Freedom of expression

PAKISTAN: Animated Video on Extra Judicial Killings

In the continuation of animated videos on different human rights issues, this time,The Asian Human Rights Commission, issues the animated work on Extra JudicialKillings in Pakistan. Please see the video In Pakistan, every Morning news start with the extra judicial killings or encounters of at least 5 to six persons who are officially announced as the terrorists or proclaimed offenders. Besides, official […]

Sri Lanka: An Interview with Basil Fernando on human rights and national reconciliation in Sri Lanka on Rupavahini TV Channel

The Rupavahini, TV channel’s “Suba Udesanak” ( Good Morning ) programme on 28th October 2016, telecast an interview with Mr Basil Fernando of the Asian Human Rights Commission where he discusses issues of human rights, and national reconciliation and their progress in Sri Lanka, in the backdrop of the two students being killed in Jaffna […]

Sri Lanka: An Interview with Basil Fernando on the importance value systems and good governance in Sri Lanka on News First’s Hot Seat Programme

Mr Faraz Shauketaly, Host of the News First – TV1’s “Hot Seat” programme on 26th October 2016 interviews Mr Basil Fernando, Director of Policy and Programmes of the Asian Human Rights Commission in Hong Kong on the developments with regard to the Central Bank Bond issues scandal, as well as several other pertinent issues such […]

INDONESIA: Investigation into the Paniai case in Papua goes nowhere

Ever since the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) established the Ad Hoc investigation team for the Paniai case, under the decision 1 March 2016 letter of the Chair of the Komnas HAM (Number 009 / Komnas HAM / III / 2016), there is no progress in this case (see case details at AHRC-UAC-089-2015 and a […]

AHRC TV: Madhesi activists arrested from workshop in Nepal and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 145

This week Just Asia begins with Nepal, where 22 Madhesi activists were arrested on October 23 while participating in a Leadership Development workshop. Affiliated with Dr. C.K. Raut and his campaign, the activists from Nawalparasi District were meeting at a local hotel. A group of around 40 police officers abruptly closed the workshop, hit the […]

INDIA: Authorities prolong unlawful detention of Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez

(Hong Kong, Bangkok-Dhaka-Geneva-Madurai-Paris-Quezon City, 26 October 2016) The High Court in Jammu and Kashmir has again prolonged the arbitrary detention of Kashmiri human rights defender Mr. Khurram Parvez, who has already spent 40 days in jail. Our organisations call on the Indian authorities to release him immediately. On 25 October 2016, the Jammu and Kashmir […]

NEPAL: Off the rails?

An oped from the Kathmandu Post forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Unlike Kathmandu, the situation in other districts of Nepal, surprisingly, looks quite different from the conflict victims’ perspective. For example, intimidation by the security forces continues in the district of Kapilbastu. Surveillance in the vicinity of the homes and workplaces of the […]

PAKISTAN: Animated Video on Prevention against Electronic Crime Act (PECA) 2016

The Asian Human Rights Commission, in its work to enhance outreach and awareness on human rights abuse, has issued third animated video on transgender. Please click the video Pakistan ranks in the bottom 10 countries of the world in the freedom of speech index. In order to perpetuate its Orwellian rule, the State has never allowed […]

INDONESIA: Effectiveness of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in mainstreaming human rights in Indonesia

The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to inform you about the publication of a paper analysing the Indonesian Universal Periodic Review (UPR) first cycle session in 2008 and second cycle session in 2012. This paper is published to prepare for the third cycle of the Indonesian UPR in 2017. It will help to asses and monitor the extent of progress of […]

PHILIPPINES: Statement of Support of the World Association for Christian Communication – Asia Region to the Ongoing Peace Negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines

A Statement from World Association for Christian Communication – Asia Region forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” – Matthew 5:9 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, […]

THAILAND: Human Rights Defenders under Thailand’s military regime

An article from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Since the 22 May 2014 coup staged by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the currently ruling body led by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha, a trend of judicial harassment against human rights defenders, who express dissenting […]

THAILAND: Student activists petition public prosecutor to acquit case

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the Phu Khiao Provincial Court scheduling a plea hearing for two student activists who have been arrested in Chaiyaphum province, northeastern Thailand, for distributing anti-constitution flyers. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), on 15 August 2016, the Phu Khiao public […]

AHRC TV: Thai authorities claim HK activist threat to national security and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 143

Just Asia begins this week the detention of Hong Kong student activist Joshua Wong at Bangkok airport, for being a threat to Thailand’s national security. Invited to give a talk at Chulalongkorn University, Joshua was barred from entering the country by immigration officials. According to the Thai Deputy Police Commissioner, Joshua’s detention was purely a […]

Sri Lanka: Human Rights – Foreign Policy (+) Internal Policy (-)

By Basil Fernando After the election of the new government, Sri Lanka’s foreign policy has been to show positive attitudes towards the protection and promotion of human rights. In international forums and in public declarations, it has declared that it accepts the international law on human rights, that it is committed to enforcing international agreements […]

PAKISTAN: Animated video on persecution of Religious Minorities

To enhance outreach and awareness on human rights abuse, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has taken the initiative to make animated video statements on different human rights issues. This is the second animated video of the series. Despite several conventions, laws, and constitutional guarantees in place, there is grave impunity and State apathy to […]

INDONESIA: Indonesian security forces and vigilantes forcibly disperse peaceful discussion about 1965-1966 massacre

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding forced dissolution of a peaceful public discussion organized by the Association of Indonesian Students Press (PPMI). The topic of the discussion was Marxism and 1965-1966 Massacre. The security forces, along with vigilante groups, forcibly dispersed the discussion, and intimidated the participants and the […]

PHILIPPINES: LENIDO LUMANOG’S LASTING LEGAL LEGACY

LENIDO LUMANOG or “LEN” for short, the leading figure of the so-called “ABADILLA 5,” was buried on 15 September 2016. He died on 6 September 2016 at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) after a lingering kidney condition incurred while already in prison and shortly after turning 60 on 2 September 2016. He was […]

AHRC TV: Pakistani Shias killed in military controlled areas and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 142

This week Just Asia begins with the killing of six Pakistani Shias in two cities under military control. In Quetta city, the capital of Balochistan, four women were shot dead in a bus on their way home on October 4. On the same evening, two Shias were killed returning from their mosque in the military […]

THIALAND: Prosecution of four student activists and journalist under Referendum Act continues

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the Ratchaburi Provincial Court scheduling a conciliation hearing, for four activists and one journalist, indicted for alleged offences against Section 61 of Constitution Referendum Act B.E.2559 (2016) and the against the Announcement of Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) No. […]

SRI LANKA: The Minister of Justice wants to add a joke into the statute book as an amendment to the criminal procedure code

Basil Fernando A new dimension was added to the debate on the proposed amendment to the criminal procedure code when the Minister of Justice attempted to defend the amendment on the basis that it is required to enable investigations into crime. The proposed amendment is that lawyers would not be able to represent people at […]