Rule of law

Today, the 9th September, Sri Lankans woke up to a country which has changed politically in its character and in its legal system. With the passing of the 18th Amendment Sri Lanka has abandoned liberal democracy completely and all the debates that the country has had so far will now change in a most significant […]

Today in an emailed letter I received from a friend there was this sentence: “Sometimes, I feel that when institutions die, it’s even worse than people dying.” This is a profound reflection. I showed it to several of my colleagues from different countries, Burma, Pakistan and Bangladesh. They all nodded, agreeing. I am sure if […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the shameful act allegedly by the officials of notorious intelligence agencies and the Elite Force, a law enforcement agency of Punjab government. Mr. Umer Cheema, a senior journalist from the newspaper, daily The News International, was abducted, tortured severely and kept in incommunicado […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that police officers attached to the Ganemulla Police Station have illegally arrested, detained and tortured a civilian. Later the police filed fabricated charges against him. After the victim sought justice by filling a fundamental rights application he was further threaten.  CASE NARRATIVE:  Balapu Waduge […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that an estate labourer was illegally arrested by police officers attached to the Pussellawa Police Station and arbitrarily detained and tortured. Later, the police produced him before the Magistrate at Hellbodde Circuit Court on fabricated charges of possession of materials used for to produce […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that police officers attached to the Panwila Police Station have illegally arrested, detained and tortured an innocent civilian. He was later released on police bail without being produced before a Magistrate.  CASE NARRATIVE:  Mr. Jesu Andrew (28) of Holankanda, Mudulkelle in the district of […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a 17 year old school going child was illegally arrested by the police officers attached to the Anamaduwa Police Station, arbitrarily detained and tortured. Later, the police produced the child before the Magistrate of Puttalam with fabricated charges and remanded. When he was […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a German philanthropist staying in Sri Lanka has been illegally arrested and detained by the officers attached to the Special Task Force (STF) of the Sri Lanka police on 17th August, 2010 at Siyambalanduwa. He was travelling with his son and his companions […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding rape and abuse of a 16 year-old domestic worker in Kathmandu on 18 July 2010 by her employers. Instead of rescuing the victim, police officers from Budha police station have reportedly kept her in detention twice for 24 hours without providing her with […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the Pakistan Embassy in Bern, Switzerland, has refused the renewal of passports to a Pakistani family allegedly on the instructions of intelligence officials of Pakistan. One official from the embassy privately told the family that intelligence agencies have objections on granting the renewal […]

In July of this year a web newspaper, the Sri Lanka Guardian reported an alleged case of sexual abuse by an appeal court judge. Last weekend, Lakbima reported that the CID has submitted its report of inquiries into the incident and that the investigation found adequate evidence against the judge. The CID has submitted the […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a Muslim group attacked on a Hindu community that had been living there for a century during the early hours on 23 August 2010 in order to grab the land occupied by the Hindu community in Sindh Province of Pakistan. The Hindu community, […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a man was shot dead by police officers while in the custody of an officer attached to the Hanwella Police Station. He was arrested on 20 September 2010, brought to a location under police protection and shot dead two days after his arrest […]

A military tribunal made its decision against General Fonseka finding him guilty of the charge of being engaged in politics while in military service. The Tribunal made the decision without respect to due process and the principles of fair trial. The handpicked ‘judges’ were previous subordinates of the general who had been subjected to disciplinary […]

After the arrest of Sakvithi many persons from the more affluent sections of Sri Lankan society are demanding the money which they have invested in his illegal business. This raises many issues regarding the relationship between the Sri Lankan middle class and the crisis of rule of law. According to reports, there are many who […]

Bihar is one of India’s most impoverished states; it is also India’s most lawless region. From the point of view of crime it has reached the Situation where many local citizens are leaving the area for reasons of security. Abductions for ransom is now commonplace. With the increase in crime, forms of extrajudicial punishment have […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that a man has been charged with a series of offences that are unrelated to his arrest. He was first arrested for his alleged involvement in a non-lethal explosion in Rangoon during 2009 but has been sentenced to 15 years in jail by two judges for other […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that a businessman was shot dead by the Gulshan Police in Dhaka after having been kept in arbitrary detention for two days. The incident reportedly took place shortly after the victim’s relatives had refused to pay bribes. The man was brought to a hospital with […]

Dear friends,  The authorities in Thailand continue to detain persons without charge under emergency regulations imposed in response to anti-government demonstrations in Bangkok during April and May. In this appeal we bring you the case of one person, Sombat Boonngamanong, who was detained for holding a memorial for victims of the violence on 26 June […]

A news report published on June 11th from Colombo stated, “Members of the vanquished Tamil Tiger terrorist organization, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are posing as beggars in the cities throughout the country to gather information, Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne said today. Addressing a ceremony held in his office this morning to […]