GENEVA – UN human rights experts* on Monday expressed their dismay at the use of tear gas and water cannons by security authorities against peaceful protestors in Malaysia on Saturday, reportedly leading to injuries and one death, and the arrest of more than 1,600 people at the Bersih 2.0 rally.
“The right to freedom of opinion and expression, including in the form of peaceful protests, is essential for democracy. By declaring the demonstration illegal, sealing off parts of the capital in advance and responding in such a heavy-handed manner against peaceful demonstrators, the Government of Malaysia risks undermining democratic progress in the country,” said Frank La Rue, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
Tens of thousands of people gathered near the Medeka Stadium on Saturday despite the announcement made by the police that no gathering would be permitted that day on the basis of the Malaysia Police Act, which requires organizers of public gatherings of three or more persons to seek permits beforehand. The protests were called by Bersih, a coalition of more than 60 non-governmental organizations seeking to promote free and fair elections in Malaysia.
“Actions taken by the authorities prior to and during the rally unduly restricted the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association,” said La Rue. “Declaring Bersih illegal based on claims that it is trying to topple the Government or is a risk to national security and public order - in the absence of any credible evidence to substantiate such claims – is also an unnecessary restriction of civil and political rights.”
According to Malaysian police, all of those arrested on Saturday have been released. But the UN experts noted that six leaders from the Socialist Party of Malaysia reportedly remain in detention. These individuals include Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, Sukumaran Munisamy, Letchumanan Aseer Patham, Choo Chon Kai, Sarasvathy Muthu, and Satat Babu Raman.
“We remain deeply concerned about the detention of six individuals since 25 June under the Emergency Ordinance, which allows for detention without trial for up to 60 days,” said El Hadji Malick Sow, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention also reiterated its recommendation, made to the Government of Malaysia following a visit to the country in June 2010, to repeal the Emergency Ordinance and other preventive laws, on the grounds that they significantly hinder fundamental human rights, such as the right to fair trial.**
The independent experts reminded the Government of Malaysia of its obligation to fully respect the rights to peaceful assembly, association, and expression, as guaranteed under the Federal Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They also recalled that as a member of the Human Rights Council, Malaysia has pledged to uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights.
“Malaysia, as a dynamic, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and pluralistic nation, should remain open to legitimate political discourse on democracy, including the expression of dissent,” the experts said. “We urge the Government to allow all individuals to enjoy their human rights, and to address the problem of preventive detention. Likewise, we call upon the Government to ensure that there will not be any punitive measures taken against peaceful demonstrators.”
* Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. Frank La Rue; and Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Mr. El Hadji Malick Sow.
untuk kekal berkuasa, najis suda berjanji utk melakukan apa sahaja. penipuan, kekerasan, kekejaman serta kezaliman mungkin boleh menjadi antara salah satu kaedah jika sudah terdesak. kita boleh melihat betapa takut dan menggelebahnya kerajaan umno/bn pada saat2 terakhir menjelang perhimpunan awam BERSIH. Ada antara pemimpin ini malah membuat kenyataan kebudak-budakan. merapu tak tentu fasal. saya berada d tawau pada pagi sabtu dan keadaan jalan sesak. sebelah petang saya sampai di terminal 2. dlm perjalanan menuju ke ibu kota, saya terkejut melihat terlalu banyak sekatan jalan iaitu hampir setiap 5 kilometer. ibu kota hampir2 ditutup. jadi jelas yg tindakan sebegini memang terdesak.
ReplyDeleteKita mahu demokrasi.
ReplyDeletemmg kita inginkan demokrasi, tapi bukan dgn cara jalanan.
ReplyDeletebetapa imej negara ni sudah terjejas akibat perhimpunan Bersih dan tindakan anti-Bersih.
ReplyDeletesetuju dengan junta, semua orang mahukan demokrasi tapi bukan dengan demo..
ReplyDeleteIt's a wake up call for the Gov. Handle it wisely.
ReplyDeleteIt's not easy to govern a country. Too 'democracy' people will take advantage, not so democracy people will rebel. Maybe should be so-so.
ReplyDeleteteruskan amalan berdemo dan buat rusuhan.. tidak salah kerana itulah lambang demokrasi..
ReplyDeleteIa hanyalah rally dan bukannya demo :).
ReplyDeleteThe one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the party that succeeds, by force or fraud, in carrying elections.
ReplyDeleteselama beberapa dekad merdeka dan kerajaan ditadbir oleh parti politik yg sama, apa lg cara utk menunjukkn kepada mereka bahawa terdapat kecacatan dlm sistem SPR? TIADA. Jangankan nak berdiplomasi, hantar memo pun tak terima. kalau terima pun confirm memo masuk bwh karpet kalau tidak menuju terus ke pengisar kertas dan seterusnya ke tong sampah. Saya percaya bahawa cara diplomasi adalah yg terbaik tapi hanya sekiranya kerajaan betul2 beri komitmen dan ikhlas. akan tetapi saya juga percaya bahawa BERSIH 2.0 diadakan dan perhimpunan dicadangkan kerana semua saluran sudah tidak releven. SPR juga memberi banyak alasan dlm perkara ini. Najib Razak yg telah berjanji utk merelakan peserta demo memilih mana2 sj stadium di negara ini bertindak senyap dan membiarkan kdn dn polis menggunakan budi bicara penuh mereka. alasan BERSIH merupakan pertubuhan haram digunakan sebagai point utama penolakan permohonan jw penganjur BERSIH ke atsa venue. Padahal gabungan berpuluh NGO ini tidak memerlukan pendaftaran utk membuat tuntutan mereka. satu jenaka terhebat yg polis dan kdn berikan adalah dgn mengistiharkan BERSIH adalah pertubuhan haram padahal BERSIH tidakpun mendaftar dgn RoS.
ReplyDeletesedangkan perjanjian malaysia adalah tidak sah dan batal..
ReplyDeleteseterusnya apa akan berlaku?
ReplyDeletekita tunggu dan lihat PRU nanti.
ReplyDeleteBERSIH menjejaskan nama negara. Ini semua adalah rancangan pembangkang. Bijak juga pembangkang. Mereka cuba untuk memastikan nama Malaysia buruk di merata dunia dibawah kepimpinan Najib. Jadi dengan ini ramai orang didunia akan menyalahkan Najib nanti. Ini semua adalah dirancang oleh Pembangkang itu sendiri.
ReplyDeleteBerbanding dengan kerosakan yg umno/bn bawakan kepada negara ini. kerosakan keatas sistem perundangan. kerosakan keatas kontrak sosial. kerosakan keatas perpaduan kaum. kerosakan kepada ekonomi negara. kerugian negara ini selama ditadbir oleh kerajaan kuno umno/bn rasanya tidak terkira. negara kerugian hampir 3 ke 4 billion setahun (saya rasa lebih dari ini) atas ketidakcekapan, rasuah dan kebodohan pemimpin umno/bn. kalau darab dgn 47 tahun sudah mencecah hampir rm188 billion. anggaran ini mungkin masi kurang. saya rasakan ia mungkin mencecah trillion. jadi dari rugi bertahun-tahun lg, utk menyelamatkan negara, lebih baik rugi sehari dua. pembangkang tidak harus dipersalahkan keatas kerugian negara kerana pemimpin umno/bn yg tidak kompeten dlm kerja mereka.
ReplyDeleteThis is a democratic country, of course the people should have democracy.
ReplyDelete