The 5,000-strong crowd roared, “Mansuhkan ISA!“ – Photo by Anil Netto
On the eve of the Bukit Gantang by-election, Abolish ISA Movement coordinator Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh told a crowd of 5,000 at a Pas event that even though Najib had released 13 ISA detainees, another 27 remained incarcerated in the Kamunting Detention Centre, not too far from the site of the rally.
Just who are these 27, some of whom have been held without trial for more than half a dozen years?
The series of Abolish ISA Masses at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Penang will be taking a break for Christmas and will resume next year.
In the last Abolish ISA Mass for the year, parish priest Fr Marshall Fernandez exhorted the congregation of 80 gathered tonight to pray for a more just judiciary.
Referring to the recent controversy between Karpal and Chief Justice Zaki, Marshall said that a cleaner judiciary would provide justice for all.
Meanwhile, all the prayers and various campaigns to Abolish the ISA and free the detainees are having an impact.
Mission accomplished with a candlelight vigil last night outside the Kamunting Detention Centre: Yin, Joseph, Meng and Michael. Their colleague and photographer, Jorge, is not in the pic. The camera flashes alerted the officers on duty, who came out to have a look. (Note: This cycling team is not part of the Jerit cycling team.)
Ready to roll on the Freedom Ride
First it was candle-mania; now it’s cycle-mania
One of the cyclists, Michael, sent in this report at 4.00am today:
It’s been a very tiring and hectic two days (Saturday and Sunday) for me especially today as I had to reach Kamunting, do the candlelight vigil last night and still catch the 9.00pm bus back to KL. It was a great feeling having been able to achieve what we set out to do.
We started out from Klang on Saturday, 6 Dec at 8.00am from a bak kut teh shop, no less. Besides the five of us, two more friends rode with us to Sabak Bernam (110km) where we stopped for the first night. The next morning, the five of us started at 8.00am and, with only a few stops for lunch and quick breaks, we rode all the way to Taiping (160km away), reaching the town just before 7.00pm. (Coincentally, the southbound Jerit cycling team were spending last night in Taiping and Bagan Serai.)
Candlelight vigil at the Esplanade, Penang at 8.00pm today, organised by the Penang Anti-ISA Network.
The 350-km two-day run, organised by the DAP, is taking the following route:
Saturday, 15 Nov 08 (Selangor)
0800 – Flag off at DAP Pandamaran Service Centre (near the market). Route towards Bt Tinggi/Bayu Perdana traffic light (YB Charles Santiago Service Centre). Towards Jalan Kim Chuan and onwards to YB M. Manoharan’s service centre (near Hin Hua school). Simpang Tujuh roundabout and towards Jalan Tengku Kelana (Indian Street).
0845 – Cross the Klang bridge and towards Gold Coast hotel, Pin Hua school. Pin Hua school to CIMB bank and Jalan Meru, pass High School to (YB Teng Chang Khim’s service centre).
0900 – Jalan Kapar, batu 2 setengah. Straight to Kapar town.
1000 – Kapar town. Proceed to Jeram.
1200 – Kuala Selangor.
1330 – Tg Karang.
1430 – Sekinchan.
1630 – Sg Besar.
1800 – Sabak Bernam.
Run stops for the night.
They came from all over to send their Raya greetings (Photos by Teh/Lim)
Marina received lots of flowers and cards for RPK
Eye-witness Peng shares his experience in Kamunting today:
We arrived around 11.06am. Singing was underway when I got there. I was excited to see many people who were there to show support. People were mingling around with intermitten shouts of “Free RPK, Free Hindraf Five” and “Mansuhkan ISA”. There was no heavy presence of police. Marina was there. It was good to see her smile amidst the challenges she’s facing. People, she needs all the support we can give. …
I am glad that strangers could get together for a united cause. Today, I put a face to names that I know through blog comments. … It’s great to have met you all. POWER TO THE PEOPLE!