|
Press
Statement
1 July 2005 Release all Burmese protestors! Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) calls for immediate release of the 68 Burmese pro-democracy activists who were arrested on June 16 for staging a protest to mark Aung San Suu Kyi's 60th birthday outside the Burmese Embassy - who had been imprisoned and subsequently placed under house arrest since May 2003. 64 protectors were arrested on the spot while 4 others were arrested while visiting their friends at the Pudu Police Station. According to UNHCR, 38 of them hold UNHCR documents. 3 charges laid against the 64 protectors are Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act for entering Malaysia without valid entry permit; Section 27(4) and 27(5) of the Police Act for unlawful assembly. 1 of the 4 is charged under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act for overstaying; whereas the other 3 are charged under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act. All of them were brought to the court on June 29. Given that the court is unable to provide an interpreter, the mention date is also scheduled for July 26. Pending the court proceeding, 3 women and 2 minors of the group will be detained in Kajang Prison while the rest will be held in Sungai Buloh Prison. SMM strongly holds that the arrest is totally uncalled-for and violating the basic human rights. Freedom of assembly is one of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. All human beings are entitled to this right without distinction of any kind, including nationality. SMM condemns the unlawful, undemocratic and unjust actions of the military regime in Burma who call themselves the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). The Burmese brutal regime has to hand over power to the legitimate winners of the people's mandate and cease violations of human rights and respect the liberty and freedom of the people of Burma. SMM is also deeply concerned of the current living condition of the 68 Burmese protectors. Those arrested should be given proper treatment and not be tortured in prison. The UNHCR should also be permitted to visit those arrested in order to ensure their welfare are well taken care of. Released by, Ginie Lim Siew Lin 012-6693453 Secretary of SMM ------------------------------------------------ ADIL-Net will remain a Free Forum until further notice. Disclaimer: The opinions and views posted are not necessarily that of the list owner's or ADIL's -------------------------------------------------- Send a blank e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - to subscribe to the list [EMAIL PROTECTED] - to unsubscribe from the list [EMAIL PROTECTED] - to switch your subscription to normal [EMAIL PROTECTED] - to switch your subscription to digest ADIL Homepage: http://members.easyspace.com/reformasi/ YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
|
