Black 14' an acid test for rights commission
Ng Boon HooiPublished: Apr 22, 2001 10:56 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
The Human Rights Commission should send their newly appointed members to monitor the "Black 14" rally on Saturday, said the People's Manifesto Initiative (PMI), an umbrella group of 11 NGOs.
"If any provocation or violence breaks out, the commission needs to take action so the responsible parties will be brought to justice," PMI spokesperson Irene Xavier told malaysiakini today.
She stressed that even though she has reservations about the commission, the occasion on Saturday would be a test case of the newly formed organisation as human rights is involved.
According to KeADILan vice-president Tian Chua, Saturday's event is "a new milestone in the struggle to defend the basic rights to assembly and free speech".
"(Commission chairman) Musa Hitam could show to the world that the commission is truly independent by reprimanding the unnecessary intimidations against peaceful assembly," Chua said in statement today.
"I would like to reiterate here that the mobilisation does not belong to any particular party or political organisation," he added.
Meanwhile, the police were urged to call up all those who had warned of trouble breaking out to prove their allegations of potential trouble.
"Such warnings should be stopped as they will only create fear," said Xavier.
"A responsible government should not come out with words that confuse and threaten the people, like assuming there would be violence on Saturday," she added.
She said that PMI also condemned the police statement on using the Internal Security Act to arrest the people who might participate in the people's assembly at the National Mosque, coordinated by some KeADILan's leaders.
Yesterday, Kuala Lumpur City police chief Deputy Comm Kamaruddin Ali said that the leaders of two opposition political parties face possible arrest including under the ISA if the gathering at the National Mosque proceeded as planned.
The Star today quoted Kamaruddin as advising the people not to be misled into participating in the illegal gathering at a place of worship.
He said that those turning up could be arrested for illegal assembly under Section 27 of the Police Act or if the gathering turned ugly, under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting.
"The role of police is to keep order, they should not involve in politicking. Before the gathering is held, they've already started speculating about rioting breaking out," lamented Xavier.
"If any provocation or violence breaks out, the commission needs to take action so the responsible parties will be brought to justice," PMI spokesperson Irene Xavier told malaysiakini today.
She stressed that even though she has reservations about the commission, the occasion on Saturday would be a test case of the newly formed organisation as human rights is involved.
According to KeADILan vice-president Tian Chua, Saturday's event is "a new milestone in the struggle to defend the basic rights to assembly and free speech".
"(Commission chairman) Musa Hitam could show to the world that the commission is truly independent by reprimanding the unnecessary intimidations against peaceful assembly," Chua said in statement today.
"I would like to reiterate here that the mobilisation does not belong to any particular party or political organisation," he added.
Meanwhile, the police were urged to call up all those who had warned of trouble breaking out to prove their allegations of potential trouble.
"Such warnings should be stopped as they will only create fear," said Xavier.
"A responsible government should not come out with words that confuse and threaten the people, like assuming there would be violence on Saturday," she added.
She said that PMI also condemned the police statement on using the Internal Security Act to arrest the people who might participate in the people's assembly at the National Mosque, coordinated by some KeADILan's leaders.
Yesterday, Kuala Lumpur City police chief Deputy Comm Kamaruddin Ali said that the leaders of two opposition political parties face possible arrest including under the ISA if the gathering at the National Mosque proceeded as planned.
The Star today quoted Kamaruddin as advising the people not to be misled into participating in the illegal gathering at a place of worship.
He said that those turning up could be arrested for illegal assembly under Section 27 of the Police Act or if the gathering turned ugly, under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting.
"The role of police is to keep order, they should not involve in politicking. Before the gathering is held, they've already started speculating about rioting breaking out," lamented Xavier.
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