Police response to #Lawan crossed the line - Suhakam

 

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has called on the police to respect and recognise the right to peaceful assembly without restriction, as a fundamental human right.

This came after the response by the police towards recent assemblies and movements made by the rakyat to express their views and opinions, namely the arrest of 31 youths for holding a candlelight vigil and the closing of major roads to a cancelled protest.

“These two incidents revealed actions which are not in line with the state as a duty-bearer, bearing the responsibility to allow and facilitate the rakyat, as rights-holders, their right to peaceful assembly,” they said in a statement today.

On Aug 19, 31 individuals, comprising 17 men and 14 women, were taken into custody at Dang Wangi police station they had gathered at Dataran Merdeka for a vigil in memory of all those who died of Covid-19 so far. 

The police allegedly ignored their demands to know whether they were under arrest, instead dragged and lifted some into Black Marias to be taken to the station for “documentation purposes”.

They claimed that they were not informed about their rights, and were later slapped with RM2,000 compounds each. 

“These, including reports that the group members were denied access to legal representation, is a clear breach of their constitutional rights as stated in Article 5 and 10 of the Federal Constitution.

“Suhakam calls for the police to respect and recognise the right to assemble peacefully publicly or privately, to collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests, which is a fundamental human right.

“No restriction may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those imposed in conformity with the law, and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order, the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others, as stated in Article 21 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICCPR),” said Suhakam.

Referring to the excessive measures such as public transport and 88 road closures on the day of the already-cancelled #Lawan protest, Suhakam stressed that it was the right of the rakyat to hold a peaceful assembly. 

“Suhakam reiterates that it is incumbent upon the police to facilitate this right to assembly by people, as was witnessed by Suhakam during the #Lawan rally on July 31, 2021.

“With proper collaboration between police and organisers, all Malaysians may enjoy the right to assemble peacefully and, one day soon, their freedom for expression be fully met,” they said. - Mkini