Edict frustrated after denial of permission for Black Thursday gathering
Human rights NGO Eliminating Death and Abuse in Custody Together (Edict) has expressed its frustration after receiving a letter from the police yesterday saying that its proposed Black Thursday gathering in remembrance of custodial death victims was in violation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the recovery movement control order (MCO).
"On the eve of Hari Hitam Kematian Dalam Tahanan (Black Death Day in Detention), the police sent us a letter informing us that tomorrow's event was an activity that violated the MCO," Edict said in a tweet late last night....
Human rights NGO Eliminating Death and Abuse in Custody Together (Edict) has expressed its frustration after receiving a letter from the police yesterday saying that its proposed Black Thursday gathering in remembrance of custodial death victims was in violation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the recovery movement control order (MCO).
"On the eve of Hari Hitam Kematian Dalam Tahanan (Black Death Day in Detention), the police sent us a letter informing us that tomorrow's event was an activity that violated the MCO," Edict said in a tweet late last night.
"However, we have already met with the police and they promised to facilitate our programme. Suddenly today, the story is different," the group claimed.
Edict and Amnesty International had announced their intention to observe Black Thursday at 6.30pm today, opposite the Bar Council Building.
It also uploaded a copy of a letter sent by Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Mohd Fahmi Visuvanathan Abdullah acknowledging that the group had informed police on July 6 of their intention to hold the gathering.
The letter states that the application was not complete as Edict had failed to obtain the consent of the owner or occupier of the assembly venue, as required under Section 11 of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
It added that the event does not come under the permitted social gatherings as determined by the National Security Council.
In a statement later, the NGO reiterated its plans to gather, insisting that it would not be stopped by officials who put up obstacles in their way.
"Today we will again channel the memory of the dead to restore honour to the police who labour to keep us safe but are tarnished by the unpunished actions of a few.
"We will abide by the law and democratic processes. We will not be cowed by police who knowingly or unknowingly misinterpret the law," Edict said.
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