Statement

Since 2003, the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas Ham) has been consistently appealing the Attorney General to present the investigative findings of an independent investigation conducted by Komnas Ham themselves, regarding the student/activist abductions of 1998/99 to the House of Representatives, so that they may be granted the formal parliamentary and presidential approval required to […]

Pakistan Railways has asked the city district government of Karachi to promptly make arrangements for land to be vacated in approximately a 100-foot radius on both sides of its railway tracks. Pakistan of Karachi have made announcements in about 30 localities to vacate the land that falls within this 100-foot radius. Several newspapers in Pakistan […]

Human rights activists in Pakistan are focusing throughout this week on the issue of disappearances before the observance of International Human Rights Day on December 10. As part of the week’s activities, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) is holding a press conference on the country’s disappearances on December 6 at the Karachi Press […]

(A dossier of shame – The full dossier of reports published, objections sent and other related material on a torture case with a letter written to R.S. Wijewardene, Chairperson, Wijeya Newspapers Ltd and his reply.  The full document can be found at http://www.srilankahr.net/pdf/newsreports_onPalithaCase.pdf Prior to the publication of this statement, as a matter of courtesy we […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  AS-299-2006 December 4, 2006 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission THAILAND: If not Somchai’s bones, whose bones? According to a news report on the website of The Manager newspaper this Monday, December 4, Dr Khunying Porntip Rojanansunant, acting director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, has said that DNA […]

A statement issued on the occasion of the International Symposium on the Structures and Funcations of NHRIs: a search for best practices to be held in Seoul, South Korea on December 4, 2006 The goals of National Human Rights Commissions include educating persons about their basic rights, documenting instances when those rights are violated and […]

The Gerard Perera murder case came for further hearing on December 1, 2006 before the Negombo High Court.  This case is being heard by a judge specially appointed to hear the case as another case relating to the torture of Gerard Perera is being heard before the permanent High Court judge of Negombo. When the […]

The arrest of over 400 human rights and political activists on November 27, 2006 in Balochistan province to prevent them from participating in peaceful protests when the head of state, President Musharaff, is to arrive for a two day visit from November 30 is a gross violation of human rights and these persons should be […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  AS-295-2006 November 30, 2006 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission SRI LANKA: SC decision on the case of D.A. Nimal Silva Gunaratna vs. ASP Ranmal Kodituwakku requires a response from the Attorney General and IGP On November 16, 2006 the Supreme Court decided the case of Dalkadura Arachige Nimal Silva Gunaratna […]

The AHRC produces below the full text of this historic agreement: The full text of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement held between Government of Nepal and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) dated November 22, 2006 Preamble Respecting popular mandate of Nepali people expressed in favor of democracy, peace and progression through the historical struggles and people’s […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  AS-293-2006 November 24, 2006 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission On the 24th November, 2004 (exactly two years ago) Gerard Perera succumbed to injuries caused by way of a shooting which had taken place three days earlier while he was traveling to work on a bus. The investigations revealed that […]

On September 18, a day before the military coup that overthrew the caretaker government in Thailand, one of the country’s human rights commissioners called for the authorities to pay serious attention to the findings of his investigations into killings during the first phase of the “war on drugs”. Vasant Panich said that the victims in […]

According to information received by the Asian Human Rights Commission, a senior police officer in Cambodia has arrested his son for allegedly shooting a rival student in the leg. Khou Sunnary, provincial police finance bureau chief in Kratie, arrested his son, 20-year-old Khou Sovandeth and his 19-year-old friend Yiv Rothya in Chhlong district on November […]

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 […]