Suaram strongly condemns attempts by the police to stop the Bersih3.0
sit and protest rally today at Dataran Merdeka. As a member of the
Bersih 2.0 coalition, Suaram condemns the police and the government
under the Najib’s administration for disallowing people to exercise
their fundamental human rights.
We condemn all the harassment and tactics by the Government, Police,
Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Court to stop the people from practicing
their fundamental liberties and to intimidate supporters of Bersih 2.0
coalition which is calling for free and fair elections.
The Election Commission has lost its credibility after it failed to
act on recommendations towards strengthening and improving electoral
processes. The failure of the EC has led to the peaceful assembly known
as Duduk Bantah 3.0 (Sit in protest 3.0).
The court order issued yesterday by Magistrate Zaki Asyraf Zubir, KL
Magistrate’s Court, banned any gathering at Dataran Merdeka, which is
the land bordering Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, Jalan Raja and Jalan Kelab
except the area occupied by the Selangor Royal Club.
The order also warns the public against attending, being present or taking part in any gathering from today to May 1.
On April 20, Tan Hong Kai, an intern of Suaram, was arrested on
allegation of trespassing while putting up Bersih3.0 posters in
University Science Malaysia; Tan was released later that day under
police bail.
On April 22, the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) and police officers
raided a protest campsite at the Merdeka Square and arrested two
activists (Fahmi Reza and Umar Mohd Azmi) under Section 186 of the Penal
Code (obstructing public servants from performing their duties). They
were released later the same day under police bail.
On April 23, Umar Abdul Aziz was charged at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate Court under section 186 and he was fined RM1,000.
On April 24, the authorities again arrested three student activists
and one supporter at the same campsite and took them to the Dang Wangi
district police station at Kuala Lumpur.
On April 25, the four were charged at Kuala Lumpur Magistrate Court
under section 186 and two was fined RM1,000 and another two were fined
RM 900.
Adopt core principles of human rights in all laws and policies
Suaram wants the police and the government to stop all the harassment
to stop the people from practicing their fundamental liberties. Suaram
urges the government to look into the demands of the Bersih 2.0 instead
of clamping down on their freedom of expression and assembly.
If the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is sincere in listening to the
people and practicing the slogan “People First”, then he should not curb
people’s rights and freedoms.
We call on the government, as a member of the United Nations Human
Rights Council, to end the intimidation and threats and to adopt the
core principles of human rights in all laws and policies.
We also call on the government to stop placing its influence on the
EC and employing dirty tactics during elections. Instead, the government
should be pressuring the EC to ensure clean, free and fair elections.
This is a national challenge that the country will have to confront
if it wishes to move forward in creating genuine harmony and open
democracy.
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