Army against whom there is an arrest warrant pending in Nepal. The warrant is issued by the Kavre District […]