AHRC News

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THAILAND: The struggle for rationality over barbarity

These are sad times for Thailand. Amid all the confusion and uncertainty at the national level, the violence in the south has gone from bad to worse with the killing of nine minivan passengers on Marc...

PAKISTAN: Torture victim is threatened by a federal minister

The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to draw your attention to the tragic case of Mr. Hazoor Bux Malik. As you should be aware, this case allegedly involves a vicious attack that resulted in the v...

INDIA: Nandigram, the latest outcome of a failing justice system

The central and state governments of India ruling 1.2 billion people in the world’s largest democracy boasts of economic and industrial growth, surpassing almost all nations except China. Ideall...

THAILAND: Brutal killings must be met with due diligence, not further violence

The Asian Human Rights Commission joins in the condemnation of the attack on a minivan in Yala, southern Thailand, which left nine people dead. As has been widely reported, the vehicle was stopped in ...

PAKISTAN: Military regime at war with lawyers protesting attack on the Chief Justice

The virtual removal of Chief Justice Iftekhar Mohammad Chowdary by President Musharraf and the subsequent curtailing of his freedom of movement by putting him under house arrest has resulted in an  u...

CAMBODIA: The Cambodian government should start honouring its obligations after its ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture

The Cambodian government is to be congratulated on its ratification of the Optional Protocol and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) on 19 January 2007.  In doing do, th...

BANGLADESH: One year later and still no justice for a tortured woman who continuously receives death threats

One year ago on March 12, a woman named Shahin Sultana Santa was beaten and tortured by police in Dhaka while she was waiting for her son outside the boy’s school near Road number 27 of the Dhanmondi...

INDONESIA: Talangsari: Effective intervention by Komnas HAM to obtain justice to the victims

You are aware that it has been 18 years this past February since over two hundred defenceless villagers were butchered allegedly by the Indonesian army in 1989. Since the atrocity human rights groups ...

THAILAND: Acting police chief must retract unwarranted verbal attack on human rights defender Angkhana Neelaphaijit

The acting police chief of Thailand on Monday, 12 March 2007 made a verbal attack on . The Manager online newspaper quoted Pol. Gen. Seripisuth Themiyavet as saying that Angkhana should be taught to &...

SRI LANKA: International criticism of failed criminal investigations and absence of witness protection highlights urgent need for a detailed rescue plan

Several international experts have, in the recent week, focused on a number of very crucial issues regarding the criminal justice system of Sri Lanka. They have commented on the need for the governmen...

PAKISTAN: Removal of the Chief Justice manifests the loss of judicial independence due to absolute executive control by the military regime

President Musharaff removed the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Chaudhry, on March 9, 2007 after summoning him to the President’s Camp Office in the military premises. The President thereaft...

THAILAND: AHRC fund for Somchai Neelaphaijit memorial marker

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has requested the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to permit the construction of a small marker at the site of the 12 March 2004 abduction of human rights l...

THAILAND: Request to permit construction of marker in recognition of Somchai Neelaphajit and other disappeared

You will be familiar with the case of Somchai Neelaphaijit, the human rights lawyer who was forcibly disappeared in Bangkok on the night of 12 March 2004 after he had publicly alleged that five of his...

SRI LANKA: National Police Commission should request from the IGP an action plan to deal with lawless elements within the policing system

The recent statement of the Inspector General of Police and his Deputy to the effect that policemen, soldiers and deserters are among those who have been investigated with regard to the allegations of...

PHILIPPINES: Enactment of terror law emboldens commission of violations

On March 6, the Human Security Act of 2007, which defines acts of terrorism, was signed into law (the law is available on the internet at http://philippines.ahrchk.net/pdf/HumanSecurityActof2007.pdf)...

THAILAND: Denial of reality won’t restore human rights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 7, 2007 AHRC-OL-009-2007 An Open Letter to the Editor of The Nation by the Asian Human Rights Commission The Editor The Nation 44 Moo 10 Bang Na-Trat KM 4.5 Bang Na, Bangko...

SRI LANKA: Admission of the involvement of law enforcement officers in abduction and killing of civilians is a bold move, but what really matters is how is it going to be dealt with?

The admission by the Chief of Police in Sri Lanka that the police, army and the army deserters are responsible for abductions and killings of civilians is a bold move. However, for the Asian Human Rig...

THAILAND: Special committee can begin prosecutions with 6 army officers

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is pleased to hear that the interim prime minister of Thailand, General Surayud Chulanont, on 23 February 2007 ordered the setting up of a “special commi...

PAKISTAN: Women fighting for their rights and groups fighting for electoral reforms express frustration over government’s failure to implement laws

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  AS-040-2007 March 2, 2007 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission PAKISTAN: Women fighting for their rights and groups fighting for electoral reforms express frustrati...

THAILAND: For lack of a solution, no solution is also a solution

According to the Bangkok Post of March 2, the interim prime minister of Thailand, General Surayud Chulanont, has ordered that more police officers be sent to the south in response to persistent and gr...