Stop 'intimidating' civil society - Suaram on women's march probe

 

Suaram has urged the police to cease taking action against those involved in the Women's March 2023, which it dubbed as "intimidation" of civil society.

The human rights group's executive director Sevan Doraisamy said the government should respect the freedom of speech and assembly.

"Suaram disagrees with the police's action of probing the Women's March under Section 9 (5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 as well as Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955.

"We think that the police's conduct of summoning the participants of the rally is intimidation of the civil society.

“The act does not only restrict the rights and freedom to assemble, but also attempts to silence the rakyat from fighting against pressing issues such as child marriage, violence against women, and dress policing," Sevan said in a statement today.

He was responding to the Dang Wangi police's probe against the march, which took place outside the Sogo shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

So far, seven people, including participants, speakers, organisers, and observers of the march, have been summoned for questioning.

The organising committee yesterday condemned the crackdown and urged the police to cease their probe of the march. In addition, it also called for the Peaceful Assembly Act to be reviewed.

'Respect freedom of speech and assembly'

Sevan said the government should welcome such marches or rallies as it shows that the country has a population that is concerned about social, economic, and political issues.

"We feel that such democratic practices should be accepted as a new norm in the parliamentary democracy.

"We would like to remind the government that it has the responsibility to facilitate and protect peaceful protests," Sevan stressed.

He noted that since the police have monitored the rally and questioned those involved in it, they would have found out that the gathering concluded without incident.

As such, it is time for the police to review their standard operating procedures in probing peaceful gatherings, Sevan added.

"The police should prioritize in efforts to fight crime, instead of suppressing activists and the civil society."

Sevan concluded by urging the police to cease all forms of action against participants of the march, immediately.

"We urge the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to bring about changes, especially in strengthening the rakyat's freedom of speech and freedom to assemble," he said.

Several pro-Perikatan Nasional TikTok accounts had harped on the presence of pro-LGBT groups at the march to accuse the government of siding with the LGBT community while oppressing freelance preachers such as Azhar Idrus and Wadi Annuar. - Mkini