Rule of law

INDIA: Right to privacy is now also a right against torture

An article from The Indian Express forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission In India, the shame associated with the naked human body, with exposed skin, makes it easy for police officers to use nudity and sexual abuse as a tool of punishment. This goes back to the theory of punishment our penal system ascribes to – […]

NEPAL: Rooting out torture requires new measures and mechanisms

by Raksha Ram Harijan The routine practice of torture in Nepal is nothing new; decades of work by human rights organizations working on torture and impunity can provide solid examples of the Nepal Police and Nepal Army practicing torture during their work. Despite the government’s ratification of the Convention against Torture (CAT) on 14 May […]

INDONESIA: Police officers in South Aceh involved in fabrication of charges and extortion

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about a fabricated case lodged by police officers of the South Aceh Police Office and Sawang Police Office in South Aceh regency, Aceh province. Without proper investigation and a lack of evidence, the police accused Mr. Abas Rizal bin Agusmar alias Sibay of illegally […]

AHRC TV: Dalit girl loses eye in brutal rape and attack and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 195

This week Just Asia begins with Nepal, where a 14-year-old Dalit girl was raped by a 19-year-old youth. After raping the girl on October 28, the non-Dalit Santosh Shrestha tried to kill her by slashing her with a sickle, and gouging out her left eye. The delay in receiving treatment cost the girl her left […]

NEPAL: Mysterious custodial death of a girl must be investigated

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is gravely disturbed by the mysterious death of 16-year-old Priyanka Yadav in police custody on October 29, 2017. The Area Police Office (APO), Mirchaiya arrested Priyanka and 14-year-old Sanjay Sah on October 28 for the murder of Bhavesh Yadav, Priyanka’s 13-year-old cousin brother. The next day, Priyanka was found […]

PAKISTAN: Shia man tormented with frivolous charges on account of his Faith

Dear Friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about the enforced disappearance of a Shia man, Muhammud Bilal, by officials of a Law Enforcement agency. He has been disappeared twice and indicted on murder charges under frivolous grounds. A few days before his disappearance, Bilal had a hernia operation. To date his […]

SRI LANKA: Entire family is under harassment by the Wattegama Police

Dear Friends, Asian Human Rights Commission has received the information regarding the case of Mr. Sudarshana Wijekoon (49) who is resident of Wattegama Police Division. On 9 September 2017, team of police officers attached to the Wattegama Police Station forcefully entered and searched his house. The officers failed to present any tangible, credible evidence for […]

INDIA: Arbitrary use of force at the border an epidemic that must be contained

Over the past decade, Human Rights Watch has recorded the occurrence of over 1,000 killings of civilians at the hands of Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, in which a majority of victims were unarmed. Despite these numbers, arrests are rare in such instances of arbitrary use of force – which often result in the death of the […]

ASIA: 20th Anniversary of the Asian Charter for Human Rights; A People’s Charter – A Video Documentary

In this short video, Mr Basil Fernando explains the preparation for updating of the Asian Charter for Human Rights – A People’s Charter which was launched in Gwangju, South Korea in May 1998. This Video explains the purpose for which this Charter was adopted, the process of consultations which led to the drafting of the Charter, the […]

NEPAL: Dalit girl raped and left eye gouged out

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about a 14-year-old Dalit girl who had been raped. It was carried out by a non-Dalit male named Santosh Shrestha (19). He is an eighth-grade student at the local Saraswoti Secondary School. After raping the girl, Santosh tried to kill her by slashing her […]

INDONESIA: Human Rights merely a NORM under three years of President Widodo

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that the three years Indonesia has been under President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla’s administration, October 2014 – October 2017, there remains two years in the presidential term (2014-2019). Indonesia has ratified several key international human rights instruments such as the International Covenant on Civil […]

NEPAL: Police use excessive force on protesters demanding investigation into mysterious child death

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is alarmed at the Nepali police’s firing in broad daylight, with an intent to kill, at protesters who were protesting at the lack of investigation in the death of an 11-year-old child. Laxman Shiwakoti was found dead in a pool of floodwater on 1 October 2017 after he went […]

SRI LANKA: Police neglect leads to the death of a young man

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information regarding Mr. Kurukulasooriyage Nuwan Chamara Perera of No: 215/5, Jayalath Place, Modara, Moratuwa, in the Colombo District. On October 5, 2017, he was assaulted by four persons, Malshika, Janith, Janithu, and Ishani Shehara at Joseph Place in Moratuwa Modara Police Post Division. He was treated […]

SRI LANKA: Lawful Public Protest not protected by Police who guarded attackers instead

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) would like to inform you about an incident on 13 July 2017. The pepper farmers organized a Protest March from Pallebedda to Palmadulla in the Ratnapura District, marching towards Embilipitya-Ratnapura-Colombo Road. They walked peacefully, respecting the Law and protecting the lives and properties of the public. Unexpectedly, […]

SRI LANKA: Excessive force used by Police against protestors injuring 14 activists

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) would like to inform you about an incident on 10 October 2017. Police used excessive force against protesters in a peaceful Public Protest at Kollupitiya Junction in Great Colombo Area. The protest was organized by the ‘Peoples Wall Against the Private Medical College SAITM.” Thousands of people, […]

AHRC TV: Extrajudicial killings on the rise in Sri Lanka and other stories in JUST ASIA, Episode 194

This week Just Asia begins with Sri Lanka, where a man was shot dead Monday by the Special Task Force of the police while travelling with his friends in a car. The police later claimed that they only began firing after the vehicle fired on them first, but there is no evidence to support this […]

SRI LANKA: Five students tortured by their Principal still under treatment in hospital

Dear Friends, According to reliable information received by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), four senior girls and a boy were tortured by the Principal of the Deniyaya Central College. On 17 October 2017, the Principal had called five students to his office. He assaulted the students on their head, neck, back, legs and dragged […]

SRI LANKA: Twenty-four year old fisherman extra-judicially shot and killed in Jaffna

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information concerning Mr. Don Bosco Dino alias Vindan Ridman 24, of Jaffna Police Division in the Jaffna District. He was extra-judicially murdered on 23 October 2017. Dino was shot at 3 p.m. on 22 October, by two individuals who appeared prepared and well-armed. He was […]

SRI LANKA: Man extra-judicially shot to death by a Special Task Force

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information concerning Mr. Nawalage Kushan Thakshila Cooray (35) of the Minuwangoda Police Division in the Gampaha District. He was extra-judicially killed by Officers attached to the Special Task Force (STF) of the Sri Lankan Police Department. The victim was shot dead by the Officers while […]

SRI LANKA: Police fail to investigate the case of three missing females

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding three missing females in the Wellampitiya Police Division on 14 October 2017. According to relatives they have lodged a complaint with the Wellampitiya and the Grand Pass Police Stations. They requested an urgent investigation to ensure the safety of the young women. On […]