BN has no respect for human rights - All this talk about change and the concern for human rights is an eye-wash

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Malaysian General Election 2004 Special BN has no respect for human rights All this talk about change and the concern for human rights is an eye-wash by Charles Hector The shortest campaign period contradicts Abdullah's pledge of change The BN government set up our National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), and many said "at last human rights has received its due recognition in Malaysia...and this marks the beginning of a human rights-respecting government." But then, the whole thing was just a mere facade, as subsequent events would show: it was another 'deception'. Suhakam submitted three annual reports, which also contained recommendations, but, alas, to date none of these reports has been discussed or debated in Parliament. Besides that various other inquiries were made and reports containing recommendations were made, and again the government has not taken up these recommendations. Suhakam is in fact a toothless tiger in the fight for human rights. Let us not forget that it was during Abdullah's term as premier that the police turned the water-cannons on those who went to Bukit Aman to hand over a memorandum of protest. Suhakam commissioners who were vigilant and vocal in the promotion of human rights were not re-appointed after their two-year term. For example, Mehrun Siraj and Annuar Zainal Abidin were in the forefront of Suhakam's inquiry into the Kesas Highway incident and were critical of the police for their use of excessive force that turned a peaceful protest into a chaotic incident. These more vocal commissioners were not re-appointed after their first two-year term ended. Puan Mehrun was also the person behind Suhakam's report on the Rights of Remand Prisoners. Even Musa Hitam (a former deputy premier), whom many considered lukewarm as far as human rights was concerned, was not re-appointed as a Suhakam head. He was replaced by former Attorney General Abu Talib Othman. Abu Talib's involvement in the 1988 Judicial Crisis and the 1987 Operation Lalang (during which about 106 persons were detained under the Internal Security Act) makes him unsuitable to be a human rights commissioner - let alone Suhakam chairman. Come April 2004, the present 2-year terms come to an end. I predict that this time Prof Hamdan Adnan, who has been a pain in the government's neck for his surprise inspections of lock-ups and places of detention will be dropped. The formation of Suhakam was a white-wash. The the slow purging of those commissioners with human rights credentials and the appointment of 'yes-men' who seem to be too scared to stand up and defend human rights has shown that the BN government and the BN-dominated Parliament seem to have never had any intention of improving human rights in Malaysia. Suhakam is supposed to be made up of non-partisan individuals whose only interest must be human rights. But take a look at the Commissioners now. Even the appointment of the latest Royal Commission to look into police practices, abuses and corruption has a token few persons of credibility. Recent reports about the workings of this commission behind 'closed doors' and not in an open and transparent manner seem to indicate that this again is yet another farce. Even if they come up with a good report and set of recommendations at the end of the day, in all likelihood the BN-led government would most probably let it gather dust, in the same way as they have done with SUHAKAM reports. Our "new-broom" PM, Abdullah Badawi, started his premiership with promises of change. The arrest of an ageing prominent businessman and a senator-minister for corruption gave the impression that there was going to be a cleaner and better Malaysia. But then the nomination date and the election date was announced, and it turns out that this would be period of campaigning in Malaysian election history. This contradicted all the assurances made by Abdullah about 'change' and the respect for human rights. We all know that the main print media and electronic media do not give adequate space to the opposition parties to articulate their views and positions; it is primarily during the campaign period that they can let the people know their views and positions. So this short campaign period is indeed a serious contradiction to the words and promises of the new head of the Barisan Nasional coalition. Abdullah also had time to approve the merger of Parti Keadilan Nasional and Parti Rakyat Malaysia to form Parti Keadilan Rakyat but this was not done. Parti Socialis Malaysia's registration could have also been approved but this too was not done. And let us not forget that it was during Abdullah's term as premier that the police turned the water-cannons on those who went to Bukit Aman to hand over a memorandum of protest. About 17 of the NGO representatives were also arrested that day (though they were later released the same day). We must also not forget that Abdullah has not made any mention about the infamous Kampung Medan incident that left about six dead and about 100 injured. Many, including the Malaysian Bar, have called for an inquiry. So, all this talk about change and the concern for human rights is an eye-wash or, as some say, just part and parcel of empty election promises. Now e-mail us and tell us what you think. Your comments might be published in the Letters section of our print magazine, Aliran Monthly. Alternatively, post your comments to the message board.