Arbitrary arrest & detention

Among the many analyses of the release of a couple of hundred political prisoners in a total of over 6000 detainees let out of Burma’s prisons last week, the most precise and succinct came from a famous comedian, Zarganar. Imprisoned for criticising the relief effort in the wake of Cyclone Nargis in 2008, Zarganar spoke […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Madabavitage Samantha (38) of No: 127/A/1, Paliyatiyana, Devalapola, Minuwangoda in the Gampaha District was assaulted and robbed of a gold ring by two people in the town of Thambuththegama in the Anuradhapura District while he was on his way home from a […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes with deep concern regarding the continued detention of another man whom soldiers illegally arrested and tortured in custody in the place of the real accused. The soldiers, who have no police power to implement an arrest took him into custody supposedly for a bomb blast in […]

Dear friends,  Mr. M H A Sameera Sandaruwa (28) of ‘Sameera Sevana’, Dumkola Watte, Daragala, Waimada in the Badulla District is single and is also a worker at Noratel Lanka Ltd in the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Katunaya. On 30 May 2011 Sameera participated in a trade union action organized by the factory workers. […]

Dear friends,  Mr. Maharambage Pradeep Kumara Priyadarshana (28) of Jambolagahamullahena, Dippitiya, Mahapallegama is single and works at Noratel Lanka Ltd in the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Katunaya. On 30 May 2011 Pradeep participated in a trade union action organized by the factory workers. Police officers attached to the Katunayake Police Station arrived at the […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concern about the continued detention of a man that the police have arrested as a suspect in the Maguindanao Massacre in place of the real accuse. The police harassed his common-law wife by threatening her into admitting that her husband and the person they were […]

Dear friends,  Mr. K H Rangana Pushpakumara (31) of No: 140/A, Webada West, Webada is married and works at Noratel Lanka Ltd in the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Katunaya. On 30 May 2011 Rangana participated in an action organized by the factory workers trade unions. Police officers attached to the Katunayake Police Station approached […]

Dear friends,  Further to our last update, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you that Melanie Cordon, a domestic worker convicted in absentia over a fabricated case, had chosen not to question her conviction but would rather to serve her sentence in prison in order to return home as soon as […]

Dear friends,  Further to our previous appeal, we have learned that Melanie Cordon, a domestic worker convicted in absentia, was told by a government representative that serving her jail term would be more convenient for her than questioning her conviction. The representative, however, is obviously not familiar with her case; and could not provide her […]

Dear friends,  Mr. Rasaratnam Jegatheeswaran (33) of Thiriketheeshwaram in Mannar District is currently detained in Welikada Prison in Colombo. Presently Rasaratnam is being treated at the Intensive Care Unit of the National Hospital in Colombo due to chronic kidney disease. Doctors have revealed to his wife that her husband is undergoing dialysis treatment. Rasaratnam has […]

Dear friends,  Mr. Jayasinghe Arachchige Chathura Manohara (29) of ‘Darshani’, Deniyaya Road, Pitabaddara in the Matara District was illegally arrested and severely tortured by police officers attached to the Pitabaddara Police Station on 10 July 2011. Manohara made a complaint to the police seeking protection for him and his house from the group of thieves […]

Dear friends,  Mr. Udaya Pushparaja Antony Nithyaraja (31) of Jaffna District was illegally arrested and severely tortured by seven police officers in front of the Magistrate of Jaffna while the court was in session on 20 September 2011. Antony had voluntarily gone to the court and appeared before the Magistrate through his lawyer and stated […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received details about the torture of two men in separate incidents in Basilan, Mindanao. The group of soldiers who tortured one of them had previously been accused of torturing a boy. The two victims are presently in detention and being prosecuted over questionable charges.  CASE DETAILS: (based […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Melanie Cordon, a domestic worker convicted in absentia, has been neglected by the government agencies that have the legal obligation to provide her with assistance.  UPDATED INFORMATION:  On September 14, we reported that Melanie Cordon was convicted for four months over fabricated charges […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Kirigalbadage Chaminda Sanath Kumara (38) of No: 171/1, Bodiya Road, Walapola, Papiliwala in the district of Gampaha is married and a labourer by profession. Police officers of the Kirindiwala Police Station came to his house, supposedly to investigate a complaint made by […]

Dear friends,  Ms. Weerawila Gamage Sepalika (40) was illegally arrested and severely tortured by the police officers attached to the Ambalantota Police Station on 18 May 2011. Four police officers in plain clothes came to her house and carried out an illegal searched as not warrant had been issued. Sepalika was alone in the house […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that a Filipina domestic worker, who was falsely charged for theft, was convicted in trial in absentia. She is presently detained to serve her prison term in Saudi Arabia. She was deprived of any opportunity to defend her case. CASE DETAILS: Ms. Melanie […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that Asraf Jamiri Musa, a 17-year-old Education student, who was tortured inside a military camp and charged with illegal possession of explosives after evidence was planted on him, has been temporarily released from detention to the custody of his parents. UPDATED INFORMATION: In […]

Dear friends,  Mr. Yogarasa Shashheran (22) a resident of Kilinochchi District has been detained in Welikada Remand Prison without being charged for more than 3 years. Yogarasa lost his parents when he was 6 year old and was raised with the charitable help of others. When government forces advanced towards the Northern Region Yogarasa surrendered […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a man who was kept in army detention centers for more than nine months after his abduction by secret agencies and the Frontier Corp (FC) was again abducted, this time with his nephew and both of them remain missing. The police refused to […]