Right to fair trial

AHRC TV: Irom Sharmila to end 16-year fast and other stories in JUST ASIA Episode 132

This week’s episode begins with the surprising decision of Indian activist Irom Sharmila to end her 16-year fast, and join politics. Sharmila, known as Manipur’s ‘Iron Lady’, has been spearheading the state’s struggle to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. Just Asia caught up with Babloo Loitongbam, Director of Human Rights Alert and long […]

PAKISTAN: Nowshera police order transgender to vacate the district

The district police of Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkha (KP) province has ordered the externment of the transgender community for an indefinite period. The order will affect more than 1100 transgenders who are scattered throughout the district. Nowshera’s District Police Officer (DPO), a fundamentalist and extremist, issued the order of kicking out the transgender community from the […]

NEPAL: Ajit Mijar’s death – not suicide, but murder

Statement | Nepal | 27-07-2016

A fact-finding team of the Dalit Civil Society has concluded that Ajit Mijar, found dead at Kumpur – 3 in Dhading District, did not die as a result of suicide. His was, rather, a staged murder. They have made this declaration in a report, based on the facts and findings collected during their three-day visit […]

THAILAND: Structural and legal threats to free expression in referendum process

By Phattranit Yaodam and Samira Saran August 7, 2016 is scheduled for the constitutional referendum by the Thai Military government and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the junta-ruling body. It is during times of political change that the right to freedom of expression is most essential, ensuring that a well-informed and empowered […]

PAKISTAN: HRCP advises government against reviving POPA

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed concern over moves to revive the Protection of Pakistan Act (POPA), which had expired on July 15, and urged the government to avoid resorting to laws that violate the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. In a statement issued on Friday, the Commission said: “HRCP notes […]

SRI LANKA: 1983: Betrayal of the Absolute Right to Justice

By Basil Fernando It has been 33 years since Black July, 1983. These 33 years have been part of our lifetime. We have witnessed not only the horrendously criminal acts of July 1983, but also what happened by way of justice after those serious crimes. I would like to illustrate my point in terms of […]

PAKISTAN: Dimensions of poverty

Naseer Memon The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) have released a report “Multidimensional Poverty in Pakistan” which depicts a grim picture of social well-being in the country. The concept of poverty has evolved over time. As knowledge about the complexity of human societies is growing, poverty has […]

INDIA: Gang rape survivor gang raped by the same accused again

Statement | India | 19-07-2016

In a rule of law jurisdiction, the story of a victim of gang rape being raped by the same accused against whom court proceedings continue, might be outlandish. But, in India today, these are the common stories that confront anyone willing to see reality: A Dalit gang rape survivor has allegedly been gang raped again […]

INDONESIA: No perpetrators indicted in the torture and death of Marianus Oki

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the investigation into the torture and death of Mr. Marianus Oki, a suspect who had been detained in Banat Manamas police post (Pospol Banat Manamas). While the investigation has been conducted by police investigators of the North Central Timor regency police resort […]

PAKISTAN: Journey from Pakistan to Al-Bakistan

Nida Paras Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister, once said, “Extremism can flourish only in an environment where basic governmental social responsibility for the welfare of the people is neglected. Political dictatorship and social hopelessness create the desperation that fuels religious extremism.” Mohtarma, being a part of that environment, was well aware of it, where religious […]

AHRC TV: JUST ASIA, Episode 130

This week’s episode begins with the death of Abdul Sattar Edhi, a philanthropist known as Pakistan’s “Father Teresa”. Edhi died after a prolonged illness on July 8. Edhi spent his life building up an organization that has fed, clothed, offered medical services, and provided shelter to many Pakistanis. From a single ambulance, the Edhi Foundation’s […]

SRI LANKA: 14 year old rape victim reveals that a woman constable beat her at the police station

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information revealed by the young victim herself, which we wish to bring to your notice. On the 7th of July when she went to the Haputale Police station, a police woman constable, had beaten the young girl, and told her that when she is […]

PAKISTAN: The richest poor man is no more

The Asian Human Rights Commission condoles the sad demise of Abdul Sattar Edhi and pays tribute to the country’s most loved social worker for his dedication and selfless service to humanity. It is not every day that one comes across a man like Edhi. A legend in his own right, he was a philanthropist who […]

INDONESIA: Criminal suspect in custody tortured to death after a forced confession

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the torture death and fabricated case against Mr. Juprianto. These things were committed by the police officers of Luwu police station (Polres Luwu), in Luwu regency, South Sulawesi province. Police tortured Juprianto to death to get a confession that he had stolen a […]

NEPAL: State silence on Ganga Maya Adhikari screams murder

Statement | Nepal | 08-07-2016

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is concerned about the negligence of the Government of Nepal. The State has shown utter indifference towards Ganga Maya Adhikari, surviving wife of late Nanda Prasad Adhikari and mother to late Krishna Prasad Adhikari. Maoists at Bakulahar Chowk of Ratnanagar, Chitwan allegedly murdered her son, Krishna Prasad, in June […]

INDONESIA: Investigation remains unclear after criminal suspect is tortured to death by police while in custody

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding a torture death conducted by police officers in the North Central Timor regency (TTU), East Nusa Tenggara province. Mr. Marianus Oki was illegally arrested, detained and tortured to death in police custody. An investigation has been conducted with no significant progress. Marinus was […]

PAKISTAN: The international Community must take notice of disappearances and extra judicial killing—side event at UN demands

On June 20, the delegation of ALRC submitted a 160-page report on enforced disappearances and extra judicial killings in Pakistan, citing the cases and also the updated list of disappeared persons. The delegation of WGEID, led by Ms. Gabriela Guzman, secretary of WGEID and Human Rights Officer, Protection, Religion, Accountability & Human Security Session, expressed […]

SRI LANKA: Tamil Translation of the Article “The President Participates in Anti-Torture Demonstrations”

We are sharing with you a Tamil translaton of an Article published by the Asian Human Rights Commission, in Commemoraiton of the International Day in Support of Torture Victims, where the “… Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRC SL) marked the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture in a rather unusual and impressive way. […]

INDIA: Ruby Rai and the joke called Juvenile Justice

Article | India | 01-07-2016

The Bihar police have arrested Ruby Rai, a 17-year-old girl, under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, and 120(B) of the India Penal Code on 26 June 2016 and have duly sent her to jail, i.e. an adult jail. Her alleged crime is that of cheating to secure top rank in the state senior secondary […]

SRI LANKA : The President Participates in Anti-Torture Demonstrations

Basil Fernando The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRC SL) marked the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture in a rather unusual and impressive way. It organized a demonstration with participants carrying placards that said, “Stop Torture”. The president of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena, was among the demonstrators. There were also other […]