After interviewing 18 eyewitnesses, going through photos and video evidence obtained from members of the public, Tenaganita has concluded that the police did use excessive force, firing tear gas and chemical-laced water, into the compounds of the Tung Shin and Chinese Maternity hospitals.
In a report submitted to and commissioned by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia or Suhakam,Tenaganita said it conducted interviews via email or through direct interviews (in person and over the phone) with witnesses who had been present on the grounds of either hospital on July 9, the day of the free and fair election polls organised by Bersih 2.0.
"The testimonies of the 18 witnesses and the photographic evidence obtained demonstrate clearly that Tung Shin Hospital and Chinese Maternity Hospital were attacked by the enforcement officers with tear gas and chemical-laced water cannons, and that the police exercised brutal and excessive force against participants seeking refuge within the hospital compound. This violation of the principle of ‘hospitals as places of sanctuary’ and the police brutality witnessed must be taken by Human Rights Commission with utmost urgency," Tenaganita said in its report.
"As one witness said, ‘democratic voices must be heard, but (this) isn’t the case in Malaysia’. The State must be held accountable for the repression of the democratic rights of its citizens. The enforcement officers that abused their power and attacked the participants of the Bersih 2.0 rally must also be held accountable for their action."
Camera angle
The police, Home ministry and Health ministry had all denied such an attack occured. MCA president Chua Soi Lek even claimed that the photos could not be relied on due to "camera angle".
His facetious reply upset Malaysians, forcing Health minister Liow Tiong Lai to retreat from his earlier insistence that it was the police who were telling the truth and not the Bersih supporters. Liow promised his ministry would conduct a probe.
Till now there has been silence from Liow, although few hold much hope that his report would contain accurate information.
Many Chinese leaders including PKR vice president Chua Jui Meng had slammed Liow for further "delaying tactics" to help cover up for the police.
1 comment:
I went to the Post Office to register to vote; and upon checking my identity card, the Post officer asked which religion I belonged to. Why? I do not know. Therefore, we must reform the Department of Religion. Right now, only Islam is recognised as the religion in the Department of Religion. Therefore we need reforms. We need to divide the Department of Religion into two branches: one branch to deal with Muslim Affairs, and another branch to deal with non-Muslim Affairs.
Another alternative is to persuade the Malays to separate Penang Island from Peninsular Malaysia. It may be that non-Muslims are the majority in Penang. More and more non-Muslims from Peninsular Malaysia should be encouraged to relocate to Penang. Once Penang becomes a non-Muslim majority state, then the Penangites can ask for greater autonomy from KL. Penang should be allowed to make its own laws for itself. I think the Malays should be happy if more non-Malays relocate to Penang. An increase in non-Malays in Penang will result in a decrease in non-Malays in Peninsular Malaysia; and therefore Malays should be happy. Malays should encourage non-Muslims to relocate to Penang. Since Singapore is a non-Muslim majority nation, Penang should also become a non-Muslim majority state. The non-Muslim citizens need a hub and space of their own; and the hub and space would be Penang. Those non-Muslim citizens who are unwilling to accept a second class citizen status inside Peninsular Malaysia should relocate to Penang Island.
If you are non-Muslim Malaysian and do feel socially, politically, or economically shortchanged, then stop complaining and fretting. Do something. Instead of fretting and complaining, please make arrangements to relocate to Penang. If you have non-Muslim friends who fret and complain, then immediately persuade them to relocate to Penang.
Please make sure you go to the nearest Post Office to register to vote. Please exercise your right to vote.
If you do agree with me, please copy and remail it to whom it may concern. Those who receive it must in turn copy and remail it to whom it may concern. Let’s get the word around to as many people as possible. Let’s see what happens.
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