Sedition charges against N Surendran

> The Government and the Attorney General (AG) must break silence on intimidation of Anwar Ibrahim's legal team by sedition charges

> I refer to the sedition charges brought against N Surendran, who is a counsel for Anwar Ibrahim in the Fitnah 2 appeal in the Federal Court on 28 and 29th October 2014.
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> On 7th October, Anwar's legal team had called for an end to the intimidation of the legal team, which amounts to an outright denial of a fair trial for Anwar. Any interference with legal counsel  puts in jeopardy the entire appeal, and is grossly unfair to Anwar as the accused person. The legal team had therefore called for the withdrawal of the sedition charges before the hearing of the appeal on 28th October.
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> However there has been no response or action today by the government or A-G to the call of the legal team. Their silence and failure to act reinforces the public perception that Anwar is being denied a fair hearing in his final appeal. How can the legal team be expected to prepare and argue their case, with sedition charges hanging over the head of counsel merely for repeating Anwar's legal defence?

> Further, on 10th Sept,  the AG himself had promised a review of the sedition charges, in reaction to public outrage at the sedition blitz.
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> With only days to go before the appeal, we demand that the Government and A-G do the right thing by allowing Anwar to have a fair hearing in his appeal. The pending sedition charges against lawyer Surendran must be withdrawn, and there must be no further interference or intimidation against Anwar's defence counsels.
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> Issued by,
> SIVARASA RASIAH
> HEAD, KEADILAN LEGAL BUREAU
> MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT (SUBANG)
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