Tian, Tamrin and Haris rearrested; to be charged tomorrow
Teoh El Sen
May 28, 2013 20:25 MYT
May 28, 2013 20:25 MYT
Police have re-arrested lawyer-activist Haris Ibrahim and Pas member Tamrin Abdul Ghafar over their speeches in a May 13 forum.
Their speeches had questioned the legitimacy of the Barisan Nasional government following the 13th General Election and called for people to take to the streets.
They are expected to be charged under the Sedition Act tomorrow, according to a police source.
The source told Astro AWANI that the warrant of arrest was issued by the court. All suspects will be charged for alleged offence under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948.
Lawyer Ashok Kandiah confirmed Haris's arrest, saying that his client is expected charged in the KL sessions court tomorrow.
“My client was arrested pursuant to a warrant issued by the magistrate’s court but I think it is totally and absolutely unnecessary for an arrest. It is an abuse of power. Haris has never showed himself to be a flight risk,” Ashok said. Haris heads the ABU(Asalkan Bukan Umno) movement.
Meanwhile, it was understood that PKR vice-president Tian Chua has also been arrested. This was the message posted on the PKR leader's official twitter account:
On May 23, student activist Adam Adli was charged under the Sedition Act for calling for the toppling of the BN government during a forum on May 13.
The same morning-- Haris, Tian Chua, and Tamrin, the son of former deputy prime minister Ghaffar Baba, was also hauled up.
The three arrested were also in relation to speeches made during a May 13 forum where Adam spoke about taking to the streets to protest the GE13 results.
The 'crackdown' also saw the Home Ministry confiscating copies Opposition media—namely Harakah, Suara Keadilan and The Rocket-- for allegedly breaching the permit conditions.
In the past few days, the Malaysian Bar has said that the actions were akin to closing democratic space. Several local and international NGOs have condemned the authorities.
Today, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), representing 47 organisations from 16 countries across Asia, asked for Malaysia to drop the charges against activists and opposition leaders.
Meanwhile, twitter was also abuzz with the supposed arrest of student activist Safwan Anang. Police, however, have yet to confirm this. "Not yet," said a police sorce.