Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to update you on information we have received regarding the alleged abuse of two Chinese women in Malaysian police stations (to see further details of this case, please refer to UA-226-2005).
According to this information, upon the emergence of a video clip showing a Chinese woman being forced to strip naked and do squats, the minister in charge of the police, Mr Noh Omar at first stated foreigners who do not like the way his officers behave should leave the country. He also told lawmakers that he believed the police had followed the rules, seemingly putting him at odds with Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, who had announced a full independent inquiry, and the Home Minister Azmi Khalid, who affirmed that it was a case of police abuse and therefore he promised that the government would take the necessary action.
Adding further to this controversy and the widespread outrage this case has stirred in Malaysia, the Malaysian deputy police chief also said that it was standard procedure for suspects to be forced to strip and squat repeatedly while holding their ears.
However, Mr Omar has now come forward and partially apologised for his remarks saying that he was sorry if anyone had interpreted his comments negatively.
The AHRC would have hoped that Mr Omar would apologise for his comments themselves; not for any misunderstanding of them. As the minister in charge of the police, we would have hoped that Mr Omar would acknowledge the human rights violations that occurred against these women while in Malaysian police stations, and saw the need to investigate this matter. Instead, he chose to defend the actions of the police and call for foreigners to leave if they did not like it.
On 29 November, the Chinese government stepped in and asked for abusive police officers to be punished and for its citizens in Malaysia to be properly protected. In line with their request, we too call for intervention in this case.
Please write to the relevant authorities below seeking their intervention. A full and independent investigation must first be conducted into the treatment of the Chinese women detained in Malaysian police stations. If police officers are found negligent in their duty in the treatment of these women, then full disciplinary/legal action should be taken against them. The minister for police should also be reprimanded for his remarks and suspended from his duty, as the alleged human rights violations by the Malaysian police should in no way be defended. Finally, if forcibly stripping detainees and making them repeatedly squat in front of police personnel is standard practice, as stated by the deputy police chief, then reforms should be made into the entire detention process.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
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To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear _________,
MALAYSIA: Malaysian police minister defends the police following their abusive and degrading treatment of two Chinese women
I am writing to voice my dismay about the comments made by the Malaysian minister in charge of the police, Mr Noh Omar who initially stated that foreigners who do not like the way his officers behave should leave the country. Mr Omars then feeble apology for any misunderstanding regarding his comments did nothing to redeem his position, as I would have hoped he was sorry for his beliefs, rather than people misinterpreting him. As the minister in charge of the police, I would have hoped that Mr Omar would acknowledge the human rights violations that occurred against these women while in Malaysian police stations, and saw the need to investigate this matter. Instead, he chose to defend the actions of the police and call for foreigners to leave if they did not like it.
Owing to the seriousness of the alleged abuse against these women, and the dismissive comments made by the most senior police official in the country, I write to you seeking your intervention so that this case might be dealt with with the significance it deserves. I call on you to take measures to ensure that a full and independent investigation be conducted into the treatment of the Chinese women detained in Malaysian police stations. If police officers are found negligent in their duty in the treatment of these women, then full disciplinary/legal action should be taken against them. The minister for police should also be reprimanded for his remarks and suspended from his duty, as the alleged human rights violations by the Malaysian police should in no way be defended. Finally, if forcibly stripping detainees and making them repeatedly squat in front of police personnel is standard practice, as stated by the deputy police chief, then reforms should be made into the entire detention process.
I trust that you will take action in this case.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO:
1. . Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail
Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia
Level 1-8 Block C3, Parcel C,
Federal Government Administrative Center,
62512 Putrajaya
MALAYSIA
Tel No: +603-88855004, +603 - 8885 5000
Fax No: +603 - 8888 9362
Email: ag@agc.gov.my
2. Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Omar
Inspector General of Police
Ketua Polis Negara, Ibupejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia
Bukit Aman, 50502 Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSIA
Tel: +603 2273 1326
Fax: +603 2272 2710 / 2273 1326
3. Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman
Chairperson
Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
29th Floor, Menara Tun Razak
Jalan Raja Laut, 50350 Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSIA
Tel: +603 2612 5600
Fax: +603 2612 5620
E-mail: humanrights@suhakam.org.my
4. Dato' Seri Abdullah Hj. Ahmad Badawi
Prime Minister
Block D1, Parcal D, Pusat Pentadbiran Putrajaya
62502 Putrajaya, Selangor
MALAYSIA
Fax: + 60 3 8886 8014
E-mail: abdullah@kdn.gov.my
5. Ms. Yakin Erturk
Special Rapporteur on Elimination of violence against women
c/o Ms Lucinda Ohanlon
Room 3-042
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9615
Fax: +41 22 917 9006
Email: lohanlon@ohchr.org
6. Ms Leila Zerrougui
Chairperson
Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
c/o Miguel de la Lama
OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTENTION: Working Group on Arbitrary Detention)
Email: mdelalama@ohchr.org
Thank you
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
