Malaysian government warns NGO forum
Malaysian government warns NGO forum
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): The Malaysian government Saturday asked a
coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to cancel a
forum on alleged abuse of police power, warning they would be
arrested if they failed to comply.
The organizers could be detained under the country's powerful
Internal Security Act (ISA) as the forum would endanger public
and national security, Deputy Home Minister Megat Junid Megat
Ayob warned.
The ISA provides for indefinite detention without trial.
"Those who are unhappy with the conduct of the police should
forward their complaints through the proper channels to the
government or produce proof in the courts," Megat Junid was
reported saying by Bernama news agency.
The one-day forum -- People's tribunal on the abuse of police
power -- scheduled to be held on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur, was
deemed illegal as it had not been approved by the police, Megat
Junid added.
The organizers of the tribunal include a coalition of nine
NGOs including the Bar Council, Center for Orang Asli
(indigenous) Concern and the Community Development Center.
In an immediate reaction, a spokesman of the organizers,
Elizabeth Wong said the organizers would meet to decide whether
to go ahead with the tribunal.
It was not a requirement for the organizers to obtain a police
permit as the tribunal was a "private event, opened only to
invited participants," Wong told AFP.
"We have even invited a representative from the police
disciplinary section to attend," she said.
About 150 people representing squatters, estate workers, the
indigenous people, foreign workers and women's groups are
expected to participate, Wong added.
The NGOs created an uproar last month when they defied a ban
on a conference on East Timor.
A total of 106 people were detained on Nov. 9 after the
meeting was disrupted by a mob of some 300 men led by the youth
wing of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's ruling party.
Malaysia, which drew widespread condemnation for its handling
of the conference, had banned the meeting to protect its ties
with Indonesia.
The former Portuguese colony of East Timor was integrated into
Indonesia in 1976.