In 2019, Suhakam's public inquiry into the disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat concluded that the 2 were victims of 'ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE' carried out by the state, namely the Special Branch.
The government set up the task force in 2019 to look into Suhakam's findings from the public inquiry regarding the matter which the commission concluded enforced disappearances had taken place.
So, why are the findings of the TASK FORCE not being revealed?
' “In September 2021, in its Reply Affidavit, the Malaysian government refused to make available the Special Task Force report on the grounds of it being classified as “secret” under the Official Secrets Act 1972, claiming that its public release would be against ‘national interest’,”
Will the government position change for the better under Prime Minister Ismail Sabri? After all, it has already been classified as 'enforced disappearance' - was it not just the police? Was it also some Minister?
Enforced disappearance must be criminalized, and the government officers must be prosecuted. The still 'disappearance' of the victims suggests that they may have been even 'killed' ... so, the family and all Malaysians deserve the truth.
See earlier relevant posts
Why is Muhyiddin appointing the Task Force, when SUHAKAM said AG appoints? Amri Che Mat's 'Enforced Disappearance'
We don't need another inquiry into Koh and Amri - Cases should NOW be referred to Attorney General
Enforced Disappearance Cases should be referred to Attorney General – No need for Task Force with no power of prosecution Justice should not be delayed for families of Pastor Koh and Amri
Inquiry done, now investigate, Suhakam commissioner tells task force on missing persons(FMT News)
Victims of Enforced Dissapearance by police officers - Amri and Pastor Koh? HR Commission's findings
Family of missing Amri Che Mat denied govt’s report on disappearance, told it’s ‘secret’, release against ‘national interest’
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 ― The Malaysian government has refused to provide the family of Amri Che Mat with the findings of its special task force set up to look into his disappearance in 2016.
Surendra Ananth, a lawyer representing Amri’s family, said the authorities have told them the report is classified.
“With reference to an ongoing lawsuit filed on 18 September 2019, Norhayati Mohd Ariffin’s lawyer filed a request in discovery on 25 May 2021 for a copy of the Special Task Force report to be made available to the court.
“In September 2021, in its Reply Affidavit, the Malaysian government refused to make available the Special Task Force report on the grounds of it being classified as “secret” under the Official Secrets Act 1972, claiming that its public release would be against ‘national interest’,” he said in a statement today.
“We do not believe that there is a legitimate or reasonable reason to classify as an official secret a report of a task force announced so publicly two years ago. This is the latest in a series of roadblocks the legal team has faced even at discovery stage.
“We also filed an earlier discovery application for the SOP of the police on abduction cases, which the government opposed. The court dismissed our application. We have filed an appeal against this decision in the Court of Appeal,” he added.
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) today called on the government to make public the report of the task force set up by the government on the disappearances of Amri and Pastor Raymond Koh.
Amri, a social activist, has been missing since 2016 also under questionable circumstances, amid accusations of him being a proponent of the Shia Islamic teachings.
Suhakam deduced that Amri was a victim of enforced disappearance, in the same public inquiry that investigated the missing pastor in 2019.
Koh has been missing since 2017. He was last seen leaving his home in Petaling Jaya, Selangor to buy food and was reported to have been abducted later that day.
His disappearance was preceded by accusations of him attempting to proselytise Muslims into Christianity.
Like Amri, Suhakam concluded that Koh was a victim of an enforced disappearance, with his abduction supposedly carried out by the Royal Malaysian Police’s Special Branch operatives although this remains to be proven.
* Editor's note: An earlier version of this article contained an error which has since been corrected. - Malay Mail, 24/11/2021
Suhakam urges govt to make public task force report on Pastor Koh, Amri
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 — The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) today called on the government to make public the report of the task force set up by the government on the disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat.
In a statement today, Suhakam said the government set up the task force in 2019 to look into Suhakam's findings from the public inquiry regarding the matter which the commission concluded enforced disappearances had taken place.
“Based on Suhakam's 2019 report on its public inquiry into the disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat, it was concluded that enforced disappearance had taken place. In this regard, Suhakam calls for the report of the task force to be made public,” it said.
Suhakam is also continuing its public inquiry into the disappearance of Joshua Hilmy and Ruth Sitepu and this is expected to be concluded by end of this year, the statement read.
Meanwhile, Suhakam in conjunction with the International Day of the
Victim of Enforced Disappearances today, called on the government to
ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons
from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED) and put in place legal remedies in
addressing enforced disappearance in the country. — Bernama, Malay Mail, 30/8/2020
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