Arrested Development: Nat to be released!
Technorati tags: Malaysia, Rule of Law, Politics, Vendetta, Nathaniel Tan, OSA, Petition
Related posts:
► Arrested Development
► Arrested Development: Detention Confirmed
► Arrested Development: What YOU Can Do
► Shedding a Blood-Red Tear
► A Candle for Nat, A Vigil for the Nation
Update @ 1839 hrs: Nat's OUT! Got word via Malaysiakini... about damn time....
Blogger and PKR webmaster Nathaniel Tan was released just after 5pm today after a four-day remand for allegedly breaching the Official Secrets Act.
He was released on police bail and was welcomed by a huge crowd of supporters and friends as he walked out of the Bukit Aman's Commercial Crime Division in Kuala Lumpur.
He has to report back to the Commercial Crime Division on July 31.
"All I want to do now is to go and look for roti canai to eat," he said.
He added that bloggers and activists will not bow down to any intimidating tactics by the police.
(source: Malaysiakini - subscription required)
Original Post:
Just saw this on Eli's blog.
Nathaniel Tan, blogger, and webmaster for the opposition party PKR, is expected to be released early this afternoon.
Also check Polytikus and Cheryl's blogs for further possible updates.
Earlier, Malaysiakini ran a news article on grave concerns raised by several quarters on Nat's arrest, among them Lim Kit Siang.
DAP leader Lim Kit Siang urged Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to oversee a change from the policy of “arrest, then investigate” to one of strict adherence to “investigate, then arrest”.
“Abdullah should order the immediate release of Tan to send a clear message that his administration and the police under his watch respect human rights, one of the three core functions delineated by the Royal Police Commission in its report,” said Lim.
Referring to the reason cited for questioning, Lim said a full and thorough investigation should be conducted to find out who is responsible for the posting linking corruption allegations with Deputy Internal Security Minister Mohd Johari Baharum.
He said Johari is not the only one who wants to know the source of the anonymous website.
“But leave Tan alone, as nobody seriously suggests that (he) is responsible for the anonymous website. The arrest is not to find out the person or persons behind the anonymous website, but has an ulterior motive,” he claimed.
Lim added that Tan’s detention would be regarded as highly intimidatory in relation to expressions of dissent.
(source: Malaysiakini - subscription required)
On a similar note, Walski's received an e-mail from Tony Pua this morning announcing a forum to clearly and loudly say "No to a Police State in Blogosphere". It's coming up tomorrow, and will feature Nathaniel Tan, fresh from his release from detention (God-willing).
(the forum details, and more, in the full post)
The following details are from Tony's blog:
Venue: KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
Date: 19th July 2007 (Thursday)
Time: 7.30 pm
Admission is Free - Bring Friends
The panel of Distinguished Speakers include:
Nathaniel Tan, Blogger & Aide to PKR Advisor*
Jeff Ooi, Protem Vice-President, All Blogs Malaysia
Harris Ibrahim, Lawyer & Founder of The People's Parliament
Nurul Izzah Anwar, Special Assistant to PKR Advisor
Lim Guan Eng, Secretary-General of DAP
Tony Pua, Economic Advisor to DAP Secretary-General
Chairperson: Soon Li Tsin, Journalist & Blogger
* We will be inviting Nathaniel to speak to us and relay his experiences at the Forum should he be released from remand on Tuesday, 17th July or before. We'll also be trying to leave as much time to the floor as possible, so as to enable greater interaction at the forum.
Meanwhile, speaking of Jeff Ooi, he's done a nice write up on Nat, which you should check out. Among other things, Jeff has reported that "Internationally, both SEAPA and Reporters Without Borders have issued statements of concern, while CIJ has a similar dispatch earlier on". Once again, Malaysia impales itself up the butt, getting into the world news for all the wrong reasons.
Until later this afternoon, therefore, Walski waits with baited breath for Nat's actual release. Which should be around now, sometime.
