Rule of law

SRI LANKA: Victim of assault denied justice due to powerful politician

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Ms. Thushanthi Pujani Perera (19) a school girl of ”Haksala”, Dulmura, Talathuoya in the district of Kandy was assaulted by a influential family as she refused to marry a man they had introduced to her. She suffered several injuries due to assault and […]

SRI LANKA: Innocent man illegally detained for two and half month on mistaken identity by Anamaduwa police

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Rajakaruna Herath Mudiyanselage Keerthirathna (48) of Surakkulama, Mundalama in the Puttlam district suffered a chronic illness as a result of a serious traffic accident several years ago. He was illegally arrested and detained by police officers attached to the Anamaduwa Police Station […]

BURMA: Former army officer illegally detained for three weeks, at risk of torture

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to draw to your attention urgently to the case of a former army captain in Burma who has been held in illegal detention for over three weeks. His family has not been able to meet him and his whereabouts are currently unknown, but he was last […]

SRI LANKA: Law student under threat writes to the Chief Justice

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the case of the law student, who is under threat in Sri Lanka, that he has sent a letter to the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, informing the court about the threat to his life. In the letter, the victim, Mr. Dasanayaka […]

BANGLADESH: Rapid Action Battalion fabricated charges against two cousins after four days of incommunicado torture Tweet

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), a military-dominated paramilitary force composed of armed forces and the police, held two cousins incommunicado for four days. The victims have been identified as Mr. Nahidul Haque Sazib and Mr. Kawsar Hossain Razib, who were arrested without any […]

NEPAL: Torture of a juvenile by hanging upside down in police custody requires legal redress

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the torture of a Third Grade child, 10-year-old Fahad Khan Usmani, by two police officers from Area Police Office, Maghgawa on 2 April 2011. The boy was slapped, hung upside down and beaten on the soles of his feet with a bamboo stick […]

SRI LANKA: Development and law — noon-day darkness in the country

Basil Fernando  Can there be development in the modern context without law? This is a relevant question in today’s context where is lot of talk of development on one hand but where there is lawlessness in the country. Can development and lawlessness co-exist? In answering this question it is better to have a glance at […]

SRI LANKA: UN report on Sri Lanka conflict must be made public

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from Amnesty International. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- UN report on Sri Lanka conflict must be made public 12 April 2011 A UN report on accountability for war crimes committed in the Sri Lankan armed conflict […]

PAKISTAN: Human rights defender first abducted by Taliban on charge of working for NGOs and then by the military for supporting the Taliban remains missing

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a person was abducted by the Taliban on suspicion of working for NGOs. After his escape he was then abducted by the military on suspicion of working for the Taliban. Mr. Hameed Ullah Khan, a human rights defender and social worker, was abducted […]

ASIA: Three women rights defenders receive prestigious international award for documentary

(Hong Kong, April 11, 2011) Three Asian women rights defenders have received a prestigious international award for a documentary made about their respective struggles, which was shown as part of a major film festival in the Netherlands during March.  The jury at the Movies that Matter Festival, which was held in The Hague from March […]

BANGLADESH: Rapid Action Battalion shot innocent college student into permanent disability and now threatening sympathizers to kill extra-judicially

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received credible information that the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has shot a juvenile college student causing a permanent disability in Jhalkathi district. On 23 March 2011, a team of the RAB-8 stopped 16-year-old Limon Hossen, who was an examinee of the Higher Secondary Certificate near to […]

INDIA: An old man assaulted by the Central Reserve Police in Assam

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC) concerning the case of torture of a 66-year-old person, his aged wife and son by a group of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officers at the victim’s residence. It is reported that the CRPF tortured Mr. […]

INDIA: A responsible government will listen to the people

Statement | India | 07-04-2011

A Joint Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission and (1) Madhya Pradesh Right to Food Campaign Support Group; (2) Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangthan; (3) Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Morch; (4) Sarokaar; (5) Baal Panchayat; (6) Nagrik Adhikar Manch; (7) Yuva Samvad; (8) Prasoon and (9) Vikas Samvad; human rights organisations working in […]

BURMA: Neither evidence nor law anywhere to be found in trial of alleged bomber

A relative of a young man accused of bombing the traditional New Year festival in Rangoon during 2010 has again petitioned the Supreme Court for the trial to be transferred to another judge and for the case to be heard in accordance with law. The petition comes after the police officer in charge of the […]

BANGLADESH: Police enjoy impunity despite torturing villagers and sexually abusing women in Dinajpur

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received credible information that the Dinajpur police commited mass torture of villagers in Daptoir village of Biral upazila in Dinajpur district. The victims included men, women, children and the elderly. They suffered severe injuries and the women victims were sexually molested and abused. The police perpetrators […]

SRI LANKA: A man is under imminent threat of illegal arrest and torture

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Welgamgoda Aacharyage Upul Sanjeewa (27) of Kammalgedara, Pansala Road, Deniyaya in the district of Matara is in imminent threat of being illegally arrested and severely tortured by police officers attached to the Deniyaya Police Station. The police officers went to his residence […]

INDONESIA: Rule by violence

Bombing of NGO office following religious standoff while US Congress urges President to revoke decrees Following a series of violent incidents against religious minorities, including the Ahmadiyah community, two regional administrations in Indonesia had issued local decrees banning the Ahmadiyah followers. On February 6, in Cikeusik Banten for example three Ahmadiyah followers were killed and […]

SRI LANKA: A man is severely tortured for questioning the torture of friend

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Sundaralingam Shashidaran (29) of 168, Dekinda Road, Bawwagama, Nawalapitiya in the district of Kandy was illegally arrested and severely tortured by the police officers attached to the Nawalapitiya Police Station when he went and demanded the reason behind the torture of his […]

SRI LANKA: Police produced a man before court with fabricated charges after torture

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Allen Jo (29) 195/1 Welgampola Road, Nawawlapitiya in the district of Kandy was illegally arrested and severely tortured by the police officers attached to the Nawalapitiya Police Station on 28 March 2011. He was arrested accused for possession of drugs without any reason […]

NEPAL: Torture victims face eviction and harassment

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the case of Ang Dorje and Jangbu Sherpa who were beaten and illegally arrested by police officers from Metropolitan Police Circle, Maharjgunj, Kathmandu after they refused to pay a bribe on 9 February 2011. They are now facing continuous harassment (For further […]