Gerakan: Charge, if not release 6 PSM detainees
By theedgemalaysia.com | The Edge – Mon, Jul 18, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR: The Gerakan has called on the
government to release the six members of Parti Sosialis Malaysia
detainees if no offences have been committed by them.
Gerakan deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn said on Monday, July 18 that if the six had indeed committed offences, then they should be charged without delay.
“The continued detention and the uncertainty surrounding the whole episode will undermine the image of the government in the eyes of the world.
“The country upholds the Rule of Law and protection of fundamental human rights where anyone detained must be informed of the grounds of detention and shall be charged promptly if there are sufficient evidence to charge the person,” he said.
Chang, who is also Gerakan human rights and law bureau chief, said by keeping the people guessing without any satisfactory public explanation does not augur well for Malaysia's record in human rights protection.
“Waging an ideological campaign without the use of force or violence is not a heinous crime and shall not be treated as criminal. Thus a public statement on the circumstances leading to the arrest and detention of the six PSM detainees shall be made forthwith,” he said.
Today @ Malaysiakini:
PSM 6 released after 28 days in detention
The Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) 6 have been released today after they were detained since July 2 for undefined charges during the Bersih 2.0 crackdown.
It
is understood that the six
PSM members - Choo Chon Kai, Sarat Babu, M Sarasvathy, M Sukumaran, A
Letchumanan and Sungai Siput parliamentarian Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj - were released at 5.30pm at the Jinjang police
station, following public outrage and sustained protests over their
arbitrary detention.
Jeyakumar's vow to go on a hunger strike until the PSM 6 were released also put additional pressure on the police.
They were initially detained on suspicion of planning to wage war against the King but it was learnt that the charge was changed several times, at one point accusing them of being ringleaders of the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9.
Gerakan deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn said on Monday, July 18 that if the six had indeed committed offences, then they should be charged without delay.
“The continued detention and the uncertainty surrounding the whole episode will undermine the image of the government in the eyes of the world.
“The country upholds the Rule of Law and protection of fundamental human rights where anyone detained must be informed of the grounds of detention and shall be charged promptly if there are sufficient evidence to charge the person,” he said.
Chang, who is also Gerakan human rights and law bureau chief, said by keeping the people guessing without any satisfactory public explanation does not augur well for Malaysia's record in human rights protection.
“Waging an ideological campaign without the use of force or violence is not a heinous crime and shall not be treated as criminal. Thus a public statement on the circumstances leading to the arrest and detention of the six PSM detainees shall be made forthwith,” he said.
Today @ Malaysiakini:
PSM 6 released after 28 days in detention
The Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) 6 have been released today after they were detained since July 2 for undefined charges during the Bersih 2.0 crackdown.
It
is understood that the six
PSM members - Choo Chon Kai, Sarat Babu, M Sarasvathy, M Sukumaran, A
Letchumanan and Sungai Siput parliamentarian Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj - were released at 5.30pm at the Jinjang police
station, following public outrage and sustained protests over their
arbitrary detention.Jeyakumar's vow to go on a hunger strike until the PSM 6 were released also put additional pressure on the police.
They were initially detained on suspicion of planning to wage war against the King but it was learnt that the charge was changed several times, at one point accusing them of being ringleaders of the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9.
In a two-paragraph statement. issued to the media, inspector-general of police
Ismail Omar confirmed the release of the six from detention under the
Emergency Ordinance and said, “Following
their release, further action will be determined by the
attorney-general's chambers.”
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