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Amnesty International Malaysia is concerned on the recent discriminative practices and selective arrests by the police on peaceful demonstrators. We reiterate our stand that ISA violates fundamental human rights and remains the countries symbol of injustice and torture. Malaysian government has to adopt immediate Moratorium on the use of ISA and subsequently for ISA to be repealed. Amnesty further calls for all Malaysians and police to respect Freedom of Expression enshrined in Article 19 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 10 of Federal Constitution.

The differential treatments to 2 ISA demonstrations on 23 November 2008 by the police are clear evidence on arbitrary, unjust and selective arrest, and unfair intervention. We regret that the police continue to undermine Constitutional Rights to “Peaceful Assembly and Personal Liberties” especially when it had been strongly addressed repeatedly by Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysia Police and SUHAKAM. The continued arrests and clamp down on peaceful assemblies shows gross disregard to human rights standards and principles. Amnesty International Malaysia reasserts that the right to assembly is a fundamental inherent right of all persons.

Amnesty International Malaysia emphasizes that the police have the responsibility to abide by international standards for law enforcement officials, set out in UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. It stipulates that law enforcement officials must maintain and uphold human rights of all persons in the performance of their duties. Police must 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 Malaysia urges Royal Malaysian Police to respect and protect these rights.

Amnesty International Malaysia further strongly rebuts Pewaris’s call for retaining ISA and urges them to respect Freedom of Expression and recognizes differences and diversity of opinion. While we recognise their fundamental rights, we however view with concern on support given to a very arbitrary, unjust law that violates fundamental principles of Human Rights and calls to limit other’s freedom of expression.

Let us all uphold and respect the rights enshrined in Federal Constitution and Universal Declaration of Human Rights as we celebrate their 51st and 60th Anniversary.

Nora Murat
Executive Director