UN rights commission urged to disqualify Malaysia
Chong Yen LongPublished: Apr 23, 2001 11:28 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
The United Nations Human Rights Commission was urged to disqualify Malaysia from its membership in light of the government's widespread and often brutal crackdown on its citizens, including the arrests of over 50 people at the "Black14" people's garthering on Saturday.
In making the call at the commission's current session in Geneva, social reform group Aliran representative Deborah Stothard yesterday also appealed to all participants at the meeting to act urgently on the arbitrary detentions made last weekend.
The UN Human Rights Commission meets annually for six weeks to review the human rights record to its members and has the powers to censure errant nations.
At least 46 protesters, including two women and a 17-year-old youth were arrested and ordered to be remanded for up to six days pending charges in connection with "illegal assembly".
Referring to last Saturday's event, which marked the first anniversary of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's sentencing to six years' jail, Stothard stated that the capital of Kuala Lumpur was turned into a "police state" overnight by an immense presence of riot police armed with sub-machine guns.
"On Saturday, people praying at the National Mosque were attacked by baton-wielding police. The authorities also used tear gas and acid water cannon on peaceful demonstrators," Stothard said in a statement to malaysiakini today.
She added that the current crackdown makes a mockery of the fine pronouncements of the Malaysian government delegation on its commitment to protecting and promoting all rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
"These violations carried out by the Malaysian authorities during the sitting of this honourable body and the deafening silence of the newly-established Human Rights Commission, only goes to show Malaysia's utter contempt for international human rights standard," Stothard said.
She told the meeting that the Malaysian Constitution allow for the right to assemble peacefully, yet in the past year, more than 1,000 people have been charged with illegal assembly. Those convicted are at risk of losing their jobs as further punishment.
Stothard appealed to the UN body to intervene with the highest Malaysian authorities to secure the immediate and unconditional release of those arrested, lift the crackdown orders and allow Malaysians their constitutional right to freedom of assembly and expression.
In making the call at the commission's current session in Geneva, social reform group Aliran representative Deborah Stothard yesterday also appealed to all participants at the meeting to act urgently on the arbitrary detentions made last weekend.
The UN Human Rights Commission meets annually for six weeks to review the human rights record to its members and has the powers to censure errant nations.
At least 46 protesters, including two women and a 17-year-old youth were arrested and ordered to be remanded for up to six days pending charges in connection with "illegal assembly".
Referring to last Saturday's event, which marked the first anniversary of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's sentencing to six years' jail, Stothard stated that the capital of Kuala Lumpur was turned into a "police state" overnight by an immense presence of riot police armed with sub-machine guns.
"On Saturday, people praying at the National Mosque were attacked by baton-wielding police. The authorities also used tear gas and acid water cannon on peaceful demonstrators," Stothard said in a statement to malaysiakini today.
She added that the current crackdown makes a mockery of the fine pronouncements of the Malaysian government delegation on its commitment to protecting and promoting all rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
"These violations carried out by the Malaysian authorities during the sitting of this honourable body and the deafening silence of the newly-established Human Rights Commission, only goes to show Malaysia's utter contempt for international human rights standard," Stothard said.
She told the meeting that the Malaysian Constitution allow for the right to assemble peacefully, yet in the past year, more than 1,000 people have been charged with illegal assembly. Those convicted are at risk of losing their jobs as further punishment.
Stothard appealed to the UN body to intervene with the highest Malaysian authorities to secure the immediate and unconditional release of those arrested, lift the crackdown orders and allow Malaysians their constitutional right to freedom of assembly and expression.
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