The OHCHR’s Southeast Asia Regional Office said, through a comment published on its official Facebook page, that the authorities must ensure its citizens rights to freedom of expression and assembly are respected.
“We call on the government to abide by its international human rights obligations to protect the rights of all Malaysians to gather peacefully and to express their opinion,” said Laurent Meillan, who is the acting regional representative of the UN Human Rights Office’s Southeast Asia Regional Office.
“Additionally, authorities should immediately investigate these acts of intimidation, and bring those responsible to justice.”
The OHCHR statement is believed to be referring to the ongoing Red Shirts activities, led by Sungei Besar Umno division chief Jamal Yunos, in stopping and harrassing Bersih 5 convoys across the country in recent weeks.
“We are concerned by reports that organisers of an anti-government protest in Malaysia have been subjected to threats and harassment, and we urge authorities to ensure its citizens rights to freedom of expression and assembly are respected,” OHCHR said, citing news reports of death threats made against Bersih 2.0 Chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah, members of her family, as well to other activists involved in the rally.
“Reports also say vehicles belonging to Bersih activists and their families were vandalised on at least three separate occasions in October.”
The Bersih 5 rally on Nov 19 is led by a coalition of non-governmental organisations calling for free, clean and fair elections and supported by opposition political parties as well as social activists and student groups.