'Najib, gov't too quiet on threats to activists'

Electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 has questioned Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s silence and the government’s lack of action on the rising trend of aggression against human rights defenders.

It called on the government to investigate yesterday’s attack at the home of political analyst Ong Kian Ming (left) or risk being seen as supportive of such incidents.

Bersih said the possibility of the attack being political “cannot be discounted”, given Ong’s vocal criticism of government policies in the past.
“Bersih views this attack as part of the increasing trend of harassment of human rights defenders by non-state actors,” it said in a statement today.

“Although we are relieved that he was not harmed ..., we have noted that such incidents should never have occurred in the first place in a country where there is supposed to be freedom of democratic expression.
“Attacks against human rights defenders must not be taken lightly.”

The coalition of NGOs also cited the attack in April against anti-PTPTN student activists and various incidents of harassment of Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan following the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28.

“To date, the police have not acted sternly against the perpetrators of a violent culture... As prime minister, Najib Razak has been silent about such cases.

“The government must condemn and take swift action against such attacks or its silence can be seen to be condoning such attacks.”

PKR vice-president and human rights lawyer N Surendran was subjected to intimidation yesterday, via a text-message threatening an acid attack on him for his criticism of MIC.