Human rights defenders

(Hong Kong, September 6, 2012) Mussah Sherian, the wife of the falsely accused human rights activist Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie, thought she would just be “behind the scenes taking care of (their) children,” but it all changed after his arrest. Mussah now looks after their five children, namely Iman, 19; Imir, 15; Carrey, 12; Jihad, 8 […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that human rights defenders working with WOREC Nepal, a leading women’s rights organization, and Mitini Nepal, an organization working for the rights of LGBTI women, have come under threat after supporting a victim of domestic violence. Anita (name changed) filed for divorce after living […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that a labour leader falsely charged for robbery entered a plea of ‘not guilty’ at the beginning of his trial on August 23, 2012. In order to clear his and those of other activists, he submitted himself to the court proceedings, knowing full well […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that Mr. Mam Sonando (70) was arrested from his home on 15 July 2012 by the police and was formally charged on the following day by Phnom Penh Municipal Court. The main charges against Mr. Mam Sonando include plotting secessionist movements in Kratie province, inciting […]

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following article from the diplomatic titbits blogspot, written by Mr. Ramesh Chander (IFS). Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- “The hunt for The Greatest Indian has come to a Celebratory End! The votes are in and the people of India have spoken. The Greatest Indian […]

Dear friends, On 30 July 2012 a court in Bangkok convicted five police officers of murder for the extrajudicial killing of Kiettisak Thitboonkrong during the “war on drugs” in 2004. The success of the case was due in large part to the determination of the family and willingness of eyewitnesses to testify against the police. […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the local administration of the two districts of Punjab province and the owners of kiln factories are using the accusation of committing blasphemy against a human rights organization and its staff for raising their voices against bonded labour. They are also demanding wage […]

(Hong Kong, August 2, 2012) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has sent a delegate today to observe the court trial of Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie, a human rights defender who is presently detained and prosecuted on evidence obtained through torture and a forced confession. Rasika Sanjeewa Weerawickrama, a human rights lawyer from Sri Lanka, will […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a human rights defender and fisherfolk activist has been abducted by the local police. It is alleged 70-80 officials from the police and other agencies along with henchmen of the perpetrators attacked the Kakkapir Village, Karachi, Sindh Province at 3am early in the […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned by the inaction of the police to protect indigenous villagers facing threats. They complained against members of the Intelligence Network in their village; however, three months on, no protection has been provided and no investigation has been conducted. The threats against the villagers began […]

The Presidential Office announced that the current chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) will be reappointed for three-year tenure. According to the office, the main reason for his reappointment is that since Mr. Hyun Byung-cheol has been appointed as NHRCK chairperson in 2009, the NHRCK has played a leading role in […]

The Government of Bangladesh plans to immediately arrest members of human rights organisations and activists suspected of providing information for the Human Rights Watch Report “Bangladesh: Torture, Deaths of Jailed Mutiny Suspects”. The Asian Human Rights Commission has learned from reliable sources that there are discussions among some quarters in the Bangladesh government of arresting […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that nearly six months after the arrest and detention of Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie, a human rights activist laid with fabricated murder charges, the court has not commence the trial. The court suspended the proceedings due to its own failure to conclude the victim’s petition […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Rongmei Lu Phuam (RLP) concerning the robbery and horrific gang rape of 40-year-old Phool Maya (name changed) on 22 March 2012 by four men, two of whom are Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) officers. It is possible the incident was masterminded by a fifth […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has obtained further details that an activist who was murdered on May 1, 2012 for opposing illegal mining operation in Salcedo, Eastern Samar, knew of the plan that he and two others would be killed. The victim, Francisco Canayong; and his colleagues, Antonio Norte and Carolyn Borja, […]

We reproduce below the section on Sri Lanka from the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue. The Report was submitted to the Seventh Session of the Human Rights Council. The Full report can be viewed at: http://www.humanrights.asia/news/alrc-news/human-rights-council/hrc17/ahrc1727.pdf/view  Sri Lanka Urgent […]

NfR Sri Lanka, a network of Sri Lankan journalists and human rights defenders condemns the blocking of five tamil language news websites which report on Sri Lanka. In a situation where print and electronic media is under severe self censorship,  internet based media plays a critical role in providing information on Sri Lanka. NfR sources […]

The government should investigate the source and nature of threats to Asma Jahangir’s life, and take appropriate action. Razi Rumi Published in:  The Friday Times June 8, 2012 Raza Rumi talks to Ali Dayan Hasan Pakistan Director at Human Rights Watch Q: A year after the murder of Saleem Shahzad and in light of the […]

เรียนทุกท่าน คณะกรรมาธิการสิทธิมนุษยชนแห่งเอเชีย (Asian Human Rights Commission: AHRC) ปรารถนาส่งต่อจดหมายเปิดผนึกขององค์กรพัฒนาเอกชนและบุคคลในประเทศไทยและนานาชาติ ที่ส่งถึงนายกรัฐมนตรีแห่งประเทศไทย คณะกรรมาธิการสิทธิมนุษยชนแห่งเอเชีย ฮ่องกง ——- AHRC-FOL-006-2012-TH 5 มิถุนายน 2555 จดหมายเปิดผนึกโดยองค์กรพัฒนาเอกชนและบุคคลในประเทศไทยและนานาชาติ ส่งต่อโดยคณะกรรมาธิการสิทธิมนุษยชนแห่งเอเชีย (Asian Human Rights Commission: AHRC) ประเทศไทย: นักเคลื่อนไหวคนสำคัญ และผู้นำเกษตรกร อาจได้รับโทษจำคุก ในการเคลื่อนไหวเพื่อการปฏิรูปนโยบายที่ดินครั้งสำคัญในไทย จดหมายเปิดผนึก ส่งด้วยมือ ฯพณฯ นางสาวยิ่งลักษณ์ ชินวัตร นายกรัฐมนตรี ทำเนียบรัฐบาล ถ.พิษณุโลก เขตดุสิต กรุงเทพฯ 10300 31 พฤษภาคม 2555 นักเคลื่อนไหวคนสำคัญ และผู้นำเกษตรกร อาจได้รับโทษจำคุก ในการเคลื่อนไหวเพื่อการปฏิรูปนโยบายที่ดินครั้งสำคัญในไทย  เรียน ฯพณฯ นายกรัฐมนตรี เรารู้สึกกังวลอย่างยิ่งกับการฟ้องร้องคดีที่เพิ่มขึ้นของรัฐไทยต่อพลเมืองของตนเอง ซึ่งได้รณรงค์เป็นเวลานาน อย่างเปิดเผย และเป็นการกระทำเพื่อประโยชน์สาธารณะ เพื่อคุ้มครองสิทธิในที่ดินของคนยากจน และเพื่อผลักดันให้เกิดการปฏิรูปนโยบายที่ดินระดับชาติ […]

Dear friends, On 6 June 2012, at 9 am in the Provincial Court in Lamphun Province, the Supreme Court verdict in a case involving three land rights activist in northern Thailand will be announced. The three defendants — Mr. Prawais Panpa, Mr. Rangsan Saensongkhaew, and Mr. Suebsakun Kijnukorn – face potential lengthy prison terms of […]