Torture

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF) and Protection International Thailand (PI) regarding military harassment of human rights defenders in Thailand. On 17 May 2016, the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 sought power of attorney from the Royal Thai Army and submitted a complaint […]

This week Just Asia begins with the attack on a peaceful public protest in North Sulawesi, Indonesia on June 1, calling for professionalism by parliamentarians, and the prosecution of those involved in illegal drugs. While waiting to have a dialogue with some parliamentarians at the Manodo parliament office, the student protesters were suddenly attacked by […]

See the YouTube Video relating to this article. Journalist, Poddala Jayantha in a moving article, written in Sinhala, recalls his ordeal which took place exactly 7 years ago in the evening of June 1st that shocked the entire nation. A threat which has been made to him by the brother of the then President Mahinda […]

Those charting the history of conflict in South Asia with particular reference to violence against children may be interested in this recently released book edited by an Australian National University (ANU) Senior Fellow, Bina D’ Costa and published by the Cambridge University Press. This volume is based on the premise that children’s diverse experiences during […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about police brutality provided by the Indonesian Student Christian Movement (GMKI) Manado branch office, North Sulawesi Province. Police officers supported by the civil service police unit (Satpol PP) and staff employees of the local parliament (DPRD) attacked the protesters. Rather than accommodate the protesters’ […]

Avinash Pandey Mathura, a city in Uttar Pradesh, witnessed a sensational encounter between the police and a semi-religious cult that left at least 21 dead, 2 senior cops among them, yesterday. The police had reportedly gone there to evict members of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi who have been illegally occupying Jawahar Bagh for […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Ms. Pushpakumari Hunukumbura was slapped by the Officer-in-Charge of the Peradeniya Police Station when she refused to come to a settlement against the perpetrator who assaulted her. Instead of investigating the crime, the Peradeniya police are protecting the culprit, illustrating the police’s lack […]

In retaliation for the recently passed Women’s Protection Act by the Punjab provincial government, Pakistan’s Council of Islamic Ideology has made parallel suggestions for amending the Act, including allowing a husband to lightly beat his wife for defying him, banning co education after primary level, and banning women from receiving male visitors. The Council of […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the Nepal police arrested 43 Madhesi activists on 21 May 2016 in Lumbini – Rupandehi and Sarlahi districts, when the country was celebrating the 2560th birth anniversary of Buddha. The Madhesi activists were not provided with any arrest warrants, and were kept in […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a father and son have been subjected to targeted abuse of the fundamental powers of the judicial system. Following their refusal to meet extortion demand of the police, Mohammad Saleh Ahmed and his son Mohammad Saidul Islam have been implicated in fabricated cases […]

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to mark 18 May 2016 as an important date in Thailand’s fight against torture. On this date, Thailand’s Supreme Administrative Court delivered its official verdict ordering the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) under the Office of Prime Minister to pay 102, 200 baht to Plaintiff no. 1 and […]

Preliminary observations and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, Mr. Juan E. Mendez following his visit to Sri Lanka from 29th April – 7th May 2016 forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Colombo, 7 May 2016 *This statement should be read in conjunction with […]

Dear Friends, The Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance (THRDA) has informed the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) that two police officers attached with Area Police Office Semari Nawalparasi District tortured Tejman Prasad Chaudhary (54), resident of Ward number 3, Jamuniya village development committee (VDC) Nawalparasi district, in public and kept him under illegal detention. This […]

Dear Friends, The Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance (THRDA) has informed the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) that police officers attached with Area Police Office Chapiya of Rupandehi District kept Kisalawati Harijan (37), resident of Manpakadi Village Development Committee (VDC) under illegal detention on 3 May 2016, and tortured her for an hour. The police […]

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Devatha Pedige Jayathilaka from Karandupana, in the Kegalle District, for no apparent reasons, has been produced before the Kegalle Magistrate Court, having been framed on fabricated charges by the Kegalle Police, on 27 June 2015. Meanwhile the Rambukkana Police have also filed […]

Discrimination and abuse from police and government officials continues to be faced by transgender rights defenders. Furthermore, many activists have been abducted, beaten, and raped for raising their voice against the atrocities meted out to them. Pakistani society by and large ostracises persons of transgender. Being social outcastes and shunned by their families, many transgender […]

Dear Friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned that a father and son were tortured for allegedly stealing from a convenience store. They were interrogated and beaten up to admit to the crime. The perpetrators were members of the Special Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary (SCAA).  CASE DETAILS: (Based on […]

This week Just Asia begins with Pakistan, where three cases of honour killings have been reported from the country over the last 15 days, killing five women. Such acts are the result of a typical mindset that women must be killed for disobeying men, and besmirching their honour. The year 2015 saw more than 7,010 […]

The UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment Mr Juan E Mendez, published his preliminary findings on 7th May 2016 following an official visit to Sri Lanka. He has observed that torture is a common practice in Sri Lanka and structural reforms are required to prevent it. In […]

Dr. Deepika Udagama Chairman, National Human Rights Commission Head Office,  No. 165 Kynsey Road,  Borella, Colombo 08 Sri Lanka Dear Dr. Deepika Udagama, Request for special action regarding Ms M K Malani, presently being held at the Dumbara-Bogambara Prison – tortured, sexually abused and incarcerated under fabricated charges by Nawalapitiya Police The Asian Human Rights […]