URGENT APPEAL: 6 July 2011
MORE ARRESTS IN SPITE OF AUDIENCE WITH THE KING:
STOP THE CAMPAIGN OF INTIMIDATION AND HARRASMENT
OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS NOW!

Bersih 2.0 Related Arrests – http://geoblog.feedgeorge.com/Bersih/

Another 3 individuals were arrested early this morning for possession of Bersih 2.0 t-shirts. They were arrested at 3am this morning in USJ and are currently being detained in the USJ 8 police station.

The 3 are:

1. Fariz Musa
2. Juzarim Isamajunaidi
3. Yusof al Siddique Suratman

SUARAM is appalled that the continuing campaign of intimidation and harassment despite the intervention of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.

As of today, a total 179 people have been arrested and/or ’detained for questioning’. Six are currently being detained under the Emergency Ordinance (EO), which allows for indefinite detention without trial.

SUARAM strongly condemns the abuse of power and the harassment of supporters of BERSIH 2.0, a coalition of 62 NGOs and civil society organisations calling for electoral reform. What is even more appalling is that the campaign of intimidation continues even after the Bersih 2.0 organisers have agreed to move the mass rally planned for 9 July to a stadium.

SUARAM demands the immediate and unconditional release of the 3 persons. SUARAM also demands that the police stop this campaign of harassment and intimidation of citizens that are merely exercising their right to freedom of expression, a right which is enshrined in the Federal Constitution as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Released by,

Sarah Devaraj
Project Coordinator
SUARAM

Urgent action needed:
Please write protest letters to the government and the police to express your strongest condemnation of the arrests and the on-going campaign of intimidation against human rights defenders and ordinary citizens. Please also demand the Malaysian government to allow Malaysian citizens to practice their freedom of expression and assembly as stated under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.

Please call and/or send your protest letters to:

ASP Aziz (Investigating Officer)
Balai Polis USJ 8
Polis Diraja Malaysia
Jalan Persiaran Kewajipan,
46710, Subang Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: 03-56356904
Fax: 03-56325458
Email: kpb_usj8 rmp.gov.my

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

Dato’ Seri Hishamuddin bin Tun Hussein
Minister of Home Affairs Malaysia
Blok D1 & D2, Kompleks D
Pusat Pentadbiran
Kerajaan Persekutuan
62546 Putrajaya

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

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.org

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

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

SAMPLE LETTER
[Letterhead of your organisation]
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

Dear Sir,

Re: STOP THE INTIMIDATION AND RESPECT CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOMS

We are writing to you to express our outrage and our strongest condemnation over the on-going campaign of intimidation against human rights defenders and ordinary citizens who wish to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

We are appalled by the police’s latest actions in arresting and detaining anyone apparently supporting Bersih 2.0. We view this as yet another attempt to intimidate Malaysian citizens from exercising their freedom to express their views. We condemn the actions of the police, who are seemingly practising selective prosecution in the discharge of their duties.

We would like to remind you that freedom of expression and assembly is guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.

Yours sincerely,
[Name]

***
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
433A, Jalan 5/46, Gasing Indah,
46000, Petaling Jaya,
Selangor, Malaysia.

Voice: +603-7784 3525
Fax: +603-7784 3526
Website: http://suaram.net
Facebook: http://facebook.com/suararakyatmalaysia
Twitter: http://twitter.com/SUARAMtweets