The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) will release a ground-breaking report on freedom of assembly next week after having made a number of interim recommendations on the issue in the commission's inaugural annual report four months ago.

According to Suhakam secretary Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria, the report would be released at its headquarters in Menara Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur next Friday.

In April, Suhakam has appended a number of provisional guidelines on the conduct of public rallies in its annual report presented to Parliament. Among the recommendations are:

1) That application for permits to hold static assemblies (as opposed to processions) in premises such as private properties, be approved as a general rule, without restrictions on freedom of expression. The organisers are to ensure to public order occurs.

2)That other specific outdoor areas/compounds/spaces be determined by the authorities for the holding of peaceful assemblies. These should include locations and public spaces in major urban centres, including Kuala Lumpur.

Suhakam said that the interim recommendations were made in view of a series of police crackdown on street demonstrations held by the reformasi movement and opposition parties.

However, the government and the police force have so far failed to respond to the recommendations. Early this month, the police said it would enforced a ban on political ceramahs in addition to illegal demonstrations.

The 20-page 'freedom of assembly' report was prepared by members of Suhakam's Law Reform Working group, headed by commissioner Mehrun Siraj.

It is also expected to include long-term recommendations such as the setting up of a committee comprising Suhakam, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and police representatives to look into the possibility of reviewing certain laws restricting freedom of assembly.

On Wednesday, Mehrun told malaysiakini that copies of the report had already been sent to various ministries including the Home Affairs Ministry.

Police brutality

Suhakam is also in the process of finalising another report based on the allegations of police brutality during the Keadilan sponsored Nov 5 100,000 People's Gathering on the Kesas highway in Shah Alam, Selangor.

The 55-page report which is due to be out soon, is the result of a five-month long inquiry which the commission had initiated on Nov 29.

Commissioners who sat on the inquiry were former chief judge of Malaya Anuar Zainal Abidin, Mehrun and Anuar Zainal Abidin.

Among the witnesses were Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PAS Youth Chief Mahfuz Omar and PAS member of parliament Muhammad Sabu.

The police had also produced a number of witnesses and alleged that several of its Special Branch officers were assaulted by the crowd.