FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 17, 2010 ALRC-CWS-13-01-2010 Language(s): English only HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Thirteenth session, Agenda Item 3, Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status ASIA: Council urged to do more to prevent arbitrary detention, the gateway to other grave abuses The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) and its sister organisation, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), have documented numerous arbitrary detentions throughout the Asian region in the year preceding the 13th session of the Human Rights Council. Cases, notably from Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri […]
Category: Written Submissions
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 […]
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 […]
INDIA: Child soldiers being used as expendable pawns in armed conflicts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 7, 2007 AL-024-2007 A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre to the 6th session of the UN Human Rights Council INDIA: Child soldiers being used as expendable pawns in armed conflicts In April 2007 the Chhattisgarh State Police ambushed a 12-member strong brigade of armed Naxalites (a group similar to the Maoists in Nepal) operating near Dhanora village. In the operation, the police arrested two girls, respectively aged 14 and 15 years old, who were wearing school uniforms and were armed with old 303 bore rifles. When questioned, the girls confessed that they had been picked up from school by the Naxalites, and […]
BANGLADESH: Bangladesh’s State of Emergency is unjustifiable and ensuring abuses of human rights
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 6, 2007 AL-023-2007 A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre to the 6th session of the UN Human Rights Council BANGLADESH: Bangladesh’s State of Emergency is unjustifiable and ensuring abuses of human rights On January 11, 2007 the President of Bangladesh proclaimed a State of Emergency following an upsurge in violence between rival political groups. Unfortunately, the State of Emergency has been prolonged for more than seven months even though this violence has subsided. The State of Emergency has been accompanied by the Emergency Powers Ordinance-2007, which has supplemented the Emergency Powers Rules-2007. Provisions contained within these laws run contrary to a range […]
BURMA: International community is failing the people of Myanmar again
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 5, 2007 AL-022-2007 A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre to the 6th session of the UN Human Rights Council BURMA: International community is failing the people of Myanmar again 1. On 15 August 2007, the Government of Myanmar increased the cost of all vehicle and generator fuels, over which it holds a monopoly, without prior announcement. As has been widely reported internationally, the diesel fuel prices doubled; compressed natural gas prices, used for some vehicles and cookers, increased five-fold. The increased prices had a quick knock-on effect to other basic services and commodities: buses increased fares in line with the new rates […]