A short gathering of anti-rape activists outside the Bangsar Shopping Complex in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon saw heavy police presence despite agreement by the campaigners to disperse.

About 25 activists from the All Women's Action Society (Awam) and their supporters turned up today to mark the cancellation of their proposed march down Jalan Maarof in Bangsar to protest against a rising number of sex crimes as highlighted by the Canny Ong case.

They unfurled a 12-foot long banner which said, "Citizens Against Rape: Towards a Violence-Free Community". The activists also clipped notices to the banner saying "Cancelled! Our rights to peaceful assembly denied".

The gathering proceeded uninterrupted by an attending police officer for about 30 minutes before Brickfields district police chief Zulhasnan Najib arrived and ordered the group's immediate dispersal.

Interrupted by police

According to Awam coordinator Maria Abdullah, the activists had turned up at the location so as to meet any supporters who might be unaware of the change of plans.

"Some people may not know of the postponement so we are here to let them know," she said.

Maria was joined by Awam president Dr Mary Cardosa, vice-president Manohary Subramaniam, Women's Development Collective director Dr Cecilia Ng, Women's Aid Organisation executive director Ivy Josiah and activists from Man V (an organisation which encourages male participation in anti-violence against women activities).

Also present were Members of Parliament Tan Kok Wai (DAP-Cheras), Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) and Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) as well as DAP leaders Ronnie Liu and Madeline Tan.

The group posed shortly for press photographs and were preparing to leave when Zulhasnan arrived. The police chief then ordered lingering individuals to disperse immediately using a loudhailer.

Several minutes later, about 10 plainclothes officers arrived in an unmarked van to monitor the activists. Another 10 uniformed policewomen were then dispatched to patrol the Bangsar Shopping Complex.

Rally rescheduled

When met by reporters, Zulhasnan said the police will not allow any gathering outdoors, adding that the campaigners had been asked to organise their rally indoors.

However, he declined to comment on Awam's claim yesterday that his office had also refused to grant a permit for the anti-rape rally to take place at the Mid Valley Exhibition Hall.

"You have to talk to the organisers about that," he said.

The anti-rape campaigners suffered their first setback last week after police refused to grant a permit for an outdoor march scheduled for this afternoon. Awam then relocated the event to Mid Valley but the plans fell through after the venue owners cancelled the hall booking pending the issuance of a police permit.

Awam president Dr Mary Cardosa said yesterday that some 1,000 people had been expected for the march. She said the anti-rape rally will be rescheduled to another date to be announced later.