Administration of justice

INDIA: Ban corruption, not banish the cartoonist

Article | India | 10-09-2012

The arrest of Aseem Trivedi, a cartoonist and a member of India against Corruption, is not only ridiculous but also a telling comment on the paranoia that has set in the government circles and deserves all the outrage it has caused. In fact, the only thing more ludicrous than the arrest itself is the reason […]

INDIA: Too little too late

After 17 days of daring to stand in neck-deep water, the villagers who are protesting against the unjust compensation package offered for the Onkareshwar Dam in Madhya Pradesh is yet to receive any guaranteed assurances from their government. Yesterday, the Madhya Pradesh State Government has reportedly agreed to reduce the water level in the reservoir, […]

INDIA: History repeats in Omkareshwar protest

(Hong Kong, September 05, 2012) “This is taking the Ghandhian method to the water. To be submerged in water continuously for so many days is more difficult, in fact, than fasting…” Mr. Basil Fernando, Director – Polices and Programmes said referring to the ongoing protest in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, India by the villagers who lost […]

PHILIPPINES: The Tulawie case — activist’s wife talks about how his arrest changed her and her children

(Hong Kong, September 6, 2012) Mussah Sherian, the wife of the falsely accused human rights activist Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie, thought she would just be “behind the scenes taking care of (their) children,” but it all changed after his arrest. Mussah now looks after their five children, namely Iman, 19; Imir, 15; Carrey, 12; Jihad, 8 […]

INDIA: Rights are a mandate, not a concession

Statement | India | 04-09-2012

The ongoing protest by village communities acting against the increase of water level in the Omkareshwar Dam is unique in several aspects. The protest, which has completed 11 days today, is directed against the Madhya Pradesh state government that has failed to adequately rehabilitate those who have lost their land and livelihood to this ‘development’ […]

BANGLADESH: A black hole for disappeared victims

The people of Bangladesh are scared. Incidents of abduction by plain-clothed people, who often claim to be law-enforcing agents of the country, are ongoing, without any indication of being on the want. The people of Bangladesh are scared because their brothers and sons are disappearing. The stories of disappearances are being exposed by the media […]

PHILIPPINES: Falsely charged labour leader submits himself to trial to clear his name and those of others

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that a labour leader falsely charged for robbery entered a plea of ‘not guilty’ at the beginning of his trial on August 23, 2012. In order to clear his and those of other activists, he submitted himself to the court proceedings, knowing full well […]

BURMA: Abused child worker who seeks justice suffers further abuse in courtroom

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) recently brought you details of a case in which police conspired with the employer of a young girl who allegedly abused and murdered her to cover up the facts (AHRC-UAC-136-2012). In this Urgent Appeal, we wish to inform you of another case in which a young girl […]

INDIA: Challenging fundamentals

Statement | India | 18-08-2012

The Chief Minister of West Bengal is once again in the news. This time the minister is critiqued for her comments on judicial corruption. However, if truth is the best defence, and if such a defence is bona fide, then in public interest none can blame the minister for her ‘expressing opinion.’ In fact, it […]

PHILIPPINES: Supreme Court held the State of Emergency in Sulu unconstitutional

The Free Cocoy Tulawie Movement is happy to announce the Decision of the Supreme Court dated July 3, 2012 which GRANTED the Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition filed by Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie et.al. against Governor Sakur Tan for declaring the Province of Sulu in a State of Emergency last March 31, 2009. Penned by Associate Justice […]

NEPAL: Attorney General stresses the need to reform police investigation process

On 8 August, the Nepali newspaper The Himalayan Times reported from Myagdi district that the incumbent Attorney General of Nepal, Mukti Pradhan had denounced the current police investigation process of Nepal as a strong obstacle to the proper delivery of justice. He is quoted as having said that “Torture-based investigation is still in practice in Nepal”. He […]

PAKISTAN: Forced conversions and religious intolerance forcing Hindus to abandon the country

By Altaf Hussain The mass exodus of minority Hindus from Pakistan particularly from Sindh, has stirred the lethargic and ignorant government authorities who otherwise had kept mum over the security concerns of the Hindu community. Significant number of families of Pakistan’s Hindu community particularly from Sindh, reportedly have started migrating to neighboring country, India, because […]

INDIA: True value of independence

Statement | India | 14-08-2012

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) congratulates India and the people of this great country on the eve of the 65th anniversary of independence. Occasions like this are opportunity for the country and its people to reflect and introspect on the promises they made, both 65 years ago, when celebrating newfound freedom, and subsequently. The […]

INDIA: Reform dishonesty first

Statement | India | 13-08-2012

The government is again planning to change the criminal justice mainframe of the country. Again, the ruse is that of justice to the people and national security. The proposal is open; its true purpose clandestine. If the 2007 report of the Committee on National Policy on Criminal Justice, chaired by Dr. N.R. Madhava Menon, is […]

NEPAL: For the ordinary folk, limited progress in liberties, opportunities and income in recent years

Statement | Nepal | 08-08-2012

A group of human rights lawyers and activists gathered for a two-day seminar on the Rule of Law and Criminal Justice in Dhulikhel, Nepal. This seminar was organized by Advocacy Forum and the Asian Human Rights Commission. Reviewing liberties, opportunities and income, the participants discussed a large number of issues relating to the recent developments […]

BURMA: Police cover up abuse and murder of child domestic worker

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has obtained information about the case of a child worker whose killing by her employer in the middle of Rangoon the police have covered up. Ten-year-old Ma Thin Thin Myat’s employers subjected her to constant abuse and forced her to work like a slave before one of […]

ASIA: ABC Kimberley radio interview on the meeting of the parliamentarians

Statement | Asia | 26-07-2012

We are pleased to forward the full text and the audio of an interview with Mr. Basil Fernando of the Asian Human Rights Commission and ABC Kimberley about the meeting of the parliamentarians held in Hong Kong between July 21-24, 2012. You may listen to the audio recording of the interview here. The full text of […]

SRI LANKA: Law & Society Trust condemns Mannar Court House attack

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following statement from the Law & Society Trust. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Statement from the Law & Society Trust forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission The Law & Society Trust views the reported attack on the Mannar court house by a […]

ASIA: We need anti-torture legislation in Pakistan

Speech given by Abbasi Nusrat Bano, a member of the Provincial Assembly, at the meeting of Asian Parliamentarians On Sunday afternoon, (July 22), Abbasi Nusrat Bano, a member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh, delivered this speech to great applaus as part of the Meeting of Asian Parliamentarians in the Asian Alliance against Torture and […]

SRI LANKA: Attack on two courts – It is time for judges and lawyers to fight back

According to reports we have received, a group of criminals allegedly sponsored by a government minister, stoned the High Court and the Magistrate Court of Manner in a coordinated attack yesterday. A very tense situation is reported to be taking place in manner. According to information we have received, a mobile fishing hut was attacked […]