Human rights defenders

Leader of National Peace and Order Council Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha Royal Thai Army Headquarters Rachadamnoen Nok Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand Fax:  (+66-2) 226 1838 E-mail: prforeign@gmail.com Dear General We, the members of civil society and human rights defenders of Nepal, express our deep concern over the takeover the administration of the country by the military junta, […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that threats against human rights defenders in the Khon Rak Ban Koen Group working to protect their communities from the negative effects of mining in Loei Province in Thailand are again at imminent risk of violence, under the cover of the military takeover of the […]

Human rights defenders are continually being made targets of abduction in Bangladesh, actions that are symptomatic of a kind of insanity. Yesterday (May 15,2014 ), Mr. Md. Nur Khan (Liton), a prominent human rights defender narrowly escaped being abducted. A group of men in plain clothes attempted to abduct Mr. Nur, who works as Director […]

The killing of senior lawyer, Rashid Rehman, on May 7, 2014 in his office in Multan has once again brought into focus at home and abroad how little the Pakistani state values those who risk their lives for the promotion and protection of fundamental rights for all. Rehman was killed despite having earlier expressed serious […]

I held back on writing about the extremely traumatic experience of Naomi Coleman, 37, mental health nurse in Coventry, England. I am very glad I opted to be less than current since I felt I needed other’s opinions before expressing mine. All I spoke with from senior diplomats and retired government officers who held top […]

The rule of law does not exist in Bangladesh. The way the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) abducted seven men, including a senior lawyer and a member of the mayoral panel of the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC), on 27 April 2014, and murdered them, allegedly on behalf of a feuding faction of the ruling party, in […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received further information regarding the high profile and brutal assassination of the well known and respected human rights activist and lawyer, Rashid Rehman Khan. The government of Punjab has totally ignored the murder of a human rights defender and has not initiated any action that might […]

A lawyer and prominent human rights defender, Mr. Rashid Rehman Khan, was gunned downed yesterday by unknown persons at his chambers at 8.45 p.m. He had been receiving death threats from the Muslim fundamentalists since February. In the month of April he was threatened in court during the proceedings before the judge by a lawyer, […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal from Task Force Detainees of the Philippines.  For more information, please contact: tfdp.urgentappeals@gmail.com.  Thank you.  Urgent Appeals Desk  Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)  ———————————————————————–  PHILIPPINES: Justice for Ka Melon! Protect all farmers and human rights defenders in Hacienda Dolores!  May 7, 2014 […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) expresses its grave concern that its deputy director, Mr. Danilo Reyes, had been overtly followed by two unidentified men, one of whom carrying a short firearm, at around 8:30 to 9am on April 30, 2014 along E. Rodriguez Avenue, Quezon City, Metro Manila. Mr. Reyes travelled to Manila to […]

(Hong Kong, April 28, 2014) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has corrected and re-issued its 24 April 2014 statement concerning Bangladeshi human rights defender Adilur Rahman Khan. The re-issued statement may be accessed here. In its original statement, AHRC stated that “Adilur has been selected as one of the three recipients, alongside Cao Shunli and […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes with deep concern regarding the renewed overt surveillance on the staff of a religious group assisting poor farmers in Mindanao. One had been followed by an unknown man while the other had been receiving SMS messages from an unknown sender accusing him of being a supporter […]

Adilur Rahman Khan, Human Rights Defender of Bangladesh; AHRC File Photo Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan, a renowned human rights defender, who has been relentlessly persecuted by the incumbent regime in Bangladesh, has been recognized for his courage by the global human rights community. Adilur has been awarded the 2014 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, which he […]

• Labeling of lawyers by military continues • Practice of labeling root cause of extrajudicial killings • Pattern of ongoing threats against legal profession Philippines, 23 April 2014 – Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L) and Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) warn in an open letter to President Aquino of the Philippines for the continued labeling of lawyers […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) appreciates the Supreme Court of India’s initiative to institute a panel that will suggest measures to prevent road accidents and to ensure road safety in the country. The court has set up the panel after hearing a public interest litigation, filed by Dr. S. Rajaseekaran, (295/2012) which requested judicial […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you about the arrest of four poor urban leaders. They were negotiating on-site for the postponement of a demolition of informal settlers in Muntinlupa City. The victims were invoking an agreement reached with the local and national government giving them time to relocate. However, […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that five farmers, all members of the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA), were arrested by the local police while resting in their farm hut. They were given any reason for their arrest which was ordered by the Department of […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that brick kiln owners, with the patronage of the Punjab provincial government, have been holding children, women, and men in illegal detention. Women who have been demanding compliance of the minimum wage and social security have been beaten, their clothes stripped, and their children […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is pleased to inform you that a broadcast journalist whom we reported earlier to have been threatened for exposing corrupt practices, illegal logging and trafficking in his community in Bukidnon, Mindanao, has now been provided with security for himself and his family to ensure their safety. UPDATED […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Human Rights Alert, a human rights organization based in Manipur regarding the arbitrary detention of Mr. Khumukcham Chingkhei Luwang, a prominent social worker and Vice President of International Peace and Social Advancement, from Imphal West District, Manipur. His whereabouts have been changed since […]