Human Rights Commissioner Anuar Zainal Abidin told malaysiakini today that the police need not fear the ongoing Suhakam inquiry into alleged police brutality at the Nov 5 100,000 People's Gathering organised by Keadilan.

Agreeing with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's statement yesterday in the New Straits Times that the police force should not be disheartened by the inquiry, Anuar said, "I think the Prime Minister is right and he was quite straightforward about it."

The gathering saw about 10,000 supporters who, faced with police roadblocks on the Kesas highway at the Kota Kemuning toll, abandoned their cars and walked towards the planned venue on Jalan Kebun in Klang.

At the toll, the police sprayed chemical irritants and tear gas on the crowd and arrested 125 people.

To date, 14 witnesses, ranging from members of parliament to a fifth former, have detailed instances of beating, spraying of chemical irritants during custody and other abuses to the Suhakam inquiry which began on Nov 29.

When asked if Mahathir statements seemed to curtail the process of the inquiry, Anuar said that the prime minister made no indication that he objected to it.

"He did not say that we cannot do our work and I am quite happy with the progress of the inquiry," Anuar added.

Asked if Suhakam was planning to send observers to the coming Jan 20 rally organised by Keadilan, Anuar said, "I have heard nothing about this and the commissioners have not discussed this yet."

BA celebration

The gathering next month in Selangor is to assert the people's right to assemble peacefully, the organiser stated on Monday. ( [#1]Second people's rally next month [/#], Dec 18)

Organising committee chairman Saari Sungib said that the gathering is also to forge closer ties among supporters of the reformasi movement and to celebrate Barisan Alternatif's victory in the recent Lunas by-election.

Saari said the rally will be held at Kampung Medan, Telok Panglima Garang, 4th km, off the Klang-Banting exit.

"We are going to inform all police stations in the vicinity and invite their families to join in the celebration as well.

"The organisers will inform the media and Suhakam about the event and will invite observers to be present," Saari said.