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©The Star (Used by permission)

KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Rights Day march is off.

The Bar Council reached the decision yesterday after discussing the controversy surrounding the walk, scheduled for Dec 9, from Sogo to Central Market here, in conjunction with World Human Rights Day.

According to council chairman S. Ambiga, the decision to cancel the walk came after considering the current views about the event, particularly public interest.

Though the walk is now cancelled, the festivities at Central Market would go on, she said in a statement.

The activities include lip-reading session of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, stage performances by the Orang Asli and others, and a colouring contest for children, from 9am to 2.30pm. It’s open to the public.

She also said that one of the reasons the walk was called off was the need to get a police permit.

“The police asked the council to apply for a permit for the walk, and, apart from the circumstances that we have taken into account, we believe this is an unlawful fetter on our constitutional right to assemble peacefully,” she said.

The walk was to have demonstrated complete racial harmony and that people could walk peaceably in unity for human rights.

“It would have been an opportunity for the authorities to show to the world that we subscribe to these values. It is a missed opportunity.”

The council has held the walk for the past two years in recognition of World Human Rights Day, which falls on Dec 10 every year.

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