Freedom of expression

India will be evaluated at the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review in Geneva, Switzerland today. The three countries (Troika) involved in the review are Kuwait, Mauritius and Mexico. That these countries have worse records of human rights in comparison to the country they would collectively review suggests how firmly, and perhaps blindly, such processes are […]

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 […]

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. […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you that two journalists have been killed while two others have received threats in separate incidents in April and May. The AHRC is deeply concerned by the ongoing attacks on journalists as a result of their work depriving them of the protection necessary […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the attack directed by an Islamic fundamentalist group, Islam Defenders Front (Front Pembela Islam, FPI) towards an Ahmadiyah mosque in Singaparna, Tasikmalaya, West Java. The attack took place on Friday, 20 April 2012. The police was present at the time of the attack […]

Thai The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to express our grief and extend our deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Amphon Tangnoppakul, who was found dead in prison custody on 8 May 2012. Amphon (also known to his family as “Ah Kong” or “grandfather,” and to the public at “Uncle SMS”), a 61-year-old man, […]

8 พฤษภาคม 2555 แถลงการณ์คณะกรรมาธิการสิทธิมนุษยชนแห่งเอเชีย (AHRC) เมื่อวันที่ 30 เมษายน 2555 ศาลอาญา กรุงเทพฯ มีกำหนดอ่านคำพิพากษาในคดีดำหมายเลขที่ 1667/2553 ในความผิดสิบกระทง ที่มีต่อพระราชบัญญัติว่าด้วยการกระทำผิดเกี่ยวกับคอมพิวเตอร์ พ.ศ.2550 จำเลยในคดีนี้ คือ น.ส.จีรนุช เปรมชัยพร อายุ 44 ปี เว็บมาสเตอร์ของหนังสือพิมพ์ออนไลน์ประชาไท ซึ่งเป็นสื่ออิสระ แต่แทนที่จะมีการอ่านคำพิพากษา เพียง 20 นาที ก่อนจะถึงกำหนดการ ทางเจ้าหน้าที่ศาลแจ้งต่อน.ส.จีรนุชและทนายของเธอว่า ศาลจะมีคำสั่งในอีกหนึ่งเดือนถัดไป โดยศาลให้เหตุผลที่กำกวมเกี่ยวกับการเลื่อนการอ่านคำพิพากษา โดยอ้างว่า เนื่องจากมีพยานเอกสารจำนวนมากที่ต้องอ่าน และไม่สามารถเตรียมคำพิพากษาได้ทันตามเวลาที่กำหนด ทั้งความล่าช้าและเหตุผลของความล่าช้า ทำให้เกิดข้อกังวลอย่างจริงจัง ต่อคณะกรรมาธิการสิทธิมนุษยชนแห่งเอเชีย (Asian Human Rights Commission: AHRC) เนื่องจากผู้พิพากษาได้กำหนดวันอ่านคำพิพากษา ตั้งแต่กลางเดือนกุมภาพันธ์ 2555 ซึ่งเป็นวันสุดท้ายของการสืบพยานคดีแล้ว ในช่วงเวลานั้น ผู้พิพากษาย่อมทราบดีถึงคดีและปริมาณของพยานหลักฐานที่ต้องพิจารณา หากมีความจำเป็นต้องขยายระยะเวลาก่อนจะมีคำสั่ง ผู้พิพากษาก็ต้องกำหนดวันนัดในภายหลัง แต่การที่ผู้พิพากษาไม่ได้กำหนดวันนัดฟังคำพิพากษาใหม่ภายหลัง ทำให้เกิดข้อสงสัยต่อข้อแก้ตัวที่เลื่อนการอ่านคำพิพากษา รวมทั้งข้อสงสัยต่อพฤติการณ์การแจ้งข้อมูลให้จำเลยรับทราบ […]

On 30 April 2012, the Criminal Court in Bangkok was scheduled to read its verdict in Black Case No. 1667/2553 on ten alleged violations of the 2007 Computer Crimes Act. The defendant is Chiranuch Premchaiporn, the 44-year-old webmaster of Prachatai, an independent online news site. Suddenly, instead of reading the decision, 20 minutes before the […]

Nilantha Ilangamuwa I ask no monument, proud and high, To arrest the gaze of the passers-by; All that my yearning spirit craves, Is bury me not in a land of slaves – Frances Harper Read this carefully. Our politicians are not that stupid but maybe we are? You may have different answers: we may debate […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding a police raid on the office of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) and Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) in Diponegoro Street, Jakarta, following a student protest against the government’s plan to raise the price of fuel. Fifty four people were arrested […]

The attempt by the Supreme Court of India to draw-up operative principles for the media outlining the contours of Article 19 (1) (a) of the constitution is an exercise that the Court should not venture into. In fact, the Court does not have a constitutional mandate to do so. It is within the realm of […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the arrest and trial of Alexander Aan, a 31-year-old civil servant in Padang, West Sumatra, who was arrested for posting a status on Facebook questioning the existence of god and administering a Facebook group called Ateis Minang (Minang Atheists). He is also being charged for […]

A Press Release from Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) 16-04-12 You’re invited! Come to support Somyot Pruksakasemsuk on these upcoming trial dates as trial observers. As much may be learned from prosecution witnesses as the defence. The next trial date will start from Wednesday, April 18, 2012. […]

The harassment of Ms. Sandya Ekneligoda by the government’s supporters in Geneva and by the Attorney General’s department, for joining the UN Human Rights Council Mrs. Sandya Ekneligoda was one of the speakers during a side event held on 19th March 2012 during the 19th sessions of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The […]

Reading the speech of the prime minister and that of the home minister of India, one could easily get carried away by the thought that they are not in fact referring to India, but to some other country in the world. Both ministers were addressing the chief ministers of the country in a conference organised […]

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, […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward you the following statement from the mother of Premakumar Gunarathnam and his sister. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong —————————– A statement from the mother of Premakumar Gunarathnam and his sister, forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Earlier, we reported about the abduction of […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) condemns the recent ruthless, barbaric, and torturous murder of Mr Abdul Qudoos Ahmad, a school teacher, Ahmadi religious group of Islam. The AHRC calls on the Pakistan government to immediately bring the perpetrators to justice. The level of ruthless barbarity seen in this murder is unacceptable and seldom. It […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward you the following statement from the movement for people’s struggle and the Frontline Socialist party. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong —————————– A statement from the movement for people’s struggle and the Frontline Socialist party forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) This […]

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 […]