Lawyers For Liberty condemns the act of police brutality inflicted on student activists who were peacefully assembling to demand academic freedom in front of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) on January 1,2012 at about 12.30am.
The police have unlawfully used excessive force against peaceful and unarmed students in their attempt to disperse the students.A number of students was severely injured including Safwan Anang, the President of BEBAS who was according to eyewitness account beaten and stomped on by the police, leaving him unconscious with broken teeth.17 students have been arrested and detained in Tanjung Malim Police Station.
This barbaric and uncivilised act of police brutality is an affront to the rule of law as it violates Principle 13 of the United Nation Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials which was adopted by the Government of Malaysia in 1990.
Principle 13 of the United Nation Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials stipulates that “the enforcement officials in non-violent assemblies shall avoid the use of force or where that is not practicable shall restrict such force to the minimum extent necessary”.
Lawyers For Liberty demands the Home Minister and Inspector General of Police to stop the continued assault on student movement to demand academic freedom, release 17 students who are being currently detained and bring to justice police officers who have been involved in using excessive force against the students.
01.01.2012
Fadiah Nadwa Fikri
Lawyers For Liberty