Edmund Bon | R. Sivarasa | Amer Hamzah | |
N. Surendran | Lateefa Koya |
KUALA LUMPUR, Sun: The Human Rights Committee Chairman, Edmund Bon and five other lawyers will be charged tomorrow morning at the Jalan Duta Magistrate's Court (Criminal Section) here.
Chairman of the Bar Council, Ambiga Sreenevasan urges all members of the Bar to turn up to support Bon, R. Sivarasa, N. Surendran and Amer Hamzah who will spend a night tonight at the Pudu Jail and Lateefa Koya who will spend her night at the Jalan Travers Lock–up.
Lawyers keeping vigil at 8.50 this evening outside IPK
Meanwhile, Richard Wee has filed this report:
Five lawyers arrested this morning for taking part in an peaceful walk were questioned and detained at the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent Headquarters (better known as ‘IPK’). The lawyers were S. Sivarasa, Surendran, Lateefa Koya and Amer Hamzah. Another 4 members from non–governmental organisations who took part in the peaceful walk were also questioned and detained.
From the time of arrest till around noon, Bar Council Chair Ambiga, was seen frantically making calls to secure the release of the lawyers.
Things took an interesting twist around noon. News filtered through the lawyers who were at the Registration Counter of the IPK, that another lawyer, Edmund Bon was arrested at the Bar Council’s building, apparently for trying to stop the removal of banners. As the police car drove into IPK, Bon was seen waving at the lawyers there.
Members of the public, including the lawyers were not allowed into the police compound. Under the warm and humid weather, some lawyers were seen buying bottle drinks and light food for all present.
But notwithstanding the carnival–like atmosphere, there was an air of camaraderie among the lawyers. Some Council Members were seen at the vicinity of the IPK, clearly in protest of the ongoing arrests of fellow lawyers. The concern for these lawyers was written all over their faces, but the crowd continued to hope that the police will release the detained lawyers. Some were seen calling friends seeking help. Some were seen sending messages to others to update the latest news at IPK
By the evening, hope that the lawyers would be released began to wane. Food and drinks to prepare the lawyers for a night's stay was sent into the IPK. Though there was some initial resistance from the officers manning the reception booth, but in the end common sense prevailed.
As the night arrives, the detained lawyers were resigned to the fact that they would not be released tonight. A team of volunteer lawyers is already formed to defend the 5 lawyers, and when they are charged tomorrow morning.