Al Jazeera On The BERSIH Rally

Yesterday, I found myself sitting in a studio at Al Jazeera with Dato’ Seri Nazri and Khairy Jamaluddin discussing the BERSIH 10-11 rally. Teymoor Nabili, the host of 101 East was kind enough to moderate. Needless to say, the discussion was lively and interesting.

I am informed that the interview will air over Astro, Al Jazeera English, 10.30 pm, Thurday (‘101 East’). It will then be aired throughout the week (the schedule can be found on line at the Al Jazeera web-site) and will also be available on line.

MIS

Note: Been informed that it is Channel 513

Congratulations BERSIH and Malaysian Civil Society

My heartfelt congratulations to the organizers of the BERSIH 10-11 March and to all Malaysians who made the event what it was.

I was on the Bar Council Urgent Arrest response team and found myself waiting on the side-lines for the SOS calls we were anticipating. Thankfully, the calls were few. The events of Masjid Jamek aside and, in my view, the unnecessary arrest of some of the demonstrators, I think the Royal Malaysian Police showed commendable restraint and foresight, a state of affairs which deserves recognition. I believe that it is largely due to this restraint that the event did not become the chaotic melee that some of us were anticipating it might become. The events of Pantai Batu Buruk and Bloody Sunday are still fresh in the minds of many Malaysians.

There were arrests though and as the evening drew to a close, I found myself with a few other lawyers at the IPK KL on Jalan Hang Tuah. The 34 who were arrested were all released by 11.00 pm Saturday evening (the Suaram web-site has details). While the police officers we dealt with were friendly and courteous, the lawyers were not permitted entry to the police station nor any opportunity to meet with our clients. This ran counter to recent amendments introduced to the Criminal Procedure Code that entrench the right of a person arrested to meet with his lawyers before giving a statement to the police. Statements were taken despite our reminders to the police officers concerned of the rights of those detained.

MIS





















With R Sivarasa, lawyer and Keadilan EXCO member, and Shan Kanesalingam, lawyer. Outside IPK KL.