- Category: Statements
On the commemoration of the International Day of the Disappeared (IDD), the Asian Federation Against Enforced Disappearances (AFAD) calls on governments in Asia and the world to BRING HOME VICTIMS OF ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE! In so doing, these governments must sign and ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, recognize the competence of the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearance and enact domestic laws criminalizing enforced disappearances.
Enforced disappearance is when someone is taken away by agents of governments, usually by security forces like the military or police. This act is followed by the denial or concealment of a person’s fate or whereabouts, in effect removing them from the protection of law.
- Category: Statements
Mission to Lao People’s Democratic Republic
August 25 – 27, 2013
Introduction
From August 25-27, 2013, AFAD Chairperson has joined the EU Parliament for a mission in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) to gather information and meet different relevant stakeholders regarding the disappearance of Sombath Somphone.
It is now over eight months since Sombath Somphone disappeared.
Sombath is one of the most respected and influential voices for sustainable people-centered and just economic and social development in Laos. He is the founder and former Director of the Participatory Development Training Centre (PADETC), and the winner of the 2005 Ramon Magsaysay Award for community leadership. He was the Co-Chair of the National Organizing Committee of the Asia Europe People’s Forum 9 (AEPF9), which was held in October 2012 in Vientiane, before the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM9).
- Category: Statements
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) congratulates the women and men of “Hukum, Hak, AsasidanKeadilan” (HAK) Association [Association for Law, Human Rights and Justice] during your 17th year anniversary celebrations!
We salute your steadfastness and perseverance to rise above a difficult past as a people, where one third of your population was lost to the Indonesian invasion and ensuing struggle for independence from 1975-1999. Through firm determination and dedication to human rights and justice, you have been able to help victims of human rights violations particularly political detainees and victims of enforced disappearances in their quest for justice.
- Category: Statements
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) calls on the United Nations and other international organizations to intervene on the continued detention of Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan of Bangladesh by the government of Sheikh Hasina. AFAD believes international pressure is important in a situation where the State, through its security forces, are in wanton disregard of its obligations to respect, protect and uphold the human rights of its citizens.
Not content with the arbitrary arrest and detention of Mr. Khan, the Detective Branch of the Police searched their office from 8:20- 9:00 p.m. last night and seized three laptops and two Central Processing Units (CPUs), Odhikar reports stated.
- Category: Statements
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) condemns the arbitrary arrest of its Council Member, Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan in his residence in Dhaka last night, 10 August 2013. AFAD also calls on the government to respect his right from torture and to immediately release him.
Based on reports received from Odhikar, AFAD member organization in Bangladesh as well as reports from the Asian Human Rights Commission, Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan was with his family and children when arrested without warrant by about 8-10 plainclothes men just as his vehicle entered the family compound. The security guard on duty tried to prevent the men from entering but to no avail. Upon the demand of Mr. Adilur Khan, the men who surrounded his car informed him that they were from the Detective Branch of Bangladesh Police. He was forced into a white microbus vehicle reportedly from United Commercial Bank and a blue and silver Mitsubishi Pajero.
Mr. Adilur Khan was arrested without warrant and his family was not informed of where they were taking him. Members of the Gulshan Police Station when approached by Odhikar at 2:00 a.m. this morning denied that a case was filed against Mr. Khan. It was learned later, through a media interview of DB Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman that Khan is being held at the DB Headquarters in Mintu Road for violations of the Information and Communication Technology Act of 2006 - Section 57 which prohibits the “publication of fake, obscene or defaming information in electronic form.” He supposedly distorted facts about Hefazat-e-Islam and distorted photographs using Photoshop.
- Category: Statements
The eleventh of July is a special day for victims of enforced disappearance in the Philippines. It is a day of remembering the well-loved Redemptorist priest, Fr. Rudy Romano, who disappeared in Cebu City on July 11, 1985. A staunch defender of human rights during the Marcos dictatorship, Fr. Rudy became the voice of the voiceless farmers, workers and urban poor. He championed their issues in the many organizations that he headed: as executive secretary of the Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace; chairperson of the Coalition Against People’s Persecution; vice chairperson for the Visayas of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and Cebu Oust Movement for the Advancement of Nationalism and Democracy, among others.
- Category: Statements
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) denounces the ill treatment and physical manhandling by a traffic officer against AFAD Council member and Advocate Parvez Imroz, Chair of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday.
Based on accounts by APDP, on 2 July 2013 at 10:30 in the morning, Mr. Imroz was driving into the High Court complex in Srinagar with his nephew when DSP (traffic) police Riyaz Halwai approached his vehicle. He and his nephew were ordered to move in a different direction. Before allowing them the reasonable time to do so, DSP Riyaz was abusive and threatening, which was questioned by Parvez Imroz. As the policemen in Kashmir are not accustomed to being questioned and behaving decently with Kashmiris, DSP Riyaz got further infuriated, lost control, increased his abuses and physically manhandled Parvez Imroz. Perturbed with this behavior, Parvez Imroz protested and remarked that he will not remain silent on this abusive behaviour. DSP Riyaz then tore his shirt to fabricate and falsely implicate Parvez Imroz.
- Category: Statements
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) calls on all States to STOP the practice of TORTURE and punish the perpetrators as it supports the commemoration of the United Nations’ International Day in Support of Victims of Torture Held every 26th of June, this day is dedicated to create awareness and seek support to stop the practice of torture, considered by the UN as one of the vilest acts perpetrated by human beings to fellow human beings. The systematic and widespread use of torture is a crime against humanity. The International Day for Torture Survivors coincides with the entry into force 26 years ago today, of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. It has been ratified by 153 countries as of June 25, 2013. Yet, its practice is still widespread.