Rule of law

The killings were the outcome of bomb blasts, terrorist attacks, sectarian violence, targeted killings, operations by law enforcement agencies and US drone attacks During the year up to November 30 there were hundreds of incidents of sectarian violence, target killings, terrorist attacks, suicide bombings and the killings by armed forces and intelligence agencies, and of […]

In a previous article I argued that India’s “rights revolution” has so far mostly existed on paper without significant improvements in the conditions of the poor. In this article I examine the prospects of implementing the National Food Security Bill (NFSB), which was written into law the 12th of September 2013. In particular, I will look […]

The Government of India, led by Congress, claim to be champions of the poor. In the upcoming election they will point out that they have given rights to all the poor; The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) (2005), The Right to Information Act (2005), The Forrest Rights Act (2006), the Right to Education Act […]

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry makes laudable efforts to hold the security forces accountable for enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and in pursuing the cases of missing persons It has been reported that the Attorney General informed the Supreme Court that two missing persons have died, allegedly in military custody. According to the daily Express News, which […]

Nilantha Ilangamuwa The truth has been placed before us that the passing of laws does not mean people will benefit from them without proper implementation through the criminal justice system in the particular country. In the words of the great poet Rabindranath Tagore, “facts are many, but the truth is one.” Recent violence in Bangladesh […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission has learned that direct intervention from the Attorney General’s Office of Bangladesh is preventing the release of ASM Nasiruddin Elan, Director of Odhikar, a Bangladesh based human rights organisations, despite the High Court having granted bail to the prominent human rights defender. That the Attorney General’s Office can impede a high […]

With the change in Army command on November 27, a crackdown against the people in Balochistan started. A prominent lawyer, Mr. Haider KB son of Khuda Bux age 33, resident of Koshkalat, was arrested by plain clothed persons riding in a non registered two door jeep. The police stations in Quetta, capital of Balochistan province, […]

Dear friends,  We wish to share with you the following article from the Lawyer’s Weekly. Asian Human Rights Commission  Hong Kong ————- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AHRC-FAT-025-2013 November 28, 2013 An article from the Lawyer’s Weekly forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission SRI LANKA/AUSTRALIA: LCA condemns country’s worsening rule of law The Law Council of […]

Nine journalists suffered the worse kind of suppression with assassinations and attacks ( Graphic Courtesy: pakistanfoemonitor.org ) With the successive governments the reality of freedom of expression grows thinner and thinner as the right guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan is further constricted. Apart from blatant interference by the government, freedom of expression is also being […]

Dear friends,  We wish to share with you the following article from the Financial Times (Daily FT), written by Ashwin Hemmathagama. Asian Human Rights Commission  Hong Kong ————- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AHRC-FAT-024-2013 November 27, 2013 An article from the Financial Times (Daily FT) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission SRI LANKA: Eran drops bombshell […]

In 1958, north east India was declared as a ‘disturbed area’ and the draconian legislation Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) was imposed to fight the ‘enemies’, who claimed to fight for freedom from a colonizing power. To date, the law and the declaration have achieved nothing. The fight of self-determination by the people […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to announce the launch of its weekly video news bulletin, the Human Rights Asia – Weekly Roundup. The seventh episode, released today, 27 November 2013, features a special focus on police torture for the purpose of extortion. Several examples from countries in Asia, such as the Philippines and Bangladesh, […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from Sri Lanka Brief. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- FORWARDED PRESS RELEASE AHRC-FPR-052-2013 A Press Release from Sri Lanka Brief forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) SRI LANKA: The truth and torture of commissions […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from human rights activists based in North East India regarding the arbitrary arrest of two persons by fabricating charges in connection with the killing of human rights defender Mr. Manoj Konwar. Mr. Manoj Konwar was working with Assam based human rights organization Manab Adhikar […]

The month of October witnessed a significant decline in violence-related casualties bringing some relief to the terror-ridden people of the country. However, the issues related to security and peace remained the most common topics of attention for the people and media alike.  To tackle terrorism and heinous crimes in the country, the President promulgated the […]

(Hong Kong, November 23, 2013) Myrna Reblando, widow of journalist Alejandro “Bong” Reblando, one of the journalists killed in Maguindanao massacre, will join the victims’ families and lawyers’ group as they commemorate the 4th year anniversary of the massacre in General Santos City from Hong Kong. Myrna Reblando (right) at the cemetery in General Santos […]

This statement is released to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November Ms. Padmini, a traffic warden, has accused local police, investigating her complaint of sexual harassment, of intimidation in order to protect the interest of the offender. The officer’s contention is that, while she was on traffic duty, […]

THE widow of one of the journalists killed in the brutal 2009 Maguindanao massacre who has fled to Hong Kong believes the victims will not get justice under the Aquino administration. Myrna Reblando, widow of Manila Bulletin correspondent Bong Reblando, said she does not see the Quezon City Regional Trial Court handing down a verdict […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a 75-year-old was raped and the officers of the Thalathuoya police are protecting the perpetrator who, allegedly, has been involved in a prior case. Suppiah Veerai (75), a resident of Kirimatiya Estate, Nugaliyadda, Thalathuoya in the Kandy District was alone in her house […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Chithra Kumar (32) of Wattala in Nuwara Eliya District was arrested by officers from the Colombo Narcotics division and tortured in an effort to extort money from him. Kumar is a legitimate gold dealer who was arrested after returning from a business […]