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Judicial harassment was the most common violation experienced by human rights defenders (HRDs) in Asia from 2021 to 2022. State actors–such as the police–were the top perpetrators. The forum coincides with the 25th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, which requires states to protect HRDs. Nevertheless, violations against HRDs still persist in Asia. HRDs call for stronger mechanisms for protecting and creating an enabling environment for human rights work. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Together, we are stronger. This collective call echoed throughout the 10th Asian Regional Human Rights Defenders Forum, which brought together some of Asia’s most courageous voices. Held from 1 to 3 November 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the forum provided a platform for over 200 human rights defenders (HRDs) to discuss their shared advocacies, struggles, and hopes for promoting and protecting fundamental rights and freedoms across Asia and beyond. The forum expressed deep concern on the situation in Occupied Palestine Territory and Israel, particularly the indiscriminate bombing and military operations in Gaza by Israel that bears hallmarks of genocide. Participants called for an immediate ceasefire and end to the ongoing siege of Gaza by Israel as well as for unfettered access for humanitarian aid to Gaza. Likewise, defenders called for accountability and an investigation into the alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both Israeli military forces and Palestinian armed groups. The forum also celebrated the invaluable work of HRDs, emphasising the need for innovative ways of supporting them amid increasingly hostile environments in the region. In addition, an art exhibit was set up to commemorate the courageous acts of Asian human rights defenders while also showcasing the creativity of young Asian artists, highlighting the power of arts and storytelling as advocacy tools. The three-day forum was organised by the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) alongside Pusat KOMAS and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM). Violations against human rights defenders This year’s forum coincided with the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the 25th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. The latter requires states to protect HRDs in recognition of their crucial contributions to ‘peace, sustainable development, and human rights.’ Unfortunately, violations against HRDs still persist in Asia. In 2021 and 2022 alone, FORUM-ASIA documented 1,636 cases of violations which affected 4,440 defenders–alongside their families, organisations, and communities–across 22 monitored Asian countries. The exact numbers, however, may be higher as cases often go unreported. Judicial harassment was the most common violation, followed by arbitrary arrests and detention, physical violence, and intimidation and threats. At worst, such cases may result in enforced disappearances, killings, and deaths. Other violations included administrative harassment, restrictions on movement, surveillance, vilification, and abduction. Among all HRDs, pro-democracy defenders were at most risk. Meanwhile, women human rights defenders and sexual orientation and gender identity rights defenders often experienced gender-based harassment. Community-based defenders–including land and environment defenders, indigenous peoples’ rights defenders, and grassroot activists were the third most affected group. Other targeted HRD groups included media workers, students and youth, non-governmental organisations, and minority rights defenders. Most violations were committed by state actors, with the police topping the list of perpetrators. Among those who have experienced judicial harassment are FORUM-ASIA members Khurram Parvez in Kashmir, Adilur Rahman Khan in Bangladesh, Cristina Palabay in the Philippines, among many others. FORUM-ASIA is in solidarity with all the defenders facing harassment. ‘I want to emphasise that the government recognizes that human rights defenders and civil society organisations play an indispensable role in advocating for the rights and concerns of marginalised communities. They act as watchdogs, exposing injustices, discrimination, and human rights violations that might otherwise go unnoticed,’ Malaysian Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation YB Chang Li Kang said during the forum. Hopeful for Asia Despite the many challenges, HRDs in Asia are not giving up. ‘Indeed, we are stronger together. This year alone, human rights defenders and organisations have overcome tremendous challenges in the region. We are never keeping silent, we will continue to demand justice and accountability not only here in Malaysia but across Asia and beyond,’ said Jerald Joseph, Chairperson of FORUM-ASIA and Director of Pusat KOMAS. Since 2001, FORUM-ASIA has been organising the biennial forum with the goal of fostering meaningful collaborations among HRDs as well as enhancing HRDs’ engagement with the United Nations special procedures mandate holders and other regional and sub-regional human rights mechanisms. ‘FORUM-ASIA envisioned this event to serve as a safe space, where each and every one of us can freely express our ideas and opinions regarding Asia’s latest human rights situation. Together, let us renew our commitment to respond to the imperatives of the times. We need stronger mechanisms for protecting and creating an enabling environment for human rights work,’ said Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso, Executive Director of FORUM-ASIA. # About FORUM-ASIA The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is a network of 85 member organisations across 23 countries, mainly in Asia. Founded in 1991, FORUM-ASIA works to strengthen movements for human rights and sustainable development through research, advocacy, capacity development and solidarity actions in Asia and beyond. It has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and consultative relationship with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. The FORUM-ASIA Secretariat is based in Bangkok, with offices in Jakarta, Geneva and Kathmandu. www.forum-asia.org For media inquiries, please contact: Communication and Media Programme, FORUM-ASIA, communication@forum-asia.org About Pusat Komas Pusat Komas Komas is a human rights civil society organisation that advocates against racism and racial discrimination in Malaysia. www.komas.org For more information, please contact: Dr. Ryan Chua Programme Director ryanc@komas.org About SUARAM Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) is a non-governmental organisation established in 1989 to monitor and advocate for the respect of human rights in Malaysia. Through its consistent and uncompromising work, it has established itself as one of the key human rights organisations, one to which Malaysians turn for information and support. www.suaram.net For more information, please contact: Mr. Sevan Doraisamy Executive Director ed@suaram.net

Tindakan yang diambil oleh pegawai dari Pejabat Tanah dan Galian (PTG) serta pihak polis terhadap petani serta aktivis semasa pengusiran paksa di Kanthan, Tambun adalah sesuatu yang tidak wajar. Berdasarkan maklumat terkini yang dikeluarkan oleh Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), seorang pegawai PTG dengan secara kerasnya telah melanggar aktivis, Chong Yee Shan sehingga beliau jatuh ke tanah bagi menghalang jentolak dan jengkaut untuk mengusir enam petani di Kanthan pagi ini. Chong mengalami kecederaan di bahagian hidung dan mulut serta patah gigi berikutan daripada tindakan pegawai tersebut. Pada 2.05 petang, tiga aktivis dan seorang petani, termasuk Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, Pengerusi PSM kemudiannya ditahan polis. Ini berlaku selepas usaha petani dan ketiga-tiga aktivis tersebut menghalang percubaan PTG untuk merobohkan tanah petani semasa rundingan sedang dijalankan. Semua pihak berkuasa kerajaan, tanpa mengira mandat dan pangkat seharusnya bertanggungjawab serta menjalankan tugas dengan adil dan berintegriti. Ini termasuklah tidak menggunakan kekerasan di samping mengangkat hak, kesejahteraan dan kebajikan orang yang mereka berkhidmat, termasuk aktivis yang tanpa jemu berjuang demi komuniti rentan dan terpinggir. Kekerasan fizikal dan penahanan sewenang-wenang oleh pegawai penguatkuasa dari PTG dan pihak polis merupakan pelanggaran kepada hak untuk kebebasan dan keselamatan orang semua petani dan aktivis yang terlibat. Perkara ini juga mengekalkan ketidakadilan kepada pemindahan, kehilangan mata pencarian dan ketiadaan perlindungan perundangan terhadap petani dimana sehingga hari ini mereka masih belum menerima alternatif penempatan semula seperti yang dijanjikan oleh Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Perak (PKNP). Kami menuntut pihak polis untuk segera membebaskan empat orang aktivis yang ditahan, salah seorang daripadanya, seorang petani termasuk memulakan siasatan terhadap tindakan kekerasan oleh pegawai PTG terhadap Chong. Kami menggesa Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, ahli Parlimen kawasan Tambun, untuk segera melihat kesahan pengusiran paksa oleh Pejabat Tanah, di samping memantau proses yang inklusif, konsultasi yang telah berlaku dan kesannya terhadap petani dan pemegang taruh lain.

[Updated Version] Actions taken by enforcement officers from Ipoh’s Land Registry Office (PTG) and the police towards farmers and activists during the forced eviction at Kanthan, Tambun, are nothing but appalling. Based on verified updates released by Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), a PTG officer violently shoved activist Chong Yee Shan to the ground to make way for bulldozers and excavators to evict six farmers in Kanthan this morning. Chong suffered injuries to her nose and mouth as well as broken teeth as a result of this thrust. At 2.05pm, three activists and one farmer, including PSM Chairperson Dr. Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, were subsequently arrested by police. This took place after farmers and activists’ efforts to prevent PTG’s attempts to demolish the farmers’ land whilst negotiations were ongoing. All government officials, regardless of rank and mandate, have the responsibility to ensure that they conduct their duties with fairness and integrity. This includes non-violence as well as upholding rights, wellbeing and welfare of the people whom they serve, including activists who tirelessly advocate for the most vulnerable and marginalised communities. The physical violence and arbitrary arrest by enforcement officers from PTG and the police constitute a clear breach of these values – by not only grossly violating the fundamental right to liberty and security of person of all farmers and activists implicated, but also perpetuating injustices of displacement, loss of livelihoods and absent legal protection against the farmers when they have yet to receive alternatives for relocation as promised by the Perak State Development Corporation (Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Perak; PKNP). We demand the police to immediately release the four activists and farmer, as well as initiate investigations into the act of violent shoving by the PTG officer against Chong. We also urge Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, also the member of Parliament for the Tambun constituency, to swiftly look into the legality of the forced eviction undertaken by PTG, whilst observing inclusive processes including consultations undertaken with implicated farmers and other stakeholders.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) strongly denounces the arrest, overnight detention and remand of an overseas-based Malaysian book editor Kean Wong under the Sedition Act - over a book cover featuring a modified national coat-of-arms published three years ago. Kean Wong has also been unjustifiably retained in the police’s suspect list and subject to arrest upon return to the country since 2020. On 16 October 2023, Kean Wong was detained at the Kelana Jaya Immigration Department, and subsequently detained overnight at Dang Wangi police station. On 17 October 2023, the magistrate granted a 1-day remand for the police to resume investigations on Kean Wong. To date, whilst the police released a statement that Kean Wong is released, the probe against the editor continues. All aforementioned actions by the authorities are excessive, as it was already clarified three years ago that the image concerned was from an oil painting, which was even at one point publicly exhibited six years prior in 2014 with no issues when the Barisan Nasional administration was still in power. More importantly, the subject of alleged contention here is not even the crux of the book, i.e., its content and arguments on the 2018 general election and the country’s transition to the Pakatan Harapan administration. Intimidation tactics from investigations to court charges against production of parody images are not new, with one of the more recent ones being Fahmi Reza’s arrest and detention over his ‘Sultan’ Mojo Jojo cartoon in 2022. Actions taken by the authorities in 2020 towards the modified coat-of-arms image, from the Gerak Budaya raid to book ban by the Home Ministry, were deplorable enough. Through the re-enactment of draconian tactics of arrest and detention, it is worryingly clear that we have before us a government with precarious commitment to uphold our fundamental freedom of expression, and a police force with concerningly misplaced priorities when these resources could have been better used to deter serious crimes that jeopardise public safety. Equally importantly, the problematic environment in which critical debate on issues of public interest and artistic expression continue to be criminalised and censored remains intact, especially because draconian laws such as the Sedition Act remain in place. As the flagbearer of institutional reform, it is a moral imperative that this government take concrete steps in protecting and upholding freedom of expression for all. We thus demand that: The probe against Kean Wong be ceased immediately. Existing laws that curtail freedom of expression including the Sedition Act and Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act be repealed, with moratoria implemented pending repeal.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) mengambil serius mengenai dakwaan yang dilaporkan oleh ‘New Straits Time’ bahawa seorang pegawai polis yang bertugas di Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Narkotik (JSJN) Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Klang Selatan telah menyeksa seorang suspek dengan memukul bahagian tapak kakinya menggunakan rotan. Apa yang membimbangkan lagi adalah pegawai-pegawai polis lain dalam video tersebut dikatakan tidak mengambil tanggungjawab untuk menghentikan penyeksaan tersebut. SUARAM mengecam segala bentuk penyeksaan dan kekerasan polis terutamanya di dalam tahanan. Kami menggesa agar tindakan penggantungan tugas pegawai tersebut harus dilakukan dengan serta-merta. Siasatan polis pula perlu dijalankan oleh pegawai inspektor dari Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontigen (IPK) Selangor dan bukannya dari IPD Klang Selatan bagi mengelakkan sebarang konflik kepentingan individu. SUARAM juga menyeru agar Ketua Polis Negara Tan Sri Razarudin bin Husain mengeluarkan satu amaran tegas dan perintah tetap (IGSO) untuk menghentikan kaedah penyeksaan semasa tahanan dan penyiasatan. Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) dan Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) perlu mengambil tindakan sewajarnya untuk mengkaji semula prosedur operasi standard (SOP) siasatan polis. PDRM perlu memenuhi standard antarabangsa dan menerima pakai Prinsip Mendez di mana segala penyiasatan dan pengumpulan maklumat harus berdasarkan pematuhan kaedah saintifik, kedaulatan undang-undang, etika dan hak asasi manusia, dan bukannya melalui kekerasan atau penyeksaan. SOP siasatan polis serta sistem akauntabiliti polis perlu dikukuhkan dengan segera bagi memulihkan kepercayaan umum terhadap pihak polis.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) telah melancarkan satu kajian berkaitan ‘Kesan Sosioekonomi Akibat Daripada Penahanan Akta Kesalahan Keselamatan (Langkah-Langkah Khas) (SOSMA) Di Malaysia’ bertempat di Dewan Perhimpunan Cina Kuala Lumpur & Selangor. Hasil kajian adalah berdasarkan temubual bersama bekas tahanan SOSMA dan ahli keluarga kepada tahanan semasa, serta sesi ‘townhall’ yang dihadiri oleh 120 individu dan keluarga yang terkesan terus oleh SOSMA. SOSMA diperkenalkan pada tahun 2012 sebagai gantian kepada Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) dan Ordinan Darurat (Ketenteraman Awam dan Mencegah Jenayah) (EO). Ia membolehkan penahanan selama 28 hari tanpa mahkamah dan sekatan akses kepada peguam selama 48 jam pertama dan isu ikat jamin. Ini telah menimbulkan keprihatinan yang serius berkaitan pelanggaran hak asasi manusia dan perlindungan terhadap tahanan. Sebelum ini terdapat banyak penyelidikan mengenai aspek undang-undang dan pelanggaran hak asasi manusia SOSMA, justeru kajian ini akan lebih memberi tumpuan kepada kesan sosioekonomi terhadap individu yang ditahan, serta impak kepada keluarga mereka termasuk kanak-kanak. Hal ini kerana, individu dan mereka yang terjejas oleh SOSMA seringkali berdepan dengan cabaran ekonomi yang serius, termasuk kehilangan pendapatan, beban kewangan, dan tekanan emosi. Kajian ini mendapati bahawa kebanyakan individu yang ditahan di bawah SOSMA mengalami penurunan drastik dalam pendapatan mereka, di mana rata-rata kehilangan pekerjaan semasa ditahan dan sukar untuk kembali ke pekerjaan asal selepas dibebaskan. Ini bukan sahaja memberi kesan kepada mereka yang rata-rata berada dalam golongan B40, tetapi juga kepada keluarga mereka yang terpaksa menanggung beban kewangan tambahan, termasuk kos lawatan ke pusat tahanan yang mencecah RM1,000 sebulan dan yuran guaman yang boleh mencecah puluhan ribu hingga ratusan ribu ringgit yang pastinya merumitkan lagi keadaan kewangan mereka. Penahanan SOSMA juga menyebabkan ketidakstabilan dalam kehidupan keluarga dan dapat membawa kepada pecah belah keluarga serta hubungan yang tegang antara pasangan dan anak-anak. Ini juga menjejaskan kanak-kanak secara emosi dan mempengaruhi pendidikan mereka. Majoriti kanak-kanak mengalami tekanan dan ketidakstabilan emosi akibat penahanan tahanan. Mereka turut menunjukkan gejala seperti keengganan untuk pergi sekolah, masalah tidur, dan kesusahan emosi. Kesannya turut terpalit dalam pendidikan di mana ramai antara mereka sering mengalami kesulitan dalam pembelajaran, ketidakhadiran sekolah, dan kebimbangan akibat persepsi negatif daripada rakan-rakan sebaya yang jelas mengganggu perkembangan pendidikan dan psikososial kanak-kanak. Antara cadangan yang diusulkan termasuk pindaan SOSMA terutamanya dalam peruntukan undang-undang yang berkaitan dengan isu ikat jamin, reman 28 hari dan akses kepada peguam pada 48 jam pertama. Cadangan-cadangan lain seperti mempercepat proses mahkamah, dan menyediakan sokongan kepada tahanan dan keluarga mereka. Cadangan lain termasuk program pendidikan dan latihan kemahiran untuk tahanan, bantuan kewangan, dan sokongan pemulihan selepas pembebasan agar mereka dapat menjalani hidup dan berintergrasi bersama masyarakat seperti sedia kala. Antara pandangan majoriti lain adalah adanya keperluan kepada sokongan yang lebih besar kepada ibu tunggal yang terjejas oleh SOSMA kerana rata-rata beban yang ditanggung oleh tahanan sebelum ini, kebanyakannya digalas oleh para isteri dan ibu tunggal. Hasil dari kajian ini menemukan bahawa SOSMA bukan hanya tentang hukuman individu yang ditahan, tetapi juga memberi hukuman dan kesan yang lebih besar pada kehidupan sosial, ekonomi, dan psikologi tahanan, bekas tahanan, bekas banduan, serta keluarga dan masyarakat sekitar. Kajian ini diharapkan menjadi seruan untuk pembuat dasar dan pihak berkepentingan lain untuk menilai semula implikasi SOSMA serta mempertimbangkan pendekatan yang lebih berperikemanusiaan dengan menjamin hak asasi manusia, serta hak ekonomi, sosial, dan budaya.

The appellate court’s order to Wan Ji Wan Hussin to serve his nine-month prison sentence yesterday is an abomination. Prior to Wan Ji’s case, sedition cases convicted at the High Court or Court of Appeal only involved fines. With the Sedition Act still in place with its ambiguous provisions and disproportionately heavy penalties, Wan Ji’s jail sentence sets a chilling precedent for further unwarranted criminalisation of freedom of expression in Malaysia. This observation can come full circle if this government continues failing to institute the necessary legislative reforms to uphold freedom of expression. In 2018, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) under the Pakatan Harapan administration not only decided to resume prosecuting Wan Ji under the Sedition Act, but also appealed for a stiffer jail sentence of 1 year. Fast forwarding 5 years later, this appeal was not withdrawn and instead, allowed to continue. Both instances contravened the manifesto promise to abolish the draconian law. It is also noteworthy that some lawmakers from the Pakatan Harapan coalition, namely the current Prime Minister and Minister of Communications and Digital, respectively acknowledged the severity of Wan Ji’s jail sentence and stood in solidarity with him in 2019. Ironically, pin-drop silence is what we see now. Freedom of expression is not some fashionable privilege of the day to be championed when in opposition and withdrawn when in power. “Hurt(ing) other people’s feelings”, and in this case public figures, is not a sufficient basis for criminalisation of freedoms of opinion and expression. By continuing to enforce the Sedition Act, the government will continue to betray the spirit of democracy – by sanctioning self-censorship, stifling crucial debates on matter of public interest, and victimising individuals who tend to speak out such as human rights defenders and political dissidents. As long as the Sedition Act remains enforced, it will continue to be used and misused, with no possibility of fully exercising freedom of expression in sight. The Sedition Act must go. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) stands in solidarity with Wan Ji and strongly condemns the jail sentence that he has received. We demand the government to demonstrate its commitment to uphold freedom of expression by implementing the following: A plan to repeal the Sedition Act with a clear timeline, and pending its repeal to enforce a moratorium on all cases. Drop all charges under the Sedition Act, with immediate release of those detained.

In just two days, the police attempted to curtail the public’s constitutional right to peacefully assemble. We refer to the pre-rally warnings issued yesterday of stern action against organiser and participants of Perikatan Nasional’s upcoming ‘Selamatkan Malaysia’ 16 September rally, as well as the layered police barricade at Plaza Tugu Negara this morning preventing organisers and protesters of Lawan Lapar from marching to Parliament to submit their memorandum on food security to lawmakers. We strongly condemn these acts. The pre-rally warnings are an age-old tactic by previous government administrations to clamp down on ‘highly sensitive’ public assemblies, even when there is and was no indication that these assemblies were non-peaceful. The layered police barricade this morning is eerily similar to the human chains of police officers during the Walk for Judicial Independence last year. The imposition of unlawful conditions by the police was also seen in both public assemblies, with the Lawan Lapar assembly involving the submission of the memorandum at the barricaded site, and the Walk for Judiciary Independence involving a quota of representatives who would be allowed to go to Parliament. As self-proclaimed ‘reformists’, the current government should know better than to perpetuate State intimidation to curtail the right to peaceful assembly, especially when many of its members experienced this practice first-hand due to organising or participating in public assemblies whilst in opposition. It is crucial that the police not only allow but also facilitate the 16 September rally, when Perikatan Nasional has committed to cooperation with the law enforcement agency on the event. Furthermore, the government must take concrete steps, including amending or repealing the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, towards ensuring that the Rakyat can fully exercise their fundamental freedom of peaceful assembly without discrimination.

Hanya dalam masa dua hari, pihak polis telah cuba menyekat hak perlembagaan rakyat untuk berhimpun secara aman. Merujuk kepada amaran yang dikeluarkan semalam mengenai tindakan tegas yang akan diambil oleh pentadbiran kerajaan terhadap penganjur dan peserta perhimpunan ‘Selamatkan Malaysia’ yang akan berlangsung pada 16 September, serta tindakan polis yang menghalang penganjur dan peserta perhimpunan ‘Lawan Lapar’ daripada berarak ke Parlimen untuk menyerahkan memorandum mengenai keterjaminan makanan kepada ahli Parlimen dengan menggunakan penghadang polis perlapis di Plaza Tugu Negara. Justeru, kami pihak SUARAM mengecam sekeras-kerasnya kedua-dua perbuatan tersebut. Bahawasanya, amaran sebelum perhimpunan ini adalah taktik lama oleh pentadbiran kerajaan terdahulu untuk menyekat perhimpunan awam yang dianggap ‘sangat sensitif’, walaupun tiada penanda bahwa perhimpunan tersebut adalah tidak aman. Penghadang polis berlapis yang digunakan untuk menghalang perhimpunan semalam adalah sama seperti rantaian anggota polis sewaktu perhimpunan ‘Walk for Judicial Independence’ yang diadakan pada tahun lepas. Di samping itu, terdapat juga syarat-syarat dikenakan oleh pihak polis yang menyalahi undang-undang dalam kedua-dua perhimpunan iaitu pertama sewaktu perhimpunan Lawan Lapar polis telah meletakkan syarat penyerahan memorandum di kawasan ‘tapak berhalang’. Kedua, syarat kuota dimana hanya wakil sahaja yang dibenarkan untuk masuk ke Parlimen sewaktu perhimpunan ‘Walk for Judicial Independence’. Sebagai pimpinan yang mengisytiharkan diri sebagai ‘reformis’, kerajaan sepatutnya tidak melakukan intimidasi yang menggugat hak berhimpun secara aman. Terutamanya apabila ramai ahli politik yang sebelum ini semasa menjadi pembangkang juga mengalami halangan-halangan sama sewaktu menganjurkan atau mengambil bahagian dalam perhimpunan awam. Sehubungan dengan komitmen yang telah diberikan oleh Perikatan Nasional untuk bekerjasama, adalah penting bahawa pihak polis bukan sahaja membenarkan berhimpun tetapi harus memudahkan kelancaran perhimpunan pada 16 September nanti. Terakhir, kerajaan juga harus mengambil langkah jelas, seperti meminda atau memansuhkan Akta Perhimpunan Aman 2012 supaya setiap Rakyat boleh melaksanakan hak mereka untuk berhimpun secara aman dengan sepenuhnya.

HENTIKAN SEGALA BENTUK UGUTAN, INTIMIDASI DAN KEGANASAN TERHADAP PEMBELA HAK ASASI MANUSIA Kami, organisasi-organisasi masyarakat sivil yang bertandatangan di bawah, bersolidariti bersama peguam dan aktivis hak asasi manusia Siti Kasim dan menyeru agar pihak Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) memberi perlindungan keselamatan beliau. Kami mengecam sekeraskerasnya terhadap pihak yang memasang bom jenis Improvised Explosive Device (IED) di bawah kereta Siti Kasim. Siti Kasim merupakan seorang peguam dan pembela hak orang asli yang peka, proaktif dan lantang bersuara tentang pelbagai isu hak asasi manusia, integriti institusi, demokrasi dan hal ehwal berkenaan dengan politik. Namun, pemikiran kritis dan pendirian progresif Siti Kasim sering diancam dengan kritikan serta ugutan yang ingin mengancam nyawanya, dimana pada 21 Julai lalu, pihak PDRM telah mengesahkan bahawa bom jenis IED dipasang di bawah keretanya. Sejak kebelakangan ini, ugutan dan keganasan terhadap aktivis semakin berleluasa. Kes-kes seperti hilang secara paksa (enforced disappearance)[1], cat dan asid disimbah ke kereta pengarah dan pelakon Mentega Terbang[2], hantaran bangkai haiwan berdarah kepada wartawan bebas, hantaran replika tangan berlumuran darah kepada aktivis Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (KUASA)[3], aktivis Universiti Malaya diugut oleh samseng[4] - merupakan satu trend yang amat membimbangkan. Insiden-insiden ini amat membimbangkan dari pelbagai sudut. Ia melibatkan keselamatan orang awam, aktivis dan juga pihak-pihak lain yang ingin menyuarakan pendapat. Seolah-olah apabila tidak bersependapat perlu digertak dengan kekerasan. Jika keganasan ini tidak ditangani oleh pihak berkuasa secara tegas, bukan sahaja keamanan dan keselamatan awam, tetapi juga kedaulatan undang-undang dan demokrasi tanah air akan tergugat. Kementerian Dalam Negeri harus cakna terhadap trend ini dan bekerjasama dengan masyarakat sivil dan Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia (SUHAKAM) bagi mencari satu penyelesaian untuk menjamin keselamatan dan kebebasan bersuara rakyat serta untuk mengelakkan daripada trend sebegini merebak dan menjadi satu norma. Sehubungan itu, dalam jangka masa terdekat, kami menggesa agar pihak PDRM menjalankan siasatan yang telus dengan segera dan mengambil tindakan sewajarnya termasuk menghadapkan pelaku ke muka pengadilan memandangkan kes ini melibatkan kepentingan awam. Selain itu, langkah terbaik bagi jangka masa panjang, pihak kerajaan perlu mengiktiraf dan mengesahkan peranan pembela hak asasi manusia sebagai individu atau kumpulan yang bertindak untuk mempromosikan hak asasi manusia dan kebebasan asasi melalui kaedah aman. Langkah ini penting kerana dapat memberikan pengiktirafan dan apabila diperlukan, perlindungan yang secukupnya kepada pembela hak asasi manusia. Di dalam sesebuah negara yang demokratik, kita patut meraikan kepelbagaian dan perbezaan. Libatkan diri dalam dialog, wacana dan debat terbuka jikalau tidak setuju dengan pandangan, dan bukannya menggunakan keganasan untuk menggertak seseorang. Kami ingin menegaskan bahawa tiada sesiapa termasuk aktivis patut menerima ugutan, intimidasi serta sebarang bentuk keganasan oleh kerana beliau menggunakan hak dan kebebasan bersuara yang termaktub di bawah Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Akhir sekali, kami secara tegasnya mengecam segala bentuk intimidasi dan keganasan terhadap aktivis hak asasi manusia. Kami akan terus bersolidariti bersama Siti Kasim dan menyeru pihak kerajaan agar mengambil serius kes ini, menyiasat dan memberi perlindungan keselamatan Siti Kasim dengan segera. Seluruh masyarakat harus mengambil kisah dan mengorak langkah bersama-sama bagi mencegah keganasan dan intimidasi terhadap ndividu dan kolektif yang menyuarakan pendapat yang berlainan. Disokong oleh: 1. Suara Rakyat Malaysia - SUARAM 2. Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy 3. Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances - CAGED 4. Centre for Independent Journalism 5. Society for the Promotion of Human Rights (PROHAM) 6. Justice for Sisters 7. Amnesty International Malaysia 8. Pusat KOMAS 9. Jaring Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia 10. Jaringan Perkampungan Orang Asli Johor 11. Persatuan Semoq Beri Kampung Tompesel 12. Persatuan Orang Asli Jakun Rompin Pahang 13. KLSCAH Youth 14. Undi 18 15. Greenpeace Malaysia 16. ARTICLE 19 17. Gabungan Marhaen 18. Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) 19. Persatuan Komuniti Prihatin Selangor, KL & Perak 20. Baramkini 21. Women Development Organisation Malaysia PJ Branch 22. University of Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY) 23. KRYSS Network 24. Freedom Film Network (FFN) 25. Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Kelantan - JKOAK 26. EDICT (Eliminating Deaths and Abuse in Custody Together) 27. UTAR Student Representative Council (Kampar) 28. KLSCAH Civil Rights Committee 29. Student Progressive Front UUM (SPFUUM) 30. Suara Siswa UUM 31. Tunku Abdul Rahman Association of New Youth (TARANY) 32. CIVICUS 33. Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kesedaran 3R Kuala Lumpur 34. Architect of Diversity (AOD Malaysia) 35. Sister in Islam (SIS) 36. Save Malaysia Stop Lynas 37. Apa Kata Wanita Orang Asli 38. Pertubuhan Serikat Rakyat Malaysia 39. PACOS Trust 40. Terabai Kenyalang Heritage Association of Sarawak 41. ALIRAN 42. Advancing Knowledge in Democracy and Law initiative 43. Pertubuhan Suara Anak Sabah 44. Persatuan Impian Sabah 45. ERA Consumer Malaysia 46. Borneo Komrad 47. Tiada.Guru 48. Sabah Human Rights Centre 49. Engage Network 50. DHRRA Malaysia 51. Cahaya Society 52.Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia (GERAK) 53. All Women's Action Society (AWAM) 54. Lawyer Kamek, Sarawak 55. Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia [1] Suhakam concludes activist, pastor victims of enforced disappearance | Malay Mail [2] Pengarah Mentega Terbang terima ugutan bunuh, kereta disimbah cat dan asid (hmetro.com.my) [3] Malaysiakini [4] Malaysiakini

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) mengambil serius mengenai dakwaan terhadap warden-warden di penjara utara Semanjung Malaysia yang memberi layanan buruk dan mendera banduan. Berdasarkan laporan media Free Malaysia Today, banduan-banduan telah dipukul dan diseksa menggunakan paip polivinil klorida (PVC) dan objek tumpul, dinafikan akses kepada bekalan air yang mencukupi dan makanan yang bersih dan selamat, tidak diberikan rawatan rapi dan profesional, serta dibogelkan untuk mengaib dan menghina seseorang. Ketika Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia (SUHAKAM) melawat ke penjara, warden-warden pula menyimpan alat-alat yang digunakan untuk penderaan. Dakwaan-dakwaan ini telah melanggar peruntukan-peruntukan dalam Kaedah-kaedah Lokap 1953 dan Akta Penjara. Ia bukan sahaja mencabar integriti Jabatan Penjara, malah mencemarkan nama baik Malaysia sebagai Ahli Majlis Hak Asasi Manusia Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) di peringkat antarabangsa. SUARAM mengecam sekeras-kerasnya terhadap sebarang bentuk penyeksaan. SUARAM menggesa Menteri Dalam Negeri menjalankan siasatan secara telus dan segera serta mengambil tindakan disiplin yang setimpalnya terhadap si pelaku bagi mengelakkan tragedi-tragedi berlaku. Mangsa-mangsa penderaan ini pernah membuat aduan pada tahun lepas namun aduan mereka tidak dilayan. Ini merupakan cubaan kedua dimana 125 orang banduan menandatangani petisyen dan meminta pihak kerajaan mencampur tangan dan mengambil tindakan. SUARAM bimbang bahawa bilangan mangsa adalah jauh lebih tinggi. Hal ini kerana pegawai berkenaan selalu bebas daripada sebarang hukuman. Berdasarkan dokumentasi SUARAM, hanya lima pendakwaan jenayah terhadap penderaan dalam tahanan di antara tahun 1981 hingga 2021, manakala pendakwaan untuk penyeksaan bagi mangsa yang masih hidup jarang berlaku, dengan hanya satu kes sedemikian direkodkan. Oleh hal yang demikian, SUARAM menyeru agar kerajaan semak semula undang-undang berkenaan malah memperkasa sistem semak dan imbang yang sedia ada. Sebagai contoh, SUHAKAM harus diberikan kuasa membuat lawatan kejutan ke penjara bagi mendapatkan gambaran yang sebenar berkaitan dengan tahanan. Ia juga mengelakkan sebarang notis awal yang memberi peluang kepada pelaku, untuk merosakkan bukti dan tempat kejadian. Peranan Hakim Pelawat juga perlu diperkukuhkan bagi membanteras segala layanan zalim terhadap banduan. Kerajaan juga harus mengubal satu Akta Anti-penyeksaan bagi menjenayahkan sebarang bentuk penyeksaan. Akhir sekali, SUARAM menggesa Malaysia untuk menyertai Konvensyen Menentang Penyeksaan Dan Layanan Atau Hukuman Lain Yang Zalim, Tidak Berperikemanusiaan Atau Menjatuhkan Maruah (UNCAT). Penyertaan Malaysia kepada UNCAT akan membantu negara untuk membangunkan langkah perundangan, pentadbiran, kehakiman dan dasar yang berkesan bagi melarang dan mencegah tindakan penyeksaan dan penderaan.

PLACES INSTITUTION’S HUMAN RIGHTS MANDATE IN JEOPARDY 16th June 2023 — We, the undersigned civil society organisations and political parties, are alarmed by the defamation suit filed by the Chairperson of SUHAKAM - Prof. Dato’ Dr. Rahmat Bin Mohamad - against the Deputy Secretary of SUHAKAM – Shahizad bin Sulaiman – after the latter filed a formal complaint in SUHAKAM against the former on allegations of racial discrimination and abuse of power in a new staff appointment. The formal complaint was lodged by Shahizad on 10 April 2023 under Section 12(1) of the SUHAKAM Act. We have been duly informed that the legal suit filed by Prof Dato’ Dr. Rahmat on 24 May 2023 (WA-23NCvC-28-04/2023) constitutes an alleged attempt to circumvent internal investigations on the complaint, in light of Section 12(2) of the SUHAKAM Act that prohibits the national human rights institution (NHRI) from, or in the case when investigations commence, to cease inquiring into “any complaint relating to any allegation of the infringement of human rights is the subject matter of any proceedings pending in any court, including any appeals; or has been finally determined by any court”. The use of external legal mechanisms by the higher leadership in response to an internally-filed complaint by a staff member which by default should have been resolved within the institution implies reprehensible power play. The Chairperson already had at his disposal the opportunity to undergo the internal processes in his attempt to obtain redress and due justice. Thus, this act of filing a civil defamation suit by the Chairperson may be further construed as Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP), an act that is highly likely to have been deliberately initiated with the intent to intimidate, drain financial resources, and/or inflict psychological and emotional stress against the initial complainant. The Chairperson’s act, if not censured, can impose a climate of fear and deter whistleblowers who may have legitimate complaints from coming forward, thus potentially compromising institutional transparency, accountability and integrity - undesirable consequences which can only undermine the credibility and effective functioning of SUHAKAM. The two allegations concerning the Chairperson of SUHAKAM are also of grave concern, as they can put the NHRI’s human rights mandate at risk. The allegation pertaining to racial discrimination is especially of prominent concern on two fronts. Firstly, it risks contravening corresponding provisions of non-discrimination including on the basis of race in the Federal Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, both of which form the cornerstones of SUHAKAM’s human rights mandate. It is also noteworthy that this allegation may also breach SUHAKAM’s commitment to addressing racial discrimination as explicitly outlined in its 2021-2025 strategic plan. Secondly, the racial discrimination allegation can jeopardise SUHAKAM’s A-status as a NHRI with which it was accredited in 2021, by violating the principle of plurality in composition of the institution as set out in the Paris Principles. As the bastion of human rights in the country that plays a pivotal role in promoting and mainstreaming human rights implementation and monitoring, it is crucial that SUHAKAM upholds its fundamental principles of non-discrimination, inclusivity, transparency and accountability for all sectors including its own staff. As such, as it now becomes a matter of public interest, we strongly call upon: SUHAKAM to disclose updates and measures undertaken to investigate the formal complaint filed on 10 April 2023 by the Deputy Secretary of SUHAKAM; SUHAKAM to set up an independent task force, comprising external stakeholders, that can fairly and independently investigate the aforementioned allegations against and retaliatory measures initiated by the Chairperson, and; the Chairperson, relatedly, to take leave from his duties pending the outcome of the investigation. Endorsed by: 1. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) 2. ALIRAN 3. All Women’s Action Society (AWAM) 4. Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (CAGED) 5. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) 6. Justice for Sisters (JFS) 7. Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) 8. Sisters in Islam (SIS) 9. Student Progressive Front UUM (SPFUUM) 10. Suara Siswa UUM 11. Tunku Abdul Rahman Association of New Youth (TARANY) 12. Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy 13. UNDI18 14. University of Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY) 15. Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Kampar Student Representative Council 22/23 16. Voice Of Youtharian 优大青年之声