Administration of justice

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) congratulates Chief Justice (CJ) Sushila Karki for successfully completing her term before retiring on 7 June 2017 due to her age. Before leaving her office, she exposed pertinent issues marring the judiciary in Nepal. The exposure buttresses the AHRC’s long-time position that there is political interference in the judiciary […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information regarding medical officers attached to Ingiriya Government Hospital and the Horana Base Hospital refusing to treat a torture victim on 17th January 2017. The victim, according to information, had been severely tortured by police officers attached to the Ingiriya Police Station on that same day. […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the brutal attack by officers of the military regional command (Korem) 172/PWY in Jayapura, Papua against congregants of the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Sion Padang Bulan. The congregants were protesting against the alleged burning of Bibles conducted by army personnel. The police, Jayapura […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the destruction of property by a former police officer. Mr. M G Sarath Gamage legally bought land belonging to a former police officer six years ago. However, when he began construction on the land, the former police officer continuously disturbed and destroyed his […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learnt that a 16-year-old boy was publicly tortured at Dodangoda Junction by police officers after he met with an accident on 1 April 2017. Despite the boy being seriously wounded, he was severely tortured by the police officers, and then forced to walk to the police […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Jakarta Legal Aid (LBH Jakarta) regarding torture committed by police officers of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya). Mr. Herianto was accused and charged of motorcycle theft without proper investigation. The police officers forced him to confess that he knew Mr. Ceper, […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information regarding the arrest, detention and torture of Mr. D V Jeevan Kumara Gunasinghe from Thambuwa, Ma-Eliya in the Kurunegala District. On 2nd January 2017, he has been illegally arrested, detained, tortured and brought to the Polpithigama Police Station after failing to assist the police obtain […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information regarding the illegal arrest and probable torture of Mr. Sandanayaka Mudiyanselage Nishan Priyashantha on 6 June 2017. Without being involved in any crime, Mr. Sandanayaka was arrested at the Minuwangoda Magistrate’s Court premises and brought to the Seeduwa Police Station. His relatives believe he has […]

Dear Friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal from the Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights (KARAPATAN), a human rights organization in the Philippines.  For more information, please contact:  Ms. Deejay Acierto at +63 2 4354146, +63917 6224761 (Globe) or +63 999 974 8718 (Smart). Thank you.  Urgent Appeals […]

Opening Statement by Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 6 June 2017 Distinguished President of the Council, Excellencies, Colleagues, Friends, Fifty years ago, this was the day I first heard the sound of war. I was three and a half years old and, while fragmentary, I can still remember military […]

The current government in Pakistan has proven to be a bane on freedom of expression as more journalists are reportedly being attacked. Six months into the year, 2017 and 2 journalist have already lost their lives in Pakistan. The federal capital is witnessing a surge in assault on journalist as two journalists from different media houses were attacked and […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information regarding Mr. Mutthuswamy Sathgunam, 47, of No: 2/2, Maberitenna, Digana, Rajawella, in Kandy District. Police Officers illegally arrested, detained and produced him before the Teledeniya Magistrate’s Court on fabricated charges. According to Sathgunam, the police officers conducted themselves in an unlawful manner to take revenge […]

By Sanjeewa Weerawickrama Criminal offenses such as thefts, rapes, homicides, assaults and kidnappings should be investigated according to existing laws. A criminal investigation is team work where multiple entities are involved. Analysis is necessary to establish that a crime was committed by a particular person or persons. Reliable and correct evidence should be gathered with […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information regarding Mr. Rajapaksha Mudiyanselage Thilakoon Bandara, a resident of Kandubodagama, Ma-Eliya in the Kurunegala District, who has been tortured in detention after being illegally arrested by the Polpithigama Police. He has been charged with a fabricated offence and produced before the Mahawa Magistrates’ Court. Bandara […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information regarding Mr. Anthonysamy Callistus from Rajawella, Digana in the Kandy District. On 28th March 2017, he was arrested illegally, detained and produced before the Teldeniya Magistrate’s Court on a fabricated charge by police officers attached to the Teldeniya Police. Callistus denies all such charges, and […]

A former judge of Rajasthan High Court, Mr. Mahesh Chand Sharma, has claimed that a peacock does not mate with a peahen to breed, and it was because of this quality that it was declared India’s national bird. Elaborating his knowledge on the subject, Sharma said “a peahen gets pregnant after swallowing the tears of […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information regarding Mr. Siril Sandanaraja, who was illegally arrested, detained and produced before the Teledeniya Magistrate’s Court on fabricated charges by police officers. According to Siril, the police officers behaved in an unlawful manner in cohort with a local wealthy man, violating his fundamental rights guaranteed […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from the United NGOs Mission, Manipur and the North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF). It concerns uranium mining and its deleterious effects in Meghalaya. The presence of open uranium pits in the region poses significant health risks to human beings, animals, aquatic life plus […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information regarding Mr. R.M Padmasiri Bandara (46) of Kandubadagama, Ma-Eliya, Polpithigama in the Kurunegala District. On 2 January 2017, he was illegally arrested, detained, tortured and brought before the Court by police officers attached to the Polpithigama Police Station. He was not involved in any crime. […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information regarding Mr. Murugan Velu Rajagopal (56), No: 1/1, Maberitenna, Rajawella, Digana in Kandy District. On 28 March 2017, he was illegally arrested, detained and produced before the Teledeniya Magistrate’s Court on fabricated charges by police officers of the Teldeniya Police Station. Rajagopal states that the […]