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INDONESIA

Joint Solidarity Statement and Action on July 1^st on 09:00-12:00 in front of Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia

Release all those detained and Stop on-going crackdown on Malaysian Socialists
Stop repressing democratic rights of Malaysian People!

Bebaskan mereka yang ditahan dan Hentikan Kekerasan terhadap kaum Sosialis Malaysia
Hentikan Represi terhadap Hak-hak demokratik rakyat Malaysia!

To:
Prime Minister of Malaysia. Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak.
Kepada Perdana Menteri Malaysia: Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak.

Cq.
Malaysian Ambassador in Jakarta.
Duta Besar Malaysia di Jakarta.

We are protesting to you, to express our outrage and our strongest condemnation over your government’s on-going crackdown and the arrest of the 30 PSM (Socialist Party of Malaysia) activists.

Kami memprotes anda untuk menyatakan kemarahan dan pengutukan kami atas kekerasan dan penangkapan yang dilakukan pemerintahan anda saat ini terhadap 30 aktivis Partai Sosialis Malaysia.

We are appalled by your government and the police’s latest actions and view this as an attempt by your government to intimidate Malaysian citizens from exercising their civil and political rights.

Kami sangat terganggu oleh tindakan yang dilakukan pemerintahan dan kepolisian anda beberapa waktu terakhir dan memandangnya sebagai upaya untuk mengintimidasi warga Malaysia dalam menjalankan hak-hak sipil dan politiknya.

We are considering important to uphold the protection of the right of Malaysian people, civil organizations, and political parties to exercise their freedom of expression and ideology as very basic human right.

Kami menganggap penting untuk menegakkan perlindungan hak-hak rakyat Malaysia, organisasi sipil dan partai politik untuk menjalankan kebebasan berekspresi dan berideologi sebagai hak azasi manusia paling mendasar.

We reject and condemn the violence and harassment conducted by the Police of Malaysia toward women activists who are being detained and intimidation by UMNO’s thugs to the family of all detained activists.

Kami menolak dan mengutuk kekerasan dan pelecehan yang dilakukan oleh Kepolisian Malaysia terhadap para aktivis perempuan yang sedang ditahan dan intimidasi oleh preman-preman UMNO terhadap keluarga semua aktivis yang sedang ditahan.

We further demand that your government:
Kami lebih lanjut menuntut pemerintahan anda:

Stops the assault on freedom of expression and release all the 30 PSM Activists immediately and unconditionally.
Menghentikan pelecehan dan pelanggaran kebebasan berekspresi dan membebaskan semua aktivis PSM segera dan tanpa syarat.
To stop all form of repression and intimidation against Malaysian people expressing their democratic rights.
Menghentikan semua bentuk represi dan intimidasi terhadap rakyat Malaysia dalam menjalankan hak-hak demokratiknya.

We support the call and campaign of Socialist Party of Malaysia “Udahlah-Bersaralah” (Enough- Retire) and we consider there is a political motivation behind the crackdown of Malaysian socialist activists by Malaysian government since PSM is currently leading the campaign. This national awareness campaign is in the framework to raise the people awareness and bring change to the next Malaysian election against the ruling anti democratic power UMNO-BN regime.
Kami mendukung seruan dan kampanye Partai Sosialis Malaysia “Udahlah-Bersaralah” (Cukup Sudah-LEngserlah) dan kami menganggap terdapat motivasi politik dibelakang represi para aktivis sosialis Malaysia oleh pemerintahan Malaysia karena PSM saat ini memimpin kampanye tersebut. Kampanye penyadaran nasional ini dalam rangka membangkitkan kesadaran rakyat untuk melakukan perubahan pada pemilu Malaysia mendatang melawan rejim penguasa anti demokrasi UMNO-BN.

We consider the use of Malaysian draconian Penal Code section 122 (waging the war against the Monarch and trying to revive the communist ideology) against the activists is a typical and outdated anti democratic war against the freedom of expression and ideology.
Kami menganggap penggunaan pasal 122 hukum pidana anti demokrasi Malaysia (mengenai perang melawan Monarki dan upaya menghidupkan ideology komunis) terhadap para aktivis merupakan perang tipikal dan usang yang anti demokrasi melawan kebebasan ekspresi dan berideologi.

We realize that democracy as a basic right of all people in the world will only be achieved by the struggle of the people themselves, not by the will of ruling class and the elites but by relying on the power of the unity and self-organization of the people themselves.
Kami menyadari bahwa demokrasi sebagai hak dasar semua rakyat di dunia hanya akan tercapai oleh perjuangan rakyat sendiri, tidak oleh niat kelas penguasa dan para elit namun dengan mengandalkan pada kekuatan persatuan dan organisasi rakyat mandiri.

Our solidarity for the ongoing struggle for democracy and welfare by all socialist activists and people of Malaysia.
Solidaritas kami pada perjuangan untuk demokrasi dan kesejahteraan oleh semua kaum sosialis dan rakyat Malaysia.

Jakarta, 1^st July 2011

We are the undersigned:
Kami yang mendukung:

1. Political Committee of the Poor- People’s Democratic Party (KPRM-PRD)
2. Reorganize Committee - Working People Association (KPO - PRP)
3. Union of Politic of the Poor (PPRM)
4. Across Factory Labor Forum (FBLP)
5. Women Mahardhika (Perempuan Mahardhika)
6. Centre of Student Movement for National Liberation (PEMBEBASAN)
7. Bingkai Merah

… please email to zely.ariane[at] gmail.com to add your name/organization if you’d like to support this solidarity statement (silahkan email ke zely.ariane[at] gmail.com sebagai konfirmasi untuk menambahkan nama/organisasi anda jika anda mendukung pernyataan solidaritas ini)

***

KPRM-PRD

SOLIDARITY SUPPORT IN ENSURING THE SAFETY & THE RELEASE OF THE 30 PARTY SOCIALIST MALAYSIA ACTIVISTS

Political Committee of the Poor (KPRM) Indonesia give our fullest support for immediate release of 30 PSM activists who had been arrested and detained under Penal Code 122 ( waging war againts the Agung ) since last Saturday (25^th June) as they were taking part in the campaign “Udahlah ...Bersaralah BN...” (Enough ...Retire). We are agree that this arrest as part of the government crackdown of Bersih* rally and demonise the PSM activists. From news updates we’re following from PSM facebook two hours ago, the detainees family under attack from UMNO (the rulling party) thugs.

From the news released by comrade Kohi, the police are treating the detainees very badly where women detainees complained to lawyer of being kicked and punched. Also police are taking video of women detainees changing clothes and ask women detainees to change when male police are present. Also, police are denying

OUR SOLIDARITY SUPPORT FOR DETAINED 30 PSM ACTIVISTS IN PENANG.
Only determined struggle will win! Our fullest support for your struggle and consistency.

Zely Ariane
International Affairs KPRM-PRD Indonesia

*It is a campaign to create awareness and to rally the people to make changes and also to promote the BERSIH Rally on 9/7/2011.

***

PRP

STATEMENT OF WORKING PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION (PRP)
ON THE CRACKDOWN OF MALAYSIAN SOCIALISTS
No.: 363/PS/KP-PRP/e/VII/11

On June 25^th officials and members of Socialist Party Malaysia (PSM) was detained at Kepala Batas, Penang while they were distributing leaflets to inform the public in their campaign “Udahlah-Bersaralah” (It is Enough, Time to Retire) national awareness campaign.

Accusation against them: Waging war against the king and attempt to revive communism.

Ground for accusation: t-shirts of left leaders found in the bus carrying the PSM activists.

PSM is a respectable party, not only in Malaysia but also among the global community. Through PSM the working people in Malaysia voice their demands. And PSM has been truthfully defend and fight for these demands through their exercise of freedom of expression and other justified actions. Because of their consistency in defending the voice of the voiceless PSM has won the heart and mind of many working people. The very existence of PSM in Malaysia is also unquestionably legal for the party is registered and acknowledged by the state in 2008. However, the ruling regime (the UMNO – BN) has managed to pervert reason and – with wide array of media at their disposal - to twist informations in order to create black propagandas against PSM and, therefore, the working people.

It is clear as daylight that the accusation against PSM is a desperate attempt by the ruling regime to shut down the struggle of the honest working people of Malaysia. Since the neoliberal Malaysian regime cannot comply with the demands of PSM or provide a solid reasonable argument to counter the campaign of PSM, they are using blatant lies. If that’s not enough they will soon resort to violence. Such method is not uncommon among oppressing capitalist states. The history is full of similar sad – if not humiliating – stories.

We, the Indonesian Working People’s Association (PRP Indonesia) refuse to forget history. We will never forget that the proponent of capitalism and/ or neoliberalism represented by the ruling class will always utilize the perversion of reason, intimidation and – finally – violence to defend their unquenchable thirst of libidinal lust and to oppress the working people who stand in their way.

Through this open letter we express our outrage and our strongest condemnation over the arrest of and the government’s accusation against officials and members of PSM.

We demand the Malaysian government to immediately stop the assault on freedom of expression of the working people and to release the arrested officials and members of PSM!

We urge Indonesia government as the head of ASEAN for 2011 to make a positive engagement to ensure the realization of commitment from the last ASEAN People Forum toward democracy and human rights.

We call network of people’s movement of the south to be in unity and solidarity to help our comrades in Malaysia to be free from repression and intimidation and successfully get their true democracy and freedom.

Jakarta, July 1, 2011

In solidarity,

Central Commitee - Working People’s Association
(KP-PRP)
National Chairperson
Secretary-General

ttd.
(Anwar Ma’ruf)

ttd
(Rendro Prayogo)

Contact Persons:
Anwar Ma’ruf – National Chairperson
Irwansyah – National Vice Chairperson

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Philippines

JOINT SOLIDARITY STATEMENT FOR THE DETAINED ACTIVISTS IN MALAYSIA

We, the undersigned organizations, join the worldwide condemnation of the Malaysian authority’s arrest and detention of 30 members of the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM). The detained PSM members include minors and women who were reportedly ill-treated and confined in small detention rooms, with nonfunctional basic facilities like comfort rooms, drinking water and lighting. Also, among those detained is a Filipino national who is in Malaysia to attend the PSM’s Congress and a Korean National who is attending an NGO program.

The PSM members were arrested and detained while having a purely peaceful and pro-genuine elections activity, which is distributing leaflets to inform the public of their campaign Udahlah-Bersaralah (It is Enough, Time to Retire) – a national awareness campaign that PSM recently conducted from 24 to 26 June 2011. They are subsequently charged with waging war against the Monarch and reviving the communist ideology, mainly based on the confiscated t-shirts with printed images of Left leaders.

It is important to note that PSM is a registered and popular Legal Party organization in Malaysia, and is successful in its engagements in the electoral struggle and in winning seats in the parliament. It is so dim-witted for the Malaysian authorities to associate the PSM with the Communists based on T-shirts, when in fact the Malaysian government is maintaining political and diplomatic relations with the Communist Parties of China, Vietnam, Cuba and others. Moreover, the Malaysian government has already signed a Peace Agreement with the Malaysian Communist Party (MCP) in 1989.

These draconian actions of the Malaysian authorities constitute a blatant suppression of the civil and political rights of its citizens and legal organizations. It is a culpable violation of the internationally recognized freedom of expression - a right guaranteed by Article 10 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.

The jurassic red-scare tactic waged by the Malaysian authorities is meant to discredit the PSM and its campaigns which were gaining large following among the Malaysian populace. It is clear that this red-scare attack is a systematically planned campaign geared towards creating an imaginary emergency environment to justify crackdown among dissenters. An undemocratic tactic often employed by desperate governments.

Thus, we are in unison with the call for the Malaysian authorities to:

1. Release immediately all PSM members without conditions.

2. Stop the suppression of the Civil and Political Rights of the Malaysian populace.

3. Stop the systematic red-scare attacks against progressive organizations.

4. Release immediately the Filipino and Korean nationals.

Signed

• International Institute for Research and Education–Manila (IIRE-Manila), a pluralist Asia-Pacific center for Research and Education in service to all progressive forces in Asia.

• Interfaith Movement for Peaceful and Clean Elections (IM4PEACE), a Mindanao-based network for genuine people’s participation in electoral reforms and good governance.

• Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement (MPPM), an alliance/network/coalition of more than 100 grassroots organizations and academe, united under the common struggle for justpeace in Mindanao, Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-tawi, Palawan.

• Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan para sa Karapatang Pantao (AMKP), a multi-sectoral human rights alliance of the Indigenous Peoples, Bangsamoro and Migrant Settlers in Cotabato and Maguindanao.

• Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (LAHRA), a multi-sectoral human rights alliance of the Bangsamoro and Migrant Settlers in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.

• Kilusang Maralita sa Kanayunan–Mindanao (KILOS KA), a Mindanao-based movement of small peasants, farm workers and rural poor united in the struggle for Food Sovereignty.

***

PLM

LET KA ROMY COME HOME! RELEASE THE 30 MALAYSIAN ACTIVISTS IN DETENTION!

Friday, 01 July 2011

Manila – Members of Partido Lakas ng Masa held another picket in front of the Malaysian Embassy today. PLM protested the arrest and detention of 30 pro-democracy activisits in Malaysia, including Romy Castillo, deputy general-secretary of PLM, who was in Malaysia for an exchange visit program with the Parti Sosialis Malaysia.

The wife of Romy Castillo, Tess Castillo, spoke at the picket and pleaded with the Malaysian embassy officials to press its government to release Romy and the 30 others.

Castillo was arrested on June 25 on charges of joining a pro-democracy rally, calling for free and genuine elections. He was taken, together with several others, from a bus en route to the supposed rally site. He was released on bail.

Yesterday, Castillo was detained at the Kuala Lumpur immigration office and was not allowed to board his flight to Manila. The immigration authorities later said that they were deporting him via Malaysian airlines 840. But instead of bringing him to the plane, he was handcuffed and forcibly taken by the police to the Balai Police Sepang under IPD Sepang. The police took his passport and said they will have to verify if it is genuine. The police investigation is under Officer ASP Hairul (+60196664953).

PLM has already contacted the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Consul-General Renato Villa said the embassy wil follow up Ka Romy’s case. The matter has already been brought to the attention of the Commission on Human Rights and the Overseas Filipino Workers Affairs Office at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila.

If Ka Romy is not released soon, PLM vows to stage a bigger rally on Tuesday (July 5).

Partido Lakas ng Masa

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INDIA

Radical Socialist

Solidarity with Malaysian Socialists

Radical Socialist, India, condemns the attack on the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) or Socialist Party of Malaysia, launched by the government and ruling party thugs.

The history of Malaysia, in common with many countries of South East Asia, is full of aggressive anti-communism and anti-leftism. The independence of the country was followed by a British assisted monarchy being set up, and the smashing of the Communist Party of Malaysia. The MCP had been waging a war against colonial rule, but the Malayan upper classes were quite happy to adjust with the colonialists. The tin and rubber owners wanted the struggle against the MCP and its armed wing, the MNLA, to be called an emergency since if it was called a war they would not get compensation through insurance for any losses. So Malaysia had a 12 year long “Emergency” (1948-1960). The war was revived and carried on till 1989. In 1957, Malaysia got independence, and Tunku Abdul Rahman became the Prime Minister. He rejected peace talks under any meaningful terms with the MNLA. A series of anti-democratic laws were passed in the name of fighting communism. These included prohibition on criticisms of the monarchy, restrictions on political work by leftwing forces, and a blanket law against attempting to revive the communist ideology. The rulers finally signed a peace agreement with the MCP in 1989. However, the laws remain in the books.

The PSM is a registered political party, which has been carrying out open political work among the toiling people, and has had some successes, including in getting an MP elected to the parliament. In recent times, the PSM has been very active in campaigning against the UMNO-BN regime (United Malay’s National Organization) which has been in power since independence. In late June 2011 (24-26 June) its members, along with others, were involved in a Free and Fair Election campaign (Bershi-2) and they carried out a countrywide campaign Udahlah-Bersaralah (“It is Enough, Time to Retire”). As part of that, on the 25^th, many of the party’s cadres were distributing leaflets in Kepala Batas, Penang.

The police attacked them and arrested thirty of the activists, including 14 women and 2 minors. In all, across the country, some 96 activists connected to this campaign, including the above mentioned thirty, are reported to have been charged with waging war against the Monarch and trying to revive the communist ideology (Sec. 122 of the Penal Code). This charge carries a non-bailable tag, so they have been remanded in custody. According to news received by us, the arrested comrades have been subjected to systematic violation of rights, though, as normal, denied by the police. In particular, women have been subjected to atrocities, including being asked to change their clothes in front of male police.

The PSM and its allies had planned a public rally on July 9. The regime is claiming that it may use the Internal Security Act, since the proposed rally has an ostensible hidden agenda of destabilizing the state.

We condemn the attacks on the PSM. We extend our solidarity to the arrested comrades, and demand their release and withdrawal of all charges.
We demand strong action against the police for all violence and torture, including especially the sexual harassment of women in custody.

We demand the abrogation of anti-democratic laws including Section 122 of the Penal Code and freedom for working people to express their views.
We demand democratic and free elections in Malaysia.

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THAILAND

Rights rally at Malaysian embassy

A dozen human right activists rallied in front of the Malaysian embassy on Sathorn Road on Friday morning calling for the release of Malaysian MPs and activists who were arrested while camapaigning for clean and fair elections in their country.

The Thai activists including Try Arm Workers’ Cooperative, Turn Left Organisation, League of Liberal Thammasat for Democracy, Iskra Group, and People’s Empowerment Foundation handed over the open letter to the embassy after holding up banners in front of the embassy at 11.10 am.

The letter condemned the Malaysian govrnment’s “suppression” of Malaysian activists who were running a Free and Fair Elections Campaign (Bershi 2).

The Malaysian police said the campaigners, mostly members of the Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM), were waging war against the monarch. The charge carried a maximum punishment of a life sentence under section 122 of the Malaysian Penal Code.

The arrests where made gradually made since Sunday, with as many as a hundred people being rounded up, including an opposition MPs, accordingto protest leaders.

They deemed it harsh and unlawful as the use of symbols of the now-defunct communist party of Malaya should not be considered trying to overthrow of the Malaysian government since the defunct party had signed peace accord with the government in 1989.

Bershi is holding a demonstration on July 9, 2011 calling for 8-point demands to the Election Commission of Malaysia to ensure transparency in the coming election in Malaysia and for the public institutions to act independently, uphold laws, and protect human rights.

Vipar Daomanee, an activist from Thammasat University, said the detentions were irresponsible and the charge against the monarchy was a pretext similar to what had been happening in Thailand in the past several years.

Jitra Kotchadej, a unionist from Try Arm, said the situation in both Thailand and Malaysia was descending to dictatorship as it was in Burma.

“The Internal Security Act article 122 is similar to Thai lese majeste clause article 112. The people do not need these draconian laws,” said Ms Jitra.

Pimsiri Petchnamrob, a youth activist, said Asean has talked about promotion and protection of the Asean people’s human rights.

But the sweeping arrests showed the inclination towards suppression rather than accommodation of dissent voices, said Ms Pimsiri.

The activists said they needed to come out in force as the PSM members who were arrested had shown solidarity to the Thai political activists who were arrested and tried due to the anti-government protest in April-May last year.

The embassy’s first secretary, Nazarudin Jaafa, received the letter.

Bangkok Post. Published: 1/07/2011 at 12:44 PM
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/244935/election-rally-outside-malay-embassy

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HONG KONG

Pioneer
P.O. Box 24286
Aberdeen Post Office,
Hong Kong.
June 30, 2011.

Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak,
Prime Minister of Malaysia,
Prime Minister’s Office,
Main Block, Perdana Putra Building,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 Putrajaya , MALAYSIA
Tel: 603-8888 8000
Fax: 603-8888 3444
E-Mail: ppm pmo.gov.my

Dear Sir,

Re: Release all those detained and stop on- going crackdown on Malaysian socialists

We are writing to you, to express our outrage and our strongest condemnation over your government’s on-going crackdown and the arrest of the 30 PSM Activists.

We are appalled by your government and the police’s latest actions and view this as an attempt by your government to intimidate Malaysian citizens from exercising their civil and political rights

We further demand that your government stops the assault on freedom of expression and release all the 30 PSM Activists immediately.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Wong
On behalf of Pioneer, Hong Kong.

Cc To:

1. Inspector-General of Police
Tan Sri Ismail Omar,
Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia,
50560 Bukit Aman,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: +603 2262 6015
Fax: +603 2272 5613

2. Tan Sri Hasmy Agam,
Chairman,
Malaysian Human Rights Commission,
Level 11, Menara TH Perdana,
Jalan Sultan Ismail,
50250 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03 26125600
Fax: 03 26125620

3. Mr. Frank La Rue
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Fax: +41 22 917 9006
Email: freedex ohchr.or

4. Ms. Margaret Sekaggya,

Special Rapporteur on the situation on human rights defenders,
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Email: defenders ohchr.org, urgent-action ohchr.org

5. Christine Chung,
Human Rights Officer,
Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights,
Asia Pacific Section, Asia Pacific and Middle East Branch,
Field Operation & Technical Cooperation,
OHCHR- Palais Wilson,
United Nationas Office at Geneva,
CH-1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland.

Tel: +41 (0) 229289673
Fax: +41 (0) 22928 9018
Email: cchung ohchr.org

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SRI LANKA

NSSP

NSSP condemns strongly the arrest of 30 activists from Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) - including two juveniles- on the 25^th June at Kepala Batas, Penang.

They have been charged under the Section 122 of Penal Code (waging war against the Monarch and trying to revive the communist ideology) while they were distributing leaflets to inform the public of their campaign Udahlah-Bersaralah (It is Enough, Time to Retire), a national awareness campaign that PSM recently conducted from 24 to 26 June 2011.

They are accused to revive communism based on common t-shirts of left leaders found in the bus carrying the PSM activists and which are sold everywhere in the country. This tactic is commonly used to crackdown on activists.

The NSSP urges the police to release all detainees and leaves activists practice their legitimate freedom of expression.

The Section 122 of Penal Code should be abolished as it is used against citizen’s rights and freedom of expression. It is used to create a culture of fear among the population.

For the NSSP Dr Vickramabahu

29 June 11 Colombo, Lanka

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JAPAN

JRCL/NCIW

Protest Appeal against Violent Oppression on PSM activists.

We, JRCL and NCIW, two internationalist socialist organizations in Japan,
strongly condemn violent anti-democratic oppression by the Malaysian
authority against PSM activists on June 25 in Penang..

They were charged under Section 122 of the Penal Code (waging war against
the Monarch and trying to revive the communist ideology) and remanded 7
days..But activists of the PSM have been conducting legitimate national
awareness campaign. They ware only distributing their leaflets to people.

The accusation by the government and police is completely false and
baseless.

We demand the Malaysian government to release all the activists of PSM
immediately and unconditionally and abolish undemocratic Section 122 of the
Penal Code.

We are in solidarity with Malaysian people and PSM.

Japan Revolutionary Communist League
National Council of Internationalist Workers.

2011.July 1.

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AUSTRALIA

Socialist Action

Stop the crackdown on Malaysian socialists

Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak,
Prime Minister of Malaysia,
Prime Minister’s Office,
Main Block, Perdana Putra Building,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 Putrajaya , MALAYSIA
Tel: 603-8888 8000
Fax: 603-8888 3444
E-Mail: ppm pmo.gov.my
cc Mr. Frank La Rue, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression

Palais des Nations

Dear Prime Minister

Stop the crackdown on Malaysian socialists

I am writing to you on behalf of the Socialist Alliance in Australia, to express our members’ outrage and strongest condemnation of your government’s recent crackdown and the arrest of 30 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activists simply for participating in a peaceful bus tour of the country to express their political views.

Many of our members have met some of the PSM activists who have been detained, including MP Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj and PSM National Deputy Chairperson M. Sarasvathy, and respect them as outstanding world citizens and freedom fighters.

We are all appalled by your Government and its police force’s latest actions and view this as an attempt to prevent and intimidate Malaysian citizens from exercising their elementary civil and political rights. As the world has seen in Egypt and elsewhere, ordinary people are standing up for their democratic rights and attempts to deny them the right to exercise those rights only led to bigger and bigger mass protests.

We are deeply concerned at reports that Dr Jeyakumar and Ms Sarasvathy have had to be taken, under detention, to Penang General Hospital because of their health conditions. We are also outraged that friends and family were denied access to the remand hearing for these detainees.

We have communicated with Australian Members of Parliament, human rights activists and trade union leaders in Australia over this matter and they too share our outrage and concern about this matter. We will be closely following the reports about this case and keeping the Australian media, prominent persons and public informed of all progress.

Our Europe Office is doing the same with all our contacts within the European Union countries and you should expect to get messages of protest from those countries soon.

We demand that your government stops this assault on freedom of expression and release all the 30 PSM activists immediately.

Yours sincerely

Peter Boyle
National Convenor
Socialist Alliance (Australia) Socialist Alliance National Office: Phone: +61 2 8070 9331
Email: national_office socialist-alliance.org
Street address: C1.07, 22-36 Mountain St, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
Mailing address: PO Box A2323, Sydney South, NSW 1235

Pics of solidarity picket:
https://picasaweb.google.com/peter.g.boyle/FreeDrKumarFreeThePSM30

***

Australia Asia Worker Links

Rally in support of Malaysian labour activists

The Malaysian government is trying to manufacture a scare campaign around the Pro-Democracy Bersih rally planned for July 9 in Kuala Lumpur and is increasingly resorting to repression to try to prevent an expected huge attendance.

More than 90 activists have been charged under the Section 122 of the Penal Code (waging war against the Monarch and trying to revive the communist ideology). They were arrested on June 25 in Penang while distributing leaflets. Those found guilty can be punished with imprisonment for twenty years to life.

The Malaysian government is attempting to to frighten all pro-democracy activists, and in particular labour activists campaigning for wages and workers’ rights. The government wants to create an ”Emergency” environment which would provde it with an excuse to use the indefinite detention legislation (ISA), as well stop the Bersih rally on 9^th of July which is gaining momentum and mass support by the people.

The Socialist Party of Malaysia (at least 30 of their members have been arrested) and Malaysian labour activists have asked for support and solidarity worldwide. Free our comrades.

Melbourne Solidarity Rally Tuesday 5 July 12.30 - 1.30pm

Malaysian Airlines, Nauru House, corner Russell & Collins Street, Melbourne CBD

Drop the charges - Free the Malaysian labour activists - Defend the right to organise

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FRANCE

NPA

Paris, Tuesday 28 June

The NPA (New Anticapitalist Party – France) condemns strongly the arrest of 30 activists from Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) - including two juveniles- on the 25^th June at Kepala Batas, Penang.

They have been charged under the Section 122 of Penal Code (waging war against the Monarch and trying to revive the communist ideology) while they were distributing leaflets to inform the public of their campaign Udahlah-Bersaralah (It is Enough, Time to Retire), a national awareness campaign that PSM recently conducted from 24 to 26 June 2011.

They are accused to revive communism based on common t-shirts of left leaders found in the bus carrying the PSM activists and which are sold everywhere in the country. This tactic is commonly used to crackdown on activists.

The NPA urges the police to release all detainees and leaves activists practice their legitimate freedom of expression.

The Section 122 of Penal Code should be abolished as it is used against citizen’s rights and freedom of expression. It is used to create a culture of fear among the population.

For the NPA, Danielle Sabai

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INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS

Fourth International

Paris, Wednesday 29 June

The Fourth International was alerted that 30 activists from Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) have been arrested on the 25^th June at Kepala Batas, Penang.

They were distributing leaflets to inform the public of their campaign Udahlah-Bersaralah, a national awareness campaign that PSM recently conducted from 24 to 26 June 2011. PSM members were just exercised their citizen’s rights and freedom of expression.

They have been charged under the Section 122 of Penal Code as they are accused to revive the communist ideology.

This Section of the Penal Code is a shame for a country that pretends to be a democracy. It is used to create a fear among the population and to restrain political activities that not suit the ruling power.

The 30 PSM activists has been arrested because they were in possession of common t-shirts of left leaders which are sold everywhere in the country. Beyond this ridiculous police operation, it is a common tactic used to crackdown on activists.

The Fourth International urges the police to release all activists arrested.

The Section 122 of Penal Code must be abolished as it is used against citizen’s rights and freedom of expression.

FI Bureau

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