Corruption

INDIA: Tortured by BSF along Indo-Bangladesh border

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information concerning the corruption of a driver of ‘G’ Branch of ‘E’ Company of 152 Battalion of the BSF who had been bribed to permit smuggling and who, when in danger of being exposed, turned on the victim, Mr Abdul Karim Molla, and brutally […]

INDIA: Police, save thyself

Statement | India | 31-05-2012

The political debate that followed the murder of Mr. T. P. Chandrashekharan in Kerala provided a unique opportunity for reformation of the policing system in the state. However, none in the state, not even the police, is willing to take up the chance and garner the support needed to end the despicable misuse of the […]

INDIA: An Act to suppress democratic rights

Statement | India | 25-05-2012

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is informed that District Magistrate Barwani in Madhya Pradesh state has issued a “show cause” notice to human rights defender Ms. Madhuri Krishnaswami on 10 May 2012 asking her why actions should not be initiated against her under the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Suraksha Adhiniyam, 1990 (Madhya Pradesh State Security, […]

THAILAND: Relatives filing a civil lawsuit to demand justice and damage claim for the death of Private Wichean who was tortured to death in a military barrack in Narathiwat Province

On Thursday 24 May 2012, at 10.00 am, representatives from the Lawyers Council of Thailand (LCT), an attorney from Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF) and relatives of Private Wichean Phuaksom shall bring a lawsuit to the Civil Court in Bangkok against the Ministry of Defence, the Royal Thai Army, and the Office of the Prime Minister […]

INDIA: Jurist, stop preaching

Statement | | 21-05-2012

The observations made by the Supreme Court of India in a case concerning disciplinary action against a former Major of the Indian Army contradict the Court’s own profile. Dismissing the appeal filed by the Major, who had filed the appeal aggrieved by the Army’s action against him, the court held that discipline is paramount in […]

INDIA: Institutional peril and murderous politics

Statement | India | 17-05-2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AHRC-STM-104-2012 May 17, 2012 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission INDIA: Institutional peril and murderous politics The assassination of Mr. T. P. Chandrashekharan in Kerala on 4 May is another example of the murderous nature of politics in India. The police investigation has revealed that hired assassins executed the murder. […]

INDIA: A tribal man tortured and his wife abused by West Bengal state police

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from MASUM concerning another case of police brutality by personnel of Habra Police Station in West Bengal, India, of 28-year old Mr Raju Chowdhury of Kamarthuba, West Bengal, India. Mr Chowdhury’s extended and unjust detention and brutalisation since 9 January 2012, as is the […]

INDIA: Dowry death attempted to be covered up by local police and the child of the victim at risk

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from MASUM, concerning the case of murder of a woman allegedly by her in laws. It is reported that the victim in the case, Ms. Sushmita Singh, was reported dead on 5 May 2012. The background circumstances strongly suggest that Sushmita’s death is in […]

INDIA: An innocent person tortured by West Bengal police on suspicion

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from MASUM, concerning the case of torture of an innocent person by the West Bengal state police. The victim in the case, Mr. Babulari Gazi, is a three-wheeler driver. The police arrested Gazi on 7 February 2012 on the suspicion that he was involved […]

INDIA: BSF torture yet another person in West Bengal

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from MASUM, concerning the case of torture by the Border Security Force of an innocent person in Ramnarayanpur village of Murshidabad district in West Bengal. The victim in the case is Mr. Chhanarul Mondal, a casual labourer. It is reported that the BSF arrested […]

SRI LANKA: More answers than questions

Let him, though suffering in consequence of his righteousness, never turn his heart to unrighteousness; for he will see the speedy overthrow of unrighteous, wicked men. — The Laws of Manu I recall my experience some time ago at the University of Peradeniya, where I had an interview for the newspaper I was working with […]

INDIA: Police torture of a Dalit family at their residence

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from MASUM, concerning the case of midnight house raid conducted by the police in a Dalit family. The officers forced into the house, tortured and assaulted the family members and took into custody Mr. Dulal Sarkar, and have charged him of false cases. […]

INDIA: Government’s Trojan

The presidential reference made under article 143 (1) of the constitution to the Supreme Court has to be viewed with extreme suspicion. The ostensible excuse for the reference are the 2G licences that the court has declared null and void and thus not to be acted upon. However the remit of the reference, the text […]

INDIA: Paranoia at Writer’s Building

Statement | India | 12-04-2012

Referring to the reactions of the government of West Bengal to demands of public causes and justice under the leadership of Ms. Mamata Banerjee, as paranoid, would be in fact an understatement. The state government led by the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) that was elected to power – reflecting the people’s wish for change, […]

SRI LANKA: Two arrested from JVP dissident group

Mr. Premakumar Gunarathnam the leader of the JVP dissident group and Ms. Dimuthu Attigala a member of the same group are reported to be missing from yesterday night. According to a report, published today in the Daily Mirror, both have been arrested. However the grounds on which they were arrested or the location of the place of […]

SOUTH KOREA: Reasons why the country has failed to eradicate corruption

Due to increasing international concerns over corruption, well established systems in the developed countries often become a model for other countries to adopt. Meanwhile, much research has been made to look into the failure of eradication of corruption by nongovernmental organisations such as Transparency International. One recent research was done by the Political and Economic […]

BURMA: Cynical manipulation of legal system prefigures continued authoritarianism

Two cases in Burma’s courts that recently have attracted some public attention reveal aspects of a legal system being cynically manipulated, aspects that afford strong guarantees for the continuation of authoritarian practices and mentalities, large and small, after the by-elections this April. In February the Rangoon Western District Court gave its verdict in the case […]

SRI LANKA: Destructive effects of racial nihilism

Nilantha Ilangamuwa “Those whom God wishes to destroy, he first deprives of their senses.” – Euripides The government has about an year to improve governance in terms of human rights, instead of selling racial nihilism and isolating itself from the world and the people. Next March (2013 March) the High Commissioner for Human Rights would […]

PAKISTAN: Fisherfolk Blues…

By Qurat Mirza I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; “and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.” […]

SRI LANKA: Possibility of new opportunities – successful UN resolution

The successful United Nations Resolution on reconciliation and accountability should pave the way for a new period of commitment to cure the wounds of a long conflict, caused upon individuals as well as on the institutional structure of democracy and the rule of law in Sri Lanka. A responsible approach to dealing with the past […]