Administration of justice

AHRC TV: JUST ASIA, Episode 136 marks International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearance

This week Just Asia marks the International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearance, August 30, by looking at the situation of disappearances around Asia. Enforced disappearances are frequently used to terrorise individuals, communities and societies. Pakistan is notorious for widespread enforced disappearances, with state agents finding it an easy way to keep persons in their […]

PHILIPPINES: Three indigenous farmers killed for asserting their right to ancestral land in Bukidnon

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you that three Lumad farmers were killed, while another three were wounded, including a 15-year-old girl. Lumad refers to indigenous people belonging to Higaonon tribe One of the victims raised his hand in surrender, but was still shot. The perpetrators were hired by […]

THAILAND: End illegal arrest and detention of author couple

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the arbitrary arrest and detention of Ms. Musliha Masae and her husband Mr. Ibroheng under martial law in southern Thailand. The couple, both authors, were arrested by a joint police and military force on August 12 at Taloe Kapor Beach. The authorities […]

NEPAL: Herculean tasks lie ahead for transitional justice bodies

Statement | Nepal | 12-08-2016

Nepal’s transitional justice bodies closed registration of complaints on 10 August 2016, with over 60,000 cases registered during the last four months. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) now have six months to establish truth, investigate into violations of human rights, and make recommendations for […]

INDONESIA: Rights defender charged with criminal defamation for circulating drug dealer testimony alleging official involvement in drug trade

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Commission for the Disappearances and Victims of Violence (KontraS) regarding criminal defamation charges against its coordinator Mr. Haris Azhar. Haris received and shared information from death row inmate Mr. Freddy Budiman regarding the alleged involvement of high ranking police and military personnel […]

THAILAND: End judicial harassment against student activists

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding student activists who have been arrested in Thailand. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), only one day before the referendum, the Thai authorities arrested two pro-democracy activists in Chaiyaphum province, northeastern Thailand, for distributing anti-constitution flyers. CASE NARRATIVE: The Provincial […]

NEPAL: Playing political musical-chairs for the peace of the graveyard prolongs transition

Statement | Nepal | 05-08-2016

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) would like to congratulate CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” for being elected the 39th Prime Minister of Nepal on 3 August 2016. He begins his second period in eight years. The last time around, he led the government after the first Constituent Assembly elections, from 18 […]

PAKISTAN: Prosecute police officers that raped seven transgender citizens in illegal detention

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information that seven transgender persons were arrested and reportedly sexually abused by the Cantonment police in Nowshera, KP Province. They were also kept in illegal confinement for almost 10 hours (whole night) and forced to dance in front of the policemen. The Inspector General […]

INDIA: Schoolgirl commits suicide following alleged sexual assault by BSF Personnel in West Bengal

Dear Friends, The AHRC has received the following information from its partner organisation MASUM in West Bengal. In West Bengal, a Border Security Force (BSF) Guard allegedly sexually assaulted a 12-year-old schoolgirl who was returning home from her classes. Later, the same day, the young girl was found to have committed suicide. CASE NARRATIVE: On […]

INDONESIA: No perpetrators indicted in the torture and death of Marianus Oki

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the investigation into the torture and death of Mr. Marianus Oki, a suspect who had been detained in Banat Manamas police post (Pospol Banat Manamas). While the investigation has been conducted by police investigators of the North Central Timor regency police resort […]

INDIA: Female textile workers in Kerala stand over 10 hours daily and are denied use of the toilet

Dear Friends, It has come to the AHRC’s attention that basic human rights are being neglected in Kerala’s textile shops. The women textile workers are forced to stand for over 10 hours per day and are not allowed to use the bathroom during their shifts. CASE NARRATIVE: Women working in Kerala’s textile stores are forced […]

THAILAND: End judicial harassment of pro-democracy activists and reporter

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) regarding the arrest of activists who attempted to exercise their right of expression. On 10 July 2016, the Ban Pong police searched the vehicle of the New Democracy Movement (NDM) activists, and found campaign material about […]

INDIA: In West Bengal, starvation related deaths, trafficking and extensive human rights abuses in tea plantations owned by Duncans Industries

Dear Friends, The AHRC has received the following information from its partner organisation MASUM in West Bengal. Sabita Pradhan, wife of Mr. Mani Pradhan, about 48 years old, died at Dumchipara tea garden due to an ailment caused by starvation. She is one of over 65 individuals to have died in the West Bengali tea […]

SRI LANKA: 14 year old rape victim reveals that a woman constable beat her at the police station

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information revealed by the young victim herself, which we wish to bring to your notice. On the 7th of July when she went to the Haputale Police station, a police woman constable, had beaten the young girl, and told her that when she is […]

SRI LANKA: Suspect in rape of 14-year-old girl released without proper investigation

Dear Friends, According to information received by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), a 14-year-old girl was abducted and raped by her school bus driver on 19th June 2016. Later, she was threatened to keep quiet or her parents and other family members would be killed. Despite the family members filing a complaint with the […]

PAKISTAN: Mob threatens to burn Christian homes while a Christian family is taken hostage by police

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that two Christian sisters, with an 18-month baby were taken hostage by the Sarai Alamgir police, Punjab, for the production of their brother, Mr. Nadeem James, who has eloped with a Muslim girl, the daughter of a local Muslim cleric. A Muslim mob attacked […]

SRI LANKA: Ganemulla Police illegally arrests and severely tortures innocent man based on mistaken identity

Dear Friends, According to the information received by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Mr. Nihal Aruna Shantha, resident of Kirindivita, Ganemulla in the Gampaha District, was baselessly arrested on 1st July 2016. Having being misidentified as the suspect, he was severely tortured and detained by the officers attached to the Ganemulla Police Station. Later, […]

SRI LANKA: Police harass entire family for complaining to DIG

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mrs. Maladeniyegedara Padma Irangani and her two sisters were all illegally arrested by the Katugastota police officers, in revenge for Padma complaining and seeking justice from the Deputy Inspector General of Kandy. After Padma complained about her husband’s illegal arrest, Padma and her […]

INDIA: Innocent woman on her way to sell vegetables allegedly assaulted and tortured by Border Security Force Personnel in West Bengal

Dear Friends, The AHRC has received the following information from its partner organization MASUM in West Bengal. A woman, about 40 years of age, was allegedly assaulted and tortured by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel while she was on her way to the Bithari market to sell vegetables.  CASE NARRATIVE: On 20.01.2016 at about 10 […]

SRI LANKA: An innocent couple arrested by the TID in Oddusudan

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that on 5 July 2016, Mr. Kethesawaran and his wife Savithri, residents of Sivanagar in Oddusuddan, Mulativu have been arbitrarily arrested by police officers attached to the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) and their whereabouts are unknown. The police deny any such arrest, and their […]