Tear gas canister fired directly at victim is abuse, says expert
Leong Kar YenPublished: Jan 15, 2001 11:32 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
Tear gas canisters fired directly at a person would constitute abuse of the weapon, a ballistics expert today told a Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) inquiry into alleged police brutality at an opposition gathering last November.
Tear gas canisters fired directly at a person would constitute abuse of the weapon, a ballistics expert today told a Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) inquiry into alleged police brutality at an opposition gathering last November.
"According to instructions printed on the surface of the canister, categorised as 560-CS, it should not be fired directly at persons as serious injury or death may result," said Mohd Zaini Zainal, 40, an assistant research officer at the Ministry of Defence Weapons Science and Technology centre.
When asked by inquiry chairman Anuar Zainal Abidin if it was possible to follow the instructions when facing a riot, Zaini replied, "It depends on how calm you are, if you are not, then it would be hard to follow the instructions."
The three-member panel is investigating allegations of police brutality against citizens who were trapped by police roadblocks on the Kesas Highway while they were on their way to the Keadilan-organised "100,000 People's Gathering" on Jalan Kebun, Klang, on Nov 5 last year.
The inquiry has heard the testimonies of 27 witnesses so far, ranging from Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to a 17-year-old SPM student ([#1]No warning given by police[/#], says Wan Azizah).
Witness Shaiful Khairy Kamarulzaman testified on Dec 11 how he had been hit by a tear gas canister fired directly at him.
Shaiful, who was Wan Azizah's body guard for the Nov 5 gathering, spent two days in the intensive care unit for a fractured skull.
Dangerous projectile
Zaini added that the projectile was intended to be shot into the air, landing later at a "target area", and not directly at people.
"Even when it is shot at an incline, it still poses a danger to people when it falls," he said.
Meanwhile, forensic chemist Cheong Meow Kioon told the inquiry today that the chemical irritant, orthochlorbenzalmalononitrile, or CS, contained within the canister could cause severe respiratory, eye and skin problems.
"I have done some reading and I discovered that the same chemical irritant, CS, is used mainly in the tear gas industry and that it is used to suppress riots throughout the world," Cheong said.
He explained that the canister, made by Federal Laboratories in Wyoming, US, was the burning type that when fired would result in the fuel in the canister beginning to burn, creating a volume of hot air to vapourise the CS and allowing it to spread out into the open.
Asked by commissioner Mehrun Siraj if CS could worsen the condition of asthmatics, he admitted that it could. (Cheong later told reporters that the effects of CS could be washed off with cold water and a diluted alkali solution.)
Asked by Anuar if the canister might cause injury if shot directly at someone, he replied, "Yes."
The inquiry continues at the Suhakam headquarters in Menara Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur at 2.30pm on Jan 17.
"According to instructions printed on the surface of the canister, categorised as 560-CS, it should not be fired directly at persons as serious injury or death may result," said Mohd Zaini Zainal, 40, an assistant research officer at the Ministry of Defence Weapons Science and Technology centre.
When asked by inquiry chairman Anuar Zainal Abidin if it was possible to follow the instructions when facing a riot, Zaini replied, "It depends on how calm you are, if you are not, then it would be hard to follow the instructions."
The three-member panel is investigating allegations of police brutality against citizens who were trapped by police roadblocks on the Kesas Highway while they were on their way to the Keadilan-organised "100,000 People's Gathering" on Jalan Kebun, Klang, on Nov 5 last year.
The inquiry has heard the testimonies of 27 witnesses so far, ranging from Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to a 17-year-old SPM student ([#1]No warning given by police[/#], says Wan Azizah).
Witness Shaiful Khairy Kamarulzaman testified on Dec 11 how he had been hit by a tear gas canister fired directly at him.
Shaiful, who was Wan Azizah's body guard for the Nov 5 gathering, spent two days in the intensive care unit for a fractured skull.
Dangerous projectile
Zaini added that the projectile was intended to be shot into the air, landing later at a "target area", and not directly at people.
"Even when it is shot at an incline, it still poses a danger to people when it falls," he said.
Meanwhile, forensic chemist Cheong Meow Kioon told the inquiry today that the chemical irritant, orthochlorbenzalmalononitrile, or CS, contained within the canister could cause severe respiratory, eye and skin problems.
"I have done some reading and I discovered that the same chemical irritant, CS, is used mainly in the tear gas industry and that it is used to suppress riots throughout the world," Cheong said.
He explained that the canister, made by Federal Laboratories in Wyoming, US, was the burning type that when fired would result in the fuel in the canister beginning to burn, creating a volume of hot air to vapourise the CS and allowing it to spread out into the open.
Asked by commissioner Mehrun Siraj if CS could worsen the condition of asthmatics, he admitted that it could. (Cheong later told reporters that the effects of CS could be washed off with cold water and a diluted alkali solution.)
Asked by Anuar if the canister might cause injury if shot directly at someone, he replied, "Yes."
The inquiry continues at the Suhakam headquarters in Menara Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur at 2.30pm on Jan 17.
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