International human rights organisation Amnesty International today released its wish list to new Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on the long disputed human rights issues in Malaysia.
To start off, the organisation said Najib should reform or repeal all laws which provided for arbitrary arrest and detention without trial, including the Internal Security Act (ISA).
And as part of this reform, Amnesty called for Najib to immediately release five Hindraf leaders who have been detained under the Act since Dec 13, 2007.
"The new government should prioritise the removal of restrictions on freedom of expression affecting bloggers, opposition politicians and human rights activists," added the London-based organisation.
It also noted the nationwide swoop on bloggers in March when eight bloggers were charged with posting critical comments against the Sultan of Perak.
The bloggers were charged under the Communication and Media Act and released on bail.
"The charges against them should be dropped," said Amnesty.
The movement also pressed on Najib to declare a moratorium on the death penalty - a long outstanding issue supported by Amnesty.
The movement said Najib's administration should consider totally abolishing the death penalty.
"The government should also lift the veil of secrecy around the death penalty by publicising all information about its current application," it added.
The mandatory death penalty is imposed on crimes involving drug trafficking, murder, kidnap and possession of unauthorized firearms.
Stop the custodial deaths
Amnesty also urged Najib to look into the long standing issue of custodial deaths and ill-treatments of prisoners.
It highlighted the most recent case of A Kugan, 22, who was found dead in police custody in January - just five days after he was arrested for questioning.
His body bore the marks of physical abuse and an independent post-mortem report revealed that he had died as a result of being beaten.
"The investigations into the death have not progressed since the findings of the second autopsy report were submitted to the Attorney General's Office.
"Amnesty calls on the government to initiate an impartial, effective, independent, and prompt investigation into Kugan's death.
"Moreover, the government should establish an independent and impartial police oversight body to hear complaints about the police," said Amnesty.
The human rights movement also pressed on Najib to look into the harsh treatment meted out by government officials to migrant workers, asylum seekers and refugees.
"They are at risk of deportation after harsh treatment in detention camps.
"Malaysia does not recognise their rights under international law, and even individuals recognised as refugees by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees are being arrested by untrained volunteers from volunteer corps Rela.
"Amnesty International urges the government to ratify the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, its 1967 Protocol and the 1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families," it added.
Najib took over as the nation's prime minister this morning, replacing Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Amnesty's wish-list to Najib is similar to the one which the organisation submitted to the new American president Barrack Obama, listing out a series of human rights reforms to be made in the first 100 days of his administration.
Obama has since vowed to close down Guantanamo Bay - where the US is detaining terrorism suspects - within the first few weeks of his administration.
Darkening political landscape
It is unclear if Najib would undertake any of the changes being sought after by Amnesty International.
Several drastic government actions in recent weeks which curtailed fundamental rights have been touted by the opposition as the beginning of a "darkening political landscape" under Najib.
DAP's veteran leader Lim Kit Siang had blamed Najib for the spate of repression in the past two months, which included:
The power grab in Perak
To start off, the organisation said Najib should reform or repeal all laws which provided for arbitrary arrest and detention without trial, including the Internal Security Act (ISA).
And as part of this reform, Amnesty called for Najib to immediately release five Hindraf leaders who have been detained under the Act since Dec 13, 2007.
"The new government should prioritise the removal of restrictions on freedom of expression affecting bloggers, opposition politicians and human rights activists," added the London-based organisation.
It also noted the nationwide swoop on bloggers in March when eight bloggers were charged with posting critical comments against the Sultan of Perak.
The bloggers were charged under the Communication and Media Act and released on bail.
"The charges against them should be dropped," said Amnesty.
The movement also pressed on Najib to declare a moratorium on the death penalty - a long outstanding issue supported by Amnesty.
The movement said Najib's administration should consider totally abolishing the death penalty.
"The government should also lift the veil of secrecy around the death penalty by publicising all information about its current application," it added.
The mandatory death penalty is imposed on crimes involving drug trafficking, murder, kidnap and possession of unauthorized firearms.
Stop the custodial deaths
Amnesty also urged Najib to look into the long standing issue of custodial deaths and ill-treatments of prisoners.
It highlighted the most recent case of A Kugan, 22, who was found dead in police custody in January - just five days after he was arrested for questioning.
His body bore the marks of physical abuse and an independent post-mortem report revealed that he had died as a result of being beaten.
"The investigations into the death have not progressed since the findings of the second autopsy report were submitted to the Attorney General's Office.
"Amnesty calls on the government to initiate an impartial, effective, independent, and prompt investigation into Kugan's death.
"Moreover, the government should establish an independent and impartial police oversight body to hear complaints about the police," said Amnesty.
The human rights movement also pressed on Najib to look into the harsh treatment meted out by government officials to migrant workers, asylum seekers and refugees.
"They are at risk of deportation after harsh treatment in detention camps.
"Malaysia does not recognise their rights under international law, and even individuals recognised as refugees by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees are being arrested by untrained volunteers from volunteer corps Rela.
"Amnesty International urges the government to ratify the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, its 1967 Protocol and the 1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families," it added.
Najib took over as the nation's prime minister this morning, replacing Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Amnesty's wish-list to Najib is similar to the one which the organisation submitted to the new American president Barrack Obama, listing out a series of human rights reforms to be made in the first 100 days of his administration.
Obama has since vowed to close down Guantanamo Bay - where the US is detaining terrorism suspects - within the first few weeks of his administration.
Darkening political landscape
It is unclear if Najib would undertake any of the changes being sought after by Amnesty International.
Several drastic government actions in recent weeks which curtailed fundamental rights have been touted by the opposition as the beginning of a "darkening political landscape" under Najib.
DAP's veteran leader Lim Kit Siang had blamed Najib for the spate of repression in the past two months, which included:
The power grab in Perak
DAP chairperson Karpal Singh being charged in court with sedition
The one-year suspension of DAP MP for Puchong Gobind Singh Deo without parliamentary pay and privileges
The three-month suspension of Harakah and Suara Keadilan
The police and MACC harassing the Perak state assembly speaker and Perak state assembly members
The arrest of DAP Perak state assemblyperson for Tebing Tinggi Ong Boon Piaw for producing the "Democracy Tree" DVD
The Home Ministry ban on raising the Altantuya issue and Perak sultan decision on the Perak constitutional crisis in the three by-elections.
Apart from these, the opposition has also been constanly linking Najib with the killing of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, a claim which he has denied repeatedly.
They have said that the position of the prime minister was the most important in the country and as such, it must be given to someone with unquestionable integrity.
Malaysiakini
03/04/09
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