(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – ARTICLE 19 has challenged the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which meets in London from 8 to 9 October 1998, to create a new category of countries considered “at risk” of committing serious and persistent human rights violations, starting with Malaysia. Malcolm Smart, Deputy Director of ARTICLE 19 said: “At present, CMAG […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – ARTICLE 19 has challenged the Commonwealth Ministerial
Action Group (CMAG), which meets in London from 8 to 9 October 1998, to
create a new category of countries considered “at risk” of committing
serious and persistent human
rights violations, starting with Malaysia.
Malcolm Smart, Deputy Director of ARTICLE 19 said: “At present, CMAG has no
mandate from the Commonwealth to act on member countries until gross human
rights violations are taking place. ARTICLE 19 believes that by creating an
‘at risk’ category, CMAG would take on a preventative role, keeping
governments under scrutiny and proposing effective remedies where warning
signals are noted. ARTICLE 19 calls on CMAG to forestall further abuses of
basic rights in Malaysia by publicly expressing concern about violations of
freedom of expression in that country, where all the hallmarks of a
deteriorating human rights situation can be seen.”
On 6 October, ARTICLE 19 also reiterated a warning that rushing to accept
Nigeria back into the international fold before key reforms have been
undertaken could undermine the transition to civilian rule. The military
government has so far failed to repeal a range of repressive decrees. CMAG
has invited the Nigerian Foreign Minister to address the group this week.
Background Information
Last October, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting decided that
“CMAG’s remit should extend [from Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Gambia] to
member countries deemed to be in serious or persistent violation of the
Harare Principles, on the basis of established guidelines.” ARTICLE 19 still
awaits clarification of the criteria CMAG is using.
Over recent months, the following measures taken by the Malaysian
authorities have caused considerable concern:
small groups of people and police have violently broken up peaceful protests
and beaten and arrested unarmed demonstrators.
government have been arbitrarily cut off or bugged by the authorities.
Direct censorship of the local media has also increased, including
interference in editorial comment.
