Bersih 2.0

16 May 2012

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0) calls on the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) to immediately conduct an independent and open inquiry into the severe human rights violations committed by the police during the BERSIH 3.0: Duduk Bantah peaceful assembly which took place at Kuala Lumpur on 28 April 2012.

The BERSIH 3.0: Duduk Bantah rally was organised as an extension of BERSIH 2.0’s on-going struggle for clean and fair elections in Malaysia. On 28 April 2012, it is estimated that around 250,000 Malaysians peacefully gathered at Kuala Lumpur to support BERSIH 2.0’s demand for reform of the electoral system. Unfortunately, the peaceful rally turned violent when the police force over-reacted to some participants having breached the police barrier at one point, namely the intersection of Jalan Raja, Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. The police initiated a brutal crack-down on participants of the rally, including media personnel.

More than 2 weeks after the rally on 28 April, fresh allegations and evidence of police violence continue to be revealed. These allegations include:

1. Excessive and unreasonable use of tear gas and water cannon, including tear gas canisters being shot directly into crowds of participants of the rally;
2. Unjustified and excessive use of force against participants of the rally including multiple assaults on individuals after arrest;
3. Arrest, harassment and assault of media personnel on duty including confiscation of media equipment;
4. Indiscriminate arrests of participants of the rally even in the absence of any evidence whatsoever of misbehaviour, and vicious assaults by groups of police personnel on such individuals;
5. Physical assaults on and arbitrary arrests of individuals for no obvious reason other than the wearing of yellow BERSIH t-shirts; and
6. Failure of police personnel to display basic identification such as names and police identity numbers.

The brutality committed by the police force on 28 April 2012 against individuals exercising their right to peaceful assembly is the worst in recent times. Human rights violations of this magnitude must not be allowed to pass without uncovering the truth and ensuring justice for all victims.

BERSIH 2.0 strongly encourages SUHAKAM to hold an independent and open inquiry into the human rights violations committed during BERSIH 3.0: Duduk Bantah on 28 April 2012, BERSIH 2.0 pledges our commitment in assisting SUHAKAM by submitting evidence and testimonies from victims.

We also request that lawyers acting for BERSIH 2.0 be granted observer or watching brief status at such an inquiry in order that they may put questions to witnesses.

We look forward to a favourable response from SUHAKAM

Salam BERSIH!

Submitted by:

Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0)

BERSIH 2.0 is represented by the Steering Committee which comprise:

Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan (Co-Chairperson), Datuk A. Samad Said (Co-Chairperson), Ahmad Shukri Abdul Razab, Andrew Ambrose, Andrew Khoo, Anne Lasimbang, Arul Prakkash, Arumugam K., Awang Abdillah, Dr Farouk Musa, Hishamuddin Rais, Liau Kok Fah, Maria Chin Abdullah, Matthew Vincent, Niloh Ason, Richard Y W Yeoh, Dr Subramaniam Pillay, Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon, Dr Wong Chin Huat, Dato’ Yeo Yang Poh and Zaid Kamaruddin.

KENYATAAN AKHBAR, 16. May 2012

Sesudah 28  April yang lalu  BERSIH 2.0 telah muncul lebih gagah bertenaga untuk menjadi satu gerakan massa yang ampoh. Ketika BERSIH 3.0 DUDUK BANTAH, rakyat seluruh negara melihat dengan mata kepala bagaimana  anak semua bangsa telah banguan merampas kembali hak mereka untuk mendapat satu sistem  pilihan raya yang adil dan bersih.  Bersama-sama warga Malaysia di dalam dan luar negara, jumlah  yang turun ke jalan raya di BERSIH 3.0 adalah yang terbesar dalam sejarah perjuangan masyarakat madani.

Tetapi waspada, perjungan untuk menuntut pilihan raya yang adil dan bersih masih belum selesai.

Bukti-bukti tentang penipuan baru telah ditemui dan  diumumkan tetapi tidak ada langkah yang diambil untuk menghapuskan penipuan ini. Jawatan Kuasa  Khas  Parlimen Pembaikan Pilihanraya telah gagal seratus peratus. Tidak cukup dengan kegagalan ini , rancangan untuk  menipu dalam pilihan raya masih diteruskan. Ini saheh terbukti melalui pindaan Akta Kesalahan Pilihan Raya 1954 yang telah diluluskan dengan tergesa-gesa di Parlimen. Nasib baik rancangan penipuan ini telah dibogelkan dan pindaan ini ditarik kembali.

Lembaga Suruhan Pilihan  Raya dan juga kerajaan  tidak ada  sedetik  niat  untuk membaiki  dan mereformasi sistem pilihan raya. Jauh sekali untuk memastikan pekara yang paling fudumental -  senarai nama pemilih – dibersihkan.  Jelas dan saheh bahawa  lembaga SPR dan kerajaan tidak boleh dipercayai untuk  menjalankan PRU13 yang akan datang ini dengan adil dan bersih. Maka BERSIH 2.0 menyeru –  anak semua bangsa – rakyat Malaysia untuk bangun melawan penipuan.

Langkah pertma yang wajib kita lakukan ialah KELUAR MENGUNDI – LAWAN PENIPUAN. BERSIH 2.0  menyeru semua warga yang berdaftar mengundi akan menggunakan undi mereka sebagai benteng untuk melawan penipuan. Kami menyeru rakyat  Malaysia – anak semua bangsa -  untuk beramai-ramai bertekad  keluar mengundi. Marilah kita keluar beramai-ramai mengundi  dengan jumlah yang belum pernah terjadi di Malaysia.

Langkah kedua  yang wajib kita lakukan untuk memastikan PRU13 ini adil dan bersih  ialah  memerhatikan dengan mata  yang tajam jika berlaku penipuan. Laporkan, hebohkan dan lawan penipuan ini. Kita memerhati  ketika masa berkempen dan di hari membuang undi. BERSIH 2.0 sedang bekerjasama dengan TINDAK MALAYSIA dan JOM PANTAU! untuk melatih para sukarelawan. Para sukarelawan inilah akan memainkan peranan  yang amat penting sebagai Pemantau,  Pegawai Pilihan Raya, Pengira Undi dan ajen untuk pengundi pos. Kami menyeru semua penyokong BERSIH  untuk sama-sama melawan penipuan dengan menjadi Pemantau, Pengira Undi dan Ajen Pengundi.

Tindak Malaysia telah menjalankan  banyak latihan diseluruh negara untuk melatih Ajen Pengundi,  Pengira Undi dan Ajen Barung (PACABA). Sukarelawan untuk PACABA adalah petugas yang paling penting kerana mereka adalah dibarisan hadapan untuk mencium bau penipuan. Juga mereka akan memastikan pegawai pilihan raya tidak terlibat dalam penipuan. Dan memastikan pegawai pilihan raya mengikut peraturan.

Jom Pantau! ialah badan pemantau yang bekerjasama dengan Malaysian Observers Network (MEO-Net), Southeast Asian Center for e-Media (SEACAM)  dan National Institute for Democracy Electoral Integrity (NIEI). Semua warga boleh mengambil bahagian dalam pemantauan pilihan raya.  Warga boleh membuat laporan jika ternampak ada penipuan,  ada penyalah guna kuasa atau terlihat  tindakan dan kerja yang tidak mengikut peraturan. Semua ini boleh diloporan kepada umum di www.pru13.info

Bersama ini disertakan senarai bengkel yang akan diadakan oleh Tindak Malaysia dan Jom Pantau!. Ianya terbuka untuk semua warga negara.

Salam BERSIH!

Jawatankuasa Pemandu

BERSIH 2.0

Jawatankuasa Pemandu  BERSIH 2.0  adalah:

Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan (Pengerusi Bersama), Datuk A. Samad Said  Pengerusi Bersama), Ahmad Shukri Abdul Razab, Andrew Ambrose, Andrew Khoo, Anne Lasimbang, Arul Prakkash, Arumugam K., Awang Abdillah, Dr Farouk Musa, Hishamuddin Rais, Liau Kok Fah, Maria Chin Abdullah, Matthew Vincent, Niloh Ason, Richard Y W Yeoh, Dr Subramaniam Pillay, Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon, Dr Wong Chin Huat, Dato’ Yeo Yang Poh and Zaid Kamaruddin.

Press Statement,  16 May 2012

BERSIH 2.0 has emerged from 28 April stronger and energised as a people’s movement. During the BERSIH 3.0: Duduk Bantah rally, we witnessed citizenry at its best claiming their right to clean and fair elections. Combined with the efforts of Malaysians at national and global levels, the turnout for BERSIH 3.0 is possibly the largest in the history of Malaysian civil society movement.
But the struggle for clean, free and fair elections is not over.

New evidences of fraud continue to emerge without any concrete action taken to remedy the fraud. Not only has there been total failure to implement the changes recommended by the Parliamentary Select Committee for Electoral Reform (PSC), but there have been attempts to further weaken the electoral process. This is particularly seen through the amendments of the Election Offences Act 1954 hastily passed in Parliament. Fortunately, the amendments have since been withdrawn by the Government.

There is not a shred of political will in the EC and the government to implement necessary reforms or even to perform the fundamental duty of upholding the integrity of the electoral roll. As the EC and the government has proven that it cannot be trusted to conduct free and fair elections for the 13^th General Elections (GE-13), BERSIH 2.0 calls on all Malaysians to help fight the fraud!

The first and most important step is to “Keluar Mengundi, Lawan Penipuan!” (Come out and vote, fight the fraud). BERSIH 2.0 calls on all registered voters to use your vote as a key tool in mitigating the fraud. We call on the rakyat to rise to the occasion and to deliver the largest voter turnout Malaysia has ever witnessed in the upcoming GE-13.
The second step that citizens in support of free and fair elections can take is to actively participate in activities that will detect, report and stop any fraud during the election campaign period and on election day. BERSIH 2.0 is working with Tindak Malaysia and Jom Pantau! to organise training for volunteers to play the vital role of election monitors, polling agents, counting agents and postal voting polling agents. We call on all supporters of free and fair elections to actively take action against fraud by taking on important roles of election monitors, polling agents and counting agents.

Tindak Malaysia has been organising countless Polling Agent, Counting Agent and Barung Agent (PACABA) trainings across the country. Volunteers for PACABAs are important as they play the frontline role of detecting any fraud and ensuring election officers abide by election laws.

Jom Pantau! is an election monitoring initiative carried out by with the Malaysian Election Observers Network (MEO-Net), Southeast Asian Centre for e-Media (SEACEM), the National Institute for Democracy Electoral Integrity (NIEI). All citizens can take part in monitoring the electoral process and reporting any fraud, abuse or irregular practices which will consequently be made public on www.pru13.info.

Attached is a list of training workshops organised by Tindak Malaysia and Jom Pantau! that is open to all.

This is a call to action for all BERSIH 2.0 supporters by BERSIH 2.0. We believe that by multiplying the number of election monitors, polling agents and counting agents, some portion of fraud and abuse can be curbed.

Salam BERSIH!

Steering Committee

Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections 2.0 (BERSIH 2.0)

The Steering Committee of BERSIH 2.0 comprises:

Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan (Co-Chairperson), Datuk A. Samad Said (Co-Chairperson), Ahmad Shukri Abdul Razab, Andrew Ambrose, Andrew Khoo, Anne Lasimbang, Arul Prakkash, Arumugam K., Awang Abdillah, Dr Farouk Musa, Hishamuddin Rais, Liau Kok Fah, Maria Chin Abdullah, Matthew Vincent, Niloh Ason, Richard Y W Yeoh, Dr Subramaniam Pillay, Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon, Dr Wong Chin Huat, Dato’ Yeo Yang Poh and Zaid Kamaruddin.

BERSIH 2.0 Press Statement, 16 Mei 2012

Bagi pihak BERSIH 2.0 dan juga Jawatan Kuasa Pemandu, saya mengutuk segala bentuk kerenah gangguan dan ancaman terhadap Dato Ambiga Sreenevasan. Saya merasa sedih dan marah apabila melihat kerenah gangguan yang sedag dilakukan keatas Pengerusi Bersama Bersih yang juga seorang warga Malaysia. Beliau adalah sosok yang selama ini telah menghadiahkan kehidupannya untuk membuka luas ruang hak asasi manusia dan memperbaiki kesejahteraan umat. Ketika serangan dengan kelakuan hina dan kadang kala ganas ini dilakukan di hadapan rumahnya, Dato Ambiga telah melayani kedaaan tersebut dengan penuh sopan dan hormat.

Sebagai warga negara yang telah melalui kehidupan dalam negara ini dan telah melihat rebah dan bangunnya Malaysia, saya merayu agar kita semua menzahirkan sifat terbaik kita sebagai manusia. Marilah kita memberhentikan kerenah gangguan dan ancaman ini. Pihak yang berwajib seharusnya bersuara mengutuk apa yang sedang dilakukan terhadap seorang pemimpin masyarakat madani. Jika kerajaan dan pihak berwajib senyap dan membisu ini bermakna mereka menyokong kerja bangang dan perangai hina ini.

Dato Ambiga bukan seorang diri menuntut pilihan raya bersih dana adil. Bersama Ambiga dan saya ada 19 orang ahli Jawatan Kuasa Bersih. Kami pula disokong oleh 84 buah badan bukan kerajaan – NGO. Turut sama menyokong kami ialah 250,000 warga anak semua bangsa yang telah turun ke jalan raya di Kuala Lumpur pada 28 April yang lalu. Pada hari yang sama ada puluhan ribu lagi anak Malaysia yang menetap di 85 buah kota kota dalam dunia ini. Semuanya bangun bersetiakawan menuntut pilihan raya adil dan bersih.

Terima Kasih. Salam Bersih!

Datuk A. Samad Said (Pengerusi Bersama)

BERSIH 2.0 Jawatankuasa Pemandu Gabungan untuk Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil (BERSIH 2.0) BERSIH 2.0 Ahli-ahli Jawatankuasa Pemandu: Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan (Co-Chairperson), Datuk A. Samad Said (Co-Chairperson), Ahmad Shukri Abdul Razab, Andrew Khoo, Arul Prakkash, Arumugam K., Awang Abdillah (Kuching), Dominic Hii (Sibu), Dr Farouk Musa, Hishamuddin Rias, Liau Kok Fah, Mark Bujang (Miri), Maria Chin Abdullah, Niloh Ason (Kuching), Richard Y W Yeoh, Dr Subramaniam Pillay, Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon, Dr Wong Chin Huat, Dato’ Yeo Yang Poh and Zaid Kamaruddin.

HENTIKAN SEGALA KERENAH GANGGUAN DAN ANCAMAN PRIBADI TERHADAP DATO AMBIGA SREENEVASAN, PENGERUSI BERSAMA BERSIH

Press Statement, 16 May 2012

On behalf of BERSIH 2.0 and its steering committee members, I condemn the on-going harassment and intimidation meted solely against Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan.

It pains me to witness the despicable harassment committed against her, my fellow Bersih co-chairperson and fellow Malaysian. She is someone who has dedicated years of her life to the advancement of human rights and the betterment of our society. While abhorrent and sometimes aggressive attacks have been carried out at Dato’ Ambiga’s private home, Dato’ Ambiga has been handling the situation with dignity and grace.

As a Malaysian citizen who has lived through many ups and downs of this country, I appeal to the best in each of us to do our part to put an end to this harassment.  The government must also speak out to condemn this treatment of a civil society leader – by staying silent and not taking action, the government has condoned this dirty and low behaviour. 

Dato’ Ambiga is not alone in calling for free, fair and clean elections.  Besides Ambiga and myself, there are 19 other Bersih Steering Committee members, 84 endorsing NGOs, and of course the 250,000 people who took to the streets in Kuala Lumpur and tens of thousands more in at least 11 other locations in Malaysia and also oversea Malaysians from 85 cities around the world – all in solidarity in the struggle for free, fair and clean elections.

Thank you.

Salam Bersih!

Jom mengundi!

Datuk A. Samad Said (Co-Chairperson)

BERSIH 2.0 Steering Committee

Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0)

The Steering Committee of BERSIH 2.0 comprises:

Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan (Co-Chairperson), Datuk A. Samad Said (Co-Chairperson), Ahmad Shukri Abdul Razab, Andrew Khoo, Arul Prakkash, Arumugam K., Awang Abdillah (Kuching), Dominic Hii (Sibu), Dr Farouk Musa, Hishamuddin Rias, Liau Kok Fah, Mark Bujang (Miri), Maria Chin Abdullah, Niloh Ason (Kuching), Richard Y W Yeoh, Dr Subramaniam Pillay, Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon, Dr Wong Chin Huat, Dato’ Yeo Yang Poh and Zaid Kamaruddin.

PRESS STATEMENT

11 May 2012

BERSIH 2.0 welcomes the decision by the Government to totally withdraw the Election Offences (Amendment) Act 2012.  This is a small but significant victory for the rakyat and a triumph of common sense.

These amendments should never have been made in the first place.  They do nothing to add to the confidence of the electoral system.  In fact, the amendments reduced transparency and accountability on the part of the Election Commission and brought the electoral reforms back to the original unsatisfactory position. The Election Commission acted in bad faith in relation to these amendments because at no time during the entire length of the work of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reform did the Election Commission even hint that such amendments were being proposed.  Instead, they were only disclosed in the dying days of the last session of the Dewan Rakyat.  They were hurriedly passed in a post-midnight sitting when Parliament’s clocks were stopped so that the Dewan Rakyat could pretend it was still the previous day.

In the aftermath of the withdrawal of the amendments, the country is now witnessing the rantings and ravings of the Deputy Chairperson of the Election Commission.  Like a spoilt child who does not get its way, his public outbursts have demonstrated once again why he is unfit to continue in his job.  Still embroiled in the controversy surrounding his “yes I was no I never was” alleged membership in a major political party, and having reportedly stated to a local daily newspaper that he sees himself as a “kakitangan kerajaan” (employee of Government) when his position as Deputy Chairperson of the Election Commission calls for him to be independent of Government, he has failed to satisfy the rakyat that he is impartial or able to discharge his functions with integrity.   We renew our call for him to resign.

We need Election Commissioners we can trust, and who enjoy the confidence of the rakyat.  This was one of the messages sent by more than 250,000 Malaysians both in Malaysia and around the world who came out in support of clean, free and fair elections on 28 April 2012.

Much more still needs to be done to ensure that we can enjoy clean, free and fair elections in Malaysia, and the time available to implement our 8 main demands before the next General Election is running short.  Even on issues where the Election Commission has made some progress, efforts are half-hearted and solutions are half-baked.  For example, while rules have been made for the use of indelible ink for voters voting on polling day, there are no rules as to whether advance or postal voters will be similarly marked, and how this will be done.  Given that the abuse of advance or postal votes and multiple voting are major concerns, this issue has not been comprehensively addressed.  Also, the Election Commission is wasting precious time and resources to refute allegations of irregularities in the electoral roll, instead of getting on with the critical work of checking and verifying the main electoral roll.  The Election Commission under the present leadership has lost its mission focus and sense of priorities.

We need good Election Commissioners who will propose good laws and practices for the good of the rakyat and the electoral system.  Let’s get on with the job.

Salam BERSIH!

Steering Committee

Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections 2.0 (BERSIH 2.0)

The Steering Committee of BERSIH 2.0 comprises:

Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan (Co-Chairperson), Datuk A. Samad Said (Co-Chairperson), Ahmad Shukri Abdul Razab, Andrew Ambrose, Andrew Khoo, Anne Lasimbang, Arul Prakkash, Arumugam K., Awang Abdillah, Dr Farouk Musa, Hishamuddin Rais, Liau Kok Fah, Maria Chin Abdullah, Matthew Vincent, Niloh Ason, Richard Y W Yeoh, Dr Subramaniam Pillay, Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon, Dr Wong Chin Huat, Dato’ Yeo Yang Poh, Zaid Kamaruddin.

Steering Committee

Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections 2.0 (BERSIH 2.0)

The Steering Committee of BERSIH 2.0 comprises:

11 May 2012

Press Statement

Burger stall protest is first step to lawlessness, says Global Bersih. THE shocking spectacle of yesterday’s burger stall incident outside the home of Ambiga Sreenevasan was a public threat against a very respected Malaysian figure that must never be allowed to happen again, Global Bersih said today.

There is no running away from the fact that Ikhlas, its chairman Mohamed Ridzuan Abdullah and the others held the personal safety of Dato Ambiga, her friends and family hostage by their action.

To call it a ‘gimmick’, as reported in the press, is to make light of a public threat to the safety of a Malaysian citizen.

This is the road to anarchy and lawlessness, and if their actions remain unchecked, it will encourage copycat action and put Malaysia at risk of descending into chaos.

Ridzuan Abdullah’s threat to repeat his unlawful act is all the more shocking for its brazenness and his apparent belief that people like him can act with impunity in a country like Malaysia.

Ridzuan Abdullah and Ikhlas made a public threat, in full view of media and authorities, and the Malaysian police and the local government responsible must be seen to act in the name of justice for all citizens of Malaysia.

Global Bersih reminds everyone that Dato Ambiga’s only ‘crime’ has been to give voice to the legitimate dreams and democratic aspirations of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Malaysians.

Even the Malaysian government realises this now.

In acting against Dato Ambiga, Ridzuan Abdullah and Ikhlas acted against countless others who risked life and limb on April 28 to build a fair and just Malaysia.

Ridzuan Abdullah and Ikhlas have insulted struggling Malays, Chinese, Indians and other Malaysians just like themselves,” the coalition of Malaysian Bersih supporters living overseas said today.

Global Bersih also reminds all the parties who participated in the historic events of April 28 that solidarity with the cause of fair and free elections does not stop at attending a rally.

These parties must also rise to meet their moral responsibilities when ugly acts like this burger stall incident are perpetrated against defenceless individuals.
The very parties that gained full mileage from Duduk Bantah must use all their power and influence to ensure that such a dastardly act never happens again.

Claims that you stand for fair and free elections become empty if you choose to be a bystander in these moments.
If the actions of Ridzuan Abdullah and Ikhlas go unpunished, Malaysia is headed for a very, very dangerous place.”
___
Global Bersih
Visit:
www.globalbersih.org
www.bersih.orgLike:
http://www.facebook.com/GlobalBersih3Follow: @globalbersih3 on twitter

08^th May 2012

PRESS STATEMENT

Bersih 2.0 welcomes the offer made by Mr Frank La Rue of Guatemala, who currently serves as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, to visit Malaysia and to carry out an investigation into the events of the BERSIH 3.0 assembly on 28 April 2012.  Such an investigation ought to examine the role of Bersih 2.0 as the organiser and the responsibility of the Royal Malaysia Police and the Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur in facilitating such an assembly.  We are ready to give every cooperation in such an investigation.

On 28 April 2012 Malaysia experienced arguably the largest peaceful gathering ever of approximately 250,000 people who came on to the streets of Kuala Lumpur to support BERSIH 2.0′s call for clean, free and fair elections.  Gatherings also took place at 80 other cities around the world in support of the globally-faced international movement for clean, free and fair elections.  We express concern that
the Malaysian Government appears to be requesting governments not disposed to democratic reforms to launch a crack-down on Malaysians living in their countries who participated in the global BERSIH 3.0 event on 28 April 2012.  If these reports are true, it is a negative development that must be deplored, and we urge all Malaysians to unite in support of the safety of our fellow citizens.

We are confident that Mr. La Rue, should he receive a formal invitation from the Malaysian Government, will be able to conduct a transparent and thorough investigation in order to provide an independent determination as to the exact events of the BERSIH 3.0 assembly on 28 April 2012 with respect to the violence that occurred later that day.  In an unprecedented show of force, many instances of brutality by the Royal Malaysia Police against peaceful participants were reported.  Members of the media were also not spared from these acts of brutality.  Disproportionate force was also applied in an indiscriminate response and widespread retaliation for the breaching of police barricades, even though the court-ordered exclusion of Dataran Merdeka, the intended venue of the peaceful assembly, was not disobeyed.

While the Malaysian Government has announced the formation of an independent panel to review the events of 28 April 2012, we call on the Malaysian Government to allow Mr. La Rue into Malaysia to carry out his investigation as a matter of urgency.  Indeed we also recommend that the Malaysian Government issue an immediate invitation to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, Mr. Maina Kiai of Kenya, to also visit Malaysia and to undertake an investigation.

We say that it is important that valuable lessons are learned from this episode in our nation’s history so that the freedoms of expression, assembly and association enshrined in our Federal Constitution are not rendered illusory.  If indeed the Government has nothing to hide and is keen for the truth to be established, in the interests of the Rakyat, then this would be an ideal occasion and
opportunity to do so.

Salam BERSIH!

For further information, you may contact us at:

Email:  info@bersih.org

Tel: 03-7772 3275 or Fax: 03-7784 4978

Steering Committee

Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections 2.0 (BERSIH 2.0)

The Steering Committee of BERSIH 2.0 comprises: