Venue : Taman D.R. (note change of venue from earlier City Hall)
Date : 9th November 2008, Sunday
Time : 8.00 pm
Map

Time: 8pm
Date: Sunday, 12th October, 2008

Come one, come all. Please bring along your own candles (red & yellow) & wear your RPK t-shirts. T-shirts will be available for sale on-site subject to stock availability. Let’s show our support to RPK & family, and all of the ISA detainees.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi came face to face with at least 40 activists calling for the repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the release of all detainees under the law.

A visibly amused Abdullah shook hands and greeted the activists at the Hari Raya open house in PWTC hosted by him and his cabinet ministers.

Abdullah was smiling throughout as he shook hands and exchanged small talk with the activists, as his jittery bodyguards looked on.

“He asked how I was and remembered we met in August,” said blogger and lawyer Haris Ibrahim.

“I replied by saying ‘Please, please, please, please, please abolish the ISA.”

Haris led a group of about 20 bloggers who wore T-shirts bearing ‘No to ISA’ and ‘Free RPK’ in reference to the two-year ISA detention of Raja Petra Kamaruddin.

These activists were soon followed by another bigger group from Hindraf – numbering some 200 and wearing bright orange T-shirts – who had wanted to deliver the same message to the premier.

However this second group’s effort was hindered by police who insisted that only a small number of them can be allowed to meet the prime minister up close. Subsequently about 20 of them met up with the premier.

Forgiveness

Led by K Shanti, the wife of Hindraf leader in exile P Waythamoorthy, the group handed Abdullah a teddy bear bouquet and a large Hari Raya card.

“I asked him when my husband could come back safely and he replied ‘so you are the chairperson’s wife’. He said that he would look into,” said Shanti.

Hindraf’s Hari Raya card however was badly torn after police tried to confiscate it at the entrance to PWTC. After a minor scuffle, the Hindraf activists managed to hang on to it.

“In the spirit of forgiveness during Aidilfitri celebrations, we wanted to express that the Indian Malaysians forgive him for sending Hindraf leaders to Kamunting,” added Shanti, when asked about the content of the card.

Both groups stressed that their activists did not eat any of the food offered during the event, which the government host annually, because their sole intention was to send a message to Abdullah.

I just read my husband’s article on www. malaysia-today.net No Holds Barred and was extremely upset and it made my heart so heavy reading what Pet wrote: “It costs RM8 to feed a dog according to the Malay Mail survey and only RM4.50 to feed ISA detainees…..

I feed my cats and fish premium food such as science diet and would never dream of feeding my pets the food that we are fed here. I actually stopped eating the food here after the first couple of days because it gave me diarrhea. A couple of nights ago I vomitted after eating the food and now I cannot even stand the sight or smell of the trays that they sent to our cell twice a day. I now survive on dates and plain bread…..”

Umno preparing food for 200,000 people for their Open House for the 1st day of Hari Raya and what would the cost be per head?

How can Muslims of high authority use this unIslamic law, the ISA, on people during the month of Ramadan (the holy month for Muslims), put them under such barbaric conditions and rehabilitate them according to their perverted standards. Where is the compassion, where is the humanity and most important of all, where is the love of mankind that Islam enjoins its followers to observe? Can someone please explain all this to me? I am really very confused. All I can see is hypocrisy and man’s inhumanity to man, not compassion, consideration and common decency.

Jakim is coming up with an Islamic rehabilitation program for my husband, it is a joke. Did they even understand what Pet wrote in the first place since it is in English? What he wrote was not anti-Islam. The use of the ISA on Pet is all politically motivated. He has taken on powerful people and since the Prime Minister is weak, he is unable to use the powers that are available to bring justice. This is the tragedy of our country. Let us work towards a change in government, one that is committed to abolishing the despicable ISA. We want Rule of Law not Rule by ISA.

I am in Kamunting today, staying the night so that I can be first in line to get into the prison. It pains the grandchildren, children and I to be without Pet on Hari Raya. We miss him and the joy that he brings to us each day.

Thanks for your support and prayers my family have received. We must continue this fight to free Pet and his friends under detention in Kamunting. “Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf, Zahir dan Batin.”

Love from Pet and Family

Anti-ISA vigil turns into peace march
Andrew Ong and Rahmah Ghazali | Sep 27, 08 8:05pm

About 2,000 people staged a peaceful march through the busy streets of Kuala Lumpur tonight calling for the abolishment of Internal Security Act and freeing detainees under the Act.

Initially, two separate groups – Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and coalition of NGOs led by the Writer Alliance For Media Independence (Wami) – had initially planned to hold a candlelight vigil at Dataran Merdeka at about 7.30pm.

When they came across a police cordon at Dataran Merdeka, the Hindraf-led group numbering about 500 decided to march to the temple opposite the Puduraya bus terminal about 1km away.

The crowd marched unhindered towards their destinations and gradually the crowd swelled to about 2,000 people from all walks of life, with many carrying candles.

The other group, which was in a procession holding Chinese lanterns, eventually joined up with the Hindraf group.

The police were caught off-guard by the huge turnout. Many media personnel had also remarked that the large crowd was unanticipated as past vigils had been small in number.

‘Tonight, we are the judges’

Shouts of “Mansuhkan ISA (Abolish the ISA)”, “Bebaskan Raja Petra (Free Raja Petra)” and “Hindraf Valga (Long live Hindraf)” were chanted by the marchers.

Eventually, the crowd gathered at the temple compound where several individuals addressed the crowd with highly charged speeches.

Hindraf national coordinator R Thanenthiran said that government should heed the protesters’ demands to free ISA detainees.

“The Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar should listen to us. He alone cannot decide what is best for the country. Tonight, we the people, are the judges,” he said.

anti isa dataran merdeka 270908 02Later, Teluk Intan MP M Manogaran told the crowd that a large gathering is being planned to commemorate the first anniversary of the ISA arrest of five Hindraf leaders currently held in the Kamunting Detention Camp.

“We will keep holding gatherings until all ISA detainees are released,” he said.

Festive atmosphere

Meanwhile, the crowd was peaceful throughout and a festive atmosphere permeates in the air.

Several supporters of detained blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin were also at hand to sing ‘Happy Birthday Raja Petra’ as today was his birthday.

anti isa dataran merdeka 270908 thanenthiranBy 9pm, protest leaders dispersed the crowd. There were no reports of untoward incidents.

Hindraf national coordinator Thanenthiran later told reporters that the march tonight was proof that Malaysians can gather peacefully in order to express themselves.

“If the police follows the law, we can do the same,” he said.

In a statement immediately after the crowd dispersal, Hindraf leader-in-exile P Waytha Moorthy thanked the police for allowing the march to proceed.

anti isa dataran merdeka 270908 05“The government should now accept that Malaysians have sent a loud and clear message that the use of the ISA cannot be tolerated,” he said.

Meanwhile, two visually blind participants told Malaysiakini at the scene why they took part in the march.

Ramli Abu Bakar, 51, said he has been supporting the anti-ISA movement ever since it was established because “the country has achieved independence and the act is nothing but a mediaeval law”.

anti isa dataran merdeka 270908 03“We have been independent for 51 years and why would we need such a legislation now?” asked Ramli.

Ramli’s friend, Kamal Abu Bakar, 48, echoed his views, saying that the government is “stupid for not abolishing ISA as it is no longer relevant”.

There were also supporters of Raja Petra who were in high spirits in showing their support to their idol on his birthday.

For Sampa Lee, 60, he said releasing Raja Petra and other detainees would be the best birthday gift the government could ever give to them.

“It would be the best present for Raja Petra and all Malaysians as we are all against the draconian law,” said Sampa.

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.

Ms. Tan Hoon Cheng was released at 4:15 pm on 13 September 2008. Mr. Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Ms. Teresa Kok are still under police custody and their whereabouts are unknown. We are extremely concerned about the safety of the two as numerous ISA detainees, past and present, have been subjected to physical and mental torture, inhuman and degrading treatment.

We also have information that Mr. Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Ms. Teresa Kok are being denied access to their lawyers. We have also gathered from our sources that the government of Malaysia has a list of persons who will be arrested under the ISA.

We would like to point out that under Section 4(2)(d) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act (1999), the SUHAKAM has the power “to visit places of detention in accordance with procedures as prescribed by the laws relating to the places of detention and to make the necessary recommendations.”

It is in this light that we strongly urge the SUHAKAM to use its power to visit detention places to ascertain the whereabouts of Mr. Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Ms. Teresa Kok, ensure their well-being and their right to access to legal counsel, and secure their release.

We would also like to point out that under the Paris Principles, a national human rights institution (NHRI) should have the responsibility to draw “the attention of the Government to situations in any part of the country where human rights are violated and making proposals to it for initiatives to put an end to such situations x x x.”

We therefore strongly urge the SUHAKAM to demonstrate that it is indeed in compliance with the Paris Principles and conduct investigations on the arrests of Mr. Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Ms. Tan Hoon Cheng, and Ms. Teresa Kok. Noting SUHAKAM’s previous recommendations against the use of the ISA, we also strongly urge the SUHAKAM to register its strongest condemnation towards the government for this series of arrests, and to secure an assurance from the government that no further arrests under the ISA will be made.

Finally, we strongly urge the SUHAKAM to proactively advocate the government of Malaysia to abolish the ISA for being in clear violation of international human rights law.

We sincerely hope that the SUHAKAM will take these events as an opportunity to show proof that it is indeed worthy of being accorded an “A” status by the International Coordinating Committee (ICC). We urge the SUHAKAM to demonstrate that it is truly a national human rights institution earnest in its pursuit to promote and protect human rights in the country.

We look forward to your response on this matter. Please email us at hrd@forum-asia.org or contact us at +66 2 653 2940 local 403.

Very truly yours,

Emerlynne Gil
Coordinator
Asian NGOs Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI)

CC:
Ms. Jennifer Lynch
Chairperson
International Coordinating Committee
Mr. Gianni Magazzenni
Office of the High Commission on Human Rights (OHCHR) – National Institutions Unit
Mr. Homayoun Alizadeh
Regional Representative
Office of the High Commission on Human Rights (OHCHR) – Southeast Asia
Mr. Kieren Fitzpatrick
Director
Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF)
Ms. Margaret Sekaggya
UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
Mr. Frank La Rue
UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression
The following are the members of the Asian NGOs on National Human Rights Institutions
(ANNI):
ADVAR – Iran
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) – Bangladesh
Asian Center for Human Rights (ACHR)
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
Cambodian League for Promotion and Defence of Human Rights (LICADHO)
Center for Human Rights and Development (CHRD) – Mongolia
Center for Organizing Research and Education (CORE)
Citizens’ Council for Human Rights Japan (CCHRJ) – Japan
Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence (KONTRAS) – Indonesia
Defenders of Human Rights Center – Iran
Education and Research Association for Consumer Education (ERA Consumer)- Malaysia
Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor (HKHR) – Hong Kong
Human Rights Organisation of Kurdistan
Indonesian Human Rights Monitor (IMPARSIAL) – Indonesia
Indonesian NGO Coalition for International Human Rights Advocacy (HRWG)-Indonesia
Informal Service Sector Center (INSEC) – Nepal
Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), Indonesia.
International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran – Iran
Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA) – Japan
Judicial System Monitoring Program (JSMP) – Timor Leste
Korea House for International Solidarity (KHIS) – Korea.
Law and Society Trust (LST) – Sri Lanka
Lawyers’ League for Liberty (LIBERTAS) – Philippines.
Maldivian Detainees Network (MDN) – Maldives
People’s Watch – India
Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) – Philippines
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) – Malaysia
Taiwan Association for Human Rights (TAHR) – Taiwan
The following are other organizations endorsing this letter:
International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID)
Mahila Sarvangeen Utkarsha Mandal (MASUM) – India
Migrant CARE – Indonesia
Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA)
Southeast Asian Committee for Advocacy (SEACA)
Tibetan UN Advocacy – Switzerland

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.

Use of draconian measures under the ISA are permitted only under the most grave threats to public security, and not for silencing legitimate political activity and protected free speech, People’s Empowerment explained. The reported publications by Mr. Kamar and Ms. Cheng are clearly protected under Article 10 of the Malaysian Constitution, establishing the right to free speech, while the reported charges against Ms. Kok, a popular member of the Democratic Action Party, have been publicly established as false.

As a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Malaysian government must uphold the principles of the ASEAN Charter, which it fully ratified earlier this year. Political use of the ISA by the Malaysian government is thus in clear breach of the principles of good governance, rule of law, and democracy repeatedly stated throughout the Charter.

In light of this grave breach, People’s Empowerment calls on the ASEAN Secretariat to take immediate action in order to secure the release of the remaining two detainees. Such violations of basic rights and norms, no longer remain a matter of “internal affairs” but affect all ASEAN member States.

“We can not remain indifferent to the persecution of civil society in any ASEAN State,” said Ms. Tajaroensuk. “Civil society across the region must take a stand to uphold rule of law and good governance in Southeast Asia”, explaining People’s Empowerments call for solidarity and support of the detained.

Press Statement (PDF)