Recently, I came across THIS SITE which has uploaded the Human Rights Report 2009 compiled by HINDRAF and written by Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy, Chairman of HINDRAF, on Human Rights Violations Against the Ethnic Minority Malaysian Indians. This report was presented at a briefing for foreign and diplomatic missions in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia on 26th March 2010. It is not a very long report but contains valuable information that many of us may not be aware of. Besides, it is always helpful to know how others feel about their cause so that we can better understand their motivation, mission and passion.
The report begins by providing brief historical background information on Malaysia and then it zooms in on recent events and political developments noting the 2008 tsunami.
The second section on Human Rights offers an overview of three important observations from the USSD 2006 Country Report on Malaysia, Amnesty International (AI) 2007 Annual Report and Human Rights Watch World Report 2007.
Section Three on Law Justice & the Federal Constitution begins with an overview on who HINDRAF is challenging in its cause and also provides some statistics and court cases (including that of P. Uthayakumar is currently standing trial for Sedition charges, and the high number of fatalities in detention) complied by Human Rights Party, Malaysia.
The fourth section of the report focuses on Security Forces and discusses various concerns including involvement in Crime & Summary Killings of Indians Suspects of Criminal Activities. The report said that in the last 18 years, crime rate has increased by 300%!!
Only the strong hearted can read the fifth section which is on Prison Conditions in the country. It discusses cases of torture and abuse in prisons with accompanying statistics and cases complied by HRP, Malaysia. This section also makes mention of Kugan's case (may he rest in peace and may justice prevail for him, TBH and others who died mysteriously!. This report has photographs of Kugan's tortured body but yours truly did not have the heart to view them :-(.
Excerpt from the report:
Victims such as Kugan, Teoh Beng Hock and many others died in very controversial circumstances and under very cruel conditions. We cannot forget and must pressure lawmakers to get to the bottom of the cases. The Asian Human Rights Commission OVER HERE has other pdf files which might interest you. You can also access the SUARAM website HERE for more reports and press statements.
There are 17 sections in the 2009 Human Rights Report and I have only briefly summarized five sections. There is a lot of material to be digested and I would really recommend you read it. Basically, human rights are "rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled" and such entitlements can exist as shared norms of actual human moralities, as justified moral norms or natural rights supported by strong reasons, or as legal rights either at a national level or within international law. It is up to us to uphold the cause for human rights collectively by virtue of the fact that we are citizens of one nation. Let us not forget this need in our country and may truth and justice prevail as NGOs, activities and politicians fight for the cause of human rights.
The report begins by providing brief historical background information on Malaysia and then it zooms in on recent events and political developments noting the 2008 tsunami.
The second section on Human Rights offers an overview of three important observations from the USSD 2006 Country Report on Malaysia, Amnesty International (AI) 2007 Annual Report and Human Rights Watch World Report 2007.
Section Three on Law Justice & the Federal Constitution begins with an overview on who HINDRAF is challenging in its cause and also provides some statistics and court cases (including that of P. Uthayakumar is currently standing trial for Sedition charges, and the high number of fatalities in detention) complied by Human Rights Party, Malaysia.
The fourth section of the report focuses on Security Forces and discusses various concerns including involvement in Crime & Summary Killings of Indians Suspects of Criminal Activities. The report said that in the last 18 years, crime rate has increased by 300%!!
Only the strong hearted can read the fifth section which is on Prison Conditions in the country. It discusses cases of torture and abuse in prisons with accompanying statistics and cases complied by HRP, Malaysia. This section also makes mention of Kugan's case (may he rest in peace and may justice prevail for him, TBH and others who died mysteriously!. This report has photographs of Kugan's tortured body but yours truly did not have the heart to view them :-(.
Excerpt from the report:
5.2 The HRP, Malaysia noted the following high profile case study :
Mr A. Kugan, a 22 year old youth of Indian origin, was taken into custody on suspicion of being involved in theft of cars by the police based at Taipan, Subang Jaya Police Station. Whilst in detention, Kugan was repeatedly tortured for information. The unfortunate young man, Kugan later died from his horrific injuries sustained whilst in detention. Although his death was caused at the hands of at least 11 policemen only one officer was charged for the heinous crime against humanity. Unusually, the photographs of Kugan badly tortured body exist because HINDRAF and Kugan’s family members were able to take and release for publication in order to expose the bloody murder of the detainee (published by The Star Online dated 23/1/09). The report contains disturbing photographs of Kugan’s tortured body.
Victims such as Kugan, Teoh Beng Hock and many others died in very controversial circumstances and under very cruel conditions. We cannot forget and must pressure lawmakers to get to the bottom of the cases. The Asian Human Rights Commission OVER HERE has other pdf files which might interest you. You can also access the SUARAM website HERE for more reports and press statements.
There are 17 sections in the 2009 Human Rights Report and I have only briefly summarized five sections. There is a lot of material to be digested and I would really recommend you read it. Basically, human rights are "rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled" and such entitlements can exist as shared norms of actual human moralities, as justified moral norms or natural rights supported by strong reasons, or as legal rights either at a national level or within international law. It is up to us to uphold the cause for human rights collectively by virtue of the fact that we are citizens of one nation. Let us not forget this need in our country and may truth and justice prevail as NGOs, activities and politicians fight for the cause of human rights.
Justice Justice for Kugan!
Justice for Teoh Beng Hock!