It was like a scene out of a mob movie — flashing lights, yellow reflector police vests, Black Marias, helmeted, shielded and bulletproof vested FRU personnel that lined-up to create a blockade before we even stepped onto the grass of the padang! Combine that with the sporadic civilians made up of shoppers, curious-onlookers and a multitude of photographers and journalists running up and down to catch headlines that would never be made public.
By Pamela Lim, Loyarburok
At 8.00pm on August 1, a group of about 200 people walked towards the field opposite Amcorp Mal. The moment the first person set foot on the pavement of the field, they were met with the police.
The police shouted “Ini adalah pehimpunan tidak sah (This is an illegal assembly)” and refused to hear the organisers’ explanation that all they intend to do hold a candle up for the people who were still detained without trial, a sign of solidarity and peace but a symbolic call for the 50-year old act to be repealed. After several exchanges the FRU blockade charged foward and the group that consisted of many young Malaysians was forced to fall back into the car park.
They started singing the national anthem, Negaraku followed by chants of “Hidup rakyat! Hidup rakyat! Mansuh ISA! Mansuh ISA!” (Long live the citizens! Abolish ISA!). Before long, the sound reverberated across the car park as shouts, yells followed by screams were heard when the police and FRU surrounded the young people and swarmed them into the mall.
It was like a scene out of a mob movie — flashing lights, yellow reflector police vests, Black Marias, helmeted, shielded and bulletproof vested FRU personnel that lined-up to create a blockade before we even stepped onto the grass of the padang! Combine that with the sporadic civilians made up of shoppers, curious-onlookers and a multitude of photographers and journalists running up and down to catch headlines that would never be made public.
One by one, the police arrested people, some they beat up. The ratio of police to the civilians arrested was at least 5:1. There was a scene where 20 police mugged a demonstrator who was unarmed nor unruly.
The cries got louder inside when the shutters came down to hold them in. The flock of the force had gone into the mall. The stall operators at the entrance were scurrying to close up as the remaining police started to form a human barricade along the entire entrance of the mall.
Each time someone was manhandled by the uniformed personnel, dragged out by their shirts and whatever else they could hold onto, onlookers would yell, “Hold your head up! You are doing it for the country! We are proud of you!” echoed by, “Yeah!” from others.
Civilians were holding up little cameras, BlackBerries and [iPhones] to film the fiasco, which was quite unnecessary if they had left them at the field to do what they came to do in peace.
The next scene was like a director of the movie calling for retake because there was complete silence. Suddenly the uniformed force rushed out. They were told by their leader to form lines — a blockade that extended to the middle of the car park. Anyone who as much as squealed or chanted was forcefully dragged away.
The police seemed to favour the brave ones whom they deemed as instigators to the demonstration. They engaged in warfare tactics against the rakyat — taking out the leader to cause others to submit or go into disarray. In the midst of the chaos that ensued the final showdown, they sang the national anthem, Negaraku, while the police were yelling, “Tangkap dia! Tangkap dia!” each time the group inched forward out of the mall to the field. Just as anyone lit a candle, they were grabbed — women too were not spared.
The final scuffle was when they arrested their 25th civilian. The whole force then retreated to the opposite side of the road near the field. In their effort to disperse the vigil-keepers who began singing Negaraku again, they used such disproportionate force and every right minded person who witnessed the tyranny against a peaceful congregation of the rakyat — many of whom were young Malaysians who want nothing more than a just Malaysia.
Under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution, every citizen has the right to freedom of speech and expression and all citizens have the right to assemble peacefully and without arms. If the powers that be had the foresight to engage and listen to what the citizens want for their future, they would not need to demonstrate (a peaceful candlelight vigil in this case) nor have their request fall on deaf ears in muted leaders.
It is not even a question about which political party had organised this effort as the citizens of Malaysia are not blind nor are they deaf to the plight of their fellow citizens and their own country.
written by Logger123, August 04, 2010 21:59:39
So if the rakyat on a daily basis were to converge in groups in various parts the cities, will the police be able to stop it all?
For example, have a gathering each simultaneously in SS2, SS1, section 14, 17, New Town, Old Town, Old Klang Road, OUG, Kinrara, Subang SS15, Bandar Sunway, Puchong, Pandamaran, Klang Town, Shah Alam's various sections, Kota Kemuning etc. Duplicate this spread in Johor, Ipoh, Penang, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Trengganu, Kota Bahru, Alor Star, Sg Petani, Kuantan, Bandar Hilir, Melaka Raya, Seremban, Rasah, Muar, Bakri, Tangkak, Segamat, Kulai, Senai, Kluang, Skudai, JB.
and other main towns.
Do this everyday. This is Hartal, Gandhi style. And the mighest empire with the most brutal regime in South Africa and India at that time surrended. Remember, the British did use machine guns on peaceful demonstrators in Amritsar and other places in India. Yet the oppressive British had to give in and allow salt (yes salt!) to be legally made and sold by Indians, the start of the long journey to be free from the British monopolies and racism.
UMNO did the same to defeat the Malayan Union plans. So why can't we get off our fat arses and do the same in a concerted fashion. PR leaders, please plan and lead this.
And like the HIndraf chaps, take the tear gas canisters and throw back at the police! And watch em scatter!
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written by Nunudada, August 04, 2010 18:12:05
Everyone knows that the police works with the gangs,so what is new ? It is a great shame that this facet of our Government arm is gangrenous.We the people have to pave the new future,and the journey will be tough as it is now.Spread the word out widely and hammer them flat in the elections.
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written by Better My, August 04, 2010 16:25:45
Remember BERLIN? That was how it started, positive energy of the RAKYAT. Baton, Tear Gas and the dumb police force will not be able to stop this positive force. I saw the faces of those who HAVE NO MORE FEAR."
Yes, the more this goes on, rakyat the fear factor is dissipating, immuned to the these forces that crush patriots who want th best for the nation, the chidlren and young ones - the future of our nation, and national anthems. Berlin Wall was chipped at with tiny chisel, from the beginning and lead the exponential increased panic to the oppressors and sudden massive collapse. We are witnessing the exponential increased panic to the BeEnd today with intolerance to peaceful holding of candles on 1 Aug.
While the rakyat fear factor goes down, ironically the fear factor in Pakatan Rakyat seem to have increased with hardly any representatives present. Surely, they could have sent in third level downliners to the easy holding of candles to test their members resolve.
The good malay must do more. They have largely brought this onto all of us for decades, and they must play a much leading and bigger role to get us out of this.
FECT proBeEnd 90% Indian and 30% chinese re HS buy-election.
(F, E neh ni cone, Chutia, Tiew nia seng)
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written by Better My, August 04, 2010 16:11:03
If this writer is seen to be an Indian basher, here is the message to the 20-30% proBN chinese (Re % from HS buy-election
If this ugly episode can turn the idiot 2-30% proBN Chinese around to the good force, it would have been alot more worth it.
If it still doesn't, then F u , E neh ni cone u, Chutia u, Tiew nia seng u Chinese
(Remember the new word born here - FECT )
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written by red1, August 04, 2010 13:47:57
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written by Chuan, August 04, 2010 13:11:07
This is absolutely a demonstration of power abuse, and these police forgot who gave them that power in the first place! They are wearing protective suits, boots and holding weapons sponsored by the people they are beating up!
The PDRM is a great obstacle to the freeing of this nation, much like the Juntas in Myanmmar and the Khmer Rouges from Pol Pot's evil regime.
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written by hunkeyboy, August 04, 2010 11:43:07
we already live in a POLICE STATE, get it?
dont waste the time and energy of our young fighting this ISA thing; get them to fight umno/bn in the coming GE, and kick the whole rotten mess out.
begin at the begin and the rest follows.
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written by bloodhound, August 04, 2010 10:39:29
RESPECTS??
How to show respect to these police?
They prefer to act like gangsters hunting like a pack of wild wolves/hyenas preferring to use force instead of logic. When they are not willing to act as genuine crime fighters but choose to intimidate innocent citizens, then, they deserve no respect at all.
They are just making the young voters/potential voters more angry and rebellious against authorities because the authority of the day chose to act deviously against peaceful citizen gatherings. They might win the day but these boys in blue will lose the future.
The more these terrorists in blue hunt in packs against innocent youngsters, the more disrespect the youngsters will show in defiance against such authorities - this is pure human nature reaction.
The youngsters nowadays are more unforgiving and have long memories especially when they feels that they are being unjustifiably intimidated. The authorities chose not to exhibit sense and sensibilities but preferred their old violent behaviour of gangsterism against its young population and this will backfire badly on the authorities.
Disrespect of the police forces in general will ensue and the police will find it more difficult to get the general public's cooperation and assistance when it mattered most. Perception is an important ingredient in any effort to gain the confidence and support of the public and so far, the police force has shown neither the intelligence nor ability to nurture such potent forces of the future generations.
Our politicians and police chiefs has often asked or wondered aloud why the public are so disrespectful of the authorities (especially the police) and why the people do not believe in them. Well, as they always say.......ACTIONS SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS....and so far, the actions of these authorities has not been too respectable at all - PERIOD!
Moreover, they are wasting our country's fast depleting money by chasing after innocent citizens instead of targeting the nowadays free roaming criminals who are sucking the life out of the community.
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written by Admiral Tojo, August 04, 2010 10:32:19
Shalom
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written by Better My, August 04, 2010 08:37:50
The minimum we can do here is to support your articles by commenting on it in honor of all the brave ones that nite and the jailed.
Every effort must taken by leaders/PR to free all the 1 Aug jailed for holding Anti-ISA peace candles.
Every jailed person in the past, including this one deserves special mention and recognition post PR Federal government.
Thrash ISA that hurt the country we are born and bred in and love.
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written by IbnAbdHalim, August 04, 2010 08:36:42
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written by Angela Ooi, August 04, 2010 08:32:36
It was totally unnecessary to unleash their bully dogs to rampage and riot among these gatherings while the people sang the national anthem. These incidences will surely impress us to go all out to ensure Bn's shoved off in the next GE.
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written by Aduh, August 04, 2010 08:30:51
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written by Better My, August 04, 2010 08:28:54
The attempted candle light vigil was a grand success in reminding all the animal and gangsterism of the FRU squad and the bad force BeEend
The red shirt standing Indians and the group of chidren images stil stay in my mind clearly. Pictures that deserve special mention in 2010..
If this ugly episode can turn the idiot 80-90% proBN Indian and the HH Indian around to the good force without condition and without more garbage thrown at PR by HH Indian, it would be all worth it.
If it still doesn't, "CHUTIA you, Tiew u, E neh Ni cone u, F u Indian.
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written by storm62, August 04, 2010 08:16:03
But we know if the police don't roughed up these peaceful protesters they are answerable to APNO and make those melayu APNO angry......well their time is up soon, we shall bury them dead or alive in the next GE!!!
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written by ibabonma, August 04, 2010 07:44:15
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written by DreamLady, August 04, 2010 07:39:38
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IT IS SAFER TO HARASS THE INNOCENT AND HELPLESS PUBLIC THAN PATROL CHOW KIT LAH.