Channel 4 film “No Fire Zone” Director arrested in Malaysia
Friday, 5 July 2013 00:00
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The contentious Channel 4 film “No Fire Zone” director Callum Macray was reportedly arrested in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday.
This follows three organisers detained for screening of the controversial documentary film at the KL/Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday night. Media reports said the detention was by Malaysia’s Home Ministry, Immigration and police officials.
The screening of the movie, No Fire Zone, which explores the oppression of Tamils in Sri Lanka, was organised by human rights group Pusat Komas, the Star online reported.
Program coordinator Lena Hendry said the officers entered the hall after the movie had finished.
She said Immigration officers also forced around 150 attendees to flash their MyKads for identification and also riffled through a bag belonging to a journalist. “Chinese Assembly Hall owners were contacted by Sri Lankan High Commission officials. They said the facts of the film were not right and urged them to stop the screening. We tried to fix an appointment with them to discuss it and even invited it to the screening. They said they would meet us but never showed up,” Lena claimed.
She said the officers tried to enter the premises as organisers attempted to negotiate with them.
“I don’t want to say the High Commission was involved in this but the recent events leading to this raises questions,” she said.
Those detained were taken to the Dang Wangi police station to have their statements recorded. Home Ministry and Immigration officials present at the scene refused comment.
However, when contacted, Dang Wangi Deputy OCPD Supt. Nor Azman Muhammad Yusof denied that police were involved in the operation.
“Refer to the other authorities on this matter. We are not a part of it whatsoever,” he said.
