Aliran Monthly, Vol 25 (2005): Issue 2

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The lead story by Anil Netto looks at the privatisaton of water and raises the fundamental question �Why privatise a profit-making entity?� It provides a range of views culled from a forum in Penang held on World Water Day.

Another case of privatisation is that of Pos Malaysia, which recently announced unjustified hikes in postal rates. Read Aliran�s open letter to the media exposing the firm�s confusion and unpreparedness in its hasty implementation of these new rates.

This obssession with the market, along with plain greed, is leading us to an environmental catrastrophe, says Young Malaysian, in his piece �Mother Nature in crisis�. The turn to the market is also threatening social cohesion, encouraging repression and promoting individualism, argues John Hilley in another piece.

Such repression was evident when civil society groups recently engaged in an anti-war demonstration in Kuala Lumpur. Sarajun Hoda provides an eyewitness account of the peaceful protest, which was greeted by water cannons and riot police.

One person who stood up against the might of the state was Oscar Romero of El Salvador, who was assassinated 25 years ago. Martin Jalleh highlights the life of this exemplary man, who took the side of the oppressed.

One group of downtrodden workers had reason to celebrate in Malaysia. Letchimi Devi recounts the 10-year struggle of 14 ex-workers of Braemar Estate, which led to victory when they finally received free houses from a developer.

Finally, Rajen Devaraj looks at the whole issue of fatwa, the law and the role of our elected representatives in deliberating on and determining what constitutes a punishable offence.

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