NST Apologises to Bersih and Three Other NGOs

Bersih is discontinuing its defamation suit against the New Straits Times after it agreed to apologise for linking the coalition and three others to a “plot to destabilise government”.
 

The New Straits Times has apologised in open court for their false and baseless article published on 21 September 2012 in their daily newspaper and online newsportal thus bringing to an end the defamation suits brought against them by Bersih 2.0, Suaram, the Centre for Independent Journalism and the Merdeka Centre (the plaintiffs). They will also pay our legal costs. We want to appreciate the support and advice of our legal teams and thank them for their hard work.

Behind Bars, Jeyakumar Says Remains Socialist

KUALA LUMPUR, July 20 — Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Devaraj Jeyakumar has insisted he will not waver from his socialist beliefs despite being held under the Emergency Ordinance (EO) for allegedly attempting to revive communism.

In a statement released late yesterday, the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) leader said that current economic practices both locally and globally were an unsustainable “race to the bottom.”

“This is not the world that I wish to bequeath my grandchildren. That is why I am a socialist and intend to remain so despite the EO arrest,” he wrote after three weeks in detention.

Dr Jeyakumar was among 30 PSM members arrested on June 25 for allegedly planning to “wage war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong” and attempting to revive communist in part of a dragnet leading up to the July 9 Bersih rally.

Bersih Warns of Rally for EO6

KUALA LUMPUR: Bersih 2.0 today denied that the six detained Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members were prime movers of its July 9 rally and raised the possibility of another rally to demand their release.

“The allegation has no factual foundation,” Haris Ibrahim of the Bersih steering committee said in reference to a police response to affidavits submitted by families of the detained.

He called for their immediate release.

The six, held without trial under the 1969 Emergency Ordinance, are Sungai Siput MP Dr D Michael Jeyakumar, PSM deputy president M Sarasvathy, central committee members Choo Chon Kai and M Sugumaran, Youth chief R Saratbabu and Sungai Siput branch secretary A Letchumanan.

“They were never part of the steering committee,” Haris said. “Neither were they involved in planning or mobilising the crowd” for the rally.

Afidavit Buktikan Enam Anggota PSM Bukan Ditahan Kerana Fahaman Komunis

KUALA LUMPUR 20 JULAI : Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) mencabar dakwaan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz bahawa enam ahli parti itu termasuk ahli parlimen Sungai Siput ditahan di bawah Ordinan Darurat kerana kaitan dengan usaha menghidupkan semula fahaman komunis.

Peguam PSM, Edmund Bon dipetik dari portal The Malaysian Insider berkata, perkara itu sangat jelas berdasarkan kandungan 37 afidavit yang diserahkan kepada parti itu semalam sebagai respons kepada permohonan habeas corpus, sekali gus menunjukkan polis hanya menyoal siasat keenam-enam mereka, didakwa mendalangi perhimpunan Bersih 2.0.

“Jangan bercakap mengenai sosialisme, komunisme, semua yang karut.

“Kesemua ini pembohongan kerana polis sendiri tidak menyebut langsung mengenai sosialisme, tidak sebut langsung mengenai komunisme, tidak sebut langsung mengenai Chin Peng,” kata beliau.

5,000 Doktor Swasta Tuntut Jeyakumar Dibebaskan

Persekutuan Pengamal Perubatan Swasta yang mewakili kira-kira 5,000 doktor swasta di seluruh negara bergabung dengan pertubuhan perubatan yang lain menuntut pembebasan ahli parlimen Sungai Siput D Jeyakumar.

"Kami amat prihatin dengan tahanan berterusan rakan kami, Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj, yang kami iktiraf dan sahkan sebagai seorang doktor yang mematuhi undang-undang, cekap dan tekun.

"Rekod perkhidmatan awamnya cukup cemerlang dan sepanjang pengetahuan kami, beliau tentunya bukan ancaman kepada keselamatan negara ini,” kata persekutuan itu dalam satu kenyataan media hari ini.

Ia memetik Jeyakumar telah berkhidmat untuk tempoh yang lama dengan kerajaan dan memberikan perkhidmatan kepada rakyat, tanpa mementingkan dirinya.

Sebelas Doktor Sahkan 2 Hospital Diserang

Sekumpulan doktor kanan dan pakar perubatan telah mengeluarkan kenyataan membidas kerajaan berhubung 'serangan polis' ke atas peserta perhimpunan BERSIH 2.0 Sabtu lalu di dua buah hospital.

Sehubungan itu, dalam satu kenyataan media yang dihantar kepada Malaysiakini lewat hari ini, doktor berkenaan yang bertugas di Hospital Tung Shin dan Hospital Bersalin Cina di Jalan Pudu berkata mereka akan mengemukakan afidavit bagi menyokong hujah bahawa hospital diserang.

Mereka mendakwa tindakan polis pada Sabtu lalu jelas mencabul pengiktirafan antarabangsa apabila hospital sebagai tempat santuari diserang.

Malah menurut sebeles doktor berkenaan, semasa peperangan hospital juga tidak akan diserang tetapi dalam kes di Malaysia, polis memasuki bangunan hospital bagi mencari peserta yang melarikan diri daripada tembakan gas pemedih mata dan pancutan air berkimia.

Bersih: Akui Kebangkitan Rakyat, Kata Pakar Media

SHAH ALAM 12 JULAI : Perhimpunan Bersih anjuran 62 badan bukan kerajaan Sabtu lalu menzahirkan keperluan mengikis anggapan tradisi bahawa setiap demontrasi di negara ini adalah kerja pihak pembangkang, kata seorang pensyarah universiti.

Pensyarah Media dan Komunikasi Universiti Malaya, Prof Madya Dr Abu Hassan Hasbullah berkata negara tidak akan maju sekiranya segala cetusan rasa tidak puas hati dikaitkan kepada pembangkang semata-mata dan bukannya sebagai suara rakyat.

"(Dalam hal ini) terutama sekali ialah sikap. Sikap kita apabila ada kumpulan yang membantah, memprotes, mengkritik dan kita mentafsir serta mendefinisikannya sebagai (perbuatan) pembangkang. Jika kita tidak ubah sikap ini, kita tidak akan maju, kata beliau kepada TvSelangor.

Dr Abu Hassan berkata sebagai rakyat yang mendokong sistem demokrasi berparllimen "kita sepatutnya harus meraikan demokrasi,” dan bukan mencemuh amalan-amalan yang dikaitkan kepada kebebasan bersuara dan hak berhimpun secara aman.

Malaysia: Government Risks Undermining Democratic Progress, Say UN Experts

GENEVA – UN human rights experts* on Monday expressed their dismay at the use of tear gas and water cannons by security authorities against peaceful protestors in Malaysia on Saturday, reportedly leading to injuries and one death, and the arrest of more than 1,600 people at the Bersih 2.0 rally. 

“The right to freedom of opinion and expression, including in the form of peaceful protests, is essential for democracy. By declaring the demonstration illegal, sealing off parts of the capital in advance and responding in such a heavy-handed manner against peaceful demonstrators, the Government of Malaysia risks undermining democratic progress in the country,” said Frank La Rue, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

Tens of thousands of people gathered near the Medeka Stadium on Saturday despite the announcement made by the police that no gathering would be permitted that day on the basis of the Malaysia Police Act, which requires organizers of public gatherings of three or more persons to seek permits beforehand.  The protests were called by Bersih, a coalition of more than 60 non-governmental organizations seeking to promote free and fair elections in Malaysia. 

“Actions taken by the authorities prior to and during the rally unduly restricted the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association,” said La Rue. “Declaring Bersih illegal based on claims that it is trying to topple the Government or is a risk to national security and public order - in the absence of any credible evidence to substantiate such claims – is also an unnecessary restriction of civil and political rights.” 

Jemputan Pelancaran Bersih 2.0 Pada 10 November 2010 di Dewan Sivik MPPJ

BERSIH 2.0 - PILIHANRAYA BERSIH & ADIL

Salam,

JEMPUTAN PELANCARAN BERSIH 2.0

BERSATU DAN MELANJUTKAN REFORMASI PILIHAN RAYA

Kami, jawatankuasa induk BERSIH 2.0 ingin menjemput anda/organisasi anda untuk bersatu bersama-sama kami dalam melanjutkan usaha ke arah  pilihanraya bersih dan adil. Banyak lagi yang perlu dilaksanakan dan BERSIH 2.0 memerlukan sokongan dan bantuan anda dalam memastikan misi Malaysia yang demokratik menjadi realiti.

BERSIH 2.0 percaya hanya menerusi pilihanraya yang bersih dan adil sahaja seseorang warganegara mampu mengenalpasti hala tuju mereka dan berharap pihak yang dipertanggungjawabkan dalam melaksanakan sesebuah pemilihan itu bertindak dengan telus dan berkesan. Perjalanan untuk reformasi pilihanraya adalah ranjau dalam proses demokrasi, termasuk kedaulatan undang-undang dipulihara, hak asasi manusia dilindungi, urustadbir baik dan pengelastarian di dalam pembangunan Negara.