Reunion dinner in UPM Main Hall? :)

The UPM Student Progressive Front (GMMUPM) organised a reunion dinner on 22 January. It was the third reunion dinner of the organisation since its inception in year 2001. Both seasoned super seniors and fresh first year juniors attended the reunion dinner. It was a good opportunity for juniors to listen to the "grandmother's stories" of the organisation.

The organisation is kind of expanding. There was only one table when we had our first reunion dinner, then two during last year reunion. This year, we have 3! I am looking forward to conquer the entire restaurant in 2010; and when we grow stronger in 2020, we might have our reunion dinner in the UPM Main Hall!

Comrades, keep the fire burning!

4 kali roboh, 100 kali kami bangun!

Last Sunday, I went to a victory celebration in Bukit Jelutong Rasak estate with my friend, Siad Huey. Besides the 23 victorious families, there were also 2 buses of workers from Kajang and Sungai Siput plantation community.

Workers from Bukit Jelutong Rasak are from two estates – Bukit Jelutong and Rasak estate. In 1979, they were told to move to the new estate which would be called Bukit Jelutong Rasak with a promise that when that estate goes for development, they would be offered houses at Bukit Jelutong area. In 1997, after 18 years, they were now told to move to another estate – Subang estate because now the land in Bukit Jelutong Rasak is needed. The people refused and demanded homes at the current place as promised before.

PSM activists have been organising the people in Bukit Jelutong since 2002. Throughout the period, people's houses were demolished 4 times by the gigantic plantation company, Guthrie group. After every demolition, the people rebuilt their houses; after every arrest, the people rejoined the struggle. Houses were demolished, people were arrested, but the struggle went on. Eventually, Guthrie recognises that these are people who believe in their rights and serious in defending their rights. Thus, Guthrie has given up and the people won the battle!

In the victory celebration, one of the banners wrote "4 kali roboh, 100 kali kami bangun!" Congratulations to the people of Bukit Jelutong, Long Live The People!


From Ruins to Victory!
The Heroic Struggle of the Bukit Jelutong Workers
http://parti-sosialis.org/e_index.htm

4 Kali Roboh, 100 Kali Kami Bangun
Sejarah Perjuangan Ladang Bukit Jelutong
http://parti-sosialis.org/m_index.htm

Another "ministerial" joke

Malaysian Ministers crack joke again! Ten non-Muslim ministers have sent a joint memorandum to the Prime Minister, Abdullah Badawi, urging the government to review all laws pertaining to religious conversion.

Ministers urge government to review laws? Hahaha...

Apparently, there is another government within the government. These jokers have exposed that the overweighed cabinet consists many powerless ball-carriers who are actually not in the saddle.


10 menteri bukan Islam hantar memorandum pada PM
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/45930

Press Freedom in danger

This fella has put Orientaldaily (a Chinese daily) into hot water! His name is Ng Chong Soon, a column writer with Orientaldaily. He is also the assistant secretary of Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth (SCAHY). Lest you forget, he is my comrade cum housemate!

According to the news report in Merdekareview (an online Chinese media), Orientaldaily has received a warning letter from the Ministry of Internal Security (KDN) because of Chong Soon's article on 10 January 2006, titled "How China Press apologised?" . The article compared China Press with The Beijing News (a daily in China), which faced similar punitive action by the Chinese government last year.

3 top editors (including the editor-in-chief) of The Beijing News were axed on 29 December 2005, for their courageous and independent news reporting. Nevertheless, unlike journalists in Malaysia, approximately 100 editors and journalists of The Beijing News initiated a strike to express their dissatisfaction on the sacking of 3 top editors. Eventually, the authority has changed their mind by only sacking the editor-in-chief. Though it was not a total success, but at least they have gained something from their one-day strike.

As told by a veteran journalist, dailies in Malaysia could only afford 3 warning letters from KDN per annum. Otherwise, it will face problems in getting the KDN printing license to be renewed. After only 17 days in 2006, Orientaldaily has already received its first warning letter, how are they going to survive for the rest of the year? Furthermore, the daily is yet to get their 2006 license.

First China Press, now Orientaldaily, are these the symptoms of "Media Doomsday"?


News Report in Malaysiakini (English)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/45893

News Report in Merdekareview
http://www.merdekareview.com/headline_view.asp?id=235

News Report in Malaysiakini (Mandarin)
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/45795

The "China-Press Gate"

Approximately 100 multi-racial protestors protested in front of the National Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) office yesterday morning. A delegation of 5 representatives handed a memorandum to SUHAKAM regarding the resignation of two China press top editors.

Last week, two China Press editors were forced to relinquish their posts over a report in the daily, which wrongly identified the woman in the nude-squat video as a Chinese national.

A total of 53 organisations endorsed the joint-statement titled "Noh Omar should resign instead of the editors-in-chief of China Press" (link), calling for the deputy Minister of internal Security, Noh Omar to resign.

Last year, Noh was very busy signing new detention orders for those ISA detainees, whose detention orders were expiring. He told the public that sometimes, he will cry when he is extending the detention period of ISA detainees. This year, Noh is very free. He is so free to the extent that he has so much time to interfere the employment policy of the China Press.

When he is busy, he creates problems to the judiciary system; when he is free, he creates problems to the media. Apparently, he will only stop creating problems to the rakyat if he is sacked from the office.

Mr. Prime Minister, does it give any inspiration to your cabinet reshuffling plan?


Squatgate: 'Axe Noh Omar, not editors'
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/45666

Perhimpunan desak Noh Omar dipecat
http://www.harakahdaily.net/article.php?sid=17445&mode=thread&order=0

Why they are not given a chance to defend themselves?

In the campaign against the infamous ISA, involvement of detainees' wives and families are very important. GMI (Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA) has been working hard to enhance the wives' awareness and commitment on the campaign against the draconian legislation. GMI's chairperson, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh was briefing a group of detainees's wives and families in a meeting. Their husband were alleged "JI" (Jemaah Islamiyah) members who have been detained without trial for almost four years. Detention orders of these detainees are expiring in February and March 2006.

Can you imagine the agony that the detainees' families had gone through?

Dost thou love life?

"Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of." A famous quote from the well-known Benjamin Franklin.

I absolutely agree with Ben, so do Nik Adli and 8 others alleged "KMM" detainees, who were detained without trial for more than 4 years. Unfortunately, the government of Malaysia does not love the life of those ISA detainees. The government is squandering time and life of the detainees and their families.

Nik Adli is the son of Kelantan's Menteri Besar, Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who is also the spiritual leader of PAS. Together with his friends, Nik Adli is being detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for their alleged involvement in terroristic activities. However, Malaysia government has failed to produce any credible evidence to charge those so-called "terrorists" in the court. (KMM was once called Kumpulan Mujahiddin Malaysia, but it is called Kumpulan Militant Malaysia now)

GMI (Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA) organised a procession in Kamunting on 24 September 2005, to call for the release of all ISA detainees, specifically those who have been kept for four years. Around 150 people participated the event. We started our journey from Kamunting Mosque to the Kamunting Detention Camp (which is 2 to 3 km away). Chairperson of GMI, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (the one in white shirt) was leading the procession. Friends from Alaigal, DEMA, JIM, PSM, PAS and DAP were also present in the event. No untoward incident happened throughout the procession.

We had gained a small victory in the campaign. Out of 9 "KMM" detainees, 3 were released after the event. Nevertheless, detention orders of the others were extended by the Minister of Internal Security for another 2 years. All of them were detained under the same allegation, but some were released, some are not; what else can it be if ISA is not a political tool?

The land of Ginghis Khan

I was in Mongolia for 10 days (19 August - 28 August 2005) to participate a regional training on International Human Rights Law and Advocacy. It was held in Ulaanbaatar (the capital city of Mongolia) from 21 to 23 August. International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), a Geneva-based NGO was the organiser. It was a small scale training workshop, which consisted around 15 participants. The training emphasized on international human rights system and the role of national human rights institutions can play in acting as a national protection mechanism for human rights defenders.

From 24 to 26 August, I attended another formal regional meeting, Asia Pacific Forum for National Human Rights Institutions (APF). It is a regional body that supports, through regional cooperation, the establishment and development of national institutions in order to protect and promote the human rights of the peoples of the region. I attended the meeting as an observer. SUHAKAM commissioners, Tan Sri Simon Sipaun and Dato' KC Vohrah were the official representatives from Malaysia. Picture shows the APF participants were having dinner in a Mongolian ger.

After all the meetings had over. I finally had an opportunity to enjoy the summer breeze and the beautiful countryside of Mongolia. The vast steppe is unimaginable for people from Malaysia like me. Generally, Mongolia is a beautiful country. However, poverty is one of the biggest problems that Mongolia people are facing.

Till today, Gingis Khan is living vividly in the heart of many Mongolians. As a sign of respect to the great Mongol conqueror, I had bought a botol of Mongolian vodka that was named after him ;p

Condolence

Miss Kristina Hedlund Thulin from Sweden was one of our resource persons in The 8th Asian Training and Study Session on Human Rights.

Miss Kristina was having holiday with her family in Phuket Island when the Indian Ocean Tsunami struck Thailand on December 26, 2004. She is missing since then.

I send my condolence to Kristina's family and friends, and also to many others who have similar losses in the fatal disaster.

The 8th Asian Training and Study Session on Human Rights

After joining SUARAM as coordinator in 2004, I was sent to participate The 8th Asian Training and Study Session on Human Rights, which was held in the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. The training session was an annual programme co-organised by Forum Asia (a regional human rights organisation) and the Political Science Faculty of Chulalongkorn University. The 3-week training session covered many areas in Human Rights.

There were around 30 participants who came from many Asia countries, I was there with another 2 Malaysian participants from SUHAKAM (National Human Rights Commission), Azlina and Wan Mazlan.

I have learnt a lot from the study session, but the best lessons were the experiences of other participants, especially those from Burma, Acheh and East Timor. Their country's situation is extremely tough, yet they are still struggling for the betterment of their next generation.

At the end of the study session, we were asked to present a paper on a human rights issue in our own country. I had chosen Internal Security Act (ISA) as my presentation topic. When I was preparing the paper, I surprisingly found that when Dr. Mahather came into power in 1981, his administration had released many ISA detainees. But it did not last long. When the UMNO crisis happened in the late 80's, Mahathir revealed his true colours and detained hundreds of people without trial under the ISA. It has clearly shown that good man is not needed in a government, we need good system!



Beautiful landscape in the campus of Chulalongkorn University.





The academic freedom in Chulalongkorn University explains why UM is lower than them in the ranking of World Top 200 Universities. This was found outside the office of a lecturer from the Faculty of Political Science.

Moment of joy

After "struggling" for four years, I had finally graduated! It has become a tradition for our kaki to do two things in the convocation:

1) To gather in front of the administration building with banners. A gesture of victory for students who do not give a damn to the infamous UUCA (Universities and University Colleges Act)!

2) To throw the graduates as high as we could. Just to make sure everyone will be good when they are in the campus, otherwise we will "punish" them during their graduation ;p

Making a Change!

When I was in second year of university (2002), I was given a chance to participate an international workshop on behalf of DEMA. The theme of the workshop was "Making a Change". The organiser of the workshop was a German foundation, Friedrich Ebert Stuftung (FES). It was held in Bangkok, Thailand.

The workshop was an eye opener for a fresh chap like me. I met with many foreign friends in the workshop.

Besides participating the workshop, I had also met Mabel Au, a Hong Kong activist who was working in CAW (Committee of Asian Women, a women rights organisation) then. Mabel is also the fiancee of Tian Chua, a former ISA detainee.

Tian was still detained without trial under the ISA in Kamunting detention camp when I met Mabel in Bangkok. Mabel is also barred from entering Malaysia, because of her proactive involvement in the Abolish ISA Movement.

We have many more besides demo

Many of my friends thought all DEMA fellas are "kaki demo". Every now and then, they will ask me :"Where are you going to demonstrate today?" In fact, demonstrating is only part of our life. We have various type of activities, including movie screening, exposure trips, workshops, training camps, discussion sessions etc. Besides, we also love clubbing and "lepaking".

We often organise exposure visits to the squatters settlers(or a politically correct phrase, urban pioneers) The residents are facing many problems. The government (sometimes developers) has treated them unjustly, by evicting them from the land that they have worked and developed for many years. Rather than learning the issue from unfair media reports, we prefer to learn from the people themselves. We talk to them personally; they shape our perspective properly.

We had organised a two day trip to Kuala Selangor. We were able to enjoy the gorgeous scene of fireflies hanging around the trees. Some of them looked exactly like Christmas trees. We had also discussed on some environmental issues, particularly on how dam affect the environment. (p/s: the government approved a project to build a dam in Sungai Selangor. The project could affect the salinity of the downstream river and might have an adverse impact on the Berembang trees.) For further information, please go to www.sos-selangor.org


DEMA organises workshops and training camps every year. Those activities are specially organised for students from various universities and colleges. Among others, Human Rights Camp is one of our heavyweigh event. The participants were actively taking part in one of our workshops (picture).

Other than having programs in the central part of Malaysia, we had also "explored" to the North. In 3 cars, we had gone to Penang, Kedah and Perlis. We had visited some local community groups such as SOS Penang and the Kangar Community Centre. The Indera Kayangan by-election was just over then. We were managed to discuss on the by-election with the person in charged of the community centre cum Indera Kayangan candidate, Cikgu Koh. The sincere man had enlightened us a lot. We had also visited the beautiful campus of the Malaysia Northern University (UUM) in Kedah and the famous Gua Kelam in Perlis.

What is "illegal assembly"?

After my first arrest, I met with a group of dedicated and courageous comrades from Malaysia Youth and Students Democratic Movement (DEMA). DEMA is a student and youth organisation that believes in genuine democracy and embraces human rights. DEMA had broaden my mind and had enlightened me to be more critical in my thinking. Most of all, the training of the organisation had awaken me from the ideal ivory tower and started to put my feet on the ground.

The picture shows my debut appearance in an anti-war protest. It was an assembly against America's attack on Afghanistan. We were assembling in front of Suria KLCC, with flowers, guitars, songs and speeches. The crowd was small and the gathering ended without any untoward incident. Though we had failed to stop the war, but at least we voiced our dissidence. No one can make use of us by categorising us as the "silent majority" who supported the war.

After bombarding Afghanistan, the hawkish Bush's administration launched an attack on Iraq. Bush had made used of the September 11 tragedy to justify the invasion. Unexpectedly, the war had stimulated a worldwide huge anti-war protest. Malaysia was part of the anti-war movement, and the crowd was much more bigger than the previous assembly in Suria KLCC. Thousands of anti-war crowd protested in front of the US embassy. The loudest slogan that the crowd chanted was "Drop Bush, Not Bomb!"

The Oppressed People Network (Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas - JERIT) organises Mayday celebration annually. The event aimed to remind the people about workers' contribution to the country. I was giving a short speech on behalf of DEMA in 2003 Mayday gathering, extending our gratitude to the workers. PSM (Malaysia Socialist Party) treasurer, Saudara Sivarajan was on my right, while my comrade cum housemate, Chong Soon was on my left.

On 8 June 2001, 500 students protested in front of the National Mosque on the use of the infamous ISA (Internal Security Act) by the government. They called for the abolishment of the act that permits detention without trial. Unfortunately, police dispersed the crowd forcefully and arrested 7 students. The 7, dubbed ISA-7 were suspended from their respective universities and were charged in court for participating "illegal assembly". In 2004, 300 students took part in a procession from the National Mosque to the KL Magistrate court, in support of the ISA-7. The police was equally brutal as previous, one student was pepper-sprayed while another one was arrested. I was one of the 3 negotiators and witnessed the rudeness of the police. The picture shows that my shirt was crassly pulled by a policeman.

Nevertheless, the 7 students were eventually acquitted by the court and some have resumed their studies. The one who was arrested in the procession was also released without charge by the police, after a few hours. This can be seen as one of the victories we obtained in the struggle. Viva Student Power!