- Category: Press Releases
18 November 2016
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) strongly condemns the recent actions of the Philippine government in relation to the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
We condemn the decision of the Supreme Court, through the nine concurring justices, to allow the burial of Marcos. This burial is in direct contradiction to the demand of the victims of martial law to bury Marcos in Batac, one of the conditions that the Marcos family agreed to in exchange for their return to the country. We assert that justice must be, first and foremost, defined by the victims themselves. By disregarding the demand of the victims, the Supreme Court has become complicit to yet another act of injustice.
- Category: Statements
Today the case of Khurram Parvez, AFAD Chairperson, will be reviewed again in front of the High Court of J&K.
On this occasion, the human rights defenders participating in the 7th Asian Human Rights Forum in Sri Lanka, call for Parvez’s immediate release, and for the charges against him to be dismissed.
- Category: Press Releases
Today, the Filipino people commemorate the writing of Proclamation No. 1081 on September 21, 1972, which declared the Philippines as under Martial Law. The Martial Law was a period in our history that altered the lives of so many people. The change that it brought about was not the good kind, contrary to what historical revisionists claim. The declaration legitimized the transfer to, and unfettered use of, power by President Marcos, the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus which allows for warrantless arrests, the enforcement of curfew and banning of public assemblies. What resulted from these is the systematic and widespread violations of human rights in the Philippines. Similarly, this allowed the unconstrained plundering of our nation’s resources by the Marcoses.
- Category: Press Releases
India has become quite shameless in its cruelty perpetrated in Indian administered Kashmir. A latest incident adds to the pile of unlawful acts of Indian government in Kashmir. This time it is a prominent figure of Kashmir, Mr Khurram Pervez, who has been subjected to unlawful arrest and detention. Mr Khurram has been raising voice about human rights violations and other acts of torture happening in Indian administered Kashmir for years. His work focuses mainly on thousands of enforced disappearances by the Indian forces. Presently he heads Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) as chairperson. He also acts as program coordinator for Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society. Earlier this week he has been barred to travel to Geneva where he was to attend ongoing session of UN Human Rights Council. He reached Indira Gandhi International airport Delhi to take a flight to Geneva. He had valid visa and travel documents yet he was not allowed to travel without giving any legal reason. Subsequent to this incident Mr Khurram Pervez was arrested this morning from his home in Srinagar at 12:30 am, 16th September 2016. News regarding his arrest has been appearing in local and international media. (See references at the end)
- Category: Urgent Appeals
19 February 2016, Manila, Philippines — The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) strongly condemns the recent arrest of 12 Human Rights Defenders and conflict victims, which occurred this morning at around 8.30AM in Baluwatar, Kathmandu and asks for their immediate release. On the occasion of the 66th National Democracy Day of Nepal, the Prime Minister of Nepal was expected to deliver a speech during the ceremony at the Nepalese Army Pavilion in Kathmandu where also the President and other high level officers of Nepal were attending the event.
- Category: Press Releases
JOINT PRESS RELEASE
Geneva-Paris-Hong Kong, February 3, 2016. The authorities of Bangladesh should immediately release journalist Mahmudur Rahman, who completed 1,000 days in custody without trial on January 6, 2016 as part of the Government’s efforts to stifle critical voices in the country, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (a OMCT-FIDH joint programme) and the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) said today.
Mr. Mahmudur Rahman, Acting Editor of the Amar Desh newspaper, has been detained since April 11, 2013, after he was charged with sedition and unlawful publication of a Skype conversation between International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Judge Md Nizamul Huq and an external consultant in December 2012. At the time of his arrest, the Amar Desh office and its press were raided by the police, journalists and press-operators were beaten and driven out, and the press building was sealed. It has remained closed since. From April 11 to 24, 2013, Mr. Rahman was subjected to torture while in police custody.
- Category: Statements
27 January 2016, Manila, Philippines — The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) strongly condemns the deplorable harassment of Timor-Leste State agents against Adelio da Costa Fernandes, a human rights activist working for Asosiasaun HAK, a member organization of AFAD, that took place on 26th January 2016.
On the occasion of the visit of the Indonesian President Mr. Joko Widodo in Timor-Leste, the Timor-Leste Defence Force (F-FDTL) went to HAK’s office asking to use the venue as a “security base” given its proximity to the Indonesian Embassy. Upon seeing that one member of HAK staff, Adelio da Costa Fernandes, was wearing a t-shirt with “Free West Papua" printed on the front, one F-FDTL forced said staff to take it off because of the statement.
- Category: Statements
Manila, Philippines—The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) strongly condemns the deportation of its Council Member and former Chairperson, Mugiyanto, by Malaysian authorities last January 7, 2016. Mugiyanto, an Indonesian human rights defender and co-founder of the Indonesian Association of the Families of the Disappeared (IKOHI), arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport that day at around 11:30 AM where he was then held and interrogated by three police officers, including one anti-terror unit. Mugiyanto was travelling to Kuala Lumpur on invitation to speak at the #YellowMania forum organized by Malaysian electoral rights group, Bersih.