Judicial system

The statement: 31 Jul 06 Dr Chee Soon Juan and Ms Chee Siok Chin have applied for the courts not to allow Messrs Lee Kuan Yew and Lee Hsien Loong to proceed with their summary judgement as this would deprive the Defendants of a trial. Lawyer Mr M Ravi argued in his submissions that under […]

[RE: FA-06-2005: PHILIPPINES: three people killed and three others wounded by military forces in Matanao, Davao del Sur, Mindanao; UP-46-2005: PHILIPPINES: A call for speedy resolution of a case filed against the military in the killing of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur; UA-72-2005: PHILIPPINES: Prosecutor’s inaction to file murder charges against military […]

This is the first of five open letters that the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) feels compelled to write to the UN Human Rights Council concerning the horrible human rights situation in Bangladesh, and its causes. We are doing this as we are deeply concerned for the integrity and credibility of the Council if Bangladesh […]

By Basil Fernando This paper has been prepared to encourage discussion on the limits of the developments on the impact of adult franchise as a factor contributing to the present crisis in Sri Lanka Born in 1906 J.R. Jayawardene was already 41 years-of-age at the time of independence.  His formative years and the family background […]

The higher courts of Pakistan have failed to respond to the growing number of abductions and forced disappearances at the hands of the country’s security forces. Instead they are in effect acting as accomplices to the perpetrators.  In what manner have the courts failed? Either they fail to take notice of a case, or they […]

According to a report in the press (Daily News July 26, 2006) the Chief Justice is quoted as having said:  ‘”go slow” activity as a pernicious act committed against the whole country. He noted that the whole country had to suffer because of the strike country also lost billions of rupees.’ [sic] The argument by […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to you in advance of your State on Monday, July 24. While we look forward to what you will be reporting regarding the present situation of your country and future plans, we would like to draw your attention to the state of human rights in the Philippines, which […]

The Philippine National Police have a unique definition of the word “solved”. According to them, once a charge is filed against a suspect with the Office of the Prosecutor it is solved. Suspects not arrested? No matter, it is solved. Investigation flawed? No matter, it is solved. Requests of victim’s family for more inquiries unanswered? […]

In a very strange move that will surprise anyone concerned with the global effort to eradicate disappearances and gross human rights violations, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), which claims to be the country’s prime agency for the protection and promotion of human rights, officially decided to stop further inquiries into disappearance cases […]

On July 17 the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) issued an appeal on the alleged torture, armed robbery, illegal detention, and attempted rape and extortion of two persons in Saraburi, just northeast of Bangkok in Thailand. According to Uthai Boonnom, he and his partner were taken–at gunpoint and blindfolded–to a house in the forest where […]

[RE: UP-20-2005: THAILAND: Human rights lawyer still missing after nearly one year; Action needed today to have case transferred… UP-77-2005: THAILAND: Department of Special Investigation fails to bring justice to Charoen Wat-aksorn case… UA-112-2005: THAILAND: Murder of Thai monk following an environmental and land dispute with local influential business figures; UP-028-2006: THAILAND: Protection withdrawn from […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 7, 2006 AHRC-OL-028-2006 An open letter to the Inter Ministerial Committee on Human Rights The Inter Ministerial Committee on Human Rights Thro- Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights Parliamentary Complex Colombo 1 SRI LANKA July 6, 2006 Dear Sirs, SRI LANKA: The case of Chamila Bandara, HC […]

The bench of three judges of the Supreme Court made an order on June 30, 2006 directing the Attorney General to consider whether action is warranted against two citizens who filed a fundamental rights petition relating to the appointment of four judges by the president without the recommendation of the Constitutional Council.  The basis is […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission’s (AHRC) Urgent Appeals Programme wishes to remind you of our new urgent appeal online support system. We strongly urge you to use this system and to help pressure government authorities and other relevant persons to intervene and bring justice to all concerned.  The urgent appeals online support system will now […]

This paper has been prepared in question and answer form to discuss how the status and the value of courts has diminished since the 1978 Constitution which is an authoritarian Constitution. The present degeneration of the court system makes the courts an obstacle to the rule of law and the enhancement of justice. However, this […]

Open letter from the AHRC to the Prime Minister of Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala Prime Minister’s office Singha Durbar Kathmandu NEPAL Fax. + 977 142 27286 Dear Prime Minister Koirala, Re: The urgent need to disarm and disband vigilante groups in Nepal, following the death of three-year old child The Asian Human Rights […]

The urgent appeals programme has experienced considerable growth over the last years. To ensure that individual support by UA programme subscribers will continue despite the increased issuing of urgent appeals, and to ease the possibilities to support the urgent appeals programme, the AHRC has launched an addition to the existing system. The urgent appeals online […]

AHRC-OL-017-2006 June 9, 2006 Open letter to the President of Sri Lanka Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse President  Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka C/- Office of the President Temple Trees 150, Galle Road Colombo 3 SRI LANKA Fax: +94 11 2472100 / +94 11 2446657  Dear President Rajapakse, Re: If the present generation destroys Sri Lanka’s […]

The judgment of the Court of Appeal on the application of two citizens regarding the recent appointments to the Police and Public Service Commissions by the President of Sri Lanka [CA Application 66/2006] raises some fundamental problems regarding the implementation of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. The issue raised by the petitioners was that the […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following statement by the Free Media Movement (FMM) of Sri Lanka on the President’s appointments to independent commissions. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ——– A Forwarded Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) SRI LANKA: FMM condemns President’s appointments […]