(Petaling Jaya, Friday): National and international attention will be focussed on the Federal Court on Monday, August 24, when it sits specifically for the final appellate hearing on the conviction and 36-month jail sentence handed down by the Court of Appeal on DAP Deputy Secretary-General, DAPSY National Chairman and MP for Kota Melaka, Lim Guan Eng for offences under the Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act.
Among organisations which are expected to send observers to the Federal Court appeal on Monday are Amnesty International (AI), International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Bar Council.
Forty non-government organisations, including ABIM, Aliran, Suaram, JUST, MTUC, TENAGANITA, AWAM, Perak Consumers’ Association, COAC, have also expressed their concern about the Federal Court hearing, expressing their disappointment and grave concern at the rejection of Guan Eng’s application for a nine-man bench at the Federal Court hearing on August 24, in view of the importance of the case and its far-reaching public policy implications.
I call on the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, Tun Mohd Eusoff Chin, to reconsider Guan Eng’s applicaton for a nine-man bench to hear his appeal against conviction and sentence for offences under the Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act at the Federal Court in view of the intense national and international concern firstly over the decision at prosecution, secondly the circumstances and background of the case, thirdly, the conduct of the case, fourthly the conviction and sentence and fifthy, the far-reaching public policy issues involved.
Malaysians and international opinion are united in their belief that Guan Eng is a victim of selective prosecution. On August 24, it is not only Guan Eng who will be on trial, the system of justice in Malaysia will also be on trial - not only in the eyes of Malaysians, but also in the eyes of the world.
I hope the Chief Justice could reconsider and grant Guan Eng’s application for a nine-man bench in the Federal Court appellate hearing of Guan Eng’s case on August 24, and if time does not permit for the full constitution of the nine-man bench for a Federal Court hearing on Monday, that the appeal date should be postponed for such a quorum to be formed first.
With the day-by-day countdown for Guan Eng towards the Federal
Court appeal on Monday, August 24, there has been a new flood of
email, from both inside and outside the country, expressing support, sympathy
and solidarity for Guan Eng. A sample of these emails are:
2. "9 of us will be in Federal Court showing our fully suport for you. We are proud of you and your DAP party. (Tio 17.8.98)"
3. "We hope that 24th August 98 will be a day of light for Malaysia where the Throne of Justice, Fairness and Law will free Lim Guan Eng …Something is indeed very wrong in our country if on 24th August 98 he is sentenced again to a jail term. Our natural justice and sense of intuition will definitely cry out that he should be a free man. (Moses 15.8.98)"
4. "Many Malaysians support you even though you hear no voices from them. .. For human rights and justice we all fully support you. You had acted wisely and had open the eyes of the public… (Nelson 12.8.98)"
5. "Saudara begitu tabah. Perjuangan saudara kearah keadilan dan kebenaran amat di hargai dan akan terus di ingati. Saya berkesempatan mendengar dan menghayati temubual saudara melalui radio BBC di London. Saya berpendapat saudara seorang pejuang yang berani kerana benar. Saya berharap kebenaran akan berpihak kepada saudara pada 24 Ogos ini. Semuga berjaya dan menegakkan kebenaran. (Zaihan 12.8.98)"
6. "Yang Berhormat, there continues to remain a huge section of Rakyat who fully subscribes to fair play. In any way whatever is the outcome this 24th, your valiant and noble efforts have not been in vain and we salute you. God bless you and your family. (Stephen 5.8.98)"
7. "hI! WHAT I'VE GOT TO SAY IS JUST THIS ‘HANG IN THERE BROTHER’ THEY CAN ROT YOUR BODY IN PRISON BUT THEY CANNOT LOCK UP YOUR MIND! WE IN MALACCA WILL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU NO MATER WHERE THEY PUT YOU. IF WE CANNOT BE TOGETHER IN BODY WE WILL ALWAYS BE IN SPRIT. GOD BLESS! (BERTIE SANTA MARIA 5.8.98)"
8. "I am a citizen of the United States and I wanted to send an e-mail of support in this difficult time that you must be experiencing. My Malaysian friend has informed me of the travesy you are facing, simply for trying to promote justice. Though I am many miles away, I feel the anguish and pain and wish you to know you are not alone… There is little anyone can say in times like these that can bring about the change that is really needed here, like your freedom, but my thoughts and prayers for both you and your wife are constant. Be strong...you are not alone. I'm still praying for your release. (Jim Klune, USA 18.8.98)"
9. "Beliau bukan sahaja menjalankan tugas sebagai 'check and balance' kepada kerajaan, malah menjadi sebatang lilin kepada seorang gadis bawah umur yang sanggup 'membakar' diri untuk memberi 'cahaya' yang terang kepada gadis tersebut pada masa depannya. 24.8.1998 merupakan lilin ini bakal berakhir jika rakyat tidak menyokongnya dan tiada lilin lain yang dapat menggantikannya. Jika lilin ini padam, maka kita bagaikan tinggal dalam sebuah negara yang gelap dan tiada sesiapa yang sanggup 'membakar' diri demi menerangkan masa depan kita. Marilah kita bersama-sama menyokong Lim Guan Eng dengan kuat, kukuh dan berdiri teguh di belakang beliau untuk memperjuangkan keadilan untuk kita. (18.8.98 Hong)"
10. "Many people especially those non DAP members show their SSS to Lim Guan Eng. However, we are confused and shamed that some of your DAP members not even show their concerns but destroy this campaign. (Tio 18.8.98)"
Last night, party leaders, members and supporters had a deeply-touching gathering in Malacca in Support, Sympathy and Solidarity (SSS) with Lim Guan Eng with the theme "Keep Justice Alive, Keep Guan Eng Free".
On Sunday night, the Lim Guan Eng Support Group is organising a finale gathering of well-wishers to "Keep Justice Alive, Keep Guan Eng Free" at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Kuala Lumpur at 7.30 p.m which is open to members of the public who want to have a final chance to show support, sympathy and solidarity with Lim Guan Eng - on the eve of the Federal Court hearing.
This will be occasion for Malaysians to express or share the pain at
the injustice meted out to Guan Eng. Among guest speakers/presenters are:
(21/8/98)