Thirty-one organizations spoke out against the defamation suits by the New Straits Times Press berhad (NSTP), against blogger Ooi Chuan Aun and Ahiruddin Attan, or Jeff Ooi and Rocky's Bru as they are popularly known, in a joint statement released today.

The organizations called the NSTP to withdraw their law suits and urged the government to reform the defamation law to protect freedom of expression.

They range diversely from media advocacy, human rights, womens' rights, housing and consumers' rights, cultural, artists', environmental, students' and indigenous people groups to opposition parties.

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI) initiated the statement on Jan 19.

The list is not exhaustive and endorsement is still open until after Jeff's court hearing on the 30th this month. CIJ and WAMI will be publishing a definite list after the hearing.

The joint statement is so far endorsed by;

• Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
• Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
  
• Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
  
• Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat (KOMAS)
  
• Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
  
• Charter Aliran 2000
  
• Sisters in Islam (SIS)
  
• KL-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (Youth Section)
  
• KL-Selangor Chinese Assemble Hall Civil Rights Committee
  
• Defend Press Freedom Society (New Era's College)
• Malaysian Youth and Democratic Movement (DEMA)
• Youth for Change (Y4C)
• Malaysian Voters Union
  
• Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC)
• Semparuti Iyakkam
• Bandar Mahkota Cheras's Open Access Road Committee
• Save Ourselves, Penang (SOS)
• Penang Consumer Protection Association
  
• Merdekareview.com
• Monitoring Sustainability of Globalization
• Coalition Against Water Privatization (CAWP)
  
• Persatuan Alumni Bahasa Tionghua Universiti Sains Malaysia, Selangor
  
• Blog Bugs
• Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM)
• Angkatan Muda Parti Keadilan Rakyat
  
• Persatuan Masyarakat Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)
• Borneo Resources Institute (BRIMAS)
• Artist Pro Active (APA)
• Labor Resource Centre
• Pesticide Action Network
• Research for Social Advancement (REFSA)