2pm, July 9th,Stadium Merdeka : Malaysia’s Moment of Truth
Jul 8th, 2011 |
Malaysians from all walks of life have travelled a very long road to reach this defining point in our nation’s history. With less than 24 hours to our intended peaceful gathering, our resolve to walk the last, most difficult mile as one united people in pursuit of clean and fair elections and a better Malaysia for all is firmer than ever.Our reason for gathering is pure and simple – to demand the electoral roll be cleaned, that the postal voting system be reformed, that indelible ink be used, a minimum 21 day campaign period be instated, free and fair access to media for all be provided, public institutions be strengthened, and for corruption as well as dirty politics to be stopped.
The authorities have put obstacle after obstacle where they only needed to provide sincere cooperation to win the trust and confidence of the people. Having faced half hearted offers of stadiums, arrogance regarding meetings as well as denials of permits, arrests, detentions and so much more, we feel that we have done all that is humanly possible to demonstrate sincerity and good faith in dealing with the government – but we have only been met with reversed decisions and stone walls.
There are no walls however, that will arrest the advance of the cause of peace and justice. Come the 9th of July, we will uphold our constitutional right to converge peacefully on Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur.
No government agency has any right whatsoever to prevent Malaysians from exercising their freedom of movement and access to our capital city. No threat or intimidation can overturn this fundamental truth.
Malaysians have now seen for themselves the degree of paranoia and lack of principled leadership that seems to have gripped the government. It is thus all the more imperative that patriotic Malaysians rise now and take this stand together to save Malaysia from slipping further into this insane darkness.
Since the beginning of Bersih 2.0, we have witnessed nothing but the utmost bravery and commitment to peace and justice demonstrated by ordinary Malaysians from every walk of life. Inspired by this example, the Bersih 2.0 leadership reiterates our own unyielding commitment to our shared cause, and to being at Stadium Merdeka at 2pm tomorrow. We will meet at the carpark, and trust that the doors will be opened for us.
This is Malaysia’s single most important defining moment in recent history, and we are fully confident that the rakyat will heed the call to safeguard the principles Malaysia was founded on and together ensure that we pass down to our children a nation that is just, democratic and united in love for one another.
Released by,Steering Committee
Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0)
The Steering Committee of BERSIH 2.0 comprises:
Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan (Chairperson), Andrew Khoo, Arul Prakkash, Arumugam K., Dr Farouk Musa, Haris Ibrahim, Liau Kok Fah, Maria Chin Abdullah, Richard Y W Yeoh, Dr Subramaniam Pillay, Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon, Dr Wong Chin Huat, Dato’ Yeo Yang Poh dan Zaid Kamaruddin.
SUHAKAM: THE RIGHT TO A PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY AND FREEEDOM OF EXPRESSION MUST BE PROTECTED
Jul 8th, 2011 |
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) welcomes the ongoing consultations between the authorities and BERSIH relating to the proposed assembly, which will now be held in a stadium, following the advice given by His Majesty Yang Di Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin on 4 July and the subsequent audience by BERSIH with His Majesty on 5 July 2011.
While welcoming this positive development, under the circumstances, the Commission wishes to reiterate that freedom of peaceful assembly is provided under Article 10(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution and Article 20(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and that freedom of expression and opinion is provided under Article 19 of the UDHR.
The Commission looks forward to the early resolution of the matter between the authorities and BERSIH in the spirit of conciliation, as enjoined by His Majesty the Yang Di Pertuan Agong, and shall duly monitor the event.
The Commission also wishes to express its concern over the recent arrests and detentions of several Members of Parliament and activists under Section 3(1) of the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1969 and calls on the authorities to immediately release all those who are still being detained. They should be accorded their rights to an open trial with legal representation as enshrined in Articles 9, 10 and 11 of the UDHR which state that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary detention; everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair public hearing; and everyone has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.