APHR: Asean govts used Covid-19 to unjustifiably silence MPs
The Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) has expressed concern over threats against the parliamentarians as the governments used responses to the resurgence of Covid-19 to unjustifiably silence democratic debate in 2021.
In its newly released annual report 2021, APRH said the lawmakers who exercise their freedom of expression to scrutinise official measures were either targeted through trumped-up criminal charges, threats and harassment, physical violence, or detention.
“The last year has seen a dramatic rise in the number of MPs detained across Southeast Asia, from just one in 2020 to 91 in 2021, largely due to developments in Myanmar, where the military...
The Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) has expressed concern over threats against parliamentarians as the governments used responses to the resurgence of Covid-19 to unjustifiably silence democratic debate in 2021.
APHR is a pressure group that is made up of elected lawmakers from the Asean countries.
In its newly released annual report 2021, APRH said the lawmakers who exercised their freedom of expression to scrutinise official measures were either targeted through trumped-up criminal charges, threats and harassment, physical violence, or detention.
“The last year has seen a dramatic rise in the number of MPs detained across Southeast Asia - from just one in 2020 to 91 in 2021, largely due to developments in Myanmar, where the military seized power in a coup in February.
”Scores of other MPs in Myanmar have been driven into hiding where they remain at risk of arrest," APHR said in its newly released annual report 2021 today.
Alarming example
In February, a military coup in Myanmar saw democratically elected government lawmakers and other dissidents, including dozens of journalists arrested. The Parliament in Myanmar was suspended and MPs were stripped of their status.
In Malaysia, APHR noted that at least 10 lawmakers were interrogated or charged for expressing criticism related to human rights abuses or the suspension of Parliament.
"The so-called 'backdoor' government of Muhyiddin Yassin was never democratically elected but came to power in March 2020 following reported deal-making between political parties, leading to a fragile majority in Parliament."
"The suspension of Parliament due to Covid-19 violated international human rights and democratic standards and was an alarming example of how authorities can manipulate a public health crisis for political purposes.
"APHR also documented an increase in judicial harassment of lawmakers since the Perikatan Nasional (PN) took office, a trend that continued and intensified in 2021," said APHR.
Immediate end
The police opened an investigation paper against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu after issuing a statement questioning the government’s justification for the state of emergency.
The opposition lawmakers were fined RM1,000 for violating restrictions on public gatherings during the pandemic after attempting to march to Parliament building to demand the reopening of the Dewan Rakyat in August.
APHR chairperson and DAP's Klang MP Charles Santiago was probed by the police under Sedition Act and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act in February.
APHR called for an immediate end to all forms of politically motivated harassment of opposition lawmakers and the investigation against them must be dropped.
"The government should initiate reforms of all laws that have been identified as restricting the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly to bring them in line with international human rights law and standards," said APHR.
