20 ditahan dalam Himpunan PROTES

Perhimpunan aman Protes, 20 ditahan - Harakahdaily
Harakahdaily Sat Jan 26, 08 3:31:03 pm MYT

TERKINIKUALA LUMPUR, 26 Jan (Hrkh) - Seramai 20 orang termasuk Bendahari Agung PAS, Dr Hatta Ramli telah ditahan oleh pihak polis di lokasi perhimpunan aman yang dianjurkan oleh Gabungan Memprotes Kenaikan Harga Barang (Protes) sebentar tadi.

Sebelum ini, pihak berkuasa telah melakukan beberapa sekatan di sekitar KLCC. Beberapa anggota polis dilihat berada di sekitar stesen LRT Putra KLCC yang merupakan antara lokasi yang ditentukan oleh penganjur perhimpunan untuk berarak ke arah KLCC.

Sementara itu, tinjauan sekitar KLCC pada jam 2.30 petang tadi mendapati suasana seperti biasa dan tenang dan tiada sebarang gangguan dilaporkan.

Pada jam 2.45 petang tadi dilaporkan tujuh ahli PAS termasuk seorang wanita telah ditahan di luar KLCC di pintu masuk Jalan Ampang dan telah dibawa ke IPK Kuala Lumpur untuk disoal siasat.

Serentak dengan itu juga, berhampiran Stesen LRT Putra Ampang Park, lapan orang lagi ditahan termasuk lima wanita yang dikaitkan dengan perhimpunan hari ini.

Sementara itu, Malaysiakini melaporkan wartawannya, Syed Jamal Zahid turut ditahan apabila menyoal seorang pegawai polis mengenai tangkapan-tangkapan yang dilakukan di sekitar kawasan Ampang Park.

Ketua Pengarang Harakah, Ahmad Lutfi Othman sewaktu dihubungi, mengecam penangkapan yang dilakukan ke atas wartawan Malaysiakini.

"Tangkapan ini benar-benar mencabul prinsip kebebasan akhbar dan ia cukup memalukan.

"Ia memberikan gambaran buruk pimpinan Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi terutamanya dari kacamata dunia luar,"tegasnya sambil mengutuk tindakan polis yang melakukan tangkapan secara rambang sebentar tadi.

Sementara itu, dalam perkembangan berkaitan, pejabat Malaysiakini yang menghubungi OCPD Dang Wangi, Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman untuk mengesahkan identiti Syed Jamal telah diberi jaminan wartawan tersebut akan dibebaskan setelah mengambil kenyataannya.

Dalam pada itu, pada jam 3.30 petang tadi seramai 200 penyokong Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) berarak dari Ampang Park ke arah KLCC tetapi telah dihadang oleh barisan anggota polis yang berkawal di situ.

Sepuluh minit kemudian, sekurang-kurangnya 12 penyokong PSM dan pemimpinnya telah ditangkap setelah bergelut dengan anggota polis yang menghadang perarakan mereka. - mks.

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Crackdown at KLCC: Dozens picked up - Malaysiakini
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz Jan 26, 08 2:04pm

More than two dozen individuals have been detained by the police near the Kuala Lumpur City Centre ahead of a protest against price hikes organised by the Coalition Against Inflation (Protes).

At about 2.45pm, seven PAS’ party volunteers, including one woman, were picked up outside the KLCC Jalan Ampang entrance and brought to the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters for questioning.

Almost simultaneously, near the Ampang Park LRT station, another five women and three men were also detained in connection with the rally. Malaysiakini reporter Syed Jamal Zahiid was also picked up.

He was detained while questioning a police officer over several arrests near the Ampang Park area.

Malaysiakini office has contacted Dang Wangi OCPD Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman to vouch for the identity of Syed Jamal who then assured that the journalist would be released after giving his statement.

At about 3.30pm, about 200 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) supporters marching from Ampang Park towards KLCC were locked in a standoff with the police. Ten minutes later, at least 12 PSM supporters and leaders were arrested after a minor scuffle with the police.

Police have declared the rally today illegal and have obtained a rare court order banning people from attending. Commenting on the court order, PSM president Dr Nasir Hashim said the police were using the courts to curtail fundamental liberties. “It’s a very funny court order. People are just walking around and they are being taken away.

I think the lawyers should challenge this because we cannot express your grievances in this country,” he said.

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At 2.15pm - Moderate police presence, no sign of protesters

About 100 uniformed police personnel are presently patrolling around the KLCC area in anticipation of a banned rally organised by the Coalition Against Inflation (Protes). Eye-witnesses reported that the police have also erected a steel barricade near the taxi stand at the Jalan Ampang entrance towards KLCC.

However, the Federal Reserve Unit and their infamous water cannons were not sighted yet.. Police personnel were also stationed near the Ampang Park LRT station where protesters are supposed to gather before marching towards KLCC.

It was business as usual at KLCC. No road closure was also reported.

AT 2.15pm, no sign of any protester was seen. The peaceful assembly was scheduled for 3pm.