By N Surendran
I
refer to the criminal charges brought against the PSM 6 on 3rd August
2011 under s.29(1) Internal Security Act 1960, s.43 and s.48 Societies
Act 1966. The charges are related to the Bersih 2.0 peaceful campaign to
reform the electoral process.
The continued State-sanctioned persecution of these six
dedicated political and social activists bodes ill for our nation. The
police force, government and Attorney General have put themselves in an
untenable position. They are using State powers to crackdown on a
movement for free and fair elections, and to criminalize citizens such
as the PSM 6 who participated or supported that movement The charges
against the PSM 6 are politically motivated and a blatant abuse of
investigation and prosecution powers. These six men and women have a
long and spotless record of public service; their persecution shames the
nation.
We note with grave concern that
the office of the Attorney General has been consistently used to bring
politically motivated criminal charges against opposition politicians
and civil society. The powers of the Attorney General must be reviewed
and immediate reforms must be instituted. The powers of prosecution
should be held by an independent Director of Public Prosecutions, as is
the practice in many Commonwealth countries.
Meanwhile,
Keadilan condemns the criminal investigation launched upon the editor
of Suara Keadilan, its journalist and Keadilan leader Latheefa Koya
under section 505(b) Penal Code. They were questioned today by Dang Wang
police relating to an article published about tear gas canisters. This
police investigation is an infringement of the freedom of the press and
another instance of the continual police harassment of opposition
parties and their news organs.
We call for:
a) Immediate withdrawal of all charges against the PSM 6;
b) Urgent reform of the office of the Attorney General and removal of prosecution powers to an independent body;
c) End of police harassment of Suara Keadilan and its journalists.
Issued by,
N SURENDRAN
VICE PRESIDENT
KEADILAN 
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