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SRI LANKA: President’s onslaught on the supremacy of the Parliament

Although there are not so many supporters anymore for the President’s appointments to the courts and several commissions, in contravention of the Constitution, there are still a few apologists. ...

PHILIPPINES: The importance of new laws in implementing human rights standards

The Philippines’ legislative branch has taken important steps towards implementing human rights standards in the country. On June 6, the law imposing capital punishment for heinous crimes–...

SRI LANKA: If the present generation destroys Sri Lanka’s legal foundations, what is left for the future

AHRC-OL-017-2006 June 9, 2006 Open letter to the President of Sri Lanka Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse President  Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka C/- Office of the President Temple Trees 150, Galle...

INDONESIA: Threats to victims and human rights defenders by civilian paramilitary groups 

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the disbanding of a peaceful gathering held by victims of the 1965 massacre, in Bandung, Indonesia on 20 May 2...

THAILAND: Alleged forced disappearance of man in Narathiwat 

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information about the alleged forced disappearance of a man in Narathiwat Province, southern Thailand. On May 29, Wae-halem Guwaegam...

SRI LANKA: Implications of Court of Appeal judgment on 17th Amendment of the Constitution

The judgment of the Court of Appeal on the application of two citizens regarding the recent appointments to the Police and Public Service Commissions by the President of Sri Lanka [CA Application 66/2...

WORLD: US administration’s attacks on judiciary threaten human rights and the rule of law globally

As the government and combined military forces of the United States were cranking up and talking up the global “war on terror” in 2003, the Asian Human Rights Commission warned that delibe...

UPDATE (Indonesia): Torture victims in Central Sulawesi sentenced to nine years imprisonment 

Dear friends, It has come to the attention of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) that of the 10 farmers arrested and tortured in October 2005 by police officers in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, e...

SRI LANKA: Torture of a boy by the Thelikada Police

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the arbitrary arrest, detention and torture of a boy by police personnel from the Thelikada Police Station. Ag...

SRI LANKA: Intimidation and threat of fabrication of murder charges against two human rights defenders 

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you of a disturbing incident that took place at the Wennipuewa police station on 6 June 2006, when two human rights defenders ac...

INDIA: Border Security Forces torture then kill a 17-year-old boy 

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information detailing the killing of a 17-year-old boy by Border Security Forces (BSF) operating along the Indo-Bangladesh border. T...

SRI LANKA: FMM condemns President’s appointments to independent commissions

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following statement by the Free Media Movement (FMM) of Sri Lanka on the President’s appointments to independe...

PAKISTAN: An estimated two hundred thousand fisher-folk risk losing their livelihoods to transnational bidders in ongoing fishing rights auction

Fifty-nine years since independence, the people of Pakistan are yet to experience true democracy and the rule of law. The Provincial Governors of Pakistan and their governments exploit the opportunity...

PHILIPPINES: Sense of urgency sorely needed in rights abuse investigations

On June 5, the regional office of the Commission on Human Rights in General Santos City, southern Philippines, formally informed torture victim Jejhon Macalinsal and two companions that it would take ...

INDIA: Police officer assaults mother and son and then attempts to lodge a false case 

Dear Friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received the following information regarding the brutal assault upon a mother and her son while they were traveling by  motorbike. On 15 May...

SRI LANKA: Harassment by the Homagama police 

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has come to learn of a case involving the Homagama police. After stopping a citizen and finding a knife in his possession, Police Sergeant (PS) S...

SRI LANKA: Honouring Suranjith Hewamanna, a model courageous lawyer

The Asian Human Rights Commission expresses deep sadness on the occasion of the passing away of Suranjith Hewamanna in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Hewamanna was one of the bravest lawyers in the country durin...

SRI LANKA: Challenge to presidential immunity should be pursued before UN Human Rights Committee and other bodies

In a recent decision, Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal refused interim relief in a case challenging recent appointments made by President Rajapakse contravening the Constitution. The court also refut...

THAILAND: Steps to acknowledging forced disappearances

On Monday, June 5, Angkhana Neelaphaijit together with a number of Thailand-based groups submitted in person an open letter to the recently-formed Independent Commission on Justice and Civil Liberties...

UPDATE (Burma): Release from prison for Su Su Nwe 

[RE: UA-112-2004: BURMA: Complaints against forced labour blocked and victims punished issued on 3 September 2004; UP-11-2005: BURMA: Four officials sentenced to prison for forced labour in Kawmhu Tow...