Asian Human Rights Commission
Online live program on “A Crime against Humanity: Torture in Asia” on 26 June 2009
Working with Community TV, the AHRC will kick off a year-long campaign for the effective criminalisation of torture with our first ever live program, with our panel of experts taking real-time questions from viewers on the problems of torture and its implications. It will air at noon (12:00 – 1:00 p.m., Hong Kong time) on June 26 at www.communitytv.hk/AHRClive
This initiative is a joint-effort by AHRC and Community TV, an independent community broadcaster that provides online platform for social-related issues. We look forward to a lively, informative discussion and hope you will be able to join us and will promote the program among your readers and listeners.
Cambodia
On 23 June, our OPCAT Project Coordinator in Cambodia, Sim Vibol, organised a media briefing on the Anti-Torture Day to highlight to issue of torture and measures to combat it in Cambodia at the office of the Cambodia Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), a coalition of human rights NGOs, in Phnom Penh. Mr. Sok Sam Oeun, Director of legal aid NGO Cambodia Defenders Project (CDP) and CHRAC chairman, chaired and made a short presentation on the issue. 15 journalists attended.
There will two radio talk show on the issue of torture on Radio Voice of Civil Society (25 June) and on Radio Voice of Democracy on 26 June.
Indonesia
25 June 2009
1PM Peaceful demonstration in front of the House of Representatives, urging them to enact laws on torture
4PM Silent Thursday in front of the Presidential Palace
26 June 2009
4PM peaceful demonstration in Bunderan HI and four other strategic locations in the Central of Jakarta. We will be distributing posters, stickers, leaflets and flowers (chrysanthemum) to people. Some of us will also play guitar and sing folk song to attract public and media.
6PM or 7Pm candle light vigils in Bunderan HI. Victims of torture will give testimonies. Few activists will read poems.
Pakistan
The Anti Torture Movement with the collaboration of Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is holding a Seminar on“INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST TORTURE AND REHABILITATION OF TORTURE VICTIM” on 26th June 2009, 3:00pm at the Press Club Hall Hyderabad.
The victims of tortures and family members of disappeared persons and victims of rape will also narrate their ordeals. The Anti Torture Movement invites human rights activists, members of civil society and political workers to participate this seminar.
The Philippines
26 June 2009, Friday
6:30am at the UP Diliman Oblation
About 350 individuals from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) and non-governmental organisation (NGOs) together in a protest run from UP Diliman to the Bantayog ng mga Bayani for the passage of House Bill 5709 and Senate Bill 1978 into the Anti-Torture Law
This activity is organized by the United Against Torture Coallition (UATC) in the Philippines.
Sri Lanka
International torture Day in Support of the Torture survivors was held at the Pushpadana hall Kandy Sri-Lanka on the 27th Saturday at 9.30 a.m with 240 participants. The theme for the day was " Say no to Torture "The chief guests for programme were Mr Gamini Kulatunga the senior superintendent of the prisons, the chief jailer Mr Samantha Alahakoon , the chief Buddhist Sanganayaka ,Athipola Darmarakshitha ,Rev Fr Bala Rajendran and Fr Ried Shelton Fernando
Frs, Cammilus Jan, Christy Paul and sevral other , sisters and brothers were among the participants.
Having focused the theme of the day ,the torture survivors lighted the traditional oil lamp and the audience kept a minute of silence in honour of the slained torture victims Gerald Perera and Sugath Nishantha.
Having welcomed all the participants , especially the Torture survivors Fr Nandana Manatunga the director of the Human Rights office explined the purpose of organizing the Torture day. He said that the Torture day reminds the survivors that their struggle for justice is supported by so many who stand by them in solidarity, further the campaign that we begin against Torture and inhuman degrading treatment and punishment will continue throughout the year.
Mr Amitha Ariyaratne ( lawyer) gave the key note address in Sinhala while lawyer Mr Padmadaksa addresed the gatherng in Tamil.
In their address they said that torture in police custody and in detention centers are becoming common in Sri-Lanka inspite of the Act no 22 enforced in 1994. They said the main reason for the torture to continue is that the civil society still have a perception that the suspects who are arrested should be tortured to get information. However they emphasized that no one should be tortured for any reason at any circumstance ,even during a war and it is not only the police that should refrain from Torture but any state officer who commits Torture is liable for prosecution.
The participants were then given a choice to select a theme they prefer and join a group for discussion. The discussions were led by lawyers :
* Child Rights - Ms Suranigika Ranaweera & Sandamani Munasighe
* Security Laws - Ms Shushani Fernando
*Justice system and the dely - Ms Thanuja Ekanayake
* Torture - Mr Amitha Ariyaratne & Mr Padmadaksha
Following the group discussion there was a panel discussion during which the participants further pointed their questions to the lawyers.
Finally the statement prepared by the Human Rights office and the Asian Human Rights commission for 2009 Torture Day was released to the press and lawyer Mr Supun Ratnayake read the statement. The programme thus closed with lunch by 1.30 p.m.
Photos on activities from Sri Lanka
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