Nat to be released
Jul 17th, 2007 by Tian
Just heard from lawyers that the DPP said that Nat Tan will be released today. There is no information whether he will be charged.
He will be out anytime after 12noon. He will be released from the Cyber-Crime Division of Police HQ, located at Bukit Perdana, behind Bank Negara.
Please gather at the main gate from 12 onward. Come and show support. Please mobilize!
(if you not sure where, it is near JKR)
Last night 16 July vigil:
>>
‘Cyber-crime’! Good grief! Nat is our very own Kevin Mitnick - Malaysia’s very own cyber thorn in the politicians’ backsides? How charming!
I should expect the charge against MitNat , if any, should be genuine and as far as possible sensibly trumped up. That is to say not excessively foolish and derisible - I can’t handle the amount of side-crippling laughter I had to put up with this far watching this priceless saga almost unfold. The injury I sustained in the process is criminal! I had visions of the hot cops staging raids 0, 1, and 5, striping Mitnat’s HDDs, and taking away his Game Boy, Nintendo and Playstation. And of course all his pirated software. All these carried out in the early hours of a morning - in secret, no doubt. And nobody thought about showing a proper ID in the heat of the operation.
I believe any cyber criminal, like corrupt politicians should be punished, the latter first. I believe there are more dodgy politicians than there are improper users of the internet, legal software or licensed Photoshop.
Soon as Nat is released, he should recount his experience for all of us aspiring cyber-thorn-up-the-politicians’-backsides wannabes. He should tell us how he was treated. Was he subject to abusive treatment? Did the cyber ‘big brothers’ talk shop with him, asked him to help with finding the right characters on the keyboards, do a nice Photoshop identikit picture, or discuss the right diet for their mice? Did they explain why he had to be handcuffed - was that for drama, to frighten the rest of us with itchy keyboard fingers we can’t wear other fashion accessories when arrested, or to prevent MitNat doing for himself what he had to do when cleaning up after his business?
Why did the cyber tai kos put MitNat on remand? Why was tax-payers’ money diverted to buy MitNat jailhouse curries when the money could be diverted to buy cut-price handcuff bargains that our politicians are good at finding? Did the Gitmo jumpsuit fit? Were they made in Chinese sweatshops - another fine deal cut by our politicians?
MitNat was made to walk sans shoes - why so? Was the floor he wafted over kept super clean so that the running dogs can eat off it or because money for the cleaners have disappeared elsewhere again? Were MitNat’s shoes returned?
We should demand answers to these and more.
If there is no good reason for the treatment of MitNat he should demand an apology from the state or even sue (don’t forget the mitnicked shoes).
I am sure all of us here would like to hear MitNat recount his experience at the hands of Malaysia’s finest cyber sleuths and hear his baseless lies on the internet soon as he is able to walk out (with his own shoes, I hope) from the state guesthouse.
Nat has been released, according to malaysiakini’s post at 11 in the morning.
Here is what I sighted in the http://www.malaysianbar.org website:
Why control of cyber space is crucial
Contributed by Stephen Tan Ban Cheng: Tuesday, 17 July 2007, 08:41am
More and more Malaysians are getting more and more conscious that some news, especially the critical ones, are being “managed,” “manipulated” and even “slanted.”
A casual comparison of the print and broadcast media from the “simple days†of the 1960s till the “complex equation†that we Malaysians find today will buttress the above belief. If it can be said to be more of a belief than a suspicion, then we in Malaysia are grappling with something very serious.
The control, actually the pattern of control, of the print and broadcast media goes against Press and media freedom – one of the basic and fundamental freedoms in an operating democracy.
Media freedom can, among other things, prevent the spread of corruption and corrupt practices that appear to be galloping in full stride in Malaysia. Media freedom can act as a safety valve to allow the ordinary citizen to ventilate their grievances so that the powers-that-be can investigate whether such grievances have merit or otherwise and take the appropriate redressive measures.
Even Judges, lawyers and members of the police force who believe in the pursuit of justice can be emboldened when the media is free: they can always use the free media to argue their stance. However, the contrary view that such a freedom can be abused and misused cannot be lightly dismissed.
Corrupt politicians will find themselves being easily dislodged where the media is free to highlight their depraved and heinous practices. Media freedom, if properly used, can also ensure better management of our local councils, thereby contributing to the welfare of rakyat everywhere.
“Little napoleons†or “little caesars†at all levels in the bureaucracy will know for sure that their transgressions will not escape the scrutiny of a free media. So will the morally self-righteous who conduct raids in night clubs. They will know for sure that what society needs is the righteous, not the self-righteous.
Even the direction of our march as a nation-state can be robustly debated in a free environment. It is all right, for instance, for us to take a lurch into Islamisation provided the media upholds the socially congealing principles of political toleration and political moderation. In the milieu of racial and religious pluralism that is invariably Malaysia, goodwill must be generated at each and every opportunity.
It is in this context that the final rejection of the memorandum on Press freedom signed by so many media practitioners in this country deserves derision, at least on moral, if not political, grounds. The rejection tantamounts to an opportunity lost – an opportunity to put media freedom on the pedestal of Malaysian public life and the attendant opportunity to value honesty and trust in public life lost.
The fact that the prospering cyber space in Malaysia is being seen and taken as more credible than our local newspapers speaks volumes against the credibility of the entire media and media practitioners in this country, although there is no doubt that some media practitioners are trying to do their best in the constrained circumstances they find themselves.
It cannot be denied that the ownership and control of the media are in the hands of those closely related to the ruling clique. Something must be done to revamp this pattern of control and ownership. Maybe, Malaysians should organise a Trust or Foundation to buy over the media. But then, how many Malaysians have we got who are credible enough to set up and lead such a Foundation or Trust?
Yes, to be sure we have them, but not many. And the numbers available bears ample testimony to the wrong direction that Malaysia has taken. Vis-Ã -vis the people and the politicians, from the 1980s till today, we Malaysians are living the clear and present danger of moving from a relationship of trust to distrust, from leadership to misleadership and from administration to maladministration.
Moreover, the emergence of such a Trust or Foundation will be viewed probably with distrust by the ruling clique and they will leave no stone unturned to prevent the Trust or Foundation from buying over the media.
When the general election comes round again, the role of the media will assume the importance that it can never discharge – as repeatedly and unashamedly displayed in the last few general elections. And what do we do about it except to rely on the Internet to disseminate information?
Therein lies the simple answer. That is probably why the ruling clique is moving in to “control” by administrative fiat and coercion. The detention of Parti Keadilan webmaster Nathaniel Tan and his consequent travails and tribulations in the immediate future must be seen as a nail being relentlessly driven into the coffin of cyber freedom before the coming general election.
The authority need to issue an official statement of apologies to Nat and others in the struggle for ‘freedom and fairness’.
Besides that those police or SB involved must be brought out to the public arena. The chief who is responsible for this ‘arrest’ ought to be accountable for the mess created.
Lesson Learned: “Don’t trust the governing bodies”. People should voice their concern and heart at the election……..flash out the un-worthy ones in the government machinery.
It is indeed great news that Nathaniel have been released. The upcoming Forum (which was initially titled Are We Living In A Police State?) titled “No to a Police State in Blogosphere
In Solidarity with Nathaniel Tan” would be absoulutely an interesting forum and a timely one. I personally feel that the police should have investigated Nat prior to arresting him. Also, at least have the courtesy to let Eng Kiat know where Nat is being taken to.
hey, glad to heard that Nat.tan have been released although i have no any idea abt him( What a Shame) before i touch “cyberlaw” subject(i’m college student). After reading to Nat.tan case and others freedom of speech , freedom of press and internet censorshiP issues i found out that i’m confusing, blurring and lost !!! What i’m study is totally different with the world of there.
Act 10? MSC?zzzzZ now i’m touching the issue for “cyberspace the last bartion of liberty” and “blogging” honestly this is for my assignment but why i’m here? i can get all those information on the internet ,newspaper etc and get this shit done but/BUT mayb there is filtering/censorship I WANT TO KNOW MORE !!!! I WANT THE TRUTH !!!! MR.tian chua i duno who the fark are u but i think you can let me know more about this issues abt the truth i’m seeking
IF you’re willing to do so pls show me da way to reach you!!! asap good to heard from you
TIME TO CHANGE
http://www.Utadaplay@yahoo.com
Hip, Hip Hooray. Finally Nathaniel Tan is free. The subservient police and the compliant judiciary in the country is contrary to any democratic form of government. Maybe it is time Mr. President George W. Bush launched an action to bring democracy to Malaysia like he tried to do in Iraq. Bring the Seventh Fleet to the South China Sea and get the Black Hawk helicopters down to Putrajaya. Sweep away those licentious, corrupt, kris-rattling no good and no hoper personnel known as BN politicians and install a truly democratic regime change.
Where are you Mr. Bush when you are needed most. These corrupt BN politicians must be sent to the “Abu Graib” of Malaysia and the heads should be hanged like Saddam Hussein so that those who will come after them will realise the follies of behaving in such undemocratic manner in treating their citizentry. Long Live the Citizens of such a besiege country like Malaysia.
The police or the governing body do not have good ground to hold up an ordinary citizen, let alone they screwed up in the protocol of arresting someone. A usual scenario, hence the public must stand up for their rights. Such rights are long overdue as the authority exhibits ‘bullying tactic’.
May freedom of speech and justice prevail. Those scumbags on the government side need to tread carefully and afterall it is the tax money that is keeping them from begging for a decent living.