Statement

The Nation newspaper of November 22 has published a summary of the full reasons to be given by the military junta in Thailand for its September 19 takeover. According to the newspaper, the justifications for the coup, due to be published shortly, include the following: corruption and conflict of interest; abuse of power; violations of […]

Amnesty International (AI) in a statement issued on November 17, 2006 has stated that it has “confirmed to the government of Sri Lanka, in response to their request that it is not in a position to nominate anyone to stand as a candidate for the Commission of Inquiry and International Independent Group of Eminent Persons […]

(An advanced study on human rights was held at the Asian Human Rights Commission premises from 6-11 November, 2006) A group of human rights activists met in Hong Kong for an advanced human rights study from the 6th to the 11th November at the premises of the Asian Human Rights Commission.  At the end of […]

In what appears to be a concerted attack on the entire human rights movement in the Philippines, army, civilian and police officials have all made scathing statements describing the work of rights groups there as “propaganda”. On November 15, a group of retired and active senior army officers in the Philippines declared that Amnesty International […]

Freedom of expression in Cambodia has suffered another big blow. On November 10, Prime Minister Hun Sen said publicly that he “could send tanks to arrest” those who “had suggested a change of government”, which he called “divisive” and “unpardonable”. Though he did not name names, it is widely believed that Hun Sen’s comments were […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  AS-284-2006 November 11, 2006 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission  SRI LANKA:  Only international human rights monitoring can ensure credible inquiries into the death of Nadarajah Raviraj and others The killing of Nadarajah Raviraj, a vocal advocate for a peaceful and democratic solution to the ‘ethnic conflict’ and a Member […]

The AHRC notes with shock the further intensification of violence in Sri Lanka with the assassination of a Member of Parliament, Nadarajah Raviraj, belonging to the TNA and the killings of the civilians at Vakarai in the Batticaloa district. These deaths are just part of a continuous situation of assassinations done by all parties to […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is gravely concerned at the apparent lack of action by the prosecutor in two recent serious criminal cases in Cambodia. It wishes to remind the prosecutor that the state is obliged to prosecute all cases where sufficient evidence exists of criminal wrongdoing, without regard to the payment of money […]

The interim prime minister of Thailand, General Surayud Chulanont, on November 7 told the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Bangkok that his government is committed to “restoring the rule of law”. In his speech, he said that there had been a “rapid deterioration” in the rule of law under the preceding government of Pol. Lt. Col. […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) welcomes the agreement reached between the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) political parties and the Maoist insurgents, which paves the way for an end to the decade-long conflict in Nepal and the establishment of peace, security and development, as well as the rule of law, justice, and the enjoyment of […]

The AHRC today to the editor of the Daily Mirror newspaper protesting against an unfair and biased report written by Sushita R. Fernando on a well known torture case.  The writer quotes the police officer who attacks human rights organisations for supporting torture victims claiming that it is an obstruction to police officers inquiring into […]

Ms. Jayanthi Dandeniya, the coordinator of Families of the Disappeared based at Raddoluwa, Seduwa, has announced the launching of a signature campaign by the victims of past disappearances to demand authentic investigations into the present spate of disappearances and to have them stopped. “Our experience regarding the disappearances in the late eighties clearly demonstrates that […]

It was reported in the Island newspaper on November 5th that President Rajapakse is expected to announce the possible appointment of an eight member commission of inquiry to investigate fifteen cases of abduction, disappearance and extrajudicial killings that occurred after 2005 (Eight-member local team to probe abductions, killings – by Namini Wijedasa).  The immediate reaction […]

On 8 November 2004, a 21-year-old philosophy student at the University of Karachi had just finished a radio broadcast on the famous poet Joan Elia when he was abducted from the downtown building. His tortured and mutilated body was found at its boundary wall two days later, November 10. It was taken to the Jinnah […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AS-275-2006 November 06, 2006   A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission   INDONESIA: Refusal to cooperate with United Nations human rights mechanisms in investigation of Munir’s death     The wife of celebrated human rights defender Munir Said Thalib, who was poisoned and died on September 7, 2004 under highly […]

On November 3, the media reported that the Philippines has once again been elected to a seat on one of the main organs of the United Nations–the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Ambassador Lauro Baja Jr., permanent representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, quickly praised the overwhelming number of votes received by the […]

The presence of the Prime Minister calls for additional security and protection. With protection and security being the job of the police, they will be on their toes when it is a matter concerning people like the Prime Minister, Governor and other ministers in India. The reason is simple; because these persons, if they wish, […]

Following the letter sent by Ms. Kim Soo A on behalf of the AHRC to the Director General of UNESCO objecting to the appointment of an article appeared in LANKAWEB.  The AHRC sent its reply today and we reproduce below the text of our letter.  Please refer to this link to see our earlier letter AHRC-OL-059-2006 […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is shocked by the October 30 air attack on a religious school that reportedly killed around 100 persons at Damadola, near Khar in the Bajaur tribal district on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. There are many serious questions arising from the attack. Among them, the two most pressing […]

The presence of the Prime Minister calls for additional security and protection. With protection and security being the job of the police, they will be on their toes when it is a matter concerning people like the Prime Minister, Governor and other ministers in India. The reason is simple; because these persons, if they wish, […]