Unnecessary Arrest of Lawyer Eric Paulsen over A
Twitter Comment
Gerakan Hapus Akta Hasutan (GHAH), in the strongest
possible terms, condemns the persecution and harassment against Eric Paulsen,
lawyer and co-founder of Lawyers for Liberty and spokesperson of GHAH over his
Twitter comment criticising the Malaysian Islamic Development Department
(JAKIM). It is a gross abuse of power to have no fewer than 20 policemen to
arrest Eric for merely exercising his constitutional right to freedom of
speech.
In a democratic society, every citizen has the right -
and duty - to participate in public discourse, and freedom of speech is
essential for this purpose. This means that all are entitled to criticise and
question the conduct of a public body which is funded by the people via tax and
which has failed to respond in an open and accountable manner to the trust
placed in them.
It is clear from Eric's tweet that the criticism was
intended towards JAKIM as a government agency. A clear line has to be drawn
between the religion and the agency that functions to manage Islamic affairs.
Eric has earlier explained to the public that he did not mean to insult Islam
in his tweet and "criticising Jakim should not be construed as insulting Islam."
GHAH is extremely disappointed and shocked that the
Inspector-General of Police would allocate such excessive police resources to
stifle freedom of speech and to use the same Twitter social networking site to
trumpet Eric’s arrest minutes after he was seized. The
sudden arrest of Eric can only be interpreted as an orchestrated political ploy
to frighten person whom is critical towards the establishment since Eric has
already agreed to co-operate and to be questioned by police on 14 January 2015
(Wednesday) when contacted by police official earlier.
The arrest of Eric Paulsen under the Sedition Act
marks a serious regression of citizens’ freedom of speech, and signals a
further break down of our democracy. Criticism against a public agency should
not amount to a criminal offence. This is akin to rubbing salt to the already
appalling situation in Malaysia with the sedition onslaught against citizens,
and the Prime Minister's renouncement on his pledge to repeal the draconian
Sedition Act.
GHAH again reaffirms our stand that the Sedition Act
is an irrelevant piece of legislation in our modern society. It is delusional
to believe that the Sedition Act or any form of intimidation is the answer to
maintaining and promoting peace and harmony in the country, given that the
Sedition Act is largely used against individuals who have a legitimate
criticism and concerns about the country. The government should and must
propose a new national harmony legislation that is genuine in achieving
national freedom, peace and harmony.
GHAH calls for the immediate release of Eric Paulsen
and to halt all investigation against Eric. We again reiterate our call for the
government to repeal the Sedition Act, drop all sedition charges, and to have
no replacement Act with similar draconian provisions.
For
inquiry, please contact:
Mr. Mandeep Singh, program manager of Bersih 2.0 at
+60 13 222 4482 or outreach@bersih.org
Mr. Liau Kok Fah, chairperson of Civil Rights
Committee of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall at +60 16 2265330
or liaukokfah@gmail.com
Ms. Michelle Yesudus, lawyer of Lawyers for Liberty
at +60 12 259 9237 or michelle.das87@gmail.com
Ms. Serene Lim, Program Coordinator of Suaram at
+6012 547 7989 or monitoring@suaram.net
GHAH is a movement supported by 133
civil societies in Malaysia spearheaded by SUARAM, Lawyers for Liberty, IKRAM, among
others. The objective of GHAH is to carry out a national campaign to bring
to an end to the ever present threat against freedom of expression and opinion
by the Sedition Act 1948 that hangs over every Malaysian.
Regards,
Serene Lim
Documentation & Monitoring Coordinator
Suara Rakyat Malaysia
http://www.suaram.net
Tel: +603 - 7784 3525
Serene Lim
Documentation & Monitoring Coordinator
Suara Rakyat Malaysia
http://www.suaram.net
Tel: +603 - 7784 3525
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針對捍衛自由律師團執行董事艾力鮑爾森在煽動法令下被捕，律師公會人權委員會主任邱進福譴責警方再次濫用煽動法令逮捕維權人士。
他今日受詢時表示，法律遭到濫用，煽動法令根本是一項錯誤的法律。
“我們反對煽動法令的使用，我們不認為任何人應該在煽動法令下被起訴。”
他也聲援艾力鮑爾森，“即使他說的話得罪了你，但這並不意味著他做錯了甚麼。”
詢及律師公會將如何援助艾力鮑爾森，他表示該會將盡力滿足艾力鮑爾森要求的援助，不過就目前來說，該會除了隨時掌握艾力鮑爾森被逮捕和審問的進展以外，暫時不會有進一步行動。
吉隆坡推事今日批准警方扣留捍衛自由律師團執行董事艾力鮑爾森2天，以協助調查。他將在明日獲釋。
艾力是因日前推文指責“伊斯蘭發展局每個星期五都在宣揚極端主義”，而於昨晚在煽動法令下被捕。
艾力鮑爾森其中一名代表律師拉蒂花指出，推事今日到金馬警局辦理警方申請延扣艾力鮑爾森的手續。
她說，警方曾以向艾力鮑爾森錄取口供為由，向推事申請延扣4天，但遭辯方極力反對。
她說，辯方反駁的理由是艾力鮑爾森一直給予警方配合，而且協助錄取口供不一定要扣留4天。
她指出，推事希茲萬在聆聽雙方的論點後，允許警方扣留2天，扣留日期從今日算起。
她表示，艾力鮑爾森由6名律師組成團隊為其抗辯，公正黨梳邦區國會議員西華拉沙是主要辯護律師。
刑事總監：接多宗投報
全國刑事調查總監拿督斯里莫末沙烈指出，首宗針對艾力鮑爾森的投報是在敦李孝式警局，隨後警方在全國各地也陸續接獲多宗投報。
“所有的投報者已錄取口供，警方與大馬通訊及多媒體委員會合作進行查案。”
他是今日在八打靈再也警區總部召開新聞發佈會後，被問及艾力昨日被捕一事時說，此案件由武吉阿曼警察總部刑事調查特別小組（Unit Siasatan Jenayah Terkelas）負責調查，艾力將被延扣至明天助查。
（星洲日報）
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