Hundreds Protest Malaysian Ban on Street Rallies

Jakarta Globe, November 29, 2011

Malaysia's lawyers and members from NGOs participate in a march to
 protest against the Peaceful Assembly Bill in Kuala Lumpur on
Tuesday. (Reuters/Samsul Said)

              

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Kuala Lumpur. Hundreds of people marched on Malaysia’s parliament Tuesday as it was set to pass a law banning street protests that critics say stifles free speech and breaks a government vow to improve civil liberties.

Chanting “Bebas berhimpun” (“Free assembly”), about 500 lawyers, opposition lawmakers and activists marched in the capital Kuala Lumpur to parliament, which was expected to pass the contentious Peaceful Assembly Bill later in the day.

Prime Minister Najib Razak has framed the bill as part of a campaign he launched in September to replace tough laws on security, speech and assembly in a bid to shore up support ahead of elections he is expected to call next year.

The bill would replace current legislation requiring a police permit for public gatherings, but critics complain that it proposes a range of prohibitive new restrictions including the outright ban on street marches.

“The government must reject the bill as it infringes on the rights of the people and violates the constitution,” said Wong Chin Huat of Bersih 2.0, which spearheaded a rally for electoral reform in July that was broken up by police.

“If they don’t change the law, they will pay the price when voters abandon the government in the next general elections,” he told AFP during the march.

Najib defended the act on Monday, saying it guarantees the right to peaceful assembly.

But it has been assailed by opposition politicians who call Najib’s reforms a cynical election ploy and who say the bill validates their fears that tough old laws will merely be replaced by strict new rules.

The bill prohibits public marches to avoid disruptions to general society, Najib has said.

But it would allow gatherings to be held in designated places, such as stadiums, without prior notice, while those in other areas would first require police approval.

Malaysian Bar Council President Lim Chee Wee said the ban on street demonstrations was “outrageous.”

“Assemblies in motion provide the demonstrators with a wider audience and greater visibility, in order for others to see and hear the cause or grievance giving rise to the gathering,” he said.

Following an initial outcry, the government said it would shorten the amount of notice that assembly organisers must give police to within 10 days instead of the original 30 days.

But critics including the Malaysian Bar Council and Human Rights Watch maintain the act would grant police too much power over the timing, duration, and location of gatherings.

“This bill is a legislative attack on Malaysians’ right to peaceful protest,” Sam Zarifi, Amnesty’s Asia--Pacific director, said in a statement.

The demonstrators marched under the close watch of dozens of riot police to parliament, where they handed over a protest memorandum to a government representative.

The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition now headed by Najib has been accused of routinely using tough laws to snuff out challenges to its five decades in power.

But public opinion has turned against such strict measures in recent years as the once--insignificant political opposition has gained strength and soaring Internet use has fuelled more open debate.

AFP

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