Suhakam to proceed with Batu Buruk inquiry

Bede Hong | Dec 11, 07 (mkini)
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) will proceed with its open inquiry into the use of live bullets at the Batu Buruk riot in Kuala Terengganu.

The open inquiry will be held from Thursday to Sunday at the Primula Beach Resort, Kuala Terengganu.
The panel of inquiry will be chaired by commissioner Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, with the other members being Asiah Abu Samah and Prof Khoo Kay Kim, Suhakam said in a statement today.
The decision was made after deliberations, necessitated by the charging of two gunshot victims in that incident, who are alleged to have injured a policeman about 11.40pm on Sept 8 near Hotel Permai Inn in Jalan Sultan Mahmud.
Under its enabling legislation, Suhakam is not empowered to act on issues that are the subject matter of court-cases.
In the incident, Muhammad Azman Abdul Aziz, 21, and Suwandi Abdul Ghani (left), 38, was shot in the chest and neck respectively. Policeman Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Omar was described as having fired in self-defence after a crowd descended on him.
The two men have also been charged for participating in an illegal assembly and have been refused bail pending the Dec 30-31 trial date.
Apart from them, five others were injured, after police clashed with participants while attempting to prevent a ceramah organised by Bersih, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections.