AHRC News

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WORLD: The final call for assistance in the case Wengadasalam Sudeshkar — US$ 6,000 is still needed for the payment of blood money

The Asian Human Rights Commission has learned from the mother of Wengadasalam Sudeshkar that so far, the family has been able to raise Rs. 2,800.000-/= (Rs. 2.8 Million) out of the total requested amo...

SRI LANKA: In Memory of Fr. Tissa Balasuriya

Every associate of Fr. Tissa will undoubtedly have his/her lasting and loving memories of him. My association of him has left in me a memory of him as a spiritual guide and campaigner of social justic...

PAKISTAN: Prominent human rights defenders are targets of assassination

Two prominent lawyers and a well known human rights defender have been assassinated in target killings on February 2, 2013. Mr. Malik Jarrar 47, a Supreme Court lawyer, was shot dead in Peshawar, the ...

SRI LANKA: The Officer-in-Charge the Moratuwa police could have saved the life of the chief monk

On February 4 the chief monk of Sunandonanda of Egodauyana, Moratuwa was assassinated by a group of persons during the evening. According to reports, at 5:30 pm and again at 7:30 pm, the chief monk ma...

PAKISTAN: Religious extremists attempt to create a bloodbath in Sindh province by the use of false blasphemy charges against Shiites

Though the police have exonerated all five persons falsely accused of committing blasphemy they have failed to take any actions for their protection. This is particularly important as no action whatso...

SRI LANKA: The murder of a chief monk and execution-style killings of two persons — the social implications

The chief monk of Sunandonanda of Egodauyana, Moratuwa was assassinated by a group of persons on the evening of February 4. According to reports there had been a prolonged dispute over a piece of land...

INDIA: Police officers run human trafficking cartel

28 police officers from the Kerala State police is accused of running a human trafficking cartel in the state. This felonious syndicate run by police officers is linked with international criminal car...

WORLD: Reissue of the appeal for financial aid to save the life of Wengadasalam Sudeshkar facing the death sentence in Qatar

The Asian Human Rights Commission has received many responses from concerned persons in several countries regarding the appeal we made on behalf of Mr. Wengadasalam Sudeshkar. Several persons have ind...

INDIA: बैंकिंग व्यवस्था और महात्मा गांधी राष्ट्रीय ग्रामीण रोज़गार गारंटी योजना (मनरेगा 1)

2 फरवरी 2013 को राष्ट्रीय ग्रामीण रोज़गार गारंटी क़ानून को भारत में लागू हुए आठ सा...

SRI LANKA: The beheading of Rizana Nafeek is symbolic of the powerless citizenry – all Sri Lankans are in chains

Share| The 65th Anniversary of the independence of Sri Lanka occurs today and all that we are reminded of is the loss of the liberties of the people of the country. Perhaps the heroine to be remembere...

PAKISTAN: Government must ensure the safe recovery of four abducted human rights defenders

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) condemns the abduction of four human rights defenders in broad daylight by persons said to be from an outlawed religious organization. The unknown armed person...

SRI LANKA: Some Reflections on the Outdated Notion of Parliamentary Supremacy

During the recent controversies on the impeachment of the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, the view has been taken quite strongly by parliamentarians of both the government and the opposition that the orde...

AHRC-STM-031-2013

This statement was written based on the information given by daughter of the person concerned. The daughter sought our help by calling us several times. Now, the family has no interest in the matter, ...

WORLD: Seeking financial aid to save 22-year-old Mr. Wengadasalam Sudeshkar from execution in Qatar

An appeal: Earlier, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) informed the public in Sri Lanka and abroad about the possibility of yet another person being beheaded in the Middle East like the earlier ...

SRI LANKA: Savage years (1) – The nineteen seventies

In the seventies Sri Lanka’s descent into savagery took a qualitative plunge and since then things have become even worse. By way of explanation I should say that by ‘savage’ I do no...

SRI LANKA: The gang rape near Colombo, peoples’ sovereignty and the absence of protest

A 45 year-old woman was gang raped in the early hours of January 23 in Wijerama, Nugegoda (some reports give her age as 47). This gruesome incident only received a few lines in some of the newspapers ...

SRI LANKA: An appeal to the President to intervene so as to prevent another beheading – the case of Mr. Wengadasalam Sudeshkar who faces the death sentence in Qatar

We reproduce below the letter written to His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka, the Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa regarding the case of Mr. Wengadasalam Sudeshkar who faces the death sentence by beheadin...

INDIA: Promise of a republic yet to be realised

Before the world, along with Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said Al Said as chief guest, and presided over by the President of India, Honourable Pranab Mukherjee, India will celebrate its Republic Day tom...

THAILAND: Verdict in case of human rights defender is a serious threat to freedom of expression

On January 23, 2013, the Criminal Court in Bangkok read the verdict in Black Case No. O.2962/2554, in which Somyot Prueksakasemsuk was charged with two violations of Article 112 of the Criminal Code....

SRI LANKA: Wit and wisdom of our guru, Fr. Tissa Balasuriya

We are saddened by the death of our dear Fr. Tissa Balasuriya at the age of 89. We are equally happy to celebrate his successful, colourful and controversial life.  He was a brilliant intellectual fr...