They braved the rain; their spirits were not dampened
Singing Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”
Bob Marley performs the Redemption Song
I was wondering how many people would actually turn up for the final candlelight vigil seeking the abolition of the ISA because it started pelting down at around 9.00pm again. Unlike last week, the rain did not clear for a while. But when I arrived, I was heartened to see so many people had already gathered there, some with brollies, others without. This was probably the largest crowd gathered over the last six weeks of vigils – in the rain, some more!
They sang, they listened to speeches, they took an ikrar (pledge) to continue the struggle to abolish the ISA. Among the speakers was Aliran president P Ramakrishnan, who revealed that a police officer had asked him, minutes earlier, to get in touch with an inspector at the station for reasons unknown. “I have nothing to do with the inspector and if he wants to speak to me, he should contact me,” Rama told the crowd.
Earlier on Wednesday, Suaram Penang coordinator Lau Shu Shi was asked to report at the police station in connection with these vigils. Apparently, they wanted more information on what was happening with the campaign.
The police were there again mostly in plain clothes, taking videos and snapping pictures, but most of the participants of the candlelight vigil didn’t seem to mind. They were committed to the struggle to abolish the ISA, and they had made their point about reclaiming the right to the basic freedom of assembly.
A young girl, perhaps around six years of age, walked up to the mike and said, “Free RPK!” much to the delight of the crowd.
The next GMI (Abolish ISA Movement) event is the commemoration of the 21st anniversary of Operation Lalang on Sunday outside Prangin Mall at noon.
Taking a pledge to continue the struggle to abolish the ISA
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Dear Anil,
Thanks for the update in Penang. It was a good turnout with strong committed support calling for the abolishement of ISA.
What say you all Selangor People, we should do better and emulate those Penang Lang (Penangnites), six weeks without failed turnout and now 400 people. We share the common hope and we truly miss RPK very much. It is already more than one month, never have I miss someone so dearly like RPK.
Please help to support for RPK release asap…..
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er… methink the 1st week (or was it 2nd?) there was also about 400.
after this weekly vigil, perhaps GMI should organise the vigil once a month. if it is stop all together then the momentum of the people’s enthusiasm in calling for the abolishment of ISA might died down.
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anil.
Another person is detained under the ISA in Johore AI YOH. I just do not know when will the goverment (run by BN/umno)say we have enough of it.??????? or maybe they are very happy to use ISA on all malaysian to tell them to M.Y.O.B. as this is thier’s in the making………..
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Kenntzen, just wait till tomorrow. You’ll see KL(+PJ) will not let Penang down.
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Keep up the good work
! The ‘walk the talk’ attitude of Penang people never disappoint.
Just like Ron Paul’s ‘Campaign for Liberty’ is gaining ground within the grassroots of the US, we can emulate their grass root movement and slowly gain ground with a larger and larger following.
After all these years, the lone voices of people like RPK have started to resonate with the Malaysian conscience. We are starting to transcend apathy (tak apa) to a much more visible movement.
Hopefully this would foster leaders of the future who understand that freedom and liberty without harming others is the basis for a progressive society.
Abolishing the ISA would be a good precedent in a greater move to take away power from the government, both politically and economically.
After all, my understanding of the constitution is a set of check and balances for one main purpose: TIE DOWN THE GOVERNMENT from power, and therefore abuse of power.
PEOPLE POWER RULES!
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i full sopport for abolished isa next general election we will bring down barisan nasional we r malaysian nt umno mca mic all tese r jst doing noting for malaysians tey only care bt teirslf nt for de rakyat……..i pray 2 god tey wil b a new government wif gd justice fair for all kuasa rakyat
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You guys were great, what a crowd despite the rain! Sybas, that was admirable!
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We walk with all our brothers locked up unjustly under ISA.
Anti-ISA Candle-light Vigil held in PJ on Sunday, 19th October, 8pm — Photos, Video & Downloads:
http://iwfrpk.blogspot.com/
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Dear Anil
The white man who drafted the bill in 1960 has already passed;
but his legacy remains.
YANG MULIA Tunku Abdul Rahman, our beloeved first Prime Minister
said repeatedly, in Parliament and outside that the ISA WAS first
meant for the violent Communists and not POLITICIANS NOR NGOS.
Now, the current leaders (if you wish to call them as such) want
to hang on to power; so the only way is to retain the ISA; they
will not easily give up unless bodies like BAR COUNCIL will take
strong stand that it is against the HUMAN RIGHTS TO RETAIN THE
ISA.
They should boycot all the Courts thrhouut the country and you will
see that result. Because nothing will move. Then, only then,
there is hope that the Administrators will open their eyes and ears.
Secondly, we have been watching and reading a lot of news about
the Police; I have a suspicion that the ORDINARY policeman does
not know anything about human rights; they should be given a training by the BAR COUNCIL OR NGOS LIKE ALIRAN.
Judge Weeramantry, who was the World Court’s Vice President has
in his book JUSTICE WITHOUT FRONTIERS: Furthering Human Rights
at page 30: “The Police officer is or ought to be seen increasingly not merely as law enforcer and disciplinarian. He or she needs to be seen as friend and even counsellor.
As with teacher training colleges, so also POLICE ACADEMIES, human
rights be a compulsory curriculum subject for trainees. No pains should be spared in obtaining the best possible lecturers on this topic and inviting lawyers and judges to deliver lectures” on HUMAN RIGHTS.
The Judge goes on to say: the police recruit should be given a manual of HUMAN RIGHTS AS APPLICABLE TO THE WORK OF A POLICEMAN
OR POLICEWOMAN.”
For a start, I would suggest that our Universities should start
teaching in the lst year so that every lawyers is aware what is
involved in HUMAN RIGHTS.
HAMID IBRAHIM
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