AFAD 5th Congress Statement

The fifth Congress of Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), held in Manila from 22-25 September and attended by participants from ten countries – Bangladesh, Indonesia, Jammu and Kashmir in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Thailand and Timor-Leste renewed its commitment to fight against impunity and build a world without disappearances.

AFAD is strengthened by the solidarity messages of Mr. Ariel Dulitzky, Chair of the (UNWGEID) and Mr. Emmanuel Decaux, Chair of the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearance (UNCED) and friends from various regional and international organizations who recognized the significant contribution of AFAD in the fight against enforced disappearances in various ways.

Conference Statement: Sharing Best Practices in Advocating for Legislation Against Enforced Disappearances (Updated)

Conference Statement

September 17-20, 2014, Manila, Philippines - We, the participants in the conference on “Sharing Best Practices in Advocating for Legislation Against Enforced Disappearances” coming from organizations from Argentina, Bangladesh, Belarus, Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste and the United States of America are convened in Manila, Philippines, the first and only Asian country that has enacted a law against enforced disappearances, but has not yet signed and ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

AFAD demands immediate arrest of the accused involved in the killing of Krishna Prasad Adhikary and take responsibility of forcing Nanda Prasad to death and protect the life of Gangamaya.

Asian Federation Against Enforced Disappearances (AFAD), gathered in Manila for the fifth congress is deeply shocked to hear that the government of Nepal forced Nanda Prasad Adhikary to die for continuously denying justice for the abduction and brutal killing of his beloved son Krishna Prasad Adhikary. AFAD is also seriously concerned about the critical state of Gangamaya Adhikary’s health and requests the Government of Nepal to take all the measures including the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the killing of her son. The couple was on hunger strike for more than 333 days for demanding credible investigation and prosecution of those involved in the killing of their son. Even after making repeated promises, the Government did not conduct credible investigation that could lead to the prosecution of those involved. The Government protected the perpetrators and condoned the attack on human rights activists who raised their voices for justice for the Adhikary couple.

Address 10 Years of Injustice for the Murder of Munir! Make Public the Result of the Fact Finding Team (TPF) and Re-open His Case!

Ten years ago today, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearance (AFAD) lost its former Chairperson, Munir Said Thalib who died of arsenic poisoning while on board a Garuda Airways flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Two civilians were convicted – Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, a Garuda pilot and part-time intelligence agent who served the poisoned orange juice to Munir and Indra Setiawan, the former CEO of Garuda Airlines who ordered off duty pilot Pollycarpus to board the plane and execute the plan to murder Munir. Rohainil Aini, deputy of Indra Setiawan was later on acquitted.

However, AFAD believes the real masterminds of Munir’s untimely death remain scot free.