Arbitrary arrest & detention

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission on Human Rights Day 2014 Fundamental human rights are not guaranteed in Bangladesh in the daily life of its people. The rights of freedom of expression and opinion are infringed. The freedom of press is severely curtailed. People are being imprisoned for expressing their opinion about powerful […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) joins millions of Asians and others across the globe to mourn the sad demise of Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer. Aged 100, Justice Krishna Iyer passed away today at a hospital in Kerala, India. He was a member of AHRC’s advisory group and was an active participant in AHRC’s […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned that large numbers of Madhesi activists have been arrested from different parts of Kathmandu in the lead up to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit. Those arrested were preparing to attend a programme in Kathmandu’s Sundhara area on 26th November, organized by Madhesi […]

The Asian Human Rights is gravely concerned about the resurgence of military summons of activists and human rights defenders. According to information provided by Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, 16 activists and human rights defenders (HRDs) in northeastern Thailand have been summoned to report to the local military authorities. The summons to report came after […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission is gravely concerned to have learned that on Sunday, 9 November 2014, the military detained Praphat Pintobtaeng, a lecturer from the Faculty of Political Science at Chulalongkorn University, and three additional people in Chiang Mai who were participating in a walk rally to protest the policy of the National Council […]

Recently the President of Burma has been granting amnesty to political prisoners across the country. However, these grants have not reached every case, and do not address some of the most recent issues involving politically motivated mass arrests. Specifically, the government’s newspaper, The Global New Light of Myanmar has published a list of political prisoners […]

Dear Friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that freelance journalist Aung Kyaw Naing (aka Par Gyi) was killed while in custody of the Burmese military and that the body has been hastily buried before the story broke. The military claims he was arrested, but facts available make it clear that procedures […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information that nine human rights defenders from Gilgit-Baltistan, including the President of the Supreme Appellate Court, Bar Association were charged for sedition for holding a protest in front of the office of United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) at Gilgit. […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that after three years of investigation, the soldiers who tortured a man and set him on fire, have been indicted for torture. The entire process, however, has lacked the transparency the law requires which has contributed to inappropriate delays. It took one year […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that 12 human rights defenders including Baba Jan, a prominent human rights defender, have been sentenced to imprisonment for life, by the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC). They have been so sentenced for raising their voice and holding a protest against not providing compensation rightly due […]

The right to a fair trial is a universally recognized human right, enshrined in international law in both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (the “UDHR”) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (the “ICCPR”). Fair trial rights are also guaranteed in Article 24 of the Interim Constitution of Nepal. The right to […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that after soldiers in Kachin State, northern Burma detained two men over alleged involvement in an anti-government armed group, they were tortured and interrogated illegally. Furthermore, although the men, named Lahpai Gan and Baran Yaun, were turned over to police custody they were then […]

On 19 September 2014, the Appeal Court upheld the Criminal Court’s ruling in the case of Somyot Prueksakasemsuk. Somyot was found guilty of two violations of Article 112 of the Criminal Codeand sentenced to ten years in prison on 23 January 2013, with one additional year from a prior case for a total of eleven […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the Morang Police has arbitrarily arrested Dr Chandra Kant Raut, a social activist, at 7:15 PM on 13 September 2014. The police also arrested Satyanarayan Mandal who was travelling with him to Biratnagar after attending Chata Mela in Rangeli Municipality. They are currently […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that police in the delta region of Burma in 2013 detained and tortured a young couple over an alleged theft, resulting in the death in custody of the wife, who was pregnant at the time. Although the police were investigated and subject to action […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that security agencies have started targeting the family members of Baloch refugees who have fled to western countries. Reports state that family members including children of these refugees have been arrested by plain clothed persons and have been abducted in unmarked vehicles. Their whereabouts […]

Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland Dear Special Rapporteurs and Working Group Members, You will be aware of the significant threats to human rights which have followed the 22 […]

A Statement from the civil society in Sri Lanka forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission As Sri Lankan citizens and Sri Lankan civil society organizations, we are appalled by the recent arrests and deportation of asylum seekers from Sri Lanka. According to the UN, 108 Pakistanis have been deported as of 14th August[i] . According […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that police in Bago No.1 Police Station arrested a 37-year-old man on 4 July 2014, without an arrest warrant or court order, over the theft of bottles of motorcycle fuel. While in custody for three days, he was tortured. Subsequently, he was admitted to […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that on 9 May 2014 Mr. Edirisinghe Devayalage Sanjeewa Edirisinghe, 29 years of age, a resident of No.164, Heen Agara, Panirendawa, Chilaw, Puttalam District, was illegally arrested and tortured by police officers attached to the Chilaw Police Station Headquarters. He was detained in a […]