pywong
30th April 2012, 03:47 PM
Apr 29, 2012
BERSIH 3.0: We Came, We Saw And We Experienced Police's Brutality
http://www.financetwitter.com/2012/04/we-came-we-saw-and-we-experienced-polices-brutality.html
Bersih 3.0, perhaps the mother of all rallies before the coming snap election has ended with jaw-dropping reactions from both parties – the organiser and the government. This beast attracted such a huge crowd that even the police, infamous for playing down rallies participant’s number, estimated the number at 25,000. Some government-linked mouth piece toned down the figure to 8,000. Electoral reforms pressure group Bersih co-chair Ambiga says its rally today was a great success, claiming that 300,000 Malaysians had joined. Knowing the police would normally reduce rally’s number by 10-fold, it’s safe to put the figure at 250,000.
Nobody knows the exact numbers except, perhaps the LRT train station itself as the company was laughing all the way to the bank as majority of participants relied on its transportation. Regardless whether the police was too pessimistic or Bersih was too optimistic with their figures, this Bersih 3.0 easily breached 100,000 brave souls. And I know it because FinanceTwitter together with the team was there. Since Bersih 3.0 could be the last rally before PM Najib Razak bid “auld lang syne”, we’ve decided to cancel all oversea trips just for the excitement.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-Occupy-Dataran-Merdeka.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-Occupy-Dataran-Merdeka.jpg)
We decided to make our first stop at KLCC LRT station since early tweets and reports put huge crowd at this marching point. Furthermore since KLCC is the main tourist spot, we bet the police or FRU would not charge into KLCC the way they did to Tung Shin hospital during previous Bersih 2.0 so this was perhaps the safest place of all. To cut long story short, we arrived quite late at KLCC just minutes before 2:00pm. We knew we’re late but nevertheless we sneaked out to find friendly yellow crowd but the only thing we saw was a small group of green activists. We later found out that the KLCC demonstrators have all left earlier.
We decided we got to beat the time so we took another train trip to Pasar Seni instead. By then the train was free from sardine-packed crowd reported earlier (*grin*). When we reached and alighted from Pasar Seni LRT station, we were quite disappointed because the yellow crowd was extremely small. Then we heard thunderous roar of familiar chanting – “Hidup, Hidup, Hidup Rakyat” – we were relieved. We rushed to find the source of these brave souls as we were concerned about being arrested by special branch as we were all wearing yellow. We were attracted to a huge crowd at Pasar Seni Bridge and soon realized the attraction – national literary icon A. SamadSaid was on sit-in protest. The icon received many “salams (greetings)”, not to mention camera flashes. http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Pak-Samad-Pasar-Seni-LRT-Bridge1.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Pak-Samad-Pasar-Seni-LRT-Bridge1.jpg) People hurried to the other side of the bridge as the roar of continuous chanting was getting louder. From the top of the bridge we saw a sea of yellow, for as far as our eyes can see. It was a marvellous and awesome sight. You won’t understand the significance of peoples’ power in Arab Spring behind that computers of yours. You simply got to be on site to experience it to get adrenaline pumping all over your body. The sight of Malaysians regardless of race, social status, age, sex, joining hand to hand together for a common cause was simply unbelievable.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-From-Jln-Tun-Sambanthan-1.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-From-Jln-Tun-Sambanthan-1.jpg)Yellow Crowds Coming from Jln Tun Sambanthan, A Cool Sight
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-From-Jln-Tun-Sambanthan-2.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-From-Jln-Tun-Sambanthan-2.jpg)As the chanting crowd gets nearer the thundering roar of "Hidup Rakyat" was awesome
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-From-Jln-Tun-Sambanthan-3.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-From-Jln-Tun-Sambanthan-3.jpg)The sea of yellow was like a tsunami coming from nowhere. Simply jaw-dropping.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-1.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-1.jpg)On the opposite, you can see the massive crowds marching to Menara Maybank
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-2.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-2.jpg)The yellow crowd continues their charge with high spirit
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-6.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-6.jpg)The marching continues with more chanting
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-More-From-Jln-Tun-Sambanthan-5.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-More-From-Jln-Tun-Sambanthan-5.jpg)More coming from Jalan Tun Sambanthan
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-7.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-7.jpg)Not all wear yellow but that does not stop them from joining in the march
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-8.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-8.jpg)Tourists were enjoying the awesome sight of the yellow marchers
We were on the bridge snapping photos and video recording for several minutes till we got boring but the sea of yellow walking from Jalan Tun Sambanthan towards Menara Maybank seemed to be endless. As much as Najib administration may want to bury their heads in sand in denial mode, the crowd that we witnessed alone was easily above 20,000. Actually, it’s quite simple to guess the figure. If you can still remember the number of students and the crowd size during your school assembly years ago, you can just roughly guess the figure of the rally participants. It was really really massive.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-KotaRaya-2.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-KotaRaya-2.jpg)Supporters who too scare to march gave moral support from shops
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-KotaRaya-Lai-Foong-6.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-KotaRaya-Lai-Foong-6.jpg)Lai Foong Restaurant is doing brisk business
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-KotaRaya-Policewoman-4.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-KotaRaya-Policewoman-4.jpg)Bravo to this policewoman who was helping controlling the crowd
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-KotaRaya-Policewoman-5.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-KotaRaya-Policewoman-5.jpg)Not all police are bad and brutal. Some of them are commendable.
The burning sun and temperature above 34°C was a huge challenge but strangely nobody seems to care about dehydration or our display of idiocy shouting, screaming and crying for fair elections. We soon realized the reason why we were willing to sacrifice our weekend which could otherwise be spent at air-conditioned shopping heavens was because the present government can do no more for the people other than cheat, plunder, bully, corrupts and bankrupt the country. The people simply don’t believe government anymore even though it was true that Rosmah Mansor actually saved money daily since she was born to buy the US$24 million diamond ring.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-1.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-1.jpg)The crowds are reaching Menara Maybank
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-2.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-2.jpg)People don't seem to bother about the burning hot sun but march they do.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-4.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-4.jpg)Thanks to Unit Amal, the crowds were marching in orderly and peaceful manner
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-8.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-8.jpg)Demonstrators taking a break listening to speech. Good time for an isotonic drink to quench thirst.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-9.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-9.jpg)Area surrounding Menara Maybank was infected by yellow, literally speaking
There was a temporary stop near Menara Maybank for a speech. I met a Malay fellow from Shah Alam who told me he can see more Chinese participants this round, and he was extremely impressed. I also met an Indian Uncle from Seremban who came a day early to beat the unexpected, telling me he couldn’t believe the influence of internet in getting the huge people together. The Chinese told me they’ve had enough of Najib administration and would not believe a single word more. Somehow, everyone has awakened after 50-year of brain-washing, cheating and whatnot.
We then proceeded and in our attempt to reach Dataran Merdeka, our hope short lived when the convoy stopped about 100-metres from Menara Maybank. It seemed the police and FRU had wasted public money again on multiple volleys of tear gas targeted at the frontlines of our convoy. Later we saw Mat Sabu being escorted by PAS Unit Amal – apparently he was hit by tear gas. Perhaps it was due to the overwhelming crowds which surprise both Bersih organiser as well as the government but someone commented that the lack of communication and co-ordination was obvious during this Bersih 3.0 rally.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-1.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-1.jpg)Dataran Merdeka, here we come ...
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-2.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-2.jpg)Mostly youngsters have awakened to their rights
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-3.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-3.jpg)More boos and jeers as we witnessed more tear gas being released to the frontlines
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-4.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-4.jpg)This Mat Salleh must be impressed with how the police released volleys of tear gas
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-5.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-5.jpg)The final jeers and boos before police and FRU start their brutal assault
People were poorly informed of the latest status or situation and hence participants were not sure whether to disperse or stay on, made worse by Maxis 3G’s communication failure in accessing Facebook or Twitter. After some waiting, boos and jeers, FRU begun moving in with tear gas. Heck, we didn’t touch a single (pubic) hair of theirs and yet they chose to attack us? We started to run like hell. Although we were quite far away, the gas carried by the wind was enough to send hundreds of spoons of wasabi-like not only into your nose but also eyes, throat and chest giving you a sensation of burning, watery eyes, difficulty breathing, chest pain and whatnot.
As most of the demonstrators comprised young and energetic young chaps, we could run fast and regroup. But it was an easy win for the police and the well armed FRU, who are rich with experience from the past rallies. Some Bangladesh workers opened their shop just to offer us a bucket of water to ease our pain. It seems these foreign workers are more humane than our local enforcers whom we paid their salaries. They covered every road and surprisingly they continued to tear gas us even though we were obviously on our way to the Pasar Seni LRT station to call it a day. Now we know why the shops prefer to close during rally. They’re not afraid of demonstrators but rather the police and trigger-happy FRU’s shooting tear gas and chemical-laced water indiscriminately.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Running-After-Tear-Gas-1.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Running-After-Tear-Gas-1.jpg)People ran their hearts out after being tear gassed. It was an awesome experience.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Running-After-Tear-Gas-2.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Running-After-Tear-Gas-2.jpg)Groups of yellow can be seen from every corner of the street, calling it a day
BERSIH 3.0: We Came, We Saw And We Experienced Police's Brutality
http://www.financetwitter.com/2012/04/we-came-we-saw-and-we-experienced-polices-brutality.html
Bersih 3.0, perhaps the mother of all rallies before the coming snap election has ended with jaw-dropping reactions from both parties – the organiser and the government. This beast attracted such a huge crowd that even the police, infamous for playing down rallies participant’s number, estimated the number at 25,000. Some government-linked mouth piece toned down the figure to 8,000. Electoral reforms pressure group Bersih co-chair Ambiga says its rally today was a great success, claiming that 300,000 Malaysians had joined. Knowing the police would normally reduce rally’s number by 10-fold, it’s safe to put the figure at 250,000.
Nobody knows the exact numbers except, perhaps the LRT train station itself as the company was laughing all the way to the bank as majority of participants relied on its transportation. Regardless whether the police was too pessimistic or Bersih was too optimistic with their figures, this Bersih 3.0 easily breached 100,000 brave souls. And I know it because FinanceTwitter together with the team was there. Since Bersih 3.0 could be the last rally before PM Najib Razak bid “auld lang syne”, we’ve decided to cancel all oversea trips just for the excitement.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-Occupy-Dataran-Merdeka.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-Occupy-Dataran-Merdeka.jpg)
We decided to make our first stop at KLCC LRT station since early tweets and reports put huge crowd at this marching point. Furthermore since KLCC is the main tourist spot, we bet the police or FRU would not charge into KLCC the way they did to Tung Shin hospital during previous Bersih 2.0 so this was perhaps the safest place of all. To cut long story short, we arrived quite late at KLCC just minutes before 2:00pm. We knew we’re late but nevertheless we sneaked out to find friendly yellow crowd but the only thing we saw was a small group of green activists. We later found out that the KLCC demonstrators have all left earlier.
We decided we got to beat the time so we took another train trip to Pasar Seni instead. By then the train was free from sardine-packed crowd reported earlier (*grin*). When we reached and alighted from Pasar Seni LRT station, we were quite disappointed because the yellow crowd was extremely small. Then we heard thunderous roar of familiar chanting – “Hidup, Hidup, Hidup Rakyat” – we were relieved. We rushed to find the source of these brave souls as we were concerned about being arrested by special branch as we were all wearing yellow. We were attracted to a huge crowd at Pasar Seni Bridge and soon realized the attraction – national literary icon A. SamadSaid was on sit-in protest. The icon received many “salams (greetings)”, not to mention camera flashes. http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Pak-Samad-Pasar-Seni-LRT-Bridge1.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Pak-Samad-Pasar-Seni-LRT-Bridge1.jpg) People hurried to the other side of the bridge as the roar of continuous chanting was getting louder. From the top of the bridge we saw a sea of yellow, for as far as our eyes can see. It was a marvellous and awesome sight. You won’t understand the significance of peoples’ power in Arab Spring behind that computers of yours. You simply got to be on site to experience it to get adrenaline pumping all over your body. The sight of Malaysians regardless of race, social status, age, sex, joining hand to hand together for a common cause was simply unbelievable.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-From-Jln-Tun-Sambanthan-1.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-From-Jln-Tun-Sambanthan-1.jpg)Yellow Crowds Coming from Jln Tun Sambanthan, A Cool Sight
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-From-Jln-Tun-Sambanthan-2.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-From-Jln-Tun-Sambanthan-2.jpg)As the chanting crowd gets nearer the thundering roar of "Hidup Rakyat" was awesome
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-From-Jln-Tun-Sambanthan-3.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-From-Jln-Tun-Sambanthan-3.jpg)The sea of yellow was like a tsunami coming from nowhere. Simply jaw-dropping.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-1.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-1.jpg)On the opposite, you can see the massive crowds marching to Menara Maybank
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-2.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-2.jpg)The yellow crowd continues their charge with high spirit
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-6.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-6.jpg)The marching continues with more chanting
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-More-From-Jln-Tun-Sambanthan-5.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-More-From-Jln-Tun-Sambanthan-5.jpg)More coming from Jalan Tun Sambanthan
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-7.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-7.jpg)Not all wear yellow but that does not stop them from joining in the march
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-8.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-To-Menara-Maybank-8.jpg)Tourists were enjoying the awesome sight of the yellow marchers
We were on the bridge snapping photos and video recording for several minutes till we got boring but the sea of yellow walking from Jalan Tun Sambanthan towards Menara Maybank seemed to be endless. As much as Najib administration may want to bury their heads in sand in denial mode, the crowd that we witnessed alone was easily above 20,000. Actually, it’s quite simple to guess the figure. If you can still remember the number of students and the crowd size during your school assembly years ago, you can just roughly guess the figure of the rally participants. It was really really massive.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-KotaRaya-2.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-KotaRaya-2.jpg)Supporters who too scare to march gave moral support from shops
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-KotaRaya-Lai-Foong-6.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-KotaRaya-Lai-Foong-6.jpg)Lai Foong Restaurant is doing brisk business
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-KotaRaya-Policewoman-4.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-KotaRaya-Policewoman-4.jpg)Bravo to this policewoman who was helping controlling the crowd
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-KotaRaya-Policewoman-5.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-KotaRaya-Policewoman-5.jpg)Not all police are bad and brutal. Some of them are commendable.
The burning sun and temperature above 34°C was a huge challenge but strangely nobody seems to care about dehydration or our display of idiocy shouting, screaming and crying for fair elections. We soon realized the reason why we were willing to sacrifice our weekend which could otherwise be spent at air-conditioned shopping heavens was because the present government can do no more for the people other than cheat, plunder, bully, corrupts and bankrupt the country. The people simply don’t believe government anymore even though it was true that Rosmah Mansor actually saved money daily since she was born to buy the US$24 million diamond ring.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-1.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-1.jpg)The crowds are reaching Menara Maybank
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-2.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-2.jpg)People don't seem to bother about the burning hot sun but march they do.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-4.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-4.jpg)Thanks to Unit Amal, the crowds were marching in orderly and peaceful manner
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-8.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-8.jpg)Demonstrators taking a break listening to speech. Good time for an isotonic drink to quench thirst.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-9.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Reaching-Menara-Maybank-9.jpg)Area surrounding Menara Maybank was infected by yellow, literally speaking
There was a temporary stop near Menara Maybank for a speech. I met a Malay fellow from Shah Alam who told me he can see more Chinese participants this round, and he was extremely impressed. I also met an Indian Uncle from Seremban who came a day early to beat the unexpected, telling me he couldn’t believe the influence of internet in getting the huge people together. The Chinese told me they’ve had enough of Najib administration and would not believe a single word more. Somehow, everyone has awakened after 50-year of brain-washing, cheating and whatnot.
We then proceeded and in our attempt to reach Dataran Merdeka, our hope short lived when the convoy stopped about 100-metres from Menara Maybank. It seemed the police and FRU had wasted public money again on multiple volleys of tear gas targeted at the frontlines of our convoy. Later we saw Mat Sabu being escorted by PAS Unit Amal – apparently he was hit by tear gas. Perhaps it was due to the overwhelming crowds which surprise both Bersih organiser as well as the government but someone commented that the lack of communication and co-ordination was obvious during this Bersih 3.0 rally.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-1.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-1.jpg)Dataran Merdeka, here we come ...
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-2.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-2.jpg)Mostly youngsters have awakened to their rights
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-3.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-3.jpg)More boos and jeers as we witnessed more tear gas being released to the frontlines
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-4.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-4.jpg)This Mat Salleh must be impressed with how the police released volleys of tear gas
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-5.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Going-to-Dataran-Merdeka-5.jpg)The final jeers and boos before police and FRU start their brutal assault
People were poorly informed of the latest status or situation and hence participants were not sure whether to disperse or stay on, made worse by Maxis 3G’s communication failure in accessing Facebook or Twitter. After some waiting, boos and jeers, FRU begun moving in with tear gas. Heck, we didn’t touch a single (pubic) hair of theirs and yet they chose to attack us? We started to run like hell. Although we were quite far away, the gas carried by the wind was enough to send hundreds of spoons of wasabi-like not only into your nose but also eyes, throat and chest giving you a sensation of burning, watery eyes, difficulty breathing, chest pain and whatnot.
As most of the demonstrators comprised young and energetic young chaps, we could run fast and regroup. But it was an easy win for the police and the well armed FRU, who are rich with experience from the past rallies. Some Bangladesh workers opened their shop just to offer us a bucket of water to ease our pain. It seems these foreign workers are more humane than our local enforcers whom we paid their salaries. They covered every road and surprisingly they continued to tear gas us even though we were obviously on our way to the Pasar Seni LRT station to call it a day. Now we know why the shops prefer to close during rally. They’re not afraid of demonstrators but rather the police and trigger-happy FRU’s shooting tear gas and chemical-laced water indiscriminately.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Running-After-Tear-Gas-1.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Running-After-Tear-Gas-1.jpg)People ran their hearts out after being tear gassed. It was an awesome experience.
http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Running-After-Tear-Gas-2.jpg (http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bersih-3.0-FinanceTwitter-Crowd-Running-After-Tear-Gas-2.jpg)Groups of yellow can be seen from every corner of the street, calling it a day