Human Rights Day Crackdown
Dec 10th, 2007 by Tian
Human Rights Day 2007 is a day of darkness for Malaysian people.
When Mahathir was gone, Abdullah gave people the impression that there would be more openness. In December 2008, his liberal facade crumbled. Suddenly Mr Nice with “Big Ears” revealed his authoritarian self.
In the last few days, we witnessed the first massive crackdown of civil society since Abdullah assumed the premiership. NGOs, opposition parties, lawyers, minority rights activists and a whole range of people have been the target of repression. Last week:
- 31 participants of the 25 November assembly organized by HINDRAF: they were denied bail and charged for attempting to murder police;
- over 50 participants of the 25 November rally were charged and allowed bail;
- 3 HINDRAF leaders, including Uthayakumar: charged for Sedition;
- KeADILan MPT member Gobalakrishna arrested on 7 Dec and charged on 10 Dec;
On Sunday (9 Dec):
- 8 persons including Sivarasa, Lateefah, Suren, etc were arrested during the “Lawyers March for Freedom of Assembly”;
- Lawyer Edmund Bon was arrested when he tried to prevent DBKL officers from removing the Human Rights Day banner outside the Bar Council Auditorium;
- Mat Sabu was arrested at his daughter’s wedding;
- 14 participants of the 10 November BERSIH rally were arrested, including many members of Unit Amal PAS;
- Me: arrested in Skudai Johor, after my talk at SUARAM’s Human Rights Day forum.
In total, no less than 120 people were arrested and charged within a week. This is a crackdown comparable to Operasi Lalang in 1987.
The difference is that Abdullah has not yet invoked the ISA. Arguably, the use of the Police Act is a ‘milder’ approach. Again, that is also only a deceptive veil.
The Government’s crackdown will not stop here. The IGP and the PM have both unequivocally threatened to use the ISA against agitators. It seems the PM is determined to tighten the screws.
In the meantime, the real intention of the arrest and tough legal action is to discourage public assembly. The Attorney General Gani Patail himself was present in court to procecute all these cases. He applied to the court to deny bail for all those charged. In other words, his attempt to deny bail for all the accused (who are suspected of minor offenses such as illegal assembly) is tantamount to a form of ‘backdoor’ ISA.
All these events show that Abdullah has fallen to the weakest point in his career as PM. He is trying to reassert his position of authority by posturing a ‘tough’ image.
However all repressive actions only confirm that the regime of Abdullah Badawi is heading toward autocracy and further intolerance. People will cast away their illusions that its time to stand up and demand his replacement.
Lawyers March for Freedom of Assembly:
(I was not around, the video was captured by my friend Chan)
Tian,
Keep up the good work!
It’s time t rise up to creat a free and fair Malaysia.
There is nothing to loose except fear!
after watching those few recorded videos on the incident at parliament not too many days ago - arrest of malaysians who were trying to submit a petition to the Tuan Yang Di-Pertua, i couldn’t help but be sad - that Parliament - as a sacred ground of democracy was tarnished by the arrest of these Malaysians who were just exercising their democratic rights by going to Parliament and wanting to submit a petition. should the Tuan Yang Di-Pertua refuse to accept it- he could hv very well instructed the Secretary of both chambers or even the Ketua Pentadbir to accept or to meet them and explain if he can or can’t accept it on behalf of the Yang Di-Pertua in the spirit of democracy and the separation of powers among the 3 branches. yet we see, the BN govt acting like un-educated arrogant rulers of the feudalistic past in shaming our country and instructed police to arrest malaysians who are only exercising their rights in their own country.
if we as malaysians have no rights any longer- then who has the rights- the country where we were born, lived, and so forth not to mention paying taxes - being a political scientist i am ashamed when viewing those footage and i am certain great political thinkers and philosophers like Aristotle, Socrates and even Kennedy would be turning around in their graves when seeing what is happening. If only Parliament house could ’speak’ i am sure the house would rumble and squash those police personnel for tarnishing the very foundation of democracy by arresting malaysians in their own Parliament- a shameful day indeed for Malaysians.
I would urge the organizers instead, to submit and bring the government to the ICJ as well as the Human Rights court to trail this case - and to further shame the government- .. in the international arena. Commonwealth Heads of Govt should convene an urgent meeting to discuss the erosion of democratic freedom in Malaysia and perhaps expel Malaysia from the grouping - whilst ASEAN should take a stand on this matter and advise the govt to mirror a softer stand whilst UN should send a cautionary note to the PM .. International communities world wide are looking at Malaysia and the International communities in wanting to promote democracy should stand up and assist in these struggle for democractic freedom and right for all Malaysians. if we as malaysians no longer have rights in our own country who has the rights then - thus malaysia is no longer a country at all to anyone - .. it has become no longer a authoritarian regime but have changed to a dictactorial regime or even worse than that a new regime which is neither a dictactor nor authoritarian but absolute regime far more brutal than a mornachy and leading to perhaps the Presidential regime of Edie Amin of Uganda or Mugabe .. we never know .. Malaysia i cry for you ! ..