WEDNESDAY-5TH DECEMBER 2007-SUHAKAM INQUIRY ON RIOT FROM DEC14-16

Suhakam inquiry on riot from Dec 14-16
KUALA LUMPUR:
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) will conduct a public inquiry from Dec 14 to 16 on the riot in Batu Buruk, Kuala Terengganu, on Sept 8. Suhakam commisioner Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said yesterday he would chair the inquiry, which would be held from 9am to 6pm on the three days at the Primula Beach Resort in Kuala Terengganu. The others on the inquiry panel will be Tan Sri Asiah Abu Samah and Prof Datuk Khoo Kay Kim. In a statement yesterday, Shafee said the inquiry would be open to members of the public and the media, and called on witnesses to the riot and people who may have information on the incident to contact Suhakam at 03-26 12 5600 or through its website, humanrightssuhakam. org. my. “The inquiry will also look into the alleged usage of live ammunition by police personnel (during the riot),” he said. The riot in Batu Buruk erupted on Sept 8 when about 600 people, believed to be members of an opposition party, defied police orders to disperse an illegal assembly in Jalan Sultan Mahmud, Kuala Terengganu, and hurled hard objects at policemen. Seven people, four of them policemen, were injured in the incident in which it was claimed that police had fired shots. - Bernama