[An open letter to the merchants who complained on TV about the human rights demonstration]

Saudara dan Saudari,

What interests you most, (a) your rights, if you are falsely accused of a crime by the police, or (b) the threat to national security when there is a public gathering to deliver a protest to the Human Rights Commission?

The prime minister is of the view that there is a majority interest requiring drastic steps. He feels that he does his duty in the present circumstances. He says the arrests of those planning the weekend event, using the ISA, are necessary as a premptive act (to save the endangered Umno-BN). He is perhaps correct in assessing the threat to his position. He is wrong in his understanding of the democratic process.

The ISA law allows your arrest without a warrant. You can be held indefinitely while the police manufacture a case against you. You will not be allowed to meet with your family or your lawyer.

After a few months, when the police and public prosecutor have a sufficiently solid case against you, they will bring the case to trial. A trial can be conducted in which you are the defendant. It can be held in your absence, while you are still kept captive in the catacombs.

The judge may feel your presence will not contribute positively to the search for truth. In the interests of justice he will accept the findings of the police investigation. Therefore, you need not even be informed the court proceedings are underway.

The judge is content to leave you in the capable custody of the police. Your presence in the courtroom might, in some small way, interfere with his findings in the case. He does not wish to be prejudiced or biased by any alibi you might invent, such as being in Sabah on the day the alleged crime was committed in Kuala Lumpur.

While you are being tortured, out of the public eye, the police can lie about you, they can bring witnesses who will lie about you, and the judge will accept all of their evidence. There will be no rebuttal, because you are not even aware of the charges.

You cannot rebut the false testimony against you because you are still locked away in the dungeon. The judge will convict you anyway, and you will not be allowed to see your family for twenty years or more. You can be kept in solitary confinement. No one will know for twenty years or more what really happened. After you are released, you can write your book and tell the real story.

You can be content during your long patriotic servitude, happy in the knowledge that you have made a small but important contribution to national security. What is the life of one person when the security of the party-in-power is at stake?

If you cannot accept this argument, do not cry out, for there is no one to hear. All are busy tending shop, happy that all is well, the country is stable, and business goes on as usual. There is only the abominable traffic. Why doesn't the government do something ...

Yesterday you admired the government and the police, and today you still feel good. But is there no twinge of conscience? Do you not feel some pain for the cruelty? Do you not ache for the children and the wives? Do you not sense the danger to yourself, to your family? Next time you appear on TV, let us hope it is not you who is in handcuffs. If so, you have lost your innocence along with your freedom. Perhaps then you will be able to cry.

Look around as the police take you. The streets are empty. There was no demonstration. There was no one to disturb your sales of roti cani and baju kurung. No one to hear your crying. You are alone in your solitary confinement. And you will continue to be alone. For the long hours, the long years, you will be alone. The police will look after your needs. You will have ample time to consider the philosophical issues, the human rights issues. When you get out, you can put them all in your book. I will read it, and I will weep.

Wassalm,

Harun Rashid

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