KENYATAAN MEDIA SUARAM

PRESS STATEMENT : 5TH. NOVEMBER 2000

STOP STATE REPRESSION ON
PEACEFUL GATHERING

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) condemns the repressive manner how the state is responding to a peaceful gathering to be held today at a private venue which belongs to members of Parti Keadilan Nasional.

Police have so far acted repressively by arresting six members of Parti Keadilan Nasional and reformist at the venue. Members of the public too are barred from entering the venue of the gathering and road-blocks have been erected on roads leading to the venue of the gathering.

The massive presence of police and FRU gives clear signals that the State is all set to crush yet another peaceful gathering .

SUARAM VIEWS WITH CONCERN THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND CALL:

SUARAM calls for the government to stop this repression !

SUARAM condemns the arrest of six people so far and call for their immediate release. We deem the arrest as illegal and a total disrespect to the laws of this country and human rights.

SUARAM condemn the total disrespect to freedom of assembly. The actions of the police is a gross violation of Human Rights and the democratic rights of the people to assemble peacefully.

SUARAM calls the Malaysian Human Rights Commission to wake up and intervene to these gross violations.

SUARAM calls upon all Malaysian to protect their fundamental rights to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and free speech. The Struggle to protect and safeguard these pillars of democracy now lies in all our shoulders.

LONG LIVE DEMOCRACY !



S.Arutchelvan
Co-ordinator