Is Suhakam out on a fishing trip?

By Deborah Stothard

Aliran's Deborah at the United Nations in Geneva

Violations of civil and political rights in our countries are the main reason many NGOs from the South travel the distance to Geneva so that the voices of our constituencies can be heard. None of us would risk the retribution or the expense of being here if not for the fact that the violations of our civil and political liberties deny us the ability to advance our economic, social and cultural rights.

It is quite amazing to note how errant governments work so hard to defend themselves in the Commission through public statements, lobbying, caucuses and various creative strategies. If they used similar vigour to uphold human rights in their own countries, we would not need to be here.

I have been advised that it is not polite to use my three and a half minutes merely to condemn the lack of rights in my region. I must admit that despite the grave increase in violations of civil and political rights in Southeast Asia, most of us still enjoy some freedoms. For example, freedom to vote for the ruling party, freedom to think exactly like the government, freedom to tolerate human rights abuses.

Is this why Daw Aung San Suu Kyi enjoys the “freedom” not to leave her house, or why scores of political prisoners in Burma remain in jail despite having completed their sentences? For the past 18 months, I have been continually assured that these political prisoners will be released “soon.” One wonders if those who urge us to be patient would be so patient themselves if they had to suffer extended house arrest or lengthy jail sentences without room service.

On the question of Malaysia, Aliran would like to alert members of this Commission to the current urgent situation. Six detainees of the Internal Security Act have been on hunger strike since April 10. Ezam Mohd Noor, Lokman Noor Adam, Hishamuddin Rais, Tian Chua and Saari Sungib have also stopped taking water because the authorities have not hospitalised their fellow hunger striker Dr Badrul Amin Bahron, who is critically ill.

The six have been detained without trial under the draconian ISA for the past year. The hunger strike is their last resort to seek release or trial in an open court since numerous petitions that submitted to the government remain unanswered.

To quote Tian Chua, who is one of the hunger strikers: “We have no interest in damaging our health. No rational person would. However, the hunger strike is the only available option to press for our rights. The Home Minister must answer our demands. He has to explain to the public how our previous activities had threatened national security. [The public should not forget, exactly a year ago - April 12, 2001] - the IGP told the press that we had stockpiled rocket launchers, bombs and other weapons for a plot to stage an armed insurrection.”

“Until today, the public has not seen a trace of these weapons. [Unless the authorities present the truth by bringing us to court, we will continue with our hunger strike].”

Today, family members of the hunger strikers lodged a police report in Kuala Lumpur against the Home Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and the Kamunting Detention Camp for denying detainees adequate medical treatment and access to their lawyers.

The detention camp authorities have started lying about the health status of the detainees [to family members who called to find out the latest information]. Family members were told that the detainees were healthy and camp supervisors were out. One family was told the deputy head of the camp had gone on a fishing excursion.

I also note with concern that while Suhakam, the National Human Rights Commission, was able to visit the hunger strikers, they have not made any statement on the matter. Why this stunning silence? Are they out fishing too?

Thank you.

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