On behalf of SUARAM, I am pleased to invite you to the launch of SUARAM’s Malaysia Human Rights Report 2008: Civil Political Rights. The launch will be held at the following:
Date: 23 July 2009 (Thursday)
Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm
Venue: Mandarin Court Hotel, 55 Jalan Maharajalela, 50150 Kuala Lumpur.
(Near the Selangor & Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall. Please follow this link for the location map of the hotel: http://www.mandarincourthotel.com.my/location.php)
SUARAM publishes its Human Rights Report on Malaysia every year without fail. This report is now widely recognised as the most objective, comprehensive and dependable source of information on the state of human rights in Malaysia. In keeping with our tradition of annual publication, this year’s report focuses on the human rights violations in this country throughout 2008.
This event will be the perfect platform for us to foster solidarity in defending and advocating human rights in Malaysia. As such, your attendance will speak volumes in our mutual quest for a better Malaysia.
Kindly confirm your attendance with John Liu at 03-77843525 / 77835724 or suaram@suaram.net by 21 June 2009. We look forward to seeing you there.
Programme:
09:30 Arrival of guests
10:00 Welcome remarks
10:10 Presentation of report
10:50 Testimony: Norlaila Othman, wife of Mat Sah Satray (detained under the ISA since 2002)
11:00 Testimony: Tamil Selwee, mother of Ulaganathan (died in police custody in 2003)
11:15 Testimony: Chang Jiun Haur (victim of excessive police violence, Bandar Mahkota Cheras) (To be confirmed)
11: 30 Press statement and official launch of report
11:40 Press Conference
12:00 Lunch
13:00 End
About SUARAM’s Malaysia Human Rights Report 2008: Civil and Political Rights
SUARAM’s annual Human Rights Report on Malaysia is widely recognised as the most objective, comprehensive and dependable source of information on the state of human rights in Malaysia. It documents the human rights violations as well as the struggles of human rights defenders that take place in Malaysia during the year.
In this 2008 report, we note the new political realities brought about by the unprecedented results of the 12th General Elections, in which the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) suffered its biggest loss in Malaysian electoral history since 1969.
Despite this setback, the BN government continued to use outdated and draconian laws such as the Internal Security Act (ISA), the Emergency Ordinance (EO) and the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) to detain individuals without trial. Other restrictive and repressive laws, including the Police Act, the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA), the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and the Sedition Act continued to be invoked by the government to suppress voices of dissent and curb basic freedoms of expression, assembly and association.
The establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) as recommended by the Royal Police Commission a few years ago remained unfulfilled. This has led to numerous abuses of power by the police throughout the year.
2008 also saw growing religious intolerance, most clearly demonstrated in warnings issued by Muslim leaders against non-Muslims who discussed matters relating to Islam and the ban on non-Muslims from using certain words deemed to be the exclusive right of Islam. The rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants continued to be seriously violated by the government.
Malaysia’s credibility at the international level took a further blow for its lack of commitment in promoting and protecting human rights, as illustrated in the possible downgrading of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) by an international governing body.
0 Responses to “Launch of SUARAM’s Malaysia Human Rights Report 2008: Civil and Political Rights <br /> Mandarin Court Hotel, Jalan Maharajalela, KL”