Rule of law

The Jayapura state court today found five Papuan leaders guilty of treason, sentencing them to three years imprisonment. TAPOL, the Asian Human Rights Commission, the Faith-Based Network on West Papua and Franciscans International seriously regret the verdict and question the fairness of the trial proceedings. The verdict is another example of the severe restrictions by […]

Despite heavy criticism from inside and outside the country (AHRC-STM-041-2012), South Korean police have been arbitrarily arresting and detaining rights activists and villagers in Gangjeong village where a navy base is under construction. Meanwhile, several media organizations reported allegations that the Navy and construction companies are violating laws relating to the environment and cultural assets. […]

What the London based Channel 4 is showing the World again on Sri Lanka is not a new phenomenon for this country. This kind of barbaric knavery has a long history. At that time those victims were alone, no one had seen them. The guardian turned away for the time. As this writer pointed out […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) concerning another case of brutal custodial torture by the West Bengal police of Mr. Firoj Ahmed, and of his wife Ms. Achma Bibi of Srikati village, North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal. The incident happened on 7 February […]

The judiciary is that branch of the state which adjudicates on conflicts between state institutions, between the state and the individual and between individuals. The judiciary is independent of both legislature and the executive. This is a feature of judicial independence which is of prime importance, both in relation to the government according to law […]

The murder of an Indian Police Service officer Mr. Narendra Kumar on 8 March in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh has again brought to light the criminal nexus between the mining mafia operating in the country and their patrons in power who have political interests. The young, 2009-batch police officer, stationed as the Sub-Divisional Police […]

The government of Bangladesh on Monday blanked out three satellite television channels – Ekushey Television, Bangla Vision and Islamic TV – almost an hour before the leader of the opposition Begum Khaleda Zia started her speech at a four-party grand rally today, March 12, 2012. According to a Daily Star report, viewers could not watch these TV […]

The people of Bangladesh are living in a tense situation prior to a mass rally in Dhaka on March 12, 2012 called by the opposition parties against the ruling regime. The opposition political parties, led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, have organised a march towards Dhaka, on March 12 which is aimed at showing their […]

INDIA: GHE fear at New Delhi Reading the proposed draft resolution mooted at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) concerning human rights in Sri Lanka, one cannot help wonder why India did not propose such a resolution before? Today by delaying in arriving at a decision, whether to support the resolution or not, India has once […]

Freedom of expression is one of the essential pre-requirements for the practice, protection and promotion of democracy. If we are to speak of a democratic Pakistan we need to examine, whether the media is free. Each and every day media professionals are facing threats of kidnapping or murder for telling the truth. The truth about […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission regrets to inform you that following the recent release of prisoners of conscience and others from Burma’s jails, U Gambira, a monk who led the 2007 protests against military dictatorship has so far twice been rearrested and taken for questioning before being released. Furthermore, the state media has […]

After intense public pressure the police have revealed that they have identified the culprits behind the assassination of a mother and daughter at Kahawatta which took place one month ago. The failure of the police to take action so far has been attributed to political interference which has prevented them from carrying out their duty. […]

After Carefully consideration of the draft resolution, Promoting Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka, submitted to Human Rights council of Sri Lanka, the Asian Human Rights Commission is of the view that the resolution is conducive to promote the rule of law in Sri Lanka and will enhance the betterment of all communities by promoting […]

In three separate open letters issued today, the Asian Human Rights Commission and Advocacy Forum have urged the leaders of the Nepali Congress, the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and the United Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) not to include provisions providing blanket amnesty to perpetrators of grave human rights violations in the text of […]

Today, the world’s largest democracy along with the rest of the world would celebrate international women’s day. The media will reproduce public statements and the promises made. Institutions like the National Commission for Women would reiterate its mandate to protect, promote and guarantee women’s rights and thus ensure gender equality in the country. The President […]

“…..you dislike doctrines, you have a horror of systems, as for principles, you deny that there are any in political economy; therefore we shall call it your practice — your practice without theory and without principle.” Frédéric Bastiat (1801-1850) [Open letter to the French Parliament, originally published in 1845]   The operation in Geneva has […]

An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission and Advocacy Forum to the Chairman of (UML) Communist Party of Nepal Mr. Jhalanath Khanal Chairman Communist Party of Nepal (UML) Central Office Madan Nagar, Balkhu P. O. Box: 5471 NEPAL Phone: 977-01-4278081/82 Fax: 977-01-4278084 Email: umlcpn@gmail.com, info@jnkhanal.com Dear Mr Khanal, NEPAL: Blanket amnesty goes against […]

An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission and Advocacy Forum to the President of Nepali Congress Party Mr. Sushil Koirala Nepali Congress President Central Office B.P. Smriti Bhawan, B.P. Nagar, Lalitpur NEPAL Tel  : (977-1) 5555263 / 5555266 Fax : (977-1) 5555188 E-mail : ncparty@wlink.com.np Dear Mr Koirala, NEPAL: Blanket amnesty goes against […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the wife of a nationalist, who has refugee status in Belgium, was prevented from leaving the country to meet her husband by the Pakistani authorities. The Pakistani authorities at the Islamabad airport told her that her name has been put on the exit […]

An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission and Advocacy Forum to the Chairman of UCPN-Maoists Party Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” Chairman of United Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) Central Office Perishdanda-Koteshwor, Kathmandu NEPAL Tel: +977 4602290 Fax:+977 4602289 Email: ucpnminfo@gmail.com Dear Mr Dahal, NEPAL: Blanket amnesty goes against the victims’ fundamental rights […]