Press Statement, 28 August 2012
This statement is issued in response to the comment by the Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Zainuddin Ahmad who is reported to have said that the Janji Demokrasi group was “obviously promoting BERSIH” which “has done all sorts of things” (Free Malaysia Today report on 27 August 2012).
As a clarification, the Janji Demokrasi gathering is not an event organised by BERSIH 2.0. It is an event organised by several NGO’s independently of BERSIH 2.0 who are exercising their fundamental right to assemble peacefully, as guaranteed under the Federal Constitution. Members of the Steering Committee of BERSIH 2.0 who are involved, are participating in the event in their own right. We support their right to do so and we support their call for democratic reform.
As for the comment reportedly made by ACP Zainuddin that BERSIH 2.0 “has done all sorts of things”, we believe this comment is intentionally vague. Given ACP Zainuddin Ahmad’s position and seniority, his comments must be more responsible and further clarification from him is imperative. In fact it is best that he appears before the on-going SUHAKAM public inquiry into the events of BERSIH 3.0 and gives testimony under oath. It is hoped that the ACP’s obvious bias and prejudice against the BERSIH 2.0 movement will not result in an unnecessary curtailing of the rights of ordinary citizens to gather peacefully in a public place open to all.
Thank you.
Salam BERSIH!
Steering Committee
Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections 2.0 (BERSIH 2.0)
The Steering Committee of BERSIH 2.0 comprises:
Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan (Co-Chairperson), Datuk A. Samad Said (Co-Chairperson), Ahmad Shukri Abdul Razab, Andrew Ambrose, Andrew Khoo, Anne Lasimbang, Arul Prakkash, Arumugam K., Awang Abdillah, Dr Farouk Musa, Hishamuddin Rais, Liau Kok Fah, Maria Chin Abdullah, Matthew Vincent, Niloh Ason, Richard Y W Yeoh, Dr Subramaniam Pillay, Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon, Dr Wong Chin Huat, Dato’ Yeo Yang Poh and Zaid Kamaruddin
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