Bangkok - The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA),
a regional human rights group representing 49 non-governmental
organisations across Asia, has urged the Malaysian government to respect
the fundamental right to peaceful assembly by allowing a rally to
demand for electoral reforms in Malaysia, scheduled to be held on 28
April 2012, to proceed without any disruptions.
The rally, dubbed BERSIH 3.0, organised by polls reform group BERSIH, is
held in response to the lack of progress in the electoral reforms
following a similar rally organised by the same group last year.
FORUM-ASIA denounced the government’s threats against the organisers,
including a warning by the Home Minister on 26 April 2012 that the
government will use all necessary means to prevent the rally.
On 20 April 2012, the police arrested Tan Hon Kai, an intern at
Malaysian human rights group SUARAM, allegedly for trespassing, while he
was putting up a BERSIH 3.0 poster in Penang. Meanwhile, another seven
were detained briefly for questioning by the police for distributing
BERSIH 3.0 flyers in Kuala Lumpur on 25 April 2012. Furthermore, the
Kuala Lumpur City Hall has also raided the protest camps set up at
Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) by activists and students, who are
demanding for free tertiary education and are set to camp at the venue
until 28 April 2012 to converge with the BERSIH 3.0 rally. Six students
and activists have been arrested to this day since they set up their
camps on 14 April 2012. The Kuala Lumpur mayor has warned that the Kuala
Lumpur City Hall would act against participants in the BERSIH 3.0 rally
in a similar manner as it did with the students.
“These developments leading up to the BERSIH event, which include
arrests and harsh warnings, are totally unwarranted and deplorable. The
government’s responses also suggest a disturbing likelihood of a harsh
crackdown by the government on the rally tomorrow. Given the dismal
track record of the government in responding to public assemblies, we
fear that another crackdown is imminent,” warned Yap Swee Seng,
FORUM-ASIA’s executive director.
Same last year
A similar rally held last year on 9 July 2011, also organised by BERSIH,
was met with violence by the police, who deployed teargas and water
cannons, and arrested more than 1,500 individuals.
FORUM-ASIA stressed that all previous rallies and events organised by
BERSIH had been peaceful, and noted that the upcoming rally will be a
major test for the government’s commitment to protecting fundamental
human rights, particularly in the application of the newly-enacted
Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
“The new legislation is purportedly intended to allow assemblies that
are peaceful in nature. Notwithstanding our criticisms of this new law,
the government’s claims remain to be validated. The government should
view the BERSIH 3.0 rally as an excellent opportunity to make good its
commitment, based on the good track record of BERSIH as an organisation,
as well as the Minister’s own admission that the organisers would not
pose a threat to security,” said Yap.
Yap also stressed, “As a member of the UN Human Rights Council, Malaysia
has made commitments to the protection of human rights in various fora
on numerous occasions. If the government does not intend to make a
mockery of its own international commitments, it must allow the rally to
proceed without any disruptions, and ensure that the police facilitates
the rally in compliance with international human rights standards.”
“The government should also instruct the Federal government-appointed
Kuala Lumpur City Hall to immediately remove the steel barricades
mounted at the venue of the rally since last night,” added Yap.
FORUM-Asia
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