If I can blog, why can't he?

I can sit in my ergonomic chair as I type, comforted not only by the lower back support, but by the knowledge that whatever I type here will not get me thrown into the local jail. But others are not so lucky…..

…they don’t have an ergonomic chair. 

Yeah, maybe Raja Petra, Malaysian political commentator for the blog Malaysia Today, doesn’t have an ergonomic chair by his computer. But that’s not biggest denial of human rights he has suffered as a journalist.

Raja was detained in September, his second time in prison for blogging. His “devious” crime? He wrote of wrongdoing by Malaysian goverment officials. But they arrested him under the “Internal Security Act,” saying he threatened public security and caused racial tension by posting blog entries that ridiculed Islam.

The courts, recognizing his detention was unjust, ruled to release him today. But the law does not say he cannot be rearrested. And the government can appeal the ruling, landing him back in a prison where–I am sure–the chairs are not ergonomic.

Raja should have the same rights I do, under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to freedom of opinion and information.  But he doesn’t, and instead waits in prison while they decide his fate.

There might not even be *a* chair in there

There might not even be *a* chair in there

He’s what I’m thinking about this morning.

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6 thoughts on “If I can blog, why can't he?

  1. It's amazing how much bloggers around the world are at risk because of what they write, and it's far too easy for us to take our own freedom for granted. I hope Raja doesn't get rearrested, but I also hope he doesn't stop defending human rights!

  2. It’s amazing how much bloggers around the world are at risk because of what they write, and it’s far too easy for us to take our own freedom for granted. I hope Raja doesn’t get rearrested, but I also hope he doesn’t stop defending human rights!

  3. Easily, the post is in reality the freshest on this notable topic. I agree with your conclusions and will thirstily look forward to your coming updates. Just saying thanks will not just be adequate, for the wonderful clarity in your writing. I will immediately grab your rss feed to stay informed of any updates. Good work and much success in your business enterprise!

  4. Easily, the post is in reality the freshest on this notable topic. I agree with your conclusions and will thirstily look forward to your coming updates. Just saying thanks will not just be adequate, for the wonderful clarity in your writing. I will immediately grab your rss feed to stay informed of any updates. Good work and much success in your business enterprise!

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