Democracy

This week Just Asia begins with Pakistan, which observed World Day Against Child Labor on June 12. Despite official fanfare and praise, child labour continues to increase in the country, and child rights groups have criticized the government for not criminalizing it. Civil society is urging the government to formulate policies and laws to eliminate child labour and take […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about the attack and intimidation of Mr. Arifin Wardiyanto, an independent environmental activist. Arifin and his family were brutally attacked in their home due to his advocacy effort to save the environment in the Merapi mountains from illegal mining operations. Arifin’s complaint regarding the […]

The Supreme Court of Pakistan’s acquittal of a man accused of blasphemy 11 years ago is a breath of fresh air amidst the country’s suffocating patronage of religious extremism and mob justice. The three-member appellate bench found Mr. Mushtaq innocent and absolved him of all charges after spending more than a decade in jail. The […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) congratulates Chief Justice (CJ) Sushila Karki for successfully completing her term before retiring on 7 June 2017 due to her age. Before leaving her office, she exposed pertinent issues marring the judiciary in Nepal. The exposure buttresses the AHRC’s long-time position that there is political interference in the judiciary […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about the torture and forced confession of Mr. Aris Winata Saputra and Mr. Bihin Charles, committed by police officers of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police office (Polda Metro Jaya). Mr. Bihin Charles works as a courier at Soekarno Hatta International Airport, whereas Mr. Aris Winata […]

Opening Statement by Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 6 June 2017 Distinguished President of the Council, Excellencies, Colleagues, Friends, Fifty years ago, this was the day I first heard the sound of war. I was three and a half years old and, while fragmentary, I can still remember military […]

A Press Release from the Right Livelihood Award Foundation forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) The Right Livelihood Award Foundation is launching a small grants scheme to promote reporting on ‘under-reported stories’ linked to the work of the Laureates of the Swedish award known as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’. Open to journalists worldwide, Reporting Right Livelihood […]

The current government in Pakistan has proven to be a bane on freedom of expression as more journalists are reportedly being attacked. Six months into the year, 2017 and 2 journalist have already lost their lives in Pakistan. The federal capital is witnessing a surge in assault on journalist as two journalists from different media houses were attacked and […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information regarding Mr. Mutthuswamy Sathgunam, 47, of No: 2/2, Maberitenna, Digana, Rajawella, in Kandy District. Police Officers illegally arrested, detained and produced him before the Teledeniya Magistrate’s Court on fabricated charges. According to Sathgunam, the police officers conducted themselves in an unlawful manner to take revenge […]

[RE: AHRC-HAC-001-2017: Immediately stop demolition drive against Dalit and tribal hamlets in Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from the Samaj Chetna Adhikar Manch, Dabhaura about the demolition drive against five Dalit and tribal settlements in Jawa block of Rewa District, Madhya Pradesh. The […]

A former judge of Rajasthan High Court, Mr. Mahesh Chand Sharma, has claimed that a peacock does not mate with a peahen to breed, and it was because of this quality that it was declared India’s national bird. Elaborating his knowledge on the subject, Sharma said “a peahen gets pregnant after swallowing the tears of […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has become aware that persecution against people who exercise their right to freedom of expression and opinion is very widespread in Indonesia. The violations are mostly committed by hardline groups. This persecution has been prevalent since the Police investigated and prosecuted Mr. Rizieq Shihab, the leader of an anti-tolerant […]

This week Just Asia begins with civilian casualties in the aftermath of martial law imposed in Mindanao, Philippines. One ethnic Moro resident was killed in North Cotabato due to aerial bombings, and at least two farmers were illegally arrested in Maragusan, Compostela Valley. There are concerns that martial law will empower the military to supersede […]

  I am writing this to the public as a judge who has presided over the affairs of the public for 16 years as a Magistrate and as a District Court Judge. For all those 16 years, my record has been impeccable. I want to bring to the notice of the public that, due to […]

Dr. Kang Yong-ju is a medical doctor from Gwangju, South Korea. Dr. Kang is a victim of the notorious National Security Law and the Security Surveillance Act of South Korea. When Kang was a student in the high school, he participated in the Gwangju democratic movement in 1980, popularly known as the “Gwangju Uprising.” Later, […]

This week Just Asia begins with Belgium’s deportation order of activist Sajjad Husain. As a frontline defender for human rights and a free Kashmir, Husain’s work was not appreciated in Pakistan and he sought political asylum in Belgium in 2006. Finally refused asylum, Husain was facing imminent deportation to Pakistan. Due to the AHRC’s Urgent […]

A Joint Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances, and Odhikar, on the International Week of the Disappeared Hong Kong/Dhaka/Manila; 25 May 2017: Enforced disappearance is universally recognized as a ‘crime against humanity’ under International Law. This crime is widespread across the world. Every year, on the last week of May, […]

The Indian Army, on May 22 announced that Major Mr. Leetul Gogoi has been awarded a commendation for his ‘sustained efforts in counterinsurgency operations.’ The Army Chief, General Mr. Bipin Rawat made the announcement. Gogoi tied a man, Mr. Farooq Dar, to his army vehicle, and used him as a a human shield against stone-pelting protesters in April this […]

The weekly Times column, Focus on Rights, titled ‘The Draft CTA is of Concern to All Sri Lankans, Without Exception’ by Kishali Pinto Jayawardena, in the Sunday Times, Sri Lanka, on 21 May 2017, forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission. Kishali Pinto Jayawardena The perception that Sri Lanka’s proposed Counter-Terror Act (CTA) will affect only those of […]

This week, Just Asia begins with Indonesia, where, after massive pressure from hardliner and anti-tolerance groups, judges of the North Jakarta District Court sentenced Jakarta Governor, Mr. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama alias Ahok, to 2 years imprisonment on 9 May 2017. Just Asia speaks to Chris Biantoro for more details. Next, in a grim reminder of the Nirbhaya incident […]