In a statement today, the commission said it “emphasises that the gatherings are not illegal” and that it had observed that rally participants had conducted themselves in an acceptable way and were no threat to public order and national security.
“Suhakam recognises the enthusiasm of the participants to uphold their right to freedom of expression and to demonstrate peacefully despite the putting up of police barricades along several routes in Kuala Lumpur,” the commission said.
Any attempt to prevent peaceful assemblies would be unconstitutional and challengeable in court, the commission said in a statement by its chairman Razali Ismail.
Suhakam said the authorities had a constitutional duty to explain the basis of the arrests and clarify what offences had been allegedly committed by those detained.
The police were commended for facilitating and managing the public assemblies while respecting the rights of the counter-demonstrators.
The commission said it would be submitting its detailed observations to Parliament.
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