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Urgent Appeals

Extended Introduction: Urgent Appeals, theory and practice

A need for dialogue

Many people across Asia are frustrated by the widespread lack of respect for human rights in their countries. Some may be unhappy about the limitations on the freedom of expression or restrictions on privacy, while some are affected by police brutality and military killings. Many others are frustrated with the absence of rights on labour issues, the environment, gender and the like. Yet the expression of this frustration tends to stay firmly in the private sphere. People complain among friends and family and within their social circles, but often on a low profile basis. This kind of public discourse is not usually an effective measure of the situation in a country because it is so hard to monitor. Though the media may cover the issues in a broad manner they rarely broadcast the private fears and anxieties of the average person. And along with censorship – a common blight in Asia – there is also often a conscious attempt in the media to reflect a positive or at least sober mood at home, where expressions of domestic malcontent are discouraged as unfashionably unpatriotic. Talking about issues like torture is rarely encouraged in the public realm. There may also be unwritten, possibly unconscious social taboos that stop the public reflection of private grievances. Where authoritarian control is tight, sophisticated strategies are put into play by equally sophisticated media practices to keep complaints out of the public space, sometimes very subtly. In other places an inner consensus is influenced by the privileged section of a society, which can control social expression of those less fortunate. Moral and ethical qualms can also be an obstacle. In this way, causes for complaint go unaddressed, un-discussed and unresolved and oppression in its many forms, self perpetuates. For any action to arise out of private frustration, people need ways to get these issues into the public sphere.
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UPDATE (India): Government lawyer threatens witnesses to protect accused police officers

Urgent Appeal Update | India | | March 30, 2005

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is gravely concerned to hear that even though Partha Majumder disappeared on 5 September 1997 and his family has been fighting a battle to ensure...

INDIA: Three and a half year wait for justice for the brutal murder of an Adivasi (tribal person) by a forest official in Gujarat.

Urgent Appeal Case | India | | March 29, 2005

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from a reliable source regarding the murder of an adivasi by an Indian Forest Department staff member on 20 September 20...

PAKISTAN: A groom killed his bride together with his brothers on the pretext of honor killings

Urgent Appeal Case | Pakistan | | March 29, 2005

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is gravely concerned by yet another honor killing case from Shikarpur District, Sindh Province, Pakistan. According to the information received, ...

(UPDATE) SAUDI ARABIA/SRI LANKA: Death sentence for three migrant workers requires urgent intervention

Urgent Appeal Update | Sri Lanka | | March 29, 2005

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the incredibly urgent situation of three Sri Lankan migrant workers in Saudi Arabia currently facing d...

UPDATE (Sri Lanka): Delays in prosecution under the CAT Act questioned by the Supreme Court

Urgent Appeal Update | Sri Lanka | | March 28, 2005

[RE: UA-39-2003: Torture of 17-year-old boy; UP-31-2003: Update on torture of 17-year-old boy, Chamila Bandara, by Ankumbura police; UP-38-2003: The security of the torture victim and his mother is se...

UPDATE (Indonesia): Unveiling of suspect in Munir’s death may end further inquiries

Urgent Appeal Update | Indonesia | | March 23, 2005

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the arrest of Garuda pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, in relation to the death of human rights activist Mu...

UPDATE (Thailand): Media reform campaigner Supinya holds fund-raising event to fight criminal libel case

Urgent Appeal Update | Thailand | | March 23, 2005

(UA-73-2004: THAILAND: Human rights defender faces preliminary decision in libel case on 21 June 2004 and UP-31 2004: THAILAND: Criminal Court decides to let libel suit against Ms Supinya Klangnarong ...

UPDATE (Sri Lanka): Please write a letter to the Attorney General to speed up Gerald Perera’s murder trial

Urgent Appeal Update | Sri Lanka | | March 23, 2005

[RE: UP-23-2005: Gerald Perera’s murder trial may not begin for another 5-7 years, UP-14-2005: The assassin of Gerald Perera has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department, UP-76-200...

PHILIPPINES: Massacre of a civilian family by military caused intense fighting and massive displacement in Maimbong, Sulu

Urgent Appeal Case | Philippines | | March 21, 2005

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Suara Bangsamoro, Moro Christian Peoples Alliance (MCPA) and the Concerned Citizens of Sulu (CCS) regarding the mas...

SAUDI ARABIA/ SRI LANKA: Death sentence to migrant worker requires urgent intervention by the Sri Lankan government

Urgent Appeal Case | Saudi Arabia | | March 21, 2005

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to inform you of an incredibly urgent situation regarding regarding migrant worker, Mr. Edirisinghe Jayasooriyage Victor Corea, a Sri Lank...

UPDATE (Philippines): Two more leaders from the Bayan Muna party were killed in Baguio and Tacloban City

Urgent Appeal Update | Philippines | | March 20, 2005

[RE: UA-34-2005: Killing of a labor rights activist for the Hacienda Luisita farm workers in Tarlac City, UP-26-2005: Priest supporting for the Hacienda Luisita farm workers in La Paz, Tarlac killed a...

UPDATE (Philippines): Attempt on the life of a human rights lawyer working for the Hacienda Luisita farm workers

Urgent Appeal Case | Philippines | | March 17, 2005

Killing of a labor rights activist for the Hacienda Luisita farm workers in Tarlac City, UP-26-2005: Priest supporting for the Hacienda Luisita farm workers in La Paz, Tarlac killed and two others wou...

UPDATE (India): Police pressure torture victim’s family to withdraw complaint

Urgent Appeal Update | India | | March 16, 2005

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is gravely concerned to hear that Ms Pranati Dhara, the youngest sister of Soumyendu Mondal, who died in the Kharagpur police lock-up on 6-7 July...

SRI LANKA: False implication of innocent man sees culprits walk free

Urgent Appeal Case | Sri Lanka | | March 15, 2005

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward you information regarding the fabrication of charges against a man by the Wadduwa Police. Mr U. Jayasiri Abeyratne and Mr Suseu...

INDIA: A detainee dies under mysterious circumstances in Alipurdura Jail in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal

Urgent Appeal Case | India | | March 15, 2005

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from MASUM, a human rights organisation in West Bengal, about the death of an under trial prisoner (UTP)  at Alipurdua...

SRI LANKA: Two young men severely tortured and falsely charged by the Panadura North police

Urgent Appeal Case | Sri Lanka | | March 14, 2005

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that two young men were severely tortured by the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Panadura North Police Station and falsel...

INDIA: Absolute negligence of police following the killing of a Dalit by Brahman men in Chauri Chaura, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh

Urgent Appeal Case | India | | March 14, 2005

Dear friends, It has come to the attention of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) that a young man was killed and four other persons were wounded by four Brahmins on 16 August 2004 in Chauri Chau...

NEPAL: Teacher assaulted a young boy and then school shuns responsibility

Urgent Appeal Case | Nepal | | March 13, 2005

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you of the assault of a young boy in Nepal by his school teacher, who then, along with his colleagues, threatened the boy, his s...

UPDATE (Philippines): Priest supporting for the Hacienda Luisita farm workers in La Paz, Tarlac killed and two others wounded

Urgent Appeal Update | Philippines | | March 13, 2005

Dear friends, Further to our previous appeal (UA-34-2005) regarding the killings of human rights defenders and workers in Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac, Philippines, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC...

SRI LANKA: A torture victim is under imminent threats to his life due to the plotting of ASP Ranmal Kodithuwaaku

Urgent Appeal Case | Sri Lanka | | March 10, 2005

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is deeply concerned by the continuous attempts on the life of and fabrication of charges against torture victim, Mr. Nimal Silva Gunaratne plotte...

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