The Bar Council has called off its annual human rights day march on Sunday, ostensibly due to pressure from the authorities to obtain a police permit and it being branded as an ‘anti-government’ rally although it will proceed with other festivities.Its chairperson in a press statement said the council’s decision was made after “anxious consideration to the present circumstances that surround the event, particularly the interests of the public and the Malaysian Bar".
The decision of the Bar Council to call off the march is most regrettable since this is an annual event of the Bar Council. The decision is a surely not in the interest of the human rights in the country and against the basic right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (on December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ).
Article 20 (1) Everyone has the right to the freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
and
Article 30 Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.
Malaysian being a member state should be reminded that it has to act according to the Declaration. The Bar Council should know what the Declaration means and it is its obligation and responsibility to remind the BN government of the consequence of non-compliance. Instead of giving in to the pressure of the BN government like calling off the annual human day march, it should go ahead with it with or without the police permit.
The Malaysian public have look upon the Bar Council as the "symbol of justice" and there is a high calling for the Bar Council to keep the spirit of "freedom and justice" alive under any circumstance. As the officers of the Courts of Malaysia, the members of the Bar Council should be "fearless" in discharging its duty to safeguard the fundamental rights of the people and not to treat the profession as a money-spinning machine.
To say that i am disappointed by the Bar Council decision to call off the March is an under statement as the decision has a prolong effect on the country's democracy and set a new sub-standard for the human rights in this country.
David Wong
Dap sarawak publicity sec.
05-12-2007
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2 comments:
The legal profession is not what it used to be. Once, it was such an respected and honourary profession but the commercial world turns it upside down. It is now the money spinning profession.
Ask 10 lawyers that you know, how many would give a second thought on issues like democracy, fairness, equality or human right? The reply would be "who got time for that?". Ahh, what a bunch of Honourable members of the society!
The ruling elite is showing sighs of unease and the ISA would be its final option. The PM has spoken loud and clear that he is waiting for the "right time", so is the decision reversible?
However, maybe the Malaysian democracy needs that very final straw for it to break/turns over, for worse or for the better.
concerned
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