Lawyers, activists arrested: Innocent victims of a brutal state
Aliran deplores the thoughtless and mindless reaction of the state against any democratic expression of our constitutional rights to exert our freedom. We are appalled that even a small gathering of marchers to a nearby destination in an orderly manner without obstructing the traffic or causing any chaos to the public cannot be allowed or tolerated by this oppressive regime.
If this little act of a democratic principle cannot be exercised in a responsible manner, can we pretend to be a democratic country any longer? This state abuse of our fundamental rights shames the country and condemns the leaders as hypocrites.
Aliran calls upon the government to immediately and unconditionally release all those brave Malaysians who have been unjustifiably detained. In the eyes of the ordinary Malaysians, they are innocent victims of a brutal state that does not respect the principles of democracy.
P Ramakrishnan
President
9 December 2007
