Citizens' watchdog honoured for watching the police
For its work in defending victims of unlawful police conduct, a citizen watchdog group known as the Police Watch and Human Rights Committee has been awarded the 2002 Suaram human rights award.
Suaram coordinator S Arutchelvam said the police watch committee had been chosen based on its work to protect and obtain redress for the vulnerable and poor whose rights have been violated as a result of unlawful police conduct.
"The group had succeeded in creating a strong sentiment among the affected community. This newfound awareness has led more people into asserting their rights, making complaints and seeking redress when they or their family members are unlawfully arrested, remanded, beaten or killed," he explained in his introduction address.
The award winner was announced after the release of the executive summary of Suaram's annual Civil and Political Rights report, in conjunction with World Human Rights Day which falls tomorrow, Dec 10.
Since 1999, the human rights organisation had been awarding the annual prize to communities or groups of people who have struggled "persistently and relentlessly in defending their rights".
For the rest of this story and more, subscribe for only RM150 a year. If you're already a subscriber, please sign in.
Sign in Subscribe now