Just FYI. Got an email from a dear friend

Since I don’t want to do the mass-emailing thing, here it is.

***

WE WILL MARCH ON SUNDAY!

The Bar Council has called off the December 9 Human Rights Walk. I
think it was a mistake to have done so, but I have no interest in
debating here the rights and wrongs of that decision. I write solely
to declare that Iawyers who are determined to defend the freedom to
peacefully assemble will nevertheless march on Sunday Dec 9 at 7.30am
from Sogo to Central Market in commemoration of Human Rights Day.

We will march for the following reasons :

a) because it is our inalienable right to do so;

b) because Article 10 of the Federal Constitution gives us the right;

c) because they’ve got some cheek telling us we’ve got to petition
the constabulary before exercising our fundamental rights.A right
which can only be exercised with the consent of the District Police
Chief is a shrivelled up and pitiful kind of right. It is a shadow of
the shadow of a right;

d) because we’re not inclined to be part of a culture of obedience to
the high-handed directives of a tainted and unjust state apparatus;

e) because we’re even less inclined to be menaced by a State which is
so pathetically terrified of its citizens peacefully assembling.

Let us be clear about this: Any march/walk that is carried out under
the authority and indulgence of the local police chief is not an
assembly of free citizens. It is then nothing more than a chain-gang
of miserable citizens marching under a cloud of fear.

The Bar Council as an institution has decided to cancel the march;
but there is no reason why lawyers in their individual capacities and
civil society groups should not carry on with the Sunday march. In
view of the increasingly strident attacks by the authorities on the
right to peacefully assemble, we have formed ” Lawyers for Freedom of
Assembly” to defend and protect that right. Caving in to the threats
and hard tactics of the authorities will seriously set back the
ongoing struggle for a just and free Malaysia.

All lawyers and civil society groups are welcome to join the “
Lawyers for Freedom of Assembly” for our march on Sunday. Support this
move to preserve the basic rights of all Malaysians.

Written by: N Surendran

For Inquiries:
N Surendran
0123207066

Latheefa Koya
012 3842 972

***

I wanna march! Or tiptoe, rather, though my Inner Wuss demands that I run at the first sight of trouble (takkanlah so boh chai see right, with the two previous gatherings eliciting tear gas, etc—Imma gonna run if they bring them cannons out!)

But then again I’m not too sure if I can wake up that early. Meeeeeeh.

***

So I’ve been giving the old muscles a good workout lately. Needless to say, I am currently at my most chipper (and by extension, annoying) and energetic, albeit sore. I also attribute the good cheer to the fact that many of my friends are back from Australia (and Sush, from the UK tomorrow!) or are coming back soon, along with The Best Christmas Present Ever, which is the arrival of my other fishy (we’re both Piscean, heh) half next next Saturday!

This is so funny (and lame, but I don’t care), I actually made him a Welcome sign which I am going to brazenly hold up at the Arrival gates! It’s hot pink too, and dotted with cut-out hearts, the most juvenile thing ever but oh, who cares, really, I’m finally going to get to physically huggle and snuggle and cuddle him after 11 months apart!

I’m going to go make an itinerary of plans now

See you this Sunday in KL, I hopes!