Demos be damned? Not where I am
Steve Chan<br>New York CityPublished: Mar 31, 2001 12:17 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
In New York City, where I'm currently residing, you can see at least 10 street demonstrations on any given day; they are about all kinds of issues, political, racial, social, animal rights, etc.
This is a city of eight millions souls of more than 100 different ethnics from around the world, and yet I haven't seen City Hall refusing a single permit to demonstrate. Even the bigoted militant Khalid Mohammad of the New Black Panther was allowed to hold the One Million Youth March, complete with police protection. Even the demonstrations against the police received police protection.
But not so in our 'Asian-values' Malaysia, where the mere intention to demonstrate can land you in jail, and demonstrations will be met by chemical-laced water jets, tear gas, batons and whatnots, if you're demonstrating against for the wrong party, that is. But the right party can threaten to burn buildings, amongst others, while the police are busy somewhere else.
Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, Anwar Ibrahim and company need our support, the more overt the better. Throw a few kueh at the aggressors against demonstrations if you have to, just make sure it's soft enough, otherwise they'll call it a weapon. Use your powerful cell phones to organise impromptu guerrilla-style peaceful gatherings, bring some kueh, sing some Bob Marleys, shout some reformasi slogans, gather quick and disperse before the FRU get there, regroup after they leave. Do it every day and do it often, let's get on their nerves. Just don't forget to eat your lunch first.
Also we can print Internet articles on reformasi and distribute them to our friends and folks who don't have access to the Internet, just 10 prints per person and we can reach almost all Malaysians.
We have nothing to fear except fear itself; if we get hurt along the way, it's just growing pains, my friends, or more aptly, labour pains, to be endured right before giving birth to a new democracy.
I, for my part, will organise the biggest demonstration held by Malaysians and their international justice loving friends in New York City come Aug 31 at the Malaysian consulate, complete with police protection, so don't worry about me, and I will send you pictures.
Let's have tapao lunch on the sidewalks, at the Dataran Merdeka and everywhere, every day, until the present government is forced to hold a snap general elections. Come catch me, Dr M.
This is a city of eight millions souls of more than 100 different ethnics from around the world, and yet I haven't seen City Hall refusing a single permit to demonstrate. Even the bigoted militant Khalid Mohammad of the New Black Panther was allowed to hold the One Million Youth March, complete with police protection. Even the demonstrations against the police received police protection.
But not so in our 'Asian-values' Malaysia, where the mere intention to demonstrate can land you in jail, and demonstrations will be met by chemical-laced water jets, tear gas, batons and whatnots, if you're demonstrating against for the wrong party, that is. But the right party can threaten to burn buildings, amongst others, while the police are busy somewhere else.
Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, Anwar Ibrahim and company need our support, the more overt the better. Throw a few kueh at the aggressors against demonstrations if you have to, just make sure it's soft enough, otherwise they'll call it a weapon. Use your powerful cell phones to organise impromptu guerrilla-style peaceful gatherings, bring some kueh, sing some Bob Marleys, shout some reformasi slogans, gather quick and disperse before the FRU get there, regroup after they leave. Do it every day and do it often, let's get on their nerves. Just don't forget to eat your lunch first.
Also we can print Internet articles on reformasi and distribute them to our friends and folks who don't have access to the Internet, just 10 prints per person and we can reach almost all Malaysians.
We have nothing to fear except fear itself; if we get hurt along the way, it's just growing pains, my friends, or more aptly, labour pains, to be endured right before giving birth to a new democracy.
I, for my part, will organise the biggest demonstration held by Malaysians and their international justice loving friends in New York City come Aug 31 at the Malaysian consulate, complete with police protection, so don't worry about me, and I will send you pictures.
Let's have tapao lunch on the sidewalks, at the Dataran Merdeka and everywhere, every day, until the present government is forced to hold a snap general elections. Come catch me, Dr M.
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