Rule of law

RESPONSE: SOUTH KOREA: Seven activists detained and charged with violating the National Security Law

Mr. Kim Dae-Jung President of the Republic of Korea The Chungwoadae 1 Sejong-ro, Chonro-gu Seoul, ROK   Your Excellency President Kim Dae-Jung,   On a most tragic day in the United States I’d still like to take the time to express my outrage at the treatment of South Korean citizens who have arrested for their […]

SOUTH KOREA: Seven activists detained and charged with violating the National Security Law

On August 24, seven activists among 337 South Korean civic, labour and religious delegates were arrested on charges of violating the National Security Law (NSL) after participating in the 2001 Grand Celebration for Reunification that was held in Pyongyang, North Korea, from August 15 to 21 to celebrate the 56th Korean independence day from Japanese colonisation. Upon their return home, 16 delegates were taken by the police at Kimpo domestic airport for questioning about their alleged controversial activities during this event in North Korea. 

INDONESIA: Restore Rule of Law in Aceh

The Indonesian parliament has authorised the Indonesian Military (TNI) to conduct a ‘limited military operation’ (re-labelled a ‘limited security operation’) in Aceh against the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), who are fighting for an independent Aceh. The operation is supposedly aimed at the leadership of the GAM. However, it is clear that the TNI have used this opportunity to target human rights defenders and to create terror amongst the civilians, as part of a prolonged campaign to destroy the rule of law in Aceh. The following are some recent incidents that have not been properly investigated:

SRI LANKA: Need for Peace Process to progress faster

The loss during the Easter weekend of the strategic Elephant Pass stronghold by the Sri Lankan government to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) shows the futility of continuing this war which has been going on for two decades and has incurred the loss of well over 55,000 lives and two entire years’ worth […]

UPDATE (SRI LANKA): Sri Lankan Gang Leader Arrested

The leader of the Gang of 14 is a person called Piyal (who is 28 years old) according to the Wennapuwa Police.  MARCH 23: There has been a development regarding the Urgent Appeal we sent out on March 3, in which a Gang of 14 was operating with impunity in the Sirigampola area, Sri Lanka. […]

India: SAARC: Campaign Against Nukes

Dear friends, Attached is a statement of concern on nuclear arms race in South Asia. The statement will be release in Colombo on the eve of the SAARC summit, July 29-31, 1998. We invite all concern persons to: – sign through the e-mail this campaign – email copies of this statement to other organisations – […]

south Korea: Prof. LEE Jang-hee Charged Under National Security Law

The Asian Human Rights Commisssion and MINKAHYUP- Human Rights Group express their deep concern on the continuing violations of the right to freedom of expression and opinion of Professor Lee Jang-hee. Professor Lee is from the Korea Foreign Language University and is on trial for publishing a children’s book titled \”I Am Reunification Generation One\” […]

CAMBODIA: A lawyer has been charged with aiding the escape of his client who is an opposition party activist

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal from Cambodia Centre for Human Rights regarding charging a lawyer with aiding the escape of a client, who is an opposition party activist. For more information, please contact: Ou Virak, CCHR President, tel: +855 12 40 40 51; e-mail: ouvirak@cchrcambodia.org; or Suon […]

PAKISTAN: Stop violence in the name of religion

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal from Citizens for Democracy (CFD). Citizens for Democracy (CFD) is an umbrella group of professional organizations, political parties, trade unions and individuals outraged by the consistent misuse and abuse of the ‘blasphemy laws’ and of religion in politics. For more information, please […]

BANGLADESH: Human rights defender, Mr FMA Razzak, in a critical condition in hospital following abduction and brutal attack

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal from Front Line regarding the deadly attack on human rights defender FMA Razzak and gouging his eyes and seriously fracturing his hand and leg by the family of an army major of Bangladesh. The appeal is available at: http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/15038 . For more information, please […]

FORWARDED APPEAL (India): A lawyer assaulted in Madurai, Tamil Nadu

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal from People’s Watch Tamil Nadu concerning the torture, arrest and detention of a lawyer in Madurai. The victim was hospitalised after the incident, though no appropriate actions were taken against the police officers. For more information, please contact: Ms. S. Sabitha National […]

FORWARDED APPEAL(Burma): Appeal to China to take action on Burma

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is forwarding an appeal that was posted on Thailand news site Prachatai, asking the government of China to use its leverage to bring reconciliation and peace in Burma. If the email bounces back, please check here: http://en.beijing2008.cn/bocog/contactus/. Please use a different subject line so your email does not […]

FORWARDED APPEAL (Sri Lanka): Disappearance of Mr. Pattani Razeek, Executive Committee Member of FORUM-ASIA

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal from FORUM ASIA concerning the disappearance of a human rights defender and member of the Community Trust Fund (CFT) in Puttalam, Sri Lanka who went missing on 11 February 2010. Complaints to the local police and the Human Rights Commission of Sri […]

FORWARDED APPEAL (Thailand): Requesting Urgent Inquiry into Nationality Verification Process for Burmese Migrants

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward on an appeal from the State Enterprise Workers Relations Confederation (SERC), the Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF) and the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee (TLSC), regarding disturbing developments in the process to verify the nationality of Burmese migrant workers. We join the concern for […]

SINGAPORE: High Court upheld Dr. Chee’s conviction for speaking in public without a permit

Dear friends,   The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is forwarding to you an appeal from the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) regarding the affirmation of the High Court of the guilty verdict on Dr. Chee Soon Juan for “speaking in public without a permit”.     For more details, please contact them at this website: […]

FORWARDED APPEAL (Sri Lanka): Four Doctors Released, One Still in Danger

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal from Amnesty International about the continued detention of a doctor arrested under emergency regulations. He has been accused of providing false information to foreign journalists and is being held incommunicado. There is great concern that he has been or will be tortured. […]

FORWARDED APPEAL(Burma): Appeal to China to take action on Burma

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is forwarding an appeal that was posted on Thailand news site Prachatai, asking the government of China to use its leverage to bring reconciliation and peace in Burma. If the email bounces back, please check here: http://en.beijing2008.cn/bocog/contactus/. Please use a different subject line so your email does not […]

INDIA: Illegal and brutal eviction throws slum dwellers on to the streets in Mumbai

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is forwarding an appeal from the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) concerning an illegal and forced eviction of slum dwellers in Mumbai, India. It is alleged that the eviction is undertake at the behest of a private property developer. It is reported that human rights activists […]

FORWARDED APPEAL (Kyrgyzstan): Death of a journalist by police torture

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward an appeal from World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) regarding the torture and custodial death of a Kyrgyzstani journalist. For more information, please contact: OMCT urgent appeals appeals@list.omct.org Thank you. Urgent Appeals Desk Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) ———————————————————————– The International Secretariat of the World Organisation […]

FORWARDED APPEAL (Sri Lanka): STOP THE WAR: We have a right to live without fear

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission is forwarding an appeal from People to People dialogue on Peace and Sustainable Development regarding the ongoing civil war in Sri Lanka. If you have any inquiry regarding this appeal, please contact Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reform (MNLAR), a member of this group’s steering committee. MNLAR’s contact information […]