Chapter 2 - Report of the Complaints, Monitoring and Inquiries Group 2. PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO THE INCIDENTS DURING AND AFTER THE PUBLIC ASSEMBLY ON 28 APRIL 2012 Freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly are rights that enable people to share ideas, form new thinking, and join together with others to claim their rights. It is through the exercise of these public freedoms that we make informed, considered and intelligent decisions about our development. To restrict them undermines progress. We must acknowledge the value of civic contribution, build the capacity of marginalised voices, ensure a place at the table for civil society actors, and safeguard their activities - including the activities of those who cooperate with this Council, its Special Procedures and Commissions of Inquiry. I take this opportunity to echo the Secretary-General’s condemnation of acts of reprisal against individuals by reason of their engagement with the United Nations. Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Opening address at the 27th Session of the UN Human Rights Council The Commission recently released and distributed its full report entitled ‘Public Inquiry into the Incidents During and After the Public Assembly on 28 April 2012’ to relevant Government agencies and stakeholders. The Commission takes note of the Government’s feedback in the Government’s Responses to the Commission’s 2013 Annual Report (Maklum Balas Kerajaan Terhadap Laporan Tahunan Suruhanjaya 2013) which incorporated the recommendations discussed in the Commission’s last round-table discussion with PDRM in September 2013. The Commission is pleased to note that PDRM will be finalising a draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) concerning its corporation with media practitioners during public assemblies as highlighted by PDRM during the Dialogue Session with Government Agencies on the Government’s Responses to the Commission’s 2013 Annual Report on 27 November 2013. This draft SOP is said to have been put to the test during the ‘KL 112’ public assembly on 12 January 2013. The Commission also welcomes the move by the Inspector General of Police to review the SOP of the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) on crowd control to meet the requirements of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and international standards. The Commission expresses the hope that the SOP review will be aimed at improving crowd management during assemblies and corporation with media practitioners. 57