SUHAKAM EXPLORES INDIAN STYLE OF HANDLING HUMAN RIGHTS CASES

By P.Vijian

NEW DELHI, April 30 (Bernama) -- The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia
(Suhakam) is studying the Indian system of protecting civil and political
rights, and even plans to send officials to get first-hand experience in India.

Suhakam chairman Abu Talib Othman said India's National Human Rights
Commission (NHRC) had a comprehensive and advanced system put in place to
address grievances across various strata of society.

"There are four areas -- human rights education, they have wide experience
and facilities in filing complaints of violations of human ri ghts, conduct of
inquiry into the misuse of human rights and law reform.

We will look into how best we can work together to exchange information and
views," he told Bernama.

Abu Talib is leading a seven-member delegation to India at the invitation of
the NHRC to exchange ideas, share experiences and study methdologies with their
Indian counterpart in handling sensitive human rights matters.

The Indian side was represented by chairman Justice S. Rajendra Babu.

"The Indian human rights (commission) has provide us with lot of suggestions
on how to improve within the constraints of our law.

The provisions of their law and system are very effective. They can seek the
assistance of the court to enforce the implementation of their recommendations.
They can even summon police officers to submit reports to them," he added.

Abu Talib said Suhakam would also look into a scheme to train its officials
in Indian universities and institutions that offer human rights courses as a
long-term training project.

During the three-day interactive programme with NHRC, the Malaysian
delegates were briefed on the functioning of the organisation, complaint
management and investigation methods.

-- BERNAMA