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For Justice, Freedom & Solidarity For Justice, Freedom & Solidarity PP3739/12/2008(007145) ISSN 0127 - 5127 RM4.00 2008:Vol.28No.8 Aliran Monthly : Vol.28(8) Page 1 COVER STORY People power shines through candlelight vigils Despite the harsh action of the police on 9 November, the struggle to abolish the ISA will continue by Anil Netto t had been a night laced with drama in II Petaling Jaya as a stand-off ensued be- III tween the rakyat seeking electoral reforms and the repeal of the ISA, on the one hand, and police, who were in a mood to crack down. After having been chased away from the field near Amcorp Mall, the site of their usual vigils, the par- ticipants then entered the mall and gathered in the lobby as riot police lined up facing the entrance, glaring menacingly at them. Some among the crowd then went ‘shopping’ until about 9.30pm. They later dispersed but others adjourned to the PJ Civic Cen- tre not far away for an impromptu gathering. As they were singing the national anthem and about to disperse, riot police and plain-clothes officers marched into the crowd and arrested 23 people. A few protesters complained they were roughed up or assaulted. “Two guys came over to grab one arm each and pushed me towards the Black Maria,’’ wrote MP Tony Pua in his blog. “I stated that I will walk, don’t be rough but they tore my shirt instead. I repeated my call and three other police officers came at me, one with the knees into my belly while an- other attempted to kick my shin.’’ “They then chucked me against the back of the Black Maria truck and shoved me up despite me stating that I can climb myself.’’ Authorities unnerved Most Malaysians were shocked to hear of the police action on the night of Sunday, 9 November, and the arrests of concerned individuals who had turned Aliran Monthly : Vol.28(8) Page 2 EDITOR'S NOTE In our cover story, Anil Netto takes a close look at the ongoing candlelights vigils where ordinary CONTENTS rakyat have been coming out to express their desire for justice and reforms. The vigil on 9 November was broken up by police and 23 people were ar- COVER STORY rested. But that is unlikely to deter others from per- ••• People Power Shines Through sisting with the vigils. Candlelight Vigils 222 The horrors of the past should spur us on in the ••• Experiences Of Detention Without Trial 777 struggle. Johan Saravanamuttu revisits Operation ••• Operation Lalang Revisited 404040 Lalang and gives us a bit of the background to the mass ISA crackdown in 1987. One of the 106 detain- FEATURES ees then, Lim Chin Chin, shares her ordeal during ••• Let Right Be Done 999 her detention. ••• The BN / PR Challenge 131313 We also carry a nine-page spread on the legendary ••• A Wish List Too Far? 151515 Singapore freedom fighter J B Jeyaretnam, whose ••• JBJ - A Man Of Honour And Integrity 191919 passing is a huge loss for the struggle for justice and ••• Giving Voice To Those Unable freedom in this region. Tributes by Chee Soon Juan, Sinapan Samydorai and Philip Jeyaretnam recall To SpeakSpeakTo 212121 his spirit and will inspire a new generation to con- ••• JBJ - His Indomitable Spirit Lives On 242424 tinue with the struggle. ••• What A Fighter! 262626 ••• A City Without A Soul? 282828 The struggle for justice is closely tied to aspirations ••• The Helpless Remain Hunted for an independent judiciary. Ambiga Sreenevasan says it may be 20 years since the judicial crisis of Despite PR Election Gains 303030 1988 but it is never too late for right to be done and for the truth about that crisis to be told. REGULARS ••• Current Concerns 333333 K Haridas stresses us that if our politicians’ goal is to ensure justice for all, they must use their power to ••• LettersLettersLetters 363636 ensure that this objective is met. But, as Angeline Loh reminds us, AM pjustice must be made avail- OTHERSOTHERSOTHERS able not only to all Malaysians but also to migrant ••• Subscription Form 181818 workers and refugees. Similarly, Yogeswaran Subramaniam urges us to discard our “charity” at- titude towards indigenous peoples and grant them Published by real social justice and equality. Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN)(ALIRAN)(ALIRAN) On a different note, Gwynn Jenkin urges planners 103, Medan Penaga, 11600 Jelutong, in George Town to preserve the inner city commu- nity life, which is the soul of the city. Penang, Malaysia. Tel: (04) 658 5251 Fax: (04) 658 5197 Email (Letters to Editor): ALIRANALIRANALIRAN is a Reform Movement dedicated to Justice, Freedom & Solidarity and listed on the [email protected] roster of the Economic and Social Council of the Email (General): [email protected] United Nations. Founded in 1977, Aliran welcomes Homepage : http://www.aliran.com all Malaysians above 21 to be members. Contact the Hon. Secretary or visit our webpage. Printed by Konway Industries Sdn. Bhd. Plot 78, Lebuhraya Kampung Jawa, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang Aliran Monthly : Vol.28(8) Page 3 up to show their opposition to the That anniversary, coupled with dents in Ipoh (Sundays) and ISA. During previous vigils, a the presence of Malaysia Today Seremban (Fridays) joined in with Selangor state government repre- news-portal manager Raja Petra weekly vigils of their own. And sentative had assured the crowd Kamarudin, the last of the three Penang is set to resume its vigil that they could use the field with- ISA detainees arrested in Septem- on 15 Nov. The perseverance and out any fear of action. ber, could have unnerved the au- persistence of the crowds must thorities. Raja Petra’s articles on have surprised everyone, includ- Who were these 23 people the au- scandals in the corridors of power ing the participants themselves. thorities felt compelled to arrest: have attracted a huge following – they included three elected repre- but they have also landed him in Each of these vigils typically sentatives, a town councillor, me- hot soup. But on 7 November, a draws 150 to 300 people. Hold- dia personnel, lawyers, activists brave High Court judge, in a rare ing lighted candles and clad in and a Catholic priest. All of them, decision against the Home Abolish ISA T-shirts, they listen except for one who was wanted Minister’s power to detain anyone to speeches and poems, sing (and for a different case, were released under the ISA, surprisingly freed sometimes croak!) rousing songs the next morning and will have to him from the Kamunting deten- of freedom and justice, and sign wait and see if the authorities will tion camp, much to the delight of petitions. They don badges and press charges. civil society activists. quickly establish a remarkable camaraderie with like-minded The show of force by the riot po- Persistent vigils strangers at the vigil. It’s a bond- lice came like a bolt out of the blue. ing of the human spirit and for an For several weeks before that, The Abolish ISA candlelight vig- hour or so, barriers of class, peaceful vigils against the ISA ils began in September, following ethnicity, and religion are lifted. had passed without any unto- the ISA arrests of Raja Petra, Tan Afterwards, eye-witnesses post ward incident when police stood Hoon Cheng and Teresa Kok. pictures and accounts of these vig- at the sidelines and observed, ils on blogs and websites, reach- while snapping pictures and film- An immediate public outcry led ing a larger audience. ing. to the prompt release of Hoon Cheng. The public outcry was fol- It is interesting to observe the pro- Against a storm of criticism, po- lowed by six consecutive Friday file of the crowd. Many are lice have defended their action. night candlelight vigils in Penang. middle-class urbanites who bring “We don’t take sides. Even if an As those weekly vigils drew to a friends and family members along NGO, or even government parties close, weekly Sunday vigils began – partners, children and parents - were to organise such a gathering in Petaling Jaya. Instead of the vig- a couple of them are even Datuks. without permit, we would have ils gradually fizzling out, resi- Some of them may be regulars at acted in the same way,” Selangor state chief police officer Khalid Abu Bakar was reported as say- ing. The 9 November vigil in Petaling Jaya was joined by civil society activists belonging to the Bersih coalition, which is lobbying for electoral reforms and free and fair elections in Malaysia. The vigil fell on the eve of the first anniver- sary of the huge Bersih protest rally on the streets of Kuala Lumpur last November, which drew about 40,000 people. Aliran Monthly : Vol.28(8) Page 4 the vigils, but others are new faces ists. One of the key activists of the self-interest. and even youths. They know they GMI Family Support Group is the are taking a risk of sorts by stick- courageous Norlaila Othman, the We too should be careful to dis- ing their necks out, but they find wife of ISA detainee Mat Sah tinguish between real patriotism strength and solidarity in num- Mohd Satray, who has been de- - the real love for the land and the bers. You have to be there to feel tained without trial since 18 April thirst for justice among its inhab- the ‘spirit’ - the sense of being part 2002, more than six years. Pas has itants - and the false patriotism of of a larger family, a Bangsa Ma- also played an important role in scoundrels looking out for their laysia in the making.
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