Cops in Amri, Koh abductions may be innocent, but...

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 10 Jul 2019 10:24AM · 5 Comments

AN air force colonel and I once discussed military discipline. He said if a crew is ordered to bomb a school field, they must do so, even if children are playing there. That’s their code of conduct. It does happen.

In 1945, the crew of an American bomber followed orders and dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, though they knew tens of thousands of civilians would die. I’ve been thinking about obeying orders because I’ve been trying to understand why policemen abducted social activist Amri Che Mat and Pastor Raymond Koh.

After an exhaustive inquiry, the Suhakam panel assigned responsibility for the abductions to “state agents, namely, the Special Branch, Bukit Aman”. The “look” of the men in the video of Koh’s abduction suggests that they are junior officers, though there may have been one or two senior ones (rank of inspector or higher).

Why did the abductors do it? Did they commit a crime? I think it does not follow that all the men in the video committed a crime. They were probably police officers who obeyed orders, like the airmen who bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The on-the-ground abductors may not have known who the victims were. However, now, at least some them must know that their targets were Amri and Koh. They must also know that the person, or persons, who ordered them to conduct the abductions did so wrongfully and illegally.

Why have they not come forward to admit to what they did? The code of conduct regarding obeying orders surely has much to do with it. But since they haven’t spoken up after the illegality of the abductions has been declared, there must be other factors at work.

I think they fear what their peers or superiors might do to them if they speak out. I conclude that the police force is an institution filled with fear.

Let’s return to the question. I think it can be answered in a helpful way if we amend it to: “Why did the on-the-ground policemen abduct Amri?” The answer is: “Because they obeyed orders. They did not think they were doing wrong. In fact, they did not do wrong.”

But now that they know Suhakam’s conclusion, if they do not come forward and admit that they conducted the abductions, they are choosing to withhold information on a serious crime. If they are silent, they will be just as guilty as those who ordered them to conduct the abductions.

I know Caged, Suhakam and many others will stand by them if they come forward and reveal the truth. We will do so because of our code of conduct: stand up for truth and justice, no matter what the price. – July 10, 2019.

* Rama Ramanathan is spokesman for Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (Caged).

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.

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Comments

  • Everyone knows the abductions could only happen with the approval of powerful parties in the government. The latest move by the Home Minister to form another committee of investigation is a pathetic attempt to stall the uncovering of the truth. He has had to listen to the PDRM and Islamic Department heads before he formed the lightweight panel. We hope he remembers that Malaysian lives are at stake, if the abductees are still alive, and not Christians who were suspected of proselytizing. Only then can he and the PH government claim that they subscribe to the rule of law.

    Posted 6 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

  • The more the authority tries to cover, the higher the realm of mastermind people will suspect. We know this is the Doppler effect of ill interpretation of our Constitution where some strange personal things become supreme.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • High Profile Murder High Profile Abductions High Profile Terrorism what more In MALAYSIA IS HIGH PROFILE. The World is SUFFERING Bcoz of POLITICIANS. INNOCENT PUBLIC SAFETY AT STAKE BCOZ OF GREEDY POLITICIANS.

    Posted 6 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • first of all CAGED, thank you for keeping this issue of Enforced Disappearance alive in public consciousness. The same must also be extended to the tragedy of Teoh Beng Hock, Indira Gandhi. For sure CAGED has taken over the mantle from the previously vocal Opposition chaps, who, once installed as Ministers and what-nots, have now turned into a parody of the MCAs & MICs that they used to ridicule - yahoos who have all but lost their scrotal gumption. Must be the blissful incense of Putrajaya power.

    Anyway, looking at just how "excited" our current occupants at Putrajaya are, I'm guessing that, without CAGED's efforts, our politicians would be more than happy to let this issue, slip by.

    Posted 6 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply

  • Who was the minister in charge of Islamic Affairs in the PM's Department at the time? Perhaps he can shed some light on precisely who instigated the entire diabolical operation?

    Posted 6 years ago by Antares Maitreya · Reply