The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) today defended its recently released report censuring police for human rights violations at the aborted 100,000 People's Gathering along the Kesas highway last November.

Commissioner Anuar Zainal Abidin said human rights are a universal matter and comparisons should not be drawn.

"Just because the police in the west shoot at protestors, it does not mean the police here can do the same thing. It is just against human rights," Anuar said.

Earlier today, Bernama reported Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as standing by police action at the gathering, comparing them favourably with Italian police who shot anti-globalisation demonstrators in Genoa early this month.

"Their police are brutal while our police are more considerate. Our police should have been empowered to use force," said Mahathir.

He said the Suhakam report was influenced by 'western thinking' and was not in the interest of the nation. Nevertheless, the premier said that he would study the report and the recommendations.

To this, Anuar said, "Perhaps one should read the report in detail first before deciding whether the report is influenced by the west.

"I don't agree that we are western influenced just by pointing out some cases of human rights violations," he said.

"The main thing is that there were human rights violations. We don't have to be liberal to know that holding back medical attention from injured protestors is wrong. We don't need to read from western medical journals to know that it is wrong," Anuar added.

Participants of the assembly have told Suhakam they were denied medical attention while being detained by the police.

Police review

Meanwhile, Federal police spokesperson Benjamin Hasbie told malaysiakini that the police were in the process of reviewing their standard operating procedures.

"We will study the proposal and compare what Suhakam has stated in its report. We will be looking into the standing orders which include those of the police chief and other standing instructions as well," he said.

Responding to the report, DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang queried if the Suhakam commissioners had joined the ranks of the 'anti-nationals'.

"If so they will be the most remarkable addition to the ranks of the 'anti-nationals', as they not only include a former deputy prime minister but many former senior members of the judiciary and the civil service as well," Lim said in a statement today.

Yesterday, Suhakam released its 66-page report based on the findings of a three-member inquiry panel into allegations of police brutality during the Nov 5 gathering organised by Keadilan This is one of the biggest opposition rallies since 1998.

The panel, consisting of commissioners Anuar, Simon Sipaun and Mehrun Siraj, accused the police of cruelty and human rights abuse.

Forty-six witnesses including 16 police personnel gave evidence at the four-month long inquiry.