Bersih under siege, pre-rally arrests reach 81
Kuek Ser Kuang KengPublished: Jun 27, 2011 6:41 AM | Updated: Jun 28, 2011 1:10 AM
While BN leaders are issuing warnings and threats to Bersih 2.0 over its proposed rally on July 9, police have embarked on a nationwide crackdown to stop the election watchdog and opposition parties from promoting the rally.
While BN leaders are issuing warnings and threats to Bersih 2.0 over its proposed rally on July 9, police have embarked on a nationwide crackdown to stop the election watchdog and opposition parties from promoting the rally.
Since the first arrest last Wednesday, the police have so far arrested 81 people - a number that is expected to rise as Bersih intensifies its campaign in the last two weeks before the rally.
However, there is no sign that the coalition, made up of civil society groups demanding a free and fair election, will call off the rally.
On the contrary, the crackdown has put Bersih 2.0 in the headlines every day, helping to build up its momentum.
Police began their nationwide operation on last Wednesday by arresting PKR Youth member Razali Abd Ghafar, who was selling Bersih T-shirts during a Pakatan ceramah at Sepang.
The t-shirts in yellow - the theme colour of Bersih - are now selling like hot cakes in the Klang Valley.
It was followed by more arrests when Bersih’s pre-rally nationwide roadshow kicked off on Friday at Uptown market in Shah Alam.
After deploying three police trucks and more than 50 police personnel to cordon off the entire Uptown market, police arrested PKR Youth deputy chief Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainuddin, who was clad in a Bersih t-shirt.
Police continued to guard the place until 3am.
On the same day, seven members of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) were arrested in Kluang, Johor, while they were distributing leaflets about the rally.
Largest arrest
The largest arrest happened on Saturday when 59 PSM members, including Sungai Siput MP D Jeyakumar, were hauled up in Penang and Johor. One minor was soon released.
The 28 arrested in Johor were investigated under the Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act, while the 30 arrested in Penang were investigated under Section 122 of the Penal Code for the charge of waging war against the King, an extremely rare charge used by the police.
They were part of the party’s ‘Udahlah tu…Bersaralah’ roadshow calling on the people to initiate change in the next general election. It also promoted the Bersih 2.0 rally.
Currently, those arrested in Penang are still being held under remand until July 2.
According to Khairul Anuar, another five PKR members were also arrested on the same evening in Klang. Four of them were wearing Bersih T-shirts.
The crackdown continued yesterday, when seven PAS members were arrested in Ampang, Selangor after they were found wearing yellow T-shirts with ‘Bersih 2.0' written in the Malay Jawi script at Taman Kosas.
Besides “showing their support for the illegal rally”, police also accused them of disrupting public order while riding on their motorcycles in the area.
The same evening, a PKR member by the name of Mohd Amin was arrested in Gombak for wearing the Bersih t-shirt.
Police also called up opposition members to record statements for allegedly promoting an illegal rally in their speeches or activities.
They include Negeri Sembilan PKR Youth chief Nazree Yunus, Sepang PKR division chief Borhan Aman Shah, PKR Seri Muda state assemblyperson Shuhaimi Shafie and PAS Bukit Gantang MP Nizar Jamaluddin.
More arrests are expected this Saturday as Bersih 2.0 called on supporters to wear the yellow t-shirts as a ‘warm-up’ to the rally.
The group also released a multilingual online ‘rally guideline’ which contains do’s and don’ts for the rally and instructions for how to react if arrested by the authorities.
Lawyers for Liberty, a civil society organisation made up of lawyers, will also hold a public workshop entitled ‘Right to March’ this Thursday, on how to deal with police during the rally.
Crackdown draws brickbats
On the other hand, the high-handed crackdown drew ire from the opposition and civil society.
Among others, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, Selangor PKR Youth wing, civil groups Aliran and Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia had condemned the arrests and demanded that the police release the detainees unconditionally.
A smear campaign to discredit Bersih 2.0 is also underway.
According to PAS’ organ Harakahdaily, a spate of vandalism of private properties had happened in Perlis which saw cars and walls being spray-painted with the words ‘Bersih 2.0', ‘Joint Bersih 2.0' (sic) and ‘Hidup PAS’.
Perlis PAS had denied that its supporters were behind the vandalism, describing the acts as “provocations’ which attempted to tarnish the image of Bersih 2.0.
Umno-owned Malay daily Utusan Malaysia has also waged a campaign against Bersih 2.0 and its chairperson S Ambiga since last week, publishing articles and a cartoon that portrayed the former Bar Council president as someone who is anti-Islam.
Quoting anonymous sources, a news report in today’s Utusan suggested that Bersih 2.0 was sponsored by a foreign Christian movement.
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If the Force is with you... why the fuss?
Since the first arrest last Wednesday, the police have so far arrested 81 people - a number that is expected to rise as Bersih intensifies its campaign in the last two weeks before the rally.However, there is no sign that the coalition, made up of civil society groups demanding a free and fair election, will call off the rally.
On the contrary, the crackdown has put Bersih 2.0 in the headlines every day, helping to build up its momentum.
Police began their nationwide operation on last Wednesday by arresting PKR Youth member Razali Abd Ghafar, who was selling Bersih T-shirts during a Pakatan ceramah at Sepang.
The t-shirts in yellow - the theme colour of Bersih - are now selling like hot cakes in the Klang Valley.
It was followed by more arrests when Bersih’s pre-rally nationwide roadshow kicked off on Friday at Uptown market in Shah Alam.After deploying three police trucks and more than 50 police personnel to cordon off the entire Uptown market, police arrested PKR Youth deputy chief Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainuddin, who was clad in a Bersih t-shirt.
Police continued to guard the place until 3am.
On the same day, seven members of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) were arrested in Kluang, Johor, while they were distributing leaflets about the rally.
Largest arrest
The largest arrest happened on Saturday when 59 PSM members, including Sungai Siput MP D Jeyakumar, were hauled up in Penang and Johor. One minor was soon released.
The 28 arrested in Johor were investigated under the Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act, while the 30 arrested in Penang were investigated under Section 122 of the Penal Code for the charge of waging war against the King, an extremely rare charge used by the police.They were part of the party’s ‘Udahlah tu…Bersaralah’ roadshow calling on the people to initiate change in the next general election. It also promoted the Bersih 2.0 rally.
Currently, those arrested in Penang are still being held under remand until July 2.
According to Khairul Anuar, another five PKR members were also arrested on the same evening in Klang. Four of them were wearing Bersih T-shirts.
The crackdown continued yesterday, when seven PAS members were arrested in Ampang, Selangor after they were found wearing yellow T-shirts with ‘Bersih 2.0' written in the Malay Jawi script at Taman Kosas.Besides “showing their support for the illegal rally”, police also accused them of disrupting public order while riding on their motorcycles in the area.
The same evening, a PKR member by the name of Mohd Amin was arrested in Gombak for wearing the Bersih t-shirt.
Police also called up opposition members to record statements for allegedly promoting an illegal rally in their speeches or activities.
They include Negeri Sembilan PKR Youth chief Nazree Yunus, Sepang PKR division chief Borhan Aman Shah, PKR Seri Muda state assemblyperson Shuhaimi Shafie and PAS Bukit Gantang MP Nizar Jamaluddin.
More arrests are expected this Saturday as Bersih 2.0 called on supporters to wear the yellow t-shirts as a ‘warm-up’ to the rally.
The group also released a multilingual online ‘rally guideline’ which contains do’s and don’ts for the rally and instructions for how to react if arrested by the authorities.
Lawyers for Liberty, a civil society organisation made up of lawyers, will also hold a public workshop entitled ‘Right to March’ this Thursday, on how to deal with police during the rally.
Crackdown draws brickbats
On the other hand, the high-handed crackdown drew ire from the opposition and civil society.
Among others, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, Selangor PKR Youth wing, civil groups Aliran and Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia had condemned the arrests and demanded that the police release the detainees unconditionally.
A smear campaign to discredit Bersih 2.0 is also underway.
According to PAS’ organ Harakahdaily, a spate of vandalism of private properties had happened in Perlis which saw cars and walls being spray-painted with the words ‘Bersih 2.0', ‘Joint Bersih 2.0' (sic) and ‘Hidup PAS’.
Perlis PAS had denied that its supporters were behind the vandalism, describing the acts as “provocations’ which attempted to tarnish the image of Bersih 2.0.
Umno-owned Malay daily Utusan Malaysia has also waged a campaign against Bersih 2.0 and its chairperson S Ambiga since last week, publishing articles and a cartoon that portrayed the former Bar Council president as someone who is anti-Islam.Quoting anonymous sources, a news report in today’s Utusan suggested that Bersih 2.0 was sponsored by a foreign Christian movement.
National laureate probed over 'seditious poem'
Ibrahim Ali hauled up for alleged sedition
Police quiz Ambiga; Nurul Izzah, Sivarasa next
MCA: Attacking Ambiga to stop Bersih 'irresponsible'
Consensus on unfair polls backs case for Bersih march
Police in grip of Bersih hysteria
Hisham: Rally seems to have 'hidden agenda'
Gov't refutes postal voting abuse claims
If the Force is with you... why the fuss?
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