Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas!

Press Statement by SMSL on the incident of Himpunan Hijau’s event on 22nd June 2014

SMSL strongly condemn the extra judicial way of handling the supporters of HH after their arrest. Witnesses testified that Ho Kim Huat was brutally manhandled resulting in head and bodily injuries and had to be sent to the General Hospital Kuantan for emergency treatment and remain warded for observations! This is by any standards of operations by the police should not have occurred. We hereby call upon the Pahang state Chief Police officer to initiate investigations into this incident to preserve the integrity of the force and make public his findings!

The demonstration yesterday was a peaceful assembly of Kuantan residents and supporters from all over the country. They had gathered in front of the police barricade and were waiting for the negotiation between the parties involved in this dispute to conclude. At the end of the negotiation , a commotion started resulting in three supporters being arrested, one of whom had earlier breached the barricade. He was floored and kicked and beaten with the wooden baton on his back and head resulting in bruises sustained on his lower abdomen and the head. The detainees claimed that the police used steel knuckles to punch them on various parts of the body while they were held in custody in the police van. The detainee who sustained bodily bruises and head concussions was carried into the Lynas plant compound and received emergency medical aids before he was rushed to the hospital for medical attention!

The entire happening was caught on tape.

This is a serious charge of violation of the basic human rights of the victims! We urge the victims and the organizer of yesterday’s event to launch an official complaint with Suhakam. Such violence on the part of the police in handling a civil protest should never be condone! It was a peaceful civil protest and there was no criminal offence being committed. The police are tasked to upkeep law and order and any offence committed should be dealt with accordingly to the legal provisions. There is no room for justification for the way the detainees who complained about being manhandled by the police.



Save Malaysia Stop Lynas

23th June 2014