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The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) is not pro-government or pro-non-government organisations (NGOs) but it is pro-human rights, Suhakam chairman Musa Hitam told the 11 representatives from three NGOs - Aliran, Hakam and Suaram - during a dialogue today. The two-hour dialogue at Wisma Putra, Kuala Lumpur, discussed many pertinent issues and seems to have set the momentum for future collaboration.

Elizabeth Wong, the secretary-general of Hakam told malaysiakini that the dialogue between the commission and three NGOs was conducted in a non-confrontational manner and the NGOs hope the commission will be able to address human rights issues effectively.

The meeting discussed the independence of Suhakam, the repeal of draconian laws that are still in existence such as the Internal Security Act, the freedom of speech, expression and of the press and the freedom of assembly.

According to her, 106 human rights' cases were lodged with Suhakam from April 17 until May 13.

However, Wong said if the definition of human rights is not "broad" enough, the commission may face some problems in carrying out its functions.

The 11 representatives from the three NGOs also presented a joint memorandum which was endorsed by 31 NGOs to Suhakam. Among the concerns raised are the definition of human rights, the independence of Suhakam and their expectations of the commission.

In the memorandum, the NGOs expressed their concern that the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act (HRCMA) 1999 places undue curbs on Suhakam mandate by offering what they call "a truncated definition of human rights".

The definition refers only to the "fundamental liberties enshrined in Part II of the Federal Constitution" which the NGOs felt as self-limiting.

According to the NGOs, the HRCMA definition runs counter to other universally accepted definitions of human rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other United Nations' human rights instruments such as the Convenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convenant on Economics, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convenant Against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Besides, the NGOs felt that the "fundamental liberties" in the Federal Constitution has been continually undermined by the government through the declarations of emergencies in 1948, 1966, 1969 and 1977 and a host of coercive laws such as the Internal Security Act, Sedition Act and Official Secrets Act.

"This is only our first meeting and we raised a lot of crucial issues from our memorandum," according to S. Arutchelvan, Suaram co-ordinator.

There's hardly any doubt that the dialogue brought up many pertinent issues and set the momentum for better understanding and future collaboration between the two parties, he added.