Military

INDIA: Yet another illegal arrest and disappearance in Manipur

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Human Rights Alert (HRA) concerning the case of arrest and subsequent disappearance of yet another person in Manipur. A team of military officers, suspected to be from the 12 Maratha Light Infantry, took Mr. Longjam Suresh, the victim in the case into custody […]

SRI LANKA: Independence without civil liberties is a farce

Sri Lanka will be celebrating its independence from the British Empire on February 4, 2011. The lamentation that independence has not meant a great deal to the people of Sri Lanka is commonly heard. However, the causes that created this situation have often not been examined. The very meaning of independence for citizens of any […]

BURMA: Military plans to recruit youth to boost up unpopular regime

The attempt by the military government of Burma to introduce a law which is entitled Public Military Service Law is quite disturbing. The assessment of the move by the military regime which has now established a parliament which is basically controlled by the military itself. The question is as to why they are moving towards the compulsory […]

SRI LANKA: Police torture as an indicator of the constitutional degradation of the Rule of Law

Sofie Rordam Sri Lankan citizens are protected against torture and arbitrary arrest in sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. In addition Sri Lanka has ratified the United Nations Convention against Torture and Cruel and Inhuman Treatment in 1994. While the legislation is there, the effectuation is not. The gap between […]

BURMA: Human rights defender allegedly poisoned in cell

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission is deeply concerned about threats to the security and worsening health in prison of Ma Sandar, a human rights defender who was imprisoned on fabricated charges after an argument with doctors. According to the latest information about her case, Ma Sandar has been sent to a remote prison […]

SRI LANKA: The re-immergence of fear psychosis the Jaffna District

Dear friends,   We wish to share with you the following statement from Networking for Rights (NfR) Sri Lanka.   Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong   ————-   NfR expresses its serious concern about the deterioration of the law and order situation in the Northern Districts of Sri Lanka. The series of killings that […]

INDONESIA: Impunity for soldiers accused of torturing an indigenous Papuan

Dear friends, An Indigenous Papuan man, Tuanliwor Kiwo was arbitrarily detained and tortured in May 2010 by the Indonesian military. Mr. Kiwo survived by escaping two days after being detained. Despite the significant international attention that the case received after a video of the torture was published by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) in October 2010, […]

BURMA: Ailing human rights defender transferred to another prison

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned by the transfer of Ma Sandar, an ailing human rights defender convicted on fabricated charges, to another prison without the knowledge of her family. Her family has lost contact with her and do not know where she is presently being held. UPDATED INFORMATION: We […]

INDONESIA: Secret Files Show Kopassus Targets Papuan Churches, Civilians

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following article from investigative journalist Allan Nairn regarding a secret Indonesian military report planning intelligence operations against civilians in Papua. The military has responded by justifying this approach. For more information please visit www.allannairn.com. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- (Jakarta, November 9, 2010) Secret […]

ASIA: Attacks on several human rights websites after release of Indonesian torture video

Since October 28, 2010, the Asian Human Rights Commission’s (AHRC) website has been subjected to a concerted “cyber-attack” in which computers with hidden locations and identities have been used to flood the website’s servers with fake requests, in order to overload it. This has resulted in visitors not being able to access the website’s content […]

PAKISTAN: Two bodies found and eight persons remain disappeared after illegal arrests by military and paramilitary forces in Balochistan

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information that in recent days illegal arrests, abduction, killings and disappearances by the law enforcement agencies have increased in Balochistan province after the announcement by the Federal Interior minister that a lesson must be taught to Balochi insurgents by any means necessary. The Frontier Corps, a […]

INDONESIA: Video of the military torturing indigenous Papuans surfaced

(Hong Kong, October 17, 2010) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received video footage from sources in West Papua, who must remain anonymous for security reasons, showing the torture of indigenous Papuans by the Indonesian military (TNI). The full video can be viewed here. The AHRC has chosen to remove some of the scenes showing […]

SRI LANKA: The decision of the Military Tribunal against General Fonseka ugly but not surprising

A military tribunal made its decision against General Fonseka finding him guilty of the charge of being engaged in politics while in military service. The Tribunal made the decision without respect to due process and the principles of fair trial. The handpicked ‘judges’ were previous subordinates of the general who had been subjected to disciplinary […]

INDIA: A man’s life is at risk and his fate is unknown after his illegal arrest by the army in Manipur

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received detailed information regarding the illegal arrest and abduction of a man by army personnel at a check point in Imphal. The man was seen being driven into an infantry camp, in the same complex as a police station, yet all personnel have denied his arrest. […]

SOUTH KOREA: NGOs facing reprisals for submitting information to UN Security Council

Mr. Ban Ki-Moon Secretary General Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary General United Nations S-378 New York NY 10017 USA Fax: +1 212 963 7055 or 2155 SOUTH KOREA: NGOs facing reprisals for submitting information to UN Security Council  Your Excellency, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing this special appeal to you […]

PAKISTAN: Heed UN report on drones and targeted killings, HRCP asks government

Lahore, June 23, 2010: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has drawn the government’s attention to a United Nations expert’s report on targeted killings, including those through drone strikes, and urged Islamabad to ensure that the conduct of its own forces does not violate human rights and the humanitarian law.   A statement issued […]

BURMA: Another monk imprisoned over alleged anti-government activity

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has obtained detailed information about another case of a monk in Burma who has been imprisoned for alleged anti-government activity. The authorities accused U Gawthita of travelling to Thailand unlawfully and getting support from groups there. A court imprisoned him for seven years without evidence. Gawthita, who […]

SOUTH KOREA: Sinking of the ROKS Cheonan Korean naval vessel in the Yellow Sea of Pacific Ocean

Rasika Sanjeewa Weerawickrama It was a devastating fact that the Korean navy ship ‘ROKS Cheonan’ sinking in the East China Sea around 9.22PM 26th March 2010. Cheonan was a Korean Navy Pohang Class corvette ship. It sank near Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea. At the time of its sinking, the ship was in South […]

INDIA: The Central Reserve Police Force open fire indiscriminately in a market place in Assam, killing one

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that on 23 May 2010, a team of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel opened fire indiscriminately and without warning in a small market place in Panchaboti, and later shot dead Mr. Iskandar Ali Barbhuiya, an innocent person on mere suspicion. The attitude of […]

INDIA: Army raids a village, assault and molests women in Assam

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the soldiers from a field regiment stationed in Manipur Block, Hailakandi district, Assam illegally raided houses in Mohanpur village and in the process tortured the inmates, molested women and girls and even took their pictures at gun point. It is reported that the […]