ARTICLE 1:
As I'm writing this, they've (the Royal Malaysian Police) teargassed a hospital (Tung Shin Hospital). They've arrested the head of the rally and are separating her from the rest of the detainees. God Bless her. People are still gathering, and despite the fact that this was supposed to be a peaceful march...-and-protest to begin with, the police have turned it into an international incident. High pressure water cannons. Teargas everywhere. Mass arrests, currently over 600 and counting.
This, my friends, is 21st century Malaysia. “The failure of the top levels of the Malaysian government to engage in good faith dialogue with citizens demanding basic electoral reforms is the heart of the matter.” - Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watch Asia Deputy Director. I've never seen it put more aptly. The disconnect between Malaysia's leadership and its people is stunning. When Kenneth Clarke tried to pass unpopular justice reforms in the UK, David Cameron was forced to make a policy U-turn.
When the Najib Administration made an unpopular decision on the Bersih organization, they plowed on despite mass public disapproval. Despite the opportunity to use electoral reform as an avenue for the government to resuscitate its image.
For those of you who aren't in the know, today Malaysian Government took a stand. A stand against basic democratic rights and freedom of expression. They banned a rally - a rally with a message. The message wasn't racist, or particularly inflammatory. Bersih wasn't Westboro Baptist Church. It was a call for free and fair elections, greater transparency in the voting process and simple electoral reforms.
They've been accused of everything, ranging from the more plausible 'tool-for-furthering-Oppositio n-interests' to the outlandish 'Communist-conspiracy-to-overt hrow-country-leadership'. For some reason, this message warranted the unreasonable application of threats and suppression by force. Extreme force. Reports are flooding in from the newsfeeds and online social networks of police brutality, in addition to the all too generous use of crowd-control agents highlighted above.
It certainly is something, when one can say that the pride of their country isn't the efficiency of government machinery, but the willingness of the unarmed and oppressed to face it head-on. I am proud of my country. Not its administrators, but its people. Today they have secured their stake on the nation's future. Ignore that at your own risk.
By: Jason Chow
ALSO, to those who questioned why the need of Bersih 2.0, check this out:
ARTICLE 2: Police arrests 1,400 in Bersih crackdown, 1 death reported (UPDATED)
The first group of peaceful protestors had marched from Hilton Sentral towards Central Market shortly after noon.
Convergence of three groups in front of Maybank Tower, Jalan Pudu
Approximately 100 police and FRU officers formed a defensive line right outside the Central Market LRT station.
The group made a detour by cutting through Dayabumi Complex before ending up in front of Agro Bank near Dataran Merdeka.
Within minutes, three FRU trucks arrived and formed another defensive line and urging the crowd to disperse.
After warnings went unheeded, FRU proceeded to fire three volleys of tear gas at the peaceful protestors who were sitting down on the ground.
It is estimated that 30 rounds of tear gas were fired within a short span of 2 minutes, sending the crowd scurrying for protection.
However, the FRU was positioned downwind and the tear gas flowed backwards, forcing the FRU team to retreat to Dataran Merdeka.
Half of the peaceful protestors then backtracked towards Central Market before their way was blocked by the FRU, forcing them to head back towards Hilton Sentral.
Approximately 15 minutes later, another group of Bersih supporters arrived at Puduraya via Jalan Sultan before joining a splinter group from the earlier protestors who had marched from Hilton Sentral.
The two groups congregated in front of the Maybank Tower before chanting "Bersih", "Reformasi" and "Hidup Rakyat".
Approximately 10 minutes later, another group of Bersih supporters arrived via Jalan Pudu, coming from the direction of Bukit Bintang.
The crowd continued to chant in front Maybank Tower until several FRU trucks arrived to disperse the crowd by firing over 10 rounds of tear gas into the crowd on top of spraying them with chemically-laced
water.
Mayhem ensued as the police rushed in to make arrests, with over a dozen people hand-cuffed and brought back to the police truck.
A group of lawyers from the Bar council of Malaysia were seen talking to the arrested.
One male protestor cringing from the effects of tear gas were paraded in front of the others before he was sat down on the ground at the foot of the Maybank Tower staircase. They were then transported to a police station in Jinjang.
Heavy rain swept across the city, bringing protests to a halt for approximately 30 minutes before the skies cleared up again. The FRU stationed in front of the Maybank Tower was then redeployed to Jalan Pudu in a move to trap Bersih supporters on that road as another defensive line was setup approximately 200m away from Tung Shin hospital in the direction of Bukit Bintang.
Another team of FRU that was stationed near the HSBC bank near Lebuh Ampang was then ordered to move to take up positions in front of Maybank Tower. Bersih supporters that were trapped on Jalan Pudu had no where to go except to wait out the road blocks just outside of the Tung Shin hospital.
However, in an attempt to disperse the crowd, FRU once again fired over five rounds of tear gas cannisters into the crowd, forcing them to take cover in the carpark of the Tung Shin hospital. In an unprecendented move, the FRU fired several more tear gas cannisters into hospital grounds in an attempt to force the protestors out from the hospital carpark. Dozens of police then climbed the fences of the carpark in pursuit of the Bersih supporters. (THIS IS TOO MUCH! Adding salt to wound, this UGLY incident is NOT REPORTED (Covered up) IN "free" TV Stations: RTM1, 2, TV3, NTV7, TV9, 8TV)
Nevertheless, the crowd at Jalan Pudu slowly dispersed on their own at approximately 4:20pm and the FRU were also seen to withdraw, leaving some 30 police officers on scene to handle the situation.
Elsewhere, unconfirmed reports surfaced that the leader of Bersih, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and Maria Chin Abdullah were arrested along with several other politicians.
It was learnt that three other groups that were marching towards Merdeka Stadium from various parts of the city was also thwarted in their attempt by the joint-efforts of the police and the FRU.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar later held a press conference, saying that 1,401 individuals were arrested but would be released by 9pm, and had urged the public to go home.
It was later confirmed that 12 high profile politicians and civil society leaders were arrested. They are Mahfuz Omar, Salehuddin Ayub, Tian Chua, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, Hadi Awang and Fuziah Salleh (all arrested at KL Sentral), Azeez Rahim, Mahfuz Mohammad, Khairy Jamaluddin, Ngeh Khor Ham and Sivarasah Rasiah (all arrested at Jalan Pudu) and Mohamad Sabu (Jalan Mahameru).
Karpal Singh barely escaped arrest as his supporters urged him to turn-away when he arrived at Jalan Pudu earlier at 1:30pm.
Bersih estimated that over 50,000 people gathered to march peacefully for electoral reforms today, but the aggressive actions of the police and the FRU resulted in the untimely death of Baharuddin Ahmad, the husband of the Setiawangsa PKR Wanita division chief near KLCC. Apparently, Baharuddin was involved in a scuffle with the police before he fell and died from severe injuries.
END OF ARTICLE...
ALSO CHECK THIS OUT!:
This shows that: Police in Malaysian need to learn to be independent, take orders directly from the RULER / Parliament and not the BN/UMNO!
ALSO, VIDEOS:
1) POLICE ACTION BRUTAL: Opposition Leader...
2) VIDEO 2 with this "Letter"
On the apparent level, I'm crying, choking in pain (my chemical-infused body's still in pain), and I almost lost my conciousness (fainted) due to the many Tear Gases that you ordered to be fired on us - fired from the front & back of a small tunnel. Where should I go - or disperse - to?
Deep inside, I used to entrust some of your policies. Now I'm just deeply disappointed at your cruelty.
What a cruel leader you were to subject the Rakyats - who've elected you to listen to their voices - to such pain?
I ask for you to try Just Two canister of Tear Gases on yourself (front, back, in a tunnel).
Are you Our PM, or are you a Dictator?
I believe I had my answer to that question today.
But it's okay, continue doing what you do best (suppression with brutal powers, etc).
It's okay, for I understand the truth of impermanence - everything is ever changing.
We can change you. (Egyptians did it, Malaysians have the ability too).
I could think of 100 other individuals with a better mind and heart than you do.
I have experienced that You truly do not have the qualities as, nor do you deserve to be, Our leader.
By just another citizen who loves our common home (Malaysia),
Vienna Looi.
Are you Our PM, or are you a Dictator?
I believe I had my answer to that question today.
But it's okay, continue doing what you do best (suppression with brutal powers, etc).
It's okay, for I understand the truth of impermanence - everything is ever changing.
We can change you. (Egyptians did it, Malaysians have the ability too).
I could think of 100 other individuals with a better mind and heart than you do.
I have experienced that You truly do not have the qualities as, nor do you deserve to be, Our leader.
By just another citizen who loves our common home (Malaysia),
Vienna Looi.
PART 2:
PART 3:
VIDEO 3:
VIDEO 4:
Retreating to central market after standstill at the the Changkat stadium! Strong crowd!
IGP is lying to himself. Only 6,000? Let the video do the figure justice! Not to mention crowd in Tong Shin, Merdeka square and KL Sentral.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/igp-only-6000-joined-rally/
The rally is supported from all races. The real satu malaysia in Bersih version! Long live democracy! Long live Bersih!
Video 5: BERSIH 2.0 - 9am to 3pm simple edit
:
IGP is lying to himself. Only 6,000? Let the video do the figure justice! Not to mention crowd in Tong Shin, Merdeka square and KL Sentral.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/igp-only-6000-joined-rally/
The rally is supported from all races. The real satu malaysia in Bersih version! Long live democracy! Long live Bersih!
Video 5: BERSIH 2.0 - 9am to 3pm simple edit
:
MORE VIDEOS:
1) BERSIH 2.0 LONDON (Peaceful one):
2) BERSIH 2.0 Melbourne (Peaceful one)
Final moments of Bersih 2.0 in Melbourne Federation Square, a peaceful call for the Malaysian government to come clean to the people of the country. The singing of the Malaysian national anthem rounded up the calling.The peaceful rally here is a huge contrast to a similar rally held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at the same time, where violence was exercised by the Malaysian police and over 1,400 civilians were arrested.
3) Bersih 2.0 Taiwan Rally 旅台大馬遊子聲援淨選盟集會
4) Bersih 2.0 Sydney Rally:
While "thousands and thousands" marched in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia today for democracy (braving police roadblocks, hundreds of arrests, water cannon, teargas, etc), in Australia some 750 Malaysian rallied in Melbourne today, 300 in Sydney, 200 in Perth, 150 in Adelaide, 40 in Canberra and 100 in Brisbane.LASTLY: This explains it all... It's NOT PKR/DAP/PAS Decision to organise BERSIH 2.0 but Ambiga and Rakyat... Credit to Malaysiakini video team.
DISCLAIMER: ALL THESE WERE NOT MY WORK. My work is Merely COMPILE STUFF you see here from Bersih 2.0 Official Facebook page and from YOUTUBE... Bringing you the facts the Malaysian media COVERED Up or DON"T WANT YOU TO SEE!!!
1 comment:
I should have gone to the one in Sydney!!
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