July 9: Look at the bigger picture, says Chandra Muzaffar

A former deputy president of PKR precursor Keadilan has called for the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to look at the larger picture rather than focus on the particular allegations of police brutality during the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally.

In a statement to the press issued today, Chandra Muzaffar (right) said he welcomes the announcement that Suhakam would conduct a public inquiry next month into claims of excessive violence on the part of the police against peaceful demonstrators for clean and fair elections.

Expressing appreciation also for the police pledging to extend their full cooperation to the commission, Chandra said he hoped the police and government would pay serious attention to the findings of the inquiry.

"If the police and the government have to take firm action against wrongdoers, I hope they will do so, without fear or favour.

"There have been occasions in the past when Suhakam's findings on violations of human rights by state authorities have been largely ignored," said Chandra, who now heads the 1Malaysia Foundation as its chairperson.

He also expressed concern over claims that the police had violated international norms relating to the sanctity of hospitals following the assault on participants in the July 9 rally who had sought refuge in the Tung Shin and Chinese Maternity hospitals on Jalan Pudu.

“Any breach of the sanctity of a hospital during a riot or a demonstration is a grave matter.

"Suhakam could also look into the contradictory claims by different parties on the death of one of the protesters,” he added, in reference to Baharuddin Ahmad, who died in the midst of the rally.

However, Chandra reminded Suhakam to remain congnisant of “the larger role and responsibility of the police in managing street demonstrations in any society”.

By the same token, the Malaysian public at large and the national media should see any findings that Suhakam might arrive at within the larger context.

They should also take into account what he described as “the undisguised partisan political motives behind July 9" and what they meant for the nation's sovereignty and independence, even though foreign NGOs and foreign media “continue to ignore these legitimate concerns”.

Chandra had earlier raised allegations of foreign elements being involved with Bersih 2.0, a coalition of 62 non-governmental organisations lobbying for electoral reforms.

The claims of foreign meddling had also been highlighted in the mainstream media.

It also saw the deportation of a South Korean university student as well as a Filipino leftist activist after both were found participating in a roadshow with the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM).

Malaysiakini