Malaysia will not bow to acts of violence

Newsflash:

Malaysia will not bow to acts of violence

Joint statement of civil society on Jan 9, 2010

We civil society groups from different spiritual, cultural and ideological backgrounds condemn unconditionally in the strongest possible terms the arson against at least three churches following the controversy over the use of the word Allah.

We express our solidarity with the Metro Tabernacle Church at Desa Melawati, Church of the Assumption, Petaling Jaya and Life Chapel, Petaling Jaya, and other churches that have received threats, and to the Malaysian Christian community at large.

Nothing warrants such deliberately provocative violent acts, amounting to terrorism, on places of worship. Such violence however must not be seen as a communal conflict of Muslims and Christians. It is as much an affront to Islam and to all religions as it is to the Christians.

While we celebrate freedom of expression, no demonstration must be carried out to intimidate others who hold different opinions.

These acts are truly a blot on the image that we promote of ourselves as a harmonious multiracial and diverse society. It is also tantamount to an attack on the cardinal principle of the Rule of Law and the institution of the Judiciary who must at all times be left to decide on a case without fear, favour or intimidation.

We denounce those who shamelessly manipulate ethno-religious sentiments for their political gains. This sad situation has escalated due in part to the irresponsible responses from the Administration which appears to be practicing double standards.

We further deeply regret that in postulating their grievances to advance their agenda, those quarters have sought to convolute the real issues touching on the constitutional right of expression and to practice one’s faith and, with the aid of certain segments of the media, both mainstream and otherwise.

We expect the police to now pursue the culprits in the serial arson attacks with their highest diligence and professionalism. Until the criminals are brought to book, the image of the Najib Administration and his “1Malaysia??? slogan will be associated with violence and terrorism. We however categorically reject the proposed use of ISA against anyone. The arson suspects must be charged and tried in open court to delegitimize their barbaric act.

We call upon all groups with different views on the issue to seek rational dialogue and reach consensus.

No issue is too sensitive for rational debate in a democratic society. The threat of violence should not be used to kill democratic debate.

We call upon all Malaysians to come together collectively:

to condemn and denounce acts of desecration of any places of worship, now and in the future;

to create a healthy atmosphere for the most inclusive debate, dialogue, deliberation and resolution of all issues confronting our multi ethnic, multi faith nation.

Regardless of the developments, ordinary Malaysians will stand firm as a peace-loving nation and support each other.

A total of 121 groups including five political parties have signed this memo. CPI also endorses the joint statement.

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Comments (6)

23-01-2010 | Pipit Mancal - Anak Sarawak

English philosopher Edmund Burke said, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’

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10-01-2010 | ctw

Is the silence of the moderate Malay-Muslim a contributory factor towards the hate crime of church burning? Or the moderates are silenced and intimidated? Or conditioned and manipulated? Or the lack of moral courage? Or complicit in the politics of hate? Or unfeeling bystanders?

The Malay-Muslim moderates should at least make the hate propaganda spewed in their commmunity culturally unacceptable. They are best able to detect the language of hate within their own circles.

There is a vast difference between protected speeches and hate speeches.If the moderates see not the difference, they could not stop the process of dehumanization of their own kind and others.

This would pave the way of Al-Qaedisation, if this is what Katharina Sri is concerned of.

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10-01-2010 | PoliticoCat - Damned if you do, damned if yu don't

This is both sad and naive.

NAIVE, because civil society expects the authorities to put an end to this violence. When we all know that the police will do nothing. Furthermore it is very likely these molotov attacks are being conducted by the brownshirts of AMNO youth. It does fit their MO, they have done this kind of things before. State sponsor intimidation - to help the non-muslims remember their place within the society of the master race.

SAD, because we can't do anything about it. A reaction will lead escalating violence, which will tear up the nation. But inaction will still bring violence. Have they ever wondered that one day the non-malays will say "NO" and decide they had enough of being bullied

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09-01-2010 | Katharina Sri (former: Noor Az

This is indeed pathetic! There seems to be increasing hatred towards non-Muslims, especially towards Christians, in both dynamically multicultural Malaysia and Indonesia, and globally, including Pakistan, Egypt and Sudan as in the news. This is only recent history in some places - due to the influence of foreign-based Islamic fanaticism; particularly from vile Al-Qaeda kind of Islam. To be practical, Intelligence must be placed in the local Muslim NGOs, schools, Universities and mosques. This is to ensure that Al-Qaeda led/controlled local leaders or foreign maniac jihadists are not stirring up the ideology of "Clash of Civilization" - using God and Islam, to justify such hatred and arrogant dominating political power. Particularly brainwashing the young generation. Thus, it is not the West that is constructing such "Clash of Civilization", but these kind of Al-Qaeda brainwashed fanatical Muslims themselves! They want a Third World War - in order to imperialize the world, especially oil rich non-Arabic Islamic/partly Islamic world, with their kind of Dark Age, violent and homogenous Arabic-cultural style Islam (that include homogenizing of identity - in Arabic-style veiling, for greatly diverse Muslim women/girls globally)

Please sign petitions below, in solidarity, for those who believe in justice:

1. By – Marina Mahathir & other liberal Malaysian Muslims & non-Muslims/feminists/activists
http://www.petitiononline.com/Msia0801/petition.ht ml (open to non-Muslims as well)

2. At – Amnesty International Org (UK)
http://www.sudan365.org/en-take-action.html

Katharina Sri (former: Noor Aza)

Germany.

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09-01-2010 | jon richards

That day was called 'Black Friday'. Many people are not aware that in other countries such as Eqypt, similar incidents took place. You torch me, I torch you. Difference? They don't set fire on religous compounds. And rest assured, Malaysian Christians will never retaliate.

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