Administration of justice

WORLD: A special appeal to all human rights organizations requesting urgent protection and intervention for a Bangladeshi human rights defender suffering from gouged eyes, brutality and a lack of medical treatment

The Asian Human Rights Commission calls upon all human rights organizations of the world to respond to a brutal attack on a well-known human rights defender in Bangladesh, FMA Razzak and his brother by an army officer and his family. The details of the assault are given below. So far, despite of complaints no inquiries […]

PHILIPPINES: Maguindanao massacre — questions of morality, practice of law and the legal system

Myrna Reblando’s reaction demonstrates the absence of remedy within the system of justice not a mere ‘hysteria’.   Facts of the case & details of the video   As described and shown in the video of Philstar.com: Victim’s kin goes hysterical at Maguindanao massacre trial   February 03, 2011   MANILA, Philippines — Today’s hearing of […]

SRI LANKA: Independence without civil liberties is a farce

Sri Lanka will be celebrating its independence from the British Empire on February 4, 2011. The lamentation that independence has not meant a great deal to the people of Sri Lanka is commonly heard. However, the causes that created this situation have often not been examined. The very meaning of independence for citizens of any […]

INDIA: The state of the republic at 61

Statement | India | 25-01-2011

The integrity of a republic and the determination of its people depend upon the legitimacy of their government. Since declaring the Union of India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic that assures its citizens justice, equality, and liberty and to be a nation that endeavours to promote among them all fraternity, 61 years […]

PHILIPPINES: On Gerry Ortega: “Too painfully young for a man to go”

An Interview with Fr. Robert Reyes on the murder of Gerry Ortega (Hong Kong, January 26, 2011) In the interview linked below, Fr. Robert Reyes, an associate of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), talks about his close friend and associate, Gerry Ortega. Gerry was murdered on January 24 at a market in Puerto Princesa […]

PHILIPPINES: Murder of Gerry Ortega, an anti-mining activist, cannot be passed off as a robbery

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) sends it sincere condolences to the family of Gerry Ortega, a broadcast journalist and mining activist. He was shot dead at a market place while buying clothes in Puerto Princesa City yesterday, January 24. The policemen present in the area reportedly arrested the gunman, Malvin Alcaraz, after the shooting. […]

BURMA: Police allegedly drug accused during interrogation

The Asian Human Rights Commission has obtained a copy of an open letter in which a senior legal expert in Burma has alleged that police drugged his client during interrogation. The signed letter of 20 January 2011 by U Aung Thein asks, “Does the law permit the feeding of amphetamines in investigation of political cases?” […]

SRI LANKA: Without Witness and Victim Protection Legislation, No Hope for Restoration of Justice in Sri Lanka

In November 2010, in Hatton, Sri Lanka, Devarathnam Yogendra cooperated with the Bribery Commission to catch police officer IP Wijesuriya accepting bribes. A representative from the Bribery Commission watched as Wijesuriya accepted a bribe, then arrested him on charges of bribery (Case No.: 50600/01 in the Chief Magistrate’s Court of Colombo). Now Yogendra is being […]

INDIA: Judge dodging investigation must quit

Statement | India | 19-01-2011

The Kerala High Court Advocates’ Association, in an extraordinary general body meeting held yesterday, resolved to request the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India to undertake an investigation about the charges of corruption alleged against the former Chief Justice of India, Mr. K. G. Balakrishnan and the members of his family. The resolution […]

PHILIPPINES: Human Rights in Sulu: The Case of Temogen Tulawie

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following article from a campaign website, Protect Human Rights Defenders! Protect Cocoy Tulawie! Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- An article from Protect Cocoy Tulawie! Campaign forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission PHILIPPINES: Human Rights in Sulu: The Case of Temogen Tulawie How it […]

PHILIPPINES: Ombudsman finally acts on torture case filed by Abadilla 5

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- An article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission   MANILA, Philippines — After 14 years, a complaint of torture filed by the so-called Abadilla Five against […]

PHILIPPINES: Ombudsman pledges to resolve Abadilla Five’s torture complaint in a week

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that Merceditas Gutierrez, head of the Office of the Ombudsman, has pledged to resolve the complaint of torture of the Abadilla Five that has been pending in their office since January 2003 “in a week”.  UPDATED INFORMATION:  On January 3, 2011, the family members […]

THAILAND: NACC’s and DSI’s delay, failure and their favor given to officials allegedly involved with torture giving rise to the enforced disappearance of Lawyer Somchai

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following statement from the Cross Culture Foundation (CrCF) in Thailand. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- Seven years past, yet no progress made, public left at their own devices,  culprits are at large On December 22, 2010, the spokesperson of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) […]

ASIA: Christmas and New Year Wishes from the Asian Human Rights Commission

The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year. In all countries of Asia, this Christmas and new year will be celebrated in very difficult conditions. We extend our wishes to all families who are struggling in the midst of these difficulties to fight for their rights. We particularly […]

PHILIPPINES: Case analysis–Supreme Court’s ruling on Vizconde and Abadilla cases are contradictory

Supreme Court (SC) affirms conviction of the accused in Abadilla murder but acquits accused in Vizconde Massacre on similar jurisprudence The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to draw the attention of the Supreme Court (SC) of the Philippines to its recent decision on two well-known cases tried in the lower courts; the conviction in […]

INDIA: Stop talking and start acting

The 83rd Plenary Session of the Indian National Congress (INC), held in New Delhi has declared that eradicating corruption would be a priority for the INC and thus for the national government, formed under the banner of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and led by the INC. The President as well as other leaders of […]

PHILIPPINES: Withdrawal of charges against the Morong 43 must not prevent them from prosecuting their torturers

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned about the possible implications of President Benigno Aquino III’s order of December 10, 2010 to the Department of Justice (DoJ) instructing them to withdraw the charges against the Morong 43. The accused were 43 individuals, including doctors, nurses, grassroots community health workers. They were illegally arrested […]

THAILAND: The disappearance of a person and the disappearance of a criminal case

Over six-and-a-half years after police abducted and presumably killed human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit, no one has yet been punished. The one police officer among five accused who was found guilty of a relatively minor criminal charge and sentenced to three years in jail appealed the conviction and while out of prison on bail himself […]

PHILIPPINES: ‘Morong 43’ case–exposes a prosecution system directly under political control

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) welcomes with reservations President Benigno Aquino III’s order to withdraw the charges against 43 health workers, collectively known as ‘Morong 43′, as reported today. We strongly believe, based on the documents and information that we have also obtained, that they should have not been arrested, detained, and forced to […]

PHILIPPINES: A politicised, underdog system of justice

When Philippine President Benigno Aquino III decided to grant amnesty to the military men charged for rebellion against the government and not to file criminal charges against an official and the policemen involved in the Manila bus hostage incident, it demonstrated how deeply politically controlled the system of justice is in the country. His orders […]