Statement

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) expresses its solidarity with the victims and survivors of the earthquake that struck the city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia on May 27, 2006. It has been reported that nearly 5000 persons have been killed, while 20,000 are injured and 200, 000 have been rendered homeless. Although rescue operations are underway […]

The rule of law in Sri Lanka which is in abysmal decay, suffered a further major set back when the President of Sri Lanka acted as if he is more supreme than the Constitution, by making three appointments to the highest courts ignoring the Constitutional provisions which must have prevented him from doing so. This […]

On May 12, the Department of Interior and Local Government formed “Task Force Usig”, a police-led investigative unit to probe the unrelenting killings of activists and family members in the Philippines. The task force has publicly admitted that the two big difficulties it has are that witnesses cannot be located or are unwilling to cooperate; […]

The AHRC is issuing this statement to coincide with a meeting organised by a group of citizens in Sri Lanka on the theme ‘Saving Sri Lanka from the brink of disaster’, to be held on May 27 at Colombo.  For details see AHRC FS-012-2006 The state’s protection of human rights is dependent on the government’s capacity […]

The media reported today that the Executive President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapakse, has used his presidential power to ban the Da Vinci Code blockbuster film from public screening. The Daily News, a pro-government newspaper also reported the Catholic Bishop’s Conference lauding the President for having taken this action, which reportedly came as the result […]

On the morning of May 23, 2006 a police force equipped with electric batons from Dangkor district, Phnom Penh was sent to beat up and disperse a group of workers on strike in front of the Park View garment factory. During the police crackdown, two female workers Chi Noeun and Meas Vichny were badly electrocuted. […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) condemns the attack upon The Dawn, a daily newspaper published from Pakistan, by Mr. Salahuddin Haider, the Chief Minister’s advisor on Information in the Sindh Province of Pakistan. It is alleged that on 3 May 2006, Mr. Haider made threatening remarks against the newspaper and its staff following the […]

On May 7, 15 Cambodian judges and two public prosecutors were appointed to serve on the Khmer Rouge tribunal alongside 11 international judges and two prosecutors. The appointment has met with a lot of criticism that those judges and prosecutors lack adequate professional qualifications and independence, and that the trials cannot meet international standards of […]

By dismissing a case of police torture and degrading treatment on May 21, 2006, the Fourth Special Tribunal for Prevention of Women and Children Repression, under the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court of Dhaka has denied a person of her right to redress. The court has further granted impunity to the perpetrators. The judiciary is the […]

In what amounts to a scandal concerning the manner in which President Mahinda Rajapaske has made appointments to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, one of the nominees and well known human rights activist, Mr. S.G.Punchihewa, revealed that he was unaware of being nominated until he saw a news item mentioning his name, following […]

On May 18, 2006, with the adoption of the House of Representative’s Proclamation, the Nepalese people achieved an historic victory towards the establishment of a truly democratic state. Included in the proclamation resolution, which was approved by a unanimous verbal vote in the 205-member house, are several landmark reforms that significantly alter the country’s political […]

Sri Lankan newspapers have reported the drafting of a new law severely curtailing civil liberties and media freedoms. Conscription is one of the provisions of the draft law. Other provisions are expected to be in line with the emergency laws of the past. This law is likened to the American Patriot Act of 2001. However, […]

India, the self-styled world’s largest democracy, has secured its position in the newly constituted UN Human Rights Council following elections held on May 9th, 2006.  Although India’s initial period serving on the Council is limited to one year, there is much that India can do during its tenure to improve its human rights record and […]

Under the Constitution of Sri Lanka, the executive president has not been given the power to select members of any of the commissions established or supervised by the 17th Amendment. The power of selection lies with the Constitutional Council and the president can only make appointments based on the Council’s selections. The Asian Human Rights […]

Something very big is happening in Thailand. In recent weeks, people there have been in the grip of a constitutional debate that will have a lasting impact on their society. In fact it is a moment that has caught widespread attention and brought into public discussion some of the deepest complications when rooting democracy and […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 12, 2006 AS-107-2006 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission BURMA: The 1974 Constitution and challenge for Burma’s courts U Tin Nyein is among the latest victims of Burma’s courts of injustice. On March 29, the 49-year-old farmer was jailed for two years because he complained that his crops were […]

In his latest outburst, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on May 11 assailed criticism of government choices for 17 judges to sit on the international tribunal for former Khmer Rouge leaders. Some of the government’s choices have been described as unsuitable for the seats to which they have been nominated. Before an assembly of law […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 11, 2006 AS-105-2006 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) SRI LANKA: Human Rights Council a new forum to discuss Sri Lanka’s human rights record An article published in Mirror Politics by Champika Liyannarachchi, entitled ‘Failed States and unfair indexes’ is an interesting example of how commonly known facts […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 11, 2006 AS-104-2006 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission THAILAND: DSI director must be sacked and investigated In a May 9 letter to the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Justice in Thailand, the wife of disappeared human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit launched a scathing attack on the work […]

The new Human Rights Council was elected on May 9, 2006. According to the General Assembly Resolution of April 3, 2006,  When electing members of the Council, Member States shall take into account the contribution of candidates to the promotion and protection of human rights and their voluntary pledges and commitments made thereto; the General […]