MALAYSIA AND INITIATIVES TO COUNTER TORTURE

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000626 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR DRL/MLGA FOR KRISTEN MCGEENY AND EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM UN MY SUBJECT: MALAYSIA AND INITIATIVES TO COUNTER TORTURE REF: STATE 70129 ¶1. (SBU) Malaysia has not developed mechanisms to prevent torture or protect victims. Malaysia has not ratified the UN Convention against Torture. Torture and ill treatment are commonly suffered by individuals detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). Malaysia routinely practices caning as a punishment against prisoners and illegal immigrants: prison department records aired in Parliament in June 2009 documented 34,923 reports of caning by Malaysian authorities since 2002 on immigrants alone. The government does not have any programs, policies, or initiatives designed to counter torture or assist victims. Some government affiliated NGO's have called on the government to cease all methods of torture. ¶2. (SBU) A few NGOs in Malaysia oppose torture and have been pushing for reform for many years. The government-sponsored Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) lists ending torture as one of its principal goals. Other NGO's in Malaysia vocally opposing torture include the Malaysian Bar Council, SUARAM (Malaysian People,s Voice) and its subsidiary Abolish the ISA Movement, and Amnesty International Malaysia. While these NGOs have successfully raised public awareness on torture, they have failed to achieve any tangible results. KEITH