HINDRAF to Protest IGP’s Allegation of terrorist Linkages with 2 Rallies; PAS to continue Peaceful Assemblies; GMI 1 hour Vigil – Anti ISA on Jan 05

Malaysiakini has the report Vigil organisers apply for police permit GMI - Organisers of the aborted candlelight vigil last week have applied for a police permit to hold the event on Jan 5 but what if cops deny permit?
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HINDRAF to Protest IGP’s Allegation of terrorist Linkages with 2 Rallies; PAS to continue Peaceful Assemblies; GMI 1 hour Vigil – Anti ISA on Jan 05 with Permit

Hindraf to hold another two assemblies; Kimberley Lau; theSUN
PETALING JAYA (Dec 27, 2007): Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) is organising another two peaceful assemblies to protest Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan's claims that the organisation is linked with terrorists. Hindraf coordinator S. Manikavasagam said "we will hand over a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to investigate the validity of Musa's statement". On Dec 6, Musa accused Hindraf of soliciting help and support from terrorist groups. "We want to 'mendesak' (force) and 'mencabar' (challenge) the IGP to present proof for what he said," he said, adding that the handing over of the memorandum will most likely be scheduled for mid-January. He said the accusations were inappropriate, claiming that Hindraf does not have any connections with terrorists. Manikavasagam, who is also Parti Keadilan Rakyat Supreme Council member, said a second peaceful assembly will also be held in February in Putrajaya. He said a memorandum will be handed directly to the Prime Minister's Department.Hindraf will apply for permits to hold these assemblies.

Updated: 07:24PM Thu, 27 Dec 200;
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We will continue to assemble peacefully - Mohamad Sabu

ImageKUALA LUMPUR - PAS vice president Mohamad Sabu has vowed to continue holding peaceful assemblies at a time when the ruling regime has stepped up its abuse of power to declare these as "illegal". Mohamad said Article 10 of the Constitution which had been affirmed by Court decisions on several occasions as well as rulings made by the National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), clearly stated that a peaceful assembly did not require police permit. "We will continue to assemble until all peaceful assemblies become permissible," he said during a peaceful assembly at the Suhakam compound here recently. The gathering was attended by some 300 people.

No one was arrested despite the heavy police presence. The organizer of the assembly however was seen negotiating for about an hour with a group of policemen half way through the event. Mohamad vowed to have a "Malaysia that respects the Constitution and the rights to democracy". "We are opposed to any form of violence perpetrated by just about anyone," he said. He also slammed the arrest on Dec 11, of activists campaigning for free and fair elections at Parliament grounds. He described the incident as "violating the sanctity of a law making house". He accused the ruling party of "playing politics" in the incident involving the arrests and the subsequent drop of attempted murder charges of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supporters participating in a peaceful assembly on Nov 25.

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Peaceful assemblies to go on despite threat of ISA

Others present at the assembly were PAS treasurer Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice president Sivarasa Rasiah, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) pro tem chairman Nasir Hashim, DAP central working committee member Ronnie Liu, Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) chairman Abd Malek Hussin and Bar Council representative Amer Hamzah Arshad. The assembly was held among others to call for Suhakam to take "pro-active" measures to repeal Section 27 of the Police Act 1967 and for the human rights body to "investigate" and "interpret" the use of a recent Court injunction which denied the right to assemble near Parliament on Dec 11. A memorandum handed over to Suhakam commissioner Datuk N. Sivasubramaniam and Dr Denison Jayasuria also called for the Commission to refer to the Attorney General of any quarter that poses threats to whoever wanted to assemble peacefully including the police.

Sivarasa said the assembly was a "clear message" that despite threats of arrests using the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA), the people would continue to exercise their rights to assemble. "These are our rights as guaranteed under the Constitution," he said adding that mainstream media portrayal that peaceful assemblies were not "our culture" as "one big lie". He said history has shown how Malaysians has used peaceful assemblies in the run up to obtaining independence from the colonial power.-ES
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GMI solidarity vigil on Jan 5

KUALA LUMPUR - The Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) will be holding a solidarity vigil at Dataran Merdeka here on January 5, 2008. The vigil should have been held recently but was postponed amidst a backdrop of tight police cordon at the intended venue.GMI working committee chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said the event was postponed, "in response to the warning issued by the police, so that a police permit can be applied for". check by English Section found that there was a heavy police presence at the venue despite an announcement by the organizer to call off the event.

ABOVE & BELOW: The deserted Dataran Merdeka when the vigil was called off but the distrustful Police maintain their presence fearful that GMI might spring a surprise and had a "candle light" evening

The police has ruled the intended vigil as "illegal" and threatened arrests. In a statement Syed Ibrahim pointed out that the intended event, "like many others before it, is an entirely peaceful one which is in no way a threat to public order let alone national security".rather been the actions and deliberate provocation by the police which have caused such gatherings to end in chaos," he said. He said in keeping with the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, GMI is firm in its intention to hold the event which is scheduled to be held for about an hour from 8pm.

GMI had earlier held a similar vigil and no untoward incidences were reported. Recently several Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders were nabbed under the ISA with a few more thought to be in a "wanted" list.-ES

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Police Willing To Consider Issuing Permit For Gathering

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- Police are willing to reconsider the application by Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) for a permit to hold a gathering here on January 5. The gathering which was to be held at Dataran Merdeka here tonight was cancelled by the organisers. "We will review the application and issue a permit if we are certain it will not disturb the peace," Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zulkarnain Abd Rahman told Bernama. Checks by Bernama found the square to be what it usually is on a Saturday night without signs of any illegal gathering taking place. The GMI had wanted to hold the gathering to call for the abolishment of the Internal Security Act (ISA).

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= = == Look at Greedy Cuepacs people – wanting even a share of the Sin Tax – having a pay rise is not enough. Will the Government bow to such demands? With the GE around the corner, it looks like they will get the RM 2 billion (your taxpayers money). They are holding the government by the neck for this ransom money - harum . The Nation is “suffering” under the inflationary pressure and they are asking for more. Look around how many calendars for the new year 2008 can you find except perhaps those printed by the Income Revenue (Tax) Department – the extortionists who have money to spend

December 28, 2007 21:46 PM
Cuepacs Says Proposed Honorarium Small Percentage Of Cigarette Tax
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 (Bernama) -- Cuepacs said today the total sum of the honorarium it was asking the government to pay the estimated 1.2 million civil servants is equivalent to a small percentage of the revenue the government earns from the tax on cigarettes. Cuepacs president Omar Osman said the RM2,000 honorarium per person it was seeking would add up to less than RM2 billion, very much less than what the government earned from cigarette tax revenue.

He said Cuepacs agreed not to ask the government for the annual bonus payment following the July salary increase but the honorarium could help ease the burden on the civil servants in view of the increase in prices of goods. "If we ask for bonus of one-and-a-half months or two months salary, the total amount will be almost RM5 billion," he told reporters after handing out bursaries of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall Workers Union, here.Omar said the honorarium would help civil servants in Support Groups 1and 2 to prepare for the next school year which begins next month.