THE police broke up two “illegal” gatherings recently, threatening once again citizens’ constitutional right to peaceably assemble. On 6 Mar 2010, police clambered onstage at a DAP-organised dinner to announce that the “ceramah” was over, as no permit had been given for speeches. On 8 Mar 2010, they stopped a Pakatan Rakyat event midway at […]
water cannons
The point of demonstrating
By David AnthonyRECENT public demonstrations like the anti/pro-Internal Security Act (ISA) rallies and others have publicly defied the ruling for police permits. Police permits are seen as going against Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948 by the United Nations general assembly. Article 20 states that “everyone has the right to freedom […]
Launching Malaysia 2.0
By Wong Chin HuatWater cannon being used during the 1 Aug anti-ISA rally (Pic courtesy of Merdeka Review) A FRIEND asked on Facebook: “[The Barisan Nasional] (BN) insists [on keeping the Internal Security Act (ISA)]; do you want to keep the BN?” This question is spot on. It simplifies many issues into a single concern. It almost frames […]
Demonstrations
By The Nut Graph teamTHE 1 Aug 2009 anti-Internal Security Act (ISA) street rally attracted big crowds scattered around the heart of Kuala Lumpur. The throng of people easily numbered 20,000 but could have been more. Demonstrators sported headbands, T-shirts and banners that decried the draconian law. They called for the Act, which allows for indefinite state detention without […]
Children’s rights violated
By Ragunath KesavanTHE Malaysian Bar denounces the government’s overzealous and abusive show of power in its apparent determination to crush the people’s exercise of its right to the twin freedoms of assembly and expression during the rallies in Kuala Lumpur on 1 Aug 2009. According to media and eyewitness accounts, police used excessive and disproportionate physical force, […]
Suhakam: Respect right to assembly
By Tan Sri Simon SipaunTHE Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) regrets to note that in the process of dispersing the 15,000-strong crowd marching in protest of the Internal Security Act (ISA) in Kuala Lumpur on 1 Aug 2009, the police used tear gas and water [cannons] excessively, which also affected bystanders. The day of the public assembly ended […]
