M'sian and regional NGOs 'stand up for Suaram'
Some 25 members of several NGOs swarmed the lobby of the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) office in Kuala Lumpur this morning, to launch a ‘Stand up for Suaram’ campaign.
Some 25 members of several NGOs swarmed the lobby of the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) office in Kuala Lumpur this morning, to launch a ‘Stand up for Suaram’ campaign.
Human rights NGO Suaram is currently under investigation by a task force comprising six agencies, in relation to its status and sources of funding.
Lawyers for Liberty activist Fadiah Nadwa Fikri (right) told a press conference that the campaign is aimed at mobilising support for Suaram.
"(This is) in the face of the unjust persecution launched by the government, which has persisted in investigating (Suaram) in an unprofessional and irregular way since early July,” she said.
"The government appears intent on harassing (Suaram), seemingly due to the Scorpene submarine investigations in France."
The solidarity movement, Fadiah said, is backed by 138 local NGOs and 56 regional groups.
She added that the government should spend its resources to ensure justice in the Scorpene investigation instead of trying to “shoot the messenger”.
While the groups were voicing their support for the NGO, a large screen was displaying various news clippings on the accusations and the CCM investigation against Suaram.
Also present to show her support was Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, who complained that CCM was only providing one side of the story in the Suaram probe.
“It is incumbent upon them to display at least some objective neutral news. It is rather disappointing. I’m extending my full support and I will be bringing this up in Parliament,” Nurul Izzah said.
‘Non-partisan struggle’
Meanwhile, Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) executive director Ivy Josiah stressed that despite the wide range of support Suaram was getting, including from politicians, the movement was non-partisan.
“This is a non-partisan issue. Human rights is a non-partisan issue. Every thinking politician in the country, whether from Pakatan Rakyat or BN, should be coming forward and standing with Suaram for human rights,” Ivy said.
She also urged members of the public to continue lending support to Suaram, including through donations.
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