Enforced disappearances and abductions

THAILAND: The role of the justice ministry in a travesty of justice–an analysis of the Court of Appeal acquittal of all police in the Somchai Neelaphaijit case and the situation of his family

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 2011 AHRC-OLT-004-2011 An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission to the Minister of Justice, Thailand Pirapan Salirathavibhaga Minister of Justice Ministry of Justice Government Complex (Bldg A) 120 Moo 3, Chaeng Watthana Road Thung Song Hong, Laksi Bangkok 10210 THAILAND Dear Mr Pirapan THAILAND: The role of the […]

WORLD: AHRC launches campaign site for the protection of human rights defender FMA Razzak

(Hong Kong, May 3, 2011) The Asian Human Rights Commission has launched a new campaign website calling for the protection of human rights defender Mr. FMA Razzak, as well as calling for holding genuine criminal investigations regarding the attack on Mr. Razzak.  This newly launched campaign site will contain all materials regarding the brutal attack […]

PAKISTAN: Extra Judicial killings in Balochistan — 25 journalists, writers, human rights defenders, students and activists were killed during the first four months of this year

24 activists were among those who were extra judicially killed after their abduction by uniformed and plain clothe persons The extra judicial killings of the journalists, writers, human rights defenders, students and activists continue in the Balochistan area where law enforcement responsibilities were handed over to the Frontier Cop (FC) and the state intelligence agencies. […]

BANGLADESH: Army officer’s family gouges eyes and torture after kidnapping Human Rights Defender FMA Razzak, who is going to die without treatment due to pressures from armed forces and intelligence agencies

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that human rights defender FMA Razzak is going to die without proper medical treatment due to tremendous pressures from the officials of the armed forces and intelligence agencies who have cordoned the whole area in plain cloth. Since 9:45AM today, 30 April 2011, Razzak is […]

PAKISTAN: The relatives of disappeared persons show their dissatisfaction before the Supreme Court

“We cannot eat, we cannot sleep — we can only hope and that hope is fast dwindling so we pray that our loved ones will be returned to us.” On April 13, 2011 the three member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the supervision of Justice Javaid Iqbal heard the cases of the […]

PAKISTAN: Human rights defender first abducted by Taliban on charge of working for NGOs and then by the military for supporting the Taliban remains missing

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a person was abducted by the Taliban on suspicion of working for NGOs. After his escape he was then abducted by the military on suspicion of working for the Taliban. Mr. Hameed Ullah Khan, a human rights defender and social worker, was abducted […]

SRI LANKA: Stop the persecution of Lanka-E-news and release its editor, Bennett Rupasinghe

The continuous persecution by the Sri Lankan government of the Lanka-E-News publication reached a new stage when its editor, Bennet Rupasinghe was arrested and detained yesterday. For many months now Lanka-E-News has been under severe attack and one of its reporters, Prageeth Eknaligoda has been missing for over one year now. His family has accused […]

SRI LANKA: Abductions and unfair advantage held as matters falling outside Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission (HRCSL)

According to a report received by the Asian Human Rights Commission, the two complaints made by a final year Law College student D M T Jayaratne to the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (HRC) have been rejected by the Commission in writing on the grounds that they do not come within its ambit. One of […]

THAILAND: Verdict on Somchai’s case–his wife, daughter could not be plaintiffs; not enough evidence to convict accused

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets, but is not surprised, that the five defendants who were earlier convicted for theft and illegal detention, in connection with the disappearance of human rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit, have all been exonerated in an Appeal verdict. The court ruled to acquit all the defendants on […]

THAILAND: JPF and ICJ call for press and discussion on the Appeals Court judgment in the Somchai Neelapaijit case: “WAS JUSTICE DELIVERED?”

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from Justice for Peace Foundation (JPF) and International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Press Release from Justice for Peace Foundation (JPF) and International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) forwarded by the Asian […]

PAKISTAN: Four activists protesting the disappearance of their leader also disappeared after their abduction by the law enforcement agencies

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that four activists of a nationalist political group were abducted from a crowded part of Karachi city by the police and plain clothed persons in police and military jeeps when they were ending their six day hunger strike in protest against the second disappearance […]

THAILAND: Seven years and the state’s failure to bring justice to Somchai’s abductors

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following statement from Cross Culture Foundation (CrCF). Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Statement from Cross Culture Foundation (CrCF) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission For immediate release on 12 March 2011 The seventh anniversary of the disappearance of Lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit Public […]

THAILAND: Justice for Peace Foundation calls Thai government to end arbitrary detention and to bring to light the fate of people who have been disappeared

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from Justice for Peace Foundation (JPF). Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Press Release from Justice for Peace Foundation (JPF) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Justice for Peace Foundation Tel. +66 (0) 2 […]

THAILAND: Court to read verdict on Somchai’s case on the eve of his disappearance seven years ago–observers requested

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is calling for court observers to hear the reading of the verdict on the case of Somchai Neelaphaijit tomorrow, March 11, 2011, in Bangkok. The date of the reading of the verdict is significant as it marks the eve of Somchai’s disappearance seven years ago. The reading, […]

PAKISTAN: Situation analysis on trafficking of persons with disability for forced begging

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following article from SPARC, written by Salam Dharejo, Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- An article from SPARC forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission By Salam Dharejo Keeping in view police operation against the gang of human traffickers involved in trafficking of disabled persons including […]

THAILAND: Thailand needs to move beyond its human rights rhetoric

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following article from the Prachatai website, written by Mr. Pokpong Lawansiri. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- An article from the Prachatai website forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission By Pokpong Lawansiri Released on Sun, 06/03/2011 – 13:12 | by prachatai On 28th February […]

PAKISTAN: A human rights defender shot dead in Balochistan by unknown persons

A prominent human rights defender from Balochistan province, working on the cases of disappeared persons was shot dead by unknown persons riding on a motorbike. Mr. Naeem Sabir Baloch, the district coordinator of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), an NGO, was gunned down on March 1, 2011 in Khuzdar market, Khuzdar district, Balochistan. […]

PAKISTAN: Five more disappeared persons are extrajudicially killed in Balochistan

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the bodies of five disappeared persons have been found in different areas of Balochistan. The bodies bore bullet wounds and marks of torture. Five victims were abducted from Balochistan province and Karachi, Sindh province at different times but their bodies were found in […]

SRI LANKA: Disappearance of FORUM-ASIA Executive Committee Member Pattani Razeek – prime suspect has not been arrested

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information that Mr. Pattani Razeek a well known human rights defender both locally and internationally has been missing since 11 February 2010. The relatives have made complaints to all the relevant authorities including the United Nations. They have provided enough credible evidence to identify […]

PAKISTAN: Two more disappeared persons are extrajudicially killed in Balochistan to destroy evidence of abduction by law enforcement agencies

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the bodies of two disappeared persons have been found in a remote area. The bodies bore bullet wounds and marks of torture. Both victims were abducted from Karachi, Sindh province at different times but their bodies were found together 500 kilometers near the […]