All 14 in Perak released but pitty five workers still detained

IPOH, May 26 – All 14 of those arrested in the march from DAP headquarters to the High Court this morning have been released on personal bonds. Among the 14 are dumped assembly speaker V. Sivakumar, Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran, Kedah DAP chief Thomas Su and Perak PKR deputy chief Chang Lih Kwang.

But the five workers of an event management company hired to put up the tent for the hunger strike event who were arrested earlier remain in detention.

The five – two locals and three Burmese – seem to be collateral damage in the tussle between the authorities and Pakatan Rakyat.

Perak police chief Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah told a press conference that they were being charged under Section 41 of the Sedition Act as they had tried to put up banners asking the Sultan to dissolve the state assembly.

According to Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran, who was one of the 14, police are still looking to verify the status of the Burmese workers.

Others in the 14 include dumped assembly speaker V. Sivakumar, Kedah DAP chief Thomas Su and Perak PKR deputy chief Chang Lih Kwang.

They were due to be released since 2pm but it was delayed by two hours as they refused to offer a surety, insisting they were not criminals.

According to Su, police said that they will make more arrests if PR insists on holding its candle light vigil scheduled for 8pm tonight.

But PR looks set to continue despite this warning.

Former mentri besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin also said that the hunger strike would continue despite this setback.

All 14 had also refused to eat when police offered them lunch.

MI
26/05/09

No comments: