Threats and intimidation

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Shanthigara Suresh Kumar, a teacher at the Trinity College of Kandy, was arbitrarily arrested and detained by the Kandy Police for 68 days. He was brutally tortured while in detention. The authorities have yet to take any action against the alleged perpetrators. […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is informed by MASUM, a local human rights organisation in West Bengal involving the Border Security Force (BSF) officers stationed in West Bengal. It is reported that the BSF officers who killed two persons in December 2007, are now threatening their family to keep them silent. Despite […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding a 19 year old school boy assaulted and frightened by death threats made by the Principal of his school Sri Dharmalankara Maha Vidyalaya, Galle on 23 April 2008. CASE DETAILS: (based on the testimony of Herath Mudalige Janith Thilanka) On 23 April 2008 Janith […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is gravely concerned by the constant, serious threats and attacks on women rights activists who have been working for justice for the deceased Ms. Laxmi Bohara, who had been allegedly killed by her husband on 6 June 2008. For details of the alleged killing of Laxmi, please […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that the police allegedly ordered parents to pay a bribe of 150000 riels (US$37.5) each if their sons were not to be arrested after these youths had damaged a party sign in Soeung commune, Bor Keo district, Rattankiri province. On 2 July 2008, they arrested […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the case of H.M. Susantha Herath who was brutally tortured by the Gokarella police on 4 July 2005 (UA-146-2005). It is almost three years since the incident and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRC) has finally made recommendations dated 26 […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a peasant was murdered, one was abducted and several more were injured in an attack by a powerful group. After the passing of almost three months no one has yet been arrested. A session court has rejected the application for anticipatory bail before […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) that a man was dead on the way to a hospital after being beaten by police at Chakaria Police Station on 14 May 2008. A relative filed a case against those responsible but now his family […]

[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 those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Pakistan authorities are attached […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that four members of a family received death threat by four men allegedly hired by police on 23 June 2008. It is reported that four men threaten the family members to withdraw the case which is currently pending under the Fundamental Rights jurisdiction at […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the MASUM, a local human rights group working from West Bengal, India that their office was searched and documents seized by the West Bengal Police on 12 June 2008. MASUM is a human rights group of high reputation and has intervened in several […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes with deep concern on the issuance of a decree banning a religious minority, Ahmadiyah, from spreading their religious practices by the government on 9 June 2008. The AHRC is concerned that the decree would encourage other Muslim groups critical of them to carry out more attacks […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from MASUM, a local human rights group working from West Bengal, India that a woman whose daughter was raped and murdered has been threatened at gunpoint to withdraw her case against the perpetrators.  The local police have refused to perform their duties to cooperate […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that a pastor who was released several days after he was abducted and tortured in captivity now fears for his life. Over a month after the incident took place in May 6, there has not been an adequate investigation or any effort by […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that a torture victim has suffered hearing loss after having been severely assaulted by Excise Officers on 17 May 2008. Furthermore, one of the officers has allegedly attempted to coerce sexual favours from the victim’s wife, urging her to cooperate with them to allow […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a torture victim attempted to commit suicide due to the humiliation he suffered after being tortured by policemen attached to the Sigiriya Police Station on 13 May 2008. When he was released from police custody, the police warned him and his family about […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has obtained further information regarding the case of Mr. Lalith Rajapakse. The AHRC has obtained a copy of his affidavit narrating the facts of the case. Based on the circumstances and the statement he had given, the AHRC is certain that some unknown persons were in fact […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Centre for Rule of Law (CRL), a human rights organisation working in Colombo, Sri Lanka regarding the case of Mr. Lalith Rajapakse, a victim of custodial torture. It is reported that Lalith’s life is at risk once again from the criminals operating […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a Sub Inspector attached to Deniyaya Police Station allegedly tortured a young student in the process of interrogating him on suspicion of carrying out a robbery on 28 April 2008. As the boy denied the charge the police threatened and demanded money from […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that army officers have threatened to imprison villagers in land disputes in two different locations. In Rattanakiri province the threat came from three officers alleged to be Prime Minister Human Sen’s bodyguards and relatives. In Kratie province it came from army officers and five […]