Urgent Appeal

Urgent Appeal: 08 May 2008

Drop Charges against Raja Petra and Syed Akbar, Respect Freedom of Speech and Expression

Three days ( 6 May 2008 ) after World Press Freedom Day (which fell on May 3), Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin and former banker Syed Akbar Ali have become the first Internet citizens to be charged with sedition.

Raja Petra Kamarudin, editor of news portal and blog, “Malaysia Today”, has been charged in the Petaling Jaya Sessions court with sedition in connection with an article he wrote, titled “Let’s send the Altantuya murderers to hell” and posted up at www.malayia-today.net on April 25, 2008 . Meanwhile, Syed Akbar Ali, has been charged for allegedly posting seditious comments about Malays and Islam on Raja Petra’s article titled “ Malaysia ’s organized crime syndicate: All roads lead to Putrajaya”.

Both of them pleaded not guilty to the charges. Kuala Lumpur Sessions court granted bail for Syed Akbar Ali at RM 3000 in one surety pending hearing on 10 June 2008 , while the Shah Alam Judge granted bail for Raja Petra at RM5000 in one surety and fixed 6 Oct 2008 for hearing.

Suaram strongly condemns the charges against Raja Petra and Syed Akbar. In our view the sedition charge is malicious and without merit. It is also politically motivated and aimed at silencing one of the most eloquent, dedicated and uncompromising voices speaking in defense of the rights of Malaysians and against the abuse of power stemming from the highest level of government and authority. We stress that a draconian law such as the Sedition Act has no place in a democratic society.

Please register your strongest condemnation towards this latest violation of human rights by the Malaysian government, and urge the government to withdraw the charges against the two immediately and unconditionally. Your protest letters should be sent to:

1. Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Prime Minister of Malaysia
Prime Minister’s Office Malaysia ,
Perdana Putra Building ,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 Putrajaya,
Selangor , Malaysia
Tel: +603 8888 6000
Fax: +603 8888 3444
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ' ); //-->" target=_blank>
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2. Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Bin Patail
Attorney General’s of Malaysia ,
Attorney General’s Chambers
Level 1-8, Block C3, Parcel C
Federal Government Administrative Centre
62515 Putrajaya
Tel: 603-88855004
Fax: 603-88889378
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SAMPLE LETTER

(Your Organization Letterhead)

08 May 2008

Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Prime Minister of Malaysia
Prime Minister’s Office Malaysia ,
Perdana Putra Building ,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 Putrajaya,
Selangor , Malaysia

Tel: +603 8888 6000
Fax: +603 8888 3444
Email:
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Dear Sir,

We are writing to you to express our strongest condemnation and protest against the charges against Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin and former banker Syed Akbar Ali with sedition.

Raja Petra Kamarudin, Editor of news portal and blog, “Malaysia Today”, has been charged in the Petaling Jaya Sessions court with sedition in connection with an article he wrote, titled “Let’s send the Altantuya murderers to hell” and posted up at www.malayia-today.net on April 25, 2008 . Meanwhile, Syed Akbar Ali, has been charged for allegedly posting seditious coments about Malays and Islam on Raja Petra’s article titled “ Malaysia ’s organized crime syndicate: All roads lead to Putrajaya”.

We strongly condemn the charge against Raja Petra and Syed Akbar, in our view the sedition charge is malicious and without merit. It is also politically motivated and aimed at silencing one of the most eloquent, dedicated and uncompromising voices speaking in defense of the rights of Malaysians and against the abuse of power stemming from the highest level of government and authority.

We strongly urge the Government to re-consider its action in pursuing what is being perceived in the country and internationally as blatantly selective and repressive persecution. We stress that a draconian law such as the Sedition Act has no place in a democratic society.

We further urge the government to withdraw the charges against the two immediately and unconditionally, and to respect Malaysian citizens’ fundamental rights, particularly freedom of speech and expression.


Sincerely yours,

(Name)