Archive for the 'International' Category

Asian NGOs Network on National Human Rights Institutions

Published on September 19, 2008 in International and Solidarity. 0 Comments

Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman
Chairman
Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
29th Floor, Menara Tun
Razak, Jalan Raja Laut
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel. + 603 2612 5600
Fax. + 603 2612 5620

15 September 2008

Dear Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman,

The Asian NGOs Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI) writes to you today regarding the arrests of Mr. Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Ms. Tan Hoon Cheng, and Ms. Teresa Kok on 12 September 2008. All three were arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Mr. Raja Petra Kamaruddin was arrested at around 1:10 pm from his home in Sungai Buloh allegedly by police personnel from Bukit Aman. Mr. Raja Petra Kamaruddin is the founder of the website Malaysia Today. The reason for his arrest is allegedly because he posted articles ridiculing Islam and Muslims in his website.

Ms. Tan Hoon Cheng, a journalist, was arrested at around 8:30 pm from her home in Bukit Mertajam. She had previously written an article reporting the racist statements of Mr. Ahmad Ismail, a member of the ruling party, United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). She reported Mr. Ahmad Ismail making a statement that Chinese Malaysians are “squatters” in the country.

Ms. Teresa Kok, a Member of Parliament, was arrested at around 11:18 pm as she was making her way back to her apartment. Ms. Teressa Kok had been reported recently to have claimed that she had requested the mosque officials of Kota Damansara, Sri Serdang, and Puchong Jaya to tone down the call to prayer. She has, however, denied that she had made such a request. In addition, the mosque officials in question also denied that they ceased sounding of the call to prayer because of any pressure from Ms. Teresa
Kok.
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Use of ISA by Malaysian Government violation of Malay Constitution, ASEAN Charter, and International Law

Published on September 19, 2008 in International and Solidarity. 0 Comments

Press Statement
by People’s Empowerment
16 September 2008

The arrest of two journalists and one Member of Parliament over the past weekend under the Internal Security Act (ISA) by Malaysian authorities, is in gross violation of the Malay Constitution, ASEAN Charter and international human rights norms, explained Chalida Tajaroensuk, Director of People’s Empowerment in a statement released today.

“The ISA is intended to combat serious threats to public security, not political intimidation” said Ms. Tajaroensuk, in light of the detention of Raja Petra Kamar, Tan Hoon Cheng, and Teresa Kok. While Ms. Cheng has subsequently been released, Mr. Kamar and Ms. Kok remain in detention, deprived of access to family or legal representation.

All three were detained under Section 73(1) of the ISA based on “reasonable cause to believe that they were acting in a manner prejudicial to the security of Malaysia” reports stated. However, government sources have failed to clarify what threat, if any, the three posed.
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BARISAN INDONESIA* *UNTUK HAK SIPIL DAN POLITIK* *ASIA TENGGARA

Published on September 19, 2008 in International and Solidarity. 0 Comments

BARISAN INDONESIA*

*UNTUK HAK SIPIL DAN POLITIK*

*ASIA TENGGARA*

*Sekretariat: INSTITUT STUDI ARUS INFORMASI*

*Jalan Utankayu 49, Jakarta Timur 13120*

*Telepon: +62-21-85911830, Fax: +62-21-8567811*

*Email: office@isai.or.id *

*Yang terhormat*

*Bapak Dato’ Seri Syed Hamid*

*bin Syed Jaafar Al**bar*

*Menteri Dalam Negei*

*Blok D2, Parcel D.*

*Pusat Pertadbiran*

*Kerajaan Persekutuan*

*62546 Putrajaya*

*PERNYATAAN:*

*”STOP PENGGUNAAN ISA UNTUK/ :/*

*(1) PENINDASAN PERS (2) PENEKANAN POLITISI PRO-DEMOKRASI DAN (3) TINDAKAN KEKERASAN TERHADAP PARA AKTIFIS SOSIAL DAN HAM MALAYSIA”*

Kami /Barisan Indonesia Untuk Hak Sipil dan Politik Asia Tenggara/ mengutuk dan memprotes keras Pemerintah Malaysia atas penangkapam dan penahanan jurnalis serta politisi yang dilakukan pada 12 September 2008 terhadap:

1. Raja Petra Kamaruddin, editor portal /Malaysia Today/ (www.m2day.org )

2. Tan Hoon Cheng, jurnalis /Sin Chew Jit Poh/

3. Teresa Kok, anggota parlemen

Kami prihatin bahwa Pemerintah Malaysia masih menggunakan undang-undang yang represif yakni /Internal Security Act /(ISA – UU Keamanan Dalam Negeri) untuk membungkam pers, menekan politisi pro-demokrasi dan para aktifis sosial dan HAM di Malaysia.
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US slams Malaysia for using harsh law against foes

Published on September 19, 2008 in International and News. 0 Comments

The Associated Press , Washington | Fri, 09/19/2008 8:11 AM | World

The United States strongly criticized Malaysia’s government Thursday for its use of a harsh security law to justify the arrests of opposition figures.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack referred in a special statement to a possibility that the law might be used again by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s government to quell dissent.

“The United States views with grave concern recent use by the government of Malaysia of the Internal Security Act and the possibility that it might be used again to detain opposition political figures,” McCormack said. “The statement by a government figure that a leading member of the opposition had become ‘a threat to the economy and national security’ is extremely troubling.”
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