Media Statement

Parti Keadilan Nasional warmly welcomes the statement by the Chairman of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), Tan Sri Musa Hitam,that Sukaham will send four Commissioners and an official to monitor the proposed peaceful assembly to be held on 4 August 2000 in conjunction with the Anwar Ibrahim verdict.

Suhakam had already, on a previous occasion, recognised the fundamentalright of peaceful assembly. By volunteering to monitor the assembly on 4 August, Suhakam is giving substance to its commitment to a basic human right.

The individuals, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and political parties which have come out in open support of the August 4 assembly have also emphasised over and over again the importance of ensuring that it is a peaceful, orderly gathering. Given their commitment to peaceful, non-violent political change, keADILan is assured that the participants and supporters of the August 4 Assembly will exercise utmost restraint to ensure that nothing untoward happens at the gathering.

KeADILan hopes that the police will follow the advice of Tan Sri Musa and ensure that the crowd control tactics they employ are people friendly and not confrontational.

Given the positive approach adopted by Musa and Suhakam, it is now up to the Mahathir government to show that it respects one of the three most fundamental civil and political rights embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- namely the right to peaceful assembly.

Dr. Chandra Muzaffar
Deputy President
Parti Keadilan Nasional (keADILan)

1 August 2000