Bersih 2.0 rally: Police Brutality

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sekretariat akhbar to mb14.selangor,

KENYATAAN AKHBAR
9 JULAI 2011

POLIS PERLU HENTIKAN KEGANASAN DAN KEKEJAMAN TERHADAP PERSERTA PERHIMPUNAN

Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) perlu berhenti dari menggunakan kekerasan dan bertindak kejam terhadap orang bagi menyeleraikan perhimpunan aman seperti perhimpunan BERSIH hari ini.

Polis sepatutnya menggunakan budi bicara dan berperanan pentging mengawal keadaan supaya perhimpunan berjalan aman, bukannya melakukan provokasi supaya tindakan kekerasan dapat diambil terhadap perserta perhimpunan yang tidak bersenjata dan tidak membahaya.

Di negara maju yang mengamalkan demokrasi, pihak polis dengan bijak dan berjayanya mampu mengawal perhimpunan supaya berjalan dengan aman. Mengapa PDRM tidak boleh melakukan perkara yang sama di negara ini?

Perhimpunan BERSIH hari ini sepatutnya berjalan dengan aman tanpa sebarang insiden tetapi kerana keegoaan polis yang bertindak melampaui batas telah menyebabkan perhimpunan ini berlaku sebaliknya.

Ramai orang awam termasuk pemimpin parti politik yang mahukan keadilan dalam sistem pilihan raya di negara ini, telah cedera dan dirawat di hospital selain ada yang ditahan di PULAPOL.

Saya minta pihak berkuasa membebaskan mereka ini yang hanya melaksanakan tanggung jawab sebagai rakyat di sebuah negara demokrasi yang mana rakyat bebas bersuara dan berhimpun seperti yang termaktub dalam Perlembagaan.

Saya juga mengucapkan takziah kepada Baharuddin Ahmad yang meninggal dunia sewaktu perhimpunan aman. Jelas, ancaman dan kekerasan oleh pihak polis tidak menguntungkan mana-mana pihak.

YAB TAN SRI ABDUL KHALID IBRAHIM
DATO’ MENTERI BESAR SELANGOR


--
Sekretariat Akhbar
Pejabat Dato' Menteri Besar Selangor
Tel: 03 5544 7452 Fax: 03 5510 9686
www.selangorkini.com.my
www.tvselangor.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/mbselangor

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The leaders responsible for this cruel act have no sense of humanity or morality.

PKR accuses police of intentionally hurting Bersih, Pakatan leaders (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/pkr-accuses-police-of-intentionally-hurting-bersih-pakatan-leaders/)


http://www.facebook.com/l/PAQCt8-XCAQCKziPmYE6Ek7-Pa85CpxlFpakcDeFkGQSE_w/www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/pkr-accuses-police-of-intentionally-hurting-bersih-pakatan-leaders/

It was calculated to kill, maim and injure the peaceful marchers."

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/images/uploads/2011/july/10/m_anwar.jpg
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — Police officers deliberately ignored attempts at negotiation by Bersih and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders before firing tear gas canisters into the Kuala Lumpur Sentral pedestrian underpass yesterday, PKR has charged.

N Surendran, the party’s vice-president said that no warning or dispersal order was given by the police before firing the tear gas, and that Bersih supporters and PR leaders were trapped in the underpass.

He claimed that tear gas was fired horizontally towards the group, and that the actions of the police were in breach of local and international laws relating to police conduct.

“It was calculated to kill, maim and injure the peaceful marchers.

“In particular, the firing of tear gas into the confined space of the underpass was a criminal act, which can cause serious injury or death and is punishable under Section 326 of the Penal Code,” he said in a statement today.

Those trapped in the underpass included PR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreevanesan, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PAS MP Khalid Samad and National Laureate A Samad Said.

The tear gas attacks injured Anwar, his bodyguard Fayadh and Khalid. Both Fayadh and Khalid sustained direct hits from tear gas canisters and were seriously injured. All three were hospitalised and warded later.

Surendran called for the investigation and prosecution of all senior officers, including Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, for “giving orders” to the police to carry out such an act.

-TMI:

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'Underpass incident' assumes salience (http://malaysiakini.com/news/169673)

Terence Netto
Jul 12, 11
12:38pm
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To hear Anwar Ibrahim say it, last Saturday's brush by some Pakatan Rakyat and Bersih leaders with alleged police brutality has 'radicalised' them.

In particular, the incident in the KL Sentral underpass where a cohort of top leaders were caught in a hail of tear gas fired from both ends of the passage was a catalytic moment.

The PKR supremo broached its significance to a massive throng of Pakatan supporters in Seberang Jaya, Penang last night.

Anwar said that in the incident's aftermath, remarks made to him by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang who was arrested at KL Sentral and briefly incarcerated, were notable for the determination that had hardened in the Islamist party's chief.

“He told me that this push for reformasi must be carried to its fruition,” said a drawn and weary Anwar, sporting a neck brace he said doctors had advised him to use to assuage the pain caused when he fell in the melee at the underpass where he and other Pakatan leaders were tear-gassed.

It was not that prior to the incident, Hadi had been less than determined; it was just that, in Anwar's telling, the experience of a harrowing incident had 'radicalised' consciousness of the need to bring political change to Malaysia.

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Pakatan supporters had gathered to hear Anwar and PAS deputy president Mohamed Sabu talk of their experiences in the Bersih march, the first time both leaders had opportunity to do so to at a public gathering since last Saturday's tumult at approach points to Stadium Merdeka, the focal point of Bersih's 'March for Democracy'.

Anwar's description of the incident and Sabu's rendition appeared to mark out the occasion as having a vividness with which people remember epochs in their experience in which some dear expectation dies or some new consciousness is born.

Historical references

With his unmatched ability to cull episodes from Islamic history to substantiate points, Anwar told the crowd that even the lethal intensity of war during the Crusades in the 11th century between Saladin and Richard the Lion Heart did not obviate the need for gallantry by the former in extending medical aid to the latter when the Kurdish Muslim general heard of his Christian counterpart's injury.

“That was the ethical standard set by an Islamic warrior at that time when the science of medicine was high among the Muslims,” Anwar said, in obvious reference to the Malaysian police's lack of care for the injured Bersih marchers hit by tear gas and water cannons last Saturday.

Anwar said that that standard was high because of Muslims' ability to foster, under their rule, a fusion of knowledge from disparate streams, citing how the Jewish autodidact Maimonides flourished under Islamic suzerainty in the Levant in the 12th century.

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Anwar's historical allusions were aimed at bolstering the point that openness to intellectual currents was the way to go for Malaysians.

He said he was deluged with calls from his friends abroad who would have seen footage of the Bersih march on the international new networks.

“They asked about Bersih's agenda and when they found out they expressed puzzlement that such demands taken as standard fare in so many countries now is cause for a struggle in ours between those who are in denial and those who want change and a new beginning,” said Anwar.

He said the administration of Prime Minister Najib Razak was living in a time warp which had rendered it horribly obsolete.

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'Tear gas gun aimed directly at Anwar' (http://malaysiakini.com/news/169656)

S Pathmawathy
Jul 12, 11
9:40am
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The police stood prepared with their anti-riot weapons, with one of them aiming his tear gas gun at Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. That's what his bodyguard Fayyadh Afiq saw, and he immediately took action.

As he heard the order to fire, Fayyadh said he pulled Anwar away.

Numbed by high dosages of medication, he said his left cheek, on which a metal gas canister landed when the police fired, has not stopped throbbing.

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Recalling the incident, he said: “We exited KL Sentral and proceeded marching through the enclosed shelter at the back, where the buses stop.

“Other bodyguards and I were with Anwar and a few other leaders were walking in the front, forming a long column, when I heard a faint sound.

“I am sure it came from an officer using a loudhailer, but with everyone shouting around us, I could hardly hear a thing,” Fayyadh told Malaysiakini.

He then turned towards the riot squad, assembled and ready, and did not need to take a second glance when he spotted the weapon pointed at Anwar.

And then it happened. Fayyadh said he pulled Anwar to the left and immediately felt an excruciating pain as if he was given a heavy blow on his face, followed by a stinging, piercing sensation all over his body from the tear gas.

The 25-year-old, who sustained a broken cheekbone, added that all he could think about was the safety of his boss as they fled the plumes of tear gas.

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“We tried to rush Anwar to safety, we ran towards KL Sentral and that's where he tripped over a pothole and fell.

As they were trapped in the middle, with both exits leading to Jalan Tun Sambanthan sealed off by police, the only way back into the central transit hub was the narrow escalator and staircase, recounted Fayyadh.

Shah Alam MP receives six stitches

After they managed to manoeuvre out of the chaotic situation, he said, they retreated to Anwar's rented suite at Hilton Hotel, located at another corner of the transportation hub.

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“Once up in the suite, we wanted to head to the hospital because a few of us were injured from the melee. But the police guarding the hotel entrance refused to let us out,” he said, muttering profanities under his breath.

After approximately an hour, they managed to wriggle through the police on duty and made their way to a nearby private hospital for treatment.

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Fayyadh underwent surgery yesterday, with a titanium plate inserted to stabilise his face bone.

Also injured was Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad of PAS, who said one of the tear gas canisters fired directly at the crowd hit him on the head.

Khalid, who sustained six stitches on his head, said the riot police at KL Sentral's public bus and airport shuttle route sandwiched him, along with the top leaders of Pakatan and Bersih 2.0, as well as the protesters.

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“We stopped when we saw the FRU policemen block our way, and we also noticed the FRU moving in behind us. Without warning, they started shooting tear gas and they were aiming at the demonstrators.

“I turned around to look at the FRU (members) behind us, and suddenly my spectacles flew and there was blood everywhere,” Khalid told a press conference yesterday.

“The doctor who checked me was surprised that the wound was a very clean cut, just like a slice with a knife. This would only happen if tear gas was aimed directly at the people,” Khalid said.

Protesters trapped

These claims were also backed by PKR vice-presidents Nurul Izzah Anwar and N Surendran, who were at the scene and recounted similar descriptions about the police crackdown on the Bersih 2.0 rally participants.

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Nurul had said that police trapped the demonstrators within the KL Sentral underpass, on both sides and fired tear gas from both ends.

Aside from Anwar and Khalid, several top Bersih and Pakatan Rakyat leaders were at KL Sentral during the rally on Saturday, including Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan, steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah, PAS president Hadi Awang and DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang.

They had gathered at the KL Sentral vicinity as they were all among the 91 barred from every other key location for protesters to gather, including, Jalan Syed Putra, Jalan Istana, Jalan Bukit Petaling, Jalan Bellamy and the area surrounding Istana Negara leading towards Stadium Merdeka.

Despite heavy surveillance and a complete lockdown in the capital city, ten of thousands traversed the streets, with a large majority in support of Bersih's cause for electoral reform, while a small fraction, made up of Umno Youth members, marched in a counter rally.

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Bersih 2.0 organisers declared their protest a success, claiming an estimated 50,000 people had marched despite police warnings, and where 1,667 people were arrested.

The government, on the other hand, lauded the rest of Malaysians for not taking part in the street demonstration, and said only 5,000 to 6,000 took part in the Bersih rally.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak rejected the allegations of violence on the part of the police and accused Anwar of masterminding the rally and manipulating rally organisers to bolster his ambition to become prime minister.

“Just hit by a little tear gas ... and his photo and video were on YouTube as though he was beaten up, and landed in the hospital,” Najib had ridiculed at an Umno-Malay NGO gathering at the Putra World Trade Centre on Sunday.


This is a person with no sense of humanity. He's not fit to be PM!

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Mat Sabu: Police Land Rover rammed me (http://malaysiakini.com/news/169575)

Joseph Sipalan
Jul 11, 11
2:26pm
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PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu today claimed police rammed a truck into the motorbike he was riding en-route to join Bersih 2.0 protesters last Saturday.

Visiting the Selangor state assembly building in a wheelchair, the usually jovial leader took a more sombre tone as he recounted his harrowing experience.

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"I was on a motorbike on the way to Masjid Negara, when suddenly a Land Rover rammed into us. I didn't know it was a police Land Rover at the time," he told journalists at a press conference.

"The impact threw me off and I was rolling on the ground. They then brought me into the Land Rover and took me to a clinic in Jinjang, which referred me to the hospital."

Mat Sabu, as he is popularly known, said he was eventually released for outpatient treatment, but decided to seek further checks at the Selangor Medical Centre, which confirmed a far worse injury than initially thought.

"I was suffering from constant pain in my leg, so I went for a check and the doctor confirmed I am suffering from a torn ligament and now I will have to go for an operation this Friday to put in plates," he said, indicating to his right knee.

Also present at the press conference was PAS' Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, who was also allegedly injured on the back of his head by a tear gas canister fired directly at the crowd at KL Sentral.

Khalid, who got six stitches on his head, claimed riot police at the station's airport bus route sandwiched him, along with Pakatan and Bersih 2.0 top leaders and protesters, as they attempted to march to Stadium Merdeka.

'My spectacles flew'

"We stopped when we saw FRU blocking the way, and we also noticed FRU moving in behind us. Without warning, they started shooting tear gas and they were aiming at the demonstrators.

"I turned around to look at the FRU (members) behind us, and suddenly my spectacles flew and there was blood everywhere," he said.

Khalid said he was then brought in for treatment, claiming that even the doctor who treated his wound was shocked to see the extent of his injuries.

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"The doctor who checked me was surprised that the wound was very clean cut, just like (getting sliced by) a knife. This would only happen if tear gas was aimed directly at people," he claimed.

Khalid was incredulous over the police's behaviour in allegedly brutalising Bersih 2.0 protesters, particularly for the alleged assault on Mat Sabu.

"What is this? It is as if he (Mat Sabu) is a big time drug smuggler. He's lucky only his leg was injured."

Khalid also slammed the police for allegedly firing tear gas and a water cannons into the compound of the Tung Shin hospital along Jalan Pudu, accusing the men in blue of acting like the "protectors of BN".

"Don't take sides. Stop behaving as defenders of the BN government... Your job is to take care of the rakyat," he said.

'Najib a liar'

Mat Sabu also had little good to say of the police's actions on Saturday, calling them a bunch of "gangsters".

But his harshest criticism was reserved for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, whom he called a "liar" for back-tracking on his promise to allow the rally to be held at a stadium of Bersih's choosing.

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"First he says we can use any stadium, and when we ask to meet him, he denies our request. Najib is a liar, and he is not qualified to lead Malaysia."

Mat Sabu declined to comment when asked if he would urge Pakatan to demand for Najib's resignation, though he had no qualms launching more barbs at the premier.

"(Resigning) is up to him (Najib). But he is a liar. At least say you will investigate (claims of police brutality)... He is only qualified to be Rosmah (Mansor)'s husband," he said in a snide reference the self-declared First Lady of Malaysia.

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Police intended to harm protesters, says lawyer (http://malaysiakini.com/news/169623)

Nigel Aw
Jul 11, 11
6:17pm
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Lawyers for Liberty today added to the voices claiming police deliberately aimed their tear gas canisters at protesters during the Bersih 2.0 rally at KL Sentral last Saturday, with the intent to injure.

http://media1-cdn.malaysiakini.com/371/b2b0c93dce325c1b670718fa2db353a1.jpgSpeaking in her capacity as a lawyer for the NGO, Fadiah Nadwa Fikri (left) said that the incident, which occurred at the main railway station's underpass, could have caused death.

“The police action is against international standards and was done in an attempt to injure or maim demonstrators... it could certainly have caused death,” Fadiah said.

She made the comment in reference to alleged police abuses during the July 9 rally at the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH).

Fadiah was among the several lawyers who were present during the Bersih 2.0 rally to observe its progress.

Several top Bersih and Pakatan leaders were present at KL Sentral during the rally, including Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan, steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah, PAS president Hadi Awang and DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang.

The claim comes after PKR vice-presidents Nurul Izzah Anwar (http://malaysiakini.com/news/169419) and N Surendran (http://malaysiakini.com/news/169467), who were at the scene, gave similar descriptions on the police crackdown at KL Sentral, where PKR adviser Anwar Ibrahim and his bodyguard were injured.

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Nurul had said that police trapped the demonstrators within the KL Sentral underpass on both sides and fired tear gas from both ends.

Fadiah referred to a Free Malaysia Today video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYPlTFwQfUY) in which a police officer is heard saying "bawah, bawah" (down, down) as tear gas canisters were about to be fired on the protesters at KL Sentral.

The lawyer also pointed out that there were specific instructions on the canisters that these should not be fired directly on protesters.

In a photograph provided by Fadiah (right), the words: “Do not fire directly... injury or death may result” could be seen on the canister. http://media1-cdn.malaysiakini.com/383/88a1943abeaa105368cec5770916bfd9.jpg

Fadiah, who is also a secretariat member of Suaram, said that the human rights body was in the process of documenting incidents of police abuse during the Bersih 2.0 rally and the details would be published when the investigation is completed.

Baharudin's family considering legal action

Earlier, the Lawyers for Liberty counsel announced that the wife of the late Baharudin Ahmad, who collapsed during the Bersih rally and subsequently died, had confided in her that the family wanted justice for their father.

“They have said that they are determined to take (legal) action, and we (Lawyers for Liberty) will be informing the public on this (soon),” Fadiah said.

She said the last words Baharudin said to his son before he went out for the Bersih rally, after prayers, were “I will go out to the street to fight for justice for Malaysians”.

Tens of thousands of protesters descended on Kuala Lumpur last Saturday, in support of the Bersih 2.0 rally to demand for free and fair elections.

However the rally was marred by almost 1,700 arrests, besides injuries to a number of rally participants and the death of Baharudin.

Police have denied (http://malaysiakini.com/news/169469)responsibility for the death, saying Baharudin died from a heart attack not as a result of complications from tear gas exposure.

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Hisham denies police brutality, warns media (http://malaysiakini.com/news/169558)

Kuek Ser Kuang Keng
Jul 11, 11
1:17pm
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Faced with numerous allegations of brutality during Saturday's Bersih 2.0 rally, the police will release visual recordings to refute these, said the home minister.

Hishammuddin Hussein further warned that action would be taken against those in the media who have made 'baseless claims'.

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"We have visual recordings in our operation room. Whatever has been alleged will be investigated with concrete evidence, and action will be taken against those in the Internet and foreign media who have made baseless allegations," he told a press conference at the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters today.

He did not reveal when the recordings would be made public.

He said the police will cooperate with the Attorney-General's Chambers and Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission to investigate untrue allegations against the police, and pursue action accordingly.

Hishammuddin told the press - especially the foreign media, which he said has been sensationalising the issue - to come up with a satisfactory explanation when the visual recordings prove that their reports were inaccurate.

However, when asked specifically if he was denying allegations that the police had used excessive force during the rally, Hishammuddin disagreed.

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"I'm not denying, I'm just saying that we have enough proof for the public to judge later. I'm just expecting the media to be fair in reporting it. Pictures can be selective but we have the whole footage and the police are going to reveal. We've got nothing to hide," he answered.
However, he plegded to take action against police personnel if they are proved to have used excessive force.

On claims that riot police had fired tear gas and water cannon into the compound of the Tung Shin Hospital in Jalan Pudu, Hishammuddin declined to confirm this had happened.

"We have certain footage. If what had been alleged and reported (is not proved), those who reported it will also be brought to justice,” he said.

When journalists pointed out that the police had denied the allegation despite photographs and video footage on the Internet showing the opposite, Hishammuddin made a U-turn on behalf of the police, saying: "The police have not denied it, in one way or the other".

"Like I said just now, we have visuals, we have recordings. These recordings and visuals, from beginning to end, are being analysed and will be focused on very specific issues that have been labelled at the police and the government."

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Over the past two days, both the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar (left) and Kuala Lumpur acting police chief Amar Singh had dismissed claims that police had fired tear gas into the hospital compound.

Their statements have irked many protesters and netizens who had uploaded photographic and video evidence on the Internet to refute the top cops.

'Not apologetic at all'

On the claim that Baharuddin Ahmad - who died after being arrested by the police during the rally - had been denied medical access while under detention, Hishammuddin gave the same answer.

"Like I said, we have the visuals. Let us identify all these allegations and we'll answer them without fear or favour."

Hishammuddin was at Bukit Aman to visit and commend the police for their successful operation on Saturday.

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"If not for proactive action by the police, what we faced on July 9 might have been even worse."

He was unperturbed by the opposition's threat to sue the police for use of excessive force.

"I welcome (this) because I'm not worried. The police discharged their duty with full discipline during a situation where they were provoked... I'm not apologetic at all," he said firmly.

Hishammuddin reiterated that the visual recordings he had watched, clearly showed that the number of protesters was nowhere near 10,000.

Bersih 2.0 had claimed that 50,000 had turned up for the rally while police had estimated the number at 5,000-6,000.

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Cop: Use of excessive force was wrong (http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/07/13/cop-use-of-excessive-force-was-wrong/)

Teoh El Sen | July 13, 2011

There were special police teams who were already targeting those leaders behind the rally, such as Bersih chairman S Ambiga, says a policeman.

EXCLUSIVE

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KUALA LUMPUR: The police force has been denying the use of violence during the Bersih 2.0 march on July 9. But among them is one lone voice who condemned the use of violence on the protesters.

A brave policeman said the use of excessive force when arresting Bersih 2.0 marchers was uncalled for and wrong.

The policeman who was in charge of making arrest spoke to FMT on condition of anonymity.

“Those policemen who hit the people are in the wrong. They can actually be charged… Even if you want to say you were forced to do it, that you were attacked first, it should not reach such a stage as what we’re seeing in the video footages.”
“Usually when we make arrests, the most we do if the person struggles and fights back is to make him lie down and use our knees to stop him. Not continue to beat or kick him, even after you handcuff him. That is wrong.”

He said on that day, he witnessed groups of policemen crowding around a suspect and hitting him, with some even using batons.

Asked if there were any instructions from the top to start using force on demonstrators, he said that the orders did not come from the top officer who briefed them a week before the rally.

“But there were other high-ranking officers who told us to just hit if we felt like (the situation warranted it ), using violence. However, we were also told to assess the situation and the location before using violence ,” said the policeman.

The policeman said that he himself did not agree with hitting people and he refrained from using too much force.

“Also, there are a lot of people taking photos including our own photographers. We have to think properly before we do something like that; we could be charged in court and I am not sure if my superiors would defend me if I did something like that,” he said.

Pressure and stress

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Explaining why he thought many policemen were seen using excessive force, the policeman said the amount of pressure and stress could have been a factor.

“There were many who were frustrated, tired, and hungry that day. We had very little sleep and had to be on standby early in the morning and were without food until late in the afternoon. There is also a lot of pressure from our superiors… and when things start to unfold, you become different, angry,” he said.

The policeman said the previous Sunday and Monday, the team of more than 1,000 in the “arrest squads” were briefed by Bukit Aman criminal investigation department director Mohd Bakri Zinin.

“We were told ‘don’t be afraid, just arrest’.”

“We were ordered to arrest those wearing yellow T-shirts and those who refused to disperse when ordered, including those who fought back or insulted the police,” the policeman said, adding that policemen were roped in from all the states except Sabah and Sarawak.

He said that in the police crackdown, there were two types of arrests – arrests of quality and without quality.

“Those from the first category were those who wore Bersih T-shirts or those VIPs or leaders of the rally. They were brought to the Jinjang police station.”

“Those from the non-quality category were brought to the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) on Jalan Semarak. They were mostly protesters who refused to disperse and were brought there for documentation,” he said.

He said “arrest squads” consisted of teams of at least five people comprising one officer, three detectives and one photographer.

He added that the photographers, about 150 of them on that day, were there to capture photos of the protesters before and during the arrests, because previously many cases failed when brought to court due to a lack of photographic evidence.
“There were also some taking video. That is also why Home Minister (Hishammuddin Hussein) said that he has photographs and video evidence of almost all the action on that day, because we really have them,” he said.

Different instructions

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ambiga-at-rally-291x300.jpg
There were special teams who were already targeting those leaders behind the rally, such as Bersih chairman S Ambiga.

On allegations that FRU personnel were shooting tear gas directly at the people, he said policemen are not supposed to do that. “That’s not right,” he said.

“We were also told if we feel like arresting, then just arrest. But the problem was there were a lot different superiors giving different instructions,” he said, adding that any policeman, regardless of rank, could make an arrest after telling the person to disperse.

He said that on Saturday, the strategy was to shoot tear gas and spray chemical-laced water from water cannons before the arrest squads moved in to make the arrests during the chaos.

“If we just went in like that, matilah kita, there were so many of protesters”.
However, he said at the end of the day “we are just doing our job, that’s all”.
“There is also too much pressure from third parties. The home ministry applies pressure on the police and police in turn pile the pressure on their men. The police should actually act under the King. It’s very hard like that,” he said.

He added that there are actually quite a number of policemen who support Bersih 2.0.

“I think I support the cause, too, but we’re just doing our jobs, right? There are actually many, even among officers, but we’re all under the home ministry. What can we do? Even when we receive those postal ballots, we already have our names on the letters, how can we vote for the opposition?”

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/fru-300x213.jpg
On July 9, police fired tear gas and hosed down tens of thousands of Bersih supporters who took to the streets calling on the government to reform the election processes. A total of 1,667 people were arrested, said to be the largest haul of protesters in one single day in the history of the country.

Bersih estimated the turnout to be 50,000 and condemned police heavy-handedness which led to severe injuries, and a loss of life.

There have also been numerous photographs and videos surfacing online of instances of police beating protesters before arresting them. In one controversial case, the police are also alleged to have fired tear gas into the compound of a maternity hospital.

However, the police, who estimated the crowd at only 5,000 to 6,000, have consistently denied that excessive force has been used during the demonstration.

[pywong]

http://media1-cdn.malaysiakini.com/381/fd836269a112a8be96fdda125a0d3915.jpg

Can you trust a wolf when it tells you its team does not harm the lambs? The FRU is there to protect an oppressive regime. It's time to ask ourselves - What is the Police, Special Branch and FRU for?

In their present form and function, do we need them?

'FRU personnel don't use excessive force' (http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/170478)

Jul 20, 11 3:35pm
10 friends can read this story for free

If allegations of excessive use of force by the police, in particular the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU), during the July 9 rally hold water, hundreds of protesters would have sought medical treatment, says a retired FRU commander.

Going by the allegations, the protesters would have either been hospitalised, or the least, given out-patient treatment, noted Sulaiman Menga Din.

FRU personnel, he said, are trained to use minimal force in dispersing demonstrators as the law provides, as well as observe standard operating procedures.

http://media1-cdn.malaysiakini.com/382/e398972a20f499f0e6f7dca1570a4be0.jpg

He said all police personnel are strictly required to obey the orders, which are minuted, including on the firing of tear gas.

"Each time, FRU men are required to be on the ground, they undergo briefing based on the information received on the expected crowd, the issues involved, and whether they are armed, and other relevent information," Sulaiman told Bernama today.

He said during the July 9 'illegal rally', officers involved in the operation were told to not only prevent crowds from gathering in the city centre but also thwart possible clashes among rival groups of demonstrators.

"You must understand that nowadays, almost every single action or movement is recorded and within minutes, it is uploaded on the websites and viewers can follow, even unfolding almost 'live'.

"Here's the problem for the police... viewers are not cautioned or trained to filter information fed to them or what the actual incidents were... at the scene," said Sulaiman.

http://media1-cdn.malaysiakini.com/380/80c16d4fd666a51b7b8aa0fef3faca78.jpg

He said problems arise when only selected or isolated incidents are highlighted and the police are not given the opportunity to defend themselves.

Sulaiman, who was FRU commander from 1996-99, said people fail to understand procedures adopted by the Malaysian riot police, compared with those in other countries.

"Almost every day, there are news channels highlighting how demonstrators are mistreated, and the excessive use of force by riot police, even in so-called countries championing human rights," he said.

Based on his experience in 1998,Sulaiman said, it had been a difficult task to round up some 1,600 demonstrators and screen them before releasing them by 9pm.

Anwar 'allowed to seek treatment'

He said not even 10 people had turned up the next morning at police stations to lodge reports that they had really been mistreated.

http://media1-cdn.malaysiakini.com/385/690901ccd11405f724bbe4e30d5a7976.jpg

"But people just talk about injuries sustained among demonstrators. What about our men who were injured during demonstrations in 1998, where catapults and stones were used against them?" he asked.

Sulaiman noted that even when Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and his bodyguard claimed they were hit by tear gas canisters during the Bersih 2.0 event, they had been allowed to seek treatment at a private medical centre of their choice and the police had not stopped or threatened to arrest them.

He stressed that each policeman is trained to respect an individual's rights and to only step in if the law has been violated.

"What we saw on July 9 was that the demonstrators had violated and shown disrespect for the law, and our men in blue were just carrying out their duties as required... as simple as that," he said.

On the recruitment of FRU personnel, Sulaiman said those with the right qualities, especially "cool-headed" ones, and those well-versed with the law, are given priority.

Sulaiman said post-mortem sessions were also regularly conducted to identify weaknesses or any wrongdoing by officers or personnel during operations.

"In the past, action was taken against our men, including dismissing them from the unit (FRU)," he said.

- Bernama

[pywong]

I love the Police's sense of humour. The Police are very sensitive people whose feelings can easily be hurt. And then they go AMOK! They must really believe we are stupid!

BTW, would you trust the report of a wolf investigating another pack of wolves?

Police clear themselves of brutality, charges Bersih protestors provocative (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/police-deny-accusations-of-brutality-calls-bersih-protestors-provocative/)

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal July 21, 2011

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/images/uploads/2011/july/09/frufilepic.jpg
Riot policemen firing into the protesters during the Bersih rally July 9 2011.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 — Six special police teams tasked with investigating its own actions at the July 9 rally concluded that police officers exercised “restraint” and were “hospitable” when dealing with Bersih supporters, Internal security and public order director Datuk Salleh Mat Rashid said today.
He also showed video clips taken by the police as well as “individuals” present that day which “proved” that police officers were patient, and had to deal with “individuals as well as provocative groups.”

The video clips depicted police giving warning shouts to protestors before shooting water cannons or tear gas canisters. One video clip, claimed Salleh showed PKR’s Chua Tian Chang running towards police officers in KL Sentral while another clip angle showed protestors “running” towards a Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) water cannon truck near Dataran Maybank.

“There was provocation by protestors against the police...some protestors ran towards the water cannon truck. Warning calls were given nine times before any action was taken.

“The police acted according to standard operating procedure (sop),” said Salleh.

However, he said the police teams were still investigating the incident at the Tung Shin Hospital where eyewitnesses including medical specialists contradicted official accounts that there were no tear gas or water cannons fired at the hospital along Jalan Pudu.

The police commissioner also showed pictures of Bersih supporters detained at police centres, and stressed that they were treated “excellently.”


“This is hospitality, the police were very pleasant, detainees were given good care, they were given a place to pray..like in Mecca, and transportation services and food was provided.

“Its like attending a kenduri (wedding),” said Salleh.

The Malaysian Insider reported yesterday that Bersih organisers and independent observers have yet to be called by police for statements or evidence.

The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition has been put on the defensive over the Bersih rally for the past week as the international community, from Singapore to the UK, criticised the government’s handling of the public dissent.

Bersih estimates that 50,000 people showed up at the July 9 rally for free and fair elections despite efforts to prevent it from taking place while police have said there were only 6,000.

The protest turned chaotic when police fired tear gas and water cannon at thousands of demonstrators, resulting in nearly 1,700 arrests, scores injured and the death of ex-soldier Baharuddin Ahmad, 59.

The government has promised to investigate allegations of police brutality while the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) will hold a separate public inquiry into police conduct during the rally.

[pywong]

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=b1271d5316&view=att&th=13173c80fa407165&attid=0.1.1&disp=emb&zw

Do you know how painful it is to be punched with a knuckle duster or a pair of handcuffs used as one?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YK4pucRY4s&feature=player_detailpage

Video footage ini menunjukkan anggota polis menjalankan tugas mengikut S.O.P. Tangkapan secara berhemah, hospitality walaupun 'perusuh' menumbuk polis.

[pywong]

PKR shows own Bersih videos to counter police claims (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/pkr-shows-own-bersih-videos-to-counter-police-claims/)

By Melissa Chi July 29, 2011

PETALING JAYA, July 29 — PKR today held its own screening of the Bersih rally videos taken on July 9 at the KL Sentral underpass to counter police claims that the demonstrators had provoked them to fire tear gas into the tunnel.

Party vice-president N. Surendran, Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah and Lawyers for Liberty’s Fadiah Nadwa Fikri showed reporters at the PKR headquarters here videos taken by Free Malaysia Today and TV Selangor.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/images/uploads/2011/july/29/pkr-july29.jpg
From left: Fadiah, Sivarasa, Surendran and Yew at the press conference on July 29, 2011. — Picture by Melissa Chi

The lawyers said that in one of the clips, it showed Brickfields OCPD Wan Bari Wan Khalid shouting for the crowd to disperse, and within the next minute he had ordered his officers to shoot, and 12 shots could be heard.

“Is it lawful for the police to fire that many shots at the protestors; it was not a very large crowd at the time, it was in a confined space in a tunnel,” Fadiah said.

Sivarasa added that the police should also give the demonstrators at least five minutes to disperse before giving a second and third warning.

Another clip also showed a man being restrained by police, and a policeman beating him repeatedly with a baton.

Internal Security and Public Order director Datuk Salleh Mat Rashid said a week ago that six special police teams tasked with investigating the police’s own actions at the July 9 rally concluded that police exercised “restraint” and were “hospitable” when dealing with Bersih supporters.

He also showed video clips taken by the police as well as “individuals” present that day which “proved” that police officers were patient, and had to deal with “individuals as well as provocative groups.”

One video clip, claimed Salleh, showed PKR’s Chua Tian Chang running towards police officers in KL Sentral while another clip showed protestors “running” towards a Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) water cannon truck near Dataran Maybank.

“There was provocation by protestors against the police... some protestors ran towards the water cannon truck. Warning calls were given nine times before any action was taken.

“The police acted according to standard operating procedure,” said Salleh.

Today, Klang PKR division chief Yew Boon Lye told reporters that a tear gas canister barely missed his left eye, grazing his face and leaving a small wound.

Sivarasa pointed out that Yew was not the only one who got hit. Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad was hit in the back of his head and the wound required six stitches. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s bodyguard Fayyadh Afiq Albakqry, 25, took a canister directly to his face, shattering his cheekbone.

“There is no question that those tear gas rifles were deliberately aimed not just at the people, at their heads, with intent to cause serious injuries,” said Sivarasa.

Surendran said the police action on that day could be classified as attempted murder.

The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition has been put on the defensive over the Bersih rally as the international community, from Singapore to the UK, has criticised the government’s handling of the public dissent.

Bersih estimates that 50,000 people showed up at the July 9 rally for free and fair elections despite efforts to prevent it from taking place while police have said there were only 6,000.

The protest turned chaotic when police fired tear gas and water cannon at thousands of demonstrators, resulting in nearly 1,700 arrests, scores injured and the death of ex-soldier Baharuddin Ahmad, 59.

The government has promised to investigate allegations of police brutality while the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) will hold a separate public inquiry into police conduct during the rally.

[pywong]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFWduXFANAI&feature=player_detailpage

Uploaded by viennalooivn on Jul 9, 2011

Dear my Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Sri Haji Mohd Najib,

Here's what I would have done - if I was you - against Bersih:

1) Convene a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the electoral process as appealed by Bersih 2007 Memorandum to me: http://bm.bersih.org/?page_id=392
http://bersih.org/?page_id=517

2) Direct my police & FRU (army) forces to ensure fight/chaos doesn't happen to protect the demonstrators. I would ask them to stand beside, instead of blocking the road like this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=2mL46t8H4oU

3) Get to work on 9/7/2011 like every day, to do my job. Not laughing at the effect of the exact tear gas like this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=jSnLL-aAw5Q which had been reported to have killed 32 Palestinians in 1988. http://multinationalmonitor.org/hyper/issues/1988/04/mm0488_07.html
__________________________________________________ ___________

Why use CS (not CN) tear gas meant for terrorist on your citizen? How can we ever terrorize our own home/country?
http://lockerz.com/s/118766259 (Photo of the actual tear gas)
http://lockerz.com/s/118750598
http://lockerz.com/s/118754177

Instructions clearly warned: "Very TOXIC fumes"
"INJURY or DEATH may result".

"Do not fire DIRECTLY"

"For Outdoor use only"

But my beloved PM, under your leadership, the FRU fired about 7 tear gases [into] a tunnel at KL Sentral. We almost couldn't get out alive. Please try it on yourself, then give this speech laughing that the tear gas effect is nothing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSnLL-aAw5Q

I forgive you for your ignorance, but just so you know now, the exact tear gas by Federal Laboratories had been reported to have killed 32 Palestinians in 1988. http://multinationalmonitor.org/hyper/issues/1988/04/mm0488_07.html
__________________________________________________ ___________

Dato' Sri Haji Mohd Najib,

On the apparent level, I'm crying, choking in pain (my chemical-infused body's still in pain), and I almost lost my conciousness (fainted) due to the many Tear Gases that you ordered to be fired on us - fired from the front & back of a small tunnel. Where should I go - or disperse - to? For a moment, I thought I wasn't going to make it out alive.
Deep inside, I used to entrust some of your policies. Now I'm just deeply disappointed at your cruelty.

What a cruel leader you were to subject the Rakyats - who've elected you to listen to their voices - to such pain?

I ask for you to try Just Two canister of Tear Gases on yourself (front, back, in a tunnel). Then, you can laugh & tell me its not painful like you did here:http://youtube.com/watch?v=jSnLL-aAw5Q

Are you Our PM, or are you a Dictator?

I believe I had my answer to that question today.

But it's okay, continue doing what you do best (suppression with brutal powers, etc).
It's okay, for I understand the truth of impermanence - everything is ever changing.
We can change you. (Egyptians did it, Malaysians have the ability too).
I could think of 100 other Malaysians with a better mind, heart, and values than you do.
I have experienced that You truly do not have the qualities as, nor do you deserve to be, Our leader.

By just another citizen who loves our common home(Malaysia),
Vienna Looi.

---------- Post added at 11:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:56 PM ----------

Tian Chua's reply.

Thursday, 28 July 2011 18:39

http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/media/k2/items/cache/86cb2f31595ef153600d03c5cbcca360_S.jpg

Tian challenges police: Me, violent? Show unedited video for all to see

Written by Tian Chua
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On July 21, the PDRM held a press conference to justify the violent conduct of police personnel. An edited video footage was released to the press in order to show that BERSIH demonstrators were aggressive and provocative. The PDRM claimed that they had only used minimal force against the peaceful assembly.

One particular clip showed the scene where the crowd marching out of the KL Sentral were met by a row of policemen. The video is said to show me leading the demonstrators running to the front. The PDRM asserted that it was an evidence of provocation.

Subsequently the video has been broadcast on prime time TV almost daily, with the objective of depicting BERSIH rally as violent. This edited video does not give the true picture of what happened at the tunnel that day.

The PDRM has launched an all-out media propaganda war to demonize BERSIH. Although the police did not specifically accused me for "charging" the police, reports in mainstream media insinuate that I and other demonstrators intended to "attack" or cause physical harm to the police officers.

This is far from the truth. From the video, it was clear that the policemen had their guns loaded with tear gas canisters. At the time, the crowd was trapped in an tunnel-like enclosed area. The group included BERSIH chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan, Anwar Ibrahim, Wan Azizah, Hadi Awang, Lim Kit Siang and other leaders and participants.

For anybody in that circumstances could notice the danger of staying in the enclosure once the police fire the tear gas. The video footage only showed a few people rushed out toward the open air, and tear gas was fired directly into the crowd.

The video also showed that the police fired the tear gas canisters horizontally into the enclosed zone non-stopped. The police action was evidently malicious and intended to cause maximum harm to the peaceful group without warning. It was unprovoked and unwarranted action. It was police brutality.

Hundreds of eye-witnesses, so stop lying

Hundreds of people were eye-witnesses to the incident. The edited video cannot distort the truth. The government should accept the responsibility of excessive force against peaceful BERSIH rally. The witch-hunt whether on me or other participants cannot absolve the guilt of brutality on 9 July.

The video also showed that the police fired the tear gas canisters horizontally into the enclosed zone non-stop. At least 12 shells were fired in a matter of a couple of minutes. 3 persons suffered injury to the head. The injuries suffered by Anwar Ibrahim's bodyguard Fayyadh Afiq Al Baqry who had his left cheekbone crushed were particularly serious.

The police action was evidently malicious and intended to cause serious injury to the defenseless demonstrators. Use of tear gas in such a manner has been known to cause death.

The incident was eye-witnessed by hundreds of people and even the edited video cannot distort the truth. The government should accept the responsibility of excessive force against peaceful BERSIH rally. The witch-hunt whether on me or other participants cannot absolve the guilt of brutality on 9 July.

I call upon the police to cooperate fully with the impending SUHAKAM inquiry where I believe the facts will be presented by all interested parties in a public inquiry. Let the public then judge based on those facts.



- Tian Chua is the Vice President Parti Keadilan Rakyat and Member of Parliament for Batu