Letter from a supporter from London on Rehab

Subject: Letter from a supporter from London on Rehab

The word 'rehabilitation' implicitly suggests that a problem has occurred in the first instance and, consequently, that a recovery program is needed to restore the person suffering this problem to his or her original state.

What crime then did Uthayakumar commit to lead the police to consider that he needed rehabilitation?

There are numerous inconsistencies with this and whichever way you examine it the analysis points to a huge miscarriage of justice against Uthayakumar that is state sponsored. 1. The Internal Security Act is a political weapon used by the Government to curtail dissent in Malaysia. There was no charge brought against Uthayakumar. How then do the police consider that he needs rehabilitation? 2. Are the police acting on the Government's orders and are we witnessing, yet again, the blurring of boundaries between the police and the Executive?

Do we have an independent police force or a puppy dog police force? 3. Is the act of campaigning for equal rights one that needs rehabilitation? How can Malaysia stand up to the Western world and insist on being counted as a progressive nation when it will not allow the concept of human rights to exist freely.
Drug addicts undergo rehabilitation programs to wean themselves off their addiction. Criminals go to jail because they have committed a crime and prison is the place where they are rehabilitated before being let out to take their place in an ordered society. In Malaysia you are jailed for championing the principles of natural justice. How can we ever strive for a place on the world stage?

Jayanthi Manning

London