‘Black 14': Exercise restraint, urges Musa

Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) chairman Musa Hitam today called on the organisers of the ‘Black 14' gathering tomorrow not to turn the event into an illegal assembly and at the same time urged police to “exercise restraint” in maintaining peace and public order.

“In view of current developments, and the declared intention by the organisers to now turn tomorrow’s handover event into a gathering at the Suhakam office, I would like to express Suhakam’s readiness to still accept the memorandum to be handed over now by a delegation of six MPs and four non-governmental representatives instead of the original delegation,” said Musa in a media statement.

Three commissioners have been assigned to receive the memorandum, he said.

Expressing concern that the gathering might lead to “violent confrontation”, Musa urged those accompanying the delegation to disperse peacefully immediately after the handover event.

Pro and contra

In response to the prime minister’s criticism of the commission, Musa said he “fully appreciates it is the police and not Suhakam that is in charge of maintaining law and order”.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad said yesterday that the police is responsible for the security of the country. He said this in response to Suhakam’s call that the seven reformasi activists who were arrested under the Internal Security Act be immediately released.

Musa explained that the decision by Suhakam to request the immediate release of the seven, and the charging of them in an open court, was made after lengthy and careful deliberation at a special meeting chaired by him immediately after the arrests .

“Suhakam was fully aware that its statement on the ISA arrests would attract serious attention, pro and contra. The debate on the statement itself, coming from whichever quarter, is equally welcome.

“I would like to assure all that as Suhakam has been entrusted with responsibilities clearly spelled out in the Human Rights of Malaysia Act 1999, it will continue to express its views and opinions whenever it feels fit. It will do so without being pro or against any individual or party,” said Musa.

Street demos

Seven reformasi activists, most of them Keadilan leaders, were arrested under the ISA, which allows detention without trial, in a police crackdown early this week.

The police said that the detainees posed a threat to national security and were planning violent street demonstrations and other militant means to topple the government.

They seven are Keadilan deputy president Tian Chua, party Youth leaders Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, N Gobalakrishnan, Abdul Ghani Harun, Free Anwar Campaign (Freeanwar.com) webmaster Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin, social activist cum malaysiakini columnist Hishamuddin Rais and ‘Black 14' organiser Saari Sungib.

The ‘Black 14' event is to mark the second anniversary of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim’s sentencing in 1998 for abuse of power.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the Malaysian Bar Council's Legal Aid Centre said it will be sending observers to monitor the 'Black 14' gathering tomorrow.

"We are disturbed by several police statements that they intend to prevent any gathering by the public and the statement by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police that they are prepared to use force on those who gather," said statement.

It urged all police personnel present tomorrow to be in uniform, be courteous and helpful to the public and avoid intimidating conduct.