Urgent Appeal Update

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has obtained further information regarding the case of Mr. Lalith Rajapakse. The AHRC has obtained a copy of his affidavit narrating the facts of the case. Based on the circumstances and the statement he had given, the AHRC is certain that some unknown persons were in fact […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Centre for Rule of Law (CRL), a human rights organisation working in Colombo, Sri Lanka regarding the case of Mr. Lalith Rajapakse, a victim of custodial torture. It is reported that Lalith’s life is at risk once again from the criminals operating […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that another six persons have been killed on the pretext that they were either involved in criminal activities or had criminal records in General Santos City. The AHRC is seriously concerned by the continued failure by the concerned authorities to prevent these murders and […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an updated appeal received from Amnesty International regarding the case of a journalist, was in danger of losing his eye sight due to the lack of medical treatment (See further AHRC-FUA-004-2008). According to the information received, he was given medical treatment on May 9 and […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received additional information concerning the case of rape that was reported earlier by the AHRC on 31 March 2008. The AHRC is informed through Navsarjan that the case is currently taken up for trial. The AHRC is also informed that the victim suspects unfair practices during […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that following the Court of Appeals (CA) conclusion of its appellate review affirming the conviction imposed by a lower court on the Abadilla Five, the lawyers for the accused are seeking to nullify the CA’s decision on April 1. They filed a Petition […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) calls for your immediate intervention into the case of Umesh Lama. On 30 April 2008, Umesh’s sister, who had filed a case under the Torture Compensation Act, was compelled to withdraw her case due to constant pressure from the police, including the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) […]

Dear friends The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from the Advocacy Forum, a human rights organisation based in Nepal, concerning the case of Mr. Umesh Lama. The AHRC had reported on 21 April, that after being arrested and tortured while in custody, Umesh is undergoing treatment for his injuries (See further AHRC-UAC-078-2008). […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from the Legal Aid Institute of Surabaya (LBH Surabaya) that autopsy reports confirmed that four persons died due to gunshots. Several others were injured due to shooting by naval officers. Questions have been raised on the fairness of the trial and possibility of […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information that the Supreme Court dismissed all charges against Song Du-yul, German professor, under the National Security Law (NSL) on 17 April 2008. The AHRC welcomes the court’s decision and we thank you for all your support. UPDATED INFORMATION: Song Du-yul, 64, was immediately […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) that an activist has continuously been under surveillance allegedly by the military. After having his case reported police authorities have conducted an inquiry about his current situation but they failed to provide him […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) regrets to inform you that the Attorney General (AG) has, at the time of writing, failed to appeal the case of Gerald Perera even though there are serious grounds on which to pursue this case (AHRC-STM-088-2008). The AHRC, once again, kindly asks for your immediate intervention in […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that a journalist has received renewed threats on his life since January 2008 in Cambodia. He was warned “to be careful” and a number of live assault rifle cartridges were found in the yard. The AHRC has earlier reported series of death threats against him, […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes with deep concern about the manner the police conducted its investigation into the case of a 32-year-old farmer who was abducted, tortured and left for dead. The victim survived from his ordeal but the investigation has come to a halt after the police argued that the […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to inform you that a mother of two, who had been awaiting execution, was released with her 4-year-old son from a prison on 17 March 2008 in Iran. She received a death sentence by stoning for adultery and has been awaiting execution for the last ten […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) regrets to inform you that the accused police officers responsible for the torture of Gerald Perera, who was later assassinated before giving evidence before a court, were acquitted by the Negombo High Court on 2 April 2008. This judgment is extremely dangerous as hereafter persons who want […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that to date no investigation has been conducted into the alleged torture of police officer Pring Pov in Kep seaside town. He was punished for refusing to follow an order to cede his land to a senior government minister. (See further: AHRC-UAC-045-2008; AHRC-UAU-012-2008) UPDATE INFORMATION: Pring Pov, […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been further informed by the Working Group on Justice for Peace (WGJP) about another case of the alleged torture of a man, who was arbitrarily arrested and detained by the military in southern Thailand. Meanwhile, when relatives of Yapa (AHRC-UAC-055-2008) took possession of his body, marks […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that no prompt investigation has been conducted into the alleged torture of a young man which occurred on 7 February 2008. He was severely injured due to assault. (See further: AHRC-UAC-034-2008) UPDATE INFORMATION: Keo Sokea, a police officer named allegedly beat Taing Thavy with a rifle […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the continued inaction of the police into the alleged sexual abuse of a five-year-old girl by her father in Sri Lanka. The girl’s grandmother filed a complaint at the Panwila police station in Kandy on 18 June 2007 (See further UA-258-2007). A court […]