In Bersih crackdown, eight released, Maria in 'solitary confinement'

The police have released five politicians and three activists who were picked up before the Bersih 5 rally yesterday.

All eight were arrested on Friday and investigated for a variety of offences. The eight are:

Safwan Anang, Bersih steering committee member
Mandeep Singh, Bersih steering committee member
Muhammad Luqman Nul Hakim Zul Razali, student activist
S Arutchelvan, PSM committee member
Wong Chee Wai @ Jimmy Wong, DAP member
Lee Khai Ming, DAP member
Anis Syafiqah, TangkapMO1 spokesperson
Ronnie Liu, Selangor DAP exco member

Speaking to reporters after their release, lawyer Ramkarpal Singh said the remand for the eight had expired today, hence their release.

"As far as I am concerned... the entire process (can be characterised) as arrest with the intention of deterring them from participating in Bersih 5.

"This is a huge shame because we don't see why there is a need to arrest all of them on the eve of Bersih 5," he said.

Ramkarpal, who is also the Bukit Gelugor MP, said the police had ample time to arrest and question his clients prior to Bersih 5, therefore the police's motive was questionable.

"Obviously this was all done with the intention to frustrate Bersih 5," he said.

Maria in solitary confinement

Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah, who was also arrested on Friday, was not among those released today.

According to her lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan, Maria is being detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) and was in solitary confinement.

"We managed to see Maria. She was allowed to see her family. She is in solitary confinement. It is like the Internal Security Act (ISA) all over again.

"Her message is to keep fighting for a better Malaysia. We will be filing for habeas corpus on Monday, or Tuesday at the latest," she said.

Meanwhile, Mandeep said the release of the eight detainees today were meaningless if Maria was not freed as well.

"Our freedom is meaningless because Maria is still behind bars for showing her love for the country.

"Sosma must be abolished immediately," he said, adding that the law was never meant for political purposes.

A small crowd has gathered outside the detention centre holding a vigil for those still in detention.

The fate of "black-shirts" activists Ariffin Abu Bakar and red-shirts activists Razali Zakaria, who were both arrested on Friday, is unknown. Attempts to reach their lawyers for comment were unsuccessful.

Seremban MP Anthony Loke, who was also part of the Friday dragnet, is expected to be released tomorrow.- Mkini