SUARAM: COPS KILLED 298 PEOPLE- ANYONE ACCOUNTABLE?

see also:

298 shot dead by Malaysian police since 2007 - 151 Indonesians, 134 Malaysians,

COPS KILLED 298 PEOPLE- ANYONE ACCOUNTABLE?

Press statement: 24^rd October 2012

SUARAM was not shocked to see Free Malaysia Today article titled “Cops killed nearly 300 since 2007” dated 23^rd October 2012. The numbers clearly reflects the common unofficial Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the force in Malaysia, “Shoot to Kill”

The question is, was there anyone accountable for these atrocities done by the police force in this country? In few cases, there were cops been charged but how many of them? The 298 died were not even brought to the court and proven guilty for their charge.

The model justifications for killings by the police are:

1. The police are very quick in establishing the claim that the victims are criminals.

2. They police acted on self defense

3. The victims attacked the police using parang

4. The victims are linked to gangsterism

5. The victims are perpetrators of other previous crimes in the past

For instance, our records show:

·         21 Aug 2012: Entrepreneur D.Dinesh, 26 years old shot dead in Ampang. Police claim he attacked them with parang.

·         13 Nov 2012: Two youths Mohd Shamil Hafiz Shafie and Mohd Khairul Nizam Tuah was shot dead at Glenmarie. Police claimed they attacked police with parang.

·         26 April 2010: 15 years old  Aminulrasyid Amzah shot dead in Shah Alam. Police labelled him as criminal.

Is this the best the police can do?  This is unacceptable for a professional force, which claimed to the public that its officers had undergone professional trainings on handling weapons and dealing with suspects.

The highest law of the country, the Federal Constitution, secures the right to life of each individual under Article 3. Furthermore, Malaysia as a member of the United Nations (UN) disrespects the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) under Article 3, which says ‘Everyone has the right to life, to be free and to feel safe’.

If all the accusation and judgments towards a suspect can be done by the Royal Police of Malaysia, why do we need the court of law? The person is already a criminal before he is proven guilty by the court of law.

The pathetic and saddest part will be to run up and down to seek justice for the 298 dead bodies murdered mercilessly by the police. Why the family members of the victim do have to run up and down pressuring the government to take action against the police? How many memorandums the family has to submit to the authorities before any meaningful actions are taken?

We need to put an end to these senseless shooting sprees. The Najib administration must set up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) immediately. Every death must be investigated automatically without the pressure from the public. A thorough and open investigation is needed to prove the transparency and credibility of the force in taking action on errant police officers.  The police investigating the police mechanism are the mirror of failed reforms as can be seen from past records and coupled with the lackadaisical approach of the police on the safety of individuals.

It appears that many more will be killed by the police for many more years to come.

From the desk of Right to Justice,

Thevarajan

013-3845740