Suaram says the violent disruption of public gatherings is a worrying trend, as is the apparent police tolerance of such behaviour.
GEORGE TOWN: Suhakam today received a memorandum asking it to investigate recent violent disruption of public rallies as well as alleged police support for the disrupters.
The memorandum, submitted by the human rights organisation Suaram and endorsed by 14 civic groups, referred specifically to violence during the Himpunan Hijau gathering here on Feb 26, but said it was part of a worrying trend of harassment of citizens by racist political elements with apparent police collusion.
Suhakam commissioner Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah received the memorandum from Suaram’s coordinator for Penang, Lee Fui Hei, during a press conference at Komtar. The commissioner ruled out a public inquiry over the Feb 26 incident, but said Suhakam would carry out an investigation.
The Feb 26 gathering at the Esplanade Speakers’ Square here was one of several held around the country to protest against Lynas Corp’s rare earth plant.
Only the Penang gathering was marred by violence, and observers have alleged that the disrupters were members of Umno and the Malay rights group Perkasa . They said the Umno-Perkasa group gate-crashed the event and that shouting, pushing, shoving and scuffles began soon after that.
The scene turned uglier when Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng arrived at the scene to show his support for Himpunan Hijau. At least two people, both newsmen, were injured in the fracas..
In the memorandum, Suaram characterised the disruption as a “clear breach of citizens’ basic human rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution”.
Suaram also said police were reluctant to question the intruders although a “mass of evidence”, including photographs and video clips, were submitted to them.
Instead, it added, the police called in the organisers of the event and several participants and threatened to charge them in court.
Suaram suggested that police could be exercising their political bias.
GEORGE TOWN: Suhakam today received a memorandum asking it to investigate recent violent disruption of public rallies as well as alleged police support for the disrupters.The memorandum, submitted by the human rights organisation Suaram and endorsed by 14 civic groups, referred specifically to violence during the Himpunan Hijau gathering here on Feb 26, but said it was part of a worrying trend of harassment of citizens by racist political elements with apparent police collusion.
Suhakam commissioner Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah received the memorandum from Suaram’s coordinator for Penang, Lee Fui Hei, during a press conference at Komtar. The commissioner ruled out a public inquiry over the Feb 26 incident, but said Suhakam would carry out an investigation.
The Feb 26 gathering at the Esplanade Speakers’ Square here was one of several held around the country to protest against Lynas Corp’s rare earth plant.
Only the Penang gathering was marred by violence, and observers have alleged that the disrupters were members of Umno and the Malay rights group Perkasa . They said the Umno-Perkasa group gate-crashed the event and that shouting, pushing, shoving and scuffles began soon after that.
The scene turned uglier when Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng arrived at the scene to show his support for Himpunan Hijau. At least two people, both newsmen, were injured in the fracas..In the memorandum, Suaram characterised the disruption as a “clear breach of citizens’ basic human rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution”.
Suaram also said police were reluctant to question the intruders although a “mass of evidence”, including photographs and video clips, were submitted to them.
Instead, it added, the police called in the organisers of the event and several participants and threatened to charge them in court.
Suaram suggested that police could be exercising their political bias.
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