Human rights is top priority for next US Ambassador to Sri LankaSHAME ON BN: UN Envoys ask M'sia to protect Activists

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Three United Nations special rapporteurs have urged the Malaysian government to protect activists calling for electoral reform from harassment and to withdraw a civil suit it filed against the leaders of a group that organized a rally in April that drew thousands to the streets.

In a statement released on Thursday, the special rapporteurs detailed how leaders of the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections have received threats because of their campaign for reforms to Malaysia’s election system. The U.N. representatives expressed particular concern about the treatment of Ambiga Sreenevasan, a co-chairwoman of the group, which also is known as Bersih, or clean in Malay. The U.N. rapporteurs said Ms. Ambiga had received “credible threats” against her life.

“I am seriously concerned by these disturbing acts of harassment against a prominent woman human rights defender who is being targeted because of her legitimate human rights activities in Malaysia,” said Margaret Sekaggya, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights defenders. “I urge the authorities to investigate thoroughly these allegations, hold the perpetrators accountable, and effectively protect Ms. Sreenevasan, and more generally, Bersih members.”

Malaysia experienced one of its largest protests in recent years on April 28, when protesters demanding reforms to the election system rallied on the streets of central Kuala Lumpur. The rally turned violent after protesters broke through barricades surrounding Independence Square, prompting the police to fire tear gas and water cannons at the crowd.

The U.N. statement said that since the protest, Ms. Ambiga has been labeled by various groups as an “enemy of the state” and a traitor who should be expelled from the country. It added that effigies of Ms. Ambiga have been set on fire and that she recently had to withdraw from a public event because of fears for her safety.

The Malaysian government has lodged a civil suit against Ms. Ambiga and other Bersih leaders for damages to police property incurred during the rally.

“Holding assembly organizers liable for the alleged unlawful conduct of others is not compatible with standards governing the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, and has a detrimental effect on the exercise of this right,” said Maina Kiai, U.N. special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of opinion. “I urge the government of Malaysia to withdraw the complaint against her.”

The government has set up a panel to investigate the violence during the rally while the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia is conducting its own inquiry.

The opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was charged last month over his involvement in the protest.


(2012-06-08/malaysia-chronicle)