A group of 365 Malaysian Christians, including Catholics, have signed a letter addressed to Pope Benedict XVI, complaining about Prime Minister Najib Razak's crackdown on the July 9 peaceful protest for electoral reforms.
They also expressed concern over the timing of Najib's visit to the Vatican, and pointed out the lack of religious freedom in Malaysia, citing the Lina Joy court case and the seizure of books on Christianity as examples.
The 365 signatories also expressed concern that Najib's visit to the Vatican during this time could be seen as securing popular support for the coming 13th general election, which must be held by mid-2013, and which could result in him clinging on to power.
The letter, which was published in full by the NGO Aliran, isaddressed to the Pontiff, with a copy also sent to Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, who is based in Singapore.
In their letter, the group said the crackdown on Bersih 2.0's call for electoral reform saw the coalition of more than 60 NGOs suffering a clampdown by the authorities in Malaysia, which has all along been ruled by the same coalition of political parties, now led by Najib.
It said the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBHST), of which the Catholic Church of Malaysia is a part, has affirmed Bersih's right to conduct its peaceful walk for what it considered 'just demands'.
The signatories also said that Najib had acted in deference to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who intervened to head off a potential confrontation between Bersih supporters, by continuing to declare the movement an illegal organisation and rejecting proposals to hold the gathering in Stadium Merdeka.
After his visit to the Vatican yesterday, Najib said Malaysia and the Vatican have agreed to establish formal diplomatic relations to promote bonds of mutual friendhip and strengthen cooperation between both sides.
Najib and Pope Benedict XVI met at at the papal summer residence in scenic Castel Gandolfo, outside the Italian capital Rome.
[More to follow]
They also expressed concern over the timing of Najib's visit to the Vatican, and pointed out the lack of religious freedom in Malaysia, citing the Lina Joy court case and the seizure of books on Christianity as examples.The 365 signatories also expressed concern that Najib's visit to the Vatican during this time could be seen as securing popular support for the coming 13th general election, which must be held by mid-2013, and which could result in him clinging on to power.
The letter, which was published in full by the NGO Aliran, isaddressed to the Pontiff, with a copy also sent to Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, who is based in Singapore.
In their letter, the group said the crackdown on Bersih 2.0's call for electoral reform saw the coalition of more than 60 NGOs suffering a clampdown by the authorities in Malaysia, which has all along been ruled by the same coalition of political parties, now led by Najib.
It said the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBHST), of which the Catholic Church of Malaysia is a part, has affirmed Bersih's right to conduct its peaceful walk for what it considered 'just demands'.
The signatories also said that Najib had acted in deference to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who intervened to head off a potential confrontation between Bersih supporters, by continuing to declare the movement an illegal organisation and rejecting proposals to hold the gathering in Stadium Merdeka.
After his visit to the Vatican yesterday, Najib said Malaysia and the Vatican have agreed to establish formal diplomatic relations to promote bonds of mutual friendhip and strengthen cooperation between both sides.
Najib and Pope Benedict XVI met at at the papal summer residence in scenic Castel Gandolfo, outside the Italian capital Rome.
[More to follow]
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