- Category: Statements
May 24 -30, 2015 - This week, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances and the rest of the global movement against enforced disappearances commemorate the International Week of the Disappeared. Around the world, family members, especially wives, mothers and daughters of victims of enforced disappearance have been trapped by the disappearance of their husbands, sons and brothers. They continue to be in a state of limbo, living with the haunting shadows of a cruel past. Families of the disappeared have been suffering from the social, psychological, legal, and economic effects of the disappearance of their loved ones.
Their unrelenting struggle for truth and justice has transformed them into courageous human rights defenders, propelled by the quest to stand up for their right to know the fate and whereabouts of their disappeared loved ones. Amidst pain, their courage and determination in the pursuit for truth and justice permit them to overcome the devastating consequences of enforced disappearance.
- Category: Statements
Freedom cannot be bestowed to the people, but must be fought and achieved. Freedom is much more than a right. It entails some responsibilities of doing what people think is good not only for themselves but for society in general. It is a state when one realizes their duties and starts respecting other’s freedom.
Twenty-three years ago, the Phruetsapha Thamin, or Black May popular protest participated in by 200,000 people, happened in Central Bangkok against the military government of General Suchinda Kraprayoon. In the four-day military crackdown, the popular uprising was met with brutal and violent suppression, resulting in 52 deaths, thousands arrested, hundreds injured. In the immediate aftermath of the shootings, more than a thousand people were reported missing by friends and relatives.
- Category: Statements
The authority of the Government emanates from the People. The world must be made safe and democracy is an important form of government that would make this possible. Its peace must be founded upon the three pillars of human dignity, justice and liberty. To make democracy work, we must be active participants to making it possible and not be mere spectators of the repression and impunity unfolding before us.
Today, 35 years ago on May 18th, a pivotal event unfolded in South Korea that has become an inspiration for democratic movements in Asia and the rest of the world. Hundreds died and many disappeared in that struggle for democracy long deprived to the people of South Korea after several years of dictatorship.
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) joins the People of South Korea and the rest of the world during the 35th anniversary of commemorating the extraordinary patriotism of all those who sacrificed their lives and those who participated in the struggle for the restoration of liberty in the May 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising. Mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters courageously broke the shackles of dictatorship by sacrificing their lives and emerged victorious raising the torch of the flame of freedom. Those who lost their lives and all involved in that historic and heroic moment will always win the respect and commendation of humankind for daring to confront the bloodshed of battle for their country’s liberty.
- Category: Statements
“Violence against women cannot be tolerated, in any form, in any context, in any circumstances, by any political leader or by any government. There is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable,” thus stated UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.
A year ago, the Pakistani police subjected to intense baton charge families of victims of enforced disappearance who were on a peaceful protest sit-in urging the government to surface all the disappeared and to bring to justice all those responsible for the abduction. Many of those beaten were wives and children of the disappeared. They were herded to and detained in the police station.
Amina Masood Janjua, wife of disappeared Mr. Masood Janjua and chairperson of the Defence of Human Rights, were among those beaten and detained. Her husband, Masood Janjua, was forcibly disappeared on 30 July 2005, allegedly abducted by state security forces. He remains disappeared up to this day.
- Category: Statements
Some people think that the truth can be hidden with a little cover-up. But as time goes by, what is true is revealed.
Eight long years and the family of Jonas Burgos continues to suffer from the agony of uncertainty about his safety and fate. Before he was forcibly disappeared on 28 April 2007, he was a member of the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Bulacan, who practiced and promoted sustainable organic farming in San Miguel, Bulacan and shared his knowledge on ecologically-friendly and economically-viable sustainable agriculture techniques to marginalized, smallholder farmers and peasants.
Based on the decision on the writ of habeas corpus and the writ of amparo filed by Jonas’ family, the Court of Appeals in 2013 found, after intermittent hearings, and ruled that the military and the police are accountable for Jonas Burgos’ abduction but the perpetrators are consistently denying their responsibility of the crime.
Jonas Burgos’s whereabouts have not been known since he was abducted on 28 April 2007 while having lunch alone in a restaurant at a mall along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, forcibly dragged away by a group of men and a woman.
Not knowing the whereabouts and fate of Jonas Burgos, his family has for eight years been suffering mental anguish. His family’s relentless search for truth and justice has earned for them the ire of the alleged perpetrators and they themselves are subject to harassment.
- Category: Statements
The current situation of enforced disappearance in Bangladesh is very alarming. The case of enforced disappearance though started more than three and a half years ago, has drawn the attention and alarm of the global community. Visibly, democracy in Bangladesh is at its most vulnerable situation. The government and its security forces have been resorting to nefarious tactics of secret abduction, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, extrajudicial killing, and enforced disappearance.
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances is deeply concerned about the systematic pattern of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh which has become gravely alarming- a concerted scheme to eliminate people deemed undesirable especially political opponents. Politically motivated enforced disappearances are done in the context of the general atmosphere of impunity granted to law enforcement agencies and security forces in Bangladesh.
- Category: Statements
It has been a year since ethnic Karen Mr. Porlagee Rakcharoen went disappeared and nothing has been hAeard of his whereabouts. Also known as Billy Rakchongcharoen, a prominent environmental activist and human rights defender, he was last seen in the afternoon of 17 April 2014 after he was reportedly arrested and detained at a checkpoint at Kaengn Krachan National Park in Petchaburi province by Thai park authorities for questioning for alleged unlawful gathering of wild bee honeycomb and illegal possession of six bottles of honey.
Mr. Chaiwat Limlikitaksor, chief of the Kaeng Krachan National Park Office told local activists on 18 April that Billy had been released after the questioning and denied any knowledge on his whereabouts.
The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), expresses grave concern over the safety and fate of Billy Rakchongcharoen. Basing on the circumstances, AFAD strongly believes that the ethnic Karen had been forcibly disappeared by Thai park authorities. Also, the concerned park authorities had not presented evidence of Billy’s release from arrest or the details of his detention.
- Category: Statements
The Valley of Kashmir has an abundance of natural beauty. It is a land of startling gardens and regal Chinar trees, where sparkling rivers and sleepy lakes drain the valley into almost eternal spring. Kashmir boasts of some of the most beautiful flowering meadows and snow-capped peaks. Breathtaking sights invigorate the weary farmers after a day of toil to grow grains for their families.
But decades of conflict have been causing unfathomable sufferings to the people of Kashmir. Wives and children of the thousands who were disappeared have long been suffering from the agony of uncertainty. They suffer heavily under the weight that life brings, with little or opportunity for social mobility. Children of the disappeared are living through the confusion of broken dreams.