MADPET(29/5/06) POLICE ATTACKS ON PEACEFUL PROTESTERS MUST END

MEDIA STATEMENT – 29/5/2006

POLICE ATTACKS ON PEACEFUL PROTESTERS MUST END
-Take action against policeman who used tear-gas gun butt on protester’s head-

MADPET(Malaysians Against Death Penalty & Torture) is shocked by the conduct of the Malaysian police who forcibly dispersed a peaceful assembly of about 500 persons on Sunday(28/5/2006) at Kuala Lumpur City Centre(KLCC) using brutal and excessive force. These persons were there at about 10.30am in front of the Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right of peaceful protest and legitimate dissent. This group included women and children. They were there expressing their opposition to the recent fuel hikes and the increase in electric tariffs, which were adversely affecting the majority of Malaysians.

In total disregard of their fundamental rights, these brave Malaysians were fired upon by an FRU(Federal Reserve Unit) water cannon and subjected to unreasonable force by FRU and plainclothes police personnel under the direction of the OCPD of Dang Wangi police district ACP Kamal Pasha.

The manner in which the police used violence on the crowd which resulted in about 3 persons suffering head injuries is deplorable and completely unacceptable. One victim was kicked and beaten by police in front of his two young daughters.

Possibly the most shocking image to emerge from the violent action of the police on Sunday 28th May 2006 is that of an FRU officer apparently using the using the butt end of his tear-gas canister launcher on the naked head of a protester. This is reminiscent of South Africa during the days of the Apartheid regime. This horrifying image, which will long endure in the minds of all peace-loving Malaysians, is itself an eloquent argument for the immediate formation of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission(IPCMC).

We demand that immediate action be taken against the policeman who used the butt end of the tear gas launcher to assault a protester , ACP Kamal Pasha and all other policemen responsible for the 28th May attack on peaceful protesters. We also demand that the IPCMC be immediately set up in order to protect citizens of Malaysia from the unlawful acts of the police.

Charles Hector
N. Surendran

for Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (MADPET)
29th May 2006