Torture

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed that a torture victim, who filed a charge of torture against the officer-in-charge (OIC) and a police constable from the Horana police station, has been threatened and intimidated by them in an effort to pressure him to withdraw his complaint. The victim, who was […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned by another case of extremely brutal torture by the police in Thailand. According to the information available to the AHRC, Mr Urai Srineh was illegally arrested and taken to the Chonburi Provincial Police Station where he was brutally tortured on 24-25 May 2005 in […]

Writing to Suwat Liptapanlop, the Minister of Justice of Thailand on June 22, the Asian Human Rights Commission observed, “The question may well be asked as to why Thai police enjoy electrocuting testicles?” The remark was made after the May 24 gruesome torture of Urai Srineh, allegedly at the Chonburi provincial police station. Urai was […]

Much of the public prosecutor’s office in India now functions as a brokerage office where unholy deals are fixed between the police, the defence counsel and the prosecutors. Nothing worse could be expected when the prosecutors are appointed by the state at the whims and fancies of corrupt politicians after a long period of horse-trading. […]

Why has a special day been proposed for the victims of torture? What is its importance? It is hoped that this special day will initiate a movement that can highlight the gravity of torture and establish a support base for its victims. Such efforts, it is hoped, will influence civil society to reject the use […]

Torture is an extraordinary crime. The perpetrators of acts of torture have been recognised as hostis humanis generis , enemies of all humankind. Therefore, all states must ensure that the prevention of acts of torture and the assurance of the right of victims of torture are set forth in their laws.   It has been almost […]

The Philippine government prohibits the use of torture as stipulated in its 1987 constitution. It is also a state party to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), but the government’s failure to criminalise the practice of torture has virtually shielded the police, military and other public officials […]

Protests against the use of torture by law enforcement agencies are becoming more widespread in countries throughout Asia. These are emanating from a growing popular sentiment against torture as an abuse of power. With greater awareness and a sense of their own dignity, people are openly opposing abuse by law enforcement officers, who are also […]

[RE: UP-37-2004: SRI LANKA: A Kandy coordinator of National Police Commission allegedly cooperates with torture perpetrators; UP-34-2004: Priyankara brutally assaulted and arrested with no access to lawyers; UP-33-2004: Torture victim severely beaten again, forcibly taken to the police station in critical condition and feared being killed by the police; URGENT INTERVENTION NEEDED to save a […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission has been informed by reliable sources that a 25-year-old three-wheel driver has been illegally arrested and tortured by two Police Constables attached to the Palmadulla police station. The victim has suffered severe injuries and has received medical treatment. So far, no action has been taken against the alleged […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed by a reliable source that a 26-year-old man was allegedly severely tortured by Sub Inspector Ranaweera of the Pandaura Police, who was aided by his subordinates. The victim was also denied medical attention despite a doctor, who examined his medical health following the incident, […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from reliable sources about the torture and death of a man in Kollam District, Kerala, India. Mr. Rajendran (37) was in the business of selling floor cleaners. On 6 April 2005 when he went to Sankar hospital to meet the management, he was denied […]

UA-87-2005: PHILIPPINES: Incidents of death, torture, disappearance and displacement of civilians during a military operation PHILIPPINES: Death resulting from denial of immediate medical attention; Torture; Disappearance; Indigenous Peoples Rights; Displacement; Violation of Protocol II regarding internal conflict Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from a coalition of churches and human […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)-Mindanao regarding the illegal arrest and torture of four farmers by military forces, which falsely accused them of involvement in a rebel group on April 1, 2005, in Laak, Compostela Valley. They were illegally detained inside the […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that K.A. Ganga Kalpani, gave birth prematurely after being tortured by the Embilipitiya police, resulting in her child being stillborn. Ganga Kalpani, who is from Galwanguwa, was tortured along with her husband, Walakadage Gamini Senadeera.  At that time she was five months pregnant. Kalpani […]

[RE: UP-17-2005:  SRI LANKA: Lalith Rajapakse freed; Action needs to be taken against the police who falsely charged him, UP-81-2004: SRI LANKA: Continuing death threats to human rights activists and torture victims after murder of Gerald Perera, UP-77-2004: More death threats to a torture victim and a human rights defender; Witness protection is urgently needed, […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) regarding the detention of five torture victims for over two years without trial. The victims were arrested on 8 April 2003 in Cotabato City, Mindanao and were charged in connection with the March and April 2003 […]

There are two expressions the use of which brings about abject fear among all sectors of society in Bangladesh.  These terms are, ‘cross-fire’ and ‘Rapid Action Battalion’.  While the government use cross-fire to mean gun fights between any section of the armed forces and civilians, such as criminal gangs and terrorists, the popular meaning of […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the continual and apparent deliberate delay in seeking justice for a victim of torture against two accused police officers. Suresh Pradeep Kumara, who was alleged tortured by IP Indrajith of the Mt. Lavinia police station, and PS Bandara of the Kantale police station, […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding misconduct displayed by a police official and an officer of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) during its investigation into the complaint of torture victim Bernard Janapriya (32). Janapiya filed a complaint against a sergeant and 2 policemen for assaulting him on 10 […]