Statement

According to the Bangkok Post of March 2, the interim prime minister of Thailand, General Surayud Chulanont, has ordered that more police officers be sent to the south in response to persistent and growing violence that has resulted in over 150 casualties in the last two weeks alone. The problems of the south are a […]

Corruption in Sri Lanka is worse today than ever before. This fact is admitted by everyone, is seen to be more and more evident in the press, and even the government does not deny it. All governments in recent times have come to power in the country promising to eradicate this great evil and so […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AS-036-2007-R1 March 01, 2007 A reply by the Asian Human Rights Commission to a reaction concerning an earlier Statement Background: The AHRC received a reaction from Dukhinda Jayawardena regarding AHRC statement AS-036-2007 of February 26, 2007 (SRI LANKA: A serious attempt to control and suppress civil society organisations needs a response if further repression […]

The government of Pakistan continues to turn a blind eye to Islamic extremism throughout the country and is compromising the rule of law for religious fanaticism. In doing so, the country has once again witnessed the brutal and senseless death of one of the states political hopefuls. This time, the Minister of Social Welfare was […]

Many civil society organisations, both local and international have received a letter similar to the one that follows from the secretary to the Select Committee of Parliament for the Investigation of the Operations of Non-Governmental Organisations and their Impact. Many questions regarding civil liberties and democratic freedoms arise from the information that is being sort. […]

The Government of India continues to defy commonsense by refusing to accept caste based discrimination is discrimination defined in the International Convention on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). The Indian delegation to substantiate this position also made a statement that Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vyshyas, Soodras and Dalits no more exists in India. The independent experts reviewing […]

The case of Mr. Hazoor Buksh Malik, a young man of 24 years of age whose penis was severed at the Market Police Station in Larkana district, Sindh province, Pakistan on January 25, 2007 should raise grave concerns regarding the act itself and the nature of policing and the nature of the governance in Pakistan. […]

Despite of the speculation created through some statements by the Sri Lankan government that the Saudi Arabian authorities were considering commuting the death sentences of three Sri Lankan citizens held in Al-Ha’ir Prison, they, and a fourth man have been beheaded. What were the real negotiations between the Sri Lankan and Saudi Arabian authorities regarding […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you a report: CPA on Commission of Inquiry and IIGEP which appeared in the Nation, February 11, 2007. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ——- A Forwarded Report by the Asian Human Rights Commission SRI LANKA: CPA on Commission of Inquiry and IIGEP […]

Article 2 (3) of the ICCPR requires that the state party to the ICCPR shall ensure to any person whose rights and freedoms are violated shall have an effective remedy and that such a person shall have his or her right determined by competent judicial, administrative or legislative authorities, or by any other competent authority […]

On February 8, 2007 a leading politician and a member of the cabinet, Anura Bandaranaike, made a statement in Parliament in which he said that he had received several death threats. He said that “Threats were made not by the president but by those who are close to him. They are misusing the powers given […]

Any intelligent talk about corruption and malpractice in a justice system must start by recognising that it is by definition systemic. The way that judges, prosecutors and police work depends largely upon how they are organised and administered. While there may be individuals among judges, prosecutors and police who abuse their powers more than others, […]

As protests were being planned by the railway workers and local and international protests were being staged regarding the three persons who had been abducted on February 5 (please see our statement SRI LANKA: Abductions and disappearances spread into trade union sector – http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2006statements/917/) the government released a CD in which two of the arrested persons, […]

During a recent visit to Uttar Pradesh, staff of the Asian Human Rights Commission came across a case that reveals the shocking extent to which the courts in India are misused by the rich and powerful, particularly against the abject poor and downtrodden.  Writ application no. 49982/2000 has been pending before the Allahabad High Court […]

The alleged abduction of three persons belonging to the Railway Workers Union who are also associated with the publication of the union’s journal, Akuna, was reported in many publications including the BBC Sinhala Service. Reporters without Borders also reported these abductions on the 6th February, 2007. The names of the three persons are Nihal Serasinghe, […]

The fifty-ninth anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence Day was celebrated yesterday (February 4, 2007). Democracy in Sri Lanka lasted only 30 years after independence. In 1978 an authoritarian model of government was introduced through a new constitution and under this constitution the executive president was not only above the law but even the constitution. The […]

The former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mangala Samaraweera was quoted in several news agencies stating that a disappearance takes place in Sri Lanka every five hours. “It has been reported by local and international human rights organisations that a person is abducted every five hours. Kidnappings, abductions and killings have become common incidents. No […]

A group of soldiers took Muhamud Arming Usoh from near his home on 30 October 2006, as he returned from work at a rubber plantation. They didn’t produce any arrest warrant or evidence, or tell him where they were taking him or why. The emergency regulations in force over the southern provinces didn’t require this […]

AS-023-2007 February 2, 2007 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission PHILIPPINES: Publish report, protect witnesses & prosecute Palparan The Asian Human Rights Commission cautiously welcomes the findings of the Melo Commission that retired Major General Jovito Palparan Jr. and other military officers could be held liable for the unabated extrajudicial killings of human […]

Abdul Rehman, who was from a remote village in Kashmir, was considered missing for 52 days. It was on the 53rd day that his father, Gulam Rasool, learned that his son had been killed in what is known cynically in India as a fake encounter. This 35 year-old carpenter had been dubbed as a Pakistani […]