PSM has claimed there is a “new conspiracy theory of trying to overthrow the government” to justify continuing the detention of six of its leaders who were nabbed two weeks ago.

psm declare asset 120309 arutchelvan “PSM feels it is important to expose this because PSM has always practised an open and transparent kind of politics, nothing clandestine or underground as the government is trying to frame it,” lashed out the party’s secretary-general, S Arutchelvan ( right ), who accused the government of fabricating reasons.

“Stop the bull****. You (the police) arrested (them) because you wanted to scare people (away from) Bersih 2.0 and now you want to fine-tune the story,” he told reporters during a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH).

 

The six, including Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, were among 50 people detained at the Sungai Dua toll plaza in Kepala Batas, Penang on June 25 under Section 122 of the Penal Code for allegedly attempting to wage war against the Agong.

After their remand expired on June 30, they were re-arrested under Section 2 (1) of the Emergency Ordinance (EO) 1969.

Arutchelvan said according to the purported theory, the six people detained were paid to take part in PSM’s grassroots campaign, dubbed ‘ Udahlah tu... Bersaralah! ’

He said PSM activists have struggled to bring forth local issues and have “strong fighting spirit”.

“Since they don’t want to implicate any PSM member (or reveal) everything in court, this has been interpreted by the police to mean that the (arrested) members have undergone special training which makes them strong,” he said.

Secondly, they are claiming that PSM is planning an Arab-Egypt kind of revolution, said Arutchelvan. He, however, added that this was a resolution agreed upon during the party’s congress.

“It is clear PSM was talking about making a brave choice for regime change through the general election, but once again it was twisted to say that PSM is planning to topple the government by street demonstrations,” he said.

PSM is steadfast in its principle in supporting any peaceful democratic movement, he added.

‘Frame-up’ questions

He also alleges that the detainees were forced to sign documents without knowing their contents.

Arutchelvan said that it contained a list of “frame-up” questions.

“We know this information based on visits by lawyers and family members of the detainees,” he said.

The six were initially arrested in the run-up to the Bersih rally demanding for clean and fair election on July 9.

Although all the others arrested relating to the same cause have been released, the government is adamant in keeping the six in detention, despite various calls pressing for them to be freed or changed in court for their alleged crimes.