updated version Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua was released on bail this afternoon after being arrested for failing to turn up in court on Jan 12. He was jointly charged with two others for participating in an illegal assembly in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, in December 1998.

Magistrate Wan Fatimah Wan Yusuf set bail at RM6,000, but objected to Chua's sister, Thien See being the bailor. Chua was later bailed out by his friend, Yap Siew Cheng.

Chua told malaysiakini that he was leaving for Sarawak this morning to help out in the state's upcoming election campaign when he was arrested at the airport and taken to the Sungai Buloh Prison.

Wan Fatimah ordered the arrest because she was not satisfied with Chua's explanation for his absence from his trial. Chua had said that his personal diary and computer were stolen in a break-in of his car, and he had gotten the dates of his trial mixed up.

Chua is facing eight separate charges for illegal assembly and rioting over the past two years.

"I have a police report as evidence of the loss," said Chua, when contacted by telephone this afternoon.

"Instead of considering my explanation, the magistrate chose to revoke my bail and send me to prison," he added.

Pattern of persecution

In an immediate reaction to Chua's warrant of arrest, Keadilan deputy president Dr Chandra Muzafar said that it was a "blatant violation of the principle of justice that underlines the rule of law".

"The harsh, punitive decision of the magistrate has a political odour to it. It fits into what appears to be a systematic pattern of persecution of Keadilan leaders and activists by an authoritarian state increasingly intolerant of democratic dissent," he added.

In recent weeks, Keadilan leaders, including Chua, have been dragged to court in connection with the Lunas by-election "phantom voters" hold-up on Nov 29 last year.

Twelve buses ferrying about 500 Barisan Nasional supporters entering the state on that day were allegedly stopped by Keadilan members and accompanied to the Lunas police station.

BN lost the state seat to Keadilan's candidate Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who won by 530 votes over MIC's S Anthonysamy.

Barisan Alternatif's victory managed to deny BN a two-thirds majority in the Kedah state assembly.

Chandra reiterated that continued harassment of Keadilan's officials and supporters through the 'misuse' of law will not deter the party from pursuing its struggle for justice with greater courage and conviction.

"Indeed, every act of oppression against Keadilan will only inspire us to re-dedicate ourselves with vigour and vitality to the cause of democratic reform and political change," he added.