Govt urged to release task force report on missing activist
A civil society group is urging the government to release the findings by a task force that was set up in June 2019 to reinvestigate the alleged enforced disappearance of social activist Amri Che Mat.
The Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (Caged) said that it had been two years since a Suhakam public inquiry made a unanimous decision that the Royal Malaysia Police’s Special Branch was behind the disappearances of Amri (above) and pastor Raymond Koh, who vanished in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
On June 26, 2019, two months after the Suhakam inquiry made its conclusion on the two cases, the Home Ministry announced the formation of a special task force to reinvestigate the alleged enforced disappearances of Koh and Amri. It is headed by former High Court judge Abdul Rahim Uda.
"The task force issued no statements. Based on one news report, we think it completed its work and submitted its report to (then home minister) Muhyiddin Yassin in January 2020.
"What actions have been taken by the government and the police in response to the findings of the task force? Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin, prime minister and the cabinet must make public the report of the task force," the group said in a statement.
Caged also criticised the task force's decision to only investigate Amri's case as a criminal case was ongoing in court concerning Koh's case.
"The terms of reference of the task force were veiled in secrecy, except for one thing: it would look only into the case of Amri, not Raymond (Koh).
“Why? Because someone 'had been charged' with Raymond’s abduction. Now that someone has been discharged from court proceedings, just as we all knew would happen," said the group, referring to the criminal trial of a former Uber driver, who was charged with kidnapping the pastor.
The man was acquitted in February, and now only has one charge against him, which is an extortion charge linked to Koh’s disappearance in 2017.
"When will the top leadership of the police and the cabinet act to restore the reputation of the police, which has been so battered by Suhakam’s findings?
"Release the findings of the task force and publicly commit to right the wrongs," Caged concluded.
The Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (Caged) said that it had been two years since a Suhakam public inquiry made a unanimous decision that the Royal Malaysia Police’s Special Branch was behind the disappearances of Amri (above) and pastor Raymond Koh, who vanished in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
On June 26, 2019, two months after the Suhakam inquiry made its conclusion on the two cases, the Home Ministry announced the formation of a special task force to reinvestigate the alleged enforced disappearances of Koh and Amri. It is headed by former High Court judge Abdul Rahim Uda.
"The task force issued no statements. Based on one news report, we think it completed its work and submitted its report to (then home minister) Muhyiddin Yassin in January 2020.
"What actions have been taken by the government and the police in response to the findings of the task force? Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin, prime minister and the cabinet must make public the report of the task force," the group said in a statement.
Caged also criticised the task force's decision to only investigate Amri's case as a criminal case was ongoing in court concerning Koh's case.
"The terms of reference of the task force were veiled in secrecy, except for one thing: it would look only into the case of Amri, not Raymond (Koh).
“Why? Because someone 'had been charged' with Raymond’s abduction. Now that someone has been discharged from court proceedings, just as we all knew would happen," said the group, referring to the criminal trial of a former Uber driver, who was charged with kidnapping the pastor.
The man was acquitted in February, and now only has one charge against him, which is an extortion charge linked to Koh’s disappearance in 2017.
"When will the top leadership of the police and the cabinet act to restore the reputation of the police, which has been so battered by Suhakam’s findings?
"Release the findings of the task force and publicly commit to right the wrongs," Caged concluded.
Release the report??? Wait long long
ReplyDeleteThe cover up will continue until everybody is tired and gives up the pursuit of justice for Amri and Pastor Koh
since when communist regime respond to request.
ReplyDeleteLikewise, yr demoNcratic regimes of the world.
Delete