From: "promoting subversion" <propamedia@...>

Date: November 22, 2006 2:51:57 PM GMT+08:00

To: "Joe Kidd" <dungboy@...>

Subject: SOLIDARITY FOR KAMPUNG BEREMBANG

SOLIDARITY FOR KAMPUNG BEREMBANG

The Kampung Berembang villagers really need our helps - tents, food, clothing, pillows, blankets and so on.

Some of you may heard of the Kampung Berembang, Ampang incident on the news. For whom haven't please read the article from Bernama News attached below.

We're now organizing to gather canned foods, clothing, pillows, blankets etc for the Kampung Berembang victims.

Any kinda help would be appreciated.

You could reach us at: propamedia@... or 013-2497199 (Kid)  

From Bernama News:

MPAJ DEMOLISHES 51 HOMES, HOMELESS LEFT IN RAIN

Nov 20 (Bernama) -- The residents of Kampung Berembang, Ampang could only stand in the rain with their crying children and watch in despair as their homes of forty years were torn down by five bulldozers on the order of the Selangor government. Their worldly belongings were scattered in piles outside their wrecked homes, drenched in the rain. Around them, hundreds of Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) enforcement officers stood and watched.

Earlier in the afternoon, two of the houses were mysteriously razed in a fire. It is learned that 21 residents and activists have been detained so far for hampering demolition efforts. This was a surprising turn of events considering that earlier this morning, the Prime Minister's Department had issued a letter addressed to Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo asking to defer the demolition of the houses to April 30, next year.

Along with representatives from some non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the residents had assembled in front of a half-completed structure which was to be the management office of a project to be undertaken there, located beside their village, as early as 8am. They had also formed a barricade of cars and wooden planks in front of their houses to prevent the bulldozers from ripping into their homes, which they claimed were built since the 1960s, when the place was still a mining area and a mini-jungle.

However, things got ugly when several of the MPAJ officers tried to force their way through and performed citizen's arrest on eight people, including two women. "We're afraid they might pull another "guerilla" tactic on us" said a resident, Norhayati Aini Mohd Yusof, 49. She said that on Friday, bulldozers unexpectedly turned up and tore down four houses in the village while everyone was away at work.

By noon, the NGOs and resident representatives had managed to get a letter from the Prime Minister's Department to stop the demolition, but the residents said they would not be placated until the bulldozers and MPAJ officers left. It seemed that they were right in being suspicious because barely an hour after the letter was issued, a melee broke out and truckloads of Federal Reserve Unit Police had to be deployed to the site.

A fire broke out in one of the houses soon after and the bulldozers made their way into the village, flattening down houses. According to a NGO representative Y. Kohila, the houses, totalling 51 in all, were to be demolished to make way for a mega development project by the Acmar Group of Companies, to be completed by 2010.

"I, like many others, have lived here since 1964. Now that we have made the place livable and valuable, they (the state government) want to take it away from us," a resident Noralizan Ali, 43, told Bernama. "We have seen the title deed to this land. It belongs to several individuals, not the state government," he added, but refused to name the owners. MPAJ, however, maintained that it was a squatter area and that the government had a right to evict the squatters there.

There were initially 1,085 squatter homes in the Ampang district, and the council had managed to relocate all but the 51 homes in Kampung Berembang, said the MPAJ Town Planning Director Awang Mustapha Md Yunus. The residents had filed for an injunction against MPAJ on March 6 this year to prevent it from taking any action against them, but another court ruling later overruled it.

When asked why MPAJ went ahead with the demolition despite the letter from the Prime Minister's Department, Awang Mustapha said that they had referred back to the state government who gave them the green light. On the fate of the families from the 51 homes, he said: "We have given them ample notice, and offered to rehouse them in Kampung Muhibbah, Puchong, but they refused. "And when they filed the injunction against us, they automatically absolved their right towards any kind of compensation. We are no longer obliged to rehouse or compensate them."
(Bernama News)

More informations on Kampung Berembang incident:

http://www.bangkit.net  or

http://www.bangkit.net/2006/11/21/kampung-berembang-completely-destroyed-developers-potentially-identified-pictures-by-jerit/

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/59798  or

http://www.malaysiakini.tv/?p=104

What YOU can do about it:

Those who would like to show their solidarity with these villagers who were forced into homelessnes by man-made tsunamis may provide material support - especially tents, food and clothing - by contacting coordinator Encik Hamzah at 019 249 2065.

From: Sonia Randhawa <soniarandhawa1@...>

Date: August 11, 2006 4:39:14 PM GMT+08:00

Subject: Please sign on: Open letter to PM on Freedom of Expression

Dear all,

Since this letter was written (last weekend) four freedom of __expression violations have taken place, warnings to the media to tone down reports on crime and violence; 12 teenagers arrested for looking like Black Metal fans; police visit to Malaysiakini; and the decision by the International Malaysia Studies Conference not to proceed with a forum on religion, interfaith and national unity.

Please read the letter below, and if you agree with the contents, please send an endorsement to waifong@..., with your name and designation.

Thank you,

Sonia

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,

Minister,

Ministry of Internal Security,

Blok D1 & D2, Parcel D,

Pusat Pentadbiran & Kerajaan Persekutuan,

62546 Putrajaya

Date:

Dear Datuk Seri,

Re: Upholding Article 10 of the Constitution

Open Letter to the Prime Minister: ‘Every citizen has the right to freedom of speech and __expression”

We, the undersigned, are alarmed at the numerous infringements of the right to freedom of speech and __expression that have taken place in 2006. The right to freedom of speech and __expression is guaranteed under the Constitution.

We urge the Prime Minister to show his respect for the Constitution by:

1. Immediately desisting from political interference in the media
2. Repealing all legislation that infringes freedom of __expression
3. Denouncing those who infringe freedom of __expression through the use of threats, intimidation or violence.

The following is a chronological list of the violations that have occurred in 2006:

1. Political interference in China Press on the grounds of unethical reporting

Using the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, the Internal Security Ministry requested that Chinese-language daily China Press show cause why action should not be taken against them for an inaccurate report. The action had the knock-on effect of intimidating other media from reporting on potential abuses of power by the police.

2.Raid on 'Paul's Place' on New Year's Eve

A punk music gig was raided on New Year's Eve with 388 young people arrested. Initially, they were told that they were arrested for attending a 'black metal' concert. This was not illegal at the time. They were later told that they were being arrested for being at an unlicensed venue. However, people who were not in the venue were also arrested. The aftermath of the raid saw inaccurate and fanciful reporting on the gig, targeting a marginalised group.

3. Non-renewal of Oriental Daily News permit

Chinese daily Oriental Daily News had the renewal of its permit delayed. The permit was only given after several columnists had their columns stopped.

4.Non-renewal of Suara Keadilan permit

Opposition party organ Suara Keadilan did not receive a permit to publish.

5.Indefinite suspension of Sarawak Tribune

The Sarawakian English-language newspaper was suspended indefinitely following a decision to publish the Danish cartoons showing the Prophet Muhammad.

6.Suspension of Guang Ming Daily

The afternoon edition of the Chinese-language daily was suspended for two weeks after publishing a photograph showing a placard depicting cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

7.Suspension of Berita Petang

The Sarawakian Chinese-language daily was suspended following the publication of an allegedly seditious article.

8.Threats against other media for re-printing images containing images or references to the cartoons of Prophet Muhammad

The New Straits Times English-language daily and State-owned free-to-air television channel TV2 were threatened with action over images related to the Danish cartoon issue.

9.Banning of Mak Yong performances in Kelantan

The Kelantan state government banned private as well as public performances of Mak Yong just three months after UNESCO classified it as world cultural heritage.

10.Revival of debate on a legislated media council

Repeated calls have been made for a legislated media council. In an already over-regulated system, this is merely one more mechanism of control.

11.Closure of KakiKino film club

The KakiKino club showed art films at the National Film Development Body (Finas). A member of the public complained that 'pornography' was being shown, and the club was closed.

12.Halting performance of Satu Kali

Performance art presentation Satu Kali was halted following a police report lodged by a single member of the audience.

13.Banning of Lelaki Komunis Terakhir

A semi-musical documentary/ travelogue based on the places important in the life of the Malayan Communist Party leader Chin Peng. This was banned following a series of attacks made by people who had not even watched the movie.

14. Threats against Tamil newspaper Makkal Osai

Following reports on a speech made by political leader Datuk Seri Samy Vellu, the Tamil-language daily Makkal Osai received threats of having its offices torched, had copies of its newspaper publicly burned and had a defamation suit threatened.

15. Police attack on MerdekaReview.com journalist

Police attacked a Chinese-language online journalist covering a peaceful demonstration. Lim Hong Siang was kicked by police, and threatened with confiscation of his camera, after identifying himself as a reporter.

16. Banning of 33 books under the Printing Presses and Publications Act

Eighteen books, primarily on religion, were banned for presenting a threat to 'peace and harmony' and a further 15 books were banned for pornographic content. The former included books on comparative religion, academic texts and a book on Kundalini yoga.

17. Closure of Chinese-language talk-back radio programme

A programme on State-owned station Ai FM was pulled. The last show included a discussion on controversial initiatives on Chinese-language education.

18.Banning forums on upholding the Constitution, organised by the Article 11 coalition

Forums on upholding the Constitutional right to freedom of religion were banned following threats and intimidation by members of the public who saw the forums as an attack on Islam and Malay privileges.

19.Banning media coverage of the forums on upholding the Constitution

A ban was issued on the coverage of the forums being organised by Article 11, and on issues of race and religion.

20.Threats made against the media by the Information Minister

Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin issued a strongly worded statement condemning some of the print media, and later reiterated the desire to control online media.

21. 'Police permit' required for DAP forum

Opposition party DAP had a forum on race relations cancelled, after the venue told them that they needed a police permit, in contravention to established practice.

In addition to these violations, there also appear to have been media black-outs on various issues of public importance, including actions against interference in the media, demonstrations against fuel price hikes and statements by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

We hold that the state, belonging equally to all, should not privilege one opinion over another, whether political, cultural or religious. We believe the only way to hold together a society as diverse as Malaysia is to promote peaceful dialogue and rational debate. Freedom of __expression is a pre-requisite for such dialogue and debate, and suppressing freedom in pursuit of harmony will attain neither. Allowing violence and intimidation to be used to silence dissidents instead plants the seeds of division and disharmony.

We urgently request that you uphold the Constitution and undertake changes to safeguard freedom of __expression. This requires a thorough review of legislation that inhibits communication rights, including the Sedition Act, the Official Secrets Act, the Printing Presses and Publications Act and the Communications and Multimedia Act.

Thank you,

The Undersigned;

__________________________________________________