Statement

Last week, the Auditor General published a report concerning the numerous irregularities in tsunami reconstruction, rehabilitation and fund management. Covering the period from December 2004 to June 2005, the document is an interim report on post-tsunami activities and was presented to the Sri Lankan parliament.   The media has commented on the tough stance taken […]

Simon Wiesenthal, one of the most important contributors to the modern human rights movement, passed away on September 20, 2005. Although known mainly for his work in exposing perpetrators of the Nazi holocaust, he and his colleagues developed working methods–and from these theoretical understandings–which had a significant effect on how human rights are perceived and […]

Seven doctors from the Negombo Hospital threatened to go on strike if they were not provided with free legal aid in a case before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court, where they had been summoned to appear. Prior to this, the doctors had been on strike to protest against a police inquiry into allegations of medical negligence […]

A people’s tribunal hearing on starvation and government neglect will be held at Bankim Niwas in Jalangi, Murshidabad, West Bengal on September 23 and 24, organized by the Howrah-based Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (Masum) and the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). Nine panelists, consisting of eminent Indian judges, doctors and social activists will listen to […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 15, 2005 AS-95-2005 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Scandal at the Inland Revenue Department needs to be investigated and brought under criminal investigation promptly An alleged fraud involving the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) was revealed in the Island newspaper on 13 September, 2005. The alleged fraud is […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 2, 2005 AS-94-2005 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Meningitis caused by neglect and the responsibility of Sri Lanka’s religious leaders Medical negligence in Sri Lanka has made headlines again, with at least two persons dead and 12 others diagnosed with meningitis in recent weeks. The disease was […]

The killing of a renowned politician and some 37 of his supporters in a mountain hideout by the Pakistan military on August 26 has thrown the country headlong towards a catastrophe that can only be averted by intense international and national efforts. As the news of the killings in Balochistan has spread, so too has […]

Public pressure and the courageous stand taken by Sri Lanka’s Commissioner of Elections have made certain that the next presidential elections will be held this year; President Kumaratunga’s claim to a further year in power has been rejected. This achievement is of enormous importance for both social and political morale. Had this occurred during the […]

The recent assault and detention of the Maldives’ opposition party leader is indicative of the disturbing use of authoritarian powers by the government to suppress calls for democratic reform. Mohammed Nasheed was detained on August 12, 2005 in Male, together with Ahmed Abbas and some other persons. The two activists had been holding a silent […]

The latest in a growing number of open threats and attacks directed at human rights defenders and social activists in Thailand occurred in the early hours of last Thursday, August 18, when a grenade was lobbed at Wiwat Thamee’s parked car in Mae Fah Luang district of Chiang Rai province. Although nobody was in the […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) welcomes the call by the President of India, Mr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam to the nation that the country should be self-sustaining within a period of 25 years in regards to its energy requirements. The President however, does not speak about achieving self sustenance for all citizens in […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) expresses shock and condemns the killing of Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar on 12 August 2005. In direct and indirect terms the Government and many other sources have accused the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) for the murder. The LTTE has denied this allegation. Though a […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission joins with others in condemning the seven-years’ imprisonment handed without fair and credible trial to Cambodian opposition member of parliament Cheam Channy on fictitious charges of forming an illegal armed group. Another member of parliament, Khom Piseth, was also sentenced to five years in absentia. With this verdict, the level […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned of the abduction of a newborn baby at Negombo Base Hospital during the last week. This hospital has over recent months been plagued by a series of medical negligence scandals, resulting in the deaths of patients as well as the unnecessary amputation of a patient’s leg. Despite […]

According to the latest media reports, the Sri Lankan Inspector General of Police (IGP), Chandra Fernando, has said that the police will apply to the Attorney General’s department to have a trial at bar in order to speed up the sensational Royal Park murder trial. The IGP says this will “send a clear message” to […]

Farmers in parts of Mindanao, southern Philippines, have for the last three years suffered terrible crop losses due to drought and rats. Deep poverty, severe hunger and starvation have followed. Although there are many avenues available for the authorities to intervene and assist the farmers, it was not until this year that they began to […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 22, 2005 AS-84-2005 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) What is the point of Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation? For at least the third time, Thailand’s Ministry of Justice has announced that its Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will take over the inquiry into disappeared human rights lawyer […]

In responding to the current dysfunctional status of the Constitutional Council, the Government of Sri Lanka has stated–by way of a communique published in the media–that this is a result of the opposition leader failing to make his nomination, as required constitutionally. With the Council having ceased to function over a year ago, public administration […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 19, 2005 AS-82-2005 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Extrajudicial killings reflect absence of command responsibility within Sri Lanka’s policing system The increasing violence and extrajudicial killings in Sri Lankan police stations reflect the absence of command responsibility within the police department. Daily reports of serious police torture, […]

It should come as no surprise to anyone that has followed the saga of missing Thai human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit to hear that his wife Angkhana has now taken his case directly to the U.N. Human Rights Committee in Geneva. The Committee is considering Thailand’s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political […]