Torture

INDONESIA: A Papuan was tortured on the unreasonable allegation of engagement with separatist group

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to inform you of the case regarding the torture of a Papuan in Mimika, Papua. The victim was arrested by officers from the Mimika Sub-District Police wearing civilian clothes without any warrant. The police randomly accused him for being involved in the separatist movement organised by […]

INDONESIA: Violations is the rule, protection is the exception

On the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, 10 December 2012, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) publishes its annual report on the State of Human Rights in Indonesia in 2012. The full report is now available for download at http://www.humanrights.asia/resources/hrreport/2012/ahrc-spr-006-2012.pdf  In the middle of 2012, Indonesia had its state of human rights reviewed by […]

NEPAL: The slow erosion of democratic institutions hampers accountability

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is releasing its annual report on the state of human rights protection in Nepal through 2012 on the occasion of the 64th Human Rights Day. This year the world human rights community […]

PAKISTAN: Failure of the institutions related to the rule of law provides impunity to the perpetrators of violations of human rights

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day 2012 The full report is available for download at: http://www.humanrights.asia/resources/hrreport/2012/ahrc-spr-008-2012.pdf/view  The PPP-led government under President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Ministers Yousaf Raza Gillani and Raja Pervez Ashraf has made some effort to improve the protection of human rights […]

SRI LANKA: We salute the Chief Justice and her legal team for the historical decision to walk out of the PSC proceedings.

We call upon the people, in particular the judges and lawyers, to grasp the historic significance of this moment It is news now that the Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake and her legal team, led by Romesh De Silva PC, walked away from the Parliamentary Select Committee proceedings, expressing no confidence in the manner in which […]

BURMA: Court issues landmark ruling on death in police custody; two accused police themselves die under dubious circumstances

In a landmark ruling, a court in Burma has rejected the police version of events that led to the death of a man in their custody, and has opened the door to a charge of murder to be brought against the officers involved. In its findings of 9 November 2012, a copy of which the […]

PAKISTAN: Space for individuals in UN Human Rights Complain Mechanism

Lack of public awareness is one the major reason of absence of watchful oversight of citizens on their rights, issues and concerned authorities. It has been appropriately said that informed citizenry is empowered citizenry; the more people are informed, the more they are vocal and critical on their issues and rights .In this way , […]

PAKISTAN: AHRC welcomes the inter-ministerial initiative for criminalizing torture

Today, the federal Ministry for Human Rights arranged an inter-ministerial meeting to discuss the proposed law against torture and custodial death. The proposed draft of the law was submitted by the Asian Human Rights Commission and Anti Torture Alliance Pakistan, with the consent of the Karachi Bar Association, Karachi Union of Journalists, Karachi Press Club, […]

INDIA: Is it not time to question the role of police in crowd control?

The Surendranagar firing that killed three Dalit youth on 21 September this year has once again brought to light the concern, that in India, the police do not have adequate training nor the government has necessary resolve to overhaul the police service into one that fits a modern democracy. An affidavit filed by the Gujarat […]

INDONESIA: Police in Medan protect torturers by failing to respond adequately to a torture complaint

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received the information regarding a torture case took place in Medan, North Sumatra. The victim was blindfolded by the police and taken to an unidentified place where he was severely beaten with a wood block on his head and back. The victim’s mother submitted complaints in […]

SRI LANKA: Giriulla Police tortured an innocent man after illegal detention

Dear friends, Mr. T. A. Erantha Srinath is a clerk by profession. He was illegally detained and tortured by the Giriulla Police on 31 August 2012. Erantha Srinath and his colleagues were at Hettipola to worship the Kapilawasthu Relics, his mother & a little child who came with them went missing so he pleaded for […]

SRI LANKA: A young man is under constant threat by the Officer-in-Charge of the Thambuththegama Police

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that Mr. Porawakara Arachchilage Pramesh is being harassed by officers of the Thambuththegama Police Station because he assisted a friend to file a fundamental rights application. The Officer-in-Charge of that station has personally threatened Pramesh with arrest and false charges if he continues his […]

SRI LANKA: The Saliya Wewa Police colludes with the murderer of a young girl who died of severe burn injuries

Dear friends, Ms. Muddara Pedilage Suneetha Sandamali (16) succumbed to severe burn injuries at the Puttalam Base Hospital. She had been admitted by her partner, a soldier attached to the Civil Defence Force, and the Saliya Wewa Police Station. Shortly before the victim’s death she made a statement to the police that her partner had […]

INDONESIA: Torture victims sentenced to life imprisonment on fabricated charges while allegations of their abuse are not investigated

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you about a case of arbitrary arrest, detention and torture, as well as the fabrication of charges experienced by two men charged for murder in Medan. The abuses took place in 2011 and the two persons were sentenced to life imprisonment by the court […]

SRI LANKA: A victim of police torture shares his ordeal on YouTube

(Hong Kong, November 1, 2012) Janasansadaya has issued a YouTube presentation on the case of torture of Chaminda Sampath by the Bandaragama police. Chaminda says, “I was taken to the police station and kept there for seven days. I was beaten while I was hung. The police put kocchi miris (Chili) in my eyes and […]

SRI LANKA: AHRC and RCT collaboration

Appreciation on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the RCT (Photo Courtesy: Janasansadaya) On the occasion of the Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT) celebrating its 30th Anniversary, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to record its appreciation for the RCT and recognize the contribution it has made to the development […]

SRI LANKA: The executive is exposing Sri Lankans to a dangerous situation by ruthlessly attacking the judiciary

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government is now engaged in a ruthless attack on the Chief Justice, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the independence of the judiciary in general. The immediate reason for the attacks is the Supreme Court decision against the Divineguma Bill and the JSC decision to take disciplinary action against a judicial officer alleged […]

PAKISTAN: A missing student is dumped on the roadside with severe torture marks and cannot survive if immediate medical treatment is not provided

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a student from Sindh province who was arrested by uniformed persons on May 9, 2012, has been dumped on the roadside having endured severe torture. His condition is critical and doctors have lost hope for his recovery if he is not been provided […]

PAKISTAN: A former Jihadi was disappeared after his arrest by a secret agency of the army for refusing to join future jihad activities

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a former militant (a Jihadi) was abducted by persons from intelligence agencies of the military and was later disappeared from Pakistani Kashmir. He was tortured and suffered a heart attack during the illegal custody. He was disappeared at the time he had the […]

SRI LANKA: The Gerald Perera torture case — the accused to face retrial

(Hong Kong, October 18, 2012) The Court of Appeal today ordered the retrial on the case of torture of Gerald Perera. The court quashed the order of the acquittal of four of the accused, M. Suresh Gunasena, J.A. Nalin Chandimal Jayasinghe, H.A.P.D. Perera and H.M.A.K. Herath. The court upheld the acquittal of E.A.A. Tushantha and […]