NGOs raise alarm over yet another murder of a transgender woman
FMT Reporters
-January 3, 2019 4:42 PM
The NGOs say crimes are committed against the LGBT community in Malaysia because social stigma and discriminatory laws “protect the abusers”. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: A group of NGOs has called for police guidelines on handling LGBT murders and crimes, saying punishment alone will not resolve the “systemic” violence against transgenders.
This follows the death of a trans woman in Bukit Tinggi, Klang, on Jan 1, about a month after the murder of another transgender in the same area. In both cases, police ruled out hate crime.
Transgender rights group Justice for Sisters and 11 NGOs today said they were concerned over the rise in violence and crimes against transwomen here, saying 18 such cases had been reported from 2007.
In a statement, the NGOs added that most of these cases saw transwomen tortured, beaten to death, strangled, gagged, pushed off a building, drowned, stabbed, mutilated and physically assaulted.
This is why the police must have proper guidelines on handling, documenting and analysing cases of murder and crimes related to persons belonging to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community so that they can understand the trend of violence and intervene.
“The elements of torture in these crimes suggest a number of things, including increased rage or hate by perpetrators against transwomen, and impunity enjoyed by people who commit violence against transwomen, amongst others.
“We welcome the swift action by the police, and we look forward to a thorough, unbiased and objective investigation.
“It is imperative that the police corroborate the evidence and thoroughly investigate the cases to ensure justice for victims and their loved ones,” the statement read.
Among the groups which endorsed the statement are Tenaganita, the All Women’s Action Society, the Women’s Aid Organisation, Pelangi Campaign and Sisters in Islam.
The groups said: “Our documentation shows communities and areas that are more vulnerable to crimes and violence.
“The emergence of vigilante groups, which often operate under the guise of residential patrol groups, for example, in Kedah, has also increased cases of violence against trans women.”
The 12 NGOs added: “The general lack of confidence in the police to swiftly and thoroughly investigate cases often prevents trans women from seeking justice, report cases, and in some cases, come forward as witnesses.
“Thus, it is extremely important for the local police departments to engage with the affected communities and bridge this trust deficit in order to efficiently ensure safety and security for all.
“We also call for the police to engage trans women communities in Klang, Kedah and other hotspots that have recorded a high number of cases of violence and crimes against trans women.”
They added that stereotypes and misconceptions such as transgenders being unnatural, immoral or against religion or laws “give the impression” they have the right to be violated or abused, which was wrong.
The statement also said perpetrators of these crimes and society, in general, should be provided with adequate information about gender and sexuality to “ensure meaningful change in attitudes” of “diversity”.
According to the statement, crimes are committed against LGBT persons in Malaysia because social stigma and discriminatory laws “protect the abusers”. They are then “targeted” through these laws.
“When the laws target trans women, this forces them to live in the margins and become resigned to a life of discrimination, violence, abuse and neglect.
“Therefore, those who abuse trans women often do so because they know they can get away with it, all of which reinforces the culture of impunity.”
This would then “effectively hinder” a thorough and unbiased police investigation, they claimed, as in most cases, trans women were “not only blamed but seen as the guilty party”.
“Some common narratives include narratives that position perpetrators as acting or reacting out of self-defence, to protect themselves from theft/crime, repulsion, or rejection of sexual advancements.
“This plays into the stereotypes of trans women being criminals and immoral, often resulting in lack of adequate penalties against perpetrators for the violence and crimes committed.”
The NGOS said if such incidents continued and were not addressed with an “evidence and rights-based approach”, it would further isolate LGBT persons and “increase the trust deficit in police and the government”.
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