21/12: GMI to hold solidarity vigil this weekend

Harakah English Section

The Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) will be holding a solidarity vigil at Independence Square (Dataran Merdeka) here at the heart of the city on Dec 22.

The announcement for the vigil was made during a peaceful assembly organized by a coalition of some 50 political parties and non-governmental organization at the National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) building compound here.

Today's peaceful assembly among others called for Section 27 of the Police Act which required for a police permit to be obtained before any peaceful assembly could be held, to be repealed.

Among those present at today peaceful assembly which lasted for about an hour were Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) vice president Mohamad Sabu, treasurer Dr Hatta Ramli, research centre director Dr Dzulkifli Ahmad, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) pro-tem chairman Nasir Hashim, Democratic Action Party (DAP) central working committee member Ronnie Liu, and National Justice Party (PKR) vice president Sivarasa Rasiah.

No arrest

Some 300 participants were present at today assembly. Despite heavy police presence no arrest were made.

Met afterward, PAS women wing's chief Nuridah Salleh did not discount the possibility that the wing would make their present felt during the vigil to be held at 8pm on Dec 22.

The vigil is believed to be held to lend moral support to several Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders who were recently arrested and detained under the draconian act.

Despite local and international criticisms, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi recently invoked the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) which provided for detention without trials for Hindraf leaders who organized a peaceful assembly on Nov 25.