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Complaints of police violation of human rights should not be investigated by police but by Suhakam to satisfy public of independent and impartial investigations

Media statement
by Lim Kit Siang

(Petaling Jaya, Friday): The stand-off between Suhakam and the Police over Suhakam investigations into police brutality against peaceful demonstrators at Jalan Kebun, Klang on November 5 must be resolved urgently, if the credibility of the Human Rights Commission is not to be tarnished.

Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar’s contention that there should not be "an investigation into the police investigation" by Suhakam is unacceptable as it is a mere excuse to stymie the Human Rights Commission from carrying out its statutory duty to protect and promote human rights concerning human rights violations by the police.

Hamid said complaints against the police should be channelled through the proper procedures so as not to prevent them from performing their duty of maintaining the law and order.

He said police have a clear procedure for people who wish to lodge a complaint against them and a disciplinary body to investigate the complaints.

He said:

"If Suhakam feels that it needs to protect the rights of the public, there are other ways they can conduct their inquiries rather than putting the police in a spot. This will make it appear that there is a conflict between Suhakam and the police, which is not a favourable image."

The way to resolve the impasse and end the stand-off between the Police and Suhakam with regard to public complaints about police human rights violations is for the police not to be involved in any way with investigations of all such complaints of gross abuses of power, which should only be investigated by Suhakam to satisfy the public of independent and impartial investigations which should then make recommendations to the Attorney-General for the proper actions to be taken.

The police would have no excuse therefore of claiming that they are themselves investigating complaints of human rights violations by members of the police force in order to frustrate independent and impartial investigations by Suhakam.

(8/12/2000)

*Lim Kit Siang - DAP National Chairman