United We Stand

Today I am declaring Cyber War on NSTP. Today I am engaging guerilla warfare on NSTP and their entire sympathiser. My friend,you all have spoken, I have litsened.
- Kickdefella

Marina M suggests that :

First, stay united on this issue, which is the right of bloggers to express their opinions in cyberspace. Responsible bloggers do not write mere gossip or lies, so must be free to write what they want.

Secondly, support all efforts to support Rocky and Jeff. The first is the proposal to set up a fund to defend them, as well as other bloggers which may face the same problems in the future. This is in the works, and I have been asked to be a Trustee. Am just waiting for proper terms of reference to be drafted because if we are handling people's money, we need to have safeguards to ensure transparency and accountability.

Thirdly, I think we should start a guerrilla campaign on this. I think we should turn Kickdefella's great logo into a whole series of merchandise - t-shirts, stickers, posters, whatever - to be sold to raise funds for the defence fund. If we have the logo EVERYWHERE, what are they going to do? They can't rip off the stickers from cars, or t-shirts off people's backs. The guys who do those great stencil graffitis should be asked to also help.

Fourthly, boycott the NST and related publications. Yes, stop subs. Nothing will create greater fear among those guys than if their income drops.

I think we should take note of the difference between bloggers and those who comment on blogs.We are talking about people who blog consistently especially under their own names.I trust all of you are smart enough to know what is fair comment and what is not. And the implications on everybody of court actions like this.Nobody is saying that they should not take them to court but it is intimidating nevertheless. Yes, this will be a test case and that's fine.

Yes,there are limits to freedom of speech. Question is, who defines it? In some countries, the government limits speech to only one approved language , cutting out the right of minority languages, and therefore peoples, to be heard.The principle of freedom of speech must be adhered to, to allow for people to understand the responsibility involved in that. Not allowing, or limiting it, means people never learn responsibility.

The efforts to support Rocky and Jeff have already begun. You will be kept updated as to what is happening.

Um..Prime Minister? Thanks, but no thanks!

Folks, it's like this. The blogbros are being sued and that's a fact.They need support because they don't have the resources of the other side. So those who want to support, both morally and financially, do come forward.Let's not argue whether they are right or wrong before the court decides.

The least we can hope is that if ever the rest of us face the same problem, the favour will be returned.And it would be good if the bloggerhood came together as a community. That in itself would be an achievement.


THE defamation suit by the New Straits Times (NST) against two top bloggers has raised deep concerns in the online community, even as an age-old debate rages over freedom of speech versus the right to redress.

Some see the suit as a test case for Malaysia's promise that it will never censor cyberspace, as conventional defamation laws are brought in by the litigants.

'This could be a litmus test for our digital media as they need to sort out conventional laws from our cyber laws,' said Datuk Ruhanie Ahmad, a former senior Member of Parliament. He has been a blogger for eight months.

Several bloggers have banded together to protest against the court action under the banner 'Bloggers United, No Fear.'

'The healthy, mature and democratic growth for free speech and expression in our midst is at stake,' a statement from the group said.

Still, being in cyberspace is no protection from the law.

'In general, writing in a blog does not give you immunity from being sued,' said Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, a top lawyer and MP.

Interestingly, Bernama published a news that reads "Internet giants join human rights groups to champion online rights"

Two US human rights groups have said they were working with Google, Yahoo, Microsoft and Vodafone to protect civil liberties online.

The technology giants will help craft rules-of-engagement that Internet companies can use when faced with "laws, regulations and policies that interfere with the achievement of human rights," according to the Center for Democracy and Technology in Washington.

Technology companies have played vital roles in economic growth and democratic reform in developing countries, but innovations are sometimes used as tools of oppression, said the center's director Leslie Harris.

"Many governments have found ways to turn technology against their citizens -- monitoring legitimate online activities and censoring democratic material," Harris said. "It is vital that we identify solutions that preserve the enormous democratic value provided by technological development, while at the same time protecting the human rights and civil liberties of those who stand to benefit."

Investors, academics, and groups such as Paris-based Reporters Without Borders; Human Rights China, and the Electronic Freedom Foundation in San Francisco will take part in the project, which is to be completed this year.

A representative of the United Nations will be part of the group as an observer, according the center, which is coordinating the endeavor with the non-profit Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) in San Francisco.

The project builds on discussions started with the technology firms separately by the rights groups last year.

"We've already learned a great deal about the obstacles we face and the ways business and other stakeholders can join forces to address those challenges," said BSR chief executive Aron Cramer. "This important dialogue reflects a shared commitment to maximize the information available via the internet on the basis of global principles protecting free expression and privacy."

The new combined group intends to establish a framework to implement the principles and hold signatories accountable, the center said.


Asia Times has a story that reads :"Singaporean cyber-dissident speaks his mind"

Robert Ho is arguably Singapore's leading cyber-dissident. In late 2001, Ho was arrested in his home for allegedly posting "inflammatory" articles online during the general elections, representing the first-ever case of its kind.

In 2002, after an as-yet-unspecified article(s) was posted on the soc.culture.singapore newsgroup, police entered his home, seized his computer and served him a summons to attend an investigation.

Three weeks later, he was forcibly taken to a police station by officers who entered his home without a warrant or a charge. In 2005, on returning from a shopping mall where he had distributed flyers alleging electoral fraud, he was again apprehended and his computer seized.

In all, he has been arrested an additional three times since 2001, and on repeated occasions the authorities have remanded him at a mental institution. He has yet to be prosecuted for any of the alleged offences, although a criminal-defamation case is still pending from 2002.

While other critics, including international publications, have yielded to defamation threats from Singapore's political leaders, Robert Ho has emerged from his arrests and detentions even more recalcitrant against the establishment.

In Singapore's political cyberspace, where fear of surveillance and potential libel suits have compelled many dissident netizens and bloggers to post articles under pseudonyms, Ho continues to stick his neck out by disclosing his real identity online.


Meanwhile, the paper that sued my fellow bloggers runs a story that suggests "Not all Ah Long are Bad" (nation pg 24):

"Not all money lenders are loan sharks, and among ordinary people 'Ah Long' can be their saviours when they are in dire straits."

"But in truth,Ah Long help those who are desperately in ned of money as bank loans involves a lot of bureaucracy and time."

- Advertised Malacca Police Chief Datuk Ayub Ahmad.

News in Bernama, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi described the decision by the opposition to boycott the Batu Talam state by-election and yet field a young independent candidate as a cowardly act.

The prime minister said that in fact PAS, Parti Keadilan Rakyat and DAP were afraid of losing to Barisan Nasional (BN) and the participation of an independent candidate was merely to deny BN a walkover.

"They are scared of competing... cowards, they field a youngster while they avoid a contest, they are scared of losing,"

Take a break, read Susan Loone's "Should the UMNO candidate go to TAR University also?" to refresh yourself.

Malaysia Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Asia Ah Long bloggers