We want the full menu of rights

P Ramakrishan's speech at Aliran's 25th AGM

Friends, when we last met a year ago, I was very elated. I really felt democracy was on the march. There were clear evidence for this jubilation.

The gathering at the Kamunting Detention Camp then had attracted more than 2,000 active and spirited citizens.

The Kesas Highway gathering was another high point for democracy. In a fantastic show of defiance, tens of thousands turned up to demand for their rights.

Attendances at the various ceramahs were impressive.

There was at least a semblance of unity and cohesion in the Barisan Alternative.

But all these encouraging trends and signs have crumpled in the onslaught of the state.

While elsewhere, individuals who were fighting governments and nations for their rights were rightly or wrongly termed as terrorists, right here at home it is the state that has turned terrorist against the individuals. It is the state in this country that is terrorising activists who stand up for certain rights.

Beginning from April the state apparatus were used in a very high-handed fashion to arrest and detain critics and dissidents under the ISA without addusing a single shred of evidence to implicate these unfortunate activists. The BN has imputed a lot of unsubstantiated and violent activities to them to justify their arrests and incarceration. But those accused and locked away have been denied their fundamental right of defence. They were not accorded this natural justice.

To strengthen the BN�s argument for the continued existence and the use of the ISA, we were inundated with tales of Malaysian Mujahidin running wild with the intention of toppling the elected government through violent means.

Recently we even heard the ridiculous claim that this so-called Malaysian Mujahidin were planning to attack some American sailors. Again no evidence was produced.

Unfortunately for the Americans but fortunately for Mahathir, the September 11 tragedy had to happen as if to strengthen Mahathir�s hand - indeed it has strengthened his hand.

In a self-serving stand Mahathir now thumbs his nose at the Americans, claiming that he had been right all along in using the ISA in curbing violence and fighting terrorism. I�m sure he couldn�t contain himself when Congress passed some obnoxious laws to curtail freedom and invade personal privacy. But just because America passes these laws, it doesn�t turn the ISA into an acceptable and just piece of legislation. It is still immoral. Let�s not forget that.

If Mahathir harps on the fact that he still needs the ISA to contain violence, it is legitimate to ask how many people are there running around violently to overthrow his government? Have we witnessed any rioting in this country? Have we had any industrial strikes that threaten the well being of the nation in a long spell?

While he focuses the nation�s attention on a small minority who may pose a challenge to his political leadership by branding them as threatening the peace of the country, he cunningly takes away the rights of the majority.

People lose their rights, while he points an accusing finger at the minority as being culpable of causing mischief.

When he denies a political party a permit to hold a ceramah, he is not only crippling a political party activity, he is actually denying the majority of the people their right to listen to differing views.

When he restricts a political party�s publication only for its members, he is in fact denying the people�s right to information.

And when he lands hard on the few, he sends cold shivers to the many. this is why this year�s observance of Operation Lalang was such a subdued affair. The crowd wasn�t all that big; there were no fiery speeches or spirited chanting of slogans. They were not allowed anywhere near the camp but were stopped some 3km away from it.

And when they dispersed and went into shops for refreshments, 48 of them were picked up. I suppose they were picked for not rioting!

But the message is clear. Even if you are peaceful, they will go after you as long as there is any form of gathering that is seen as protest against the government. The intention is to intimidate and discourage the people from rallying around any cause.

It is unfortunate that there is no visible politics to counter Mahathir�s policies or offer an effective alternative. It is a shame and such a disappointment that the Barisan Alternative is in such shambles. DAP has dropped out. PAS with its unbending views on the Islamic State has disillusioned the vast majority of the non-Malays. The merger between KeADILan and PRM has been deliberately aborted. Some well-known personalities in the KeADILan are stepping down from the leadership. And the mad scramble for party posts is on which rather than strengthen KeADILan will weaken in.

It is in this perspective that we have to view our role in society. To expect political change the through political parties - either from the ruling or opposition parties - is an impossible dream. They are only interested in positions and power.

Our role is all the more crucial. We must continue to do what we are doing with even more determination.

The educative role that we play through Aliran Monthly will continue to focus on issues that are vital to us as a nation. The various concerns that need to be addressed will be given due attention.

We can only be effective when our readership expands and we are able to reach out even further. We need to talk about this later to formulate new strategies to achieve this.

Our Citizen�s Health Initiative will continue to speak up for an effective and just healthcare for all.

Our Charter 2000 will struggle for a freer and fairer media so that the tainted image of journalism will be redeemed.

We will continue to oppose the 3rd link between the mainland and the island because it means more pollution, congestion and nightmare for those on the island.

We will not be cowed or broken by those who do not mean well for us. As long as there is a will, we will prevail.

I am amazed that we have survived 25 years, in spite of the oppression, in spite of the ISA, in spite of the printer problems, in spite of media blackout, in spite of growing old.

I have no doubt we will be around for the next 25 years - with or without me!

Nothing can deter us, as long as the spirit is willing, as long as our faith is strong, as long as our heart is throbbing.

It is said, �There is in this world no such force as the force of a man determined to rise. The human soul cannot be permanently chained.�

We will not be bought or bribed or appeased by Mahathir�s token gestures or proffered concessions. Our stand is clear.

Let me conclude by quoting Archbishop Desmond Tutu; who vividly illuminates this stand:

�I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of rights.�

Now tell us what you think. E-mail us.