Adenan, engage civil society not bar us, as you take Sarawak through new frontiers – C4

The Centre to Combat Corruption & Cronyism (C4) is deeply disturbed with the recent travel ban into Sarawak placed upon election watchdog Bersih representative, Mandeep Singh.

This is especially so, after C4 key leaders had a most fruitful and encouraging meet up with the Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem, last December, over a myriad of issues including upholding democracy, good governance and combating corruption in the state.

We were further delighted to hear of his willingness to work with our centre to curb illegal logging and cut corruption in the state.

The conversations were open enough for us to urge him to review the travel ban on democracy and anti graft activists, in which he had responded that it would need to be done on a case by case basis.

So the banning of Mandeep into the state at this particular juncture is viewed with much trepidation, following the outcome of our discussions and message of hope that we can and must see ourselves as Malaysians, working towards a better governed nation.

It particularly concerns us that Mandeep is clearly an election monitor, a recognised civil society advocate whose only interest is to work towards a free and fair election process.

Surely this cannot be seen as a threat, nor an extremist activity. C4 is confident that such an initiative must earn the support of a visionary chief minister who has struck a deep chord with Sarawakians and Malaysians alike.

Elections are a unique moment in the life every nation, and in every state. No other event better exemplifies the right to public participation. And no other time requires more robust exercise and protection of the freedoms of movement, expression and assembly.

The travel ban on Mandeep and many other activists before him is in direct violation of Article 13 (1) of the Uuniversal Declaration for Human rights Article 13(1), which clearly states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state”.

International law contains principles and standards by which the electoral process and outcomes can be measured.

Approaching assessments by recognising that states have accepted certain legal commitments and that the elections they conduct should meet those commitments provides uniformity and objectivity to election observation.

The universality, interrelatedness and interdependence of human rights are also reinforced by states having the responsibility to ensure the exercise of all rights during the electoral process, in order to achieve positive outcomes.

Such an approach recognizes that a successful electoral process goes beyond the events on the day that votes are cast.

The legal framework, political environment and institutional capacities before, during and after polling day, have an impact on how rights are enjoyed, must be made a commitment from the parties in power.

C4 thus urges for Adenan

• To immediately revoke the travel ban of Mandeep and all other democracy advocates, as elections are a most unique and important democratic activity for citizens, and must be supported through various fundamental freedoms such as the right to express, assemble and associate freely.

• To engage civil society groups to assist to make the in the battle against corruption, and set an example in holding a clean and fair elections. – February 19, 2016.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.