Police quiz PKR staff on Israeli tear gas canisters

Police today took statements from a PKR leader and two Suara Keadilan journalists over an article claiming that the authorities used Israeli-made tear gas canisters.

PKR legal bureau chief Latheefa Koya (right) and Suara Keadilan editor Fazallah Pit and journalist Ahmad Fadli Mohd Nazari spent 15 minutes at the Dang Wangi police station to answer just seven questions related to the article, posted on the publication's website.

Fadiah Nadwa Fitri, who acted as legal counsel for the three, said they are being investigated under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code for alleged incitement over aSuara Keadilan article entitled 'FRU guna kanister Israel sahkan kezaliman BN - Shuhaimi Shafiei'.

She pointed out that the questions asked, particularly in Fazallah's case, had no bearing on the case at hand, as the police merely asked about his role as editor and who owns Suara Keadilan, among others.

"The type of questions asked shows that the nature of the questioning amounts to harassment and intimidation," she said at a press conference outside the Dang Wangi station.

Fazallah (left) defended the publication of the article, stating that they had checked the veracity of the claim before proceeding to post it on their website.

"Even if the statements came from our own leaders, we double checked the facts and we found there was basis to it," he said.

Latheefa pointed out that the line of questioning also showed that the police were unprepared and completely missed the point of the article written.

She said the expose was based on a canister she personally picked up after it was fired by riot police during the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally.

Latheefa repeated that name of the manufacturer, US-based Federal Laboratories, was clearly stated on the canister, stressing that the company is a major supplier to Israel.

"I didn't say it was made in Israel... They should read the article, but based on the questions they asked it shows that they didn't read it.

"Their questions show that the police are not carrying out their investigations, and shows they did not prepare for this (taking their statements)," she said.

'Stop the harassment'

PKR vice-president N Surendran, who accompanied the group, said today's questioning by the police was merely a continuation of the harassment of the people, for the sake of covering up the truth.

He said the government is blatantly using the authorities, from the police to the attorney-general, to "attack" its critics.

"This is ridiculous. Every time people push for the truth, they try to suppress the truth. We expect them to start charging people... Yet again, they investigate the complainant instead of the complaint.

"They claimed there were those waging war against the King, but based on their actions against the public, it is they who are waging war on the people," he said, referring to the initial reason used to detain six PSM leaders, otherwise known as the EO6.

Surendran said the worsening situation facing civil society is the fault of the government, which he urged to stop using criminal law arbitrarily and instead engage the people in dialogue. - Malaysiakini