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Refrain from resorting to armed forces, says Bar Council |
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Friday, 04 July 2008 09:48pm |
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©Bernama
(Used by permission)
KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 (Bernama) -- The Bar Council today said the suggestion to
deploy the armed forces to maintain public order, particularly in relation to
assemblies, to be abandoned.
Its president, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said the threat of such deployment was
intimidating to members of the public who had shown the desired maturity and
responsibility in the conduct of such assemblies.
"The public had in fact understood that this government was moving towards
loosening the grip on assemblies.
"The threat of the use of the army is wholly inconsistent with this and any
process of democratisation that we are aiming for.
"Recent events in the course of the week have also created much disquiet. We
call on the Prime Minister to address this disquiet," she said in a statement
here.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan on Wednesday announced that the
armed forces would be called in to assist police in maintaining public order if
the security situation of the country warranted it.
"The Bar Council also notes that there has never been any necessity to take such
measures in the past. On two recent occasions, in fact, assemblies were
conducted peaceably and without incident," she said.
"We need to know that we live in a Malaysia that upholds fundamental freedoms
and respects the Rule of Law.
"We need to know that our enforcement agencies are there to protect the public
and not to instill fear in them, and that their officers will have the courage
to carry our their duties without fear or favour," she added.
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Circular No 297/2008
