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Comango is the acronym for the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs in the Universal Periodic Review Process.
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Malaysiakini
7:18PM Jan 10, 2014
UN raps Malaysian gov’t on Comango ban
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed “concern” over the recent banning of the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs for the Universal Periodic Review Process (Comango).
Commission spokesperson Rupert Collville said that the UN Human Rights Commission sees the ban as a “reprisal” against the coalition for taking part in the UN’s international human rights mechanism the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
“The secretary-general, the Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner Navi Pillay have persistently called for the protection of individuals and members of groups that cooperate with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights from acts of intimidation or reprisal,” he said.
http://beta.malaysiakini.com/news/251509
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In July 2012, a High Court ruled that Bersih 2.0 is a legal society under Societies Act 1966 although not officially registered, overturning Putrajaya’s order to outlaw it in 2011.
Despite the precedent, the Home Ministry declared Comango illegal yesterday; it claimed only 15 out of its 54 groups under its umbrella were registered, and accused the coalition of promoting sexual rights contrary to Islam.
YAHOO! NEWS MALAYSIA
Lawyers: Comango cannot be outlawed, Putrajaya playing to gallery
The Malay Mail Online
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 — The Najib administration is pandering to Malay-Muslim hardliners with its surprise ban on a 54-member coalition of human right advocacy groups despite previously associating with it, lawyers have said.
Three lawyers polled also insisted the government cannot arbitrarily outlaw a coalition under the Societies Act 1966, and must deal with the members of the Coalition on Malaysian NGOs in the Universal Periodic Review Process (Comango) on a case-by-case basis even if there were grounds to the argument that some of the groups were not legally registered.
“This is an outrageous action on the part of the government. The government has been working with Comango and it has even invited Comango for meetings,” Malaysian Bar councillor Andrew Khoo told The Malay Mail Online.
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“For it now in hindsight to say it is an illegal organisation, is an insult to the freedom of association that is guaranteed under the Constitution,” Khoo added.
Lawyer Eric Paulsen, a co-founder of the Lawyers for Liberty group, claimed that Putrajaya is playing to the gallery of the Malay-Muslim voters, after several hardliner groups have called for action against Comango for allegedly challenging the position of Islam in the country.
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“The home minister should have heeded the High Court’s rebuke when it overturned a similar ban on Bersih,” Paulsen added, referring to local electoral reform watchdog.
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Civil liberties lawyer Syahredzan Johan pointed out that Comango is not a formal coalition and was just a name given to a group of non-government organisations (NGOs) that were involved in the UPR process.
http://my.news.yahoo.com/lawyers-comango-cannot-outlawed-putrajaya-playing-gallery-225900029.html
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Star
Thursday January 9, 2014 MYT 7:55:09 AM
Home Ministry deems Comango illegal
PETALING JAYA: The Home Ministry deems the so-called Coalition of Malaysian NGOs (Comango) an illegal entity as it is not registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
“There are 54 organisations in Comango but only 15 are registered with the ROS,” said Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Khalid Shariff.
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Reacting to the Home Ministry’s ruling, Sisters In Islam programme manager Suri Kempe said Comango, being a coalition, need not be registered.
She refered to a High Court judgment on July 24, 2012 that the unregistered Bersih coalition is legal.
Home Ministry deems Comango illegal
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Isma stands for Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia.
Comango is the acronym for the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs in the Universal Periodic Review Process.
Jati is Jalur Tiga, a non-governmental organisation.
LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual.
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Malaysian Insider
Muslim NGO declares war on rights group for their ‘devious’ agenda
BY MUZLIZA MUSTAFA
November 16, 2013
Non-governmental organisation Jalur Tiga (Jati) has declared war on the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs, or Comango, for its alleged attempts to make Malaysia a haven for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders(LGBT) and for promoting freedom to commit apostasy in the name of human rights.
Jati president Datuk Dr Hasan Mohamed Ali in a press conference in Taman Tun Dr Ismail today said Comango’s most ill-mannered demand was its call to repeal Syariah Law in the country which is a core component of Islam.
“It is obvious that Comango’s call is a criminal and treacherous act towards the nation. This is why we should declare war on them. Malaysia does not need ‘warriors’ like them,” said Hasan.
He said Jati will explain to the people, with the assistance from state religious councils and other NGOs, the dangers of Comango’s demands.
“Their demands are not only directed at the Muslims and Malays but will also change the way of life of 28 million Malaysians,” said Hasan.
Muslim NGO declares war on rights group for their ‘devious’ agenda
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Malaysiakini
Marina Mahathir has demanded that the Muslim group claiming she is the mastermind behind the human rights coalition Comango publicly retracts its allegation or face legal action.
“Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma), in a flyer distributed at mosques throughout the country during prayers on Friday, Nov 8, accused me of being one of the ‘dalang‘ (masterminds) behind Comango.
“This is wholly untrue. Although I am a board member of Sisters in Islam (SIS), one of the NGOs in the coalition, I was not involved in any way in the Comango process,” Marina said in a statement today.
Marina threatens suit over ‘Comango mastermind’ claim
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YAHOO! NEWS MALAYSIA
Muslim activists: Dr M’s daughter, Ambiga masterminds behind ‘anti-Islam’ NGO
The Malay Mail Online – 16 hours ago
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 — Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) accused today Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir and Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan of supporting a local human rights coalition called Comango, whose demands the Islamist group said were a threat to Islam.
Isma distributed 70,000 leaflets at mosques throughout the country after Friday prayers today that slammed Comango for calling for the freedom to renounce Islam; the protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) rights; the removal of Malay privileges; the freedom to embrace Syiah teachings; and the right for Catholics to refer to God as “Allah”, among other things.
“The leaflets were meant to explain to Muslims about Comango’s demands that threaten the position of Islam in Malaysia and how it’s backed by liberal figures and 54 anti-Islam NGOs,” said Isma on its website today.
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“Those who are behind it include Bersih chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan, Malaysiakini (chief executive officer) Premesh Chandran, Sisters in Islam board director Marina Mahathir, Tenaganita executive director Irene Fernandez, Suaram executive director Cynthia Gabriel, Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) (director) Sonia Randhawa, Malaysia Youth & Students Democratic Movements (DEMA) secretary Yong Kin Yin, Suaram director Kua Kia Soong, and… Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general, S. Arutchelvan,” it added.
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The Islamist activist group also named several non-government organisations as supporting Comango.
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“The NGOs involved are the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM), Seksualiti Merdeka, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), Sisters in Islam (SIS), Pusat KOMAS, Association of Kindergarten Teachers in Peninsular Malaysia, Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), Childline Malaysia, and many more,” said Isma.
http://my.news.yahoo.com/muslim-activists-dr-m-daughter-ambiga-masterminds-behind-101500415.html
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Malaysiakini
The government must act against Comango, a coalition of 54 NGOs, for lowering Malaysia’s human rights record in the eyes of many European countries at the Universal Periodical Review (UPR) in Geneva last week, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) said today.
At the UPR review last Thursday, some European countries called for Malaysia to recognise lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-sexual rights, give freedom of religion, including allowing apostasy, and to abolish Malay special rights in the country.
Isma blamed Comango for this.
“They not only instigated the people to be anti-establishment, they also lobbied UN member countries to press Malaysia to acknowledge matters that are against Islam and our country’s constitution, ” Isma vice-president Aminuddin Yahaya (left) is quoted saying in a report at ismaweb.net.
“The Comango movement looks like they may not quit but will continue to be a troublemaker in the future. If they are not censured, Malaysia may suffer turmoil,” Isma, which was also in Geneva, warned.
Punish Comango for shaming Malaysia at UPR, says Isma
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weehingthong 