URGENT APPEAL- Release Ong Jing Cheng and Yap Heng Lung Immediately!

URGENT APPEAL

12 JULY 2009

 

To all,

 

Release Ong Jing Cheng and Yap Heng Lung Immediately!

 

Ong Jing Cheng, (a graduate student from USM, also Secretary of Administration of DEMA and coordinator of EMPOWER) together with Yap Heng Lung (fresh graduate student from USM and Coordinator of Student Politics Department of DEMA) were charged under Penal Code 447 for trespassing University Malaya (UM). Both of them were detained overnight at Pantai Police Station and is believed to be remanded the next day.

 

We call for immediate release of Ong and Yap because:

1. 1.      Both of them were only meeting friends at UM without any other motive or intention.
2. 2.      Local universities are public places, not security zone. Public should be welcomed to enter and utilize the facilities in the university.
3. 3.      Police is an executive force and they should be accountable and independent. In this case, the police worked in coop with the UM security officers and there was an obvious bias in handling the case by rejecting the request from Ong and Yap to lodge a police report against the security officers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Background of the Incident

 

Chronology

 

Time	Incident
12/7/09 (Sunday) 8.00pm	Ong Jing Cheng and Yap Heng Lung (two DEMA activists and graduate students from USM) went to University Malaya (UM) to meet their friend at Academy of Islamic Studies (API). Unfortunately their motorcycle broke down before they reach. So they had to walk to their meeting place. Three UM security guards stopped them and asked their reasons to be there as according to the guards, API is a “Malay place” and therefore Chinese should not be there.
8.15pm	The security guards contacted another seven officers to come and surrounded Ong and Yap. Ong and Yap were forced to follow the officers back to the security department for trespassing UM. When Ong and Yap refused to follow the instruction, the officers called the police. Police came and brought both Ong and Yap to Pantai Police Station.
8.35pm	Ong and Yap reached the police station. Police accepted the report from the UM security officers, accusing Ong and Yap as trespassers in UM. Also, the police found a memorandum of EMPOWER issued to Prime Minister on “Making a Street Safe” on their motorcycle and suspected that they were trying to protest. (*Ong Jing Cheng is a coordinator of EMPOWER-Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor) Police rejected the request of Ong and Yap to lodge a report on the security guards who harassed them without reasonable excuse.
11.00pm	Both Ong and Yap were detained overnight by the police and were charged under Penal Code 447.
13/07/09 12.15pm	Ong and Yap were brought to Masgistrate Court at Jalan Duta. They were remanded for two days.

 

Abuse of Power

Public Universities are opened zone for public to enter. Security officers of UM should not be intimidating Ong and Yap for trespassing UM because both of them were only visiting a friend at UM. The accuse was not standing on a reasonable ground as the officers claimed that Academy of Islamic Studies (API) is a place for Malay race and any Chinese presented at the venue will be suspected. The responsibility of security officers is to help maintain the order of UM, not abusing one’s power to find fault on targeted people without concrete basis.

 

The police, on the other hand, should play a role as an independent force to execute the law. In this case, the police was bias towards the UM security officers by only accepting their reports, detaining Ong and Yap without proper investigation.

 

Demands

Hence, DEMA calls upon the police to release Ong Jing Cheng and Yap Heng Lung and withdraw all charges immediately. DEMA also urges UM authority to take action against the security officers who were not professional and intimidating Ong and Yap without reasonable basis.

 

What Can You Do?

1. Fax the sample letter below to Bukit Aman Police Headquarter:

Fax number: 03 – 2070 7500

1. Call Pantai Police Station to ask about the case and demand immediate release of Ong and Yap:

Tel:  03-22822222 or 03-22824786

 

Released by,

Malaysia Youth and Student Democratic Movement (DEMA)

Lee Song Yong (Secretary of National Affair)

012-6359440

xiumengdema@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sample Letter

 

Please state your concern and protest and faxing the letter to Bukit Aman Police Headquarter and CC to Vice Chancellor of University Malaya (UM) and Ministry of Higher Education.

 

To:

 

Tan Sri Musa Hassan

Inspector-General of Police

Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia

Bukit Aman

50560 Kuala Lumpur.

 

 

Release Ong Jing Cheng and Yap Heng Lung Immediately!

 

We/I from ______________________, oppose the action of the police officers in detaining Ong Jing Cheng and Yap Heng Lung without reasonable basis.

 

2. We call for immediate release of Ong and Yap because:

        i.            Both of them were only meeting friends at UM without any other motive or intention.

      ii.            Local universities are public places, not security zone. Public should be welcomed to enter and utilize the facilities in the university.

    iii.            Police is an executive force and they should be accountable and independent. In this case, the police worked in coop with the UM security officers and there was an obvious bias in handling the case by rejecting the request from Ong and Yap to lodge a police report against the security officers.

 

3. Public Universities are opened zone for public to enter. Security officers of UM should not be intimidating Ong and Yap for trespassing UM because both of them were only visiting a friend at UM. The accuse was not standing on a reasonable ground as the officers claimed that Academy of Islamic Studies (API) is a place for Malay race and any Chinese presented at the venue are to be suspected. The responsibility of security officers is to help maintain the order of UM, not abusing one’s power to find fault on targeted people without concrete basis. This will continue to create fear among the students.

 

4. The police, on the other hand, should play a role as an independent force to execute the law. In this case, the police was bias towards the UM security officers by only accepting their reports, detaining Ong and Yap without proper investigation.

 

5. We urge the authority to:

        i.            Release Ong Jing Cheng and Yap Heng Lung immediately.

      ii.            Withdraw all charges on Ong and Yap.

    iii.            Take action on security officers of UM who were not professional.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

______________

(                           )

 

CC:

Ghauth Jasmon,
Vice-Chancellor
University of Malaya
50603 Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSIA
Tel. No : +603 7967 3213 / 3510 / +603 7956 8400
Fax No.: +603 7955 2975
Email: vc@um.edu.my / ghauth@gmail.com

 

Y.B. DATO’ SERI MOHAMED KHALED BIN NORDIN

 Menteri Pengajian Tinggi,
Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi,
Aras 7, Blok E3, Parcel E,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62505 PUTRAJAYA.

Tel       : +603-8883 5010

Faks     : +603-8889 1952

Emel    : menteri@mohe.gov.my

 

 

 

GMI lancar demo anti-ISA 1 Ogos

Abdul Rahim Sabri | Jun 22, 09 4:23pm

Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) hari ini secara rasmi mengumumkan perhimpunan besar-besaran mendesak penghapusan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA), 1 Ogos ini.Pengerusi NGO itu Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh berkata, agenda program pada hari tersebut belum diputuskan lagi dan dijangka akan diketahui menjelang tarikh tersebut. Tambahnya, mereka mensasarkan jumlah “sekurang-kurang menyamai jumlah mereka yang menyertai perarakan anjuran Gabungan  Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih), dua tahun lalu. Pada perarakan ke Istana Negara pada November 2007, kira-kira 40,000 ribu orang turun bersama-sama dengan tokoh-tokoh  pembangkang. Lokasi dan masa belum ditetapkan lagi, kata Syed Ibrahim di sidang media GMI di Dewan Pehimpunan Cina Selangor, Kuala Lumpur pagi ini. Ditanya mengapa penangguhan tarikh himpunan tersebut sebanyak dua kali, pada Mac dan Jun, beliau berkata mereka terpaksa menghadapi pilihanraya kecil – menjelang pilihanraya parlimen Bukit Gantang dan DUN Penanti. “Tetapi penangguhan tersebut ada manfaat. Kita dapat satu tarikh yang cantik,” katanya. Dalam satu kenyataannya, Syed Ibrahim berkata “tarikh 1 Ogos dipilih sempena 49 tahun ISA yang digubal sejak 1 Ogos tahun 1960.” “Masa yang terlalu lama untuk negara dibiarkan diselubungi dengan akta yang empunya kuasa amat luas menahan tanpa bicara, menghukum tanpa bukti dan memenjara tanpa tempoh menentu. “Sudah tiba masanya, akta usang itu bukan sahaja dikaji semula tetapi dimansuhkan sama sekali,” katanya lagi. GMI mengatur beberapa program menjelang himpunan besar tersebut, antaranya, siri ceramah di seluruh negara, pengedaran risalah, pertunjukan seni, forum dan petisyen dalam talian. Sidang media itu turut disertai anggota-anggota gabungan NGO itu, termasuk wakil-wakil PAS, PKR, PSM, Pertubuhan Jemaah Islam Malaysia (JIM), Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) dan Pusat Wartawan Independen (CIJ).

 

(source: http://malaysiakini.com/news/106973)

kenyataan akhbar DEMA Berhubung Keputusan Mahkamah dalam Kes ISA 7

Gerakan Demokratik Belia dan Pelajar Malaysia (DEMA) memandang serius keputusan Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Lumpur dalam perbicaraan kes ISA 7 pada 18 Jun 2009.

Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Lumpur telah memutuskan bahawa lima individu iaitu Rafzan Ramli,Khairul Amal Mahmud,Ahmad Kamal Abdul Hamid,Nik Norhafizi Nik Ismaildan Zulkifli Idris yang merupakan pelajar universiti tempatan pada tahun 2001 bersalah kerana menyertai perhimpunan haram anti-ISA pada Jun 2001.Justeru kelima-lima individu tersebut telah didenda RM 3900 atau tiga bulan penjara.Kelima-lima individu tersebut turut digantung daripada meneruskan pengajian mereka mengikut Akta Universiti Kolej Universiti.

DEMA berpendirian bahawa keputusan mahkamah dalam perbicaraan ini jelas sekali memaparkan pencabulan yang serius terhadap hak asasi manusia.Kebebasan bersuara secara individu atau berkumpulan serta menyatakan pendirian individu atau kumpulan kepada pihak berkaitan dan masyarakat merupakan suatu hak yang diberikan dan dijamin oleh Perlembagaan Persekutuan Malaysia dan Deklarasi Universal Hak Asasi Manusia (UDHR).Justeru kelima-lima individu tersebut memparktiskan hak mereka dengan menyatakan pandangan mereka terhadap Akta Dalam Negeri (ISA) dalam protes pada Jun 2001.Justeru,sebarang tindakan terhadap tindakan mereka merupakan suatu bentuk pencabulan hak asasi manusia yang serius.Keputusan mahkamah pada 18 Jun 2009 merupakan suatu bentuk pencabulan hak asasi manusia yang serius dan kritikal malah bertentangan dengan fungsi institusi kehakiman untuk melindungi hak asasi individu.

DEMA turut berpendirian bahawa keputusan mahkamah dalam perbicaraan ini merupakan suatu justifikasi terhadap tindakan-tindakan intimidasi terhadap sistem demokrasi.Penafian terhadap hak untuk berkumpul serta menyuarakan pandangan individu atau kumpulan merupakan suatu ancaman yang kritikal dan serius kepada sistem demokrasi di Malaysia. Sistem demokrasi memberikan dan menjamin hak setiap individu untuk bersuara sama ada secara individual atau berkumpulan serta menyatakan pendirian individu atau kumpulan kepada pihak berkaitan dan masyarakat umumnya sepertimana yang telah dilakukan oleh kelima-lima individu tersebut dalam protes anti ISA pada Jun 2001.Keputusan mahkamah menyediakan suatu justifikasi kepada mana-mana pihak untuk mengancam asas sistem demokrasi di Malaysia.Justeru, DEMA berpendirian bahawa keputusan ini merupakan suatu ancaman yang serius dan kritikal terhadap sistem demokrasi di Malaysia.

Selaras dengan pendirian tersebut,DEMA menuntut agar  hak asasi manusia dan sistem demokrasi dikembalikan,dipulihkan dan dijamin oleh setiap pihak dengan memansuhkan undang-undang yang bersifat anti-hak asasi manusia serta anti-demokrasi dimansuhkan termasuk Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) dan Akta Universiti Kolej Universiti (AUKU).

Anti-ISA rally: Students fined RM3,900 each

Hafiz Yatim | Jun 18, 09 11:32am

The Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court today found five undergraduates guilty of taking part in an illegal anti-Internal Security Act rally eight years ago. MCPX They were fined RM3,900 each or three months’ jail. Their application for a stay was rejected. Magistrate Azniza Mohd Ali, however, acquitted one other student from the charge. The five, aged between 28 and 31, were Rafzan Ramli, Khairul Amal Mahmud, Ahmad Kamal Abdul Hamid, Nik Norhafizi Nik Ismail and Zulkefle Idris, all from local universities. They have been suspended from continuing their studies by their respective universities under the Universities and University Colleges Act after being charged for participating in the June 2001 rally. Helman Samsudin was the student who was acquitted. Another student, who was charged together with the rest, Wan Sanusi Wan Mohd Noor, has been missing since they were called to enter their defence. Immediately after the judgment, several university student leaders, PAS representatives and non-governmental organisations managed to collect enough funds to pay the fine. The five were represented by Latheefa Koya, Amer Hamzah Arshad, Nik Mohamed Ikhwan Nik Mahmud and Zulkefli Omar. Initially, all seven were acquitted by the Magistrates Court after the magistrate had ruled that the prosecution had failed to raise a prima facie case. However, in November 2006, the Kuala Lumpur High Court had allowed the appeal made by the Attorney-General’s Chambers for a re-trial of the seven. The seven were charged with illegal assembly in connection with a protest rally against the ISA held outside the National Mosque on June 8, 2001. Fine too hefty In mitigation, Amer Hamzah said the students were merely exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. “The students have been punished enough as they lost their university education and part of their future,” he said, urging the court to impose a fine and not custodial sentence as this was a minor offence. Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Abazafree Mohd Abas said it was a difficult task being a public prosecutor to ask for a deterrent sentence as this involved students. However, he said: “Since the 1990s and early 2000 and even lately, there have been an increase in public protests. The court should sent the right message to the public so it would deter others.” In sentencing, Aniza said she had considered the facts of the case, their mitigation and most important of all, public interest. “I hope you learn from your mistake. You are still young and have a bright future,” she added. Before the start of the case, various student bodies held a peaceful demonstration outside the court complex in a show of support for the accused. They called for the abolishment of the ISA and the Universities and University Colleges Act. Newly appointed PAS information chief Idris Ahmad expressed disappointment that the fine imposed by the magistrate was high as the minimal fine imposed should have been RM2,000.

(source:www.malaysiakini.com/)

Malaysia blacklisted for human trafficking

The United States has put Malaysia back on the blacklist of countries trafficking in people after removing the country from the list last year.

The State Department annual ‘Trafficking in Persons Report 2009′, which examined efforts in more than 173 countries to combat trafficking for forced labour, prostitution, military service and other purposes, has Malaysia sharing the blacklist with 16 other countries.

Among the 17 countries on the blacklist are Zimbabwe, Sudan and Saudi Arabia.

Malaysia is the one of five Asian nations on the blacklist – the others are Burma, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and North Korea.

“Malaysia is a destination and, to a lesser extent, a source and transit country for women and children trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, and for men, women, and children trafficked for the purpose of forced labour,” said the report, which was released by the US State Department today.

Malaysia was elevated from the blacklist in 2008 to the ‘Tier 2′ watch list after plunging into the dreaded ‘Tier 3′ two years ago.

This is the third time Malaysia has been blacklisted – the first was in 2001 but its ranking improved to ‘Tier 2′ in subsequent years until 2007.

In that year, it was relegated to ‘Tier 3′ but last year, the report said “significant efforts being made to comply with minimum standards of combating human trafficking” which resulted in Malaysia being removed from the blacklist.

“Malaysia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, despite some progress in enforcing the country’s new anti-trafficking law,” said the 2009 report.

It said that while the government took initial actions under the 2007 anti-trafficking law against sex trafficking, it has yet to fully address issues of human trafficking.

Refugees ‘sold’ by immigration officials

The report referred to another report by the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee two months ago which found the involvement of Immigration Department officials in trafficking Burmese refugees.

According to the report, Malaysian immigration officials sold refugees for approximately US$200 (RM700) per person to traffickers operating along Thailand’s southern border.

“In turn, the traffickers demanded ransom – ranging from US$300 (RM1,000) for children to US$575 (RM2,000) for adults – in exchange for their freedom.

“Informed sources estimated 20 percent of the victims were unable to pay the ransom, and were sold for the purpose of labour and commercial sexual exploitation.”

It said that so far little action has been taken since the released of the Senate foreign relations committee report in April.

“The Malaysian police is investigating the allegations with the cooperation of the Immigration Department, as publicly confirmed by the prime minister but no officials were arrested, prosecuted, or convicted for involvement in trafficking during the reporting period,” it lamented.

Migrant workers victimised

The report is also scathing in describing the country’s treatment of migrant labourers.

“Some migrant workers are victimised by their employers, employment agents, or traffickers who supply migrant labourers and victims of sex trafficking.

“Some victims suffer conditions including physical and sexual abuse, forced drug use, debt bondage, non-payment of wages, threats, confinement, and withholding of travel documents to restrict their freedom of movement.”

The report pointed out that the government continue to condone the confiscation of passports by employers, while employers passed the government’s ‘immigration levy’ on to the low-skilled migrant workers, which facilitated debt bondage.

It also said that women from Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Burma, Mongolia, and China are forced into prostitution after being lured to Malaysia with promises of legitimate employment.

The report concluded that the government had made only “limited efforts” to prevent trafficking in persons over the last year.

“As a regional economic leader approaching developed nation status, Malaysia has the resources and government infrastructure to do more in addressing trafficking in persons,” said the report.

Could face sanctions

Countries on the blacklist could face sanctions, including the withholding by US of non-humanitarian, non-trade related foreign aid.

They would also be subject to withholding of funding for government officials to participate in educational and cultural exchange programmes.

On a bright note, the report named Malaysia’s Alice Nah as one of its nine 2009 ‘heroes’.

Nah (left), who is from the Migration Working Group, has raised government and public awareness through online articles describing the plight of trafficking victims, refugees, and migrant workers.

“In January 2009, Nah wrote about the trafficking of Burmese refugees along the Malaysia-Thailand border. Her article increased local and international attention to the issue and raised public awareness within Malaysia,” it said.

(source: http://malaysiakini.com/news/106614)

三度遭美国列贩卖人口黑名单

马来西亚国际人权形象再受打击，自从2001年，美国今年第三度将这个国家列入人口贩卖的黑名单。

美国国务院发表的年度《2009年人口贩卖报告》，检视了全球173个国家在打击强迫劳役、卖淫、强迫从军和其他目的的人口贩卖活动。

如今，马来西亚与其他16个国家进入了黑名单，与津巴布韦、苏丹、沙地阿拉伯等人权记录恶名昭彰的国家并列。

而马来西亚是5个进入黑名单的亚洲国家之一，其余者是缅甸、巴布亚新几内亚、斐济和北韩。

大马成为人口贩卖重要终点

“马来西亚是女性和儿童贩卖的终点，而且也很大程度上，是这些人口贩卖的起源和中介站。而这些活动是作为商业性剥削的意图。此外，也有男性、女性和儿童被贩卖作为强迫劳役的用途。”

大马在2001年首次进入人口贩卖黑名单，即所谓的“第三级名单”，不过随后数年间，它成功脱离恶名，提升到“第二级观察名单”。第三级的评价意味着该国完全没有遵守，也没有努力去遵守对付贩卖活动的最低标准。

但在2007年，它再度陷入黑名单。翌年，大马再度脱离黑名单，而当时的报告表示，大马“做出显著的努力，符合打击人口贩卖的最低标准”。

名列黑名单的国家或将面临制裁，包括美国将扣押提供给该国与人道和贸易无关的援助金，至于没有接受美国援助的国家，美国将扣押它们的官员参与教育与文化交流计划的经费。

报告指责当局没有足够执法

不过，2009年的报告指责，尽管马来西亚通过了新的反人口贩卖法令，但当局却没有足够的执法行动。

“尽管马来西亚在执行新通过的反人口贩卖法令取得一些的进展，但这个国家并没有完全符合消除人口贩卖的最低要求，而且没有采取显著步骤来达致这样的目的。”

报告也表示，虽然政府采取了初步行动，执行《2007年反人口贩卖法》，来打击走私妓女的活动，可是它仍未能全盘解决人口贩卖问题。

移民官员涉及缅甸难民贩卖

这项报告同时引述美国参议院国际关系委员会（US Senate Foreign Relations Committee）两个月前发表的报告，指大马移民厅官员涉及缅甸难民的人口贩卖。

根据这份报告，马来西亚移民官员以大约200美金每个人头的价格，将这些难民卖给泰南边境的人口走私贩子。

“作为回馈，这些人口贩子（向受害者）要求赎金，孩童约300美金（1000令吉），而成人则约575美金（2000令吉），以交换他们的自由。”

当局未将任何涉案官员定罪

“根据消息指出，大约有20%的受害者未能缴付赎金，他们最后会遭转卖，进行强迫劳役或者卖淫活动。”

尽管委员会报告在今年4月已经出炉，但大马当局几乎没有采取任何处理的行动。

“由于首相公开确认此事，因此大马警方正在寻求移民部门的合作，以调查相关的指控。不过，截至报告完成之际，没有任何涉及人口贩卖的官员被逮捕、提控或者定罪。”

指大马让外劳面对恶质待遇

这份报告也严厉批评马来西亚的外劳政策，导致外劳面对恶质的待遇。

“一些外劳被他们的雇员，以及提供外劳的中介人或者人口贩子所剥削，或者成为跨国卖淫的受害者。”

“一些受害者遭受身体和性虐待，或者被强迫施毒，为还债而劳役，没有获得薪金、被威胁和囚禁，旅行证件被扣以限制他们的行动自由。”

报告指出，大马政府持续容忍雇员没收外劳的护照，而且雇员也将政府征收的“外劳税”转嫁于这些低技术的外劳，促进债务劳役的不良现象。

多国女性被骗来马从事淫业

这份人口贩卖报告也揭露，人口贩子以介绍正当工作的幌子，将许多外国女性骗到马来西亚，并且强迫他们从事淫业。这些女性来自印尼、泰国、菲律宾、柬埔寨、越南、缅甸、蒙古和中国。

它结论说，大马政府在去年只采取“有限的努力”来遏止人口的贩卖。

“作为区域经济的领导，同时接近发达国家的阶段，马来西亚其实有足够的资源和政府机构，可以加强其打击人口贩卖的努力。”

爱丽斯纳被点名成为“英雄”

值得一提的是，这份报告点名马来西亚的爱丽斯纳（Alice Nah）成为2009年度9名“英雄”之一。

爱丽斯纳是移民工作小组（Migration Working Group）的成员，他通过网络文章揭露人口贩卖受害者、难民和外劳的处境，提高民众和政府对相关课题的注意。

“2009年1月，爱丽斯纳撰写了关于缅甸难民在马泰边境被走私贩卖的文章。他的文章引起国内和国际社会的关注，提高大马民众的醒觉。”

转载自（http://malaysiakini.com/news/106618）

Court acquits ‘ISA 7′ students

After going through a four-year ordeal, the seven suspended university students – dubbed the ‘ISA 7′ – who were charged with illegal assembly finally walked free from the courtroom today.

The Kuala Lumpur magistrate’s court this morning acquitted the seven on the ground that the prosecution had failed to prove they had organised and participated in an anti-Internal Security Act (ISA) demonstration outside the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur on June 8, 2001.

The prosecution had also failed to prove that it was an unlawful assembly, magistrate Mohd Khairi Haron said before announcing his decision to an applause from the packed courtroom.

The seven, who appeared surprised and jovial, were immediately congratulated by relatives, opposition leaders and student representatives who filled the courtroom.

When asked, the prosecution said it has to wait for further instruction to decide whether it would appeal against the decision.

Decision welcomed

Accompanied by supporters, the ‘ISA 7′ later held an impromptu press conference outside the court to express their gratitude to regional and local groups which had supported them throughout the four years.

They also welcomed the decision and hoped that they could resume their studies soon.

The seven are Rafzan Ramli, Helman Sanuddin, Wan Sanusi Wan Mohd Noor, Khairul Amal Mahmud, Nik Noorhafizi Nik Ibrahim, Ahmad Kamal Abdul Hamid and Zulkefle Idris.

They were charged under Section 27 of the Police Act on July 19, 2001. All of them pleaded not guilty to the charge – which provides for a maximum two-year jail sentence, a fine of up to RM10,000 or both.

They had since been banned from attending classes by the four varsities where they were studying. Previously, they had appealed to the Education Ministry but the then Education Minister Musa Mohamed said they could only be reinstated if they apologised. They did not do so.

The ‘ISA 7′ hearing began in July 2003 after it was postponed on eight previous occasions.

Also present in court today were PKR leaders Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor and Tian Chua, malaysiakini columnist cum film-maker Hishamuddin Rais – all of whom were held under ISA whose freedom was demanded by the students – and human rights group Suaram coordinator Chang Lih Kang.

What they say

Here are the comments from the ‘ISA 7′ and their supporters following the court decision today:

“We were surprised as we did not expect all of us to be freed. Now that we have been punished for four years long before we were found guilty, this will strengthen the argument to abolish the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA). I urge the Higher Education Ministry to reinstate us in our respective varsities without conditions.” – Helman Sanuddin, one of the seven accused.

“We thank the student activists for their support throughout the trial. Their solidarity with us has given us the strength and resolve to face the charges. I wish to urge Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to work towards repealing the UUCA which violates academic freedom and student rights.” – Rafzan Ramli, one of the seven accused.

“I am happy with the decision but this does not mean that the struggle to abolish the UUCA is over. The court decision proves that UUCA is a draconian act that resulted in the seven having to go through a four-year ordeal.” – Shazeera Ahmad Zawawi (photo), ex-student activist and Rafzan’s fiancee.

“This is not a genuine victory but a black mark as the students had to go through the tedious court processes to fight for the restoration of their rights.” – Amer Hamzah Arshad, defence counsel.

“They were so many defects from their arrests until prosecution. The government must take steps to remedy the situation and the students’ rights to study must be immediately restored.” – Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, PKR Youth chief.

(source: www.malaysiakini.com/)

1BLACK Coffee: A new cultural movement?

Over 100 people took part in the ‘black coffee session’ yesterday in what is believed to be the first of such protests organised through social networking website Facebook.
MCPX
The protest, innocuously called ‘1BLACKMALAYSIA AfterDinnerCoffee Session’, took place at several Old Town White Coffee outlets last night without any incident.

Word of the campaign was spread mostly through Facebook, which provided information on the various Old Town outlets where the sit-down protests were to take place.

When contacted, ‘black coffee session’ organiser and Bersih activist Wong Chin Huat said there were gatherings at seven of the famous kopitiam outlets – Kuchai Lama, Jaya One, Aman Puri (Kepong), Bangsar South, 3rd Miles Square, Bandar Puteri (Puchong) and Bayan Baru (Penang).

Wong believed that these black coffee sessions could potentially be the beginning of a cultural movement.

“This is not just a political movement, it’s about young people using online networks to connect and do something revolutionary in Malaysia.”

Wong’s Bersih coined the 1BLACKMALAYSIA campaign to mourn the “death” of democracy following Barisan National’s power grab in Perak four months ago.

He said yesterday’s sessions could bring a transformation of the people’s mentality – that one day people will associate politics with something as normal as going out dating or for dinner.

“These sessions are a way of normalising political discussions in a funnily serious or a seriously funny way. It breaks stereotypical links between politics, money and seriousness,” said Wong.

“It may not be a superior alternative, but it’s definitely a more interesting one, and one that will only cost you a cup of coffee.”

Everyone can easily participate

At 9pm, about 30 protesters were seen at Old Town’s Kuchai Lama outlet, with a few clad in black.

Among the patrons seen there were political analyst Khoo Kay Peng, Penang-based Save Our Selves (SOS) coordinator Ong Boon Keong, human rights lawyer Harris Ibrahim and Malaysiakini columnist Helen Ang.

Protestors Neow Ti Hooi and Toh Jin Hong – both 23 and from the Malaysian Youth and Student Democratic Movement (Dema) – have high hopes and expectations for the protest.

“I think this is a good event because people can easily get involved. Just wear a black T-shirt and come here. Everyone can do it, and it’s a way to express our demand to dissolve the Perak state assembly,” said Neow (left).

She also felt that the use of Internet was crucial in exposing the younger generation to Malaysian politics as well as protest events such as these.

Outlets closure ‘not for renovation’

Undaunted by the low turnout, Neow commented that the ‘black coffee sessions’ were just the starting point of a movement that was yet to come.

Toh (right) added that Dema went to the extent of promoting the protest to students in universities such as Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia.

Sitting with a group of 10 protestors was a middle-aged government servant from Perak who declined to be named. He said he was there to support his friends.

According to him, he did not anticipate any immediate changes from the protest, but speculated that there could be long-term effects if protestors don’t go overboard and maintain diplomacy.

Another patron from Puchong who only wished to be identified as Chan, felt that the protest was not yet an effective method.

He said that the effectiveness of the campaign depended on how radical the leaders are, how far they are willing to intervene, and whether or not the protestors could build and retain the momentum of the protest.

On another note, none of the protestors believed that the closure of several Old Town outlets last week were due to internal renovations as claimed by the management. The closures had led to the cancellation of the planned ‘black coffee sessions’.

“I don’t think Old Town White Coffee should be angry with us (protestors) because we’re actually giving them a lot of business.” said Neow.

(source:Emily Chow Malaysiakini.com)

第五届学运全国巡回入学讲座之《寻·思·逐·梦》

即将踏入大学的门槛，各位准大学生肯定对大学生活充满疑问。所以由马来西亚青年与学生民主运动（学运）举办的《寻·思·逐·梦》第5届巡回入学讲座即将于6月20日至23日开跑。我们将到巴生，关丹，怡保，吉隆坡，双溪大年，马六甲，芙蓉，昔加末及亚罗士打与各位准大学生见面。

此活动的主要目的是为了让准大学生了解校园内的实际状况、提高大学新生对大学生的定位及责任的认识以及激发准大学生的思考能力，规划未来的大学生涯。学运将和不同的地方乡团组织联办包括隆雪华青、雪福青、巴生黄氏登进青年团、怡保大专青年社、双溪大年德教会青年团、亚罗士打青团运、森华青、甲华青及关丹彭董联会。

为了让准备进入大学的新生，适应大学生涯及鼓励他们积极参加活动，此巡回入学讲座将会以轻松及有趣的方式带出，设有简单的游戏及活动，并安排不同大专的毕业生和在籍的活跃大专生与准大专生分享他们的实际经验。

巡回入学讲座地点：
日期
时间
地点
地区

20/6（六）
8.30am-11.30am
马来西亚黄氏登进家族会礼堂（巴生中央医院附近）
巴生

20/6（六）
8.30am-11.30am
彭亨董联会会所
关丹

21/6（日）
8.30am-11.30am
学乐书苑
怡保

21/6（日）
8.30am-11.30am
春秋慈善社
昔加末

22/6（一）
8.30am-11.30am
双溪大年德教会立善阁（双溪大年旧医院对面）
双溪大年

22/6（一）
8.30am-11.30am
马六甲中华大会堂信顺讲堂
马六甲

22/6（一）
2.30pm-5.30pm
森华堂
芙蓉

23/6（二）
8.30am-11.30am
吉打青团运活动中心
亚罗士打

23/6（二）
8.30am-11.30am
隆雪华堂
吉隆坡

上述活动入场免费，欲知详情，请联络学运负责人：

林秉胜 012-241374

电邮：binsenlim@gmail. com

学运严厉谴责槟州政府打压新闻从业员

马来西亚青年与学生民主运动（学运）不满及严厉谴责槟州首长于6月4日强制驱逐一名欲采访记者会的《前锋报》记者哈斯鲁（Haszrul Mohamed）的做为。据世界人权宣言第19条记载，人人有权享有主张和发表意见的自由；此项权利包括持有主张而不受干涉的自由，和通过任何媒介和不论国界寻求、接受和传递消息和思想的自由。

众 所周知，我国的新闻自由尺度向来不止狭隘而且主流媒体几乎已受钳制而成政府的私人工具，被滥用于宣传对其有利的政策和资讯。至于具批判当权者的报道往往都受到压制或改编。媒体在社会醒觉中是不可或缺 的关键，其须确保大众社会收到正确的资讯，方才能塑造具分析能力和批判精神的公民社会。

资讯透明、言论自由是长久以来公民社会所追求的共同目标，在不违反其余人权诸如隐私权等等的原则底下，人民应绝对拥有公众资讯的知情权。此外，媒体从业员也需负上报导真相新闻的职业操守，以捍卫新闻的真实性。

至308以后，民联执政槟州，虽林冠英上任为槟州首长但今日竟重蹈国阵复辙，滥用权力，继本年三月之后，再次变相打压媒体，在6月4日的记者会上（新任威省市政局主席宣誓就职典礼后），把马来西亚前锋报的采访记者驱逐出场。 禁 足媒体采访的举动如同国阵使用恶法打压新闻自由，如果今天我们可以允许禁足特定媒体的做法，等于间接认同了以恶法来限制言 论。我们不能允许双重标准的存在，我们必须用同样的衡量标准来衡量国阵及民联，主要避免我们迈向斗烂的两线制.

不论马来西亚前锋报的报导确实有偏袒一方以否，槟州政府的确能通过其他更民主的方式来表达不满。如呼吁公众杯葛、拒买该报或透过法律诉讼的途径来做出应对，封锁媒体采访绝对不是一项明智的选择 。 在此，我们学运严厉谴责槟州首长林冠英禁足马来西亚前锋报的做法，严重侵犯了新闻自由与公众的知情权：

• 媒体的角色在于让资讯流通，报道事件真相，让公众看到社会现实的变动，批判不合理的现象。

• 滥用权力杯葛媒体的采访，等于直接侵害公众的基本知情权。

• 若媒体的报道不符合事实，或刻意毁谤偏袒，应透过法律诉讼/呼吁公众杯葛、拒买该报。

《518 光州事件》

文：承贤（学运实习生）

时间和背景 

1945年日本结束殖民地统治后，韩国被分为北韩（朝鲜）和南韩（韩国） 

1950年，即韩战结束后，在朴正熙的带领及美国的资助下，韩国的经济成长首次超越了朝鲜，但他不容许有关任何民主运动。那时韩国是军人政治，而光州与全罗南道人民是比较反对当时的制度，该总统被指忽视该区的经济发展。 
 

故事 

1979年10月26日，朴正熙被中央情报金载圭暗杀，当时有两种说法，一种是因为人民对民主的要求，还有一种是由美国策划谋杀的，即时韩国宣布全国戒严。 

11月24日，140名民主运动人士因要求民主而被逮捕。 

12月12日，全斗焕发动政变，其妻子的弟弟出任戒烟司令官。全斗焕也在1980年4月14日就兼任中央情报部长。 

韩国爆发工人和学生要求撤销戒严令和全斗焕的下台示威。此浪潮从4月中旬到5月上旬一直在广大。5月15日在汉城有5万的群众，16日光州有3万的群众示威。17日全斗焕禁止一切的政治与民主活动，以及逮捕金大中和金泳三等社学运分子。 

5月18日在光州，1500名学生开始示威，全斗焕派空军展开镇压行动，扫射了几十名群众。 

5月19日光州被封锁，军队以残忍和暴力的手段打压学生。市民因目睹暴行而加入示威行列。 

5月20日，20万以上市民参与抗争。但电台没报道这件事情，群众也因此愤怒到电台纵火。光州对外的通讯被截断。 

5月21日，30万市民参与抗争。当时市民提供抗争人士食物及日常用品，医生、护士全力抢救伤者。抗争队获得军队的武器并占领了全罗南道厅。 

5月22日，戒严中被逮捕的其中一位的政治人物金大中被控以煽动罪名，万名军人包围广州。经过三次的大会，“光州民主民众抗争领导部”组成，决心抗争到最后一刻。 

5月26日，“抗争领导部”及200多名因亲友被杀而留下抗争 

5月27日，美国国务院发表“不能坐视韩国的无秩序和混乱”声明，正式容许韩国以军队镇压光州的抗争者，数千名军人开着坦克进入，疯狂屠杀市民。 

5月28日，几千名市民被逮捕、扣押，金大中被判死刑。 
 

后续 

全斗焕在“光州事件”后成为总统。为了掩盖事情的真相，而把金大中定为亲共主义者和主导内乱阴谋事件。政府也禁了一切对这件事的舆论和出版物。每当有总统或官僚从汉城到光州访问时，死者家属都被软禁在家中，而每次的示威及抗议行动中，均有民主人士被殴打镇压。 

“光州事件”是韩国人民数十年来对民主、自由呼声的抑压下爆发出来的。军人把民主的呼声血腥镇压下去，并当上总统，显示当时韩国民主发展的情况恶劣。它最大意义，是全民团结成一个“和平共同体”。抗争初期，学生们以和平的方式争取民主，但当老人家看到手无寸铁的学生被残酷打死，或中 学生看到自己的兄姊被枪杀，都陆续参加示威要求民主和自由，而在暴力镇压和混乱中，一桩打劫也没有发生，市民更互相帮助，为示威者送饭，捐血给示威者，形成一个共同体。可是这些认同了“共同体”的市民，后来却全部被政府列为“暴徒”、“内乱阴谋者”，而被强迫沉默。

“光州事件”的平反，意味政府承认人民的要求是正当的，从而促进韩国的民主化，特别是当时因“内乱阴谋罪”而被宣判死刑的金大中，后来却当上总统，更象征真理是必然会胜利的。

现时，5 月18日已变成为一个“节日”，抗争纪念仪式也变成节日 ，而光州亦已经成为人权和自由的“圣地”。每年5 月18日，光州都举行对人权、民主、自由的国际学术会议和有关的美术展览会、音乐会、圣地巡礼（墓地参拜）等等，而“光州事件”亦永远成为被纪念的历史事件。

但是，在镇压过程中，下令开枪的及开枪的人、美国的角色等问题仍有待解决，有关团体会继续要求彻底查明事实及公开真相。

感想：光州事件给我最大的启发，不是当时的广州人民有多惨，军政府有多坏的。而是今时今日韩国所拥有的民主空间，不是天掉下来给他们的，难道坐在家看电视，国家就会变得民主？经过了霹雳州事件后，我还是要很感叹地说一句：“革命尚未成功，同志还需努力！”

《黑色507》

文：郑丽仪（学运实习生）

自小，在我所接触的教育制度里，民主即是选举。没错，课本上是这么说的，我也从来没有起疑心，可民主真的只是选举那么简单而已吗？直到今时在霹雳州发生的政治动荡，我才发现所谓民主选举制度下的政治领袖，其实他们扮演的角色何止是为民服务，还得娱乐大众，上演那么精彩的片段供人民欣赏，甚至可以去角逐最佳演员奖了。我很不明白，政治领袖为什么喜欢把时间花在玩家家酒呢？难道人民想看他们表演吗？今天你来当州务大臣之席，明天换我来坐坐，我想，大家心里应该跟我一样，感觉很无奈吧？

我一直在思考着一个很严肃的问题，我们的国家有宪法的存在，可是却没人愿意去遵从，那宪法还有什么意义呢？可是苏丹就可以因此而滥权吗？从来只有州议会议长赶议员出去，今时却上演着议长被强行抬出州议院；从来只有议长关掉议员的麦克风，然而日前发生的戏码竟然是议长的麦克风被关！荒谬！这种画面在我念书时好像都没有听说的，我心里有些纳闷了。接着，闹双胞胎的局面接二连三的浮现，到底这些所谓的成年人们想闹多久呀？人民想要的只是一个民主的机制吧？但或许这两限制的成形会给民主社会带来曙光呢？彼此对立的党派开始扮演着相互监督的角色了。

再者，虽说议员的跳槽行为也是民主选举的一小部分，可是霹雳州政府因为三位州议员的跳槽行动而变天换政府，这才引起争议。跳槽的议员也是人民选出来的代议士，值得去争议的是当初人民投下手中的那一票，到底是在选人还是在选党？既然议员选择跳槽，那应该也辞去当今的职务，让议席悬空，再进行补选。但问题的所在是一旦议员辞去职务，他将不得在五年内参与选举。这么看来，霹雳州宪法是否应该修改这条法令以允许同一个议员在辞职后依然可以参与补选呢？那就算跳槽的议员在补选中获胜，民众都不会起非议吧？

接下来要探讨的是人的基本权益，人民有权利选择自己喜欢的衣服颜色，政府为何说穿黑衣的群众危害国家安宁而强制逮捕他们呢？是政府心里作祟吧？不然怎么把穿黑衣的公众视为危害社会治安的一群呢？就连在警局前烛光请愿者也被请到警局喝咖啡，脱黑衣，简直是不可理喻。黄进发只是号召并带动全马民众穿上黑衣，起黑色抗议，他们既没有涉及任何的刑事条例，也没有伤害任何无辜平民老百姓，却因此被抓牢里，说起来还挺可笑的。这场公民不合作运动，运用“黑色革命”来抗议国阵非法夺权，除了是要对于非法政权表达不满外，民众更希望霹雳州议会尽快被解散，重新举行选举。

整件事情发展至今，我始终无法理解政治领袖的想法。对我而言，他们的言行举止，很奇怪。到底这个僵局要闹到什么时候呢？国阵与民联之间的对抗会持续多久？这情景像“尝将冷眼观螃蟹，看你横行到几时”般，大家都不愿停歇，各持己见。人民终究到底，要的只不过是一个民主制度，一个没有漏洞的制度，不是会起争议性的制度。这梦想何时会实现呢？当今社会的乱象，一如所谓的“一个黑色马来西亚”，民众心里应该感到很悲哀。希望这一切尽快画上句点，如雨过天晴般，齐国上下期待着美好的马来西亚。