Beware those who want to hijack Malaysia’s People Power movement

 Asean, Civil society, Corporate agenda, Development issues, Europe, FTAs, Global justice movement, Human rights, M'sian politics, Malaysian finance/business, Marginalised groups  1 Response »
Nov 172007
 

In a parting shot, Thierry Rommel, the European ambassador who left his post on Tuesday, castigated the Malaysian government for its deplorable human rights record and the “discriminatory” New Economic Policy (NEP). News reports quoted Rommel as saying the executive in Malaysia is “all-powerful and not accountable” while the judiciary remains beholden to the executive because the prime minister directly makes the appointments. He said Umno runs the country like its own backyard and that the Malaysia was “a one-party state”. “The parliament (is) useless. No fair elections, no freedoms. Police is unaccountable. Internal checks and balances? Forget it. So where do you find characteristics that (represent) democracy?” Malaysians struggling for greater democracy, who marched in the tens of thousands on 10 November, might be forgiven for thinking that they had found an influential ally in Rommel and the European Union. Big mistake. Although most of Rommel’s remarks ring true, [Read more]

“No matter the regime’s physical power, in the end they can’t stop the people”

 Asean, Civil society, Democracy, Global justice movement, Human rights  3 Responses »
Nov 132007
 

Those words uttered by Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi could well apply to Malaysia. Was it a stalemate on 10 Nov? After all, the demonstrators had been thwarted from gathering at Dataran Merdeka in the city centre. They were unable to accompany their chosen representatives to the gates of the palace to hand over their memorandum. And would the memorandum make any difference? What had they really achieved? Would Suu Kyi consider the situation in Burma a stalemate – especially in the aftermath of the brutal crackdown of peaceful demonstrations there? Here’s what she had to say: “I am really not fond of that expression,” she replied rather sternly. “People have been on the streets. That’s not a stalemate. Ethnic people, like the Karen, are fighting back. That’s not a stalemate. The defiance is there in people’s lives, day after day. You know, even when things seem still on the [Read more]

Have the generals won in Burma?

 Asean, Democracy, Global justice movement, Human rights  2 Responses »
Oct 012007
 

So thousands of heavily armed soldiers are patrolling the streets of the Burmese capital, Rangoon, forcing the peaceful protesters off the streets. Have the hopes and prayers for democracy in Burma been totally crushed? Have the pro-democracy protesters been defeated? Not by a long shot. When a government resorts to bullets and clubs to suppress peaceful demonstrators, you know they have lost all moral authority and it is just a matter of time before the regime is dumped into the ash heap of history.

Lawyers’ march, Burma’s struggle, PGCC campaign all related

 Asean, Democracy, Environment, Human rights, Judiciary, Malaysian finance/business, People's Park/PGCC  4 Responses »
Sep 262007
 
Lawyers' march, Burma's struggle, PGCC campaign all related

This is a more realistic miniature model of what the PGCC will look like – Awful! What do the lawyers marching in Putrajaya, the ordinary people struggling for democracy in Burma and those campaigning against the Penang Global City Centre Project have in common? They are all part of the global justice movement, trying to create a real alternative to the decaying structures and oppressive forces in society. Trying to build a more just and sustainable world – a world where human dignity is respected and no one is oppressed. A world where the environment – God’s gift to humanity – is considered sacred. So congratulations to the 1,500 courageous Malaysians who marched in Putrajaya despite the obstacles in their path. Even though the police stopped the buses from entering Putrajaya, the lawyers got off and started walking. As lawyers committed to the cause of justice, you have given all [Read more]

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