JULY 29 — Aliran is alarmed and seriously concerned over the possible consequences to Dr Jeyakumar’s health resulting from his hunger strike undertaken yesterday.

His health has not been really good. He was hospitalised twice within the first two weeks of detention. His heart condition is of grave concern to the thousands of Malaysians and friends from all over the world.

His hunger strike will further take a toll on his health. His health is bound to deteriorate, thereby endangering him.

The Barisan Nasional (BN) government has driven him to take this drastic action as an ultimate step to proclaim to the world his innocence against the diabolic lies levelled at him for his totally unjustified detention. He is putting his faith in God and putting his life on the line to state that the accusations against him are nothing but blatant lies.

This is the only choice left ultimately for the brave and the innocent who are persecuted by a brutal government. This is a moral stand, in keeping with the Gandhian principles of non-violence, that challenges the conscience of the BN to prove their false accusations and charge him in court.

There comes a time in the life of the brave when a moral person chooses to “stand tall and deliver rather than stoop on bended knees cowering for forgiveness of the life he has chosen to live.” Kumar has chosen a path that paves the way for the downtrodden to walk with dignity. That is a noble path and there is no reason to renounce it.

If anything untoward were to happen — God forbid — we in Aliran as well as all Malaysians will not forgive BN. This cruel government will be held responsible for this. The backlash arising from this unspeakable tragedy will punish the BN severely at the next polls. Yes, and mercilessly too!

* Aliran is a human rights group based in Penang.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.