Police violence

A YouTube presentation recently found on the internet shows Mumtaz Quadri, the assassin of the slain governor, Salman Taseer, singing in the custody of the police during his interrogation. The officers are seen standing by and sitting next to him, enjoying the performance. Quadri was reciting ‘Naat’, a poem in praise of the Prophet Mohammad, […]

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 […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the torture case of Gyan Bahadur Balami (Gyanu), Hermin Ratu Lama and Makar Bahadur Gharti Magar (Iman) at the hands of a police team from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division in Kathmandu. Following their arrest under allegations of theft and drug smuggling […]

We hope that wishing for a happy new year in Sri Lanka is not just mere wishful thinking. We wish: 1. That Rizana Nafeek, facing a death sentence in Saudi Arabia, will be released as soon as possible. This wish can become true only if the Sri Lankan government makes all the diplomatic efforts to […]

Dear friends, According to reports received from local activists, two villagers were killed in Bolakme, Papua, Indonesia during a sweeping operation by the security forces on December 1, 2010. CASE NARRATIVE: Local activists reported that between 10am and 5pm on December 1, 2010 in the Bolakme sub-district of Jayawijaya in Papua, Indonesia, the Indonesian military […]

Last Sunday (November 28), two trade unionists were arrested and charged for causing incitement for rioting under Section 150 of the Penal Code by the Officer-in-Charge of Negombo Police Headquarters, for the mere distribution of a pamphlet. This action has been condemned by several persons. Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena, human rights advocate, media columnist & author, said: […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the repeated beatings and torture inflicted by a police team from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD), Hanumandhoka police station upon Gyan Bahadur Balami, Makar Bahadur Gharti Magar and Hermin Ratu Lama on 31 October and 1 November 2010. It is also alleged […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that gross violations of labour laws, retrenchment and coercive methods against the workers were witnessed in Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited after its 26 percent shares were sold to a foreign based company. In the recent days, following a strike at Pakistan Telecommunication (PTCL) over […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a man was shot dead by police officers attached to the Pitigala Police Station on 27 August 2010. A wood cutter by profession the victim was shot at Wadumulla, Delpawana in Benthota State Plantation and later succumbed to his injuries. Police claim that […]

Dear friends,  Police in Wamena, Papua killed Ismail Lokobal, fired near fatal shots at Amos Wetipo (which resulted in him slipping into a coma) and Frans Lokobal and arrested of at least 4 more persons. The shootings into the crowd and following arrests in Wamena, Papua followed the confiscation of an air cargo delivery to […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received details of a complaint that two brothers have lodged against police in Pegu, Burma over a serious assault. According to them, a group of local police in plain clothes beat them up after the police thought that one was using his mobile phone to take […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding a serious case of police violence which occurred on 15 August 2010 at Sekhuwana chock in Nawalparasi District. In this incident, a 40-year-old farmer, Rudal Yadav, was arrested by 10 policemen, handed over to the Indian police, without following any legal extradition procedure […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from credible sources in Jammu and Kashmir concerning the arbitrary shooting of civilians by the security forces stationed in that state. It is reported that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) stationed in the state often fires small projectiles at civilians while engaging in […]

The widely publicised video of a police torture has drawn mixed reactions and opinions from the public, including lawmakers, lawyers and human rights groups, who have all joined in the chorus condemning such a barbaric and cruel act. Most of them share the opinion that ‘lack of education of the law enforcers’ is to blame […]

On August 17, a national television ABS CBN broadcast the graphic video of a man being tortured by a policeman inside a police station in Tondo, Metro Manila. In the video, the torture victim, whom reports said had been arrested for theft, had his penis pulled by a string tied around it as he was […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information that the policemen investigating the complaint of a torture victim made him sign a document withdrawing his complaint. The victim, who suffers trauma and is apparently frightened by the presence of policemen, was asked to sign the document in the absence of his […]

An Open Letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Professor Manfred Nowak Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment OHCHR, UNOG CH-1211 Geneva 10 SWITZERLAND Dear Prof. Nowak BURMA/MYANMAR: Request to intervene on complaint of severe torture by police The Asian […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about the arbitrary arrest and assault of a man by Balagolla police. Although he was released on the same evening without being charged, the man’s ear drum was damaged in the assault and he was hospitalized for a number of days. He has received […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that a man has been beaten and arbitrarily detained by Urubokka police officers. He was hospitalized after the assault, which has caused severe damage to his hearing.  CASE NARRATIVE:  According to information from the victim and a local NGO, on 16 May 2010 Samarasinghage Koranelis […]

An interview conducted by the Asian Human Rights Commission. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the AHRC. Nishanthi, 42 is a housewife with two children and a husband who works as a veterinary assistant in Korea. Two years ago she joined a support group run by a local human rights organization, and […]