I am endorsing this in my <bold>individual </bold> capacity.
Leelangi
At 08:26 PM 1/25/03 +0800, you wrote:=20
>>>>
<excerpt><fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>0000,0000,ffff</param=
>Dear
all,=20
</color></fontfamily>
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>0000,0000,ffff</param>Attached
is the finzalized statement and press release to support the Malaysiakini
in exercising press freedom. Please fill out all four blanks at the end
of the document if you would like to endorse it. Please send out your
endorsement ASAP.
</color></fontfamily> =20
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>0000,0000,ffff</param>Hope
all that are interested in supporting the Malaysiakini and communication
rights could turn in the <bold>endorsement before 3:00 PM Jan 27</bold>
(Mon), 2003. I suggest that to be the first deadline and we'll see if a
stretch is necessary to get more endorsement.=20
</color></fontfamily> =20
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>0000,0000,ffff</param>The
statement/press release will be sent to the Malaysian authorities
suggested by PatchA (See mail 357) and regional media (list provided by
Forum Asia).=20
</color></fontfamily> =20
<bold><fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>8080,0000,8080</param>Pa=
tcha:
Any other mailinglist for endorsement that you may provide us with?
</color></fontfamily></bold> =20
<bold><fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>0000,0000,ffff</param>Th=
anks
to all the prompt recommendations and Sacha's great help!
</color></fontfamily></bold> =20
<fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>0000,0000,ffff</param>Solidari=
ty,
Serena/Taiwan Association for Human Rights
</color></fontfamily>-------------------------------------------------------=
----------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----------------------------------------------------------
<center><bold>Draft press release
</bold>
</center><flushright>January 27, 2003
</flushright><center><bold>Police Raid on Online Newspaper Malaysiakini
Jeopardizes Press Freedom,=20
Repressive Action Deviates from Vision of the Information Society
</bold>
</center>A wide coalition of Asia Pacific civil society condemns the
unwarranted police raid on Malaysian online newspaper Malaysiakini.=20
We, the undersigned organizations representing Asia Pacific=A1=A6s national,
regional and international civil society entities that are concerned
about human rights issues in the information society, condemn the police
raid on Malaysian online newspaper Malaysiakini that occurred on January
20, 2003. This raid has severely jeopardized press freedom.=20
We, on the other hand, fully support Malaysiakini to exercise its
rightful freedom of opinion and expression and therefore, respectfully
request that Malaysian authorities immeidately cease all actions and
pressure that violate these communications rights. We regret that such a
controversial law as Malaysia=A1=A6s Sedition Act may be applied to justify
this police raid and denounce the gross misuse of such laws to
arbitrarily, unjustifiably and conveniently censor alternative views.=20
Malaysiakini, an award-winning independent online newspaper based in
Malaysia, was raided by the Malaysian police on January 20, 2003. Four
servers and 15 central processing units (CPUs) from its office were
seized during the raid. The raid was triggered by a complaint to the
police lodged by a youth wing affiliated with a ruling political party,
which accused Malaysiakini of publishing a seditious letter. The letter
published on January 9 was alleged to have questioned the =A1=A7special
rights=A1=A8 of the Malays in the country and therefore could cause racial
disharmony.=20
Subsequent to the raid, the police interrogated Malaysiakini=A1=A6s
editor-in-chief and four senior editorial staff. They further requested
the staff to identify the writer of the letter. The latter, however,
denied the request so as to adhere to professional media ethics. If
convicted under the Sedition Act, the individuals involved in the case
would be liable to a fine not exceeding RM 5,000 or imprisonment for up
to three years, or both.=20
Moreover, Malaysiakini received a letter of eviction order from its
landlord "PC Suria," which is now wholly owned by Nascom, a
government-backed enterprise formerly known as "PC Malaysia Bhd." The
order was given on January 22 (two days after the raid) with a request of
eviction, because Malaysiakini was involved in "unlawful activities."=20
<fontfamily><param>Times New Roman</param>These events occurred only days
after the recent Asia Regional Conference on the World Summit of the
Information Society (WSIS) held 13-15 January in Tokyo. This conference
was convened to bring together all society stakeholders, which includes
Asia Pacific government, private sector and civil society entities to
share views, aspirations and concerns. All participants of the conference
gathered to develop a common understanding and vision of how people at
all levels of the information society should recognize their roles and
responsibilities. Moving towards free and balanced communication amid
globalization was one of the priorities intensively discussed in the
conference. As the Malaysian government was a party to the meeting and
had dispatched official delegates to engage in related discussion, it
should have recognized the significance of communication rights in the
context.=20
</fontfamily>
As we reaffirm, the vision of civil society is to evolve the global
community into a truly communicative, just and peaceful one grounded in
respect for diversity and plurality. It is deeply disappointing that
despite all the collaborative efforts to promote, achieve and respect
common visions and standards of conduct, Malaysia should immediately
deviate from the vision and spirit of the information society with its
attempt to silence Malaysiakini.=20
The WSIS will be meaningless if we cannot agree to uphold communication
rights--the fundamental human right to communicate, to access and
disseminate information--as the touchstone of our information society.
The raid on Malaysiakini has not only impeded the significance of
communication rights, but is a severe setback to regional and global
evolution of politics and economics.=20
Transcending the divides between enabled citizens and marginalized
communities is a major challenge of globalization facing all stakeholders
in the information society. The safeguard and promotion of free and
balanced flow of information and communication with full respect for
human rights by all parties plays an indispensable role in helping all
bridge the gap.=20
We, the undersigned, reiterate that the securing and promotion of the
freedom to communicate should be guided by, inter alia, Article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which stipulates that: =A1=A7Everyone
has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes
freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and
impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of
frontiers.=A1=A8 During the regional conference on WSIS in Tokyo, a
journalist from Malaysiakini nominated by Asia civil society participants
to speak on their behalf, further highlighted these internationally
recognized rights. Sadly enough, these rights were soon denied by the
government of Malaysia with the raid.=20
We hereby respectfully request the government of Malaysia to refrain from
exercising censorship in all forms in respect for fundamental human
rights. We call upon it to take actions to secure and promote an open and
free press rather than repressing journalists reporting on critical and
sensitive issues.
It is absolutely unnecessary for the Malaysian authority to apply the
Sedition Act against Malyasiakini. Sensitive issues should be resolved
through constructive and rational dialogues and debate rather than
censorship in any forms.=20
We further call upon the Malaysian police to immediately return all
seized items of the Malaysiakini and stop the interrogation of the
journalists about their decision to publish the letter and identity of
the letter=A1=A6s writer.=20
<color><param>8080,0000,0000</param>----------------------------------------=
----------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----------------------------------------------------------------
</color>
<bold><fontfamily><param>Arial</param><color><param>8080,0000,0000</param>Th=
is
statement is endorsed by:=20
1. Name of individual: Leelangi Wanasundera
2. Organization: -----
3. Country or area: Sri Lanka
4. Email=20
</color></fontfamily></bold><color><param>8080,0000,0000</param>leelangi@itm=
in.com
</color>
<color><param>8080,0000,0000</param>=20
</color>
=20
Attachment Converted: "c:\ITMIN\leelangi\Stationery\Response to the
Malaysiakini case.doc"=20
</excerpt><<<<<<<<