The Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court yesterday acquitted 10 arrested in 2000 for illegal assembly when demonstrating against the government limiting PAS' Harakah publication to twice a month.

In February 2000, Harakah was forced to cut down its frequency from twice a week to a fortnightly publication, three months after the 1999 general election.

Following that Home Ministry order, social activists and several politicians had taken their grouses against the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) to the streets.

reformis perhimpunan haram buang kes 100310 Among those freed included PKR parliamentarians R Sivarasa (Subang), Tian Chua (Batu) and cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Haque (aka Zunar).

However, in June 2008, Harakah had been given the green light to revert to being a bi-weekly publication after the general election.

Yesterday marked the 10th anniversary of the demonstration, said lead defence counsel Lateefah Koya.

Judge Siti Shakirah Mohtaruddin had acquitted the accused as most of the witnesses subpoenaed by the prosecution did not turn up to testify.

 Tian ( right) , who was present at the court, said that although they were now free, the issue has yet to be resolved.

"Harakah's permit or even Suara Keadilan's permit are still subjected to the whims and fancies of the government.

"So Harakah has returned to its bi-weekly publication... but all other parties organs are still just publishing once a week.. all arbitrary decision by the authorities," said Tian.

He said that party organs and organisations should be given the authority and freedom to decide on the frequency of their publications.

"So the struggle is far from being achieved," he added.