21 February 2006
Naib Canselor
Pejabat Naib Canselor
Universiti Sains
Tel: 04-6573987
Fax: 04-6565401
Dato' Profesor Madya Jamaluddin Mohaiadin
Timbalan Naib Canselor
Bahagian Hal Ehwal dan Pembangunan Pelajar
Universiti Sains
Fax: 04-6573761
Re: Stop Threatening Student Rights – Retract Charges against 5 USM Students
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) Penang Branch has come to learn that five USM students are charged by the Disciplinary Board of the University. These students are alleged of distributing leaflets and issuing statement to the press in September 2005 without permission of the University. The content of the leaflets and press statement were exposing irregularities of the campus election which took place in September 2005.
It is simply unjust, undemocratic and unreasonable to forbid students to participate in the process of shaping better society by expressing their concern through democratic means. If USM looks forward to become a leading higher learning institution internationally, it should be compelled to international human rights standards that enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to respect, protect, promote and fulfill the fundamental freedom of every student.The University should has probed the allegations of irregularities during last campus election, which made by the students, rather than taking action against the whistle-blowers. We cannot expect a student can become a responsible citizen when there is a culture of fear and silence entrenched deeply in higher learning institutions like USM.
As such SUARAM strongly urges for the University authorities to drop all charges against the five students, and allow them to complete their studies and continue participating in social activities free of fear and discrimination.
SUARAM Penang also urges the USM authority to stop harassing its students and intimidating them against exercising their fundamental liberties by using the repressive UUCA and other similar regulations. Instead, the university authorities should fulfill their obligations and nurture the creation of an open, constructive and challenging intellectual environment where students are encouraged to involve themselves in the social and political life of our nation, without fear or favour.
Coordinator
SUARA RAKYAT MALAYSIA
Headquarters:
Address: 433A, Jalan 5/46, 46000 Petaling Jaya,
Telephone: +6 03 7784 3525 Fax: +6 03 7784 3526
Email: suaram@suaram.net Web: www.suaram.net
Address: 85, Lorong Pekaka 5, Taman
E-mail: suarampg@hotmail.com / suarampg@suaram.net
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