Administration of justice

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received further information regarding the case of the five men who were beaten to death by a mob of villagers after they were suspected of having stolen motorcycles in Barasat, West Bengal on 2 October 2005. According to the latest information received, the dead bodies of […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from MASUM, a human rights organisation in West Bengal about the arrest and detention of Mr. Samir Dutta of Kalyangarh Kalitala Police Station, 24 Parganas (North), West Bengal, India on mistaken identity.  The victim was taken into custody and further tortured brutally forcing him to admit […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding 73 workers from the Orex Factory in Ekala, Jaela, Sri Lanka, who were unlawfully dismissed after the owner arbitrarily closed down the factory in 2002. The AHRC previously reported that the owner, Mohamed Mohamed Izzath deprived his workers of the Employees Trust […]

One of the most important legal challenges to the impunity of Thailand’s police in recent years is rapidly degenerating into a farce, thanks in large part to the inept and pathetic role played by the public prosecution.  On Thursday, November 3, the case against five police officers in the Bangkok Criminal Court in connection with […]

The life of an average citizen in the Philippines these days is beset with fear. Even the expression “rule of law” evokes cynical reactions among ordinary folk, as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo uses the very same expression to justify blatant and brutal repression.  Sloganeering about anti-terrorism and anti-crime drives is used as a weapon to subdue […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information stating that the main suspect in the alleged rape incident of a female passenger in transit to Kuwait, at the Bandaranaike International Airport (please view our urgent appeal on this case UA-183-2005), Sri Lanka was identified on 28 October 2005 at an identification parade before […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission welcomes the resolution adopted by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) to introduce a . BASL appointed a committee comprising a former chief justice and two former Supreme Court judges to draft this code of conduct.  This move by BASL answers a dire need in the country. It deserves […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission’s (AHRC) inquiries reveal that no progress has thus far been made by officials investigating the attempted arson of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) of Sri Lanka headquarters on October 12, 2005. Eight days have now passed and immediate and effective action is required as a matter of urgency. AHRC has […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from the Initiative for the Development of People’s Advocacy (PIAR) in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia regarding the torture of a colleague student Elfrianus Alfred Ulu (23) by the prison officials of the Penfui Prison, Kupang. According to the information we have received, only […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from our local partner organization Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (Masum) in West Bengal, India, that a man, Tarun Hati, was beaten to death by the husband and relatives of a woman, Nirupama Hazra, whom he was believed to be having an illicit relationship with in […]

A Sri Lankan lawyer who has appeared for the complainants in many well-known human rights cases is facing grave threats to his security. Rasika Sanjeewa Weerawickrama has been receiving telephone calls and other forms of pressure to withdraw from some of these cases. In recent weeks the pressures have increased, giving reasonable grounds to believe […]

INDIA: Gang rape; attempted murder; murder; Border Security Forces; police inaction; legal representation; failure of the courts; rule of law; women’s rights; child rights ——————————————————————— Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from our local partner organization Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (Masum) in West Bengal, India, regarding the gang rape of a […]

In reference to the interdiction of 106 policemen who have been charged for serious criminal offenses before Sri Lanka’s high courts, a daily newspaper Divayina reported the country’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) as saying that the officers should be allowed to continue at their posts until they are proven guilty. This statement in fact […]

The deputy permanent secretary to the Justice Ministry in Thailand noted on September 27 that the country has been asked by the UN Human Rights Committee to submit further information on the executive decree granting emergency powers to security forces in the south. Tongthong Chandransu was reported as having said that it would benefit Thailand […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that no action has been taken by the authorities in Sri Lanka to arrest or prosecute those police officers allegedly responsible for the custodial death of a 53-year-old man. As reported to you through our urgent appeals programme on 6 June 2005 (UA-90-2005), […]

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 […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from a reliable source regarding the alleged murder of a young student monk at the hands of those whose care he had been left in. Fifteen year old W. M. Kapila Chandra Kumara was taken by his parents to study under the Diyamalkanda temple […]

(UA-73-2004: THAILAND: Human rights defender faces preliminary decision in libel case on 21 June 2004 and UP-31 2004: THAILAND: Criminal Court decides to let libel suit against Ms Supinya Klangnarong proceed on 29 June 2004; UP-62-2004: THAILAND: Update on libel suit against media-reform activist Ms Supinya; UP-31-2005: THAILAND: Media reform campaigner Supinya holds fund-raising event […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wrote to you on 20 September 2005 detailing the police beating of Mr. Chheparuddin Mondal, which led to his death. We also commented that the police had threatened the victim’s wife and the local population not to lodge a complaint against this matter. (For further details please […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from a reliable source regarding the possible negligence by a local court in General Santos City, Mindanao, Philippines, which has resulted in the delay in the arraignment of five persons. Under Section 7 of the Republic Act 8493, an act which ensures speedy trial […]