THANK YOU WORLD

On behalf of the secretariats and the Steering Committee of The Coalition of Clean and Fair Elections Malaysia (BERSIH), I would like to thank the support of People's Rally on 10th November at the Merdeka Square demanding a elections reform in Malaysia and later submit a memorandum to the King.

The bodies who have issued their statements of supports are:

1. Human Rights Watch, New York
2. Amnesty International, London

We will also have similar demonstration in several countries arond the world. They will submit a protest a memorandum to the Malaysian Embassies and Malaysian High Commisionaires office at their respective countries. The cities are:

1. London
2. New York
3. Seoul
4. Ulam Bato (Mongolia)
5. Delhi
6. Manila
7. Jakarta
8. Bangkok
9. Cairo


AI Index: ASA 28/005/2007 (Public)
News Service No: 217
9 November 2007

Malaysia: Respect rights to the freedom of peaceful assembly

Amnesty International calls on the Malaysian authorities and the police to respect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly of demonstrators who intend to hold a rally on 10 November, calling on the authorities to ensure that planned elections are free and fair. The police have refused to issue a permit for the intended demonstration and have warned they will arrest people attending it.

At a previous demonstration in Kuala Terengganu on 8 September 2007 police used excessive force as they attempted to disperse the crowd. In light of this Amnesty International is concerned that there is the potential on this occasion for human rights violations, including excessive use of force by police. Amnesty International urges the Malaysian authorities to ensure that the police comply with international human rights standards, in particular respect for the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and that they do not resort to excessive use of force.

Police have the responsibility to abide by international standards for law enforcement officials, set out in the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, which stipulate that law enforcement officials must maintain and uphold the human rights of all persons, and that they may use force only when strictly necessary and to the extent required for the performance of their duty.

Amnesty International also urges the authorities to respect the right not to be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention and not to arrest or detain anyone for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Amnesty International reiterates its call on the Malaysian Government to amend provisions of the Police Act and Penal Code to ensure that they are not be used to arrest and imprison individuals for the exercise of their right to freedom of peaceful assembly.

Background

The planned demonstration is organised by Bersih, a coalition of civil society groups and political parties, campaigning for clean and fair elections. The organisation aims to gather 100,000 people for the demonstration. They previously gathered 500 people in Kuala Terengganu, which was dispersed by police, who used tear gas and water cannons on the gathering.



For Immediate Release

Malaysia: Allow Rally for Electoral Reform

Risk of Misuse of Force by Authorities Against Peaceful Protestors

(New York, November 9, 2007) - Police in Kuala Lumpur should permit a public rally and march organized by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (known as Bersih) to proceed as planned on Saturday November 10, Human Rights Watch said today. New elections, although not mandated before May 2009, are expected to take place early in 2008.

"The grounds for refusing the rally are nonsense," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "If Malaysia wants to count itself a democracy, it can begin by upholding constitutional guarantees of free speech and assembly. The way the system works now, only the ruling coalition can get its messages out."

Current Malaysian law bans public gatherings of more than five persons without a permit. Kuala Lumpur's police chief has warned the public that they risk arrest, fines and jail if they participate in the Bersih rally and march, adding that roadblocks and road closures would be in place. Police plans also include the deployment of some 4,000 officers and checks on all cars coming in from outside Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia's inspector-general of police took the unusual step of reiterating the warnings.

"Organizers of the Bersih rally only want to create a level playing field for all in the coming elections, yet they are being denied the basic right of expressing their concerns in a peaceful demonstration," said Adams. "Prime Minister Badawi claims to be a reformer, but when it comes to holding onto power, he and his party make one set of rules for themselves and another for everyone else."

Approximately 70 nongovernmental organizations and opposition political parties have asked the government to implement a series of reforms to address widespread election irregularities. Bersih's initial request to assemble in Merdeka Square in downtown Kuala Lumpur to march to the national palace to deliver a memorandum to the king was denied on the grounds that the organization was not a registered body, that City Hall had not approved use of the square, that the square would be otherwise occupied, that the march would inconvenience drivers, and that the march could affect public order.

Labels: BERSIH, international support

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