FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 24, 2010 ALRC-CWS-13-07-2010 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Thirteenth session, Agenda Item 3, Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status INDIA: Threats to human rights defenders undermine democracy Mr. Jiten Yumnam is a human rights defender (HRD) and environmental activist working in the Indian state of Manipur. On 14 September 2009, the police arrested Jiten along with seven others in Manipur, in connection with First Information Report 178 (9)/2009 registered at Imphal West Police Station. After arrest the police tortured Jiten by applying electric […]
Category: Countries
BANGLADESH: Council urged to ensure Bangladesh passes pending Bill criminalizing torture
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 19, 2010 ALRC-CWS-13-02-2010 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Thirteenth session, Agenda Item 3, Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Torture A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status BANGLADESH: Council urged to ensure Bangladesh passes pending Bill criminalizing torture The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) has on several occasions submitted written and oral information to the Human Rights Council concerning a broad range of human rights violations taking place in Bangladesh. The country recently underwent a nearly two-year state of emergency under which gross and widespread human rights abuses were perpetrated, including the suspension […]
BURMA: Regional group urges U.N. experts on torture case
Phyo Wai Aung’s relatives and lawyer have been obstructed from attending the trial, and he has reportedly been repeatedly abused in custody. He has also said that he was savagely tortured for nine days during interrogation, to have him confess to involvement in a bombing last April. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE ALRC-PRL-001-2011 A Press Release by the Asian Legal Resource Centre BURMA: Regional group urges U.N. experts on torture case (Hong Kong, January 5, 2010) The Asian Legal Resource Centre has urged a group of United Nations human rights specialists “to operate to their fullest possible capacity” in the interests of a young man being tried in Burma’s central […]
CAMBODIA: Functioning judiciary required for rights to become a reality
Date: October 1, 2009 Document id: ALRC-COS-12-11-2009 Speaker: Michael Anthony HRC section: Item 10, Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Cambodia An Oral Statement to the 12th Session of the UN Human Rights Council from the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status CAMBODIA: Functioning judiciary required for rights to become a reality Thank you Mr. President, The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) welcomes the initial report of the Special Rapporteur on Cambodia, in particular the highlighted areas of priority for future work, namely: the freedom of expression, the independence of the judiciary, land and housing rights, impunity and prison reform. The ALRC wishes […]
BURMA and SRI LANKA: Council required to take effective action to address human rights crises
Date: September 22, 2009 Document id: ALRC-COS-12-09-2009 Speaker: Michael Anthony HRC section: Item 4, General Debate An Oral Statement to the 12th Session of the UN Human Rights Council from the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organization in general consultative status BURMA and SRI LANKA: Council required to take effective action to address human rights crises Thank you Mr. President, The Council is currently failing to effectively address human rights crises, for example those in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. This is not simply a failing of political will, but also one of approach. In Sri Lanka, the continuing grave situation of IDPs is testimony to this. Furthermore, the […]
PHILIPPINES: Authorities failing to investigate house demolitions, torture, disappearances and killing of civilians resulting from the conflict in Mindanao
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 4, 2009 ALRC-CWS-12-06-2009 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twelfth session � Item 4 A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status PHILIPPINES: Authorities failing to investigate house demolitions, torture, disappearances and killing of civilians resulting from the conflict in Mindanao The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) is concerned by the fact that the government of the Philippines is failing to protect civilians from grave and widespread abuses of human rights in conflict-affected parts of the country�s southern Mindanao island. In particular, the police and law enforcement agencies� failure to conduct investigations into a litany of abuses ascribed to […]
THAILAND: “Unsubstantiated” police abuses, impunity and human rights charades
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 3, 2009 ALRC-CWS-12-05-2009 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twelfth session � Item 4 A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status THAILAND: “Unsubstantiated” police abuses, impunity and human rights charades 1. Following the 11th session of the Human Rights Council the Government of Thailand objected to the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) over it having characterized the Royal Thai Police as the top violator of human rights in that country. The government representative described remarks that the police in Thailand enjoy impunity for rights abuses as “unsubstantiated”. 2. The ALRC categorically rejects the complaint of the government that […]
PAKISTAN: Police threaten indiscriminate revenge killings in Balochistan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 2, 2009 ALRC-CWS-12-04-2009 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twelfth session � Item 4 A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status PAKISTAN: Police threaten indiscriminate revenge killings in Balochistan The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to bring to the attention of the Human Rights Council the situation of human rights in Balochistan, Pakistan�s south-western province, which is deteriorating day by day due to the heavy-handed policies being adopted by the government towards nationalist groups. In response to the recent increase in violence committed by nationalist militants, a high-ranking police official threatened in a press conference on August […]
BURMA: Institutionalized denial of fundamental rights and the 2008 Constitution of Myanmar
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 1, 2009 ALRC-CWS-12-03-2009 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twelfth session � Item 4 A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status BURMA: Institutionalized denial of fundamental rights and the 2008 Constitution of Myanmar 1. The case decided against democracy party leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and co-accused this August 2009 brought to global attention the institutionalizing of fundamental human rights abuse through what the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) has characterized as Myanmar�s �injustice system�. Although global outrage was expressed at the politically contrived manner in which the proceedings reached their inevitable conclusion, the trial was in […]
CAMBODIA: Legal foundation and framework for the country’s judiciary required
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 31, 2009 ALRC-CWS-12-02-2009 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Twelfth session, Agenda Item 10, Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status CAMBODIA: Legal foundation and framework for the country’s judiciary required The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to bring to the attention of the Human Rights Council a major lacuna that constitutes one of the most fundamental obstacles to the enjoyment, protection and promotion of human rights in Cambodia. The lack of the required laws on the statute of judges and prosecutors as well as the […]