FOE group to Observe “Tangkap Azam Baki” Protest

We, as civil society organisations with a common interest in promoting freedom of expression (FOE) and assembly, will be present as observers for tomorrow’s “Tangkap Azam Baki” street protest in Kuala Lumpur.

Led by the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), and joined by representatives from Freedom Film Network (FFN), Justice for Sisters and the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR), a group of us will be present on site to monitor and observe the practice of FOE and the right to peaceful protest, provide support and monitor any possible human rights violations. Observations will include monitoring different stakeholders participating tomorrow – in particular, how the authorities will act in carrying out their duties, the media in covering the protest, organisers in managing participants as well as participants in abiding by existing COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

We, however, note with alarm today’s statement by the police that there will be road diversions around Kuala Lumpur, public transport lines will be disallowed from operating and a large number of police personnel will be deployed to the planned site of the protest, extensively restricting the public from attending the protest tomorrow. As announced by the Dang Wangi district police chief, a court order has also been issued preventing any large gathering at Dataran Merdeka, Masjid Jamek and SOGO. These actions by the State are even larger in scale than the road closures and restrictions imposed by the authorities during the #LAWAN rally in July last year. They demonstrate a systemic pattern of silencing any dissent, especially when it casts the State in a negative light, the shrinking of necessary checks and balances and deteriorating democratic practises.

We would like to remind the police that they have a positive obligation to protect the right to expression and assembly. Initiating road closures and disallowing the operations of rail services are tantamount to infringement of the rights of persons intending to exercise their right to expression. This is also a disproportionate response by the State and its actors against groups and individuals who are raising a matter of public interest and with the intention of drawing accountability from our public institutions.

We urge the police and other enforcement agencies to take proactive initiatives to support the right to freedom of assembly and expression by facilitating a safe and enabling environment for the exercise of said rights, especially in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The police’s actions, responses and activities must always be guided by international human rights standards to avoid any detrimental effect on the peoples’ fundamental rights and liberties.

In the interest of FOE and fundamental liberties and considering the series of intimidation and harassment that we have been observing so far and previously, we will continue to monitor the actions of the State leading up to and during the protest tomorrow. We see this as a necessary step to ensure the right to protest peacefully, even in a time of crisis, remains protected.

We will take all precautionary measures to ensure we perform our roles as observers with minimum risks to protesters and members of the public.

Endorsed by the following civil society organisations:

Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
Justice for Sisters
Freedom Film Network (FFN)

21 January 2021

For further inquiries, please contact cijmalaysia@gmail.com.