News from Home, World and the Vatican

News selected by Catholic Lawyers Society Kuala Lumpur (CLS) for Catholics in Malaysia concerned about social justice and peace.

Includes CLS Internal News | CLS in the News | CLS Press Statements

Christian CDs case: No to cross-exam of Syed Hamid

Jill Ireland's application to cross-examine former Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, for issuing orders to confiscate religious CDs three years ago, has been dismissed by the Appellate and Special Powers Division of the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Justice Rohana Yusof, who made the decision in chambers today, allowed a preliminary objection by Syed Hamid and the government on the ground that the application was filed out of time. Read more »

Pakistan: Catholic Girl’s Forced Conversion Case Arrives In Court

Fides reports that the case of Farah Hatim, the Catholic girl kidnapped and forced into conversion to marry a Muslim man in the city of Rahim Yar Khan in southern Punjab, Pakistan is now scheduled before the High Court in Multan.

Fides also reports that Paul Bhatti, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister for Religious Minorities Affairs in Pakistan and leader of APMA (All Pakistan Minorities Alliance) had attempted mediation with the Muslim family who has been keeping Farah. Read more »

Prime Minister Meets The Pope: Diplomatic Relations And "Crucial Points" In The Lives Of Christians

The current, fluid, political situation in Malaysia, has weakened the Prime Minister, as he prepares to meet Benedict XVI, in a "private visit", scheduled for July 18 at Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer residence.

This is what was said by Malaysian Church sources to Fides, noting that the latest demonstrations carried out by civil society – in past days crossed the capital Kuala Lumpur (see Fides 09/07/2011 and 08/07/2011) – and have shaken the leadership of Najib Razak, Premier belonging to UMNO (United Malays National Organization), the party that leads the coalition "National Front" government in the country. Read more »

Bar Council: Will Of People Trumps Government Repression And Police Aggression

Looking back at the events of the past few weeks, the Malaysian Government must realise and accept that neither random arrest, nor preventive detention, nor water cannons, nor tear gas, nor rain, nor the threat of any of the above and more, can quell the spirit of the people to exercise their rights to the twin freedoms of assembly and expression.

The two rallies held on 9 July 2011 are eloquent testimony to the will of the people in the face of Government repression and police aggression. Read more »

The Heart Of A Gentle Person - Dr Jeyakumar

The recent arrest and detention of 6 Parti Socialist Malaysia (Socialist Party of Malaysia) including Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, Member of Parliament for Sungai Siput has brought much distraught to not only to those arrested but to their family members and loved ones.

Dr. Jeyakumar, as he is fondly known, is a cardiac specialist by profession. He has been working tirelessly for the poor and downtrodden since he was a child. Read more »

Malaysians Show Great Bravery - The Struggle For Clean And Fair Elections Continues

Bersih 2.0 is proud that in spite of all the obstacles and hindrances that we were forced to face, Malaysians of all walks of life overcame the oppressive acts of the police to come out peacefully and in incredibly large numbers to show their love for their country and for the principles of justice.

We are nonetheless horrified that several hundred people have been detained, many of them without any justification whatsoever. Read more »

Malaysians In 24 Cities Worldwide To Go Yellow

With the authorities tightening their grip on tomorrow's Bersih 2.0 rally at Stadium Merdeka, Malaysians all over the world are being asked to rally along at the same time, in the interest of free and fair elections.

Showing solidarity for the movement, the Bersih 2.0 Global Solidarity Network in a statement today called for simultaneous rallies in 24 cities in 15 countries in Europe, East Asia, Australasia and America. Read more »

Bersih: Malaysia’s Moment Of Truth

Malaysians from all walks of life have travelled a very long road to reach this defining point in our nation’s history.

With less than 24 hours to our intended peaceful gathering, our resolve to walk the last, most difficult mile as one united people in pursuit of clean and fair elections and a better Malaysia for all is firmer than ever. Read more »

Indian Mob Intimidates School Principal

A group of people led by a man claiming to be a leader of a national party stormed inside a Catholic school in Belgaum, Karnataka, demanding admission for two of his friend’s children.

About 50 people entered the St Joseph’s Canosian Convent School and abused the teachers and management of the institution on Monday (4/7/2011). Read more »

EO Detainees Message to The People

The six legal teams for the EO detainees today managed to spend about 15 minutes with each of the detainees. These are their statements to the people of Malaysia.

Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, MP for Sg Siput:

I would like to thank everyone who is supporting us by their letters, prayers and urgent appeals, etc. Read more »

Joint Statement by Global BERSIH 2.0

The BERSIH 2.0 Global Solidarity Network strongly supports the BERSIH 2.0 rally for Clean and Fair Elections in Malaysia on the 9th of July 2011.

We urge all Malaysians abroad to unite in solidarity with our Malaysian brothers and sisters at home by joining BERSIH 2.0 walks and other events in cities across the world (see below for complete list). Malaysians have the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and freedom of speech in keeping with international human rights norms. Read more »

Press Statement by Penang Chief Minister: BERSIH 2.0

Does Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein dare to ban Perkasa as he has banned Bersih or arrest Senator Ezam Mohamad and Khairy Jamaluddin just as the police has arrested Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj under the Emergency Ordinance to prove that the police does not practice double-standards or favouritism?

DAP questions Hishammuddin insistence that the authorities will act fairly in stopping all gatherings despite only outlawing electoral reforms group Bersih, when no action was taken against UMNO and Perkasa for organising a violent demonstration in Penang on 1.7.2011. Read more »

Somalia: A Country With No State, No Rights, A Disappearing Church

Slowly but steadily, over the past 21 years, the Catholic Church has been disappearing in Somalia, at least in its structures: all Churches and Church buildings have been destroyed.

Only about 100 Somali Catholics remain in the country, and they are dispersed and prohibited from gathering together. Read more »

Bersih 2.0 Will happen at Stadium Merdeka on July 9th

Bersih 2.0 is disappointed in the manner in which the Prime Minister and his cabinet has reneged on their offer to provide a stadium for us to hold our peaceful gathering.

As members of civil society that are committed to principles of integrity, we fully intend to abide by the advice of Tuanku DYMM SPB YDP Agong and hold our gathering in a stadium to state our demand for clean and fair elections. Read more »

Bersih: Reports Of Suspension Of Key Services Ahead Of July 9th

Bersih 2.0 urges the Federal Government not to suspend multiple public services this weekend in a futile attempt to stop the BERSIH 2.0 Rally at Merdeka Stadium.

BERSIH 2.0 is alarmed by intelligence that there might be a full or partial clampdown on the internet as we approach this weekend. Read more »

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