Administration of justice

SRI LANKA: AHRC welcomes Sri Lankan Bar’s resolution to introduce a code of conduct for judges

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 […]

SRI LANKA: Serious concerns over the lack of an effective official investigation into the attempted arson of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka’s headquarters in Colombo

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 […]

UPDATE (Indonesia): Only one torture perpetrator charged with maltreatment while the others are still at large in Kupang

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 […]

INDIA: Limited progress shown in pursuing the perpetrators who beat a man to death in Howrah, West Bengal

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 […]

SRI LANKA: Sri Lankan lawyer under grave threats amid growing efforts to intimidate human rights workers and institutions

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: Victim of rape and attempted murder held in jail for two years while the perpetrators remain at large

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 […]

SRI LANKA: Officers charged with criminal offenses protected by the Inspector General of Police

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 […]

THAILAND: What the UN Human Rights Committee has asked of Thailand, and what it means

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 […]

UPDATE (Sri Lanka): Government and police authorities fail to respond to the custodial death of a man

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), […]

SRI LANKA: The Auditor General’s report on tsunami mismanagement should not be ignored

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 […]

SRI LANKA: A blatant attempt to cover up the suspicious death of a child monk

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 […]

UPDATE (Thailand): Final witnesses for defence to speak in trial of media campaigner Supinya

(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 […]

UPDATE (India): Further threats made to the wife of a victim allegedly killed by the police

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 […]

PHILIPPINES: Possible negligence by a local court delays the arraignment of five persons

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 […]

SRI LANKA: Politician allegedly demands Rs. 80,000/ bribe for the return of a man’s motorbike

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you of a case concerning alleged bribery and theft on the part of a local politician from Ragama, Sri Lanka. According to our sources, Mr Henry Bernard had his motorbike stolen by unknown persons in March 2004 and the matter went to court. When […]

INDIA: Human rights defender physically assaulted, threatened and detained by government officials

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information through its local partner MASUM in West Bengal that Mr. Gopen Sharma, a human rights activist was illegally detained, threatened and assaulted by the officers at the Block Development Office in Jalangi, Murshidabad District, West Bengal. Mr. Sharma was, at the time of the […]

SRI LANKA: Meningitis caused by neglect and the responsibility of Sri Lanka’s religious leaders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 2, 2005 AS-94-2005 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Meningitis caused by neglect and the responsibility of Sri Lanka’s religious leaders Medical negligence in Sri Lanka has made headlines again, with at least two persons dead and 12 others diagnosed with meningitis in recent weeks. The disease was […]

UPDATE (Philippines): Court commences trial of three men due to pressure following frequent postponement

[Re: UA-74-2005: Trial of three men yet to begin after three years; UP-78-2005: Delay in trial due to possible neglect by the court and prosecutor] Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is pleased to inform you that the case of three men whose trial has been delayed for years due to frequent postponement […]

UPDATE (Thailand): Special call for observers to attend September 7, 8 & 9 court hearings over missing human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit

[RE: FA-06-2004: THAILAND: A human rights lawyer Mr. Somchai Neelaphaijit missing… UP-20-2005: THAILAND: Human rights lawyer still missing after nearly one year; Action needed today to have case transferred; UP-24-2005: THAILAND: Thai minister refuses to act on missing human rights lawyer case; UP-37-2005: Thai PM orders action on missing human rights lawyer, while court hears […]

UPDATE (Indonesia): House of Representatives must recommend the establishment of an ad-hoc human rights court on the Trisakti/Semanggi killings in its coming plenary session

[RE: UA-23-2002: Sign petition for attorney general to bring justice to May 1998 riot victims; UP-81-2005: INDONESIA: Attorney General Refuses to investigate gross violations of human rights that were committed at Trisakti/Semanggi.] Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Kontras) […]