Administration of justice

WORLD: George Katsiaficas, awarded the 2016 Kim Dae Jung Scholar’s Prize for Contributions to Peace, Democracy and Human Rights on the Korean Peninsula

Acceptance Speech, Gwangju 518 and the Future of Global Democracy By George Katsiaficas for the 2016 Kim Dae Jung Scholar’s Prize for Democracy, Peace, and Human Rights, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea, June 8, 2016, forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong. “Gwangju 518 and the Future of Global Democracy” – By George Katsiaficas […]

NEPAL: Breaking barriers

An editorialfrom the Kathmandu Post forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission After the historic election of OnsariGharti as the Speaker of Parliament and Bidhya Devi Bhandari as the President, Senior Supreme Court Justice Shushila Karki, on Tuesday, became the first woman member in the Judicial Council. Karki will be appointed as the chief justice […]

BANGLADESH: A man’s whereabouts remains unknown since police arrested him three years ago

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Bolli Monsur Ahmed remains disappeared since the police arrested him three years ago. The Fatikchhari police of Chittagong district arrested Ahmed from his uncle’s house at 4:30 am on 27 March 2013. Recently his family held a press conference to demand his […]

AHRC TV: JUST ASIA, Episode 125

This week Just Asia begins with the growing demands in Bangladesh seeking the return of disappeared persons. Families are taking to the streets and holding press conferences to voice their concern and seek justice. On May 26, relatives made a ‘human chain’ in front of Dhaka’s National Press Club, and were joined by prominent human […]

SRI LANKA: Victim of crime refused justice and assaulted at Peradeniya Police Station

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Ms. Pushpakumari Hunukumbura was slapped by the Officer-in-Charge of the Peradeniya Police Station when she refused to come to a settlement against the perpetrator who assaulted her. Instead of investigating the crime, the Peradeniya police are protecting the culprit, illustrating the police’s lack […]

नेपाल: छुवाछूतसम्बन्धी कानुनको चौथो वर्षगाँठ : कानुन कार्यान्वयनमा सरकारी उदाशीनता

Statement | Nepal | 31-05-2016

नेपालमा जातीय भेदभाव तथा छुवाछूत (कसुर तथा सजाय) ऐन, २०६८ कार्यान्वयनमा आएको चार वर्ष भइसकेको भए तापनि बढ्दै गएका जातीय भेदभाव तथा छुवाछूतका घटना र त्यसप्रति राज्यको उदाशिनताप्रति एसियाली मानवअधिकार आयोग र जागरण मिडिया सेन्टरको गम्भीर ध्यानाकर्षण भएको छ । तत्कालीन प्रधानमन्त्री झलनाथ खनालको पालामा वि.सं. २०६८ साल जेठ १० गते सो ऐन व्वस्थापिका–संसद्बाट पारित […]

AHRC TV: JUST ASIA, Episode 124

Just Asia begins this week with a ground breaking report on Nepal’s anti-Constitution protests, in which over 40 persons died. Published jointly by the Asian Human Rights Commission and the Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance, the report concludes that security forces consistently engaged in excessive use of force against protestors and bystanders from August 2015 […]

PAKISTAN: Investigation failure leads to the killings of Ahmadis

Religious persecution has dominated human rights abuse in Pakistan. Ahmadi religious minorities have been the preferred targets of religious fundamentalists. Recently, another Ahmadi, Dawood Ahmad, was shot dead in the Gulzar Hijri area of Karachi, on the night of 24 May 2016. He was the target of religious malice and hatred against Ahmadis in Pakistan, […]

BANGLADESH: Police, State Attorneys and Jail officials connive to prolong detention of a school teacher and his son for six months

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a father and son have been subjected to targeted abuse of the fundamental powers of the judicial system. Following their refusal to meet extortion demand of the police, Mohammad Saleh Ahmed and his son Mohammad Saidul Islam have been implicated in fabricated cases […]

SRI LANKA/ASIA: Preliminary observations and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers – Ms. Mónica Pinto

Preliminary observations and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers – Ms. Mónica Pinto following the visit to Sri Lanka from 29th April – 7th May 2016 forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission. Colombo, 7 May 2016 * This statement should be read in conjunction with the preliminary observations […]

NEPAL: Protest & Repression – Special Report on State Responsibility for 37 Killings During Protests in Terai

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance (‘the THRD Alliance’) published today a report on the anti-Constitution protests from August 16, 2015 to February 5, 2016 in which over 40 people died. The report focuses on the use of force by the Government of Nepal against protestors and bystanders. Based […]

SRI LANKA/WORLD : Attorney General’s Department comes under serious public scrutiny

The role of the Attorney General’s Department in terms of upholding the justice system in Sri Lanka, and rule of law is being critically examined from many quarters. The UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Ms. Monica Pinto severely critiqued the Attorney Generals’ Department in her Preliminary Observations and recommendations following […]

AHRC TV: UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Speaks with JUST ASIA, Episode 123

This week Just Asia begins with highlights from an exclusive interview with UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Professor Juan E. Mendez. Speaking to the editor of Torture Magazine, Nilantha Ilangamuwa, Mr. Mendez shares his views on various issues, including his most recent visit to Sri Lanka. […]

PAKISTAN: Jirga’s antidote is fair and functional justice system

In the absence of a fair and functional judicial system that can uphold the rule of law, Pakistan citizens are at the mercy of landlords, who dole out punishment in whimsy. Recently, two peasant brothers from Phul Village, Nowshehro Feroz District, Sindh Province, were ordered to seek forgiveness from their landlord, while holding their shoes […]

INDIA : Déjà vu Marries Amnesia In Kerala

An article from Countercurrents.org forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Polling has concluded in Kerala but political parties and commentators alike have missed out on a crucial need in the state. In spite of the rape and murder of the poor Dalit law student that shook the nation and deeply disturbed a state that […]

PHILIPPINES: Manobo farmers filed criminal charges to the authorities

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that at least 94 officials including government official of North Cotabato, police and military officers were filed criminal charges by the farmers who was illegally arrested, tortured all the human rights violations committed against the Kidapawan violent dispersal of 6,000 farmers last April […]

SRI LANKA: Man killed by police officers in Gokarella

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Mannikkuge Sumith Dayaratne of Madhuwa, in Katunayake, has been extrajudicially killed by officers attached to the Negombo Law Enforcement Unit and the Special Task Force (STF). The fact that no proper investigation has been carried out yet is a denial of justice […]

THAILAND: Inconsistent with the Truth: The Thai Representative’s UPR Statement on Military Courts

An article from Thai Human Rights for Lawyer (THRL) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission The second cycle of the Universal Periodical Review (UPR) of Thailand was held on 11 May 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland. Many UN member states raised concerns and questions about the use of military courts to try civilians. To respond […]

INDIA: Young man shot dead by a Border Security Force personnel in West Bengal

Dear Friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal from our partner organization MASUM in West Bengal. The appeal alleges that a young man was shot dead by Border Security Force personnel while he was trying to smuggle cattle across the border to Bangladesh.  For more information, please contact: Kirity Roy, […]

INDIA: Scheduled Caste woman tortured by Border Security Force personnel

Dear Friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal from our partner organization, MASUM in West Bengal. A Scheduled Caste woman was allegedly tortured by Border Security Force (BSF) guards on 10 April 2016 in Dinhata police station limits, West Bengal. For more information, please contact: Kirity Roy, Secretary, MASUM & […]