JOHOR BARU: A Johor executive councillor has called upon the authorities to hold a fair trial for the 12 people arrested for alleged links to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
State Unity, Domestic Trade and Consumerism committee chairman Dr S. Ramakrishnan (pic) said the suspects were unjustly arrested by police and held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), which he described as a draconian law.
“According to the police statement, the 12 men are arrested for wearing an LTTE t-shirt and attended the LTTE anniversary but what we wanted to know is, are they really a threat to the country security.
“LTTE has long been disbanded about 10 years ago and the suspects have been detained without any proof that they are a threat to the country, this is one of the reasons why Sosma has to go,” he added.
He said this when met after attending a candlelight vigil in front of Johor Baru (North) police headquarters, Skudai, on Saturday night (Dec 14).
Ramakrishnan, who is Bekok assemblyman, also handed over a memorandum to Special Branch officer Asst Supt Mohammad Zaki Sidek, who received it on the behalf of Johor Baru (North) OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Taib Ahmad.
Ramakrishnan added that the detainees were also not allowed to go on bail due to Section 13 of the Sosma Act, which removes the power of a court to hear and determine a bail application.
He also said that a copy of the memorandum would also be given to five people, namely Chief Justice of Malaysia Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, Attorney General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador and Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) secretary Cheah Swee Neo.
State Unity, Domestic Trade and Consumerism committee chairman Dr S. Ramakrishnan (pic) said the suspects were unjustly arrested by police and held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), which he described as a draconian law.
“According to the police statement, the 12 men are arrested for wearing an LTTE t-shirt and attended the LTTE anniversary but what we wanted to know is, are they really a threat to the country security.
“LTTE has long been disbanded about 10 years ago and the suspects have been detained without any proof that they are a threat to the country, this is one of the reasons why Sosma has to go,” he added.
He said this when met after attending a candlelight vigil in front of Johor Baru (North) police headquarters, Skudai, on Saturday night (Dec 14).
Ramakrishnan, who is Bekok assemblyman, also handed over a memorandum to Special Branch officer Asst Supt Mohammad Zaki Sidek, who received it on the behalf of Johor Baru (North) OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Taib Ahmad.
Ramakrishnan added that the detainees were also not allowed to go on bail due to Section 13 of the Sosma Act, which removes the power of a court to hear and determine a bail application.
He also said that a copy of the memorandum would also be given to five people, namely Chief Justice of Malaysia Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, Attorney General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador and Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) secretary Cheah Swee Neo.
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