Malaysia
24.07.03
Urgent Interventions
Malaysia: Violent repression of peaceful demonstration
Case MYS 090703.1 ESCR
Follow-up of Case MYS 090703.ESCR
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Concern
Violent Repression of Peaceful Demonstration
24 July 2003
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Malaysia.
New Information
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), a member of the OMCT network, that on 18 July 2003 police forces disrupted a peaceful demonstration and arrested and beat participant Syahrir Mahmood as the crowd of around 300 protesters marched to the Magistrate Court, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
According to the information received, on 18 July 2003 a group of around 300 demonstrators gathered at the Kuala Lumpur National Mosque and planned to march to the Magistrate Court in support of a group of students, known as the ISA7, who were facing trial for their participation in a June 2001 demonstration against the 1960 Internal Security Act (ISA). It is reported that a large police force, led by Chief Inspector of the District Police Hadi Ho Abdullah, intervened and used force against the participants just as the march was beginning. Mr. Hadi Ho Abdullah reportedly took a position that the march was illegal and that there would be no negotiations about continuing the march and then gave the demonstrators no time to disperse.
According to the information received Mr. Syahrir Mahmood, a spokesperson for the Students Abolish ISA Movement (Gabungan Mahasiswa Mansuhkan ISA, or GMMI), attempted to negotiate with the police to allow the group time to disperse, but these efforts were rebuffed. It is reported that seven uniformed police officers later grabbed Mr. Mahmood, sprayed his eyes with tear gas, causing him to nearly lose consciousness, and struck him several times on the head and back. It is reported that Mr. Mahmood suffered bruises on his head and that his neck was bleeding and swollen. The police reportedly continued to strike Mr. Mahmood after he was handcuffed. It is reported that Mr. Mahmood was arrested and brought to the Jalan Stadium Road Police Station (also known as Tun H.S. Lee Police Station), then released on police bail at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Background information
According to the information received, the aforementioned march is part of a larger effort to support the ISA7 in getting the charges against them dropped and to get them reinstated to their universities. The seven students were arrested on 8 June 2001 for their participation in a demonstration against the 1960 Internal Security Act. After being detained overnight at the Jalan Stadium Road Police Station, they were charged with illegal assembly under the 1967 Police Act and suspended from their universities under the 1971 Universities and University Colleges Act.
It is reported that these students, who have been suspended from their universities for over two years, have been unable to find jobs and are suffering from the strain of the lengthy legal process resulting from the charges. The students have reportedly been required to attend at least 6 hearings regarding the charges against them. At the time of the march, the students were scheduled to stand trial on the criminal charges from July 7th to July 14th 2003 in Kuala Lumpur Magistrate Court. It is reported that their trial is scheduled to resume on 27 October 2003.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Malaysia urging them to:
i. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Syahrir Mahmood;
ii. guarantee an immediate investigation into the circumstances of these events in order to identify those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
iii. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with international human rights standards.
Addresses
Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, Prime Minister, Prime Minister's Office, Federal Government Administration Centre, 62502 Putrajaya, Malaysia, Email: ppm@smpke.jpm.my; Fax: +603 8888 3444,
Dato Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi , Minister of Home Affairs & Deputy Prime Minister, Menteri Dalam Negeri,Aras 13, Blok D1,Parcel D, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,65202 Putrajaya,Selangor, Malaysia,Fax:+ 60388868014, tpm@smpke.jpm.my
Tan Sri Norian Mai, Inspector General of Police, Ketua Polis Negara, Ibupejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia, Bukit Aman, 50502 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Fax: + 60 3 2273 1326
Attorney General of Malaysia, State Attorney General's Chambers, 9th Floor, Yayasan Sabah Building, 88990 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, Fax: 6-088-425774
Mr. Tan Sri Dato Musa Bin Mohamad, Minister of Education, Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia, Faras 7, Block J, Pusat Bandar Damansara, 50604 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Email: musamohd@moe.gov.my
Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), 29th Floor, Menara Tun Razak, Jalan Raja Laut, 50350 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Fax: +603 2612 5620, Email: humanrights@suhakam.org.my
Mr. Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah, Chief Justice of Malaysia, Federal Court of Malaysia, Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad, Jalan Raja 50506, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
Ambassadeur, Rajmah, Hussain, ICC-1er / H / Pré-Bois 20 / CP 1834, CH-1215, Genève 15, Suisse, e-mail : mwgeneva@ties.itu.int, fax: +4122 710 75 01
Please also write to the embassies of Malaysia in your respective country.
Geneva, 24 July 2003
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
Follow-up of Case MYS 090703.ESCR
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Concern
Violent Repression of Peaceful Demonstration
24 July 2003
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Malaysia.
New Information
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), a member of the OMCT network, that on 18 July 2003 police forces disrupted a peaceful demonstration and arrested and beat participant Syahrir Mahmood as the crowd of around 300 protesters marched to the Magistrate Court, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
According to the information received, on 18 July 2003 a group of around 300 demonstrators gathered at the Kuala Lumpur National Mosque and planned to march to the Magistrate Court in support of a group of students, known as the ISA7, who were facing trial for their participation in a June 2001 demonstration against the 1960 Internal Security Act (ISA). It is reported that a large police force, led by Chief Inspector of the District Police Hadi Ho Abdullah, intervened and used force against the participants just as the march was beginning. Mr. Hadi Ho Abdullah reportedly took a position that the march was illegal and that there would be no negotiations about continuing the march and then gave the demonstrators no time to disperse.
According to the information received Mr. Syahrir Mahmood, a spokesperson for the Students Abolish ISA Movement (Gabungan Mahasiswa Mansuhkan ISA, or GMMI), attempted to negotiate with the police to allow the group time to disperse, but these efforts were rebuffed. It is reported that seven uniformed police officers later grabbed Mr. Mahmood, sprayed his eyes with tear gas, causing him to nearly lose consciousness, and struck him several times on the head and back. It is reported that Mr. Mahmood suffered bruises on his head and that his neck was bleeding and swollen. The police reportedly continued to strike Mr. Mahmood after he was handcuffed. It is reported that Mr. Mahmood was arrested and brought to the Jalan Stadium Road Police Station (also known as Tun H.S. Lee Police Station), then released on police bail at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Background information
According to the information received, the aforementioned march is part of a larger effort to support the ISA7 in getting the charges against them dropped and to get them reinstated to their universities. The seven students were arrested on 8 June 2001 for their participation in a demonstration against the 1960 Internal Security Act. After being detained overnight at the Jalan Stadium Road Police Station, they were charged with illegal assembly under the 1967 Police Act and suspended from their universities under the 1971 Universities and University Colleges Act.
It is reported that these students, who have been suspended from their universities for over two years, have been unable to find jobs and are suffering from the strain of the lengthy legal process resulting from the charges. The students have reportedly been required to attend at least 6 hearings regarding the charges against them. At the time of the march, the students were scheduled to stand trial on the criminal charges from July 7th to July 14th 2003 in Kuala Lumpur Magistrate Court. It is reported that their trial is scheduled to resume on 27 October 2003.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Malaysia urging them to:
i. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Syahrir Mahmood;
ii. guarantee an immediate investigation into the circumstances of these events in order to identify those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
iii. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with international human rights standards.
Addresses
Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, Prime Minister, Prime Minister's Office, Federal Government Administration Centre, 62502 Putrajaya, Malaysia, Email: ppm@smpke.jpm.my; Fax: +603 8888 3444,
Dato Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi , Minister of Home Affairs & Deputy Prime Minister, Menteri Dalam Negeri,Aras 13, Blok D1,Parcel D, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,65202 Putrajaya,Selangor, Malaysia,Fax:+ 60388868014, tpm@smpke.jpm.my
Tan Sri Norian Mai, Inspector General of Police, Ketua Polis Negara, Ibupejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia, Bukit Aman, 50502 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Fax: + 60 3 2273 1326
Attorney General of Malaysia, State Attorney General's Chambers, 9th Floor, Yayasan Sabah Building, 88990 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, Fax: 6-088-425774
Mr. Tan Sri Dato Musa Bin Mohamad, Minister of Education, Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia, Faras 7, Block J, Pusat Bandar Damansara, 50604 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Email: musamohd@moe.gov.my
Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), 29th Floor, Menara Tun Razak, Jalan Raja Laut, 50350 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Fax: +603 2612 5620, Email: humanrights@suhakam.org.my
Mr. Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah, Chief Justice of Malaysia, Federal Court of Malaysia, Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad, Jalan Raja 50506, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
Ambassadeur, Rajmah, Hussain, ICC-1er / H / Pré-Bois 20 / CP 1834, CH-1215, Genève 15, Suisse, e-mail : mwgeneva@ties.itu.int, fax: +4122 710 75 01
Please also write to the embassies of Malaysia in your respective country.
Geneva, 24 July 2003
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.