Police violence

It is with great concern that we watch the rapid deterioration of – perhaps it would be more accurate to say the deliberate flaunting of – the rule of law and international norms in Western Asia.  You, like most persons who have been following developments there, are familiar with the relevant facts: An Israeli soldier […]

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 […]

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 […]

Dear friends, It has come to the attention of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) that there has been further violence between police and peasants in the village of Tanah Awu in Central Lombok, Indonesia. On 21 June 2006 government officials from Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara came to Tanah Awu with a large number […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has come to learn of a second assault instituted by a man who is a police informer attached to the Mirihane Police. In both incidents the alleged perpetrator threatened the victims that they too would suffer the same fate as Gerald Perera. That this man believes it is […]

Dear friends, On 1 August 2005, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) released an urgent appeal (UA-130-2005) detailing the case of Subhas Mondal. The AHRC has now received new information from MASUM, a human rights organisation in West Bengal regarding the release of perpetrators after details of a counterfeit First Information Report (FIR) were submitted […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has come to learn of a threat made against the tenant of the late Gerald Perara. Owing to the seriousness of the threat and given the person who made it, the victim lives in fear for his and his family’s life. Mr. Nimal is the neighbour of […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing to express our deep concern with regard to ongoing grave human rights violations being perpetrated by armed vigilante groups in Nepal. The AHRC congratulates the Government of Nepal for their role in recent events in Nepal, which raise hopes of an end to the gross […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has come to learn of a case involving the Homagama police. After stopping a citizen and finding a knife in his possession, Police Sergeant (PS) Sunil from the Homagama police immediately assaulted the man and took him into custody. Despite the man explaining that the knife was […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has come to learn of a case of suicide following an arrest by the Charau Market Police. MASUM, a partner of the AHRC in India has informed us that Mr. Sudeb Pal was found hanging from a tree near the Lake Gardens flyover soon after his release […]

The numerous appointments to key national commissions by the executive president, contravening constitutional requirements, are a very clear indication of Sri Lanka’s drift from a law-based society to one in which the law plays a significantly reduced role.  While criticism against presidential actions has pointed to matters including the fact that no person is above […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received the following information regarding the brutal death of farmer Mr. Bagbul Islam Mondal from its partner organisation Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (Masum). On 12 May 2006, Mr. Bagbul and his brother Masidul were working on their farm cultivating paddy crops at dag. No 273 and […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the refusal of the Dodangoda police to register a complaint. On 24 May 2006, L Sarath Vijitha was assaulted by an anti-narcotics squad for the sole reason he knocked their van. Accordingly he requested to lodge a complaint but allegedly, the police refused […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that the Chhatak police in Sunamganj district neglected to act on a complaint of a man’s disappearance, which may have resulted in the killing of the disappeared man. When the police were informed of the disappearance they refused to lodge a complaint regarding it, […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has been informed that police assaulted a number of political activists and other demonstrators during a nationwide dawn-to-dusk strike and demonstration programme called by the 14 political opposition party alliance on 20 April 2006. Reports indicate that the police tortured some of the political activists, including women on […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned of a case in Sri Lanka involving a policeman and a home guard arriving at the home of a family in an inebriated state. They then accused the family of theft and proceeded to search for the alleged stolen goods. However, the family explained that […]

  Dear friends, On 31 March 2006, at around 11am, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Jayampath and a constable visited Mr. Wijewardena’s boutique and queried his identity. When he told them, they asked him where his three-wheeler was to which he replied, “at home”. The police said they wanted to see the vehicle, and on taking him home […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) welcomes the move by the Indian government to draft a new Police Act, thus replacing the old act of 1861. The committee constituted for this purpose in September 2005 was given six months to produce a draft bill. The official term of the committee expired on January 31, 2006. […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from its local partner, Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (Masum), regarding the death of Mr. Abhilash Mondal, who was shot dead by the Border Security Force (BSF) officers stationed at Out Post number 1, Harudanga Camp (136 Battalion of BSF) on 17 April 2006. It is […]

 first seriously injuring two of the family members, leaving permanent injuries on one and thereafter fabricating charges against the victims themselves by filing a case, 73456 MC, at the Teldeniya. Magistrate’s Court: the cases of Rohitha Upali Liyanage and Sarath Bandara Ekanayake As the Deputy Inspector General of Police in Kandy you are completely aware […]