The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) today held that the public right to peaceful assembly was denied by the authorities during Sunday night’s candlelight vigil in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Internal Security Act.
"The arrest of 30 people for suspected participation in the vigil held at Dataran Petaling Jaya was a violation of their human rights to peaceful assembly," said Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Hasmy Agam in a statement today.
"Suhakam was present on site to monitor the situation and we noted that the authorities did not give the crowd proper warning or ample time to disperse (before taking action)," said Hasmy.
More than 100 policemen were reported to have cordoned off the area to deter the public from taking part in what police claimed was an illegal assembly.
Hasmy said the police should practise non-violent methods of crowd control or dispersal, in the event that they find it necessary to do so – instead of resorting to making arrests.
"The government should consider and take into account the recommendations made by Suhakam on freedom of assembly, as published in the commission’s reports related to the Kesas Highway and KLCC Bloody Sunday public enquiries," he said.
Hasmy reiterated Suhakam’s stand that the public has a right to participate in peaceful assemblies as guaranteed by article 10(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution, and Article 20(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
"We also feel the process of bail for detainees could have been expedited by the authorities at the Petaling Jaya police station," he added.
Petaling Jaya police chief ACP Arjunaidi Muhamad reportedly said all detainees who were investigated for participating in the illegal assembly, were released on bail by 5.15am on Monday.
In Penang, State executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow lamented that police had practised double standards in their crackdown against anti-ISA groups.
"Clearly, the police took action only against those in the anti-ISA group who were holding a peaceful demonstration while at the same time they allowed a pro-ISA group there to harass the anti-ISA group," he said.
He said the pro-ISA group were loudly heckling and taunting the anti-ISA group and were also rowdy and disrupting the peaceful anti-ISA gathering but the police did not do anything to them.
Chow said the arrest of four people – lawyer Darshan Singh Khaira, social activist Kris Khaira, Socialist Party of Malaysia central committee member Choo Chon Kai and Penang Suaram coordinator Ong Jing Cheng – at the Speakers’ Square in Penang on Sunday showed the ministry was adamant in coming down hard on anti-ISA groups.
Notwithstanding the police action on Sunday, Chow said the Speakers’ Square will continue to play its role as a platform for the public to voice their views.
The Sun
05/08/10
"The arrest of 30 people for suspected participation in the vigil held at Dataran Petaling Jaya was a violation of their human rights to peaceful assembly," said Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Hasmy Agam in a statement today.
"Suhakam was present on site to monitor the situation and we noted that the authorities did not give the crowd proper warning or ample time to disperse (before taking action)," said Hasmy.
More than 100 policemen were reported to have cordoned off the area to deter the public from taking part in what police claimed was an illegal assembly.
Hasmy said the police should practise non-violent methods of crowd control or dispersal, in the event that they find it necessary to do so – instead of resorting to making arrests.
"The government should consider and take into account the recommendations made by Suhakam on freedom of assembly, as published in the commission’s reports related to the Kesas Highway and KLCC Bloody Sunday public enquiries," he said.
Hasmy reiterated Suhakam’s stand that the public has a right to participate in peaceful assemblies as guaranteed by article 10(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution, and Article 20(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
"We also feel the process of bail for detainees could have been expedited by the authorities at the Petaling Jaya police station," he added.
Petaling Jaya police chief ACP Arjunaidi Muhamad reportedly said all detainees who were investigated for participating in the illegal assembly, were released on bail by 5.15am on Monday.
In Penang, State executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow lamented that police had practised double standards in their crackdown against anti-ISA groups.
"Clearly, the police took action only against those in the anti-ISA group who were holding a peaceful demonstration while at the same time they allowed a pro-ISA group there to harass the anti-ISA group," he said.
He said the pro-ISA group were loudly heckling and taunting the anti-ISA group and were also rowdy and disrupting the peaceful anti-ISA gathering but the police did not do anything to them.
Chow said the arrest of four people – lawyer Darshan Singh Khaira, social activist Kris Khaira, Socialist Party of Malaysia central committee member Choo Chon Kai and Penang Suaram coordinator Ong Jing Cheng – at the Speakers’ Square in Penang on Sunday showed the ministry was adamant in coming down hard on anti-ISA groups.
Notwithstanding the police action on Sunday, Chow said the Speakers’ Square will continue to play its role as a platform for the public to voice their views.
The Sun
05/08/10
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