Repeal ISA, free all detainees PDF Print E-mail
Local Alerts
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) joins the Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (Movement to Abolish ISA - GMI) in condemning the continued detention of vocal blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for two years. CIJ is deeply concerned that the detention would have triple effects: sending a chilling message to other bloggers, preventing future whistleblowers from safely exposing a wrongdoing, and dampening the fervour of public discussion on critical issues.

 

Raja Petra was reportedly served a detention order for two years on the night of 22 September. He was taken to the Kamunting detention centre in the state of Perak on 23 September to begin his detention, joining other detainees such as the Hindraf leaders P. Uthayakumar, Ganapathy Rao and P. Waythamoorthy and 62 others.

 

CIJ protests the latest arrest, which is another clear abuse of an archaic law created by the colonialists to curtail militant communists who were threatening the colonial administration then, and apparently perpetuated by the present administration to safeguard its shaky position.

 

While CIJ applauds the recent release of journalist Tan Hoon Cheng and DAP assembly representative Teresa Kok, both of whom were arrested and detained for a brief period under the same draconian act, neither should have been detained in the first place, and nor Raja Petra, too, under this draconian law that allows for detention without trial.

 

Raja Petra, who gained infamy as the country's top blogger through his no-hold barred writings that were often directed against the country's top leadership, was already being investigated for sedition, another law that is overly broad and widely abused. But that charge will at least see him in court and grant him the right to defend himself.

Such drastic action by the government will only fuel speculation that his claims of wrongdoing in the upper echelons of power were hitting too close to home. CIJ urges all members of civil society to join GMI in calling upon the government to repeal the ISA and release all detainees or charge them in court. This is a clear abuse of a law that was meant to curtail militant communists and protect national security in that sense.

CIJ urges all members of civil society to join GMI in pressuring the government to repeal the ISA and release all detainees or charge them in court.

 

The Centre for Independent Journalism, Malaysia (CIJ) aspires for a society that is democratic, just and free, where all people enjoy free media and the freedom to express, seek, and impart information.

Ends

Issued by

Gayathry Venkiteswaran
Executive Director

For more information, please contact Wai Fong at 03 40230772.


 

 


 
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