Counsel: PSM six not detained over Red links

The Star 

KUALA LUMPUR: The six Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members were detained under the Emergency Ordinance for being “movers” of Bersih 2.0 and not for any communist leanings, said their lawyer Edmund Bon.

He said the police had not “mentioned a single word” about communism, socialism or Chin Peng in their 37 affidavits served on Tuesday in reply to the habeas corpus application by the detainees.

Bon said the affidavits stated that they had been involved as “movers and activists” to a non-registered entity known as Bersih 2.0 in encouraging the public to attend its rally on July 9.

However, he claimed that this was wholly unfounded, stressing that the six were not part of Bersih 2.0.

Bon also urged the Government to release the six before their habeas corpus application is heard at the High Court here tomorrow.

In a copy of the police affidavit distributed to reporters, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigations Department assistant director Asst Comm Kamarul Zaman Mamat had not mentioned anything related to communism.

However, he had in paragraph five requested an exemption from revealing the full details of the investigation in view of national interests under Article 151(3) of the Federal Constitution and Section 11 of the Emergency Ordinance (EO).

The detainees were detained under the ordinance on July 2 after T-shirts bearing faces of communist leaders were found on them.

Meanwhile, the Bar Council urged the Government to charge the six in court or release them immediately.

Its vice-president Christopher Leong said during a forum to discuss the EO last night, that the authorities should either charge the six and disclose any evidence against them or release them.

A candle light vigil was also held in front of the Bar Council building before the forum, in support of the abolition of the EO.