Malaysian police 'must testify' at brutality inquiry<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's human rights commission said
\nWednesday it would use its legal powers to force certain
\npolicemen to testify at an inquiry into alleged brutality against
\nprotesters.<\/p>\n
Police and prosecutors are boycotting the inquiry, the first
\nof its kind in Malaysia, which has heard evidence from
\ndemonstrators who say they were punched, kicked and sprayed at
\nclose range with tear gas.<\/p>\n
Anuar Zainal Abidin, who heads a three-member inquiry panel
\nformed by the commission, said it would have to call the officers
\nnamed by witnesses.<\/p>\n
\"We have to. It is only fair. After all allegations have been
\nmade against them. They must have their side of the story to
\ntell,\" he told reporters.<\/p>\n
\"If you refuse to attend the inquiry, it is an offense,\" said
\nAnuar, a former chief justice, adding the rights commission was
\nlegally empowered to summon witnesses.<\/p>\n
Anuar criticized police and prosecutors for failing so far to
\nattend the hearing into the November 5 protest by supporters of
\njailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.<\/p>\n
\"I do not know why they turned it (the invitation) down,\" he
\ntold reporters. \"Unless of course my suspicion is they do not
\nwant to recognize this hearing.\"<\/p>\n
Attorney General Mohtar Abdullah and police representatives
\nsnubbed the invitation to attend when the hearing began Nov. 29.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors had said evidence at the rights inquiry could
\nprejudice police investigations or other legal proceedings. The
\nrights commission denies this.<\/p>\n
Some 125 people were arrested at the protest and have been
\nreleased on bail.<\/p>\n
Riot police used tear gas, batons and water cannons on
\ndemonstrators. Twenty-six of those arrested reported injuries
\nranging from bloody noses to cracked ribs.<\/p>\n
On Monday one protester said police sprayed tear gas at him
\nand damaged his eyesight.<\/p>\n
The officially-appointed Malaysian Human Rights Commission
\nundertook the inquiry on its own initiative.<\/p>\n
During the hearing on Wednesday, a 43-year-old mother and her
\n17-year-old daughter gave details of their arrest and five-day
\ndetention.<\/p>\n
Hamidah Mat Som said she rushed to the side of her student
\ndaughter who was being detained by a policeman, only to be
\narrested herself. She said they were merely bystanders.<\/p>\n
The daughter, Umi Jumaina Mohamed Jan, said police ordered a
\ngathering of 1,000 people to disperse.<\/p>\n
\"I ran but was caught and beaten with a baton. My headscarf
\nwas pulled and I was elbowed to the ground. I was told to get up
\nand while walking to the Black Maria (police van), I was beaten
\non the leg,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"I was kept in the Black Maria along with my mother and about
\n40 other people for three hours.\"<\/p>\n
The inquiry will resume Jan. 2.<\/p>\n
Anwar was sacked by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Sept.
\n2, 1998 and arrested 18 days later following mass anti-government
\nrallies. He is serving a jail term totaling 15 years after being
\nconvicted of abuse of power and sodomy.<\/p>\n
Anwar has been in a Malaysian government hospital for almost
\nthree weeks with acute back pain which he believes is partly due
\nto an assault in 1998 by the then-police chief.<\/p>\n
Consultants have recommended surgery for a prolapsed (slipped)
\ndisc.<\/p>\n
His supporters said on Wednesday that Anwar should be allowed
\nto travel abroad for a delicate spinal operation which could
\nleave him paralyzed if improperly conducted.
\n\"Since the proposed surgery carries a high degree of risk, which
\nincludes paralysis, Anwar must be granted the right to exercise
\nhis choice of the country where the surgery will take place,\"
\nsaid a statement from the FreeAnwar Campaign.<\/p>",
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