Urgent Appeal: 17 July 2009

SUARAM has been informed that 5 activists have been arrested in relation to a protest at the Thai Embassy and handover of a memorandum entitled, “Memorandum Opposing the Brutality in Southern Thailand”.

The first 3 persons were arrested at Jalan Ampang at 2.30pm today as they were walking towards the Thai Embassy. They started off from Bangunan Tabung Haji and headed towards the Thai Embassy but as they passed by Balai Polis Jalan Tun Razak they were blocked by police and the 3 persons were arrested. The 3 persons will be brought to IPD Sentul.

Another 2 persons were arrested at Bangunan Tabung Haji at around 3.30pm. They are being brought to IPD Dang Wangi.

Those identified to be arrested in relation to the Thai Embassy protest are:

1.      Lee Song Yong (DEMA Secretary of National Affairs)
2.      Mohd Shafie
3.      Mohd Fiqtriey al-Haqimiey @ Kecik
4.      Farid Hamlut

In addition, 7 people were arrested this morning for protesting the death of a DAP political secretary in front of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Selangor office in Shah Alam. They are currently being held at IPD Shah Alam.

The 7 people arrested at MACC protest are:

1.      S. Manikavasagam (MP Kapar)
2.      Dr Xavier Jayakumar (ADUN Seri Andalas)
3.      Low Boon Keat
4.      Richard Yap
5.      Shaharuddin Abu Bakar
6.      Razak Ismail
7.      Selaiamblam

SUARAM condemns the police for their ongoing attacks and intimidation on freedom of expression and right to assembly, fundamental rights which are guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.
We demand the police to release the 12 individuals immediately and unconditionally. We also demand that police stop harassing Malaysians from exercising their rights to assembly and stop the assault on freedom of expression.

Released by,

Wong Chai Yi
Coordinator

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 of expression. Please also demand the Malaysian government for the immediate and unconditional release of all activists.

Your protest letters should be sent to:

1. OCPD IPD Dang Wangi
Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Dang Wangi
Polis Diraja Malaysia
Jalan Stadium
50150 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-20702222
Fax: 03-20323237

2. OCPD IPD Sentul
Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Sentul
Polis Diraja Malaysia
Jalan Ipoh
51200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-40422222
Fax: 03-40446653

3. OCPD IPD Shah Alam
Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Shah Alam
Polis Diraja Malaysia
Jalan Persiaran Damai
Seksyen 11
40000 Shah Alam
Selangor
Tel: 03-55102222
Fax: 03-55122073

4. 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

5. Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak,
Prime Minister of Malaysia,
Prime Minister’s Office,
Main Block, Perdana Putra Building ,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 Putrajaya , MALAYSIA
Tel : 603-8888 8000
Fax : 603-8888 3444
E-Mail: ppm@pmo.gov. my

SAMPLE LETTER

[Letterhead of your organization]

Prime Minister,

Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak,

Prime Minister’s Office,
Main Block, Perdana Putra Building ,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 Putrajaya , MALAYSIA
Tel : 603-8888 8000
Fax : 603-8888 3444

E-Mail: ppm@pmo.gov. my

Dear Sir,

Re: Release the 12 Individuals Arrested during Two Separate Protests

We are writing to you, once again, to express our outrage and our strongest condemnation over your government’s ongoing crackdown on freedom of expression.

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 exercising their freedom to express their views.

We demand that the 12 individuals should be released immediately and unconditionally. We further demand that your government stops the assault on freedom of expression.

We strongly urge you, once again, to stop bringing shame to Malaysia. We would like to remind you that freedom of expression and assembly is guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.

Yours sincerely,

[Name]