SUARAM – Suara Rakyat Malaysia – Working for Human Rights

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SUARAM Annual Human Rights Report 2018

Human Rights Must be the Foundation of Malaysia’s Reform

Digital copy of SUARAM Annual Human Rights Report will be available for download HERE until 31 July 2019.

Missed our launch? Tune in to our recording at Youtube!

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) Annual Human Rights Report 2018 aims to outline the situation pertaining to human rights in Malaysia for the year 2018. The human rights discourse has evolved drastically following the 14th General Election. However, the first change in administration in Malaysia does not mean an end to the culture of impunity that characterize the human rights violations in Malaysia. Even under the new administration, crucial reforms to remedy the ongoing human rights violations have been slow and met with substantial opposition.

TIME FOR KAK WAN MOVE-OVER FOR ANWAR

Press statement by Kua Kia Soong, SUARAM Adviser 16 June 2019

Given the way Dr Mahathir is playing games over the exact moment when Anwar is to take over the Prime Ministership, I would call upon Kak Wan to make a strategic chess move by resigning her post of Deputy PM as soon as possible since she has already said she would do so if her husband becomes PM and she does not condone nepotism in her party.

BERSIH 2.0 and SUARAM: Condemnation of Police Brutality in Hong Kong and Call for Withdrawal of Extradition Bill – 净选盟及大马人民之声：谴责香港警察暴力及呼吁收回引渡犯罪嫌疑人法案

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0) and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) strongly condemn police brutality during the peaceful protest against the extradition law amendments in Hong Kong.
According to reports and video documentation, the Hong Kong police used unnecessary and excessive force, including pepper spray, batons, fired teargas, water canon and rubber bullets on the peaceful protesters in their attempt to disperse them, causing many injuries to protesters and journalists.

Hong Kong Basic Law and the Bill of Rights Ordinance guaranteed the right to peaceful assembly of the Hong Kong people. What the police did on June 12 is not only a gross violation of the Hong Kong Basic Law and the Bill of Rights Ordinance, it is an outright abuse of power.

During the rule of the previous government, many Malaysians faced similar brutal treatment by the police during Bersih rallies and other peaceful protests. We stand in solidarity with the millions of Hong Kong people who fearlessly come out to express their objection to the extradition bill and defend their right to hold peaceful protests. We call on the Hong Kong government to respect the right to peaceful assembly, preserve Hong Kong’s unique democratic space and freedom.

We further call on the HK government to initiate independent investigation into police brutality and to hold them accountable for wrongdoings.

We strongly urge the Hong Kong government to listen to the people’s voice and withdraw the extradition law amendment. The amended laws would allow the extradition of people accused of crimes to mainland China, where they would be at risk of torture, ill-treatment and unfair trials. The Hong Kong government must uphold the rule of law and any extradition of criminal suspects must be subject to human rights scrutiny in accordance with international standards.

Issued by:
BERSIH 2.0 and SUARAM

净选盟及大马人民之声：谴责香港警察暴力及呼吁收回引渡犯罪嫌疑人法案干净与公平选举联盟及大马人民之声严厉谴责反对引渡犯罪嫌疑人法案的和平集会中所发生的警察暴力事件。

根据新闻报导及多项视频，香港警察在驱散和平集会的参与者之际，使用不必要及过多的武力，包括胡椒喷剂、警棍、催泪弹、水炮抢、布袋弹及橡皮弹，导致多名和平集会参与者及记者受伤。

香港基本法及人权法保障香港人民的和平集会的权利。香港警察在 6月12日所作出所为，不仅仅是违反香港自己的基本法及人权法，同时也是赤裸裸的滥权行为。

我国在国阵的统治期间，许多人民也因为参与净选盟和其他组织的和平集会而同样面对警察的暴力镇压。因此，我们要在此声援超过一百万的香港人民，无畏无惧的走上街头行使和捍卫他们和平集会的权利，表达反对引渡犯罪嫌疑人法案的民意。我们呼吁香港政府尊重人民的和平集会的权利，维护香港独特的民主空间和自由。
我们也呼吁香港政府立刻成立独立的调查委员会，彻查警察暴力事件及把滥权者绳之以法。

我们呼吁香港政府聆听人民的声音。把引渡犯罪嫌疑人法案撤回。这项法案将让被引渡回中国大陆的嫌疑犯，面对酷刑及不公平审讯的危害。香港政府必须维护法治，任何的犯罪嫌疑犯的引渡，都必须符合国际人权的标准与审核。
发自，

干净与公平选举联盟及大马人民之声

ORANG ASLI DEATHS: TIME TO HONOUR OUR ORIGINAL PEOPLE

Press statement by Kua Kia Soong, SUARAM Adviser 12 June 2019

The latest deaths of 14 Orang Asli from the Bateq tribe, the country’s last indigenous nomadic community in Kuala Koh, Kelantan, with scores more hospitalised is a tragedy Malaysians should be ashamed of. The Orang Asli are the original people of Peninsula Malaysia whose ancient ancestry in these lands qualifies them as more authentically “Bumiputera” than the “pendatangs” who came later yet claim to be exclusively Bumiputera. Nonetheless, ever since Independence, the Orang Asli have been increasingly marginalised and deprived of their rights to land and resources, poisoned by profits-seeking loggers, miners, plantation owners, dam builders and other so-called “developers”.

AN EFFECTIVE AND INDEPENDENT MACC

Press statement by Kua Kia Soong, SUARAM Adviser 5 June 2019

The appointment of Lateefa Koya as the head of the MACC has raised questions of her independence and effectiveness for the job, and rightly so. Corruption, as every Malaysian knows, has been the scourge of Malaysian life for decades. Thus, the selection of an independent and effective head of this Anti-Corruption Commission is of paramount importance if we are to successfully curb this obstacle to our social and economic development. Lateefa no doubt has a range of valuable skills, experience and qualities, however her political independence is sadly not one of them.

LYNAS GO-AHEAD IS PH’S BIGGEST BETRAYAL YET

Press statement by Kua Kia Soong, SUARAM Adviser 31 May 2019

The Prime Minister’s statement that Malaysia will allow Australian rare earths producer Lynas Corp to keep operating a processing plant in the country is Pakatan’s biggest betrayal yet since they came into power. They have reneged on their election manifesto promise to take Malaysia on the path of sustainable development, peoples’ health and safety in a clean environment.