By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Asia

PENANG, Malaysia – Ahead of general elections for the national parliament on March 8^th, the ruling Barisan National party has taken steps to deny Malaysians a fair vote. Human Rights Watch as called the elections “grossly unfair to the opposition.” To retain their majority, the Barisan National party has restricted free expression, controlled media outlets, and encouraged irregularities in the electoral process.

The Barisan National party is attempting to retain their majority in the national parliament because their two-thirds majority allows them to amend the constitution at will. Opposition parties currently hold only 9.6 percent of the vote.

Opposition parties have attempted to hold rallies, but police have refused to issue the proper permits that are required for gatherings of more than four people. However, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahman Badawi on March 1 was able to hold a rally of 20,000 supporters without incident.

Media outlets have also been severely restrained. An election observer inMalaysia reported to Human Rights Watch that there had been no presence in the media by the opposition party. In addition, all private-to-air channels are owned by the United Malays National Organization [UMNO]. UMNO is a founding member of the ruling coalition and Malaysia’s largest political party.

Irregularities in the electoral process have sparked concerns that the Barisan National party will attempt to manipulate the elections. Voter registrations have been transferred in mass to other districts, changes of address had not been reflected in assigned polling stations, and deceased voters are still enrolled to vote.

In addition, plans to end the introduction of indelible ink during voting on Saturday suggested another possible manner to manipulate voting. The indelible ink would have prevented phantom voting and multiple voting.

In recent months, there have been several outbreaks of protest and violence as a result of ethnic tensions. (please see: Ethnic Indians Protest Discrimination). Because of the increasing calls for change, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahman Badawi called for early elections. (please see: Brief: Malaysian Parliament Dissolved to Call Early Elections).

For more information, please see:

Human Rights Watch – Malaysia: Citizens Denied a Fair Vote – 5 March 2008

IPS – POLITICS-MALAYSIA: Plans Afoot to Rig Polls Say Opposition Parties – 5 March 2008

Taipei Times – Malaysians Will be Denied a Fair Vote: Activists – 6 March 2008

BEIJING, China – Teng Biao, a Chinese human rights lawyer, who has defended dissidents and called on the Communist Party to improve its human rights record ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympics, is missing.  Teng’s wife and friends fear that the police may have secretly detained him.  Teng has belonged to a group of young Chinese activists who have used test cases, online petitions and media publicity to campaign for stronger rights under the Chinese Communist Party.

In recent months, Mr. Teng has attracted attention because of his commentary on China’s record on human rights and his call for the release Hu Jia, an outspoken Beijing dissident who faces subversion charges after spending much of last year under house arrest.  He also warned last month that Beijing’s Olympic Games, which opened on August 8, had led to some retreat in China’s human rights. A rights activist who spoke to Teng recently said he appeared “deeply downcast and under pressure”, partly because state security officers had confiscated his passport and a deadline loomed for deciding whether to challenge their act in court.

Mr. Teng disappeared on Thursday evening after calling to say he would be home in 20 minutes, said his wife, Wang Ling. Shortly afterward, she said, she heard shouting in the parking lot below the family apartment and later found her husband’s empty car. Witnesses told her that two men had dragged someone out of the car and taken him away.

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune – Chinese rights activist reported missing – 07 March 2008.

New York Times – Chinese Rights Activist Reported Missing – 08 March 2008.

Reuters – China rights lawyer disappears and feared detained – 07 March 2008.

BEIJING, China – Teng Biao, a Chinese human rights lawyer, who has defended dissidents and called on the Communist Party to improve its human rights record ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympics, is missing.  Teng’s wife and friends fear that the police may have secretly detained him.  Teng has belonged to a group of young Chinese activists who have used test cases, online petitions and media publicity to campaign for stronger rights under the Chinese Communist Party.

In recent months, Mr. Teng has attracted attention because of his commentary on China’s record on human rights and his call for the release Hu Jia, an outspoken Beijing dissident who faces subversion charges after spending much of last year under house arrest.  He also warned last month that Beijing’s Olympic Games, which opened on August 8, had led to some retreat in China’s human rights. A rights activist who spoke to Teng recently said he appeared “deeply downcast and under pressure”, partly because state security officers had confiscated his passport and a deadline loomed for deciding whether to challenge their act in court.

Mr. Teng disappeared on Thursday evening after calling to say he would be home in 20 minutes, said his wife, Wang Ling. Shortly afterward, she said, she heard shouting in the parking lot below the family apartment and later found her husband’s empty car. Witnesses told her that two men had dragged someone out of the car and taken him away.

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune – Chinese rights activist reported missing – 07 March 2008.

New York Times – Chinese Rights Activist Reported Missing – 08 March 2008.

Reuters – China rights lawyer disappears and feared detained – 07 March 2008.

BEIJING, China – Teng Biao, a Chinese human rights lawyer, who has defended dissidents and called on the Communist Party to improve its human rights record ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympics, is missing.  Teng’s wife and friends fear that the police may have secretly detained him.  Teng has belonged to a group of young Chinese activists who have used test cases, online petitions and media publicity to campaign for stronger rights under the Chinese Communist Party.

In recent months, Mr. Teng has attracted attention because of his commentary on China’s record on human rights and his call for the release Hu Jia, an outspoken Beijing dissident who faces subversion charges after spending much of last year under house arrest.  He also warned last month that Beijing’s Olympic Games, which opened on August 8, had led to some retreat in China’s human rights. A rights activist who spoke to Teng recently said he appeared “deeply downcast and under pressure”, partly because state security officers had confiscated his passport and a deadline loomed for deciding whether to challenge their act in court.

Mr. Teng disappeared on Thursday evening after calling to say he would be home in 20 minutes, said his wife, Wang Ling. Shortly afterward, she said, she heard shouting in the parking lot below the family apartment and later found her husband’s empty car. Witnesses told her that two men had dragged someone out of the car and taken him away.

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune – Chinese rights activist reported missing – 07 March 2008.

New York Times – Chinese Rights Activist Reported Missing – 08 March 2008.

Reuters – China rights lawyer disappears and feared detained – 07 March 2008.