Administration of justice

नेपाल: न्यायालयप्रति विश्वसीनयताको क्षयीकरण

Article | Nepal | 17-01-2017

शैलेन्द्र प्रसाद हरिजन (अम्बेडकर) न्यायपरिषद्का अध्यक्ष तथा सम्माननीय प्रधान न्यायधीश शुशिला कार्कीज्यूले मंसिर ३ गतेका दिन सप्तरीको राजविराजमा पत्रकारहरुसँग कुरा गर्दै “बुहारीलाई घुम्टोमा राख्ने अनी समावेशी भएन भन्ने ? जहाँपायो त्यहीँ समानुपातिक समावेशी सिद्धान्त लागू गर्दा समस्या आउछ । पढेलेखेका योग्य व्यक्तिहरुलाई पनि हेर्न जरुरी छ । बुहारीलाई नपढाउने, घुम्टोभित्र राख्ने अनि समावेशीको कुरा गर्नु […]

PAKISTAN: Call for safe recovery of four bloggers who disappeared after being arrested

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the alleged enforced disappearance, in the first week of January, of four human rights defenders from different cities. There are two bloggers, a writer and a professor. All four were pro-active on social media against state atrocities on the issues of disappearances and […]

SRI LANKA: The job of a judge is to do justice, regardless of nationality

Article | India | 06-01-2017

Concerns have been raised about the preliminary report of the Consultation Task Force (CTF), particularly about hybrid courts and foreign judges. It should be remembered that this report and its recommendations have not been finalized. Additionally, at the very beginning of the report, the CTF write that they are not making extensive recommendations themselves, but […]

SRI LANKA: “Though heavens fall let justice prevail”: An Interview with Basil Fernando on TV1 Newsline

Mr Basil Fernando, Director of Policy and Programmes of the Asian Human Rights Commission in Hong Kong speaks with Mr Faraz Shauketaly, Host of the News First – TV1’s “Newsline” programme on 05th January 2017 – on the proposed national reconciliation process; the recommendations of the United Nations for a domestic-international hybrid court inclusive of foreign judges – […]

BANGLADESH: Mahmudur Rahman should be allowed to travel for medical treatment

BANGLADESH: Mahmudur Rahman should be allowed to travel for medical treatment Paris-Geneva-Hong-Kong, December 24, 2016 – Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has so far refused to grant journalist Mahmudur Rahman, recently released from 1,322 days in arbitrary detention, the right to travel abroad for urgent surgery, despite the serious risk of irreversible neurological damage he faces. The Observatory […]

SRI LANKA: The sound of the dengue mosquito was heard louder than the national anthem

2016 end-of-the-year commentary on human rights in Sri Lanka The neglect of the right to life within the country is quite symbolically expressed in the failure to address the spread of dengue in any significant manner. While the deaths due to dengue fever is high, a number of areas were declared as being more prone […]

PHILIPPINES: Farmer activists falsely charged with possession of illegal drug

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned about the illegal arrest of four farmer activists, and the planting of drugs in their homes in Bulacan. The farmers are involved in resisting the land grabbing of the Central Bank of Philippines and campaigning for fair land distribution to peasants.  CASE DETAILS: (Based […]

BANGLADESH: Local Government elections further eroded people’s confidence in election

by Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar Elections of 3,956 Union Parishad (UP), the lowest tier of the local governmental system in Bangladesh, held in six phases that were conducted few months ago. Serious allegations of mononoyan banijya (buying nominations for money), other irregularities and violence were raised about these elections. Nevertheless, our CEC claimed that UP elections this time were much […]

THAILAND: Cout to hear request of revoking activist’s bail in lese majeste case

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the on-going judicial harassment of student activist Jatupat Boonphattaraksa in Thailand. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), on 22 December 2016, at 9 a.m., the Provincial Court of Khon Kaen, in the northeastern region of Thailand, will conduct a hearing regarding a police request to revoke […]

THAILAND: Third arrest for 71-year- old writer under lèse majesté offence

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the latest limitation of freedom of opinion and expression in Thailand.  According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), on 15 November 2016 at 3:40 p.m., police officers from Chanasongkram Police Station arrested 71-year-old Bundit Aneeya from his house. The police informed the elderly writer […]

AHRC TV: Pakistan’s Ahmadis facing state sponsored violence and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 152

This week Just Asia begins with Pakistan, where two persons from the Ahmadiyya community were killed when a Muslim mob attacked the community’s mosque on December 12, the day Muslims were celebrating the birthday of Prophet Mohammed. Although the Ahmadi community had written to the Chakwal district commissioner, Punjab, about threats to burn their worship […]

नेपाल: दलित नागरिक समाजद्वारा काभ्रे सानो वाङ्थली ७ की लक्ष्मी परियारको हत्या सम्बन्धमा तयार गरिएको स्थलगत अध्ययन प्रतिवेदनको शारांश

मिति २०७३ मङ्सिर २० गते काभ्रेपलाञ्चोक सानो वाङथली ७ की वर्ष ३२ की लक्ष्मीपरियारको स्थानीय सूर्योदय माध्यमिक विद्यालयका सामाजिक शिक्षा विषयका शिक्षकगोदामचौर निवासी हिरा लामा र निजकी आमा काइँलीमायाँ लामालगायतको कुटपिटतथा मलमूत्र खुवाउने कार्यबाट मिति २०७३ मङसिर २४ गते मृत्यु भएको थियो ।घटनापछि दलित नागरिक समाजको बैठक बसी घटनाको सत्यतथ्य पत्ता लगाईदोषीलाई कडा भन्दा कडा कानुनी कारवाही गर्नुपर्ने निर्णय भएको थियो । सोनिर्णयअनुसार समता फाउण्डेशनको संयोजकत्वमा दलित गैरसरकारी संस्था महासंघ, जागरण मिडिया सेन्टर, नेपाल राष्ट्रिय दलित समाज कल्याण सङ्घ(एनएनडिएसडब्लूओ), दलित महिला केन्द्र नेपाललगायतका सङघसंसथाहरूकोसक्रियतामा पाँच सदस्यीय स्थलगत भ्रमण टोली घटनास्थलमा स्थलगत भ्रमण गरीसरोकारवाला निकाय, पीडित तथा पीडक परिवारका सदस्यहरु, प्रदत्यदर्शी, स्थानीयबासिन्दासँग मिति २०७३ मङ्सिर २८ र २९ गते गरिएको छलफल तथा स्थलगतअवलोकनका आधारमा यो प्रतिवेदन तयार पारिएको हो । अध्ययनका क्रममा भेटिएका तथ्यहरुः लक्ष्मी परियार गाउँस्तरीय विभिन्न उपभोक्ता समिति र समूहमा रहेर स्थानीयस्तरका कार्यक्रमहरुमा दलित पक्षमा पैरवी गर्दै आएको देखिन्छ । यसअघि पनिहिरा लामाले लक्ष्मी परियारका माइला जेठाजुलाई दोस्रो संविधानसभाको चुनावमाआफू समर्थित दललाई भोट नदिएको भनी खाना खाँदै गरेको अवस्थामा घरबाहिरनिकाली कुटपिट गरेका थिए । हिरा लामाको मनपरीविरुद्ध प्रश्न उठाउँदा लक्ष्मीपरियारलाई उनले यसअघि पनि विभिन्न समयमा लखेट्दै कुटपिट गर्ने प्रयासगरेका थिए । घटनाको सम्बन्धमा गरिएको स्थलगत अध्ययन, मृतक लक्ष्मी परियारका माइलाछोरा सुमन र प्रत्यक्षदर्शीहरुको भनाइका आधारमा घटना भएको दिन मङ्सिर २०गते लक्ष्मी परियार ४ बजेतिर च्याङ्वा तामाङको मेलाबाट फर्किँदै थिइन् । विद्यालयछुट्टी भएपछि मोटरसाइकलमा घर फर्किँदै गरेका लामालाई परियारले “लामा चढेकोमोटरसाइकल चोरीको भएको” भनेकी थिइन् । त्यसपछि लामाले परियारलाई“जातीय विभेद हुने खालका गालीगलौज” गरेका थिए । त्यहीँ विषयमा केहीबेरभनाभन भएको थियो । त्यसपछि लामाले घरमा गई आफ्नी आमा काइँलीमायाँलामालाईसमेत मोटरसाइकलमा राखी विद्यालयसम्म ल्याएका थिए । लामाका आमाछोराले परियारलाई हातखुट्टा बाँधी छाति, टाउको र खुट्टामा लात्ति, चिर्पट र लठ्ठी प्रयोग गरी “तँ दमिनी” लगायतका शब्दहरु प्रयोग गर्दै निर्घात कुटपिटगर्नुका साथै काइँलीमायाले चाउचाउको खोलमा दिसा ल्याई मुखमा कोचिदिने प्रयासगरेकी थिइन् । लक्ष्मी परियारले त्यसको प्रतिकार गरेपछि उनीहरुले जबरजस्तीअनुहारभरि दिसा दलिदिएका थिए । उनलाई बाँध्ने कार्यमा विद्यालय नजिकैचियापसल चलाउँदै आएकी निरमाया तामाङ्ले प्रत्यक्ष सहयोग गरेकी थिइन् । मङ्सिर २१ गते बुधबार उल्टै लामा परिवारले झुठा आरोप लगाउँदै लक्ष्मी परियारविरुद्ध निरमाया तामाङ्को भैंसी काटिदिएको भन्दै प्रहरी चौकी चौवासमा उजुरीगरेका थिए । यता काठमाडौंमा सिलाइकाम गर्दै आएका लक्ष्मीका श्रीमान मिलननेपाली घटना बारे थाहा पाइसकेपछि आफ्ना साला लोकबहादुर परियारलाई बुधबारविहान ८ः३० मा फोन नं. ९८१८९२९१६० मा ९८२३६३०५८१ बाट खबर गरी बुधबारै घरपुगेका थिए । तर, बुधबार प्रहरी नआइसकेपछि श्रीमती कुटिएकोबारे छलफल गर्नउनी २३ गते बिहीबार विहानै ससुराली गए । मिलन ससुराली गएपछि प्रहरी चौकी चौबासका इन्चार्ज प्रेमपुकार चौधरीकोनेतृत्वको टोली घटनास्थल पुग्यो । तर, प्रहरीले लक्ष्मीमाथि भएको कुटपीट रअमानवीय व्यवहारबारे आफ्नो विषयक्षेत्र नभएको भन्दै भैंसी काटेवापत १ हजाररुपैयाँ र २०७२ बैशाख १ गते स्थानीय एक महिलासँग भएको झगडामा लक्ष्मीले ५हजार रुपैयाँ तीर्नुपर्ने भन्दै ६ हजार रुपैयाँ पीडक पक्षलाई जरिवाना गरी मिलापत्रगराएको थियो । मिलापत्रपछि सोही दिन लक्ष्मी छोरी नाता पर्ने आफन्तको विवाहमा गई मादकपदार्थसेवनगरी फर्किएकी थिइन् । मिलन ससुराली भएकै समयमा जेठान राजकुमारपरियारले ९८०३५७८५९१ बाट आफ्नी बहिनी लक्ष्मीलाई ९७४१३०८९९६ मा फोन गर्दाउनी फोनमै रुँदै गहिरो चोट लागेको र सरिरभरी निलडाम भएको बताएकी थिइन् । सोही दिन ४ बजे ससुरालीबाट घरजान फर्केका मिलन करिब १० बजेतिर घर फर्किएरआमाको घरमा बसेका थिए । मिलन घर नपुग्दै ९ बजे दाजु राजकुमारले बहिनीलक्ष्मीलाई पुनः फोन गरी शान्त्वना दिँदै धुलीखेल गएर उपचार गराउन सल्लाहदिएका थिए । लक्ष्मीकी देउरानी सरिता परियारले दिएको बयानका आधारमा २४ गते विहान मिलनसानो छोरालाई बिस्कुट किन्न भन्दै पसल तिर लागेका थिए भने लक्ष्मी माइतीजानेभन्दै बाटो लागेकी थिइन् । तर घरदेखि करिब ३०० मिटरभन्दा पर रहेकोगोठभन्दा उता लक्ष्मी नगएको देखेपछि देउरानी र सासूले छोरा सुमनलाई “आमाकता गइ ?” भन्दै अलिपरसम्म हेर्न जान अह्राएका थिए । करिब ७ बजेतिर सुमनले गोठको सुरनेरै ममी ढलेको भन्दै हजुरआमा, बाबु रकाकीलाई खबर गरेका थिए । गोठको ढोकाभित्र टाउको र बाहिर शरिर रहेकोअवस्थामा लक्ष्मीको लास फेला परेको थियो। त्यसपछि उनीहरुले प्रहरीलाई खबरगरेका थिए । त्यत्तिबेलासम्म लक्ष्मीको मृत्यु भएपनि शरिर तातै रहेको देउरानीलेबताइन् । जिल्ला प्रहरी कार्यालय काभ्रेले मिति २०७३ मङ्सिर २६ मा गरेका पत्रकारसम्मेलनमा कुटपिट गरी मलमुत्र खुवाएको होइन लक्ष्मीको झुण्डिएर आत्महत्याभएको भन्ने खबर आएकोले उनका श्रीमान मिलन नेपालीलाई समेत पक्राउ गरिएकोभन्ने आशयको जानकारी गराएको थियो । जबकि प्रहरीले २४ गते तयार गरेकोलासको मुचुल्कामा झुण्डिएर आत्महत्या गरेको विषयमा केही उल्लेख गरिएको छैन। जिल्ला प्रहरी कार्यालय काभ्रेको हिरासतमा रहेका लक्ष्मीका श्रीमान् मिलन नेपालीलेआफूलाई प्रहरीले चरम यातना दिएर श्रीमतीलाई कुटेको हुँ भन्न बाध्य पारेकोबताएका छन् । हाल प्रहरीले हिरा लामा, काइँलीमाया तामाङ, निरमायातामाङ र मिलन नेपालीलाईअदालत पेश गरी थुनामा राख्ने म्याद दिएर अनुसन्धान अघि बढाएको छ । जिल्ला प्रहरी कार्यालय काभ्रेको हिरासतमा रहेका मृतक लक्ष्मी परियारका श्रीमानमिलन नेपाली संग संयुक्त राजनीतिक दलित संघर्ष समिति र दलित नागरिकसमाजका प्रतिनीधिहरुले कुराकानी गरेका थिए । कुराकानीको संदर्भमा आफुलेश्रीमतिलाई कुटपिट नगरे पनि प्रहरीले जर्वजस्ती कुटपीट गरी यातना दिएर हत्यागरेको स्वीकार गर्न वाध्य पारेको बताएका छन् । निष्कर्षः लक्ष्मी परियार हत्या सम्बन्धमा बोक्सीको आरोप लगाइएको भन्ने खालको कुराबाहिर आएपनि प्रत्यक्षदर्शी, पीडित परिवार तथा स्थानीयको भनाइअनुसार त्यस्तोकुनै तथ्य भेटिएन । लक्ष्मीको हत्या घटनामा बाहिरी रुपमा कुटपिट तथा मलमूत्रखुवाउने कार्य गरेको देखिएपनि घटनाको मुख्य कारणको रुपमा दलित समुदायमाथिहुने जातीय भेदभाव तथा छुवाछूत र सार्वजनिक जीवनमा उनीहरुको अस्तित्वलाईअस्वीकार गर्ने प्रवृत्तिले काम गरेको छ । प्रहरीले पत्रकार सम्मेलनमा लक्ष्मी परियारको झुण्डिएर आत्महत्या गरेको भन्नेदाबी तथ्यसंगत देखिँदैन । र, आत्महत्या गर्न प्रयोग गरिएको डोरी वा अन्य कुनैसाधनहरुको प्रमाण भेटिँदैन । लक्ष्मी परियारको मृत्यु स्थानीय सूर्योदय माध्यमिकविद्यालयका सामाजिक शिक्षा विषयका शिक्षक लाहुरेबजार निवासी हिरा लामा रनिजकी आमा काइँलीमाया लामालगायतको कुटपिटको असर स्वरुप चारदिनपछिमृत्यु भएको देखिन्छ । लामा परिवारले झुठा आरोप लगाउँदै लक्ष्मी परियार विरुद्ध निरमाया तामाङ्को भैंसीकाटिदिएको भन्दै प्रहरी चौकी चौवासमा गरेको उजुरीलाई प्रहरीले सत्यतथ्य नबुझिलामा परिवारको प्रभावमा परी उल्टो पीडीतलाई नै जरिवाना तिराउने कार्य गरीराज्यपक्षबाट गम्भीर मानवअधिकार उल्लङ्घन भएको छ । काटिएको भनिएकोभैंसी स्थलगत अध्ययनको क्रममा सकुसल पाइएको छ । प्रहरीले मिलापत्र गर्ने क्रममा लक्ष्मी परियारमाथि भएको कुटपिट, दुव्र्यवहार रमहिला हिंसाको सवाललाई बेवास्ता गरी एकतर्फी रुपमा पीडकलाई नै सहयोग गरेकोदेखिन्छ । यदि प्रहरीले त्यस्तो गम्भीर अपराधलाई मिलापत्र नगरी कानुनीकारवाहीको दायरामा ल्याएको भए यस्तो अप्रिय घटना नहुने सम्भावना थियो । आरोपित मिलन नेपालीको घटनामा भएको संलग्नताको विषयमा तत्काल निश्पक्षछानविन र सुनुवाई हुनु जरुरी छ । मृतकको पोस्टमार्टम ढिला गरिँदा प्रमाण नष्टहुने जोखिम समेत देखिन्छ । विगतको अनुभवका आधारमा विशेषगरी जातीय भेदभाव तथा छुवाछूत र दलितसमुदायसँग सम्बन्धित सवालमा राज्य पक्ष त्यसमा पनि प्रहरीले उनुसन्धान तथापीडितलाई न्याय दिने कुरामा देखाएको नैराश्यता र पूर्वाग्रहका कारण यस घटनामा पनिपीडितले न्याय दिलाउनका लागि विशेष गरी आमसञ्चार क्षेत्रले निरन्तर दबाब रखबरदारी गर्नु आवश्यक छ ।

SRI LANKA: Conspiracy to deny due process rights to Sri Lankan citizens

by Basil Fernando In last week’s article, we discussed the recommendations of the United Nation’s Committee against Torture. The Committee has recommended the state party establish an independent body tasked with the investigation of complaints against law enforcement officers, one that is independent of police hierarchy. In this week’s article, we will discuss a few more […]

PAKISTAN: The Government urged to answer UN committee’s questions on rights record

We wish to share with you the following statement from Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. 13 December 2016: Following the recent adoption by the United Nations Human Rights Committee of a document raising a multiplicity of concerns about Pakistan’s human rights record, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) […]

INDONESIA: Underage 13 year old girl raped twice by a police officer of the Thousand Island’s police resort

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence (KontraS), a prominent, national human rights NGO. It concerns the rape of an underage (minor), a 13 year old girl.  Eight people were connected with this action. This includes First Police Brigadier (Briptu) Hery Ismail, a police officer […]

PAKISTAN: Disappearances and extra judicial killings of Sindhi nationalists continue

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the extra judicial killings during custody and enforced disappearance of Sindhi nationalists. The dead body of Mr. Zakir Hussain Bozdar was found. He was missing after his arrest on December 3. A student activist, Sohail Raza Bhatti, was arrested on September 17, and […]

PAKISTAN: Animated video on custodial Torture-Part III

Here is the part III of animated video of custodial torture. The AHRC study “Custodial Torture its ramification and failure of institution” found that the common perception amongst the prosecution and defense lawyers was that the Medico Lego Officer–MLO’s reports are faulty. Instead of beginning the investigation with circumstantial evidence, the police generally start their […]

THAILAND: Young activist charged with lèse majesté offense after sharing news article

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the military in Khon Kaen province, northeastern Thailand, filed a new legal action against Mr. Jatupat Boonpattaraksa, a student at Khon Kaen University and a key member of the pro-democracy groups Dao Din and New Democracy Movement (NDM). Lt Gen Phitakphon Chusri accused […]

PAKISTAN: One step forward, two steps backward in the march towards real democracy

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission on the occasion of Human Rights Day This year’s theme for the Human Rights Day is ‘Stand up for someone’s rights today! The statement could not be better suited to what is happening in Pakistan, where human rights defenders are being increasingly targeted for speaking out. Branded […]

ASIA: Let us talk loudly for each other – AHRC Message for Human Rights Day

We reproduce below, the message of Asian Human Rights Commission on Human Rights Day-2016 by Basil Fernando, Director, Policy and Programme Development.