AHRC News

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SRI LANKA: JSC resignations present a window of opportunity for much needed corrective action

A serious controversy has resulted after two senior judges resigned from their positions in the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), as they found that remaining in office would compromise their conscie...

SRI LANKA: Two senior judges quit the Judicial Service Commission as a matter of conscience

The Asian Human Rights Commission has today learnt that two of the three members of the Judicial Service Commission of Sri Lanka have resigned their posts as continuing to hold them would be incompati...

Nepal: over 600 persons arrested on the first anniversary of the royal coup

On the occasion of the first anniversary of King Gyanendra’s royal coup, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed of the arrests of 600 persons engaged in peaceful demonstrations th...

NEPAL: human rights in a black hole one year after the royal coup

On the first anniversary of the infamous royal coup in Nepal, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) notes with concern that the King continues to sacrifice the rights of the people of Nepal while c...

BURMA: Supreme Court of Burma has an historic opportunity to take a stand for criminal justice

This February 1, 2006, the case of Ma Su Su Nwe will come before the Supreme Court of Burma. The court will be asked to decide whether or not to admit an appeal against Su Su Nwe’s imprisonment ...

INDIA: Lower judiciary of West Bengal run by police constables

Serious irregularities in judicial proceedings at the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Barrackpore, West Bengal speak to how India’s lower judiciary is being run by police. Accordin...

THAILAND: Somchai case reveals flaws in Thai constitution

The Criminal Court in Bangkok on January 12 found that missing Thai human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit had been abducted and that a police officer was among a group of persons, all suspected to ...

SRI LANKA: Presidential immunity does not extend to violations of the Constitution

A strange notion prevails in Sri Lankan legal circles that presidential immunity extends even to constitutional violations. This is despite the fact that one of the grounds for the impeachment of a pr...

CAMBODIA: Withdrawal of libel suits should be followed by removal of criminal defamation law

The promise made by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to withdraw criminal defamation lawsuits against five human rights activists is welcomed by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). The five acti...

NEPAL: over 200 persons arrested, including allegations of beatings and arbitrary detention orders, in the continuing crisis in the country

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received further allegations of human rights violations in relation to the repression of demonstrations in Nepal’s deepening political, security and human...

NEPAL: the imposition of a day-time curfew and further arrests in the deepening crisis in Nepal

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is releasing a follow-up statement to complement the information that it provided in a statement yesterday concerning the arrests of over 100 political leaders...

NEPAL: Human rights defenders targeted – over a hundred persons arrested in a serious escalation of repression in Nepal

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed of the arrest of over 100 political leaders and human rights activists earlier today, January 19, 2006, in a serious development in the deter...

PHILIPPINES: Claim of Philippine government to improved law enforcement far from reality

In its 2005 Accomplishment Report released on its official website, the government of the Philippines claims to have worked “to improve the operational effectiveness of law enforcement agencies&...

NEPAL: the illegitimate government steps up its repression by enforcing curfews and a total, indefinite ban on demonstrations

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) condemns the additional and disproportionate restrictions imposed upon the people in Nepal by the newly enforced curfew and the total ban on peaceful demonstra...

SRI LANKA: Institutional reform: An alternative approach to the resolution of Sri Lanka’s continuing anarchy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 13, 2006 AP-001-2006 A Paper by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) SRI LANKA: Institutional reform: An alternative approach to the resolution of Sri Lanka’s c...

THAILAND: Challenges to justice in Thailand posed by abduction of Somchai Neelaphaijit will not disappear

This afternoon the Criminal Court in Bangkok will give its verdict on the guilt or innocence of five police charged in connection with the abduction and disappearance of human rights lawyer Somchai Ne...

SRI LANKA: 20 forced disappearances reported in December 2005

The BBC Sinhala Service revealed today a report by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) stating that enquiries are ongoing regarding 20 complaints of forced disappearances that are alleged...

PHILIPPINES: A functioning and effective policing and judicial system is required if extra-judicial killings are to be properly prosecuted and prevented

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is in receipt of your letter dated 13 December 2005 detailing the Philippine government’s response to our concern about the unabated incidents of extra-judici...

SRI LANKA: Defence Ministry advisor must express loyalty to Sri Lankan Constitution or resign

H M G V Kotakadeniya, an advisor to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defense on police matters, is today reported as having said that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) will now be able to appoint and tr...

SRI LANKA: Six years after Chemmani exhumation: Inquiry commission needed to review attorney general’s department

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 5, 2005 AS-002-2006 A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) SRI LANKA: Six years after Chemmani exhumation: Inquiry commission needed to review attorney g...