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Release PSM political detainees immediately

Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM) Statement - July 5, 2011

Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM)
Malaysian protesters shift from streets to stadium - Associated Press. July 5, 2011
Malaysia's Anwar condemns arrests ahead of rally - Agence France Presse. July 3, 2011
PSM slams Deputy IGP over ridiculous accusations - Free Malaysia Today. July 3, 2011
Malaysian clerics label protesters extremists - Straits Times. July 2, 2011

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, was 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