Threats and intimidation

CAMBODIA: Police allegedly assault venders in Battambang province

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that the police allegedly assaulted a family of venders in Battambang city, Battambang province, Cambodia on 25 October 2008. The police damaged their trays and severely assaulted the father of the family. Their beating caused him to sustain serious injuries and lose consciousness. CASE DETAILS: (Based […]

SRI LANKA: A complainant in a corruption case is at risk from threats from the police

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information of threats and harassment made against a man by police officers since May 2008 in Sri Lanka. He would not pay money to them. He has been repeatedly arrested and falsely charged after he refused to give them any bribes. CASE DETAILS: Rajagopalan Manalan […]

BANGLADESH: Investigating officer of a rape case is colleague of the accused

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a police officer raped a woman on 7 October 2008 but due to tardy action by police authorities the officer was able to escape arrest. A colleague of the accused has been assigned as the investigating officer. CASE DETAILS: A man known as […]

SRI LANKA: New technique to impede investigation into cases of torture and false charges

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a father and his 14-year-old son were illegally arrested and taken to Kurunegala Police Station by officers on 11 July 2008. The officers did not produce them in court within the required statutory 24 hours. During nine days’ detention, the officers tortured the […]

PAKISTAN: Police inaction on attack and threats against a charitable clinic serving for poor

[NOTICE: The AHRC has developed this automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Pakistan authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to them. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Pakistan authorities are attached below […]

PHILIPPINES: Soldiers allegedly threaten union leaders and workers to stop their activities

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes with deep concern about the continuing threats to four union leaders, including a union president, and dozens of other workers. Others preferred not to divulge their names. The soldiers had deliberately warned them, one after another that they would suffer consequences if they not stop their […]

SRI LANKA: Police allegedly assault minor and fabricate charges

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Ambalantota police officers assaulted a minor and arbitrarily arrested and detained her and her sister in the custody on 1 September 2008. In the police station, the officers forced them to sign a document which was not explained and put their fingerprints to […]

SRI LANKA: Police allegedly torture a man and detain him for four months

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the illegal arrest and detention of a man in Kandy in May 2008 who was not produced before a court for four months. During detention the police tortured him to confess to being a terrorist. CASE DETAILS: (Based on the testimony of the victims […]

UPDATE (Bangladesh): Absence of fair trial in alleged false charge against Mr. Akash

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information that Mr. Akash, a human rights defender as well as journalist, has been facing unfair trial in an allegedly false extortion charge against him in Rajshahi. During the court proceedings the prosecutor was seen assisting to the alleged complainant providing information on what […]

SRI LANKA: Grenade attack against lawyer appearing for human rights victims

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to bring to your attention a serious threat to the lawyers who practice their profession independently and particularly those who appear for victims of human rights abuses and in corruption cases in Sri Lanka by way of attacks, death threats and other forms of intimidation. On […]

UPDATE (Nepal): Torture victim Sumitra is transferred to Morang District Police Office

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wants to inform you that a torture victim Ms. Sumitra Khawas, who had remained detained at the Area Police Office (APO) of Belbari, has been transferred to the Morang District Police Office (DPO). UPDATED INFORMATION: According to the information we have received from Advocacy Forum-Nepal, on 22 […]

UPDATE (Nepal): A woman torture victim faces threats by police after disclosing her torture incident

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is gravely concerned over the safety of one woman torture victim named Ms. Sumitra Khawas. According to the information received from the Advocacy Forum, a prominent local human rights group in Nepal, the victim is still being detained at the Office (APO) of Belbari in Morang district, […]

SRI LANKA: Police allegedly torture a man to extract information

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the Gampaha police assaulted a person after hanging him from a roof beam in the police station. He was illegally arrested on suspicion of a theft and detained him for 5 days before being produced before a magistrate and released on bail. CASE […]

SRI LANKA: Police allegedly assault family members

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that police officers allegedly assaulted a man who intervened in another assault by the officers on 23 July 2008 in Sri Lanka. Those officers threatened him and attempted to stop him from getting his injuries treated at the hospital. CASE DETAILS: (Based on the testimony […]

PHILIPPINES: Four activists receiving threatening messages for investigating disappearance

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes with deep concern that four human rights activists, all of whom are staff members of the Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights (KARAPATAN) in Cebu City, have been receiving threatening messages on their mobile phones. The message contains warning they will “suffer the consequence” if […]

SRI LANKA: Police allegedly mishandle a case by using threats

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that police in Sri Lanka have allegedly ill- treated and threatened a man with imposition of false charges  dating from April 2008.  Meanwhile, the man has lodged several complaints but up to now no investigation has been undertaken. CASE DETAILS: (Based on the testimony of […]

UPDATE (Philippines): A Pastor previously harassed by armed men again threatened with death

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that, a Pastor whom we reported in October 2006 to have been harassed by armed men, is once again being threatened with death. The threat to him was carried out in the following way.  After officiating at Sunday Mass, he was given an […]

SRI LANKA: Police allegedly assault and fabricate charges against teachers

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a Head Quarter’s Inspector allegedly assaulted a principal and a teacher on 7 July 2008. It is reported that the teachers were falsely charged and released on bail but have to report to the police station concerned in every Sunday. They were also […]

UPDATE (India): Human rights activists in Varanasi facing continuous threat from women traffickers

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Guria, a local human rights organisation working on women trafficking in Uttar Pradesh regarding the death threats on human rights defenders associated with Guria. Four unknown persons allegedly engaged in human trafficking in Varanasi threatened to kill the activists associated with Guria. The […]

NEPAL: A torture victim allegedly receives constant threats from the police in Myagdi district

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received from the Advocacy Forum yet another torture case allegedly committed by the Parbat district police officers on 15 July 2008. The victim was arrested due to a petty offence but was subjected to a brutal torture which caused multi-fractures in his left arm. He was […]