People's Tribunal begins proceedings today

The People’s tribunal that is set up by the coalition for clean and fair elections (BERSIH) to investigate allegations of fraud during the 13th General Election, will begin its proceedings today.

The tribunal will hear the testimony from 30 witnesses, with the exception of the Election Commision and the police.

The Bersih People’s Tribunal will have three local members and three overseas members.

The tribunal will be chaired by Nigerian Yash Pal Ghai, an expert in constitutional law and a human rights activist.

Other international panel members include former deputy chairman of the Indonesian Election Commission Ramlan Surbakti and president of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus Kraisak Choonhavan.

Malaysians on the tribunal are lawyer Datuk Azzat Kamaludin, former associate professor from the Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya Dr Mavis Puthucheary and the general secretary of the Council of Churches of Malaysia Rev Dr Hermen Shastri.

The tribunal will take the form of a commission of inquiry led by a legal team who will present evidence and arguments to the tribunal.

The tribunal's legal team will be led by Professor Gurdial Singh Nijar, a law professor from University of Malaya and a senior practising lawyer who will act as the conducting officer.

The tribunal is tasked to study, investigate, review and report on:

1. The complaints received or disclosed on events leading up to and surrounding the 13th general election;

2. The electoral process which took place in respect of the 13th general election;

3. The effect of the findings from (1) and (2) have had on the 13th general election, particularly in the free and fair criteria (free access to the media, money politics, adherence to local elections laws);

4. Any matters related or incidental to the above, including the effect on voters rights generally and the rights of minority communities.

The tribunal, which will sit for five days beginning today at the Throne Room, Empire Hotel Subang, Subang Jaya, is open to the public.