Four to Be Charged Under PAA 2012.
Calling all Green comrades to show support to Thomas Fann, Koh JH, Mohd Salleh Ahmad and Steven Choong at
Mahkamah Seksyen Jenayah 2, Johor Bahru on the 20th of April, 2014 at 9am.
We will not bow down to intimidation and harassment!
Statement from Thomas Fann:
We wish to inform you that the police has re-filed their charges against four citizens for their attendance at the candlelight vigil in support of Adam Adli last May (2013).
The four are :
1) Thomas Fann
2) Koh Jit Huat
3) Mohd Salleh Ahmad
4) Steven Choong
The charges are :
1) PAA 2012/Sec4(2)(b) for gathering at a restricted area (a petrol station).
2) PAA 2012/Sec9(1) for not giving the police 10 days notice as organisers.
We strenuously deny these charges and will defend ourselves in court.
This case will expose the draconian nature of this misleadingly named act – Peaceful Assembly Act, which in our opinion does not reflect the intent and spirit of Article 10 of the Federal Constitution that guarantees every citizens freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of association.
We also question why these charges were brought against four upstanding citizens who showed their support for Adam Adli at a candlelight vigil which did not cause any property damage nor any inconveniences to members of the public and lasted less than half an hours.
Such actions by the Government is a waste of public resources at a time when we are called to tighten our fiscal-belt in the face increasing cost of living due to reduction of subsidies and the upcoming implementation of GST.
Also precious police time could have been diverted to more pressing concerns like crime. Johoreans still lives in constant fear for their safety. With over 17,000 reported crimes in Johor last year (2013), surely there are better things for the police to do than carry out such persecutions against citizens who are willing to contribute to the betterment of society.
We can only deduce that the intent of such persecutions by the government is to intimidate us and anyone who dare to take a stand against injustice, falsehood and corruption.
This attempt will not succeed for it will only serves to strengthen our resolve to fight injustices, falsehood and corruption. This will also serve to stir up the spirits of all decent Malaysians to also step forward and be counted as one who would not surrender to intimidation.
We ask for you to show your support when we are charged and when the trial begin. We will be charged at Mahkamah Seksyen Jenayah 2, Johor Bahru on the 20th of April, 2014 at 9am.
Hidup Rakyat!
