Suhakam panel little clearer after Tung Shin site visit
The site visit to Tung Shin Hospital in Kuala Lumpur has failed to give the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) inquiry panel a clearer picture of police action in dispersing the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9 last year.
The site visit to Tung Shin Hospital in Kuala Lumpur has failed to give the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) inquiry panel a clearer picture of police action in dispersing the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9 last year.
The visit today, headed by Suhakam deputy chairperson Khaw Lake Tee, was to probe claims that police had fired tear gas and water cannon at demonstrators who had sought refuge in the hospital compound.
Among the areas of focus of the panel, which includes two police representatives, were the two hill slopes which were said to have been targeted with tear gas.
Khaw observed that the hill slope near the Chinese Maternity Hospital, on the southwestern part of the complex, is “unlikely” to have been targeted.
This is as the 2m retaining wall would have been too high for the demonstrators to scale, she said.
More likely spot
The commissioner, however, seemed more convinced by the second hill slope at the northwestern part of the complex.
Reference to the area, used for parking, appeared consisted with statements by Health Ministry corporate communications director Zailani Hashim, she said.
Zailani had this morning told the panel that police had “unintentionally” shot tear gas into the hospital compound, and that the canisters landed on a hill slopes outside its premises.
The wind had, however, carried the tear gas into the hospital compound.
The panel also inspected an alleyway off Jalan Pudu Lama, located at the foot of the hill slopes, alleged to have been where the shots were fired.
Discussing the matter with two other panelists - Detta Samen and Mahmood Zuhdi Abdul Majid - Khaw concluded that they will need further explanation from ASP Ahmad Halimi Hamidi.
The police officer had headed operations in the Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Pudu areas on the day of the rally. He is due to testify at the inquiry today.
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