Right to fair trial

SRI LANKA: Thinking with colors: Young persons kidnapped and killed inside a navy camp in Sri Lanka

The picture produced below shows how the kidnapping for ransom and killing of 11 young person’s inside a navy camp has become a problem troubling the conscience of the entire nation. This incident had a profound effect on the minds of everyone. On the one hand, there is a demand for justice. This demand has […]

ASIA: Civic Space – lessons learnt from three Asian countries – Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

We are sharing a short video commentary on the context between authoritarianism and democracy in three Asian countries, which are facing unprecedented struggles between the forces which represented authoritarianism of various forms and those of the opposition who are making extraordinary efforts to transform their societies into democracies based on the rule of law and […]

INDONESIA: A finding report on the allegation of brutality of the authorities in the peaceful public protest on 22 August, 2024

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD) regarding finding report on the allegation of brutality during peaceful public protest in front of the office of the House of Representative (DPR RI).  On Thursday, August 29, 2024. the TAUD announced findings in the handling of the peaceful public protest on […]

INDONESIA: Condemns the Shooting of Human Rights DefenderMr.Yan Christian Warinussy

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), a regional human rights organisation, has received information from the Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform. Based on information from Manokwari, Papua collected by the Coalition, it is known that Yan Christian Warinussy, the Director of the Legal Aid Research, Study and Development Institute (LP3BH), was shot. The case […]

BANGLADESH: Stop judicial harassment of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus

A Joint Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission & CIVICUS CIVICUS Global Civil Society Alliance and the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) call on the Bangladeshi authorities to immediately end the ongoing judicial harassment of Muhammad Yunus. Ahead of the Nobel laureate and social activist’s upcoming trial this month, we call for his conviction […]

INDONESIA: Initial Findings from the Investigation of AM’s Alleged Torture: Urging Police Professionalism, Transparency and Accountability in Revealing the Truth of theCase

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) supports the Indonesian Civil Society Anti-Torture Coalition in condemning the acts of torture against a child victim AM (13) and 17 other children. These acts of torture were carried out by the West Sumatra Regional Police’s Directorate of Samapta on June 9, 2024, causing one child victim to die and 17 other victims […]

SRI LANKA: The response of Judicial Service Association of Sri Lanka to the statement made by the Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe on 19th of June

A statement from the Judicial Service Association of Sri Lanka Published by News First forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission We are forwarding below the report of the News First published on 24th of June, which is a response by the Judicial Service Association of Sri Lanka in response to an attack made by the Minister […]

INDONESIA: CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM DISRUPTED, PROTESTS STIFLED AND REPRESSION IN PAPUA CONTINUES DESPITE UN REVIEW

A Statement from CIVICUS forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission In Indonesia, civic space remains rated as “obstructed”. Among the main concerns are the use of restrictive laws, including defamation provisions against human rights defenders and journalists as well as harassment and threats against them. The authorities have criminalised Papuan activists for their peaceful […]

NEPAL: HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, MEDIA GROUP CHAIR TARGETED TO SILENCE DISSENT WHILE PROTESTS DISRUPTED

A Statement from CIVICUS forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission The state of civic space in Nepal is rated as ‘obstructed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor. Documented violations of fundamental freedoms include arbitrary arrests and the use of excessive force with impunity during protests, as well as the ongoing targeting of journalists, including through harassment, […]

SRI LANKA:Economic, governmental, legal: not three crises but one

(Sharing a link to a video explaining the Sri Lankan crisis of governance, Economy and Rule of Law. This video was prepared as a part of an ongoing discussion on the need of system change) Link to the Video  The purpose of this short article is to point to the need to focus on the […]

PAKISTAN: ACTIVISTS AND JOURNALISTS TARGETED, INCREASED CONTROLS ON ONLINE EXPRESSION AND CRACKDOWN ON PROTESTS

A Statement from CIVICUS forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission The CIVICUS Monitor added Pakistan to its watchlist of countries in March 2024, following the repression against the opposition, the censorship of journalists and attacks on peaceful protests around the elections. Other ongoing concerns include the criminalisation, threats and harassment of human rights defenders and the […]

SRI LANKA:Prosecuting crimes requires a system change

By Basil Fernando In the context of Sri Lanka, a crucial question arises: Does the country still possess the capability to effectively prosecute crimes? This query can be raised for numerous reasons. However, even before delving into these underlying issues, one glaring reality has become evident to the people of Sri Lanka in recent years: […]

SRI LANKA:On the issue of the failure to obtain justice for the victims of the Easter Sunday Massacre on the 21st of April 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AHRC-OLT-002-2024 April 19, 2024 An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission to Open Letter to H. E. the Cardinal Malcom Ranjith and all the members of the Catholic Bishops’ conference in Sri Lanka H. E. Cardinal Malcom Ranjith Archbishop’s House Colombo – 8 Sri Lanka Tel: +94-11-2695471 Fax: +94-11-2692009 Email: […]

INDONESIA:The legal process for perpetrators of torture is certainly not enough, hence, totally evaluate all apparatus deployments and end the security approach in the land of Papua

An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) to the President of the Republic of Indonesia  Mr. Joko Widodo President of the Republic of Indonesia Jl. Veteran No. 16 Jakarta Pusat Indonesia  Tel: +62 21 3458 595 Fax: +62 21 3484 4759 Dear Mr. President, Responding to the press conference based agenda held […]

PAKISTAN: NEW GOVERNMENT CONTINUES BLOCKING THE INTERNET AND PERSECUTING JOURNALISTS AND ACTIVISTS

A Statement from CIVICUS forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission The CIVICUS Monitor added Pakistan to its watchlist of countries in early March 2024, following the repression against the opposition, the censorship of journalists and attacks on peaceful protests around the elections. Elections were held in Pakistan on 8th February 2024. Ahead of the elections, the […]

INDONESIA:Refuse honour and bring criminal generals to justice

On February 28th, 2024, Indonesian President Joko Widodo awarded the Indonesian Minister of Defense, Mr. Prabowo Subianto the honourary promotion to the rank of General of the Indonesian National Army. A similar title has been given to a number of retired Indonesian National Military officers who once served as Ministers, starting from Mr. Susilo Bambang […]

SRI LANKA: Truth Without Hurt

An article from Colombo Telegraph forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission By Jayakumar Thangavelu  A Senior Police Officer’s Perspective Of Investigations Into Political Crimes In addressing this subject, I put down my experience of forty years in the Sri Lankan Police, where I retired as Deputy Inspector General, Legal Range, of which twenty years were […]

SRI LANKA: Sharing basic documents relating to the issue of Rule under Section 42(2) of the Judicature Act by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka against Mr. Nagananda Kodituwakku Attorney-at-law on 29th February 2024

Hong Kong, March 07, 2024  As there is a curiosity on the part of many persons and organizations about the Rule issued against Mr Nagananda Kodituwakku Attorney-at-law by the Supreme Court we are sharing the basic documents that provide the essential information about this case. The Rule was made under Judicature act 42(2) while ordering […]

SRI LANKA: AUTHORITIES CONTINUE TO STIFLE PROTESTS, HARASS ACTIVISTS AND PUSH REPRESSIVE LAWS

A Statement from CIVICUS forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission The CIVICUS Monitor in December 2023 downgraded Sri Lanka’s civic space rating to ‘repressed,’ with authorities clamping down on protesters, stifling journalists and targeting activists amid mounting public frustration with poor governance and a lack of accountability. In January 2024, Human Rights Watch said […]

INDONESIA: Shrinking of public space on expression, association and peaceful assembly

PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY  Discussion at Yogyakarta State University Critics against the Regime Forcibly Dispersed by the Rector          Discussion and gathering that was planned by the students of Yogyakarta State University (UNY) and other academics, such as lecturers and professors, were forcibly dispersed by the Rector due to the committee of the discussion did not have permission from the rector. Previously, […]