In Sarawak today, PM Najib said the government is willing to provide mineral water and food to those who participated in the Bersih 3.0. He said those who participated should not cause any ruckus and discomfort to the public.
Honestly, we did not cause any damage or ruckus. It was a peaceful, carnival like and tame affair until the police started to act unruly. Instead of offering us mineral water and food, we ended up being severely affected by tear gas and water cannon fired on more than tens of thousands of crowd packed along Masjid Jamek.
As an elected government, the use of tear gas, which is vicious and terrible, should not even be considered as an option. Malaysian voters should not be treated like criminals. Ironically, this government is treating foreign migrants better than its own citizens. It was alleged that thousands of foreign migrants, especially those from Indonesia and Philippines, have been given instant citizenship so that they could vote for the regime.
There is no issue where the peaceful demonstration should be held. The focal point is not the venue but the right to organize a free and peaceful assembly. The government must walk its talk to guarantee a peaceful assembly and not doing all it can to frustrate and curtail it.
As a voter and a participant of Bersih 3.0, I find it extremely offending that tear gas, water cannon and brute force have been used against us.
If the KL mayor cannot handle and accommodate a peaceful demonstration in KL, he should allow others who are more flexible to sit on his chair. Peaceful demonstrations are very common in all top cities. When I was in Amsterdam, the authorities had cooperated and helped to coordinate a mammoth demonstration led by the Muslims to bring public attention to their issues and social status.
The detention of several newspaper photographers who have photographed alleged police brutality is another example of abuse of power and an unwarranted intimidation by the police against free press in Malaysia.
PM Najib, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, KL Mayor Ahmad Fuad and IGP should be held jointly responsible for the chaos, damage and injuries inflicted on Bersih participants.
Note: I have received some feedback there is a possibility that some RELA members may have been dressed up as policemen. They do not have an official code number on their uniform. These RELA members may have been responsible for turning violent against protesters.
Barisan Nasional should view the clarion call for real electoral reforms as something progressive and good for our country's democracy. UMNO may need these reforms one day. A political party cannot continue to rule indefinitely. They may need a free and fair electoral system when Umno becomes an opposition party in the future. The party should think of its future.
4 comments:
Khoo,I have always expected some sort of action by the goons in blue.Teargassing,baton charging and arrests of protestors.But a few hours before the protests started,I thought that this time I could be wrong.
When I saw families with children in their arms,primary school age children in tow,crowds of high school and college aged students and the disabled on wheelchairs it was more like a weekend at the park or lake gardens.It was more festival like than a protest or demonstration.
But alas,the goons and thugs with their tongues wagging and saliva dripping,would not let such a wonderful opportunity go through without getting their filthy hands dirty.
Khoo,but at the same time reports that a small section of the crowd were instigated by Anwar and his blue eyed boy Azmin to charged the police barriers.If this turns out to be true,which I hope it is not,I would not sympatised if Anwar and Azmin are thrown into the lockup.
If it was their actions that led to this incident,than they very well deserved to be punished.During Anwar's student days he was always like this.A trouble maker.That is the reason Mahathir took him into Umno.To stop him from being a pain in the ass.
I don't like the fact that the opposition leaders have reacted over boarded by ordering the crowd to pass through the barricade at Dataran.
How Ambiga going to control the crowd when the crowd was in need for leaderships' direction at that critical time? If I were one of the crowd, all I have been told was 'duduk bantah' planned to last from 2 - 4pm. But out of sudden, it was announced dismissed in 2:30pm. Confused, but still in high spirit, "That's all", I will ask?
waited.....waited...
Then, here came the opposition leaders seizing the opportunity and finally ordered to 'charge'.
Ambiga & the Bersih committee are going to have a very tough time days ahead bombarded with MSM, BN govt and some public in full throttle.
Maybe the crowd was too large and unprecedented that was beyond control by anyone?
Anon 9.38am,
I agree with you and I am totally against the act of violence shown by some protesters who had charged at the police barricade near to Dataran Merdeka.
I am equally not comfortable with opposition leaders trying very hard to piggyback on Bersih 3.0. It was agreed that no party emblems or logos are allowed and yet most of their supporters and leaders are wearing Bersih t-shirt with their respective party logo and emblem.
This is supposed to be a non-partisan event. The allegation of instigation by PKR Azmin,to charge at the police barricade, if it's true must be severely criticized.
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