Thursday, November 6, 2008

Breaking News: RPK to be released TODAY!

Breaking News: RPK to be released TODAY!

The Shah Alam High Court has ordered the release of RPK. He will be brought from Kamunting to the Shah Alam high court at 4pm today. Be there to greet RPK!

Much thanks must go to the learned judge Justice Syed Helmy and the outstanding defence team of Malik Imtiaz, Azhar Azizan Harun, Ashok Kandiah, and Neoh Hor Kee. And last but not least, much gratitude to the friends and supporters who have been attending the hearings and vigils. Syabas everyone!

The candlelight vigils will continue in support of the remaining ISA detainees. And RPK will plan to be there, starting with the one in Seremban tonight.

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Court ordered Raja Petra be freed

SHAH ALAM, Nov 7 — The High Court today ordered that Raja Petra Kamarudin, editor of the popular news portal Malaysia Today, be released from detention after ruling that his arrest for allegedly causing racial tensions was unlawful.

High Court Justice Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad ruled that the Home Minister acted outside his powers in having Raja Petra arrested on Sept 12, said the blogger’s lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar.

He quoted the judge as saying the grounds given for Raja Petra's detention were insufficient and that his arrest under the Internal Security Act was unlawful.

The ISA allows the government to detain anyone for an initial two-year period without charges, and to extend the detention indefinitely.

Raja Petra, who was accused of threatening public security and causing racial tension by publishing writings that ridiculed Islam, will be taken to court later today to be formally set free.

Malik said the order was a "historic ruling”.

It's not the first time that a court has ordered the release of ISA detainees, and the ruling also does not prevent the government from re-arresting him under the ISA. The government can also appeal the ruling.

Raja Petra has increasingly infuriated authorities by publishing numerous claims about alleged wrongdoing by government leaders on Malaysia Today. The government has denounced most of Raja Petra's allegations as lies.

The detention came at a time when the government's popularity hit at an all-time low and is riven with factional fighting and faces the threat of being ousted by the opposition.

The ISA is a holdover from British colonial days, when it was used against communist insurgents. Independent Malaysia's post-colonial government has kept it in the statute books and has used it sparingly against political dissidents, ignoring calls from opposition groups and others to disband the law.

Raja Petra's arrest triggered widespread protests by civil society groups, lawyers and other online commentators.

- AP


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