Suhakam's Finding On Hilmy And Ruth Does Not Add Up, Some Suggestions To The NGOs / Lawyers Representing The Disappeared

 

 

April 15 ― pastor Joshua, wife Ruth enforced disappearance 
due to religious activities, according to Suhakam

However, 3-member panel found no evidence “agents of the state” involved 
unlike Amri Che Mat, Pastor Raymond Koh

panel's finding, balance of probability disappearance involuntary in nature
enforced disappearance linked to Joshua’s proselytisation Christianity to Muslims 

 
3 IOs  refused to divulge documents and further information 
“the state” had not provided any information

Hishamudin : "authorities not only failed to investigate but “hampered progress”

Ruth’s brother Imam said IO told him not to report disappearance to embassy
IO tried to suppress case from other agencies and public” FMT quoted Hishamudin
Hilmys reported missing on March 6, 2017, last seen on November 30, 2016
Suhakam’s inquiry began Feb 10, 2020 until Jan 22, 2022. 26 witnesses called 

My Comments : 

Early this morning I received a WhatsApp from someone about the Suhakam findings. I replied as follows:

"Dear Dato, the initial reaction towards DS Hishamuddin’s findings on Joshua Hilmy are negative. He has absolved State involvement in their disappearance. Please see attached headlines. The question raised is ’if not the State then who?’ Most certainly their disappearance cannot be isolated from the Amri and Pastor Koh cases who according to Suhakam were indeed abducted by agents of the State. The common denominator being all three cases involved proselytising to Muslims. They were disappeared because they preached to Muslims. Amri was preaching Shiaism. The conclusion by DS Hishamuddin confirms that Hilmy and wife were part of an “organised disappearance” just like Pastor Koh and Amri. Just that it was not the State but yet a different organisation was involved. That does not sound plausible. The non Muslim public (especially) will not react well to this finding."

Most certainly the words "enforced disappearance" refers to an abduction. The abduction of Joshua Hilmy and his wife Ruth were most certainly carried out by more than one person. There had to be some organisation involved. 

The Suhakam inquiry says:

•  3 IOs  refused to divulge documents and further information 
• “the state” had not provided any information

The Police have also presented absolutely ZERO evidence of any sort to Suhakam or to the public that  another organisation was involved in the abduction of Joshua and his wife.  If some jihadi organisation had indeed been involved I think the public would have heard about it by now. But that has not been the case.

So indeed how did Suhakam come to the conclusion that the State was not involved this time around when in the other two cases (Pastor Koh and Amri Che Mat) Suhakam said the State was involved?

In all three cases the "motive" behind the abductions was the same ie :  "enforced disappearance linked to Joshua’s proselytisation Christianity to Muslims". Pastor Koh was targeted for the same reason. Amri was spreading Shia teachings. They were all "proselytizing".

And also there are no other known jihadi fanatic groups in Malaysia which could have been responsible for the abduction of Joshua Hilmy and his wife.

So Suhakam's finding that  no evidence “agents of the state” involved   creates more questions than answers.

Despite the same motive behind ALL three cases : proselytisation, Suhakam says only in  two cases (Koh and Amri) the State was involved.  

Wikipedia says that jihadi fanatics in Malaysia have been defeated, defunct:

    Al-Ma'unah (defeated and dissolved)
    Darul Islamiah Malaysia (defunct)
    Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia (defunct)
    Tanzim Qaedat al-Jihad (defunct)

The US State Department's analysis on jihadi terrorists in Malaysia says : (Malaysia is) a transit point, and, to a lesser extent, destination country for terrorist groups including ISIS, Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), al-Qa’ida, and Jemaah Islamiyah..

I seriously doubt ISIS, Abu Sayyaf, Al Qaida or Jemaah Islamiyah (Indonesian) were behind the abduction of Joshua Hilmy and his wife.

There are no other jihadi fanatic groups left in the country which could have been responsible for the abduction of Joshua and wife Ruth.  

Suhakam's findings have created a loose end.  

What is left? The families of the disappeared should have by now contacted the ICC (International Criminal Court) based in Rome, Italy.

They should also have contacted the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances and filed a report.

Because believe me you are NOT going to get any justice in Malaysia over these cases. There is no morality in this country. 

Joshua disappeared in 2016. Six years have gone by and we are no closer to knowing anything.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.