Screenshots

Human rights? You need police permit!

Two days ago, the Bar Council said it has decided to call off the annual Human Rights Day walk on Sunday, December 9, organised in conjunction with UN's World Human Rights Day, but will proceed with the rest of the festivities and performances at the Central Market as planned.

No. That's not the case.

Bar Council has been notified by the police that its Festival of Rights programmes require a police permit. A 'permit mesyuarat/perjumpaan' or so it seems.

It is learned that Bar Council will not apply for it.

Instead, the festivities scheduled for Sunday will be moved indoor, inside the Bar Council Building.

'Licensed expression is not freedom of expression'

Commenting on the latest development, Edmund Bob, the chairman of Bar Council Human Rights Committee said: "It would be ironic and outrageous for us to make such an application."

"On a day where everyone ought to celebrate human rights, it is also an important time to take stock of the repression of rights in this country, particularly the regulation of free speech and expression by way of licensing requirements," he said in a personal note to Screenshots.

"The right to freedom of expression in Malaysia is in practical terms illusory," he said. "Licensed expression is not expression. We need to change this."

"On International Human Rights Day where there is much to celebrate around the world, this year in our country, we protest," Bon added.

"We protest in a place where human rights, free speech and expression is vigorously respected and defended."

The theme of the Festival of Rights this year is "As I Believe: Freedom of Expression through Art, Music, Culture and Conscience". It will showcase the indivisibility of rights, and how various forms of expression are manifested in the facets of humanity.

Programmes start 9.00am on Sunday. Details here.