Altantuya: ‘jibby responsible for my daughter’s death’ stirring media interests in France
The alleged circumstances surrounding the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu have stirred media interest in France.
A statement by her father Dr Setev Shaariibuu was sent to the French press yesterday, being timed to coincide with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s four-day official visit to Paris.
Some quarters have linked Najib to Altantuya’s mysterious death in Shah Alam three years ago.
She was 28 when she was killed and her body blown up with C4 explosives. Two police personnel have been found guilty of the murder, but have appealed the verdict.
Altantuya was the former lover of political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, a close associate of Najib.
Abdul Razak was acquitted of abetting in the murder, while Najib has strenuously denied any involvement with Altantuya.
Shaariibuu: I tried to meet Najib
In the statement, Shaariibuu said he has been admitted to hospital and that he regrets that he cannot be in Paris to meet Najib.
“I had so wished to speak to Mr Najib and send him this message and to shake his hand. I tried to meet him at the Malaysian Parliament in 2007, but he left the House early and my trip was not complete,” he said.
“I hope PM Mr Najib Razak enjoys his trip to France, where a deal with a French company – which his close friend Abdul Razak Baginda helped broker – led to the circumstances surrounding my daughter’s murder.”
Altantuya was said to have been a translator for a Malaysian company in a deal to purchase French submarines worth billion of Euros. Najib was then defence minister.
“She knows many things that neither the Malaysian nor the French public know about,” her father claimed, adding that he holds Najib responsible for her death.
He pointed out that Najib’s aide de camp DSP Musa Safri had allegedly ordered two policemen to “deal with Altantuya” when she had asked Abdul Razak to pay her commission.
“With so many closely linked to Najib in this murder, it is impossible (for) and irresponsible (of) (him) to now wash his hands off this matter and act as if none of this tragedy has befallen my daughter and my family.
“The French company involved in the Malaysian deal also cannot escape with impunity. My daughter would not have met her cruel death if the deal had been transparent and fair.”
‘Strong interest‘
PKR’s Batu parliamenarian Tian Chua, meanwhile, has finally admitted that his visit to Paris was related to Shaariibuu’s statement, although this had been denied yesterday.
In a statement, he disclosed that he has been in Paris for more than a week and that the French media are more interested in Altantuya’s murder than in Najib’s visit.
Chua claimed that Najib’s officers had failed to provide answers to the French media when bombarded with questions on the benefits brought about by bilateral ties between Malaysia and France.
“None of (them) dared to answer this. Everyone kept quiet. However, it is clear that Najib’s trip has made the media more interested in re-opening the murder case and (aspects) surrounding the French submarine deal,” he said.
The media are also looking for Altantuya’s old friends in Paris to get “a different perspective on the news story”.
“I have also met a few French parliamentarians to talk about human rights, media freedom and bilateral relationships. But what excites them the most are the circumstances surrounding the French submarines deal and Altantuya’s murder.”
Rahmah Ghazali/Mkini
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KENYATAAN YB TIAN CHUA DARI PARIS
Saya telah berada di kota Paris lebih dari satu minggu.
Saya telah dihujani dengan pelbagai pertanyaan dan soalan
dari media Peranchis.
Media Peranchis mengemukakan pertanyaan:
Apakah manafaat lawatan rombongan Najib Razak
kepada pentabiran Sarkozy? Dan apa baiknya lawatan
ini kepada rakyat Peranchis?
Media Peranchis telah gagal untuk mendapat apa apa
jawapan dari soalan ini. Tidak ada sesiapa dari rombongan
Najib yang berani menjawab pertanyaan media Peranchis.
Semua membisu.
Apa yang cukup jelas lawatan Najib Razak ini telah
menimbulkan kembali keinginan media Peranchis untuk
membuka kembali kes pembunuhan Altantuya dan soal jual
beli kapal selam.
Altantuya yang pernah tinggal dan bekerja di Paris memiliki
ramai rakan kenalan. Justeru media Peranchis terus memburu
kawan-kawan lama Altantuya untuk mendapat kelainan
sudut berita.
Selama lebih satu minggu di kota Paris saya telah sempat
bertemu dan berbincang dengan beberapa orang Deputy ( YB)
Parlimen Peranchis. Saya telah memberi taklimat tentang
kedudukan hak asasi manusia, hak kebebasan media dan
hubungan dua hala.
Apa yang menarik perhatian kesemua ahli parlimen Peranchis
yang saya temui- mereka cukup berminat untuk mengetahui
dengan panjang lebar kes jual beli kapal selam
dan pembunuhan Altantuya.
Saya juga telah membuat pertemuan dan perbincangan dengan
beberapa Ngo Peranchis terutama FIDH.
Saya telah bertemu dan berbincang dengan William Bourdon
seorang peguam hak asasi manusia yang ulung.
