THE ARREST OF OUR POLITICAL LEADERS

Parti Keadilan Nasional [keADILan] regrets the arrest of a few alternative political party leaders and activists for their involvement in the peaceful gathering at the Nasional Mosque to hand a Memorandum to Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di Pertuan Agong on Sunday 19th September 1999.

Based on information we have received, those arrested so far are Mohd Azmin Ali (Protem Chairman keADILan, Gombak Division), Dr Hatta Ramli (Central Committee member, PAS), Sivarasa Rasiah (Legal Adviser, PRM), Hishamuddin Rais (Film Critic), Dr. Badrul Amin Bahron (keADILan, Committee Member), Ezam Mohd Nor (keADILan, Youth Leader) and Chua Tian Chang (keADILan, Vice President).

With these new arrests, the total arrested to date is thirteen (13), which includes six (6) members of the public who have all been held under remand since yesterday. These arrests again shows the Barisan Nasional government’s disregard for Article 10 of the Malaysian Constitution that guarantees the people the freedom of speech and the right of assembly and association where (1) all citizens have the freedom of speech
(2) all citizens have the right of assembly and
(3) all citizens have a right of association.
 
keADILan would also like to register our regret that the authorities have intentionally provoked and issued irresponsible statements to slander the people who have tried to express their dissatisfaction in a peaceful manner through the assembly.

Parti Keadilan Nasional demands that those arrested be freed and the civil rights of all Malaysians be respected and honoured.

MOHD ANUAR TAHIR

Setiausaha Agung
21 September, 1999 / 11 Jumada II 1420