SUARA RAKYAT MALAYSIA
Address: 433A, Jalan 5/46, Gasing Indah, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Telephone: +6 03 7784 3525
Fax: +6 03 7784 3526
Email: suaram@suaram. net
Web: www.suaram.net
Urgent Appeal: 10 November 2008
23 arrested during the vigil to commemorate the first anniversary of BERSIH’s rally
The authority’s intolerance to peaceful assembly continued when the police arrested 23 individuals, including Member of Parliament, State Assemblymen, activists and journalists during a vigil to commemorate the first anniversary of the Bersih rally in Kuala Lumpur last year.
The vigil was scheduled to start at 9.30 pm on 9 November at Padang Timur, opposite the Amcorp Mall, Petaling Jaya. As the time approaches, the police urged the gathered crowd in the field to disperse.
The crowd then walked over to the PJ Civic Centre, about a kilometre away to continue the program. At 10.15pm, the police moved into the crowd and made arrests just as they were singing the national anthem and getting ready to leave.
Those arrested were reported to be held at the Petaling Jaya District Police Headquarters (IPD Petaling Jaya). As at 2.00am on 10 November 2008, 23 individuals were confirmed to be arrested and will remand at police station for investigation.
1. Tony Pua Tiam Wee, PJ Utara Member of Parliament
2. Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew, Selangor State Executive Council member and Pandamaran State Assemblyman
3. Lau Weng San, Kampung Tunku State Assemblyman
4. Teoh Way Keng, Petaling Jaya City Councillor
5. Ashok Kandiah, Lawyer
6. Ong Boon Keong, Activist and Coordinator for MAFREL
7. Father Paulino Miranda
8. Ambrose Goh, Malaysiakini journalist
9. Shukri Mohamad, Malaysiakini videographer
10. Sunny Lim, blogger
11. Andrew
12. Angelia Ooi
13. Arrif Abdul
14. Augustine
15. Goh Chien Li
16. Johny Andrew
17. Kenny Goh
18. Khairul
19. Mohd Faizal
20. Rahman
21. Ramesh
22. Syed Ahmad
23. Tinggaran
Meanwhile, a participant Dian Abdullah had lodged a police report claiming that she was beaten up by the police during the assembly. Her forehead and shoulder were found bruised.
SUARAM strongly condemns the police for their ongoing attacks on freedom of assembly, a fundamental right which is guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Federal Constitutions of Malaysia.
We demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested.
For inquiries, please call SUARAM at 03-77843525. Thank you.
Urgent action needed:
Please write protest letters to the government and the police to express your strongest condemnation of the arrests and the ongoing denial of rights to assembly. Please also demand the Malaysian government for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested.
Your protest letters should be sent to:
1. Prime Minister of Malaysia
Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Prime Minister’s Office Malaysia
Perdana Putra Building,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 PUTRAJAYA,
Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel: + 60 3 8888 6000
Fax: + 60 3 8888 3444
2. Inspector-General of Police
Tan Sri Musa Hassan
Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia,
50560 Bukit Aman,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: +603 2262 6015
Fax: +603 2272 5613
* SAMPLE LETTER *
[Letterhead of your organisation]
Prime Minister of Malaysia
Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Prime Minister’s Office Malaysia
Perdana Putra Building,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 PUTRAJAYA,
Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel: + 60 3 8888 6000
Fax: + 60 3 8888 3444
Dear Sir,
Re: 23 arrested during the vigil to commemorate the first anniversary of BERSIH’s rally
We are writing to you, once again, to express our outrage and to register our strongest condemnation over your government’s ongoing crackdown on public assemblies. As mention, 23 individuals were arrested by the police during a vigil to commemorate the first anniversary of the Bersih rally in Kuala Lumpur last year.
We are appalled by your government and the police’s latest actions and view this as yet another attempt by your government to intimidate Malaysian citizens from participating in any form of public assembly.
We demand that all those arrested be released immediately and unconditionally. We further demand that your government stop the assault on freedom of assembly and all forms of criticisms.
With this relentless attack on freedom of assembly, despite your rhetoric on your willingness to reform the police force, you have demonstrated the traits of an iron-clad ruler, with no regards whatsoever for basic human rights standards.
We strongly urge you, once again, to stop bringing shame to Malaysia, a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council. We would like to remind you that freedom of assembly is guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights as well as the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.
Yours sincerely,
Name]
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Best regards,
MoonHui
Coordinator
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
012-7209981 / 03-77843525