SUARA RAKYAT MALAYSIA

Address: 433A, Jalan 5/46, Gasing Indah, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor,
Malaysia.
Telephone: +6 03 7784 3525 Fax: +6 03
7784 3526
Email: suaram@suaram. net Web:
www.suaram.net

Urgent Appeal

17 June 2007

2 activists arrested for leafleting at demonstration in Johor Bahru

The Police arrested 2 activists from Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
Johor Bahru branch who were leafleting at a demonstration in front of
Menteri Besar’s residence, Johor Bahru this morning. The demonstration
was calling for MB’s attention and action on the rising crime rates in
Johor Bahru.

The two activists are Nyam Kee Han and See Siew Min.

They are currently being held at the IPD Johor Bahru (Selatan) police
station. The leaflet that they distributed calls for immediate setting up
of the Independent Police Complaint and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), as
recommended by the Royal Commission on police reform.

Suaram condemns strongly the arbitrary arrest of the activists. The
police of Johor Bahru is wasting public monies in intimidating activists
instead of doing their job of busting the crimes.

The Federal Constitution of Malaysia and international Human Rights law
enshrine freedom of assembly, the arbitrary arrests by police is clearly
an abuse of power and an intimidation to activists who tried to expose
the slack attitude of the police force in resolving crimes.

We call on the police to immediately and unconditionally release the 2
arrested activists.

Background

A group of Johor Bahru’s residents today on their own initiative
organized a demonstration in front of the residence of Johor Menteri
Besar. They call for the attention of the MB to take action to reduce the
crime rates in JB.

The two activists attended in support of the residents and at the same
time distributed a flyer calling for the setting up of the Independent
Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

When the demonstration almost ended, the police suddenly arrested the
two activists.

Action needed please state your protest against the arrest of the 2
activists via faxes or phone calls to the following:

ASP Nor Hashim : 0127235776
CID chief of IPD Johor Bahru (Selatan)

OCPD: ACP Safie bin Ismail
IPD Johor Bahru (Selatan)
Ibupejabat Polis Daerah Johor Bahru
Polis Diraja Malaysia
JKR No.489, Jalan Meldrum, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor
Tel: 07-2232222-27
Fax: 07-2246925

For more information, please contact Moon Hui, tel: 012 7209981.