- Category: Statements
18th October 2018
The Asian Federation Against Enforced Disappearances (AFAD) expresses serious concern over the election of some of the 18 new member states into the United Nations Human Rights Council. Among the elected states of the Asia Pacific region, AFAD has membership from India, Bangladesh and the Philippines. These States have shown consistent disregard for human rights of their people and have been oppressive and authoritarian in their functioning instead of being democratic.
- Category: Statements
Forty-six years ago on September 21, 1972, the late President Ferdinand Marcos signed Proclamation 1081, which formally announced the beginning of martial rule in the Philippines. This onerous proclamation marked the beginning of his 14-year dictatorial rule and led to what is now known as the darkest age in our country’s history. By peddling the rhetoric of reform and development, Marcos was able to amass colossal power and influence over all aspects of government. He legitimized martial rule in order to stay in power, yet used the veil of a ‘democratic revolution’ to mask the very real horrors of Martial Law.
- Category: Statements
September 17, 2018 (MANILA, PHILIPPINES) – Today, the Malolos Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15 has found retired Major General Jovito Palparan guilty on charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention of University of the Philippines (UP) alumnae Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño. Judge Alexander Tamayo has meted a sentence of reclusion perpetua to Palparan and his two (2) co-accused, Lieutenant Colonel Felipe Anotado and S/Sgt Edgardo Osorio, and has ordered each to pay P100,000 in civil indemnity and P200,000 for moral damages.
- Category: Statements
Today, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) fondly remembers its former Chairperson, Munir Said Thalib, who was killed on this day, fourteen years back in 2004. Munir was one of the most prominent human rights defenders in Indonesia, who served as the Chairperson of AFAD from August 2003 till is death.
- Category: Statements
Today, on the occasion of International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) remembers the victims of enforced disappearances and salutes the indomitable spirit of those fighting for truth and justice all across the globe.
- Category: Statements
30th July, 2018
Manila: This day marks the completion of 13 years since the enforced disappearance of Masood Janjua, a businessman from Pakistan. Masood disappeared on 30th July, 2005 along with his friend Faisal Faraz, a 25 year old engineer from Lahore, while they were travelling in a bus to Peshawar. On this day, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) remembers him and seeks justice for him and his family.
- Category: Statements
20th July, 2018
Manila: AFAD strongly condemns the slandering statements made against Sombath Somphone and his family during a United Nations Review of the deteriorating human rights conditions in Laos.
Sombath Somphone was a community development worker from Laos who was disappeared on 15th of December 2012. Since then, the family of Sombath has been running a campaign called ‘Return Sombath Campaign’ to know the truth about what happened to him and seek justice from the Lao government.
- Category: Press Releases
Press Release
Jakarta, Indonesia and Dili, Timor-Leste
13 July 2018
15 July 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of Per Memoriam Ad Spem [Through Memory towards Hope], the final report of the Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF) of Indonesia and Timor-Leste. This initiative, the only bilateral commission in the world, was tasked with strengthening peace and friendship between the two countries by revealing the conclusive truth about the nature, scope, and causes of the violence committed in East Timor in 1999. Many people appreciated the CTF as the way to acknowledge the past and support the building of good relationships.