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Soon Li Tsin April 24, 2008

All ties established between Mongolia and Malaysia may be severed if the courts do not reach a fair decision in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial. Altantuya’s father, Dr Shaariibuu Setev, told a press conference that this has been communicated to the Malaysian government. Speaking through lawyer and translator Munkhsaruul Mijiddorj, he told reporters that the Mongolian prime minister had informed Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi about this in October last year. “The last letter from the Mongolian government to Abdullah (states that) if Malaysia makes an unfair, irresponsible decision on this case, the Mongolian government will end their relationship with Malaysia. “This issue is not personal but one between two countries. Can you imagine how this case will influence Malaysia’s economic situation?” he asked at the media meet organised by PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. Altantuya was found blown up by explosives at a secondary forest in Puncak Alam Shah Alam on October 19 two years ago. Two Special Action Unit policemen corporal Sirul Azhar Umar and chief inspector Azilah Hadri were charged for her murder with political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda accused of abetting them. All three face death sentences should they be found guilty in the trial that began on July 4 last year. The trial is presided by Shah Alam High Court Judge Mohd Zaki Md Yasin. No support from Malaysians Shaariibuu noted that he has also issued an urgent appeal concerning this case to international human rights organisations due to the lack of support from Malaysians. He began the press conference by stating how Malaysian media has failed to ask pertinent questions surrounding his daughter’s murder. “Do you know these explosives used by the police officers were from the military? It is not a simple knife. These explosive are used against another country but yet it was used on my daughter. “You can now see what kind of dangerous people are working in your official level especially the police officers,” he said. The psychology professor also held back on commenting on the case because there were high political figures involved. “Of course I have a lot to say but it is my right to decide when I will say it openly or not because there are big political figures and business people surrounding this case,” he said. He then began to raise his voice when he spoke about the lack of support he has gotten from the Malaysian public. “Why are you afraid to take some humanitarian action for the youngest son? Are you not ashamed? “I’m not here to ask for money, I just want humanitarian assistance. Where is your humanitarian responsibility? I want to ask you all that questions,” he said with a strained expression. After saying that, Shaariibuu slammed his hand on the table, yelled “finish” in Mongolian and stormed off. Altantuya has two sons, Mungunshagai Bayarjargal, 11 and Altanshagai Munkhtulga, 4. The younger child currently suffers from peripheral nerve paralysis and does not know his mother was murdered. Also, Altantuya’s mother Altantsetseg Sanjaa recently suffered a heart attack putting tremendous strain on the family. Wan Azizah who was seated beside Shaariibuu told reporters to give him time and explained the frustration he is going through. “Please understand as a father and grandfather to be told that your case has been postponed like another routine case, how do you feel? This is not an ordinary case. “His daughter has been murdered and blown up to pieces. Malaysia should not be known to the world like this. He is just appealing to the Malaysian public, let us all be understanding,” she said. Consider compensation On his third trip to Malaysia, Shaariibuu arrived on Monday night to discover that the case was postponed and set to resume on May 5 due to the backlog of cases faced by Zaki and the lawyers Last year, Altantuya’s family sued the three accused for her murder and the Malaysian government, seeking RM100 million in damages over her death. The hearing of the civil suit was put on hold while awaiting the completion of the murder trial. PKR vice-president R Sivarasa who was also present then called upon the government to consult with the Attorney-General to consider giving compensation to the family because all three of the accused are under the government’s employment. “Whether the accused were found guilty or not, that is not the question. The point is the murder is connected to persons employed by the government. “He is not just asking for money but pleading to the public to look at the humanitarian aspect of this especially over the health of Altantuya’s son and mother,” he said. Shaariibuu is scheduled to return to Mongolia tomorrow in light of the trial’s postponement. ________ Comment: In ancient times nations go to war at the slightest provocation. In the 21st century, fortunately we are more civilised than our progenitors, although we still have exceptions. After all, we are members of the United Nations and we, I am told, subscribe to the UN treaty on human rights. Yet we in Malaysia treat foreign nationals with total disregard for compassion and human decency. Are we a bunch of cynics? I wonder. Take the case of the beating of the Indonesian karate/judo coach and the brutality towards, and extortion of, Indonesian guest workers by Rela and the murder of a Mongolian national, etc. Is the way we deal with our neighbours and other nation states? I wonder whether we are a nation of laws or a country run on the basis of the law of the jungle. Our Prime Minister,Abdullah Badawi, and his Foreign Minister (at that time Syed Hamid) did not have the courtesy to reply to the letters from the counterparts in Ulan Bator, Mongolia seeking fair trial and justice for the family of the late Altantuya Shaariibuu. Too busy? Surely,not!! It is going to be tragic for Malaysia’s image if the family of Altantuya cannot get justice for the brutal murder of their loved one. How can we blow a human being, someone’s loved one, and a mother to 2 young children to bits,using an explosive which is only utilised in times of war to destroy bunkers and buildings. Unheard off anywhere in the world.This case, therefore, has a lot of international implications. We are being viewed as arrogant by the Indonesians, Thais, Singaporeans and in other places. Now, we add to this list the Mongolians. How indecent can PM and his Foreign Minister be by not even acknowledging the receipt of letters from their Mongolian counterparts. Who are we protecting? There is no point of Badawi trying to convince us that his Administration is keen to restore the image of the judiciary. He cannot even fix his own Police Force and the AG’s Office. Frankly, Malaysians should have sent Badawi and his cohort in BN out of office in the last elections. The mainstream media is totally hopeless in the cause of justice for Altantuya and dignity for Malaysia. Malaysians and civil society must now pressure the Badawi government to expose the real culprit and bring closure to this long and costly trial. Let justice prevail and we must put an end to this culture of impunity, where the powerful and politically connected are above the Law. As a father of 6 kids (of whom 3 are girls including a 16 year old) and a grandfather to 5 kids, I feel for Dr. Setev Shaariibuu and his family. I was at the press conference on April 24 at the Office of Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim and saw the agony on Dr. Shaariibuu’s face. —Din Merican

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