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The Star:

Sungai Buloh Hospital’s head of pathology Dr Shahidan Noor told the Commission of Inquiry into the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock that he had erred in stating there were bruises on the political aide’s neck.

Dr Shahidan had said in his report that the marks found on Teoh’s neck appeared to be bruises, after conducting the second post-mortem on the political aide’s remains in Nov 2009.

Dr Shahidan retracted his opinion on Friday and said he would not have given such an opinion if he had been privy to pictures of Teoh’s neck area taken by University Malaya Medical Centre pathologist Dr Prashant Naresh Samberkar.

oO

Am I the only one who thinks there’s something fishy about this?

As you’ve probably noticed, I feel quite strongly about the issue of Arbitrary Detention. Just wanted to share a statement Suaram recently made on the matter:

Mission Report on Malaysia by Working Group on Arbitrary Detention:
Implement Recommendations Now!

The findings and recommendations of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) from its visit to Malaysia from 7 to 18 June 2010 have added to the long list of recommendations and concerns pertaining to the Malaysian government’s legislations, policies and practices of arbitrary detention. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) has despatched Ms Temme Lee, SUARAM Secretariat member to make interventions at the UN Human Rights Council after the mission report presented by the WGAD[1]. SUARAM supports the recommendations made by the working group to the Malaysian government.

“Classic Cases of Arbitrary Detention” under the ISA, EO, DDA, RRA
In their mission report, the WGAD states that it is “seriously concerned” about the existence and enforcement of laws which provide for detention without trial in Malaysia, namely the Internal Security Act (ISA), the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance (EO), the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act (DDA), and the Restricted Residence Act.

“(These laws) impede the detainee’s right to a fair trial, consecrated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and by international human rights customary law. They also severely restrict detainees’ access to legal counsel.”
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I just got off the phone with an activist who has been active in a lot of the death in detention cases, as well as with the HRP and Hindraf movements.

While news on the post protest arrests seems to have long faded from the news, I am told that people are continuing to be arrested and charged in court.

Apparently some RM 42,000 has had to be paid in bail, mostly for working class Malaysians who really do not need this excessive economic burden placed on them just because they exercised their right to assemble peacefully.

I was told one gentleman from Perak was charged basically for walking out of his Brickfields hotel with Hindraf banners in his possession. Bail was set at RM 8,000.

We’ve heard a lot of hype and drama about the movements in the Middle East, and rightfully so. There, great things are taking place, as the people seek to reclaim their nations.

I know many people aren’t always so comfortable with some of the positions that Hindraf takes and such, but there is no denying that they have every right to assemble peacefully and make their feelings felt.

I am all for cheering on our counterparts in the Arab world, but it would be remiss of us to do so while turning a blind eye to the more subversive repression going on under our noses.

This harassment and intimidation of Malaysians who are standing against oppression and racism must stop.

At the very, very least, let’s not let it leave our minds. Please do help spread the word. Thanks.