We are for freedom of assembly - so we ask that Khir Toyo not be charged...

We believe in freedom of assembly...freedom of expression...

We condemn the police...the FRU...the IGP...the UMNO led-BN government whenever the police cracks down and denies people the right to freedom of assembly and expression..

We condemn the government when persons are arrested, detained and/or charged for 'illegal assembly'...for exercising their freedom of assembly..their freedom of expression/opinion.

But then some of us, fueled by emotions arising by reason of political affliations, etc..., are quick to 'complain' when some assembly of persons are not breaken up by police...or when some persons are not arrested for 'illegal assembly'...and this is sad.

I have also seen 'advocates' for the abolition of detention without trial laws sometimes 'slip' and call that others be arrested under the ISA...

A recent example of this 'slip' was seen in the posting of one blogger (the name, I will not mention as this is not at all important...). He shouts for equality ...and non-discrimination - i.e. police should suppress the freedom of assembly...the freedom of expression of ALL - not just some.

We have to be very clear in about our position...

* We are for the right to freely assemble and protest, voice out our opinions, etc... peacefully.

* We are against the very notion that we have to apply and get police approval for protests, peaceful assembly, acts of exercising our freedom of expression. As such, we will not go against this position by submitting any application to the police for permission. (The most that we may do is maybe inform the police - not ask for permission, consent, blessing...)

When UMNO Youth also demonstrated in an unruly manner outside Karpal Singh's legal office in Kuala Lumpur 2 days ago, and Karpal related that he had spoken personally to an officer in uniform, whom he identified as “Mr Chan”, and was told that the organisers had not got a permit for their protest but that he was “under instructions” not to break up the rally.

Finally, when Khir Toyo led an UMNO Youth march in Penang heading towards Karpal's personal home, the police arrested him. (That must have been such a slap in the face for Khir Toyo, the other UMNO Youth chief hopeful)

Thank you to the police for acting impartially in Penang. The next step is for the Attorney-General's office to prosecute Khir Toyo for "illegal assembly".

I'm all for protecting our constitutional right for freedom of assembly, for holding peaceful demonstrations. But all must be equal before the law, as expressly stated within our Federal Constitution - therefore if the police are to prosecute anybody for peaceful assembly, then all should be prosecuted. If not, then all charges to all accused of 'illegal assembly' must be immediately dropped.

Will Khir Toyo be charged? (Was that a rhetorical question?) And if he is charged, it'll be absolutely hysterical if his defense was the right to peaceful assembly as provided for in our Federal Constitution!

The story of the 2 protests, as reported by Malaysian Insider is as follows..

Penang police detained Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Khir Toyo, the former Selangor mentri besar, after breaking up an illegal protest by Umno members here today.

Protesters had planned to march to DAP politician Karpal Singh's house but dispersed after police threatened to arrest them.

Mohamed Khir and a local Umno youth leader were picked up by police after leaving the scene of the protests.

They were taken to the state police headquarters for questioning and released later.

It is not clear if they will face any criminal charges.

Mohamed Khir had planned to lead the march to Karpal's house.

Karpal has become a focal point of Umno protests ever since he threatened to take the Perak ruler Sultan Azlan Shah to court over his role in the current political impasse in Perak.

Sultan Azlan Shah had denied consent for Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin's Pakatan Rakyat (PR) administration in Perak to dissolve the state assembly after three seats were declared vacant by the state Speaker.

Instead, Sultan Azlan Shah invited Barisan Nasional (BN) to form a new state government, in a controversial move which PR leaders say is unconstitutional.

Since then Umno youth groups have been organising a number of small protests around the country in an attempt to whip up support from conservative Malays against PR leaders, especially Karpal.

Last week, Khairy Jamaluddin, who is contesting the Umno Youth chief's post in next month's party elections led a 1,000-strong rally in Ipoh against PR.

Mohamed Khir, who is also contesting the same post, tried to emulate his rival today but unlike in Ipoh, police put a stop to it.- Malaysian Insider, 13/2/2009, Cops stop pro-monarchy protest against Karpal, Khir Toyo detained briefly

We condemn the actions of the police for denying (or curtailing) persons the right to freedom of expression..and freedom of expression/opinion.

We condemn the arrest of 'Mohamed Khir and a local Umno youth leader', and we urge that they not be charged in court.

In fact, we urge that all persons who exercised their right to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of opinion not be arrested, detained and/or charged. For those currently awaiting trial, etc - we call for their immediate acquittal or for the charge to be dropped.