Wednesday, May 7, 2008

RPK: FREE AS A BIRD!

How can you free a man who’s already free? RPK has always been free. Do you think a few pathetic iron bars can encage a Man of Steel? Once you have overcome all your fears - even your fear of death - you are forever free. And Raja Petra Kamarudin, at age 58, has certainly achieved that, going by his last blogpost before he was hauled off to Sungai Buloh Prison on May 6, after refusing on principle to pay bail.

Freedom is a spiritual condition. Physically, RPK may not be free to drive around town and have a beer with his mates. Perhaps RPK the self-made Master of his own Destiny is taking this golden opportunity to journey within and take a break from the incessant fray raging in political circles.

Going into self-chosen seclusion and deep silence may be his way of detoxing, recharging and renewing himself. It will be an ascetic retreat sponsored by the federal government - but he will emerge glowing with even greater luminosity.

Remember, Gandalf the Grey wrestles the Balrog and they both plunge into the fiery abyss. When Gandalf reappears he has become even more powerful as Gandalf the White. The Balrog perishes.

Only, in the case of RPK, the Balrog is a monster of infinite darkness called BN.


[RPK portrait courtesy of Malaysiakini. Balrog illustration by Ted Nasmith]

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

A LETTER TO RPK, MY BRAVE WARRIOR BROTHER

Raja Petra Kamarudin and his wife Marina in front of the Dang Wangi Police Station (photo: T.V. Smith)


Dear RPK, brave warrior brother,

I'm sorry I could not be physically present today at the Jalan Duta Court to lend you moral support. I know full well you are doing what you do on behalf of all Malaysians who have had it with the ongoing charade that passes for "justice" in this fair land that has been made unfair by those who have mismanaged it for decades.

I fully empathize with the powerful feelings that prompted you to go out on a limb and court trouble by blogging so outspokenly about the deafeningly unspoken facts surrounding Altantuya's murder. You have certainly provoked the hidden hand of the invisible puppetmasters to hit out at you. We thank you for heroically taking the blow and sacrificing your personal time and energy for the ultimate good of the nation. As a warrior for Justice and Truth you have won a permanent place in the hearts of all honest Malaysians and deserve recognition as a national hero.

Now is the time every Malaysian must ask: why have the police not taken any action to arrest those who stole public property when they lost their jobs after the elections? I hear that confidential files, official records, computers, printers, fax machines, etc. were criminally removed from the premises of state government offices within hours of the elections. As far as I know the incoming state governments have lodged police reports on this outrageous theft and shameless attempt to destroy incriminating evidence. I've been waiting patiently to read that the police have called in the ex-Chief Ministers of Selangor, Perak, Kedah and Penang for questioning about the missing files and office equipment.

RPK, you have committed no offence against anyone but those who have been trying to hide behind the privilege of high office and who believe their misbehavior cannot be questioned. There isn't a single honest citizen who believes you deserve to be thus harassed by the police. Instead, we wish to see the police take immediate action against the REAL criminals, many of whom continue to form the government of the day.

Even the current prime minister is guilty of complicity in a grotesque cover-up. In November 2006 Abdullah Badawi had the opportunity to distance himself from being tainted but he chose to protect his deputy from investigation. That decision may have won him Najib Razak's apparent loyalty - but only at the cost of his own credibility. By that action he has condemned the entire BN administration as one that habitually conspires to cover up even the most heinous crimes committed by ministers. This constitutes an indelible stain on the legitimacy of the BN government and has put the nation in serious crisis.

(Courtesy of Jeff Ooi)

A campaign to restore Malaysia's dignity and ensure justice - not only for Altantuya but for all who have been wronged - has been initiated on Facebook. This virtual group only serves as a rallying point to raise public awareness and mobilize when necessary against further injustice. We fervently hope the need to organize another mammoth rally on RPK's behalf will not arise. But if the BN administration remains stubborn and arrogant and unable to read the writing on the wall and in the sky... friends, we know what we must do!

A WORD OF GENTLE ADVICE TO THE POLICE AND THE JUDICIARY: THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE CARRYING OUT ILLEGAL ACTIONS AGAINST THE INNOCENT AS ORDERED BY THE CORRUPT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.


IN A FEW MONTHS THE BN WILL NO LONGER BE IN POWER... AND YOU WILL BE ANSWERABLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS AGAINST JUSTICE AND THE RAKYAT!

How They Came Up With The Logo For The Beijing Olympics








[Forwarded by Praemeenah]