Aliran applauds the release of Teresa Kok from the unjust and undemocratic detention under the obnoxious ISA. Nevertheless, we must record our strong objection against her arrest under the ISA last Friday, 12 September 2008, because she was unfairly subjected to this detention order that she did not deserve in the first place.
When there was no just cause for her detention, when there was not a shred of evidence to justify this wile action against her, yet the authorities acted rather arbitrarily without any conscience or shame.
The Minister of Home, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, deservedly became a laughing-stock in this episode with his vain and ridiculous attempt to justify the detentions of Raja Petra, Tan Hoon Cheng and Terea Kok. The distorted versions for their detentions only brought shame to the Barisan Nasional which had no moral authority to act in this high-handed fashion.
Now that Tan and Theresa have been released we can say, “Two down, one more to go!” Indeed, the last remaining detainee under the recent ISA detention exercise, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, must also be released immediately. After all he has already been charged for defamation and sedition.
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Let the courts take care of him and and resolve the issues following “a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him” as is demanded by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
With his deteriorating health causing anxiety and worry for his well-being, our Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, must rise above politics and order the immediate release of Raja Petra. This is something he is expected to do; this is something that he can do; this this is something which he has to do; The question is will he come across as a man of compassion and spare the nation from this unnecessary agony?
P Ramakrishnan
President
19 September 2008
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
