April 06, 1999
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| April 06, 1999 | atimes.com | |
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| Southeast Asia Skepticism greets Malaysia's new human rights body By Anil Netto PENANG, Malaysia - The Malaysian government hasfinally said it is setting up a human rights commission, but criticssay the timing of the announcement means it is probably justan attempt at damage control. They note that the reputation of the government of PrimeMinister Mahathir Mohamad is at its lowest, with questions over thetrial of Mahathir's political foe, former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim. At the same time, political opponents are attempting to organize a more effective opposition. With a general election due by April next year, Mahathir facesprospect of a strong electoral challenge by Anwar's supporters andis eager to improve the image of his administration. Given the economic downturn, Malaysia also badly needs toimprove its tarnished image abroad to attract more foreigninvestors. This human rights commission ''is part of damage control andelectioneering,'' says human rights lawyer Sivarasa Rasiah of theKuala Lumpur-based rights group Suaram. Rights workers are concerned that the new human rightscommission will not be truly independent in composition, sourcesof funding, terms of reference and scope of investigative powers. ''If these things are not there, it becomesineffectual,'' Rasiah pointed out. ''Worse still, it could becomea legitimizer of human rights violations'' as has happened incommissions elsewhere in the region. On March 25, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said thegovernment had approved the setting up of the commission. Activists across Southeast Asia have long been lobbying for thecreation of such bodies. When its commission is set up, Malaysiawill join neighbors like the Philippines and Indonesia withsimilar institutions. Malaysia's decision comes six months after an internationaloutcry over the physical assault of Anwar while in police custodyafter his arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in September. The country's police chief, Rahim Noor, admitted to acommission of inquiry that he had personally beaten Anwar. He wasforced to resign. Syed Hamid said he would table a bill outlining thecommission's powers during the July parliamentary session. The commission would comprise not more than 20 prominentMalaysians from various interest groups, appointed by the king. Itis expected to probe human rights abuses, visit detention centersand issue public statements when necessary. Syed Hamid said the commission would study international humanrights instruments that Malaysia had not yet ratified andrecommend measures to get them ratified. Among these are theInternational Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and theInternational Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. ''The establishment of the [commission] is testimony to theearnest desire of the government to protect and promote the humanrights of all Malaysians, irrespective of their racial, religiousor cultural origins,'' Syed Hamid said. ''This is in line with the government's objective to ensurethat human rights issues do not continue to be played up by groupsproviding a cynical or inaccurate picture,'' he added. It is this attitude that makes critics think Malaysia is seeking to defend its rights record and scorepublic relations points. Since images of Anwar's black eye were beamed across the world, Malaysia has seen an alarmingdeterioration in human rights, activists say. Many of Anwar's key supporters and associates were detainedunder the Internal Security Act, which allows virtually indefinitedetention without trial. Nearly all, however, have since beenreleased. A few of them complained upon their release that they werebadly treated while in police custody. Scores of largely peaceful ''reformasi'' street demonstrators havebeen arrested and 331 of them are now facing trial for''illegal assembly.'' Some complained that police assaulted themat the time of their arrest. Malaysia is also known to clamp down on political dissent.Leading opposition member of parliament Lim Guan Eng is in prisonserving an 18-month term for spreading ''false news'' and''sedition." Lim had questioned the alleged double standards of the attorney-general in not acting against a former state chief minister forstatutory rape. But it is the black eye episode that has disturbed manyMalaysians the most, prompting Kuala Lumpur to brush up on itsimage. Mahathir relinquished the home ministry portfolio, whichoversees the police, to his new deputy, Abdullah Badawi, earlierthis year, in what many interpreted as a move to deflectcriticism. Still, experience in other Asian countries shows that humanrights commissions can make a difference. The creation of such a body in Indonesia, set up by the Suhartogovernment, also met widespread scepticism. But it has managed toassert its independence, even on sensitive matters frowned on bythe government. However, few analysts in Malaysia believe that such a commission can get the governmentto repeal restrictive laws like the ISA, when internationalcriticism so far has not seen it budge. (Inter Press Service) | |||||||||
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