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• Bar Council expresses concern 
• Suhakam's Khoo: Rally reflects grievances

The Bar Council is concerned at the manner in which the Hindraf gathering was handled. Reports have been received of the unnecessarily large number of roadblocks, the unnecessary use of force, tear gas and water cannons all against persons whose intent was peaceful. It is our belief that a softer approach would have resulted in less confrontation, less injuries and ultimately less problems.

Quite apart from the fact that the right to assemble peaceably is enshrined in the Constitution, attempts to curtail the assembly muzzle voices that must be heard. There is clearly a group of Malaysians who feel marginalised, frustrated and helpless. Their grouses are real to them and are therefore real to our society.

Indeed these concerns exist in other communities in Malaysia and it is time for a nation that has just celebrated 50 years of independence, to be mature enough to acknowledge that there are problems in its society that require urgent solutions. There is a sense that not all are given the opportunities that are abundantly available under the Malaysian sun. These problems cannot be left to fester. We would urge the Government to respond in a positive and constructive manner in addressing these complex issues. Not for one minute should we dismiss this gathering which, stripped of all else, is a cry for help.

In this context, the call for the use of the I.S.A. and the use of the archaic Sedition Act against 3 lawyers, is retrogressive, counter productive and smacks of extreme high handedness against our own people. Gone are the days when force could be used to solve our problems. We are entering a new era of openness and democracy. A vital part of that process is to hear the voice of the people and to heed their call.

Ambiga Sreenevasan
President
Malaysian Bar

27 November 2007

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