Making conclusions after hearing ONE side is itself a serious HUMAN RIGHTS violation.

Shocking and dissapointing conduct by Human Rights Commissioner N Siva Subramaniam when he can make conclusions and issue pronouncement without even hearing P Uthayakumar. Have you forgotten the very important fundamental human right of the "right to be heard". The way SUHAKAM conducted itself, as reported in the Media, is really BIASED. (And one wonders whether this was because good old N Siva Subramaniam's whose term apparently ends in July 2008 is hoping for a re-appointment for a further term and of course the government would likely re-appoint 'pro-government' persons back into SUHAKAM) He heard one side of the story and he made his conclusions, i.e. that the claims of denial of proper medical care made by the ISA detainee is UNTRUE. Did he even meet with the complainant - or the person who is the subject of the complaint >>> clearly this was not done. I say N Siva Subramaniam has been found to be wanting - and should be removed as a Human Rights Commissioner. His actions have placed a permanent stain on the credibility of SUHAKAM as the National Human Rights Commission. Suhakam: Uthaya wasn't denied treatment Beh Lih Yi | Apr 23, 08 3:14pm Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Uthayakumar has not been denied proper medical treatment, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has found following a probe. Commissioner N Siva Subramaniam said the claims were found to be untrue during Suhakam’s visit yesterday to the Kamunting detention camp in Taiping, Perak. There have been rising concerns over the health of Uthayakumar, a diabetic for the past 12 years. He is currently being held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in Kamunting. “His situation is under control and he is happy with the medicines given to him,” Siva Subramaniam told a press conference at the Suhakam headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today. Alos present was commission secretary Ahmad Yusuf Ngah. Siva Subramaniam said he led a team which met with senior officials, the doctor and police personnel at the camp, as well as medical personnel in Taiping hospital. Uthayakumar was neither present during the four-hour probe, nor interviewed by the team. The commissioner said his team discovered that certain claims were false - that Uthayakumar had been treated merely by a health assistant and that he had been discharged too soon from the hospital. It was also not true that he had been denied medicine for diabetes over the past month despite repeated requests to the director of the Kamunting camp. “His family wanted to provide medicine to Uthayakumar but under the rules and regulations (of the camp), the medicine needs to come from the health ministry,” he noted. Siva Subramaniam said the substance of medicine was found to be the same from both sources. “He told the doctor that he is satisfied with what is being given to him,” said the commissioner, who nonetheless stressed that it was the right of any detainee to receive proper medical treatment. Siva Subramaniam was asked why Uthayakumar’s side of the story was not heard. “We came to a conclusion that as far as diseases and confidentiality of medical treatment (are concerned), it should be maintained between doctor and patient; a third party shouldn’t know what’s happening,” he contended. He pointed out that media reports were also sufficient to highlight Uthayakumar’s plight. To another question, he said the detainee’s family had not approached Suhakam for help, but understands that over 30 police reports had been lodged over the claim that Uthayakumar was being deprived of due medical attention. Visit to Lenggeng tomorrow Uthayakumar is among five Hindraf leaders who were detained under the ISA on Dec 13 last year after organising a mammoth rally in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25. This saw some 30,000 Indian Malaysians protesting against perceived marginalisation and discrimination. He was admitted to the Taiping hospital on April 7 after his sugar level rose to more than three times the normal level. He was discharged on April 10 and taken back to the detention centre, but his family insisted that he was still unwell. There have been calls from rights groups and politicians, including the MIC, to provide the lawyer-activist proper medical attention. There are currently 70 detainees in Kamunting under the ISA, a law which the government-backed human rights commission has consistently opposed. Siva Subramaniam also said he will lead a Suhakam team to the Lenggeng detention centre in Negri Sembilan tomorrow, after a riot on Monday. During the incident, about 60 Burmese detainees reportedly tried to pull down the perimeter fence and afterwards torched an administration building. More than 100 members of the people’s volunteer corps, riot police, civil defence department and fire and rescue service personnel had to be called in to contain the riot. Uthayakumar's claim of improper medical care untrue: Suhakam

Wednesday, 23 April 2008 03:01pm

©Bernama by Azura Abas KUALA LUMPUR, Wed: Allegations that Hindu Rights Action Force legal adviser P. Uthayakumar has been denied proper medical care are untrue, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia said today. Commissioner Datuk Siva Subramaniam said Suhakam had a two-hour meeting with representatives from various quarters, including Taiping Hospital, the police and the Kamunting detention centre on Tuesday. “The allegation that Uthayakumar was discharged from hospital while still being critically ill is untrue. The doctor who treated Uthayakumar has 20 years’ experience in treating those with diabetes. Dr Letchuman had allowed him to leave the hospital based on a professional opinion that the detainee’s health is fine,” he said. Siva dismissed allegations that the Hindraf legal adviser was not given medicine for his illnesses. For families of the detainees to provide their own medicine, they will have to get the approval from the hospital and prison authorities. “Approval will only be given if the hospital does not have the needed medication,” he said. On a claim that Uthayakumar’s food had salt and sugar in it, Siva said the relevant authority assured Suhakam that the detainee only received salt- and sugar-free food and drinks. “Now, he eats bread and has requested for capati, too. If Uthayakumar wants salt, he will be supplied with it upon request,” he said. Siva also denied a claim that Uthayakumar was only taken care by a medical assistant. “A visiting doctor goes to the detention centre three times a week.” In fact, he said, Uthayakumar would undergo medical checks soon. “We have also checked the supply of medicine and met the doctors. We concluded that the detention centre has enough supply of medicine for various illnesses, including for diabetes. Recently, Uthayakumar’s mother had appealed for her son to be admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) or a private hospital of her choice. K. Kalaivaniy, 64, claimed that Uthayakumar’s health was deteriorating at the Kamunting detention centre. On the recent Lenggeng riot, Siva believed it was important to have the cooperation of embassies to solve immigrants’ issues. Some 60 detainees, mostly Myanmar refugees, at the Lenggeng Immigration depot rioted on Monday, setting an administrative building ablaze and destroying office equipment. Siva feared that the poor conditions at immigration detention centres were like a ticking time bomb. “The centres are overcrowded and the detainees are kept there far too long.” Siva said the centres could also tap into the resources of non-governmental organisations to help the refugees.