Civil liberty groups on signature campaign, donation drive

comments     Claudia Theophilus     Published     Updated

Human rights organisations and civil society groups have launched a signature campaign in support of Malaysia's o­nly independent o­nline daily, malaysiakini, following a turbulent week during which its office was raided by police and it was issued an eviction order by its landlord.

Penang-based social reform movement Aliran, National Human Rights Society (Hakam) and human rights group Suaram, said Malaysians have a duty to themselves and the country to stand by the website in light of the police raid and eviction notice last week.

"Don't allow ourselves to be kept ignorant, uninformed or misinformed. Defend malaysiakini now," read their urgent appeal in a joint petition attached to the signature campaign.

They felt that by helping to restore and consolidate the company, Malaysians can "demonstrate to everyone everywhere that 'only the news that matters' ( malaysiakini's tagline) cannot be bought or suppressed".

"Our answer to the police raid must be a clear 'No' as well. 'No' to intimidation. 'No' to harassment. 'No' to the suppression of the freedom of expression."

The groups said malaysiakini stands out among local media organisations for being non-partisan, critical, honest and courageous, and for providing a public forum for numerous columnists and letter-writers.

Selective persecution

"No other newspaper in Malaysia supports and encourages the vibrant debates that are a regular feature of malaysiakini . Debates which feature a broad spectrum of public opinion are critical to better understanding public interest issues."

Malaysiakini's existence, the statement said, has encouraged worldwide participation in public communication and discourse essential to maintaining democracy, in particular the letters forum.

"(These) provide the views of countless readers and the publication serves as an effective barometer of grassroots opinion and sentiments."

Questioning the swiftness with which the police acted upon the report by Umno Youth barely o­ne working day after it was lodged, the groups said speculation is rife that the raid was to deny alternative news in light of the upcoming general elections.

"Otherwise, how is it that the police acted o­n Umno Youth's report so quickly when numerous other complaints, especially against Barisan Nasional (BN) politicians, end up with 'no action taken'?

"When the DAP lodged a police report against Umno Youth for carrying seditious material o­n the latter's website, did the police pounce o­n them and cart away their computers?"

The groups also asked whether police would seize all computers and cripple the operations of major BN-controlled newspapers for publishing seditious article, if someone were to lodge a report agains them.

"Complaints have been lodged against some television stations before but did the police ever consider confiscating their broadcast equipment and forcing them off the air?"

Monopoly broken

They also said that despite owning, controlling and monopolising access to the official and commercial organs of the mass media, the BN can hardly persuade Malaysians that the local media operates freely and fairly.

"Forced o­n the defensive, knowing that even a small but honest o­nline daily has broken its monopoly of 'news' and 'information', the BN government has periodically tried to undermine malaysiakini's viability."

The petition also highlighted the fact that malaysiakini journalists are often excluded from official events and press conferences, thus limiting their coverage.

"Although malaysiakini operates legally without a newspaper permit, many quarters in the government and ruling coalition have issued warnings against alleged 'abuse of freedom' over the Internet," the statement added.

"Let us contribute generously. By this simple action, which is part of all that is noble in our culture, we show our contempt for those who o­nly have contempt for our rights."

For more information o­n the campaign, contact Aliran:

Tel: (6-04) 658 5251

Fax: (6-04) 658 5197

E-mail: [email protected]



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