Do you all remember death in custody No. 1805, Guna?
If you don’t read THIS to refresh your memory.
Some of you may recall reading that inquest proceedings into Guna’s death whilst detained at the Sentul police station were initiated as a result of pressure from the family and civil society.
There were 23 witnesses at the inquest including three very brave men who had come forward to testify as to what they witnessed on that day.
Though all three men were concerned for their own safety, upon persuasion from civil society, they put aside those fears and testified as to the events on the said date.
They gave evidence in no uncertain terms that the beatings the deceased received at the hands of the police caused or, at the very least, contributed to Guna’s death.
Selvach Santhiran was one of those witnesses. If you would like to read what his evidence was, go HERE.
On the very day the verdict in the Guna inquest was pronounced, Selvach was assaulted and arrested by police at home.
He was then detained under the Langkah-Langkah Pencegahan Khas and was detained in Pusat Pemulihan Akhlak Batu Gajah. He was released some time last month.
The Civil trial regarding the death of Guna brought by the family has been scheduled to proceed to trial from the 21st to the 25th of this month before Justice Datin Yeoh Wee Siam at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Selvach has once again been subpoenaed by counsel representing the family of the Guna.
The last time Selvach gave evidence in court he had to pay a heavy price.
He was incarcerated and put away from his family for the last two years.
This time around we must not fail this man.
We must ensure his safety to and from the court to testify as to what he witnessed on the evening that Guna died.
The truth in this matter must prevail.
Are we going to sit by and do nothing as in the last time or are we going to be proactive and prevent an injustice from happening this time around?
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
January 17, 2013
Haris,
This is a very distressing set of circumstances.
Some members of PDRM must be brought to account.
There was a good crowd who were posting in Singa Terhormat’s articles, “Ya Allah” and “Ya Allah : the final sequel”
I would be most curious to see how those goodie-two shoes who are so worshipful of Allah’s name provide support for Selvach.
I do have some Indians friends here who are from the Indian subcontinent and I will discuss Gunasegaran’s case with them. Who knows? Perhaps, some of them may be able to suggest how the case can be brought to the attention of Indian news media.
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
January 18, 2013
Haris,
15x News media and 4x political parties duly contacted in Tamil Nadu.
3 x National political parties contacted in India.
Happy to send the text I used and the names of parties contacted under separate cover but probably not necessary as it was just a summarised rehash of your articles and links to the articles.
More importantly and hopefully, you’ll see some hits come from India which means that my half-baked media campaign may have partially worked in terms of raising awareness about the rotten-ness in a BN-dominated Malaysia.
I think I need to stop bragging like I have just donated RM500million to the ABU fighting fund.
Sorry it is not the more material assistance you need right now but I hope that others here will take up the slack.
Bodhi
January 17, 2013
Bro your post on “Ya Allah” has drawn 106 comments. The present post has only drawn 1 response thus far. Is Civil Society not interested in issues such as in this post?
bennymat7
January 17, 2013
Haris,
I have not met you but salute you for being the voice of conscience for Justice in Malaysia.
Many people lead busy lives -who dont ? But we must all play our part and Speak up and be counted -like what we see now the Growth of Bersih & Reformasi -thanks to Man like you !
When men & women say and do nothing, evil will continue !
Selvach is a beacon for all Good People who want an accountable Polis Force-one death in custody is one too many !
Terima Kasih once again Haris -you give HOPE in such times of darkness !
Donplaypuks
January 17, 2013
Your persistence is admirable. The Rakyat’s support for causes like these – Guna, Chean Chin Lee etc. – is unequivocal. We must not allow rogue elements (and there appears to be so many of them) in I Polis Raja to get away with murder!
Dpp
we are all of 1 Race, the Human Race
Bro,
How will the support you speak of translate, in real terms, for Selvach?
RPK student
January 17, 2013
Ellese is probably UMNO trained lawyer.Instead seeking cheap publicity here, Ellese come and show us some of you professional knowledge and argue for the indefensible UMNO.
Ellese,I put it to you that you are partisan in this police brutality,death in custody issues.
siebel
January 17, 2013
hi Haris,
I remember reading about Selvach’s case vividly. I was very disturbed when i read how the police went to his house, beat him up right in front of his wife n kids before taking him away. I felt so sorry for him and his family.
And I told myself I will support ABU all the way….and I still hold onto this.
Now that he is released, he might not want to tell the truth again because he has paid a high price the 1st time round.
How can we help him this time round?
Can he request for a protection order before he stands as a witness the 2nd time round?
Hi Siebel,
Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as a protection order that Selvach might have recourse to.
What we need to do is :
i) make sure he gets to and from court unmolested during the trial period; and
ii) maybe arrange for him to be out of KL for a while after he testifies
siebel
January 19, 2013
Hi Haris,
After Selvach has taken the stand, those walking excrement in blue may nab him outside the court or at his home again………this would be my worst fear.
He and his family must get out of the country.
I want to help him and his family….there are many commentators who want to as well…..shall we do a donation drive for Selvach?
Thank you very much for being the catalyst that unites our minds on this issue and ABU.
Siebel,
Arrangements have been made.
So as not to compromise those arrangements, I will fill you all in on this a little later.
God bless, Siebel
siebel
January 19, 2013
Love you, Haris.
You spring into action real fast…..to help Selvach. I believe God will bless you and your family for your kindness and compassion.
I learnt so much from you since visiting your blog the very 1st time several years ago. The 1st post I read here was about Guna’s death, and you went to his funeral. I felt sad and sorry for his mother then, and at the same time, was touched by your kindness towards Guna’s family.
Love you too, Siebel
shakuntala
January 18, 2013
The known brutality of the police to other humans like themselves is so sad, and we thought that they behaved at the Kebangkitan rally? Was that all a show and a temporary restraint/
I do hope Selvach plucks up courage and his family receive the protection they need….what can we do besides sympathizing?…..try to be at the court and offer his nervous family our comfort and perhaps some material assistance to show them that we feel and share their plight and sadness.
Many thanks Haris for highlighting this to us all. You are always there to show a way…bless you.
Socrates
January 18, 2013
Dear Haris, tell me what you need me to do, when and where, sms me, and you will have my response whether it is possible for me to contribute in the way you expect me to. We need to rally around an organizer for this to be effective against a conscience-less PRDM (Polis Raja DiMalaysia – at least that is what they (s)think they are).
Donplaypuks
January 18, 2013
“Bro, how will the support you speak of translate, in real terms, for Selvach?”
If Selvach needs monetary support, just launch an appeal and we’ll all contribute generously as we have before for worthy causes. Our moral backing is always there.
Selvach will also have the comfort of turning voters against BUMNO/Bn with publicity from you and others. Remember the backlash against the evil and corrupt BUMNO/BN vis-a-vis Kugan, TBH, Sarbani, Aminulrashud, Guna etc.
Beyond that Selvach will take comfort that many will regard him and his brethren as being among the Rakyat’s real heroes.
Dpp
we are all of 1 Race, the Human Race
We Stand Together
January 18, 2013
Although Malaysians are aware of horrors like these occurring, they are mostly insulated from them. Therefore their paralysis can be attributed to not having the urgency to commit to taking dedicated action to stop this type of abuse. All the other insults and abuses are things we have collectively suffered, this is why the outcry for some is louder than others. In addition, why not? Even at this stage as I can see, only ABU has dedicated itself to standing up against UMNO in the military and police.
Malaysians need to reflect on the implications of our police forces essentially being torturers.
shakuntala
January 19, 2013
Hey you kind PERSONS all of you on Haris’s blog (and your numbers are increasing, so nice!!) you are so great and sensible in your thinking, most of the time Haris has fantastic and intelligent……hot and passionate support even, because of the weight of the causes he fights for. So you are all, honestly, a band of true brothers and sisters!!!! Bravo!.
Selvach, despite the odds against him, shows remarkable courage and fortitude, and resilience. I think his family would need a share of comfort and sympathy too. Most of all Selvach himself
What am trying to say is…that we need to give him physical support too, don’t you think?….we need to be there on the spot, to lend him and family comfort and whatever you think would soothe his/his family’s troubled spirit.
Can we make an effort to go and be present when arrangements are made known….mean to say would Selvach be able to know he has friends in deed and friends in need?
Many other victims of brutality and their families also need well meaning persons to share in their grief….and show a little bit of kindness. We need to.let the world know, as well..
S. Menon
January 19, 2013
One way will be to provide him with a discreet cavalcade of escort cars, from his house to the Courts, and back again. With camera-toting observers outside the Court, in case the so-called Police try to pick him up.