Suhakam Inquiry Into Bersih Kicking Off July 5

PETALING JAYA – The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) announced yesterday that it would be kicking off its public inquiry into the Bersih rally on 5 July.

Suhakam said it had looked into all the public submissions it had received in the form of documents, statements and video recordings, and identification of witnesses.

It is still awaiting a response from the Royal Malaysia Police regarding a request to interview police personnel who were on duty during the public assembly.

“The Commission’s decision to conduct the Public Inquiry into allegations of the use of excessive force by the authorities during and after the public assembly on 28 April 2012 takes into account its own monitoring of the event and a number of other pertinent factors, including the submission of complaints, reports and memoranda from members of the public, human rights and professional groups, as well as other members of civil society,” said Suhakam secretary Rodziah Abdullah in a statement.

The Panel of Inquiry will be chaired by the Commission’s Vice-Chairman Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee and assisted by Commissioners Professor Datuk Dr Mahmood Zuhdi Abdul Majid and Detta Samen.

The panel aims to determine if there were any human rights violations of any person or party during and after the assembly, and if so, how such violations occurred and who was responsible.

The panel will also make recommendations on what measures can be taken to prevent such violations from recurring. – thestar online

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