Malaysian police 'must testify' at brutality inquiry

Malaysian police 'must testify' at brutality inquiry

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's human rights commission said
Wednesday it would use its legal powers to force certain
policemen to testify at an inquiry into alleged brutality against
protesters.

Police and prosecutors are boycotting the inquiry, the first
of its kind in Malaysia, which has heard evidence from
demonstrators who say they were punched, kicked and sprayed at
close range with tear gas.

Anuar Zainal Abidin, who heads a three-member inquiry panel
formed by the commission, said it would have to call the officers
named by witnesses.

"We have to. It is only fair. After all allegations have been
made against them. They must have their side of the story to
tell," he told reporters.

"If you refuse to attend the inquiry, it is an offense," said
Anuar, a former chief justice, adding the rights commission was
legally empowered to summon witnesses.

Anuar criticized police and prosecutors for failing so far to
attend the hearing into the November 5 protest by supporters of
jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

"I do not know why they turned it (the invitation) down," he
told reporters. "Unless of course my suspicion is they do not
want to recognize this hearing."

Attorney General Mohtar Abdullah and police representatives
snubbed the invitation to attend when the hearing began Nov. 29.

Prosecutors had said evidence at the rights inquiry could
prejudice police investigations or other legal proceedings. The
rights commission denies this.

Some 125 people were arrested at the protest and have been
released on bail.

Riot police used tear gas, batons and water cannons on
demonstrators. Twenty-six of those arrested reported injuries
ranging from bloody noses to cracked ribs.

On Monday one protester said police sprayed tear gas at him
and damaged his eyesight.

The officially-appointed Malaysian Human Rights Commission
undertook the inquiry on its own initiative.

During the hearing on Wednesday, a 43-year-old mother and her
17-year-old daughter gave details of their arrest and five-day
detention.

Hamidah Mat Som said she rushed to the side of her student
daughter who was being detained by a policeman, only to be
arrested herself. She said they were merely bystanders.

The daughter, Umi Jumaina Mohamed Jan, said police ordered a
gathering of 1,000 people to disperse.

"I ran but was caught and beaten with a baton. My headscarf
was pulled and I was elbowed to the ground. I was told to get up
and while walking to the Black Maria (police van), I was beaten
on the leg," she said.

"I was kept in the Black Maria along with my mother and about
40 other people for three hours."

The inquiry will resume Jan. 2.

Anwar was sacked by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Sept.
2, 1998 and arrested 18 days later following mass anti-government
rallies. He is serving a jail term totaling 15 years after being
convicted of abuse of power and sodomy.

Anwar has been in a Malaysian government hospital for almost
three weeks with acute back pain which he believes is partly due
to an assault in 1998 by the then-police chief.

Consultants have recommended surgery for a prolapsed (slipped)
disc.

His supporters said on Wednesday that Anwar should be allowed
to travel abroad for a delicate spinal operation which could
leave him paralyzed if improperly conducted.
"Since the proposed surgery carries a high degree of risk, which
includes paralysis, Anwar must be granted the right to exercise
his choice of the country where the surgery will take place,"
said a statement from the FreeAnwar Campaign.