Anwar Ibrahim |
- Malaysia: Backsliding on Rights
- Siri Jelajah Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim Ke Melaka
- Beware: Crooked Malaysian Politicos Protecting Amalilio
- Six Israeli Security Chiefs Stun the World
| Malaysia: Backsliding on Rights Posted: 31 Jan 2013 08:58 PM PST
Rights to Free Expression, Peaceful Assembly Take Hits Prime Minister Najib Razak's promised reforms did not significantly improve legal protections for basic liberties in Malaysia, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2013. Press restrictions, the use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators, and intimidation of rights groups exposed the limits of government adherence to internationally recognized human rights. In its 665-page report, Human Rights Watch assessed progress on human rights during the past year in more than 90 countries, including an analysis of the aftermath of the Arab Spring. In Malaysia, Human Rights Watch said, government respect for basic rights and liberties is likely to be tested in the run-up to national parliamentary elections, which must be held no later than June 2013. "The Malaysian government's promised human rights agenda fell far short in practice in 2012," said Phil Robertson, Asia deputy director at Human Rights Watch. "As elections approach, the government will need to demonstrate its willingness to uphold the rights of all citizens, whatever their political views." On April 28, 2012, tens of thousands of peaceful protesters were met by water cannon, teargas, beatings, and arrests during a march and sit-in led by Bersih, a coalition of civil rights organizations, to demand clean and fair elections. A government committee set up to investigate the incident has done little to shed light on the actions of the authorities on that day. Negotiations between the police and a coalition of opposition political parties and activist groups resulted in a peaceful gathering of the "People's Uprising Rally" in Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on January 12, 2013. Revisions to longstanding abusive laws had less of an impact on the ground than was hoped, Human Rights Watch said. The replacement of section 27 of the Police Act by the Peaceful Assembly Act did not rescind the absolute power of the police to grant permits for demonstrations. Instead the new law allows police to effectively outlaw marches by prohibiting "moving assemblies" by declaring innumerable sites off limits, and by giving the police the power to set time, date, and place conditions. The People's Uprising Rally organizers agreed to 27 conditions – including on appropriate slogans – before their rally got approval, and the government is currently investigating compliance with three of the conditions. In another legal reform that fell short of international standards, the Malaysian government repealed the infamous Internal Security Act (ISA), and substituted the Security Offenses (Special Measures) 2012 Act (SOSMA). SOSMA reduced arbitrary detention to 28 days instead of the indeterminate period permitted under the ISA but added new infringements of rights. The law's definition of a security defense is overbroad. Police, rather than judges, have the power to authorize communication intercepts, and prosecutors can utilize information as evidence without disclosing sources. Moreover, should a suspect be acquitted and the state appeal that decision, the acquitted suspect may be detained in prison or tethered to a monitoring device until the appeal is settled, a process that could take years. Government harassment of human rights defenders continued in 2012, Human Rights Watch said. In response to spurious allegations by Jaringan Melayu Malaysia, an organization with close ties to Malaysia's leaders, the government pursued a politically motivated investigation of Suaram, a leading Malaysian human rights organization in operation since 1989. At least six government agencies are seeking to find Suaram's registration and operations illegal. Investigators have harassed staff and supporters, and threatened them with arrest while government politicians and government-controlled media outlets have publicly attacked the organization. On September 3, a week before investigations had begun, a government minister accused Suaram of keeping "highly suspicious" accounts and said that "99.4 percent" of its activities were "money collecting." Groups supporting the rights of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender (LGBT) people fared even worse, Human Rights Watch said. In two speeches in 2012, Prime Minister Najib condoned discrimination by singling out the LGBT community as a threatening "deviant culture" that "would not have a place in the country." Not only was the annual Seksualiti Merdeka (Sexual Diversity, in English) festival canceled in 2012 amidst ongoing intimidation of the LGBT community, but a court refused a judicial review of the police ban on the 2011 festival, a decision that festival organizers say leaves future festivals in legal limbo. "The Malaysian authorities should respect the fundamental rights of non-discrimination and equality, and stop demonizing people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity," said Boris Dittrich, advocacy director for the LGBT program at Human Rights Watch. Reforms to freedom of the press also proved to be less than anticipated, Human Rights Watch said. The Printing Presses and Publications Act was amended, dropping the requirement for annual licensing of publications and ending the Home Affairs Minister's power to award or rescind publishing licenses without court review. However, the revised law still requires that new publications obtain initial approval, and licenses still may be arbitrarily revoked. The government appealed a 2011 Kuala Lumpur High Court ruling that a "license to publish is a right, not a privilege," therefore requiring review of the government's "improper and irrational" unwillingness to issue a license to the largest on-line newspaper, Malaysiakini, to publish a daily print edition. An amendment to the Evidence Act provides that computer owners and operators of computer networks are publishers and thus responsible for the content displayed on their screens unless they could prove they had nothing to do with the content. This raises concerns about the presumption of innocence as well as free expression. Malaysian police appear to routinely violate the rights of persons in custody, Human Rights Watch said. Police personnel have employed unnecessary or excessive force during demonstrations, while carrying out arrests, and in police lockups. Deaths in custody, routinely attributed to disease, go uninvestigated, suspects are beaten to coerce confessions, and criminal suspects die in suspicious circumstances during apprehension by police. Alleged police abuses go uninvestigated. Malaysian immigration law still does not recognize refugees and asylum seekers, and prohibits them from working and their children from going to school. Unauthorized migrants face arrest and detention in unsanitary and overcrowded immigration detention centers, and caning for violating the immigration law. Anti-trafficking efforts conflate human trafficking with people smuggling, and punishes rather than protects trafficking victims by holding them in inadequate, locked shelters that resemble detention centers rather than care facilities. The government continues to do little to protect migrant domestic workers from beatings and sexual abuse by their employers. "Numerous sectors of Malaysia's economy depend on migrant workers, yet Malaysia continues to treat them as disposable people who can be used and abused," said Robertson. "The government should fully respect migrant workers' rights and stop re-victimizing those who have been trafficked to Malaysia." To read Human Rights Watch's World Report 2013 chapter on Malaysia, please visit: For more Human Rights Watch reporting on Malaysia, please visit: |
| Siri Jelajah Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim Ke Melaka Posted: 31 Jan 2013 07:35 PM PST 3 Februari 2013 (Ahad) 1) 4.30 – 6.30 ptg – Sambutan Ponggal Negeri Melaka Lokasi: Taman Melaka Perdana, Alor Gajah 2) 5.00 – 7.00 ptg – Hi-Tea Rakyat Lokasi: Kampong Gangsa, Durian Tunggal, Alor Gajah 3) 7.15 mlm – Solat & Tazkirah Maghrib Lokasi: Markas UPU Pengkalan Minyak, KM 10.5 Kg Ayer Molek 4) 9.00 – 12.00 mlm – Ceramah Perdana Demi Rakyat Lokasi: Solok Ciku, Kg Bukit Gedung, Tanjung Kling 5) 9.00 – 12.00 – Ceramah Perdana Merdeka Rakyat Lokasi: Batu 20, Kampong Rim, Jasin Barisan Penceramah: i. YB Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim ii. YBhg Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin iii. YB Goh Leong San iv. YBhg Adly Zahari v. YB Sim Tong Him vi. YBhg Dato' Seri Chua Jui Meng vii. YBhg Kamaruddin Sidek |
| Beware: Crooked Malaysian Politicos Protecting Amalilio Posted: 31 Jan 2013 07:33 PM PST One moment the Armed Forces brass says that soldiers have been re-indoctrinated to respect civil rights. In the next it pleads for sympathy that troopers emptied rifle magazines into two vanloads of civilians since "they were only following orders." In short the generals are saying that their men are caring, dutiful killers. No wonder Commander-in-Chief Noynoy Aquino had to tell them to stop telling tall tales about the Atimonan massacre of 13 men. At any rate, the brass should make the 25 soldiers' commanding officer answer for shouting, "Fire!" Soldiers obey only their CO. Something stinks about police officers owning security agencies. Will they ever fight crime as earnestly as they should, if they need to justify the hiring of their security guards by malls, banks, restaurants, offices, subdivisions, plantations, ports, everywhere? Is the number of guards in the Philippines inversely equivalent to police efficiency? In countries where police response and crime investigation are superb, businesses do not need private security services. Will the probe of the Atimonan massacre delve as well into why the 13 fatalities were travelling armed? Reports have it that group leader, Vic Siman, and one companion, police colonel Alfredo Consemino, had just met with one Ronnie Habatin in Bicol to merge their security and mining businesses. The ambushing police officers claimed that Siman had headed a private army. Thirteen registered and one unlicensed firearms were found inside the group's two SUVs. They had not come from a shooting competition, so what were they, with three policemen and five soldiers, up to? Philippine officials need to get hold from Malaysia the fugitive Ponzi-scammer Manuel Amalilio. So they need to be very courteous in talking repatriation with Malaysian counterparts. They also have to be very cautious. For, Amalilio's stolen multibillion pesos can bribe the Malaysians into keeping him safely in Sabah, away from Philippine justice. The Chief Minister of Sabah, Musa Aman, was responsible for stopping agents of the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation last Friday from flying Amalilio out of there. Musa Aman is in fact viewed as one of Malaysia's crookedest officials. What could have induced him to save the head of Aman Futures, who duped some 15,000 Visayans and Mindanaoans of P12 billion? Hours earlier, Malaysian feds had nabbed and turned over Amalilio to the NBI. Last minute, on the pretext that he is a protected Malaysian national, Sabah airport guards barred the Filipino lawmen from taking back the absconder. After some initial confusion, the Sabah Chief Minister no less emerged as having ordered Amalilio's reprieve. When Manila showed proof that the wanted man is Filipino, Musa changed his tune. He claimed that Amalilio had conned Sabahans too, so their complaints must be investigated. He couldn't explain why Amalilio purportedly would be grilled only now. The fugitive had fled Mindanao for Sabah as far back as November; ripped-off Filipinos had been sighting him there in public. Musa is known to lie with a straight face when exposed for sleaze. Like, when prominent Sabah timber concessionaire Michael Chia (alias Chia Tien Foh), was arrested in Hong Kong smuggling out $16.6 million last year. Musa swore he has never met him. The Malaysian press reprinted photos of Musa and Chia handshaking and arms over shoulders in several socials over the past decade. Chia's smuggling prompted an investigation by Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption. The ICAC unearthed Musa's money laundering all the way to Zurich (starting with $20 million in 1998) and the British Virgin islands (initially with $9 million in 2005). The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission conducted a parallel probe. Uncovered were remittances from Chia and his lawyer Richard Christopher Barnes to Musa's two sons in Australia, via banks in Singapore. International conservationists have been expressing concern that Musa is giving away timber concessions in Sabah. Deforestation there has been identified as one of the main causes of global warming that triggers catastrophic weather. Meanwhile, some concessionaires have complained of Chia's prohibitive extortions in behalf of Musa, the chairman of Sabah's timber board. One exposé is about his grant of a lucrative logging site to Chia's mistress. More than 40 charges were brought against Musa. But he was able to elude them — and prevent the ICAC and MACC from synchronizing their probes — through political connections. Musa is the older brother of Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, and a close kin of Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail. As head in Sabah of Malaysia's ruling UMNO party, Musa is also its chief fundraiser and so a strong ally of Prime Minister Najib Razak. Razak is himself being linked to a $40-million kickback from the purchase of three submarines from France and the murder of a Mongolian socialite who publicly raised a fuss about her share. The UMNO tried to make it look like the recent dollar smuggling from Hong Kong was a donation for the forthcoming parliamentary election. Amalilio is facing some 8,000 court cases in the Philippines. President Noynoy Aquino, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, and Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario are collaborating to bring him back and face the music. In so doing, they will have to deal with Musa, Anifah, Patail, and Razak. |
| Six Israeli Security Chiefs Stun the World Posted: 31 Jan 2013 09:01 AM PST Six former heads of the Shin Bet, Israel's secretive internal security service, have spoken out as a group for the first time and are making stunning revelations. The men who were responsible for keeping Israel safe from terrorists now say they are afraid for Israel's future as a democratic and Jewish state. Israeli film director Dror Moreh managed to get them all to sit down for his new documentary: "The Gatekeepers." It is the story of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian Territories, as told by the people at the crossroads of some of the most crucial moments in the security history of the country. "If there is someone who understands the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it's those guys," the director told CNN's Christiane Amanpour. Against the backdrop of the currently frozen peace process, all six argue – to varying degrees – that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land is bad for the state of Israel. The oldest amongst the former chiefs, Avraham Shalom, says Israel lost touch with how to coexist with the Palestinians as far back as the aftermath of the Six Day War of 1967, with the occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, when the country started doubling down on terrorism. "We forgot about the Palestinian issue," Shalom says in the film. A major impediment to a meaningful strategy, they say, are the Jewish extremists inside Israel – people like the Jewish Israeli who assassinated Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin, or the 1980 plot to blow up the Dome of the Rock Islamic shrine in Jerusalem. A central theme of the documentary is the idea that Israel has incredible tactics, but lacks long-term strategy. That is to say, the security apparatus is able to pacify terrorists, but if operations do not support a move toward a peace settlement, then they are meaningless. Moreh said he was shocked to hear Avraham Shalom, Austrian-born and a refugee of the Nazis, compare the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories to Germany's occupation of Europe. "Bear in mind that Avraham Shalom was born in Vienna," Moreh said. "And at the Kristallnacht he was forced by his mother to go to school and was beaten almost to death by his classmates… He said 'I experienced firsthand what it means to be under a racist regime.'" Moreh knew that he had to include that part of the interview in the film. "I said to myself I have to keep it, because he understands what he speaks." "Only Jews can say those kind of words," he told Amanpour. "And only they can have the justification to speak as they spoke in the film." The filmmaker said that this is "the most pro-Israel film" he could have created. "When you see the Titanic heading toward the iceberg, what would you do?" A spokesperson for current Israel Prime Minister said Benjamin Netanyahu had not seen "The Gatekeepers," and had no plans to do so. "I think the fact that the PM of Israel is not willing to watch a film with six former heads of shin bet speaking and conveying a message to the Israeli public – to him and to the world. I think it just speaks about his personality," Moreh said. Critics accuse Moreh of cherry picking to advance a political agenda that falls on the left-wing of the Israeli political spectrum. "They are all pragmatists," Moreh told Amanpour about the subjects. "These are the six heads of the secret service of Israel saying in one and clear voice enough of the occupation – you cannot argue with that." Moreh said that none of the former chiefs has come to him with any problems with the final product and all of them told him they stand behind the film. |
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