You are expected to deliver


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You are expected to deliver

You represent a hope and that hope must not be dashed

by P Ramakrishnan

suhakam

Suhakam must convince us that it can make a difference

This is the third time that we are meeting with SUHAKAM in the last 27 months.

Our first meeting was on 15 May 2000 when we handed in our first memorandum to SUHAKAM. This memorandum endorsed by 31 NGOs, touched on a wide range of issues and concerns and spelt out very lucidly what was expected of SUHAKAM.

Then we met again for the second time, exactly one year later on 14 May 2001 when we handed in our second memorandum. This memorandum, endorsed by Aliran, Hakam and Suaram, focussed on the ISA and highlighted the perennial abuses of this obnoxious piece of legislation which is applied ever so frequently to target opposition politicians and honest critics of the government.

This meeting took place the month following the detention of ten (10) citizens under the ISA, six (6) of whom are still languishing in Kamunting. Let me emphasize that these are innocent victims of a repressive government which has shamelessly used the ISA, again and again, to perpetuate its power.

After twenty seven (27) months, I think that it is legitimate to ask what has become of the first memorandum? The many issues and concerns raised in that memorandum, were they addressed? For heavens sake what has happened to that memorandum? Don’t we deserve to be told the status of that memorandum? Has any progress been made? Does anybody remember the crucial issues raised in that memorandum and were they found to be beyond the scope of SUHAKAM? Surely we need to know!

And what has happened to our second memorandum handed in fifteen (15) months ago? Did it suffer the same fate as the first memorandum?

We need to know whether the memorandums submitted have served some purpose or were they a waste of our precious time?

We are conscious of the fact that SUHAKAM must be drowning under a deluge of documents and memorandums submitted by so many Malaysians. But it means that citizens are turning to you for redress, putting their faith and hope in this institution and looking forward to some relief in this effort. Indeed, it is better that they turn to you rather than turn away from you out of sheer frustration and out of anger.

If nothing comes out of these memorandums, then people will begin to wonder is there any point in submitting memorandums? If that happens then you lose your moral right to exist, and that would be a pity.

It is our common tragedy that since the inception of SUHAKAM, the state of human rights in this country, instead of improving, has deteriorated considerably. Indeed, human rights is deep in the dumps.

Let me enumerate some of these instances of violations of our fundamental rights:

It is ridiculous that you can’t disperse peacefully, as required by the police, without being arrested as happened to forty eight (48) Malaysians who had gathered orderly at Kamunting in October 2001 to observe the 14th Anniversary of Operation Lalang.

It is ridiculous that you can’t communicate with the public by freely distributing pamphlets without being arrested by the police, as had happened in the case of Lim Kit Siang and DAP leaders.

It is ridiculous that you can’t walk for peace peacefully without being harassed and harried by the police, as had happened on May Day 2002.

It is ridiculous that you can’t think differently or differ from the government’s view without being threatened with the use of ISA, as is happening in the controversy concerning the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English.

It is ridiculous that court verdicts are not respected by re-arresting under the Emergency Regulation those who were freed by the court, as it continues to happen.

It is ridiculous that political parties can’t hold their ceramah but the BN can hold its mammoth gatherings “to thank the prime minister” who is not due to retire until October 2003.

The list can go on. But the point is we are not allowed even simple basic human rights such as to think freely, to walk peacefully, to communicate meaningfully and to obey the police respectfully.

Under these circumstances, the niggling and nagging question is: What should SUHAKAM do?

It is a matter of regret that SUHAKAM doesn’t seem to realize the tremendous moral authority it has at its command. This moral authority must be brought to bear on the government to protect, preserve and extend our human rights in the country.

SUHAKAM must be proactive and not reticent.

It produced an excellent report on the Kesas Highway and conclusively stated that the police used excessive force. Its moral authority was accepted in this case without question by the citizens.

But it should have gone further. It should have pressed for disciplinary action to be taken against the guilty policemen. It should have publicly called for such action. It would have sent a clear signal to other policemen to behave themselves.

SUHAKAM should be seen wherever an abuse takes place. Recently three citizens died separately under police custody within a short span of time. What role did it play?

We are not unmindful of the fact that you lack personnel. Only fifteen (15) Commissioners have been appointed when the Act allows for twenty (20) to be appointed. Perhaps it is time for SUHAKAM to ask for the maximum number of Commissioners to serve effectively.

In this distressing moment and troubling times, there is a great need for SUHAKAM to re-establish itself as an institution truly concerned with human rights. Honorable Commissioners, you represent a hope and that hope must not be dashed.

You will have to convince us that you care and that you will make the difference. Having accepted your appointment, you are expected to deliver.

In the mean time, let us all be reminded, guided and inspired by that great saying:

“Be ashamed to die unless you have won some victory for humanity”.

The above is an address by P. Ramakrishnan, President of Aliran, at the meeting with Suhakam on 19 August 2002.

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