PSM demands release of PSM 6

More than 50 protesters gathered outside the police headquarters today to submit a memorandum to the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar, demanding the immediate release of the 'PSM 6'.

The protesters included family and friends of the detainees.

The protest was met by strong opposition from the police, who showed up in almost equal number to disperse the crowd. The police refused to allow a delegation to submit the memorandum inside the police headquarters and initially tried to stop protesters from reading out the memorandum.

The memorandum, written by the Perak branch of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), also demands that the detainees be allowed visits by their family and lawyers. Furthermore, the safety of the PSM 6 under detention must be guaranteed.

PSM claims that the detainees are unofficially arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA), even though they are officially detained under the Emergency Ordinance (EO). PSM has alleged that the six have been kept in solitary confinement, blind folded during transportation and called by a number rather than their names. These procedures are reminiscent of ISA detentions.

The PSM 6 were arrested under the EO on July 2 for alleged involvement in organizing the Bersih 2.0 rally. Shortly after, this charge was revoked and they were instead charged with being involved with activities that would disrupt public harmony.

PSM claims that the police revoked the initial charge because they realized that they had no evidence against the PSM 6 other than t-shirts and pamphlets. The EO was then invoked to legally detain them without trial or strong evidence, wrote PSM in their memorandum.

Despite disagreeing with the initial charge of being involved with Bersih 2.0, PSM maintains that there is no reason to continue holding the six detainees and demands their immediate release.

The 'PSM 6' are Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar, PSM deputy chairperson M Saraswathy, central committee members Choo Chon Kai, M Sukumaran, Sungai Siput branch secretary A Letchumanan, and Youth leader Sarat Babu.

The six detainees are social activists known for their contributions to society at the grassroots, fighting for issues such as the need for free education, affordable health care and minimum wages. PSM affirms that the detainees are not criminals.

PSM also asserts that the conditions surrounding the detention of the PSM 6 is a violation of democracy and a violation of human rights.