URGENT: JERIT Activists Arrested, Public Appealed To Convey Dissent.

Today, the 7^th day of the JERIT cycling campaign, witnessed the arrest of more activists. At this point of time, eight JERIT activists are still held by the police. One of the female activists, Helen Mary Johnson, had been molested and assaulted. The authorities apparently grabbed her breast and been punched on the face while she was taking photographs of the event. Another activist, Lee Huat Seng, also fell victim to police brutality.

Those arrested are:

1. Ooi Choon Nam (IPD Taiping)

2. Yong Chat Wah (IPD Taiping)

3. Dr. Jayakumar Devaraj (IPD Kuala Kangsar)- Sg. Siput MP

4. Rani Rasiah (IPD Kuala Kangsar)

5. Jothi (IPD Kuala Kangsar)

6. Sugumaran (IPD Kuala Kangsar)

7. Karthik (IPD Kuala Kangsar)

8. S Vasu Rao, 49.

These activists have been denied from executing their constitutional rights. Suara Rakyat Malaysia(SUARAM) has also come out strong in defence of the activists, condemning the arrests that took place hours ago. For more information, contact SUARAM Coordinator, Nalini. Tel: 019-3758912.

The public is also urged to express their condemnation of the arrests. Send in the protest calls and letters to:

1. IPD Taiping
Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Taiping,
Jln Taming Sari,
34000 Taiping,
Perak.

Tel: 05-8291222

Fax: 05-8077169

OCPD Taiping: 019 6000240

2. IPD Kuala Kangsar

Jalan Raja Chulan,
33000 Kuala Kangsar,
Perak

Tel: 05 7762222

Fax: 05-7772741

OCPD Gaafar: 012 7132719

3. Inspector-General of Police
Tan Sri Musa Hassan
Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia,
50560 Bukit Aman,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: +603 2262 6015
Fax: +603 2272 5613

The calls I made to OCPD Gaafar proved to be futile, as his phone appears to have been switched off. I managed to get in touch with the OCPD of Taiping though, and he says that they’re still in the process of investigation.

Lawyer Haris Ibrahim has just come up with a sample letter for those intending to send in their protest letters:

SAMPLE LETTER

[Letterhead of your Organisation]

Inspector-General of Police
Tan Sri Musa Hassan
Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia,

50560 Bukit Aman,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: +603 2262 6015
Fax: +603 2272 5613

Dear Sir,

Re: Release 8 JERIT Activists Immediately

We are writing to you, once again, to express our outrage and our strongest condemnation over your government’s ongoing crackdown on freedom of expression.

We are appalled by your government and the police’s latest actions and view this as yet another attempt by your government to intimidate Malaysian citizens from participating in any form of public assembly and exercising their freedom to express their views.

We demand that the eight activists to be released immediately and unconditionally and allow cyclists to continue their campaign in Johor. We further demand that your government stops the assault on freedom of expression.

We strongly urge you, once again, to stop bringing shame to Malaysia, a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council. We would like to remind you that freedom of expression is guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.

Yours sincerely,

[Name]

I think this is as convenient as it gets. All the details have been posted above. Now, let’s get moving. Pass it around.

by Argus Eye.