Komas chief to be quizzed over Sri Lanka war film

The director of a human rights organisation has been summoned to the Home Ministry over the screening of a movie depicting the civil war in Sri Lanka.

In a statement, Komas director Tan Jo Hann criticised this, calling it a form of harassment.

Tan said he received a fax from the ministry yesterday, requesting him to be present at their office to have his statement recorded.

“Earlier on in the morning, I received a call from one Akilah Bakri who identified herself as an enforcement officer from the ministry informing me that they required my presence to record my statement at their office in Kuala Lumpur.

“I asked if there was a written notice and Akilah informed me that the telephone call was the first step to inform me after which a written notice would be sent,” he added. 

Tan said he queried Akilah on the need to issue such a notice since he was present when the police arrested him and several Komas members on July 4 during the screening of the movie at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall. 

“I reminded her that I had identified myself as Komas director on that night of the arrest but I was not asked to have my statement recorded. Akilah replied that they now see it necessary to record my statement,” he added.

The movie, "No Fire Zone, the Killing Fields of Sri Lanka", depicts the civil war in that nation.

According to the notice, Tan said the initial date set for his statement to be recorded was on July 18 but this has since been deferred to July 22.

“I would like to state on record that I find this notice to be present at the ministry’s office to record my statement about a film screening is highly unnecessary.

“It is disruptive to my work and seems more like a form of harassment when they had already recorded the statements of my staff and colleagues who were arrested and questioned for more than three hours.

“This continued form of intimidation tactics to curb freedom of expression and speech is highly disappointing especially when these basic rights are in fact guaranteed in Article 10 of the constitution,” he added.