Independence of judges & lawyers

INDONESIA: President must fulfill promise to solve the Paniai case, and investigating team must commence work

A Joint Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Papua itu Kita, LBH Jakarta, SKP-HAM Sulawesi Tengah, SETARA Institute, IKOHI, AJAR, LBH Pers, LBH Semarang, LBH Bandung, Human Rights Working Group (HRWG), Imparsial, SIMPONI (Sindikat Musik Penghuni Bumi), CEDAW Working Group Indonesia (CWGI), Yayasan Satu Keadilan, Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Indonesia (YLBHI), Purple Code […]

THAILAND: TLHR lawyer Sirikan Charoensiri’s case to be transferred to public prosecutor on 12 May 2016

On 27 April 2016, Ms. Sirikan (“June”) Charoensiri, a lawyer at Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, received a summons to report to the public prosecutor at the Office of Special Prosecutor at Subdistrict 3 Court (Dusit) in Bangkok on 12 May 2016 at 10.00. Under Thai law, after the police have concluded an investigation and decide […]

SRI LANKA: A monk goes berserk in Court and disrupts the proceedings.

In an outrageous incident at the Homagama Magistrate’s Court, when the case of abduction and the disappearance of cartoonist Prageeth Ekneligoda was taken up in Court yesterday, an unusual series of events erupted, with the Chairman of the Sinhala BoduBalaSena, a member of the Bhuddhist clergy, GalgodaaththeGnanasara, stood up in the middle of the Court […]

INDIA: Medieval mind-set no answer to country’s justice deficit

Statement | India | 27-10-2015

The recent judgment by the Madras High Court, wherein the Court has suggested the government consider an amendment in the penal code to include as punishment the castration of convicts of child sexual abuse offences, illustrates the medieval and barbaric thinking that still finds place in the Indian justice process. High Court Judge Mr. N. […]

ASIA: Weekly Roundup, Episode 91

This week, AHRC TV reports from Geneva, where Sanjida Islam from Bangladesh has met with the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to try to gather international support for her struggle to find her disappeared brother who was abducted in December 2013 by the notorious Rapid Action Battalion. Also in Geneva, the Right Livelihood […]

NEPAL: Apply Panchsheel on Nepal

An article from The Hindu forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission No other term but ‘dismay’ can describe one’s response to New Delhi’s ungenerous reply toNepal’s democratic drafting of a Constitution through a Constituent Assembly. The Ministry of External Affairs merely ‘took note’ of the document, and followed that up a day later with a […]

PAKISTAN: Where are the 8,363 Balochis arrested in the last nine months?

The Interior Ministry of Baluchistan has recently stated that it has arrested 8363 Baloch over the span of 9 months. Whereas, the Chief Minister of Balochistan Dr. Malik Baloch has said that those arrested will be dealt in accordance with the law. No further details pertaining to the arrested have been revealed. The provincial interior […]

BANGLADESH: Judicial harassment against free speech defenders continues

A Press Release from the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and World Organisation Against Torture (Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture;OMCT) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) PRESS RELEASE – THE OBSERVATORY BANGLADESH: Judicial harassment against free speech defenders continues Paris-Geneva, August 14, 2015 – The three-year prison sentence handed down to Mr. Mahmudur Rahman yesterday morning by […]

Hong Kong: International community expresses concern as more lawyers are detained in China

A Press Release from Christian Solidarity Worldwide forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) For Immediate Release 20 July 2015-United Nations human rights experts, the European Union, UK, US and other voices from the international community have expressed their concern regarding the detention of over 200 lawyers and activists in China since 10 July. […]

BANGLADESH: RFK Human Rights Center condemns statements by police targeting human rights organistions

A Statement from Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Centre forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights  Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights condemns statements by Bangladeshi police targeting human rights organizations Contact: Daniel Cronin (917) 284-6356 | Email: Cronin@rfkhumanrights.org (August 5, 2015 | Washington, D.C.) Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights condemns the recent […]

PAKISTAN: Either constitutional insanity or doctrine of necessity at work again

The verdict allows for extrajudicial killings by legalising military courts Today, 5 August 2015, will be remembered as a black day in the constitutional history of Pakistan. It will be commemorated as a sad day, a day when the apex court validated military rule once again. The establishment of military courts has been upheld by […]

BANGLADESH: Repeating lies does not turn ‘falsehood’ into the ‘truth’

The Bangladesh Police has again attempted to justify extrajudicial executions with the excuse of “self-defence”. The latest attempt has been made in a media release (original Bangla and unofficial English translation) sent out from the Police Headquarters and circulated to the country’s media on 2 August 2015. In order to hide its crimes of extrajudicial executions, the […]

INDONESIA: Bau-Bau District Court convicts officer with light punishment

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the death of Aslin Zalim in police custody in Bau-Bau Regency, South East Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The Bau Bau District Court has convicted Police Adjunct Senior Commissioner (AKBP) Joko Krisdianto, former Chief of Bau Bau Police Resort (Polres Bau Bau), to six […]

ASIA: Weekly Roundup, Episode 82

This Week’s Roundup begins in the Indian state of Kerala where AHRC follows up on the unique police modernisation process underway. Featured in the programme is footage of Member of the State Legislative Assembly V.T. Balram, debating this critical reform process in the Kerala Legislative Assembly. The programme then revisits events in China where more […]

CHINA: Statement issued by the Legal Sub-Sector of the Election Committee in relation to the mass arrest, detention and disappearance of lawyers in China

A Press Release from (Legal) Election Committee of Hong Kong forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) We as members of the legal profession and as elected representatives of the legal sub-sector of the Election Committee are gravely concerned and alarmed at the mass arrest, detention and disappearance of lawyers in China. Legal professionals all over the world […]

ASIA: Mob justice—a symptom of degenerating rule of law

Article | Asia | 20-07-2015

Javeria Younes The mob justice meted out to 13-year-old Samiul Alam Rajon, who was beaten to death in Bangladesh by an angry mob resolute on teaching the youngster a lesson for stealing a bicycle, is a classic case of mob madness witnessed on our streets every day. Throughout Asia, deteriorating rule of law and ineffective […]

ASIA: Weekly Roundup, Episode 81

An Announcement by the Asian Human Rights Commission This week’s Roundup begins in the Indian state of Kerala. The state government has initiated a process of police reforms. This unique initiative involves enabling the police to undertake scientific crime investigation. AHRC TV interviews AHRC Executive Director Bijo Francis to learn more about the outlook for […]

BURMA/MYANMAR: Author sentenced to two years imprisonment; appeal rejected

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding a writer who was charged and prosecuted for allegedly committing a religious offence. He has now been sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour. An excerpt of his speech, which excoriates extremists and jingoists, intended for the benefit of Buddhism, spread […]

BURMA/MYANMAR: Disciplinary punishments for police who assault and torture no substitute for criminal sanctions

In a letter dated 10 April 2015, the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission—an innovation of the current period of political change in Myanmar, or Burma—wrote to the Asian Human Rights Commission concerning the death in police custody of Ma Than Than Aye, and alleged torture of her and her husband Ko Nan Win (AHRC-UAC-128-2014). According […]

PAKISTAN: HRCP, ICJ demand clarification on juveniles’ trial by military courts

A Press Release from Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Lahore, May 21: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) have expressed deep concern that following the 21stamendment, juveniles suspected of committing offences related to terrorism could end up being […]