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AG drops charges on PSM30 including EO6 – is this the end of the charade?
Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM) Press Release - September 19, 2011
The details of the cases are Mahkamah Sesyen Butterworth di Pulau Pinang – Kes Tangkap no:62-106-07/11 PP v Nalayani A/P Raman & 23 lagi, Kes Tangkap no: 62-136-08/2011 PP v Micheal Jeyakumar Devaraj & 5 others (E06) and PP v Selvam a/l Sinniah (OKT 22) & Ragu a/l Selvam (OKT 23). All in all 30 people were charged and the hearing date was fixed between 10th till 14th. October this year.
The decision of the AG simply means that the charges are currently dropped but does not amount to acquittal which means that they can be charged on the same offence in the future. Nevertheless, PSM would like to thank all parties – the Bar Council and especially the Penang Legal Aid Centre for all their tireless work in doing the case FOC. We would like to compliment the great work done by Tn Haji Sulaiman Abdullah, Dato' CV Prabakaran, Ragunath Kesavan, Agatha Foo, Karen Lai, V.Parthipan, Sukhindar Singh, Rowena Nair, Ravi Chandran, Shien Shyong Tham and others in the legal team as well as staff of the Penang Legal Aid Centre and the KL Bar Council.
Also to the great fight put by many common people in Malaysia and all over the world, as well as the many organisations who pressured for the release of the 30. Also our appreciation to the many donors who help put forward the bail money which amounted to more than RM 200,000. This latest AG's decision to drop the charges is due to the efforts of many people who dared to fight oppression and who wanted to see Justice and democracy prevail in Malaysia. PSM salutes all these great warriors who without them, this release would not be possible.
While PSM is happy with this decision but we seek justice and answers. The AG office had merely given a DNAA (not a full acquittal). Let us not forget that the 30 were initially remanded for waging a war against the King under section 122 of Penal Code. That law remains and can be used arbitrarily against any other activist or movement in the future. On 4th. July 2011, after a 10 days remand, 24 of them were charged 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.
As for the EO6 – Dr. Jeyakumar-PSM Member of Parliament, M. Saraswathy - Party's National Deputy Chairperson, Choo Chon Kai - Central Committee Member, M. Sugumaran, Letchuman and Sarath Babu, they were released on 2ndJuly and were immediately rearrested under the draconian Emergency ordinance. They spend the next 28 days in solitary incarceration. Then they were released from the E0 detention on the 29 July and once again charged on the 3 August 2011. Has justice been done?
PSM would like to seek the reason why our buses in north and south were stopped at the same time on the 25th. June stating that there were weapons in the bus? Who is responsible for that and will they be charged? What about the two foreign guests who were arrested, detained and humiliated in the media, who is responsible for that? What about the news that PSM supporters plan to bomb the police station in Sungai Siput? Who made these allegations and will they be charged? What about the many more slander and slur thrown at us some mainstream media?
PSM calls upon the Prime Minister, the Home Minister as well as the Inspector General of Police to clarify and apologize for all that has happened. PSM would also seek a meeting with the Home Minister to highlight and seek clarification on some of these gross violations done to our comrades. The authorities must be held responsible for all the unfounded allegation, slander and unlawful arrest and detention.
Will the saga and charade end here? PSM will fight on and continue to seek justice on what has happened. The march for change and democracy will continue.
Long Life the People and Hidup Rakyat!
Released by:
S. Arutchelvan
Secretary General
Telephone: 019-2537791
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