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Edmund Bon and four others to be charged tomorrow

Contributed by Web Reporter

Sunday, 09 December 2007 11:34pm


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.

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Malaysia and Pakistan, spot the difference!
written by Raymond Yap Soon Hock, Monday, December 10 2007 12:01 am

I'm seeing more and more similarities here. Some day in the near future, lawyers will rise up to the challenge and say, "Enough is enough". This day could very well be tomorrow, 10.12.2007.

Raymond Yap Soon Hock

In Solidarity
written by Yee Seu Kai, Monday, December 10 2007 12:10 am

Perak Bar is behind the Bar Council's stand in solidarity.

I as Chairperson of the IT & Conveyancing Sub-Committee has taken the liberty to post this message,
which I believe my colleagues in the Perak Bar Committee will approve my posting unless otherwise stated.

In solidarity.

Yee Seu Kai
Chairperson of IT & Conveyancing Sub-Committee
Perak Bar

We should persist to negotiate
written by Dato' Krishna Kumar, Monday, December 10 2007 12:17 am

Dear Members,

I am truly distressed by this news and still hope that that someone would talk to the authorities with the hope of release.

I am sure if we persist in our attempts to negotiate with the authorities the deadlock may be broken. Its still not to late.

I wish I could have been there by sadly am overseas. My best wishes to all my fellow comrades but please be calm and be rational at all times.

May the Almighty be with us and may Justice prevail.

Regards,
Dato' Krishna Kumar

Is Malaysia merely proclaimed democratic?
written by Eric Leong Kai Meng, Monday, December 10 2007 12:30 am

It could seem to others that the entirety of the whole scenario here is the expression of minority views. What is our country if we were just expected to indulge in the "majority views"? I wonder how our country can stand in the eyes of the world and proudly present "us" as a democratic practitioner.

Eric Leong Kai Meng

A Time to Pray
written by Tan Peek Guat, Monday, December 10 2007 07:48 am

It is indeed sad that the authorities should have acted in such a drastic manner towards our members.

I sympathize with all those who stood on behalf of our beloved Malaysians but were arrested.

Peace maintained through the suppression of RIGHTS is not real peace. Real peace ought to be the result of real rights enjoyed by one and ALL Malaysians so as to allow for our natural and real enjoyment or the realities that surround us, without any unnecessary creation of any suspicion or mistrust among us.

This is indeed a time for prayers - praying so that God may govern and put under control the drastic intentions and desires of self authorised men/women within His Realm.

Tan Peek Guat

This is the best Human Rights Day Celebration
written by Nik Elin Nik Abd Rashid, Monday, December 10 2007 08:52 am

Please do not be unduly worried with the welfare of our Edmund Bon and Amer Hamzah in there. I was at IPK to support the 2 of them. I am happy with their spirits.

I think the police are probably regretting their actions in arresting Edmund Bon by now. And I think we have a good case against the police for manhandling him. I was at the Bar Council from morning where the Police tried to intimidate all the participants. I asked them what they were doing, and they said that they were instructed to "buat peninjauan" so I politely told them to "buat peninjauan" from across the road and not smack themselves in the midst of our event. They were about to move their patrol car when another patrol policeman told them not to move. So they were parked right in the middle of our Festivities. They were, as my daughter said, "the events entertainment squad".

We did nothing wrong and we broke no laws yesterday. Instead it was the DBKL enforcement that looked stupid and idiotic. With PDRM helicopter hovering above us, and policemen and DBKL people outnumbering the participants, it looked mighty mighty silly to me. Can you imagine how much they would rather join OUR event than to go assist the Flood victims or go catch thieves somwhere?

I even heard the Chinese police fella (not being racist) telling Edmund that he needed an entertainment license because we brought down our television set to telecast the proceedings live from the Bar Auditorium.

I tell you, ladies and gentlemen, sisters and brothers at law, to me, it was the best HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL OF RIGHTS I ever attended.

Nik Elin Nik Abdul Rashid

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