The government should drop the “politically motivated” sedition charges against PKR vice-president Tian Chua and crack down on those threatening his safety, said international NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW).

“Charging an opposition leader with sedition for expressing his views in the media ahead of a general election is a direct assault on the democratic process.

azlan “Prosecutors should end this charade and immediately drop their politically motivated charges against Tian Chua,” said the organisation’s deputy Asia director Phil Robertson in a statement today.

    

Tian Chua, who is also the incumbent Batu MP, had been charged under the Sedition Act for his remarks regarding the Lahad Datu insurgency.

He faces up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to RM5,000 if convicted, which could disqualifying him from holding office as a parliamentarian.

In an article on PKR party organ Keadilan Daily published on March 1, he claimed that the insurgency was an Umno conspiracy to frighten people and distract them from the then ongoing royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on allegations of a citizenship-for-votes scheme in Sabah.

He has since clarified that he was only referring to the media blackout surrounding the incident, since there was no confirmation of any attack or casualties despite rumours of a shooting at the time.

Equal protection of the law for all?

Regardless, his initial remark has drawn several - occasionally violent - protests against him.

“As the election campaign unfolds, the government should not forget that it is responsible for ensuring equal protection of the law for all candidates.

NONE “The threats against Tian Chua should be immediately and impartially investigated, and all those found responsible fully prosecuted,” Robertson stressed.

HRW, which has been calling for the Sedition Act to be repealed because it “permits restrictions on freedom of expression beyond those allowed by international human rights standards”, also pointed out that caretaker Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak ( above ) had previously pledged to repeal the act.

Most recently, the BN chief has said in a blog entry dated April 4 that he “looks forward to repealing the Sedition Act and replacing it with legislation more suited to our times”.

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