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Release PSM political detainees immediately!

Statement 5th July 2011

Wednesday 13 July 2011

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Stop the charade and release the remaining 6 PSM’s political detainee 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 2011 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 6 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 6 were initially given family notification letter which stated that they have been arrested under the EO to prevent them from participating in the July 9 Bersih rally. This letter of notification was replaced later by another letter which stated that they have been arrested under the EO to maintain public order. In the media, the Publicity crazy 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 7 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 7 days stating that they have a list of things to do including ID parade. The court gave them another 3 days.

But in the 3 days, there were totally no ID parade or any other investigation. Those detained were just languishing in their lock-ups.

Yesterday, 4th July 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 RM 8,000 each which means RM 192,000 in total. In the charge sheet, it is stated that the illegal organization is BERSIH though PSM campaign ended on 26 June before BERSIH was banned by the Home Minister while the subversive documents were leaflets on BERSIH’s 8 demands. Now these 24 are not charged for 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 would not compromise the release of the 6 for supporting the BERSIH rally on the 9th. July. The 9th. BERSIH rally is the rights 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 6. Their continues detention is a violation at the highest level by a corrupt and cowardice Government.

Released by

S.Arutchelvan

Secretary General

You can show you solidarity by sending this letter to:

YAB Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak

Prime Minister, Malaysia

Office of The Prime Minister,

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

and to:

Tan Sri Ismail Omar

Inspector General Police

Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia,

50560 Bukit Aman,

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tel: +603 2262 6015

Fax: +603 2272 5613

rmp@rmp.gov.my

Dear Sir

We write to you concerning the detention of Member of Parliament Sungai Siput Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj and 29 members of the Parti Sosialis Malaysia who have been detained in Penang.

They have been charged for attempting to revive the Communist Party and waging war against the King. These are extreme charges especially when there is no shred of evidence to support this.

We understand that they are being held under deplorable conditions which are not acceptable especially when Malaysia sits on the UN Human Rights Council.

As such we urge your good self to intervene in this matter and seek your assistance to facilitate their immediate release.

Thank you for your attention in this matter.

Yours faithfully,

___________________
(Signature/Name)

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