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Sixteen arrested at a candlelight vigil near Dataran Merdeka

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) Urgent Appeal - September 5, 2009 (see sample letter below)

About 16 people, including former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee P Uthayakumar, were arrested at a candlelight vigil near Dataran Merdeka.

Those arrested are:

P. Uthayakumar (Ex ISA detainee), 46
Indrani.S
S. Jayathas
Shanti
Wyathanayagi
Mathavan, 28
Captain Bala
P. Ramesh, 38
Siva
Y. Mohan, 43
Nagendran, 37
S. Sivakumar
R. Mohan
K. Mohan
S. Vijayan, 43
N. Suresh, 23

The vigil, organised by rights group Hindraf, began with a march of a 100-strong crowd from nearby Masjid Jamek. However, before they could reach Dataran Merdeka, the crowd was confronted by two dozens police officers. All those arrested now being held in IPD Dang Wangi police station.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) condemns the continous arrest of by the police against the Malaysian public who have been practising their rights to assemble. We demand the police to immediately release all those 16 who have been arrested and respect the freedom of assembly which have been guaranteed under the Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.

Background

The vigil was organized to condemn the cow-head protest which happened in Shah Alam on the 28th August by the section 23 residents against the building of a Hindu temple in Section 23, Shah Alam.

Urgent actions needed:

Please write protest letters to the government and the police to express your strongest condemnation and outrage on the latest arrests and the ongoing crackdown on freedom of assembly and all form of dissent and criticisms. Please also demand the Malaysian government for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested today.

Your protest letters should be sent to:

1. Prime Minister of Malaysia

Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak,
Prime Minister
Prime Minister’s Office Malaysia,
Perdana Putra Building,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 Putrajaya,
Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: +603 8888 6000
Fax: +603 8888 3444
Email: ppm@pmo.gov.my

2. 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

3. OCPD Zulkarnain, (019 6000288)
IPD Dang Wangi,
Polis Diraja Malaysia,
Jalan Stadium,
50150 Kuala Lumpur.
No. Tel: 03 2070 2222
No. Faks: 03 2032 3237

Sample letter

(Your Organization Letterhead)

5th September 2009

Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak, Prime Minister
Prime Minister’s Office Malaysia,
Perdana Putra Building,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 Putrajaya,
Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: +603 8888 6000
Fax: +603 8888 3444
Email: ppm@pmo.gov.my

Prime Minister,

Re: Release all those 16 Individuals Arrested at Peaceful Vigil

We are writing to you to register our strongest condemnation and protest against the arrest of 16 individuals in a vigil near Dataran Merdeka.

We demand that all those arrested to be released immediately and unconditionally. We also reiterate our condemnation towards the repeated crack down by the police against the Malaysian citizen. We demand thegovernment to repeal of Sections 27A, 27B and 27C of the Police Act which give power to the police to stop or disrupt public assemblies or gatherings in private premises.

We strongly urge the Government to respect and uphold the spirit of the Malaysian Federal Constitution and international human rights law which allows for freedom of assembly and expression.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely yours,

[Name]