ADN in Full Support for Malaysia’s Fight for Reform and Democracy
September 3, 2015
The Asia Democracy Network (ADN) expresses support for the people of Malaysia who rallied peacefully exercising their right to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression last weekend, calling for the current government to address financial scandal that arose since last July.
The two-day Bersih 4.0 rally (meaning ‘clean’ in Bahasa Malaysia) was held on 29-30 August, which was organized by a coalition of non-governmental organizations called the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections. Since its launch, the coalition has organized the democracy movement in Malaysia demanding as following: 1) clean elections, 2) clean governments, 3) right to dissent, 4) strengthening parliamentary democracy, and 5) saving Malaysia’s economy. ADN acknowledges that the priority demands of Bersih are indispensable topromoting democracy in any country.
By expressing our concerns over the government’s suppression and crackdown on the peaceful demonstration and the dissent, ADN strongly urge the Malaysian government to unconditionally guarantee the right to the freedom of assembly and association, and address the financial scandal of Prime Minister Najib Razak with full accountability. We further urge the government of Malaysia to ratify the international rights treaties such as International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) that guarantee the right to freedom of association, which is a key element for a democratic society.
As Bersih organizers were quoted as saying “only when elections are clean and fair, can citizens be real masters of their own destiny and expect holders of public office to act accountably and effectively,” the ADN will stand in solidarity with the people of Malaysia in their continuous fight for democracy.
Please contact
ADN Secretariat: adn2013seoul@gmail.com
Asia Democracy Network (ADN) is a civil society led multi-stakeholders’ platform among democracy advocates and human rights defenders dedicated to the strengthening of democracy and human rights. ADN is a collaborative effort among CSOs engaged in democracy, human rights and development at the different levels of global, regional, national and local to enhance the synergetic effects of the joint advocacy of CSOs in the Asia region. ADN was founded in Seoul, Korea in Oct. 2013.
