When all things fail, there is THE ISA, says Zorro Unmasked.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Raja Petra Kamaruddin is detained under ISA at an undisclosed location. Please come to Kelana Jaya Stadium 8 p.m. September 15, 2008 to show solidarity for RPK’. Show your support for this blogger giant and web-master of www.malaysia-today. net, who took on the establishment in the name of Justice, Freedom and Democracy.

When Anwar was sent to goal in Sungai Buloh by the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad in 1998, he launched the Free Anwar Campaign. Now, it is time that we start a Free Raja Petra Movement.

This September 15 meet will hopefully result in a nation wide campaign to Free Raja Petra and the not to be forgotten others who are now under ISA detention. I also appeal to Amnesty International and Journalists Without Borders, and other Human Rights Organisations around the world for their support and cooperation.

My Fellow Malaysians, we cannot be indifferent anymore. But in showing our concern, let us keep the peace and deny the present Badawi government, which is under siege of their own making, the chance to declare a state of emergency in order to save itself. Let us do whatever we can for Mdm Marina Petra and her children as they once again have to go through the ordeal.—Din Merican

The Zorro says:

A distraught Sarah (Pete’s youngest daughter) called to say that the police are in the house to arrest her Dad. Marina came on the line to confirm this. She said that they are arresting him under the ISA. Haris Ibrahim is currently in Pete’s house. As this go to post, the police have already taken Pete away. Stay around for the latest developments.

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Allow me to quote again from the man who crafted the ISA,the late Reginald H Hicklings:

“I could not imagine then that the time would come when the power of detention, carefully and deliberately interlocked with Article 149 of the Constitution, would be used against political opponents, welfare workers and others dedicated to non-violent, peaceful activities.”

and

“Organised violence” was the key to the preamble of the ISA and that I had drafted to detain communist insurgents without trial, but in later years, a lot of people were being arrested who had nothing to do with organised violence (communist insurgencies) at all.”

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Popular Opposition Leader, the late Tan Chee Khoon said about the ISA:

“This infernal and heinous instrument has been enacted by the Alliance Government at a time when the emergency was supposed to be over. Then it promptly proceeds to embody all the provisions of the Emergency Regulations which during the Emergency had to be re-enacted every year, but now it is written into the statute book ad infinitum…^”

And what about this one:

Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Mahathir had also adhered to a critical view of the ISA. In 1966, when Mahathir spoke out in support of the Internal Security (Amendment) Bill 1966 as a backbencher, he stated that “no one in his right senses like[s] the ISA. It is, in fact, a negation of all the principles of democracy.”

After becoming Prime Minister however the Tun had little if any hesitation using the law to suppress what he termed racialism but was seen by some as a move against his political opponents, the most notable of events being the infamous Operasi Lalang in 1987. But Najib was left scot-free and he was the most guilty.

I will want to find out WHO signed the order to detain RPK because:

Prime Minister of Malaysia, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, went on the record in 1988 to state:

“If we want to save Malaysia and Umno, Dr Mahathir (then Prime Minister) must be removed. He uses draconian laws such as the Internal Security Act to silence his critics.”

The year before, he had also stated:

“Laws such as the Internal Security Act have no place in modern Malaysia. It is a draconian and barbaric law.”

YOU SAID THAT SIR, NOT US.

WILL YOUR GRANDCHILDREN BE PROUD OF YOU NOW?

More on Malaysiakini (HERE)…Din Merican (HERE)…..Haris Ibrahim (HERE)

From Malik Imtiaz Sarvar:

Friday, September 12, 2008

RPK, ISA And The Rest Of Us

Malaysiakini reports that RPK has been detained by the police under the ISA. At the time of publication, the RPK was still at his house with police officers.

The news has spread fast. With it are concerns that a wider 1987 type crackdown is going to happen or that even worse, there is going to be chaos and racial violence.

We must remain calm. Reactionary behaviour and fear mongering is not going to make things any more sensible or easier. Things will unfold as they have to.

The Government must also do its part and explain clearly how RPK is a threat to national security and why he has been detained. He had presented himself everytime he was asked to at police stations and in court. He has been charged, has not attempted to flee the jurisdiction and has indicated his desire to defend himself in court. Access to Malaysia Today has been permitted. And though four police reports have recently been lodged against him by agencies linked to the Government, a consideration of those police reports in the bigger picture would reveal the unreasonableness of his being detained on the basis of what has been alleged in those reports. The Government must make the basis of its decision clear and why it is RPK cannot be tried in an open court.

And for the rest of us, let us stand united and firm in our belief in a better Malaysia.

MIS