Enforced Disappearance: Is this a New Normal?

Susanna Liew, wife of Pastor Raymond Koh is named one of the recipients of 2020 International Women of the Year by the Annual International Women of Courage (IWOC). She is one of 12 extraordinary women who received the award on 4 March 2020 from the State Secretary of USA for their exceptional courage of leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality and women empowerment at great personal risk and sacrifice.

Susanna's story started after her husband, Raymond Koh mysteriously disappeared in February 2017. Raymond was abducted in broad daylight by more than 10 men from his car. Raymond and Susanna have earlier in 2004 set up the "Hope Community", an NGO that works with the poor, needy and marginalized. Beside Raymond, social activist, Amri Che Mat and another couple, Joshua Hilmy and wife Ruth have also disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

She has since the disappearance of her husband through all legitimate avenues to uncover the mystery surrounding this enforced disappearance.

Susanna and daughter joined a prayer vigil
held at Padang Merdeka Kota Kinabalu
and spoke at the event in April 2017.

Malaysia is definitely not the only country where people just disappear without trace. In Buenos Aires in January this year, we were taken to Plaza de Mayo or May Plaza built in 1884. The Plaza derives its name from the May Revolution of 1810 which led to the independence of Argentina in 1816. In front of the Monument of General Manuel Belgrana who is revered as the prime liberator of Argentine from Spanish rule are two ribbons drawn on the pavement.

The two ribbons symbolize the "Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo", a movement of Argentinian mothers who campaigned for their children who had "disappeared" during the military dictatorship between 1976 and 1983. The military government abducted, tortured and killed left-wing militants and anyone they claimed were subversives including all political opponents of the regime. The kidnapped people become known as the "Disappeared".

When legal means through the laws of the lands fails to silence the perceived "threat" to the government, it is left to the powerful apparatus within the government to remove this perceived threat!

Sad and frightening but it happens (Read here)! Despite of the great personal risks in confronting such powerful state apparatus, Susanna perseveres. Her courage is indeed admirable and an inspiration!