The police moved in to disperse a 300-strong crowd of students who had planned to march from the National Mosque to the Kuala Lumpur magistrate's court in support of seven other undergraduates on trial for illegal assembly.

In the process, the police arrested the Students Abolish ISA (Internal Security Act) Movement (Gabungan Mahasiswa Mansuhkan ISA or GMMI) spokesperson Syahrir Mahmood (left) who had tried to negotiate with the police to allow them to participate in the peaceful march.

He was taken to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters but was released at 7.30pm on police bail. He is required to report to the police station on Aug 1.

The seven undergraduates - from four local universities - have been suspended by their universities for attending an anti-ISA demonstration two years ago at the National Mosque. Their trial started on Monday and continued this afternoon.

'Abolish UUCA'

The 300 students from various varsities gathered at the National Mosque after the Friday prayers.

After reciting a prayer, the students began to march from the mosque to the courthouse located about a kilometer away.

The group carried placards and shouted slogans for the repeal of the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) which deters undergraduates from participating in any political-related activities.

However, when the students were in the process of crossing the road opposite the mosque, a group of 70 police personnel intervened. The police then directed the students to disperse.

At this juncture, Syahrir and another student leader, Chang Lih Kang tried to negotiate with the police to allow the students ample time to disperse.

But the police did not seem interested to negotiate and a group of seven later grabbed Syahrir.

The student leader put up a struggle and was injured in the process. He was seen bleeding from the neck and his spectacles was also broken.

Syahrir is an engineer who has just graduated from a private college.

Illegal procession

Meanwhile, Amien Arief, from a youth group who call themselves Universiti Bangsar Utama, was also manhandled by the police during the scuffle.

He was grabbed by a group of policemen who used pepper spray against him and was also pushed to the ground.

Dang Wangi district police chief Hadi Ho Abdullah who arrived later said the arrest was made according to Section 27 of the Police Act as it was an illegal procession.

"Although the students dispersed after the police intervened, the arrested student (Syahrir) was trying to restrain the police from doing their job," he told malaysiakini.

Asked why the police did not negotiate with the group, Hadi replied: "there is no such thing as negotiation, this is an illegal procession".

High-handedness

Keadilan Youth chief and ex-ISA detainee Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor who was informed about the incident later turned up at the trial of the ISA 7.

He criticised the police high-handedness against the students, saying that it was not an illegal assembly as they were merely accompanying the ISA 7 students to the court to attend the hearing.

He voiced his full support to Syahrir, adding that Keadilan Youth will provide legal aid to the student.

A defence counsel for the ISA 7, Amer Hamzah Arshad also criticised the police action. He said the peaceful procession only turned unruly after the police intervened.

"These students were merely exercising their rights as provided under the Federal Constitution. They were present to lend support to their friends who have been charged," he told malaysiakini.

"They have done nothing wrong, they were just walking to the court," he added.