Urgent Appeal Case

SRI LANKA: Assault, fabrication of charges by police, and an attack on freedom of expression ——————————————————————– – Name of the Victim: Mr. Uvidu Kurukulasuriya – Date of the Incident: November 15, 2002 – Assaulted by: Police of the Maharagama police station CASE DETAILS Uvidu Kurukulasuriya, a journalist from the well known Sinhala newspaper, Ravaya was […]

Mr. Lamahewage Lal Meddagoda (36), a coconut plucker who lived in Seeduwa South, was a father of three children (two daughters and one son). He was arrested by the Seeduwa Police with another person named Wewalage Shelton Fernando for allegedly stealing Sri Lanka Rupees 300 worth ‘kehel kana’ (a plantain bunch). He was arrested on the 5 November 2002. According to the evidence of Mr. W. Shelton Fernando at the inquest conducted by the Magistrate Negombo M. N. Buran, both persons were tortured by the Police.

MONGOLIA: Mass arrests; denial of freedom of expression and association ——————————————————————– The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that, at 3 a.m. on 13 November 2002, more than 50 participants in a demonstration for private land reform were arrested and sent to the so-called “Center of Identification” located in Denjiin Myanga in the […]

One of the most important step towards finding international justice to grave human rights violations and grace crimes has been achieved through the establishment of International Criminal Court (ICC) on the 1 July 2002. NGOs played a key role in brining this court to a reality, lobbying many governments to support it. However, there are very few ratifications from the Asian region thus undermining universal representation in the Assembly of State Parties of ICC.

BANGLADESH: State terrorism; Mass arrests and torture by the army ——————————————————————– The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that more than 3,000 people have been arrested in a joint operation named “Operation Clean Heart” to crack down on criminals in which nearly 40,000 army troops are taking part. AHRC is extremely concerned that […]

SRI LANKA: Risk of life; Need protection and counseling for the victim of rape and family by the state ——————————————————————– Sandamalee (13), a student of year 8 was raped by her father (37) on 2nd September 2002. She revealed her story when her mother (34) saw her husband raping her daughter with her own eyes […]

On 8 October 2002, Singaporean Court sentenced Chee Soon Juan, Singaporean opposition leader, and Ghandhi Ambalam for five and four weeks jail for breaking Singapore’s Public Entertainment and Meeting Act by holding a public event without a permit, after they refused to pay a S$4,500 (USA$2,540) and S$3000 fine, respectively. Ambalam has since been released, as his family paid the fine, but Chee continues to be imprisoned.

Name: Hettitantrige Lasitha Sameera Madusanga, 17 years old, a student of Gurukula MV studying in Grade 12 A/Level class in the Science stream Address: No. 245, Dias Place, St. Francis Mawatha, Dalugama, Kelaniya. Tel 907804. The Date of the Police Assault: 17th Oct 2002 after 4.00 p.m. up to 18th Oct 2002 Morning Alleged Perpetrators: […]

On September 30, 2002, police clashed with protestors peacefully demonstrating against the Mangla Dam extension in Mirpur, a city in the Pakistani controlled area of Kashmir. The police attacked the demonstrators with batons and tear gas, arresting 13 people and injuring others. Mr. Najeeb Asfar, a member of the Association of British Kashmiris, reported that following the incident, most of Mirpur City was put under curfew.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that two foreigners and one Acehnese interpreter have been arrested and detained in charge of possession of information about the Acehnese independence movement by the Indonesian police in the South Aceh District on Sept. 10, 2002.

On the occasion of the issue of a special report on torture in Sri Lanka by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a sister organisation of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), we are issuing this urgent appeal to urge you to bring pressure on the Sri Lankan government to act decisively to stop the widespread practice of torture in the country.

PAKISTAN: Risk of life – Denial of right to life and religious freedom ———————————————————– The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is forwarding you the statement endorsed by several human rights organizations in Pakistan, regarding the killing of seven human rights, Justice and Peace activists on last Wednesday in Pakistan. The signatories are, Human Rights Commission […]

INDIA: Caste based discrimination; A clear case of discrimination on the basis of work and descent, fear of life, inhuman and degrading treatment ———————————————————– Sankan, son of (s/o) Sri Periasamy, is residing at the Kavundampatti, Pallapatti (via), Nilkottai Taluk, Dindigul District of Tamilnadu State in South India with his wife, sons and daughters. His eldest […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) recommends to you to support the campaign launched by Ms. Irom Sharmila on 2 November 2000 when she spontaneously went on a hunger strike after the random killing of 22 innocent by-standers by the armed forces of India in Manipur. She had reached the end of her tolerance of the endemic violence, disappearances, killings of innocent people, which was made possible by the imposition of the draconian AFSPA, and the designation of Manipur as a ‘disturbed area’, where the armed forces have free play. 

About 3,000 Dalit (low-caste Untouchables) women and men, along with Dalit and other human rights organisations, organised a two-day padayatra (a peaceful march) on Sept. 20 and 21, 2002, to protest against the social and economic boycott of the Bairwas (a Dalit community) since December 2001 in the Indian village of Chakwara in the town of Phagi Tehsil in Jaipur District by the upper caste Jat, Gujjar and Brahmin communities. The Dalits are demanding the right to access the ghats (a platform with steps) meant for bathing in the public pond in the village.

The Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) and Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) based in Thailand have recently released the report “License to Rape”, which contains 173 cases of rape committed by Burmese troops against the Shan ethnic group in Burma.

SOUTH KOREA: Crimes against humanity, impunity; To reveal the truth about suspicious deaths ——————————————————————– “I would like to forgive the perpetrators, but the only thing I hope is to reveal the truth of his suspicious death.” (One victim’s father, who lost his son in compulsory military service) “Even if Korea was collapsed or the president […]

PHILIPPINES: Land rights; Loss of land and deprivation of livelihood ——————————————————————– The following urgent appeal is based on information received from the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP). It combines information from a recent urgent appeal of theirs and two updates to it. Please show solidarity with the farmers in the Philippines who are […]

Mr. Brahmanage Aruna Sheron Suranga WIJEWARDANE (27) of 444B Batagama South, Kandana, was handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Head Quarters at Colombo to assist an inquiry by the CID. Mr. Wijewardane was handed over by his uncle Mr. Lenard Nonis to the Superintendent of Police (SP) Nimal Kulathunga of CID at the CID Head Quarters at 9:45am on 26 August 2002. When Mr. Wijewardene was being handed over, SP Nimal Kulathunga promised to Mr. Nonis that Mr. Wijewardane would not be assaulted.

On Aug. 15, 2002, the members of the New People’s Army (NPA) ambushed a police team in Brgy. Pansoy, Sogod, Cebu, Philippines, injuring two policemen and one civilian. Immediately members of the 78th infantry battalion, under the command of Lt. Col. Jonas Sumagaysay, set up checkpoints in the area to block the fleeing rebels.