AHRC News

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SRI LANKA: Authoritarian appointment of Commissioners must be rejected

Under the Constitution of Sri Lanka, the executive president has not been given the power to select members of any of the commissions established or supervised by the 17th Amendment. The power of sele...

THAILAND: Historic constitutional debate will determine future of democracy in Thailand

Something very big is happening in Thailand. In recent weeks, people there have been in the grip of a constitutional debate that will have a lasting impact on their society. In fact it is a moment tha...

SRI LANKA: Open letter to the Attorney General — the case of Lalitha Rajapakse

AHRC-OL-013-2006 May 15, 2006      Open letter to the Attorney General The Hon. Mr. K. C. Kamalasabesan Attorney General Attorney General’s Department Colombo 12 Sri Lanka Fax: +94 11 2 436 ...

BURMA: The 1974 Constitution and challenge for Burma’s courts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 12, 2006 AS-107-2006 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission BURMA: The 1974 Constitution and challenge for Burma’s courts U Tin Nyein is among the latest vict...

CAMBODIA: Prime minister’s outburst invites questions about Cambodian judiciary

In his latest outburst, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on May 11 assailed criticism of government choices for 17 judges to sit on the international tribunal for former Khmer Rouge leaders. Some of t...

SRI LANKA: Human Rights Council a new forum to discuss Sri Lanka’s human rights record

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 11, 2006 AS-105-2006 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) SRI LANKA: Human Rights Council a new forum to discuss Sri Lanka’s human rights record An a...

THAILAND: DSI director must be sacked and investigated

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 11, 2006 AS-104-2006 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission THAILAND: DSI director must be sacked and investigated In a May 9 letter to the permanent secretary of t...

UNITED NATIONS: People’s engagement with Human Rights Council must now begin

The new Human Rights Council was elected on May 9, 2006. According to the General Assembly Resolution of April 3, 2006,  When electing members of the Council, Member States shall take into account th...

SRI LANKA: Presidential immunity an expression of legalised tyranny guaranteed by 1978 Constitution

The electoral victory of Sri Lanka’s United National Party (UNP) in 1977 created what is now commonly known as ‘elective dictatorship’. This dictatorship was made permanent through t...

INDIA: Snail pace progress at the National Human Rights Commission ?the Commission must accept responsibility

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 10, 2006 AS-101-2006 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission INDIA: Snail pace progress at the National Human Rights Commission the Commission must accept responsibi...

THAILAND: Who should be boss of the Department of Special Investigation?

Why is a police officer the director-general of Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation? The DSI was established under the Ministry of Justice so that it would not be subject to direct co...

INDONESIA: Pledge must be followed by action as Indonesia bids for Human Rights Council membership

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) notes that the Government of Indonesia is bidding for membership within the United Nations Human Rights Council. Elections are to be held on May 9, 2006. Indon...

SRI LANKA: Chief Justice cursing the corrupt without taking legal action indicates justice system failure

A statement made by Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice, Sarath N. Silva at a recent public meeting is causing many comments, both public and private, on the state of the judiciary and rule of law in the ...

INDIA: UN Human Rights Council candidacy – promises contradict performance

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is monitoring India’s candidacy to the United Nations Human Rights Council with interest. India, along with the other 17 candidates from Asia that are vy...

THAILAND: Four things that Thailand must do if it wants to join the Human Rights Council

On April 24, the government of Thailand submitted the country’s candidacy for the new UN Human Rights Council. The election of the council’s first members is planned for May 9. The electio...

NEPAL: Momentum is key in ensuring positive change toward peace, development and human rights in Nepal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 4, 2006 AS-096-2006 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission NEPAL: Momentum is key in ensuring positive change toward peace, development and human rights in Nepal Th...

INDIA: Anyone drafting a new Indian Police Act must consider people’s perceptions of the police in India today

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) welcomes the move by the Indian government to draft a new Police Act, thus replacing the old act of 1861. The committee constituted for this purpose in Septemb...

INDONESIA: Flawed state institutions unable to uncover Munir’s killers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 2006 AS-092-2006 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) INDONESIA: Flawed state institutions unable to uncover Munir’s killers Close to two years af...

SRI LANKA: Open letter to the Minister of Constitutional Affairs and the Ministry of Law Reforms on proposed Bill of Rights

AHRC-OL-012-2006 May 3, 2006 Open letter to the Minister of Constitutional Affairs and the Chairperson of the Law Reform Commission Dear Sir & Madam, Re: Proposed bill of rights The Asian Human Ri...

CAMBODIA: Brutality and impunity of the Cambodian security forces must be stopped through criminal prosecutions

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that over recent months, members of various Cambodian security forces have in separate incidents shot and injured young women in Phnom Penh, shot d...