UPDATE 28 : All 1,667 arrested freed, 6 PSM leaders remain detained under Emergency Ordinance
(11 July 2011) A total of 1,667 people arrested for taking part in various rallies in Kuala Lumpur on 9 July 2011 have all been released. Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar stated that all those arrested, including 151 women and 16 children, were taken to the police training centre (Pulapol) in Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur and were later released. One protester however, Mr. Hii Tiong Huat, has been missing since.
It is reported that during the rally, tear gas canisters were fired directly into the crowd and injured many.The rally has cost the life of one protester, Mr. Allahyarham Baharuddin Ahmad, 58. He was reportedly with his family around Kuala Lumpur City Centre when he collapsed after being hit with tear gas that was being fired by the riot police to quell the rally. He was rushed to Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) and was declared dead shortly after. The police claims that Mr. Baharudin had suffered a heart attack and denied that he had died from exposure to tear gas. Mr. Anwar Ibrahim, the parliamentary opposition leader, was one of those who were injured and sustained injury on his head and knees. One of the members of parliament, Mr. Khalid Samad, was reportedly hit by tear gas canister at the back of his head. It was reported that protesters were kicked and manhandled during the arrest process.
Six Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) leaders remain detained without trial under sections 3(1) and 4(1) of the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1969 (EPOPCO), which allows police to detain suspects for up to 60 days. They were first arrested on 25 June 2011 as part of a group of 30 persons at the Sungai Dua toll plaza on the North-South Expressway while travelling in a chartered tour bus from Kedah to Penang. All 30 were detained for seven days to assist police investigation under Section 122 of the Penal Code for allegedly waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and for attempting to revive the Communist Party. After being released on 2 July 2011 from the IPD Kepala Batas, Penang, the six were re-arrested by Bukit Aman police outside the station at 1.20 pm and have been detained since.
The names and ages of the six are :
Mr. Dr. Micheal Jeyakumar Devaraj, 56, PSM MP for Sungai Siput
Mr. Sukumaran Munisamy, 50, PSM Central Committee Member
Mr. Letchumanan Aseer Patham, 42, PSM Sg. Siput Branch Secretary
Mr. Choo Chon Kai, 31, PSM International Coordinator
Ms. Sarasvathy Muthu, 58, PSM National Deputy Chairperson
Mr. Sarat Babu Raman, 25, PSM Youth Chairperson
It is alleged that they were kept in solitary confinement and that their families have been denied visitation rights. Mr. Jeyakumar, who has a heart ailment, did not get his medication on time and suffered chest pains. On 28 June 2011, he was rushed to the Penang General Hospital over his heart condition. On 9 July 2011, after complaining of heart palpitations, he was taken to Institut Jantung Negara (IJN). He is currently confined at the Coronary Care Unit of the IJN. It is suspected that his condition is due to the long hours of interrogations by the Police Special Branch.
Source : Malaysiakini
Background
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) is comprised of Malaysian civic and human rights organisations campaigning for clean and fair elections, and aiming to independently monitor the upcoming 13th general elections in mid-2012. Bersih 2.0 plans to hold a mass rally on 9 July 2011 called “Walk for Democracy” in Kuala Lumpur to demand a set of electoral reforms including fair access of all political parties to the media, reform of postal ballots, and a revision of the electoral roll to address irregularities. It is anticipated that 60,000 to 100,000 will participate in the rally.
The police have already announced that no gathering will be permitted on 9 July 2011 on the basis of the Malaysia Police Act Section 27 which requires organisers of public gatherings of three or more persons to seek permits before hand. This contravenes the clear guarantee of the Federal Constitution Article 10(1)(b) “all citizens have the right to assemble peacefully and without arms”.
The Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Hishammuddin Hussein, has repeatedly indicated that the authorities may apply the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) to prosecute the organisers of the Bersih 2.0 mass rally as well as any other gathering on 9 July. Section 73(1) of the ISA allows the police to detain any individual for up to 60 days without a warrant, trial or access to legal counsel.
The full text of the original Asian Defenders Alert on this issue can be found at this link :
http://www.forum-asia.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2744&Itemid=42