Threats and intimidation

INDIA: Lesson on lawlessness: of child trafficking, and a father’s lonely, long-drawn struggle against criminal cops and authoritative apathy

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information concerning the kidnap and trafficking of the then 16-year-old Sajida Khatun (name changed to protect identity) on 25 March 2011 and the refusal of personnel at Haroa Police Station to render assistance for her recovery. Efforts by Sajida’s father to register a case with […]

INDIA: BSF brutality and technocratic deficiencies leading to hunger are equally criminal

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from MASUM concerning the torture of Mr Ranjan Mondal by five BSF personnel attached to Kaharpara BSF Outpost No. 5 under 105th Battalion of BSF on 5 January 2012 Unlawful arrest, torture, caste-based discrimination and a culture of impunity amongst law enforcement and paramilitary […]

NEPAL: Torture victim receives death threat for filing a complaint

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a couple is facing death threats after filing a case under the Torture Compensation Act against a police officer in Danusha district. Ms Mukhiya filed a case at the Danusha District Court after being tortured by a police officer in relation to a […]

PHILIPPINES: Murdered mining activist knew he and two others would be killed

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has obtained further details that an activist who was murdered on May 1, 2012 for opposing illegal mining operation in Salcedo, Eastern Samar, knew of the plan that he and two others would be killed. The victim, Francisco Canayong; and his colleagues, Antonio Norte and Carolyn Borja, […]

INDIA: Flaunting unenlightened attitudes – religious discrimination by the BSF

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from MASUM concerning the harassment and intimidation of Mr Saiful Molla and Mr Khalil Mondal by BSF personnel attached to Kaijuri BSF Camp on 9.30pm on 21 April 2012 and 3.30pm on 22 April 2012. Unlawful arrest and detention, harassment, degrading treatment, religious discrimination […]

NEPAL: A man is tortured by the Central Investigation Bureau and threatened that false charges would be brought against him

Dear friends, According to information that the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received from Protection of People’s Rights, Nepal (PPR Nepal) that a 43-year-old man arrested under allegations of fraud has been tortured in the Central Investigation Bureau, Maharajganj, Kathmandu. He was arrested by police officers in plain clothes who did not identify themselves […]

SRI LANKA: Threats to Dr. Nirmal R. Devasiri of FUTA is an another instance of suppression of dissent

NfR Sri Lanka, a network of Sri Lankan journalists and human rights defenders expresses its serious concern over the recent threats and intimidations directed at Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, the President of the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) for his trade union activities.  FUTA has been campaigning for better remuneration for University teachers and […]

SRI LANKA: A threat to the safety of Dr. Nirmal Devasiri of the University Teachers Union

The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information that two days ago, a group of people who have identified themselves as members of the Ministry of Defense, visited the neighbourhood in which Dr. Nirmal Raanjith Devasiri, (the President of the University Teachers Union and the Secretary of the Arts Faculty Teachers’ Association of the University […]

INDIA: BSF bloodies Bharat

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from MASUM concerning the torture of Mr Bharat Mondal by BSF personnel attached to Mourashi Camp of Chowski No. 2 under Outpost No. 2 of 105th Battalion of BSF on 30 December 2011. Unlawful arrest and detention, torture, caste-based discrimination and a culture of […]

INDONESIA: Military members shot civilians and burned their properties in Wamena, West Papua

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding an attack conducted by members of Battalion 756 Wimane Sili towards civilians in Kampung Honai Lama west of Wamena on 6 June 2012. The attack was conducted by the military following the stabbing of two of its members by the residents of Kampung […]

INDONESIA: Prison guards tortured 42 prisoners and detainees at Abepura correctional facility in Papua

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the torture of 42 prisoners and detainees by prison guards at Abepura Correctional Facility on 30 April 2012 following an argument between one of the detainees, Selfius Bobii, and the Head of the Abepura Correctional Facility (Abepura Kalapas). The prisoners were beaten, kicked, […]

INDIA: Tortured by BSF along Indo-Bangladesh border

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information concerning the corruption of a driver of ‘G’ Branch of ‘E’ Company of 152 Battalion of the BSF who had been bribed to permit smuggling and who, when in danger of being exposed, turned on the victim, Mr Abdul Karim Molla, and brutally […]

INDIA: Sexual perversion a manifestation of graver structural failures

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information concerning the illegal arrest, detention and custodial violence against three men in Murshidabad, West Bengal by police personnel of Salar Police Station. The victims are leaders of a local branch of the Indian National Congress party. While in the custody, the three victims were […]

INDIA: Homeland insecurity: fear of civil society in world’s largest democracy

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan (JADS) concerning the service of a “show cause” notice to human rights defender Ms Madhuri Krishnaswami on 10 May 2012 by District Magistrate Barwani in Madya Pradesh state. This “show cause” notice requests Madhuri to justify why she should […]

INDONESIA: Judgement by the Supreme Court upholding freedom of religion disregarded by police and Bekasi local authorities

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information concerning the ongoing threats and intimidation by villagers of Jejalen Jaya towards Reverend Palti Panjaitan and the congregation of Batak Protestant Church (HKBP) Filadelfia. The congregation has been prohibited to conduct service of worship for years on a piece of land that legally belongs […]

PHILIPPINES: Two journalists killed, two others receive threats in separate incidents in Mindanao

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you that two journalists have been killed while two others have received threats in separate incidents in April and May. The AHRC is deeply concerned by the ongoing attacks on journalists as a result of their work depriving them of the protection necessary […]

PAKISTAN: Police insist an 18-year-old girl to settle a case of raping for five years with the rapist cum stepfather

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the rape of an 18-year-old girl in the captivity of her stepfather, a police tout, for more than five years. Her mother has also been kidnapped by the perpetrator and her whereabouts remain unknown. A case was filed after agitation from local communities […]

NEPAL: Loopholes in transitional justice bills will put the victims at risk

Statement | Nepal | 02-04-2012

The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to express its concern toward the scrapping of the provision prohibiting amnesty for human rights violations in the Bills establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Inquiry on Disappearances. Principles along which lines the final version of the bill is to be drafted by the Ministry […]

PAKISTAN: Complainant of a 14-year-old girl’s gang-rape case is murdered in order to force the relatives withdrawing the complaint

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information on the gang rape of a 14 year old girl (For further details, please see the original appeal: AHRC-UAC-064-2010). The victim’s uncle, who was the complainant in the case, was gunned down by the accused persons who were accused by names in the rape […]

PAKISTAN: A US based news agency asked its correspondent to leave the job after the journalist and his family faced serious threats from local Taliban

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a journalist of a US based news agency is receiving death threats from Taliban Pakistan for writing stories on the working of some prominent religious seminaries (Madressas) who were imparting training students for suicide bombers or romanticizing the suicide attacks. The chief of […]