Bersih police abuse shows Suhakam’s proposals ignored, inquiry told

File photo shows police arresting a Bersih 3.0 participant in April last year. Bersih is urging Suhakam to take ‘resolute’ action against police violence at public assemblies. – Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 – Bersih urged the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) today to take “resolute” action against police violence at public assemblies.

Police abuse at last year’s April 28 Bersih rally seemed to have magnified despite Suhakam’s recommendations after previous assemblies, lawyers for the electoral reforms group submitted today at Suhakam’s inquiry into official violence at the Bersih rally.

“We firmly believe that Suhakam’s findings and recommendations from the inquiry into the Bersih 3.0 rally must go further than they have previously and be resolute,” Bersih 3.0’s lawyer Mahaletchumi Balakrishnan said at the inquiry today.

“Suhakam’s mandate was given under the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, but if no action is taken and no changes are instituted on its findings and recommendations, it renders Suhakam’s powers under the said Act and role as the human rights body of Malaysia illusory,” she added.

Inquiry chair Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee told reporters after the inquiry today that Suhakam would meet Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Ismail Omar after the Suhakam report on the inquiry is concluded.

“We take the part that recommendations have not been taken seriously by the police, so we’ll meet with the police,” she said.

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