bangkit.net

ALIRAN: Violence Against Refugees Continues (11 April 2008)

Published by adamnetto April 22nd, 2008 in Violence and Government Policies & Negligence. 0 Comments

Aliran would like to bring to public attention the continuing violence perpetrated against migrants and refugees in this country. It is amazing that the public at large is still ignorant of all this human rights violation happening right under our noses. Moreover, most of the Malaysian public remain ignorant of who refugees are or why they are here.The cause of this ignorance is probably brought about by limited information and the negative views promoted by the mainstream news dailies and broadcast media, which is still under the complete control of the ruling Barisan Nasional government.

Continue reading ‘ALIRAN: Violence Against Refugees Continues (11 April 2008)’

Abolish Restrictive Laws if Serious about Press Freedom

Published by adamnetto April 22nd, 2008 in Freedom of Information. 0 Comments

Three years after an application was made by the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), the government has finally granted a permit to the political party to publish its official organ, Suara Keadilan. SUARAM welcomes the government’s decision, albeit three years late.

More importantly, SUARAM acknowledges the Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar’s pledge to respect press freedom when he said: “. [W]e need press freedom in order for us to have a check and balance in [the] government.” The minister has also noted that he will re-look into the requirement of annual licence for the publication of newspapers.
However, while welcoming this latest decision and pledge, we are also cautious as the government has on many occasions unfulfilled its pledges, and even worse, acted on the contrary.

Continue reading ‘Abolish Restrictive Laws if Serious about Press Freedom’

Eco Film Fest 2008

Published by adamnetto April 22nd, 2008 in Event and Environment. 0 Comments

The Eco Film Fest (EFF08) makes its premier this year as an environment filmmaking competition. The Fest is looking for real local environment stories to be made into film.
Organized by EcoKnights, the Eco Film Fest 2008 (EFF08′) is the first of its kind in Malaysia where college and university students are encouraged to participate in a film contest that is dedicated to disclose local environment and sustainable development issues in Malaysia.

This year’s theme, “Climate Change – A Call for Action” is to highlight the state of environment in Malaysia from policies and human health to pollution and the industries.
All the films screened at the festival will carry themes concerned with the environment and sustainable development. This film competition was organized with the purpose to educate young individuals on the factors affecting climate change as well as to influence them to make a contribution to stop its progression through communicative media.

Eco Film Fest 2008 hopes to search out for local talents-with a “special eye” for film making. Among the hundreds of submissions, only 5 candidates with the
best/creative/most interesting proposals will be selected. These chosen candidates will be provided with financial assistance of up to RM3000, and other technical support from ECOKNIGHTS and their partners to help turn their proposals into reality, and the opportunity to showcase them during EFF08 Ceremony this November! Among 5 top finalists, 3 contestants will stand a chance to go home with an EcoFilmFest 2008 Award Trophy + an opportunity to enroll in a complimentary film-maker’s course organized by
ASWARA!!
SO
GRAB YOUR CHANCE NOW AND SEND US YOUR PROPOSALS TO STAND A CHANCE TO BE AMONG
THE SELECTED!!!

Concern over detention of five men under the Internal Security Act

Published by adamnetto April 22nd, 2008 in Detention without Trial. 0 Comments

We are writing on behalf of the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) to express our concern about the detention of five lawyers under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in Malaysia.

In its role as a dual membership organisation, comprising 30,000 individual lawyers and over 195 Bar Associations and Law Societies, the IBA influences the development of international law reform and shapes the future of the legal profession. Its Member Organisations cover all continents.

Continue reading ‘Concern over detention of five men under the Internal Security Act’

Forum on The Right to Redress for Migrant Workers and Refugees The Kuala Lumpur And Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)

Published by adamnetto April 22nd, 2008 in Event. 0 Comments

Organized by:

The Migration Working Group (MWG)
`Protecting the rights of migrants, refugees, and stateless persons’

Date: Sat 26 April 2008
Time: 9.30am - 12.30pm
Venue: Conference Room 2, 1st Floor,
The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)

Everyone has the right to be protected by the law. Everyone has the right to aneffective remedy when his/her rights are violated. Everyone has theright to be recognised as a person before the law. Everyone has
the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty. No one shall be
held in slavery or servitude. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary
arrest or detention.

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

These are basic human rights that should be enjoyed by all. However,in the case of migrants and refugees in Malaysia, these rights are not protected. There are an estimated 3-4 million migrant workers in Malaysia, and 100,000 asylum seekers and refugees. Many suffer from unpaid wages, abuses in the workplace, violence, extortion and cheating, and are unable to seek redress for these wrongs. Under the current legal and administrative system of Malaysia, justice is denied.

In this Forum, migrants, activists and lawyers highlight issues surrounding the Right to Redress, highlighting the urgent need for reform so that justice prevails.

This Forum is part of a campaign on the Right to Redress organised by the
Migration Working Group, a network of civil society groups and
individuals advocating for the protection and assistance of migrants
and refugees in Malaysia. Women’s Aid Organisation serves as its
Secretariat.

To register your attendance, email us at wao@po.jaring. my or telephone +60379570636.

The deadline for registration is 5pm, 24 April 2008.

We look forward to having you with us.

Job vacancy in Suaram: Account and Administration Assistant

Published by adamnetto April 22nd, 2008 in Job Posting. 0 Comments

Job Vacancy: Account and Administration Assistant
Closing date: 30 April 2008

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), a non-governmental and non-profit organization based in Petaling Jaya and working to protect and promote human rights, is looking for a suitable candidate to fill the position of Account and Administration Assistant.

Scope of Job

- manage accounts and financial matters of the organization
- assist in day-to-day administration matters
- assist in programs and functions, especially on financial matters

Continue reading ‘Job vacancy in Suaram: Account and Administration Assistant’

Lift Ban on Makkal Osai

Published by adamnetto April 22nd, 2008 in Government Policies & Negligence and Freedom of Information. 0 Comments

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI) are deeply concerned about the banning of Tamil paper Makkal Osai, following the the Ministry of Home Affairs’s decision not to renew its publication permit lapsed since 2007. The refusal to grant a permit sparks worry as the government shows no signs of reforming towards greater openness and to be more attentive to the
voices of the community. As the paper gave relatively more coverage to the opposition during the general election, the ban gives basis to the impression that this is a “punishment” by the Barisan Nasional government.

On April 16, Makkal Osai received a letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs informing that its permit application was rejected. Hithertho, the paper was operating from a lapsed permit with the expectation that it would be renewed. During the recently concluded
elections, CIJ’s media monitoring revealed that the newspaper had the most space for the opposition among the six that were monitored, but it had departed from its usual editorial trend by publishing more pro-Barisan Nasional (BN) stories - a sign of the strain due to the uncertainty of its permit status.

Continue reading ‘Lift Ban on Makkal Osai’

Judicial Commission Welcomed, but More Substantial Reforms Needed

Published by adamnetto April 22nd, 2008 in Government Policies & Negligence and Law and Justice. 0 Comments

SUARAM welcomes with caution the judicial appointments commission announced by the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as the powers and criteria of selection of the members of the commission have yet to be outlined.

We however regret that the Prime Minister wishes to retain its constitutional prerogative in naming the judges to the King. Does that mean that the judicial commission is just an advisory body which will only have the powers to submit names to the Prime Minister who will ultimately decide the names to be proposed to the King?

Continue reading ‘Judicial Commission Welcomed, but More Substantial Reforms Needed’

PERMIT MAKKAL OSAI – SATU LAGI BUKTI KEANGKUHAN KERAJAAN BARISAN NASIONAL

Published by adamnetto April 22nd, 2008 in Government Policies & Negligence and Freedom of Information. 0 Comments

Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas membantah tindakan Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN)
yang tidak memperbaharui permit penerbitan akhbar Tamil ‘Makkal Osai’.
Tindakan ini bukan sahaja menghakis kebebasan media di Negara ini malah
menunjukkan keangkuhan Barisan Nasional walaupun rakyat telah memberi
pengajaran dalam pilihanraya umum yang lepas.

Walaupun tiada alasan rasmi diberikan, pada hari ini Menteri Dalam Negeri
mengatakan bahawa KDN telah banyak menerima aduan mengenai isi kandungan
akhbar tersebut yang kononya tidak sensitif terhadap masyarakat negara ini.
Ini bukan kali pertama akhbar ini dianiaya oleh kerajaan BN. Pada bulan Ogos
tahun lalu juga pernah sekali akhbar ini digantung penerbitannya untuk satu
bulan.

Continue reading ‘PERMIT MAKKAL OSAI – SATU LAGI BUKTI KEANGKUHAN KERAJAAN BARISAN NASIONAL’

JERIT GETS ASSURANCE THAT ALL EVICTION NOTICE REVOKED –FORCED EVICTION STOPPED IN SELANGOR

Published by Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas April 19th, 2008 in Land Development and Housing and Malaysian NGOs. 0 Comments

The Selangor Exco for Housing, Building Management and Squatter, Iskandar Abdul Samad assured the Housing and Urban Pioneers Coalition, JERIT that all eviction of urban pioneers communities from their land in Selangor would be halted and the state will withdraw all Eviction Notices in Selangor.

This was told to the representatives from seven urban pioneer Kampungs in a meeting initiated by JERIT with the Selangor State Exco, En Iskandar Abdul Samad. For the record, the Urban Pioneers Coalition, JERIT has been actively campaigning and protesting against forced eviction and the Selangor State Policy for Zero Squatters since 2005.
Continue reading ‘JERIT GETS ASSURANCE THAT ALL EVICTION NOTICE REVOKED –FORCED EVICTION STOPPED IN SELANGOR’

bangkit.net

About

Advertisment

Pages