Thursday, April 24, 2008

Understanding Altantuya

Altantuya’s murder: Mongolia may sever ties with KL

Soon Li Tsin | Apr 24, 08 7:03pm

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.

***

I posted this up because whatever he said… I felt like ouch.

You know how when this case started off, we probably bothered to look it up just cos it was very gossipy material and sensational. But we never fully know what it means to the family. When we hear of the case being postponed, we think, “Biasa lah. Malaysian court always like that wan.” But we will never stop to think how much loss or damage a postponement can do to the family, and do something about it.

Perhaps he’s right. We can be so heartless sometimes.

3 comments:

Mc Chaoz said...

Cantik macam bunga. End the relationship. Please do it. There is no way that our judicial system will get who is at fault. I followed this particular case since day one and I lost intrest even when I knew that our DPM was involed in it. Malas lah. Please end the relationship. Than that might trigger somthing. For those who are still following the case, its so obvious that who saw the killer and who was involved. Just because its a high profile case so many days. If im not mistaken its been 116 days. Even Norita and Canny Ong's case was not that long except for fact that the killer of Norita is not caught.

jeannie said...

It's really sad to read this news.Thanks for posting.It's normal for them to be so angry seeing that the case has been postponed for so long!!It has been ages and the verdict is still nt out! Anyway,I seriously hope that the verdict will be fair...

ViViEnNe said...

wan azizah and shaariibuu both said the truth in this case..nuff said..=)