Freedom of expression

SOUTH KOREA: 18 month-imprisonment of a man for his beliefs

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from ‘World Without War’, a non-governmental organization that Mr. Ahn Jihwan is currently detained at Youngdengpo detention center. He was detained on February 17, 2011 and will be released on August 16, 2012 since he received 18 months of imprisonment for his beliefs. Like […]

THAILAND: U.N. experts challenge government over lese-majesty case against webmaster

(Hong Kong, March 8, 2011) Two United Nations experts have sent “a letter of allegation” concerning the case of Chiranuch Premchaiporn, the webmaster on trial in Bangkok for charges of lese-majesty and computer crime, one has revealed in a new report.  According to the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Margaret Sekkaggya in her annual […]

PHILIPPINES: Maguindanao massacre — questions of morality, practice of law and the legal system

Myrna Reblando’s reaction demonstrates the absence of remedy within the system of justice not a mere ‘hysteria’.   Facts of the case & details of the video   As described and shown in the video of Philstar.com: Victim’s kin goes hysterical at Maguindanao massacre trial   February 03, 2011   MANILA, Philippines — Today’s hearing of […]

SOUTH KOREA: Two human rights defenders received sentences for helping the victims of eviction

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has obtained the details of the judgment in which two human rights defenders Mr. Park Lae-Gun and Mr. Lee Jong-Hoi were given a three-year and one month jail sentence suspended for four years and a two-year jail sentence suspended for three years respectively. They played a role […]

MALAYSIA: Protest against a threat of litigation against human rights lawyer, public interest advocate and blogger Mr. Charles Hector Fernandez

An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission to the Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn. Bhd. Company Mr. Takeshi Nishitsuji — President Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn. Bhd. Lot 3377, Jalan Perusahaan Utama, Taman Industri Selesa Jaya, 43300 Balakong, Selangor Darul Ehsan MALAYSIA Tel: +60 3 89614360 Fax: +60 3 89614354 Email: asahi@po.jaring.my Dear Mr. Nishitsuji, […]

MALAYSIA: A human rights lawyer and public interest advocate faces threats of legal action for blogging about a company allegedly violating rights of migrant workers

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that Mr. Charles Hector Fernandez, a human rights defender and lawyer, is facing threats of legal action by Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn. Bhd. Company, a company employing migrant workers. The Company claimed that Mr. Fernandez posts on the plight of Burmese migrant workers were libelous. […]

CAMBODIA: Freedom of expression and the point of no return

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following joint statement from the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) and Article 19 concerning freedom of expression. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong A Statement from the Cambodian Center for Human Rights and Article 19 forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission The Cambodian Center […]

THAILAND: Day Five – Free speech on trial in Thailand, postponed – Police scientist testifies for prosecution

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT) which is report of observation on Chiranuch Premchaiporn case. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Press Release from Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission […]

THAILAND: Day Four — Free speech on trial in Thailand — MICT and police lawyers testify

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT) which is report of observation on Chiranuch Premchaiporn case. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Press Release from Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission […]

THAILAND: Day Three – Free speech on trial in Thailand – Thai webmaster facing 50 years for lèse majesté postings

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT) which is report of observation on Chiranuch Premchaiporn case. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Press Release from Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission […]

THAILAND: Day Two – Free speech on trial in Thailand – Thai webmaster facing 50 years for lèse majesté postings

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT) which is report of observation on Chiranuch Premchaiporn case. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Press Release from Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission […]

THAILAND: First hearing of alleged NorPorChorUSA administrator

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from Prachatai Website. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Press Release from Prachatai Website forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) THAILAND: First hearing of alleged NorPorChorUSA administrator Sat, 05/02/2011 – 18:49 | by prachatai The […]

THAILAND: Day One – Free speech on trial in Thailand – Thai webmaster facing 50 years for lèse majesté postings

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT). Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- 4 February 2011 Day One – Free speech on trial in Thailand Thai webmaster facing 50 years for lèse majesté postings By CJ Hinke Freedom […]

THAILAND: Calling to observe for court trial of Chiranuch Premchaiporn, director of Prachatai website, on 4 – 17 February 2011, 9.00am – 4.00pm at the Criminal Court

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from the group of activists who set up the trial observation on Chiranuch Premchaiporn, director of Prachai website. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Press Release from the group of activists who set up the trial […]

SRI LANKA: Arson attack on Lanka E-News — An attack on society

The premises of Lanka E-News, a well know website which has suffered several attacks in recent times has been set on fire in the early morning of January 31. According to reports the equipment and the premises where the website was maintained has been destroyed. Previously the editor of this website was constantly attacked and […]

PAKISTAN: Save the life of a Baloch journalist

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from Baloch Human Rights Council (Canada). Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Press Release from Baloch Human Rights Council, Canada forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Baloch Human Rights Council (Canada) has released an […]

SRI LANKA: Websites that criticise the Government to be dealt with

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from Networking for Rights. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Press Release from Networking for Rights forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Press release 18 January 2011 The attention of NfR has been drawn […]

EGYPT/PAKISTAN: A vote for sanity in Egypt — a lesson for Pakistan

The act of solidarity by Egyptian Muslims towards Egyptian Copts is a glowing example for countries and communities around the world. And it must be particularly noted that Pakistan could be one of the main beneficiaries of this attitude. As Egyptian Copts prepared to attend mass at churches across the country, thousands of Muslims, including […]

SRI LANKA: Police torture as an indicator of the constitutional degradation of the Rule of Law

Sofie Rordam Sri Lankan citizens are protected against torture and arbitrary arrest in sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. In addition Sri Lanka has ratified the United Nations Convention against Torture and Cruel and Inhuman Treatment in 1994. While the legislation is there, the effectuation is not. The gap between […]

SOUTH KOREA: MINBYUN highly welcomes the decision declaring the framework on the act on telecommunication that punishes false communication unconstitutional

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following statement from MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Statement from MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission On the 28th of December 2010, the Constitutional Court ruled that Article […]