PAS preps for legal action over UPSI crackdown

The police may be brought to court for allegedly heavy handedness in dispersing a group of students who held a peaceful sit-in last night at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) in Tanjung Malim, Perak.

The crackdown outraged several opposition parties and NGO today, which demanded a probe on the incident and legal action to be taken against police personnel who abused their authority.

"PAS urges that a thorough investigation to be done against this incident, and management and legal action must be taken. We also call on Suhakam (Human Rights Commission) and other NGOs to condemn this extreme action," said PAS publicity chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man in a statement today.

PAS youth movement is also calling for eyewitnesses and victims in the incident to step forward and provide evidence of police brutality.

"The legal and human rights bureau of PAS youth gives a stern warning the police involved in assaulting the students to be prepared to face the music in court... because their action was cruel, inappropriate and against the norm of human rights," said the bureau chief Ahmad Zamri Asa'ad Khuzaimi.

Zamri had led a team of five lawyers to the Tanjung Malim police station last night to assist those arrested.

"The bureau, consists of lawyers throughout Malaysia, pledged to defend and support these students should they are charged in court or called to attend disciplinary hearing by their campus authority," he added.

Those who have evidence of police brutality in the incident can contact 013-3506495 and 013-3006943.

Two injured

The sit-in last night was symbolically held on the night of New Year's Eve to call for academic freedom and show support for UPSI student Adam Adli Abdul Halim, who is under fire for lowering a flag depicting Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak at the Umno headquarters recently.

At least two students were injured when the men in blue charged the protesters and nabbed 17 of them.

Eyewitnesses claimed that some 30 armed FRU personnel had used excessive force on them including punching and hitting with batons and shields.

During the scuffle, Muhammad Safwan Anang, president of one of the organisers - Gerakan Menuntut Kebebasan Akademik (Bebas), suffered severe injuries and rushed to Tanjung Malim hospital before tranferred to Slim River Hospital.

However, the Perak police have denied that their officers were involved in scuffles with student.

Home minister, IGP responsible

Another pro-PKR NGO Jingga 13, who also took part in the demonstration, wanted Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and inspector-general of police Ismail Omar to be held responsible for the incident.

Its coordinator Fariz Musa urged all 17 students activists to be released unconditionally including its secretary Saifuddin Shafi Muhammad, and those injured to be compensated accordingly.

Human rights watchdog, Suaram, demanded that disciplinary action to be taken against the cops who used violence on students.

"The involved policemen must be brought to court for trial as a result of assaulting one of the students until he suffered severe injury. This is a serious crime," said Suaram coordinator Yap Heng Lung.

Suaram stressed that the students have the rights to express and demand for academic freedom, and the police action was unprofessional and had gone overboard.

"There is no reason for the police to use violence against the student activists who were only holding peaceful assembly to express their views," Yap added.