Judicial system

UPDATE (Philippines): Abadilla Five’s petition to review conviction suffers further delay

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you regarding further delays in the conclusion of the Petition for Review on Certiorari that the Abadilla Five has filed. We previously reported that the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) was required by the Supreme Court to submit their comment on the petition; […]

PHILIPPINES: A man falsely charged with terrorism

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that a man, whom a prosecutor had falsely charged for committing acts of terror, has been continuously held in detention for six months to face a trial on an offense that has not been substantially proven. CASE DETAILS: (According to information from the Task […]

PAKISTAN: Murder of mother and daughter on the pretext of honour killing

[NOTICE: The AHRC has developed this automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Pakistan authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Pakistan authorities are attached […]

GENERAL APPEAL (Pakistan): Four persons burned alive in hot coal tar while other abuses reported during military operation in Balochistan

[NOTICE: The AHRC has developed this automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Pakistan authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Pakistan authorities are attached […]

BURMA: Three men charged for harbouring a monk after 2007 protests

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) regrets to inform you that yet another three persons have been charged over the protests of last September 2007 in Burma. The three are charged with harbouring a monk who was involved in leading the protests, but as in other cases like it, the police have come […]

BURMA: At least three more rights defenders arrested over cyclone relief work

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) regrets to inform you that at least three more persons have been arrested in recent days apparently because of their work in relief efforts for the victims of Cyclone Nargis. The three are the chairman and members of the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters group. Meanwhile, a […]

BURMA: Three more persons charged without evidence over September protests

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) regrets to inform you of another three cases against three persons who were illegally detained after the protests in Burma last September against the rapid increases in fuel and commodity costs there. The three have been charged with a number of offences for supposedly distributing anti-government literature […]

PHILIPPINES: Labour department’s complicity in unlawful acts deprives sexually abused workers from creating a union

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that several union leaders and factory workers of a footwear company were illegally terminated when some of their female colleagues exposed their employer’s sexual abuse on them. Their termination had also effectively deprived them possibility from having their union legally recognized. As they […]

SRI LANKA: Two young men severely assaulted; one has permanently lost his eyesight due to delayed medical treatment

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the Pitabaddara police allegedly severely assaulted a young man after arresting him during which time they allowed another person to throw acid in his face. Police kept him for several days in custody, refusing to provide medical treatment. Due to the delay, he […]

CAMBODIA: Prime Minister Hun Sen’s nephew assaults a Member of Parliament

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that Prime Minister Hun Sen’s nephew, Hun To, ordered his bodyguards to attack a Member of Parliament named Nuon Vuthy on 19 July 2008 at the ferry pier of Prek Kdam in Ponhea Leu district, Kandal Province. It is reported that Hun To’s bodyguards repeatedly […]

SRI LANKA: Kandy police illegally detain and torture a school teacher

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Shanthigara Suresh Kumar, a teacher at the Trinity College of Kandy, was arbitrarily arrested and detained by the Kandy Police for 68 days. He was brutally tortured while in detention. The authorities have yet to take any action against the alleged perpetrators. […]

UPDATE (Philippines): Solicitor General told to comment on the petition of Abadilla Five in ten days

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that the Supreme Court (SC) has already required the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to comment on the Petition for Review on Certiorari the legal counsels of the Abadilla Five filed on May 5. The SC’s resolution was issued on June 16 but […]

PAKISTAN: Police officials kidnap and arbitrarily detain a labourer for ransom

[NOTICE: The AHRC has developed this automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Pakistan authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Pakistan authorities are attached […]

SRI LANKA: A torture victim’s life is in danger at Moratuwa Police Station

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding illegal arrest and detention of a person named Mr. Sarath Kumara Naitos. The Moratuwa police arrested him on 5 July from his work place and charged him with theft. He was beaten at the time of arrest and while in detention. The police […]

CAMBODIA: A journalist and son shot dead in Phnom Penh

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that a journalist named Khim Sambor who worked for a local newspaper, Moneaksekar Khmer, and his son were shot dead on 11 July in Phnom Penh.  Both father and son were travelling on a motorcycle after finishing their exercise at the city’s Olympic stadium when […]

CAMBODIA: Police allegedly extort bribes in arrest in Rattanakiri province

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that the police allegedly ordered parents to pay a bribe of 150000 riels (US$37.5) each if their sons were not to be arrested after these youths had damaged a party sign in Soeung commune, Bor Keo district, Rattankiri province. On 2 July 2008, they arrested […]

PAKISTAN: Perpetrators of murder enjoy impunity

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a peasant was murdered, one was abducted and several more were injured in an attack by a powerful group. After the passing of almost three months no one has yet been arrested. A session court has rejected the application for anticipatory bail before […]

BURMA: Another person charged with sedition for protesting against price rises

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has obtained detailed information on the case of Ko Htin Kyaw, one of the persons who was illegally detained in Burma since August 2007 for being involved in the first protests against the sudden increases in fuel prices that led to the monk-led nationwide rallies in September. […]

PAKISTAN: Threat of death of a young couple under the name of honour killing

[NOTICE: The AHRC has developed this automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Pakistan authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Pakistan authorities are attached […]

UPDATE (Indonesia): Decree banning religious group must be revoked

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes with deep concern on the issuance of a decree banning a religious minority, Ahmadiyah, from spreading their religious practices by the government on 9 June 2008. The AHRC is concerned that the decree would encourage other Muslim groups critical of them to carry out more attacks […]