Press Statement: The Malaysian government should rescind President al-Bashir’s invitation despite his cancelled visit

Commentary

We, the undersigned Members of Parliament and Lawyers for Liberty, are seriously concerned over reports that the Malaysian government had invited Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to attend the Langkawi International Dialogue from 19 to 21 June. This invitation is certainly disgraceful and outrageous as President al-Bashir is a suspected war criminal and subjected to arrest warrants by the International…

ABC Radio speaks to Eric Paulsen of LFL re refugee swap deal

Commentary

Australian government to announce Malaysia refugee deal The Australian government is poised to announce the details of its controversial refugee swap deal with Malaysia. Critics are not satisfied by the government’s assurance that refugees’ human rights will be protected in Malaysia, which is not a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Refugees. Alison Carabine…

HRW-Malaysia: Withdraw Invitation to Sudanese President, Al-Bashir Should Not be Welcome at Economic Forum

News

(New York, June 15, 2011) – Malaysia should withdraw its invitation to President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, an accused war criminal, to attend an international economic forum in Putrajaya from June 19 to 21, 2011, Human Rights Watch said today in letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohammed Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak. The Malaysian Cabinet plans to discuss the matter on June 17. It was reported…

Kartunis saman polis, kerajaan kerana rampas bukunya

News

KUALA LUMPUR: Seorang kartunis hari ini memfailkan saman terhadap dua anggota polis dan tiga yang lain kerana menahan serta merampas 66 buku dan sebuah lukisan kartun miliknya. Zulkiflee SM Anwar Ulhaque atau Zunar dan syarikat miliknya, Sepakat Efektif Sdn Bhd menamakan Asisten Superintendan (ASP) Arikrishna dan ASP Marina Hashim sebagai defendan pertama dan kedua manakala…

Cartoonist sues cops, govt

News

Zunar wants the court to declare that his arrest was done in bad faith, and order the return of his books which were seized. KUALA LUMPUR: Cartoonist Zulkiflee SM UlHaque, better known as Zunar, and his company, Sepakat Efektif Sdn Bhd today filed a civil suit here against the police and the government. The suit…

Suhakam misquoted on refugee swap

News

Suhakam says that it was misquoted as supporting the Australia-Malaysia refugee swap. KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has shot down an earlier report implicating its support of the Australia-Malaysia refugee swap. Last Monday, Suhakam commissioner, Dr Khaw Lake Tee, was quoted by the New Straits Times as saying, “Malaysia has given…

Memorandum to Suhakam on the Australia-Malaysia refugee “outsourcing” deal

Reports

Introduction On 7 May 2011, the Australian and Malaysian governments announced a bilateral agreement which sought to transfer up to 800 asylum seekers who have arrived in Australia by sea to Malaysia while their asylum claims are being processed by the UNHCR. The announcement declared among others that the “transferees will not receive any preferential treatment over asylum seekers…

Kugan: Lawyers feel witness not independent

News

The counsel for late Kugan’s family questioned the impartiality of the MMC inquiry. KUALA LUMPUR: The lawyers representing the family of A Kugan who died in police custody were taken aback when an expert witness turned up to testify on behalf of a pathologist. They cast doubts on the independence of the expert, Dr Mohd…

HRW letter to PM Najib Razak regarding the Refugee/Asylum Seeker Exchange Agreement with Australia

Commentary

Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohammed Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak Office of the Prime Minister Main Block, Perdana Putra Building Federal Government Administrative Centre 62502 Putrajaya, Malaysia Via facsimile, email Re: Refugee/Asylum Seeker Exchange Agreement with Australia Dear Mr. Prime Minister: We are writing to express our grave concerns about the planned agreement under which…

Glenmarie families reject police inquest call, want murder charges

News

The families of the three youths, including a 15-year old, allegedly forced to kneel before they were shot to death in cold blood have rejected the police’s call for an inquest into their deaths. Speaking through their lawyers, N Surendran and legal rights group Lawyers for Liberty, the families reiterated their demand that all the…

Why special treatment for Aussie boatpeople?

News

Malaysia’s move to exempt 800 boatpeople from its immigration laws has led to activists questioning the preferential treatment. PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s decision to grant the 800 boatpeople sent from Australia exemption from its immigration laws has been met with hostility from local activist groups. The Australian media yesterday reported that the asylum seekers would not…

Glenmarie shooting was murder, says lawyer

News

According to the post-mortem report, at least one of the three youths was kneeling when police shot him, N Surendran tells reporters. PETALING JAYA: It was murder in cold blood, according to a lawyer for the families of three youths whom police shot dead in Glenmarie last year. Addressing a press conference at the PKR…