GMI solidarity vigil on Jan 5

(HARAKAH) – The Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) will be holding a solidarity vigil at Dataran Merdeka here on January 5, 2008. The vigil should have been held recently but was postponed amidst a backdrop of tight police cordon at the intended venue.

GMI working committee chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said the event was postponed, "in response to the warning issued by the police, so that a police permit can be applied for".

A check by English Section found that there was a heavy police presence at the venue despite an announcement by the organizer to call off the event. The police has ruled the intended vigil as "illegal" and threatened arrests.

In a statement Syed Ibrahim pointed out that the intended event, "like many others before it, is an entirely peaceful one which is in no way a threat to public order let alone national security".

"It has rather been the actions and deliberate provocation by the police which have caused such gatherings to end in chaos," he said.

He said in keeping with the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, GMI is firm in its intention to hold the event which is scheduled to be held for about an hour from 8pm.

GMI had earlier held a similar vigil and no untoward incidences were reported. Recently several Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders were nabbed under the ISA with a few more thought to be in a "wanted" list.