[Letter to CPO] Unconditional and Immediate Release of Two Human Rights Volunteers

Mohd. Amir Sulaiman,

Chief Police Officer of Johor State

Johor State Headquarter

Malaysia Royal Police Force

80990 Jalan Tebrau,

Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

Tel: +607-2254422 Fax: +607-2240115

Sir,

Unconditional and Immediate Release of Two Human Rights Volunteers

We would like to express our concern and protest regarding the recent arbitrary arrest of two human rights volunteers from Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) Johor Branch who are alleged to participate in illegal assembly and possessing of seditious material.

2. From our understanding, the arrested human rights volunteers, Nyam Kee-Han and See Siew-Min were trying to show their concern on the deteriorating security and rampant criminal activities that threaten safety of each individual in the city of Johor Bahru in a peaceful gathering held on 06/17/2007 (Sunday). However, they were subsequently arrested by the police for reasons mentioned above after the mass had been dispersed by the police. They will subsequently be charged in the court on the same allegations.

3. We seriously question the legitimacy of the action by the police which has violated the fundamental human rights of freedom of assembly and speech. To charge human right volunteers for participating in peaceful assembly and possessing of leaflet urging to set up the Independent Police Complaint and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), which ironically is aimed to improve the Malaysia Royal Police Force, is a disgrace to the human rights record in your country.

4. We therefore would like to voice our protest and strongly urge that the two human rights volunteers be released unconditionally and immediately. We also urge the Malaysia Royal Police Force to discharge their duty in putting down crimes while adhering to the human rights as enshrined in your constitution.

Thank you.

Yours Sincerely,

___________________________

(name and signature of representative)

CC:

Prime Minister cum Interior Minister Mr. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Prime Minister's office
Blok Utama Bangunan Perdana Putra
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
62502 Putrajaya, Malaysia
Tel: +603-88888000/88888032
Fax: +603-88883444

Email: ppm@pmo.gov.my

Mr. Abdullah Rahim Bin Bakri

Malaysian Friendship & Trade Center, Taipei

8F, 102 Tunhwa N. Rd., Taipei, Taiwan, 105, R.O.C.

Tel: +886-2-2713-2626

Fax:+886-2-2514-9864

Email: mwtaipei@ms34.hinet.net

Posted in: