Mini Arts Fest
The Annexe Gallery, Central Market Annexe
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Sat 10 & Sun 11 Oct, 10.30am to 6pm
Presented by Sisters In Islam and Centre For Independent Journalism
Admission Free
THE PENAN SUPPORT GROUP RESPONDS TO THE REPORT OF THE WOMEN, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY-LED TASK FORCE ON THE RAPE OF PENAN WOMEN IN SARAWAK
Published by October 5th, 2009 in Gender and Malaysian NGOs. 0 CommentsThe Penan Support Group (PSG) would like to acknowledge the important role played by the Jawatankuasa Bertindak Peringkat Kebangsaan bagi Menyiasat Dakwaan Penderaan Seksual terhadap Wanita Kaum Penan di Sarawak (the Task Force) in the mission to ascertain and establish that the reported rapes of Penan women and girls by outsiders had indeed taken place. We applaud the Task Force for correctly identifying imbalanced and poorly planned development programmes as a cause of the problems faced by the Penan, including the exploitative situation that Penan women and children in Middle Baram, Sarawak find themselves in. However, acknowledging that these incidences of violence against women and children have taken place is only the first important step towards more crucially redressing these heinous crimes and the structural problems underlying them.
At the very outset, the PSG was dismayed that the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development delayed the release of the Task Force Report by some nine months. Its inaction and indifference has delayed justice for the victims, their families and the community as a whole and has further increased the vulnerability of Penan minors and women who are already living in a precarious and potentially dangerous environment. Upon review of the report that has recently been released, we find that there are certain obvious and fundamental recommendations missing from the findings of the Task Force. These omissions have prompted the PSG to issue this response:
SIS Vacancy: COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMME OFFICER
Published by October 3rd, 2009 in Gender and Job Posting. 0 CommentsSisters in Islam (SIS) is inviting applications for the following position. If you are passionate about advancing the rights of women in the country and believe in gender equality and human rights, please submit your application by 16th October 2009.
POSITION: COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMME OFFICER
The role of Communications Programme Officer is primarily to manage the communications of outreach programmes, and to strategically develop effective communication with the media, general public and target groups to promote and disseminate SIS concerns and issues.
Continue reading ‘SIS Vacancy: COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMME OFFICER’
CIJ calls on governments to enact FOI law
Published by September 28th, 2009 in Freedom of Information. 0 CommentsAs pressure for public accountability increases, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) calls on the governments of the Federal and State administrations to immediately enact a Freedom of Information law to open up the information regime of public bodies.
In commemorating the International Right to Know Day that has been celebrated globally on 28 September since 2002, CIJ takes this opportunity to remind the governments of their responsibilities towards citizens by being transparent and accountable in the public decision making process. The exposure of possible maladministration and corruption in a number of high profile cases in the last year alone makes the FOI law more urgent for Malaysia, where secrecy laws are enforced widely.
According to freedom of information advocates, at least 90 countries and territories around the world have laws giving members of the public the right to ask for an receive information from public bodies.
Right to information is enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but it is not a guarantee under the Malaysian Federal Constitution. In its place, the Official Secrets Act sets the framework in which the government has been operating since 1972, one where the culture of secrecy rules.
Continue reading ‘CIJ calls on governments to enact FOI law’
LEPTOSPIROSIS CAUSES DEATH OF ANOTHER 6 BURMESE IN DETENTION IN MALAYSIA: DENIAL OF HEALTHCARE IS A VIOLATION OF RIGHT TO LIFE
Published by September 28th, 2009 in Migration. 0 CommentsWe are shocked and disappointed to hear that another six Burmese migrants have died while in detention in Malaysia because of a suspected waterborne disease. Leptospirosis is caused by exposure to water contaminated by animal urine, like rat urine. (Straits Times, 25/9/2009, Migrants die in detention/ Associated Press, 24/9/2009).
From our investigation, the names of 3 of those who have died are So Thein [Prison Body number 0853, Block B1, Ethnicity: Burman, Age: 36], Min Khaing [Body number 5009, Ethnicity: Karen, Age: 23] and Min Nown [Ethnicity: Arkan, Age: 28]. The other 3 are of Chin ethnicity. It seems that the deaths happened in August.
This time the deaths seem to have occurred at the Detention Centre at the KL International Airport (KLIA) depot. The Straits Times report states that an official had informed them that ‘…the detainees likely contracted the disease in another centre. They were transferred together with some 700 others after a riot there…’. In an earlier report (Star, 24/7/2009), it was stated that ‘…some 700 Myanmar illegal immigrants involved in a ruckus at the Semenyih immigration depot early this month have been moved to the department’s KL International Airport (KLIA) depot…’
It must be noted that this is not the first case of death by reason of Leptospirosis. Sa La Hin, 26, and Thang Hoih Ping, 21, two Burmese migrants, died in the Malaysia’s Juru Immigration Detention Centre from Leptospirosis in May 2009. 127 civil society groups and organizations responded vide a joint statement entitled ‘Death Of 2 Burmese Indicative Of State Of Detention Places In Malaysia – Denial Of Healthcare Is A Violation Of Right To Life’.
Complaints were also lodged with the Malaysia’s Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM), Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak,, Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, and the Minister of Health Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai,
After that Leptospirosis outbreak in the Juru Detention Centre in Penang in May, the Immigration Director-General Abdul Rahman assured us that the cleanliness and hygiene at immigration depots nationwide will be stepped-up to ensure safety of staff and inmates there against contracting infectious diseases (Bernama, 19/5/2009).
SUHAKAM also vide letter dated 16/7/2009 had informed us that they had met with the Director General of Immigration on 4/6/2009, and amongst others, had recommended that ‘… as a measure to control contagious diseases to ensure that all immigration detention centres should have a doctor or medical officer in line with international requirements, and that cleanliness of detention centres should be taken care of.’
It must also be borne in mind that last year SUHAKAM identified medical care as an overriding reason why 1,300 detainees have died over the past six years, and had made recommendations to the government. At present the 22 centres throughout Malaysia do not have a permanent clinical dispensary manned by doctors or a medical assistant to help detainees. (ABC News, 28/5/2009)
In May 2009, it was reported that about 26 were admitted to hospital following a Leptospirosis outbreak in the Juru Detention Centre, and they survived, and this leads us to believe that prompt access to healthcare can avoid death. It is shocking that in this recent case, 6 have died. What is more disturbing is that there seem to have been no reported disclosure by the Malaysian authorities on this. We still do not know the number of detainees that have been affected this time.
This is a disease caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals, and is very rarely propagated through contact with affected persons. Question must be raised as to how detainees in an enclosed detention centre are contracting this disease. Are they being affected through the food and water supplied by the detention centres? Are the detention centres having a rat infestation problem?
After the recent deaths and outbreak in the Juru Detention Centre, one would have expected the Malaysian government to have taken immediate steps to ensure that there are no more cases of Leptospirosis outbreak and deaths. We wonder also whether the authorities took a lackadaisical attitude, and did not even conduct a thorough investigation to determine the source of the contamination that caused that outbreak. Results of such investigations will not only determine liability, but would also ensure that further deaths from Leptospirosis could be avoided.
We, the undersigned, call on the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) to immediately commence a public inquiry into these deaths and detention places generally, and come up with concrete recommendations which could be implemented that will improve state of cleanliness, hygiene and healthcare of all detention places in Malaysia. It was sad that SUHAKAM decided not to carry out a public inquiry after the Juru deaths in May.
We are also call upon the Ministry of Health and the government of Malaysia to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of this Leptospirosis outbreak, which is reported to have already resulted in 6 deaths.
We also call for the resignation of Immigration Director-General Abdul Rahman, considering that this is second reported case of deaths by reason of Leptospirosis at Immigration Detention Centres within the last 4 months.
The Malaysian government must take necessary action to ensure that proper steps be taken so that such disregard for life does not happen again.
With regard to those who have died, their family and/or dependents should be given adequate compensation by the persons responsible, the detaining authority and the Malaysian government.
Officers and persons responsible for the acts or omissions that resulted in death and suffering should be charged and prosecuted for these crimes. They should not be permitted to hide behind safeguards provided to public servants, which unfortunately only promotes culture of impunity with no sense of responsibility and respect for human life.
For and on behalf of the 23 organizations/groups listed below:-
Asian Migrant Centre (AMC)
Burma Campaign, Malaysia
Clean Clothes Campaign -International Secretariat
Coordination of Action Research on AIDS & Mobility (CARAM -Asia)
FIDH – International Federation for Human Rights
Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Organization (Cambodia)
Legal Support for Children and Women (LSCW) Cambodia
MADPET (Malaysians against Death Penalty and Torture)
MAP Foundation, Thailand
Mekong Migration Network (MMN)
Mekong Ecumenical Partnership Program-MEPP
Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA)
National League for Democracy [NLD (LA)], Malaysia
Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM)
Nepal Institute of Development Studies (NIDS) Nepal
Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM)
Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor
Persatuan Masyarakat Malaysia & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)
Pusat Komas
The Shan Refugee Organization (SRO) Malaysia
Thai Action Committees for democracy in Burma (TACDB)
The Action Network for Migrants (ANM) Thailand
Workers Hub for Change (WH4C)
Catch the FreedomFilmFest2009
Published by September 28th, 2009 in Event and Malaysian NGOs. 0 CommentsPresenting 23 heart-moving, eye-opening, award-winning human rights documentaries from Malaysia and around the world, over 3 days in 4 states.
2-4 OCTOBER 2009, The Annexe, Central Market KL
9-11 OCTOBER 2009, Han Chiang College, Penang
23-25 OCTOBER, Sek. Men. Chung Hua No.1, Kuching
30 OCTOBER-1 NOVEMBER, Tropical Inn, Johor Bharu
Berapakah Kampung Buah Pala di Selangor? – Dari Perbalahan Buah Pala meninjau dilema setinggan di Selangor
Published by September 28th, 2009 in Event and Land Development and Housing. 0 CommentsKampung Buah Pala yang mempunyai sejarah 200 tahun tidak dapat diselamatkan daripada nasib dirobohkan. Sebelum perbalahan ini ditenteramkan, pembangunan dan pengusiran di Tanjong Tokong, Pulau Pinang sekali lagi menjadi tumpuan seluruh negara.
Sebenarnya, perkara mengenai setinggan dan perjuangan peneroka Bandar terjadi di seluruh Negara. Kawasan perumahan setinggan di Chan Sow Lian, Kuala Lumpur akan dirobohkan, perbalahan pembangunan di kampong baru Plentong tidak dapat diselesaikan selama 20 tahun, Kampung Meru Tin di perak menghadapi masalah harga tanah terlalu tinggi selepas tanah tersebut diambil balik oleh kerajaan negeri, Kampung Berembang, Jalan Papan dan Jalan Bukit Kerayong di Selangor menghadapi ancaman pengusiran paksa di bawah dasar setinggan sifar yang ditetapkan oleh bekas kerajaan negeri Selangor.
Apa yang telah berlaku di Kampung Buah Pala, ada kemungkinan berlaku lagi di negeri Selangor, ia akan mengakibatkan pertembungan dan merugikan semua pihak. Bagaimanakah menangani masalah ini memang bergantung kepada kebijaksanaan pihak berkuasa, penduduk dan masyarakat madani. Ia bukan sahaja menilai adakah kerajan baru akan melaksanakan konsep demokrasi dan hak asasi manusia, tetapi juga mencabarkan kerajaan negeri menghasilkan dasar-dasar perumahan seragam yang “berpusat rakyat” dan bukan berpusat pada kumpulan-kumpulan minat (interest group).
Jawatankuasa Hak Sivil berpendapat, semua pihak berkepentingan dalam isu setinggan di Selangor harus memulakan dialog dan perbincangan awam sebelum pengusiran paksa menjadi satu hakikat. Perbincangan ini membenarkan semua rakyat yang prihatin memberi cadangan dan mencari jalan penyelesaian, melaksanakan kebudayaan rundingan demokrasi dan sebagai satu proses bagi menggubalkan dasar-dasar awam yang memanfaatkan rakyat.
Dengan ini, kami akan menganjurkan satu forum awam bertajuk “Berapakah Kampung Buah Pala di Selangor? – Dari Perbalahan Buah Pala Meninjau Dilema Setinggan di Selangor”. Penceramah-penceramah ialah YB Iskandar Abdul Samad, Exco Kerajaan Negeri Selangor, pengerusi jawatankuasa tetap perumahan, pengurusan bangunan dan setinggan; Encik Tan Jo Hann, Pengerusi Permas merangkap Ahli Majlis MPSJ, Encik Ang Mah Chye, wakil jawatankuasa penduduk Jalan Papan, Pandamaran Klang serta Encik Noralizan bin Ali, wakili Kampung Berembang, Ampang. Moderator ialah Encik Ong Jing Cheng dari Persatuan EMPOWER. Butir-butir forum adalah seperti berikut :
Tarikh : 30hb Sept 2009 (Rabu)
Masa : 7:30pm
Tempat : Auditorium, KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (Map)
Bahasa : Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Inggeris
Forum awam ini adalah percuma, kedatangan orang awam dialu-alukan. Jika ada sebarang pertanyaan, sila hubungi Encik Cheah (03-22723519), sekian terima kasih/
Musa Hassan Should Not be Given Another Extension of His Tenure as IGP
Published by September 11th, 2009 in Law Enforcement and Malaysian NGOs. 0 CommentsWe, undersign Malaysia Civil Society Organisations regrets that the Government has extended tenure of current Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan tenure for another year until 12 September 2010. We urge the IGP not to accept the offer and should instead step down as he has failed in carrying out his duties and responsibilities in the past three years. His performance can be accessed from the three main areas identified by the Royal Commission to Enhance the Management and Operations of the Police Force (Royal Police Commission): to reduce crime; to eradicate corruption; and to bring an end to human rights abuses.
Continue reading ‘Musa Hassan Should Not be Given Another Extension of His Tenure as IGP’
Media Statement of the PENAN SUPPORT GROUP on the RAPE AND SEXUAL ABUSE OF PENAN GIRLS AND WOMEN IN BARAM, SARAWAK
Published by September 11th, 2009 in Law Enforcement. 0 CommentsIn September 2008, news broke out that Penan girls, some as young as 10 years, were being sexually abused by logging workers in the Middle Baram area of Sarawak. However, local politicians and the police were quick to dismiss these as mere allegations without any basis.
Such lackadaisical attitudes compelled the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development to establish a National Task Force comprising ministry officials and women NGO representatives to investigate the ‘allegations’. Aided by local activists in Sarawak, they were able to meet with some of the victims and their families in November 2008.
Ten months later, on 8 September 2009, the report was finally made public. The findings, however, were not surprising – the rapes and sexual abuse did occur and the Penan girls are still vulnerable because of the lack of policing and development in their area.
The police, it appears, are still in denial. Or at best, are ineffectual.
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Dataran Merdeka, KL
Dataran Merdeka, KL