AHRC News

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PAKISTAN: The proposed ‘Fair Trial Bill’ may create conditions for a police state without martial law

The ‘Fair Trial Bill’ which, according to the news report, the government plans to place before parliament will, if passed, virtually make the fair trial impossible in Pakistan. The provis...

INDIA: Peeling a dead fish

The villagers’ protest against the absence of reasonable settlement for the land and livelihood lost to the Omkareshwar and the Indira Sagar Dams in the Narmada Valley project has thus far falle...

ASIA: Three great protests – In Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and the Omkareshwar Dam in India

When people are hurt by the actions of authorities, they protest. When the hurt is deep and widespread it could give rise to collective modes of protest. Three such protest movements are now taking pl...

INDIA: Abandoned to fate

After 13 days of protest, standing in neck-deep water in the catchment area of the Omkareshwar Dam, the protesters have found that neither the Madhya Pradesh state government nor the Government of Ind...

INDIA: Rights are a mandate, not a concession

The ongoing protest by village communities acting against the increase of water level in the Omkareshwar Dam is unique in several aspects. The protest, which has completed 11 days today, is directed a...

SRI LANKA: Enforced disappearances embedded into the political culture make Sri Lanka an unjust republic (Part One)

Forced disappearances have left quite an impression on the psyche of the Sri Lankan people living in all parts of the country. Since 1971, there has been continuous use of enforced disappearances as a...

PAKISTAN: Serious concerns about the ongoing enforced disappearances and lack of action by the government

On the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, it is very disappointing that no serious effort has been taken to resolve the issue of enforced disappearances in Pakistan which are...

INDIA: Oil exploration: boon or bane for Manipur

For long, Manipur has been known as a ‘golden land.’ True indeed, as oil is today’s gold and deposits have been confirmed in several parts of the region. One might presume oil and natural gas di...

PAKISTAN: No justice for Rimsha – judge disrespects the orders of President Zadari

In the capital of Pakistan where there are many government and non-governmental institutions working for the protection of child rights, special children rights, human rights and the rights of women, ...

BANGLADESH: A black hole for disappeared victims

The people of Bangladesh are scared. Incidents of abduction by plain-clothed people, who often claim to be law-enforcing agents of the country, are ongoing, without any indication of being on the want...

ASIA: The need to criminalise enforced disappearances

Photos depict the Monument for the Disappeared at Raddoluwa Junction, Seeduwa Today, August 30th, is the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. The International Convention for t...

SRI LANKA: A brave pledge to protect state education

The Federation of the University Teacher’s Association (FUTA) deserves to be congratulated for organising a historic convention on August 17, 2012 on the current status and future direction of s...

PAKISTAN: Barbarity in the name of religion is at its height

Pakistan is known in the international community and declared in the country’s Constitution as an Islamic nation where Islam is glorified as the superb religion and its followers are pious Musli...

SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: To protect the life of Rizana Nafeek is an obligation of the sovereign state of Sri Lanka

The Asian Human Rights Commission’s reply to a letter from the Secretary to the Honourable President of Sri Lanka For the full dossier on Rizana Nafeek’s case please see here. We reproduc...

INDIA: घरेलू हिंसा से अशांत होता समाज

रोली शिवहरे भारत में महिलाओं के विरुद्ध घरेलू हिंसा में निरंतर वृद्धि हो रह...

INDIA: Exodus of confidence

Over the past week, thousands of people hurriedly returned to their homes in the northeastern states, fearing for their safety in the rest of the country. The numbers of those fleeing was so high that...

INDIA: Challenging fundamentals

The Chief Minister of West Bengal is once again in the news. This time the minister is critiqued for her comments on judicial corruption. However, if truth is the best defence, and if such a defence i...

SRI LANKA: India’s Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, 2012 is worthy of emulation

Safeguarding judicial independence from attacks by the government came to light due to the threats alleged to have been made by Minister of Industries and commerce, Rishard Badurdeen and the attacks o...

PAKISTAN: Once again, men in military uniforms kill Shia Muslims

Men in uniforms of the armed forces went on a rampage of sectarian violence attacking and killing Shia Muslims who make up the second largest Muslim sect after the Sunnis. According to the reports fro...

NEPAL: Attorney General stresses the need to reform police investigation process

On 8 August, the Nepali newspaper The Himalayan Times reported from Myagdi district that the incumbent Attorney General of Nepal, Mukti Pradhan had denounced the current police investigation process...