Human rights defenders

ISRAEL: Killing of Thomas Hundall by Israeli Soldiers

Dear Friends Thomas Hundall, a 22 yr old British Human Rights activist, was shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip while defending some Palestinian children by standing between them and IDF troops. Thomas Hundall was a member of the International Solidarity Movement, and is the third international peace activist in less than one […]

INDONESIA: Kidnapping of Two Human Rights Activists – Banda Aceh

SITUATION: Two Human Rights activists, Mukhlis Ishak, aka Choy, 27 yrs old, from Darussalam Banda Aceh, and Zulfikar, aka Joul, 24 yrs old, from Kramat Banda Aceh, have disappeared. The Banda Aceh Legal Aid Institute (LBH Banda Aceh) has found proof of the kidnap and disappearance of the two men. On Thursday, 27 March, 2003, […]

UPDATE(Sri Lanka): Please Sign the Online Petition to support Michael Anthoney Emmanuel Fernando (Tony)

Dear Friends, A local solidarity group for Mr. Michael Anthony Emmanuel Fernando (aka Tony) in Sri Lanka has launched a petition for release of him. AHRC has launched a petition on behalf of Tony on 21 March 2003. When you sign this petition on line, your name will be added to the list of signatories […]

SINGAPORE: Oppositionist fined and imprisoned for defending his right to freedom of assembly in defiance of police warning not to hold the rally for workers’ rights.

On 8 October 2002, Singaporean Court sentenced Chee Soon Juan, Singaporean opposition leader, and Ghandhi Ambalam for five and four weeks jail for breaking Singapore’s Public Entertainment and Meeting Act by holding a public event without a permit, after they refused to pay a S$4,500 (USA$2,540) and S$3000 fine, respectively. Ambalam has since been released, as his family paid the fine, but Chee continues to be imprisoned.

PHILIPPINES: Human rights activist facing charges for fabricated crime

Dear Friends, The following is a forwarded appeal from Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) regarding a case of harassment of a human rights activist. According to the following urgent appeal, Mr. Johnny F. Diozon, one of the staff members of TFDP who is in charge of the Northern Luzon region, has been harassed […]

UPDATE (THAILAND): Need your action to save the Burmese activists

Dear Friends,  Regarding our earlier forwarded appeal on the crackdown on Burmese dissidents and pro-democracy activists in Thailand, we are again requesting you to take action to prevent the arrested persons from being forcibly repatriated to the Burmese military regime.  According to news reports, the Thai authorities have officially announced that they sent them all […]

INDONESIA: Attacks on human rights defenders, destruction of property, public use of weapons with impunity

Munir and Warda attacked by Jakarta militias INDONESIA: Attacks on human rights defenders, destruction of property, public use of weapons with impunity ———————————————————– AHRC has visited the offices of two highly regarded Indonesian human rights defenders targeted by civil militia groups in separate violent attacks occurring on the same day: March 13, 2002. The Urban […]

MAY DAY 2002: State violence and repression in Asia

State violence and repression in Asia INDONESIA/MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE/AUSTRALIA: Repression and violence against human rights defenders on May Day 2002 ——————————————————————– Last Wednesday was International Labour Day – the day to remember and continue the struggle for basic human rights for workers around the world. Far too often the efforts of worker activists for justice end in […]

UPDATE (MALAYSIA): Call for Red Cross to aid hunger striking ISA detainees

Dear Friends We are asking for your urgent action in the light of dramatic developments in the struggle of the ISA detainees for proper medical and legal treatment. The 8-day long hunger strike and several days without water has seriously weakened the six detainees to the point where two have been put on intravenous drip […]

UPDATE (INDONESIA): Head of Militia is Presidential Advisor

We are forwarding an appeal from Eviction Watch and the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC) for your further action to protect Indonesian human rights defenders. After the second attack on UPC by the FBR (Betawi Brotherhood Forum) which caused many of you to write protest letters, 7 of the attackers have been arrested. 

UPDATE (INDONESIA): NGOs condemn latest attack on human rights defenders at Komnas HAM

(RE: UA-11-2002: Attacks on human rights defenders, destruction of property, public use of weapons with impunity)  UPDATE (INDONESIA): Further attacks on human rights defenders, public threats made with impunity  ———————————————————————-  Dear Friends  We are including here a joint statement by 48 Indonesian NGOs in response to another attack by the FBR (Betawi Brotherhood Forum) on […]

UPDATE (INDONESIA): Attacks on human rights defenders, destruction of property, public use of weapons with impunity

Dear Friends,  On March 16, 2002, we sent an urgent appeal about the attack on the office of Kontras (Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence) in Jakarta by unidentified Ambonese people on March 13. To follow up this appeal, we are forwarding you a letter sent to Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri by Forum-Asia […]

UPDATE (INDONESIA): 9 of Bandung 19 declared Not Guilty despite unfair trial

Dear Friends  We are pleased to inform you of great success thanks to your efforts in support of the ‘Bandung 19’, wrongfully arrested on June 15 2001, tortured, held incommunicado and subject to unfair trial. You will recall that the young workers, students and activists were protesting the government’s planned increase in oil prices. The […]

UPDATE: Who is Dr. Salai, Burmese political prisoner?

Further to our Urgent Appeal of 28 January 2002 regarding the arrest and detention of Dr. Salai Tun Than in Rangoon, Burma, for holding a peaceful one-man protest, we have received additional details of the Professor’s arrest and his distinguished biography. 

INDONESIA/ACEH: Humanitarian workers and human rights activist attacked

Humanitarian workers and activist who are assistings victims of the on going arms conflict are often not welcome by both the armed rebels and the Indonesian military. Humanitarian workers and activist themeselves have become victims to violences, intimidation, torture and disappearances.  21 August 1999 Two humanitarian workers from BEMA LAIN in Ar-Raniery were arrested by […]

INDIA: Human rights defender murdered in Uttar Pradesh

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal from Voice of the People (VoP), Uttar Pradesh, People’s Watch Tamilnadu (PWTN) and People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) Uttar Pradesh concerning the murder of Mr. Hari Lal. It is reported that Hari Lal was a leader of the VoP, an […]

PHILIPPINES: Petition asking President Aquino to take custody of a falsely charged activist

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is forwarding a petition asking President Benigno Aquino III and his officials to consider taking into their custody Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie, a prominent human rights defender in Sulu, Mindanao Island, who had to go on hiding after being falsely charged on charges of murder. Tulawie is willing […]

FORWARDED APPEAL (India): Further arrests and ill-treatment of human rights defenders by security forces

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you an appeal from the Front Line regarding the case of arrest, detention and suspected torture of  human rights defenders in the Indian state of Manipur. Several human rights organisations across the world have expressed their concern for the safety of these human […]

FORWARDED APPEAL (Iran): Ailing female human rights defender Shadi Sadr is beaten and arrested

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal from the Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) international solidarity network about the violent abduction and illegal detention of their ailing colleague, human rights lawyer Shadi Sadr. Please join them in calling for her release and for her access to immediate medical treatment. […]

PHILIPPINES: Labour rights activist killed in Santa Rosa City

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is forwarding to you an appeal from the National Coalition for the Protection of Workers’ Rights (NCPWR) regarding the murder of Edward Panganiban, a labour rights activist. If you have any question, please contact the group’s email at: ncpwr.st@gmail.com and granahe.st@gmail.com Thank you. Urgent Appeals Desk Asian […]