Stabroek News
May 17, 2001

The PNC REFORM (PNC/R) has come out in defence of its candidate, Ronald Waddell, who was charged by the police with two counts of sedition on Monday.

In a statement yesterday, the party said that there was no place in a modern, democratic society for such a charge. "The sedition law has always been used as a political instrument to terrorise and silence critics of a regime. Its scope is so wide that the mere advocacy of a change in the reform of an established government technically falls within its ambit", the party contended.

It added that important issues of freedom of speech and liberty are at stake and that the PNC/R will stand in defence of Waddell and others.

It questioned the circumstances under which the arrest warrant was issued late on Monday afternoon given the fact that Waddell and his attorneys were absent.

The statement further said that the PNC/R will take all necessary action, politically or otherwise, to support, defend and protect the host of 'University on 9'.

Chief Magistrate, Paul Fung-A-Fat, on Monday morning placed the television personality on $1 million surety but returned to his chambers in the afternoon to issue a warrant for his arrest after it was found that a "procedural error" was made.

The case comes up today.