C4 Executive Director Cynthia Gabriel also expressed the hope that Adenan would engage civil society groups in the battle against corruption. “He must set an example in holding clean and fair elections.”
Gabriel said that she was deeply disturbed by the recent travel ban placed by the Sarawak Government on election watchdog BERSIH representative, Mandeep Singh. “This is especially so, after C4 leaders had a most fruitful and encouraging meet with the Sarawak Chief Minister 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 C4 to urge him to review the travel ban on democracy and anti graft activists, disclosed Gabriel. “He had responded that it would need to be done on a case by case basis.”
The banning of Mandeep at this particular juncture was viewed with much trepidation, she lamented, “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 C4 that Mandeep was clearly an election monitor, a recognized civil society advocate whose only interest was to work towards a free and fair election process, said Gabriel. “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 of every nation, and in every State, said the C4 Executive Director. “No other event better exemplifies the right to public participation.”
“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, cautioned Gabriel, was in direct violation of Article 13 (1) of the Universal 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”.
Gabriel referred to international law which contains principles and standards by which the electoral process and outcomes can be measured. “States have accepted certain legal commitments. Elections they conduct should meet those commitments which includes uniformity and objectivity for election observation.”
The universality, inter relatedness and interdependence of human rights are also reinforced by States having the responsibility to ensure the exercise of all rights during the electoral process, she stressed, “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, summed up C4. “They must be made a commitment from the parties in power.”