(Sept 17): The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) said it is disappointed by the confrontational actions of several 'red shirt' rally goers yesterday who flaunted racially-charged placards and uttered racially-charged slogans.

The commission warned that while public assemblies must be peaceful in order to be protected by international human rights law, protection may be forfeited when there is disorderly conduct at any stage.

Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Hasmy Agam said, in a statement today, that the peaceful assembly had turned non-peaceful when a group of participants pushed past police restriction lines in an attempt to reach certain parts of Kuala Lumpur that the organisers and police had initially agreed were prohibited.

"The commission is perturbed by the irresponsible and confrontational actions of several participants for inciting lawless and disorderly behaviour by flaunting racially-charged placards and for uttering slogans that promoted racial or religious hatred in our multi-religious and secular society.

"Such behaviour, in the commission’s opinion, constitutes the intentional provocation of violence which cannot be condoned and must be appropriately dealt with.”

He also said that advocacy of racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence should be prohibited by law.

"The commission cautions that protest demonstrations and public assemblies must be peaceful in order to be protected by international human rights law, and repeats that should there be disorderly conduct at any stage during a peaceful assembly, protection may be forfeited."

He added that for democracy to flourish, the people must be guaranteed their fundamental rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and of assembly.

"However, the right to peaceful assembly is not an excuse to perpetrate violence which will only make a mockery of the concept of peaceful assembly."

Yesterday's 'red shirt' rally, also called "Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu", by a coalition of Malay non-governmental organisations was held to counter last month's Bersih 4 rally, which organisers claimed had insulted the integrity of the Malay race.

Filled with incendiary remarks and racially-charged banners and placards, the rally saw some tense moments when participants were upset over questions asked by some journalists and riot police sprayed chemical-laced water on a group of rowdy rally goers who attempted to breach the police barricades to gain access to Petaling Street. – The Malaysian Insider