Opposition parties, non-governmental groups and activists are planning to hold a gathering and will also hand over a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) on April 14 to mark the conviction of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim two years ago.

The organising committee's chairperson Saari Sungib told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today that the gathering would be a peaceful one and their only objective is to hand over the memorandum.

"We will call it the peaceful gathering of April 14. That is the reason why, I have named the organising committee as the Committee for the People's Memorandum of Apr 14. The provocative term, Black 14, is no longer used," he said.

The memorandum, 'Defend Human Rights' will be handed to Suhakam at the commission's headquarters at Menara Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur at about 10am. Saari sent an e-mail to Suhakam's chairperson Musa Hitam last Friday informing him about their intention.

The memorandum, according to Saari, consists of ten points among which call for the freedom of speech, assembly and the press, independence of the judiciary, abolishment of draconian laws, an effective police force and the abolishment of cronyism, nepotism and corruption.

The memorandum would be accompanied by supplementary memorandums from Suaram, SOS Sungai Selangor, the Independent Media Activists Group (Kami) and student bodies, he added.

Foreign media

Saari explained that the date was chosen to mark Anwar's sentencing on charges of corruption and abuse of power.

He predicted a large turnout but promised to ensure there would be proper discipline. "We have been sending communiques through the Internet asking for discipline and also reminding the people not to bring or do anything which will lead to arrest," he said.

"We have not applied for a police permit because only a delegation will be involved in handing over the memorandum," he added.

Saari, however, warned the police not to take any unnecessary action as foreign media and human rights groups would be present and any heavy-handed action by the police will reflect badly on the nation.

A similar gathering last year turned ugly when police fired tear gas on thousands of protestors who had gathered outside the Sogo shopping mall and the National Mosque. Some 50 people were detained, including opposition leaders.

A gateway

Also present at the press conference were PRM legal advisor R Sivarasa, reformasi leader Abdul Malek Husin, Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) deputy chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Nor, Keadilan youth exco member Sanusi Abdullah, deputy president of Kelab Rakan Siswa Islah Malaysia (Karisma) Syahrir Mahmood.

Malek, a former ISA detainee, told reporters that he hopes the memorandum would create a gateway for people to become more aware of their rights.

"We want Suhakam to tackle the issue of human rights in Malaysia. We also want to address the issue in a broad manner and highlight the need to educate people on human rights and the need to promote and to protect it," he said.

Meanwhile, Suhakam secretary Kamarudin Mohamed Beria confirmed the commission has received the e-mail sent by the gathering's organising committee.