Nick Everett

On May 10, a Kuala Lumpur magistrate found Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM) central committee member V. Selvam not guilty of rioting after being arrested on August 17, 1995. The victory ends a nine-year political battle.

When he was arrested, Selvam was the coordinator of the Jawatankuasa Sokongan Peneroka Bandar and had led the urban settlers of Kampung Udara — around 50 families — to the Brickfields police station to lodge a report against the Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Bandar. The villagers were facing eviction by one of Bandar's companies, Faber Union. When the protesters arrived at the police station, Selvam was arrested. He was released on the same day, after a mass mobilisation was organised at the police station. Selvam was later charged under Section 90 of the Police Act for rioting in the police station.

Between 1995 and 1998, Selvam appeared many times in court only to find the case postponed because there were no police witnesses. The case was then discharged in 1998.

In August 2000, Selvam was once again charged for the same offence, after a demonstration by the plantation workers.

Selvam's case was one of six separate cases against the Kampung Udara settlers and activists who were supporting them. The charges have included illegal assembly, obstruction, assault, rioting and criminal intimidation.

Selvam's acquittal, after representing himself in court, was the last case to be tried. The police have lost all the cases, with the accused being either acquitted or released.

From Green Left Weekly, May 26, 2004.
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