Malaysiakini Report - BERSIH Rally

Perhimpunan Bersih: Zam kecam laporan Al Jazeera
Nov 10, 07 8:12pm

Menteri Penerangan Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin mengecam Al Jazeera yang didakwanya membuat pertanyaan mengikut persepsi yang salah berhubung kejadian perhimpunan rakyat menuntut pilihanraya bersih dan adil hari ini.

Sehubungan itu, beliau menolak dakwaan stesen televisyen satelit Al Jazeera bahawa polis telah bertindak keras terhadap mereka yang menyertai perhimpunan tersebut, demikian menurut Bernama.

Beliau berkata, wartawan Al Jazeera telah mempunyai persepsi sendiri sebelum datang ke Malaysia dan menambah: "Malaysia bukan Myanmar dan bukan Pakistan, Malaysia adalah sebuah negara demokrasi."

Zainuddin berkata kebanyakan penonton di Malaysia ketawa melihat kelakuan dan aksi wartawan Al Jazeera yang cuba memberikan gambaran seolah-olah tunjuk perasaan itu begitu buruk dengan menjerit-jerit sehingga terasa kepada mereka ia bukan keadaan yang sebenarnya.

Beliau juga mengecam Al Jazeera kerana hanya mengambil wartawan yang diketahui pro-pembangkang untuk mendapatkan pandangan tetapi tidak di pihak kerajaan.

Tidak perlu Sebaliknya, katanya Zam, polis telah cuba menyuraikan tunjuk perasaan dengan menyembur air kerana ia adalah perhimpunan haram. Tetapi setelah mereka enggan, katanya, polis membenarkan kumpulan itu berarak ke Istana Negara untuk menyampaikan memorandum menuntut pilihanraya bersih.

Semasa ditemuramah secara langsung oleh stesen itu melalui panggilan telefon hari ini, Zam memberitahu stesen tersebut bahawa polis telah berjaya mengendalikan perhimpuan tersebut dengan baik.

Perhimpunan tersebut anjuran Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil atau dikenali sebagai "Bersih" yang dianjurkan oleh 26 badan bukan kerajaan dan disertai parti pembangkang untuk menyerahkan memorandum berhubung beberapa tuntutan mengenai proses pilihanraya di negara ini kepada Istana Negara.

Zainuddin bila ditanya kenapa Malaysia tidak membenarkan perhimpunan tersebut, berkata: "Tunjuk perasaan tidak perlu kerana pilihanraya tidak pernah gagal diadakan di Malaysia mengikut jadualnya."

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SPR tiada dalih lagi, kata peserta perhimpunan
Muda Mohd Noor

Nov 10, 07 8:54pm

Orang ramai berharap penyerahan memorandum oleh Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih) kepada Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin akan menyaksikan perubahan dalam pengendalian pilihanraya umum akan datang.

Abdul Rahman Hassan, 44, dari Melaka berkata, beliau berharap kerajaan sedar bahawa rakyat mahukan perubahan dalam pengendalian pilihanraya. Katanya, kerajaan khususnya Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya (SPR) tidak mempunyai dalih lagi untuk tidak mempedulikan tuntutan rakyat untuk mendapat demokrasi yang lebih adil.

"Takkan SPR mahu melihat berjuta-juta rakyat datang ke Istana Negara dan mengadakan mogok lapar baru hendak memenuhi tuntutan rakyat," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika ditemui di perkarangan Istana Negara sebagai tanda sokongan kepada Bersih menyerahkan memorandum kepada Sultan Mizan, petang tadi.

Kira-kira 40,000 orang yang dipercayai datang dari seluruh negara mengadakan perhimpunan dan perarakan anjuran Bersih di beberapa tempat di ibu negara untuk mendesak SPR mengendalikan pilihanraya yang bersih dan adil.

Kehendak rakyat

Rakannya, Kamarul Anuar Omar, 35, berkata, perarakan besar-besaran ini sebagai bukti bahawa rakyat tidak percaya kepada sistem pilihanraya yang ada sekarang. Katanya, proses pilihanraya seperti yang ada sekarang tidak dikehendaki rakyat kerana terlalu banyak penyelewengan dan kelemahan serta berpihak kepada pemerintah.

"Saya percaya jika kerajaan atau SPR mengabaikan tuntutan rakyat ini, sudah tentu perhimpunan yang lebih besar akan diadakan pada masa depan," katanya.

Sementara itu, peserta dari Perak, Meor Ahmad Meor Haswan pula berkata, jika tidak kerana kawalan ketat polis di ibu negara sudah tentu lebih ramai wargakota menyertai perhimpunan hari ini.

Bagaimanapun, katanya, beliau sanggup menyertai protes sekali lagi jika Bersih menganjurkannya pada masa depan.

"Bagi saya menjadi kewajiban kepada rakyat yang cintakan demokrasi yang lebih adil untuk mendesak kerajaan memenuhi kehendak rakyat," katanya.

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Puluhan ribu serta perhimpunan tuntut p'raya adil
Nov 10, 07 5:02pm

Berpuluh ribu orang berhimpun di luar Istana Negara petang tadi menuntut pilihanraya bersih dan adil. Sebelum itu penganjur perhimpunan tersebut yang terdiri daripada gabungan badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) dan parti-parti pembangkang - berarak ke Istana Negara dalam hujan, sambil melaung menuntut keadilan dan pembaharuan dalam pilihanraya.

Semalam Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi memberi amaran kepada penganjur perhimpunan tersebut, tetapi ia tetap diadakan walaupun polis mengadakan kawalan ketat di sekitar bandaraya serta mengadakan sekatan jalanraya di semua jalan masuk ke ibunegara.

"Terdapat hampir 30,000 orang pada masa ini. Kita telah bersetuju membenarkan mereka duduk di depan istana dan membenarkan empat wakil mereka menyerahkan petisyen kepada wakil istana," kata seorang pegawai polis kepada AFP. Penganjur: 40,000 hadir Pihak penganjur pula berkata sekurang-kurangnya hampir 40,000 orang menyertai perhimpunan tersebut.

Kira-kira 400 anggota polis anti-rusuhan ditugaskan mengawal kawasan istana, termasuk berbelas-belas anggota lagi yang lengkap bersenjatakan senjata automatik dan pelancar gas pemedih mata.

"Rakyat Malaysia mesti dibenar menyuarakan pandangan dan pendapat mereka," kata Ketua Pembangkang, Lim Kit Siang di depan pintu pagar istana untuk menyerahkan petisyen tersebut.

"Adalah tidak adil bagi kerajaan untuk tidak mengeluarkan permit untuk mengadakan perhimpunan ini kerana ia hanyalah menyuarakan suara takyat di sini," katanya.

Pihak penganjurnya merancang untuk mengadakan perhimpunan tersebut di Dataran Merdeka tetapi terpaksa memindahkannya selepas polis menutup jalan masuk ke situ. - AFP

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Rally crackdown: 29 arrested, 24 released
Andrew OngNov 10, 07 7:33pm

Several human rights lawyers believe that at least 29 individuals were arrested during today’s mass rally in the national capital and 24 have been released so far. Lawyer Edmund Bon, who was part of the Bar Council’s delegation observing the rally, said 24 individuals have been released unconditionally thus far.

The detainees were held at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters at Jalan Hang Tuah and were freed in batches between 6.30pm and 8pm. Bon said the lawyers have sent five individuals for medical attention at the Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL).

The lawyers found later that the police had also sent another detainee to HKL for medical attention.However, Bernama reported police chief Musa Hassan as saying that 245 people were arrested and released after their statements were taken.

More may be arrested Bon was among some 15 lawyers stationed at the KL police headquarters where the detainees were held. But it could not be ascertained if there are detainees being held elsewhere.

Meanwhile, lawyer Latheefa Koya who is among the lawyers stationed at the police headquarters lamented that the lawyers were denied access to the detainees.

“This is ridiculous considering that there have been recent amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code which compels the police to grant detainees immediate access to lawyers,” she said. The mass rally today was organised by polls reform coalition Bersih.

The event momentarily took an unpleasant turn when police fired eye-irritants into the crowd and made arrests. But the event was generally incident-free and observers have praised the retraint exercised by both sides.

The protesters dispersed peacefully after their leaders handed over a memorandum urging electoral reforms to Istana Negara.

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Journalists attacked by riot police
Chua Sue-Ann

Nov 10, 07 8:21pm

A number of journalists covering poll reform group Bersih rally today were kicked and beaten by riot police as they sought to disperse protesters at the Masjid Jamek area. Chaos erupted at around 2.30pm as riot police fired a torrent of chemical-laced water and discharged a volley of tear gas canisters at more than 2,000 people.

In the melee, members of the press, both local and foreign, were not spared. A female journalist, who declined to be named, said she was hit with a baton by a police officer who was trying to drive away the crowd.

“He hit... my buttocks and he was telling me ‘Go, go, go, like I’m some donkey’,” she decried.

Another journalist, who also requested anonymity, reported being kicked twice by the police - on his back and his thigh. He ticked off the authorities for using “unnecessary force” against the journalists.

“I’m surprised at the brutality of the police.”

The duo were among five journalists who were standing behind police lines before they were suddenly assaulted by about 10 police officers. One of them, a female journalist from a local newspaper, was injured by the beatings.

A policeman kicked her neck as she lay on the ground, refusing to stop despite pleas from the other press members. CPO not aware of violenceIt is also claimed that Federal Reserve Unit officers attacked a Swedish journalist with their shields, while two others are said to have received injuries as a result of being targets of a tear gas canister and the water cannon.

Kuala Lumpur chief police officer Zulhasnan Najib Baharuddin, when contacted by Malaysiakini, denied knowledge of police violence against journalists. “Are there reports? It has not been brought to my attention,” he said.

The Bersih rally calling for clean and fair elections has attracted an estimated 40,000 people despite heavy rain, government threats and police roadblocks.

Protesters were unable to congregate at Dataran Merdeka after the venue was sealed off by the police, and were forced to gather at four alternative meeting points at Masjid Jamek, Pasar Seni, Sogo department store and Masjid Negara.

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Bersih plays cat-and-mouse with cops
Beh Lih Yi and Syed Jaymal Zahiid

Nov 10, 07 8:38pm

It was all quiet at the Dataran Merdeka - the original Bersih rally venue - as thousands of protesters played cat-and-mouse with the police in downtown Kuala Lumpur today.

The police, aided by Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel, sealed off the venue - also known as Independence Square - since last night in anticipation of the arrival of tens of thousands of protesters.

The organisers have initially called on the people to gather at the square, and from there march to Istana Negara to hand over a memorandum to the King in the bid to press for electoral reforms.

Earlier reports have also indicated that opposition leaders Abdul Hadi Awang and Anwar Ibrahim would perform prayers at the nearby Masjid Negara and then marched to the square to join the crowd. This has led to heavy police presence at both Dataran Merdeka and Masjid Negara.

Minor clashes, standoff However, the organisers apparently hookwinked the police by telling the protesters to march from the four designated gathering points directly to Istana Negara. At 2.35pm, a group of about 500 protesters marched from the Pasar Seni towards Dataran Merdeka in heavy downpour and they were stopped by 100 riot police at about 50 metres from the square.

The group, led by Bersih leader Tian Chua, chanted Daulat Tuanku (Long live the King), ‘we want justice’ and Allahuakbar (God is great). Among the protesters who formed a human chain at the front included migrant labour activist, Irene Fernandez, who was on a wheelchair.

There were minor clashes when the protesters tried to break through the police barricades but no one was reported to be injured.

Several people were beaten in the clash as police tried to stop the group from proceeding.

Rally leaders attempted to negotiate with the policemen there but were told to either wait for a senior officer or to disperse.

The police later formed two lines of barricades, resulting in a stand-off. However, as negotiations with police was going on, part of the crowd was ‘secretly’ diverted to use an alley as an exit to walk to Istana Negara.

Quiet Square

By 3.15pm, the whole group broke away from the stand-off, leaving the square completely quiet. Apparently, the attempt by these 500 protesters to "get into" Dataran Merdeka was a ruse to keep the riot police busy.

The protesters from Pasar Seni joined thousands others who had earlier gathered at Masjid Jamek and Sogo department store.

As they marched towards Jalan Istana, they converged with about 4,000 more protesters from the Masjid Negara.

The protesters arrived at Istana Negara in stages. About 2,000 workers from PAS’ Unit Amal (traffic marshal) were tasked with crowd and traffic control. These workers, cladded in a maroon uniform and beret, were also tasked to help disperse the protesters as well as cleaning up after the rally ended.

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Acid rain in Masjid Jamek
Andrew Ong

Nov 10, 07 6:20pm

A crowd consisting of thousands near the Masjid Jamek LRT station were among the hardest hit in the mass rally calling for free and fair elections today in Kuala Lumpur.

At about 2.10pm, numerous Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) trucks and personnel positioned themselves next the Sultan Abdul Samad building, between the crowd and Dataran Merdeka, where the rally was supposed to take place.

Without warning, torrents of chemical-laced water from an FRU water cannon were fired at the crowd forcing everyone to run for cover. Most of them retreated inside Masjid India and a nearby commercial building which housed a bank and two LRT stations nearby.

Minutes later, the water cannon simultaneously fired in the direction of Masjid India and a crowd gathered at the entrance of the bank. The crowd inside the mosque, estimated at 800, then attempted to charge past the water cannon and march towards Dataran Merdeka but met with another barrage from the water cannon.

See-saw ‘battle’ Braving the chemical-laced water, the crowd managed to get within 50 metres from Dataran Merdeka, forcing the water cannon to pull back. A tense stand-off between the crowd which had by now swelled to more than 2,000 and FRU personnel ensued with the crowd continuously chanting loudly “God is great!”.

At about 2.39pm, the police fired several canisters of tear gas at the crowd who again retreated into the mosque and surrounding buildings. By then, the police managed to gain more ground and re-established their position in front of Masjid India.

Warnings of dispersals were heard from their loudhailers. The warnings were not heeded but the crowd did not become unruly.

They were seen obediently taking orders from marshals comprising of PAS volunteers. At about 2.45pm, about a dozen tear-gas cannisters were fired in Jalan Tun Perak, dispersing most of the crowd from the area.

By now, there was a torrential downpour.Following this, the police managed to take firm control of the portion of Jalan Tun Perak from Dataran Merdeka to Lebuh Ampang.

Possible injuries Some 500 people waited for about half an hour in Masjid Jamek and an alley leading to Jalan Medan Pasar before dispersing. There have been reports that most in the crowd joined other groups near Pasar Seni (Central Market) and Sogo shopping complex.

It is not immediately clear whether there were arrests made within the Masjid Jamek LRT vicinity. However, there was one unconfirmed report of a youth being injured by a tear-gas cannister.

Syed Husin Ali, the opposition PKR deputy president, said he was caught up in the chaos outside the Masjid Jamek.

"I was hit two times by tear gas and water cannons. The police were clearly trying to stop the crowd and it was very difficult for us to carry on with the march, but we did," he told AFP.

Many bystanders commuting between the Star and Putra LRT stations were caught in the volleys of tear gas and chemical-laced water.

Nearly every business premises in the area closed their doors during the incident today.Suaram's executive director Yap Swee Seng condemned the police action as heavy-handed.

"I think they put up unnecessary road blocks to prevent people from attending the rally," he told AFP. "It was a violation of human rights to use water cannons and tear gas to disperse people from exercising very fundamental rights of peaceful assembly."