malaysiakini: Release PSM political detainees immediately.... b S. Arutchelvan

Release PSM political detainees immediately

S.Arutchelvan
Jul 6, 11
4:44pm

Stop the charade and release the remaining six PSM political detainees immediately.

The six PSM leaders are now being detained without trial under the draconian Emergency Ordinance - the Other ISA.

Till now, they have been denied access to legal representatives and family visits. We are worried for their safety and their well being.

We demand their immediate unconditional release.

The charade by the Najib administration:

• First the 30 were arrested on 25th June and remanded the following day under Section 122 of the Penal Code for the charge of waging war against the King. 

• On 26th June 2011, The Police paraded several T-shirts of former MCP leaders and PSM Newspapers as subversive elements and said PSM was trying to revive the MCP.

• On July 2nd, the end of the remand period, the police released six of the detainees including Dr Jeyakumar - PSM Member of Parliament, M Saraswathy - Party's National Deputy Chairperson , Choo Chon Kai - Central Committee Member and three others from all charges under Section 122 but they were immediately rearrested under the draconian Emergency ordinance.

• The six were initially given family notification letters which stated that they have been arrested under the EO to prevent them from participating in the July 9 Bersih rally. This was replaced later by another which stated that they have been arrested under the EO to maintain public order. In the media, the Deputy IGP said that those arrested under EO were subversives with links to foreign elements. The script kept changing.

• For the remaining 24, the police asked another seven days extension under the same Section 122 - 'waging war against the King' in spite of key leaders of PSM been cleared from the same allegation a few hours before that. The police requested seven days stating that they have a list of things to do including holding an ID parade. The court gave them another three days.

• But in the three days, there was no ID parade or any other investigation. Those detained were just languishing in their lock-ups.

• On July 4th 2011, at 4pm - when the banks were be closing(making bail processing impossible) , the 24 were charged now NOT under 122 but under Section 48 and Section 43 of the Societies Act; and section Section 29 (1) of the Internal Security Act for being in possession of subversive documents.

Bail was set at RM8,000 each which means RM192,000 in total.

In the charge sheet, it is stated that the illegal organisation is Bersih though the PSM campaign ended on June 26 before Bersih was banned by the home minister while the subversive documents were leaflets on Bersih's eight demands.

Now these 24 are not charged for the PSM "Udahlah Bersaralah" leaflet nor were they charged for having possession of T-shirts of MCP leaders and other T-shirts.

Udahlah...end the charade now.

PSM would also like to categorically state that PSM will not compromise on the release of the six for supporting the Bersih rally on the 9th.

The rally is the right of the rakyat in a democratic society to exercise their freedom of assembly and expression.

PSM calls upon the immediate and unconditional release of the EO Six.

Their continued detention is a violation at the highest level by a corrupt and cowardly government.

S.Arutchelvan is PSM Secretary General.

malaysiakini: The pungent smell of racism -- R Kengadharan

The pungent smell of racism

R Kengadharan
Apr 2, 10
3:52pm

The word racism makes you perspire causing a mighty cyclone and leaving a trail of devastation. It will cause you to make unprecedented moves and often invites you to traverse through unchartered jurisdictions and territories. In many states, racism is state-orchestrated, potentially encouraging prejudice and bias where the minority have no equal opportunities creating a backward society.

In some countries, the government maintains a policy of positive discrimination that favours one ethnic group where preferential treatment is granted for education, employment, scholarships, businesses, discounted housing, financial assistance, special saving schemes and state-engineered policies all to uplift a specific race. This would certainly leave many gasping in disbelief how racism has become an integral part of governance.

Undoubtedly, racism has created constant controversies. Despite being unpopular, there are leaders and governments who sympathise with it and continue stirring communal passions regardless of the consequence and refuse to shy away.

There is now a need to make amends, openly admit mistakes laced with a sincere apology which will not make the state or government vulnerable but instead allow them to gain popular acceptance. It is therefore grossly unfair to maintain and harbour the old system of governance based on race. We require a credible action plan to solve the woes brought about by racism.

To embark on this road we require a new recipe. Before we could shape newer ideas that may be socially acceptable, those who presently propel governance must quit feeding on the racist ideas they breed. On halting this, we can then think about fundamental changes. Getting it right is important. 

Social injustices fueled and driven by racism will provoke violence and aggression. Therefore we must engage in an uncompromising assault on it.

We therefore need to appeal to the community that there is a need to go beyond race-based politics. If we continue to support race-based politics, it will be nearly impossible to overcome divisions within the civil society. We therefore require a more concerted effort to overcome these barriers and selfish thinking all with a view to creating a common identity.

In this process, the state and a responsible and accountable leadership must not be capricious but must take concerted effort to eliminate:

1. All policies of positive discrimination that favour one ethnic group, policies which have failed to promote racial harmony and economic equality;

2. Preferential treatment in education, employment, scholarships business, special saving schemes and special discounts etc;

3. Any government policy and rulings based on ethnicity, cultivating racial polarisation, undermining racial and social unity, breeding extremism or based upon ethnic boundaries and must be announced as unconstitutional;

4. All race-based political parties. Any political party restricting membership on grounds of race and religion should be outlawed and the state constitution must reflect that.

Unless we are prepared to weather the storm, these dilemmas may remain irreversible for years to come. Those who enjoy the fruits of racism will relentlessly advocate for it's continued maintenance and preservation even it means crippling a decent system of democracy.

They are none other then traitors on the prowl ploughing over the harvest of others with indiscriminate and inhuman policies as they fear healthy competition. They are a liability to the state and leadership.

The writer is a former ISA detainee.