Respect right to assemble peacefully, cops told

 

Some of the participants at the candlelight vigil on Aug 19 were seen being roughed up and dragged into the waiting police vans.

PETALING JAYA: The police must respect and recognise the right of the people to assemble peacefully, publicly or privately, to defend common interests as a fundamental human right, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has urged.

The commission said no restrictions should be placed on the exercise of this right other than those imposed in conformity with the law as stated in Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

“Suhakam is deeply concerned with the police’s excessive response towards assemblies and the public’s right to express views and opinions,” it said in a statement.

The commission cited the recent arrest of 31 youths for holding a candlelight vigil in memory of those who have lost their lives to Covid-19 and the closing of major roads and shutting down of public transportation heading to Kuala Lumpur last Saturday for its concern.

“These actions were not in line with the state bearing the responsibility to allow and facilitate the public, as rights-holders, their right to assemble peacefully.”

Suhakam said it was also reported that the vigil participants who were forcefully arrested at Dataran Merdeka were not informed of the grounds for arrest and not allowed to meet their lawyers.

“These (issues), 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,” it said.

Suhakam reiterated that it was incumbent upon the police to facilitate the people’s right to assemble as was witnessed by the commission during the #Lawan rally on July 31.

It added that with proper collaboration between police and organisers, all Malaysians would enjoy the right to assemble peacefully and, one day soon, their freedom of expression would be fully met.

Last week, a total of 17 men and 14 women taking part in a candlelight vigil were arrested and taken to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters (IPD).

Among the participants were #Lawan organiser Mohammad Asraf Sharaf, Undi18 co-founder Qyira Yusri, and Sarah Irdina Mohamad Ariff, who is the founder of youth-based group Misi Solidariti.

Many of them were seen being roughed up and dragged into the waiting police vans. - FMT