Pursue the Struggle for Justice in Honor of the Memories of the Disappeared!

“We join with the families and friends of victims of the disappeared of Sri Lanka in honoring the memories of their loved ones as they gather today to commemorate the National Day of the Disappeared”, Mary Aileen Bacalso, Secretary General of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), said in a statement. 

The memorial is an important and sacred site for the families to meet annually, share their stories of perseverance and little victories in the search for truth and justice despite very difficult circumstances under a repressive government. It is where they can collectively honor the memories of their disappeared loved ones. It is also a manifestation of the Sri Lankan government’s dark human rights record both of the past and of the present. 

We Urge President Jokowi to Appoint Cabinet Officials with Clean Human Rights Records

The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), calls on newly-elected Indonesian President Jokowi Widodo to appoint Cabinet officials with clean human rights record in keeping with his election promise of addressing the justice claims of victims of human rights violations in the past. 

AFAD is aware of the various interest groups that are now lobbying President Jokowi for key posts in his Cabinet. Based on the experiences of AFAD member-organizations from other Asia countries, addressing impunity for human rights violations proved difficult when representatives of groups responsible for human rights violations in the past are appointed to key positions in government because they block whatever measures undertaken to investigate and prosecute those from among their ranks.

20 years of struggle: Odhikar continues to fight for human rights

Today, 10 October 2014, is the 20^th anniversary of Odhikar. Odhikar was established by a group of young people who strongly believed in democracy, human rights and rule of law; who protested and fought against the autocratic regime of Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Ershad was toppled by a mass movement in December 1990, mainly triggered by left leaning student organisations. In the 1990’s the people of Bangladesh believed that their dream of constituting a democratic state, based on equality, human dignity and social justice, would be realised. However, Bangladesh became trapped in dynastical, confrontational politics where human rights violations, impunity, nepotism and corruption persists; and where rule of law is constantly ignored.

Odhikar Bangladesh Human Rights Monitoring Report September 1-30, 2014

Odhikar believes that ‘democracy’ is a form of the State and presupposes that freedom and human rights are its foundations. Democracy is not merely a process of electing a ruler. Democracy is the result of the peoples’ struggle for inalienable rights, which become the fundamental premise to constitute the State defining collective aspirations and responsibilities. Therefore, the individual freedoms and democratic aspirations of the citizens – and consequently, peoples’ collective rights and responsibilities - must be the foundational principles of the State.