BERSIH 2.0 Press Statement, 12. June 2012

BERSIH 2.0 calls upon the Malaysian Government to welcome and accept the requests by three United Nations Human Rights Special Rapporteurs to visit Malaysia.
Maina Kiai, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of opinion, as well as Margaret Sekaggya, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, called on the Malaysian government to respect the peoples’ fundamental rights to freedom of opinion, expression and peaceful assembly on June 7th. They also reiterated their request to officially visit Malaysia.[1]
BERSIH 2.0 believes that a visit of UN Special Rapporteurs would contribute to the realization of fundamental human rights of opinion, expression and peaceful assembly in Malaysia in accordance with international norms. Malaysia, as a member of the UN Human Rights council, should not fear the consequences of such visits.
As the Malay saying goes, “Berani kerana benar, takut kerana salah”. If the Malaysian Government is confident of its human rights record, it should welcome the Special Rapporteurs with open arms. Indonesia and Pakistan, two other Muslim-majority countries in the region, had already received Frank La Rue, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression.
Keluar Mengundi, Lawan Penipuan!
Salam Bersih!
 
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.