We, the undersigned, express our grave concerns regarding the sudden twist of events in the murder trial of Mongolian national, Altantuya Shaariibuu, which has led to an unfair delay in the court process.
The abrupt replacement of the public prosecutors by Attorney-General (AG) Abdul Gani Patail raises a number of disturbing concerns.
First: Why was the replacement team informed less than 24 hours before the start of the trial, when it was widely known in the legal fraternity that the sitting judge and the former lead prosecutor had been playing badminton for months before 4th June?
While changing prosecutors during a trial may not be uncommon, the manner and speed in which the change took place fuels justifiable speculation that there is political interference in the trial by third parties trying to derail the court process.
Second: Why Tun Majid Tun Hamzah, the Civil Division head of the AG Chambers, is appointed to lead a criminal prosecution as with the Altantuyas case, as opposed to prosecutors from the Criminal Division? We question this unusual appointment by the AGs chambers. Surely there are equally capable and experienced prosecutors in the Criminal Division to lead the team.
Third: The two-week postponement of the June 4th trial is unjustified and has unnecessary disrupted the court schedule of the trial judge, prosecutors and legal counsels, while prolonging the agony of the family of Altantuya.
We demand an assurance that there be no further delay as this will mean justice being denied, not just for the family of Altantuya, but for the three accused as well.
Once again, our criminal justice system comes under the international scrutiny. After the despicable court process and condemnation by the international community of the sham trials of Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Guan Eng, the AG and the judiciary owe it to the public and Altantuyas family that there will be a free, fair and transparent trial to ensure that justice will not only be seen to be done but will truly be done.
It is not only the accused who are on trial, but justice and the rule of law of this country.
Endorses:
1. Alaigal
2. Aliran Kesedaran Negara (Aliran)
3. Center for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
4. Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)
5. Civil Rights Committee of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
6. Community Development Center (CDC)
7. Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM)
8. Kata Gender
9. Labor Resource Centre (LRC)
10. Malaysia Youth and Student Democratic Movement (DEMA)
11. National Council of Womens Organization Malaysia (NCWO)
12. National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)
13. Persatuan Alumni Persatuan Bahasa Tionghua USM (Lihua) Selangor and Kuala Lumpur
14. Persatuan Masyarakat (PERMAS)
15. Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat (KOMAS)
16. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
17. Tenaganita
18. Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
19. Womens Aid Organization (WAO)
20. Womens Development Collective (WDC)
21. Youth for Change (Y4C)
22. Youth Section of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
For inquiry, please contact Yap Swee Seng, executive director of Suaram, email: suaram@suaram.net or tel: +60 3 77843525 , fax: +60 3 77843526
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DEMAND JUSTICE AND FAIR TRIAL
On October 19, 2006, a Mongolian citizen, a single mother of two small children, Shaariibuugiin Altantuya, was brutally murdered in Malaysia which performed by highly trained officers from the ministerial security detail by the order of a licensed weapons dealer and high-level political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda.The whole word is watching the Malaysian trial justice proceed for the family of Altantuya and Mongolians.
However, the trial made date as 04.June; it delayed for two weeks due to misunderstand able reason. Therefore, We demand that there be no further postpone the trial and other proceed.
We highly support the Press Conference of Malaysian NGOs on the Murder Trial of Altantuya 15.June 2007 from Mongolia.
WE DEMAND JUSTICE AND FAIR TRAIL
– Mongolian Womens NGO Network
– ECPAT Network Organizations
– Mongolian women activists for human rights and democracy
– Other organizations and individuals
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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984. The above statement has only been forwarded by the AHRC.
