Enforced disappearances and abductions

See the YouTube Video relating to this article. Journalist, Poddala Jayantha in a moving article, written in Sinhala, recalls his ordeal which took place exactly 7 years ago in the evening of June 1st that shocked the entire nation. A threat which has been made to him by the brother of the then President Mahinda […]

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 […]

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 […]

By Basil Fernando The attitude towards murder is one thing on which hardly any progress can be made in Sri Lanka. Murder is regarded as quite normal and not something to worry too much about. This attitude is also something that should worry everyone. It is this attitude we see in the proposed Office of […]

Members of families of 19 disappeared victims once again took to the street, yesterday, 26 May 2016. They formed a “human chain” in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka to demand the return of their loved ones within the month of Ramadan. Prominent human rights defenders, members of the civil society, and academic […]

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 […]

An article from the parents of enforced disappeared victim Imam Hassan Badal forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission May 26, 2016 “Dear Journalists: Assalamu Alaikum. My name is Ruhul Amin. Four years ago, on May 12, 2012, in this very Press Club, I did a press conference in front of you all, for the […]

Enforced Disappearances in Bangladesh: An Institutional Practice (A Statement of the International Coalition Against Enforced Disappearance (ICAED) on Bangladesh on the Commemoration of the International Week of the Disappeared) 23–27 May 2016 Every year, during the last week of May, the associations of families of the disappeared across the world commemorate the International Week of […]

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 […]

Preliminary observations and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, Mr. Juan E. Mendez following his 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 […]

Statement of the International Coalition Against Enforced Disappearance (ICAED) on the Commemoration of the International Week of the Disappeared 22-27 May 2016 – The clamor of the families of victims of enforced disappearance from across the globe to resurface and bring back their disappeared loved ones is louder than ever. Another year has passed and […]

A Press Release from Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (Songkla) May 18, 2016 marks an important date in the fight against torture in Thailand. The Supreme Administrative Court of Songkla read the official verdict ordering The Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) to pay 101,200 baht to Plaintiff no. […]

An article by Bijo Francis and Urmila Pullat The press has reported on three rapes in Kerala in the last month. The one that everyone is talking about is the brutal rape and murder on April 28 of the Dalit law student, whose dismembered body was found by her mother in their home. The ones not discussed […]

May 17, 2016 Share| We are pleased to release a short video of Mr Basil Fernando reciting his poem“Looking for Raju” which is among the 15 winning poems selected by Amnesty International in their poetry competition “ Silenced Shadows” regarding forced disappearances. On 14th May 2016, the Amnesty International announced and made available these 15 poems, 05 each […]

TheAnnouncement, of the Winners of the Amnesty International Poetry Competition; Silenced Shadows on 14th May 2016, forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission. 14 May, 2016 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC STATEMENT Index: ASA 37/4027/2016 May 2016 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE FIFTEEN WINNERS OF ITS  GLOBAL POETRY COMPETITION: “SILENCED SHADOWS” In October 2015, Amnesty invited […]

Strengthen protection mechanisms and ensure accountability for human rights abuses (Bangkok, 9 May 2016)—We, the undersigned organizations and community-based networks, urge the Thai authorities and several mining companies to drop legal proceedings against community-based human rights defenders and call on Thai authorities to strengthen mechanisms to protect human rights defenders and ensure accountability for human […]

The UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment Mr Juan E Mendez, published his preliminary findings on 7th May 2016 following an official visit to Sri Lanka. He has observed that torture is a common practice in Sri Lanka and structural reforms are required to prevent it. In […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) first learned from national and local sources that on May 2, police officers arrested at least 1,724 indigenous Papuans who took part in a peaceful protest in Jayapura and other cities in Papua. Subsequently, the AHRC received updated information that the number of indigenous Papuans arrested (primarily students) was […]

This week, Just Asia continues its report on the prosecution of Indonesian activists for crimes against public authorities. Hundreds of labor activists have been demonstrating peacefully outside the court, calling for an end to their unfair trial and criminalization. For more details, Just Asia presents the speech of Michael, one labor activist, and a short […]

This week Just Asia begins with nine mothers cementing their feet in front of the Indonesian Presidential Palace on April 12. The mothers are calling on President Widodo to stop the development of a cement factory in Rembang, Central Java, which will damage a resource rich environment. Just Asia speaks to Mr. Ki Bagus Hadi […]