MADPET: Police attacks on peaceful protesters must end - 2006/05/30 13:35POLICE ATTACKS ON PEACEFUL PROTESTERS MUST END
-Take action against policeman who used tear-gas gun butt on protester’s head-
MADPET(Malaysians Against Death Penalty & Torture) is shocked by the conduct of the Malaysian police who forcibly dispersed a peaceful assembly of about 500 persons on Sunday(28/5/2006) at Kuala Lumpur City Centre(KLCC) using brutal and excessive force. These persons were there at about 10.30am in front of the Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right of peaceful protest and legitimate dissent. This group included women and children. They were there expressing their opposition to the recent fuel hikes and the increase in electric tariffs, which were adversely affecting the majority of Malaysians.
In total disregard of their fundamental rights, these brave Malaysians were fired upon by an FRU(Federal Reserve Unit) water cannon and subjected to unreasonable force by FRU and plainclothes police personnel under the direction of the OCPD of Dang Wangi police district ACP Kamal Pasha.
The manner in which the police used violence on the crowd which resulted in about 3 persons suffering head injuries is deplorable and completely unacceptable. One victim was kicked and beaten by police in front of his two young daughters.
Possibly the most shocking image to emerge from the violent action of the police on Sunday 28th May 2006 is that of an FRU officer apparently using the using the butt end of his tear-gas canister launcher on the naked head of a protester. This is reminiscent of South Africa during the days of the Apartheid regime. This horrifying image, which will long endure in the minds of all peace-loving Malaysians, is itself an eloquent argument for the immediate formation of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission(IPCMC).
We demand that immediate action be taken against the policeman who used the butt end of the tear gas launcher to assault a protester , ACP Kamal Pasha and all other policemen responsible for the 28th May attack on peaceful protesters. We also demand that the IPCMC be immediately set up in order to protect citizens of Malaysia from the unlawful acts of the police.
Charles Hector N. Surendran for Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (MADPET)
29th May 2006
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Jaspita Bin Salleh
User Fresh Forumer
Posts: 37
Re:MADPET: Police attacks on peaceful protesters must end - 2006/05/30 19:40I am also shock by the same news but I will not let my emotion ran amok without first examine the validility of such accusations against the Police Force and the allegations of wrongdoing by the acts of the Police Force.
It is known to general public that any assembly without permits is an illegal assembly as such the Police under the law is empowered to take any actions that is necessary to disperse the assembly.
It is not the 'common' practice of the Police Force to launch 'attacks' on 'peaceful assembly' unless the 'assembly' ignores the warnings that are given by the Police Force.
Somehow; I do think there is foul play here whereby a mastermind has made a well-planned strategy to execute 'Character Assasination' of the Police Force from the incident.
There are many ways to protest . Conducting an open-air protest with children and women as participants and knowingly the Police has to take lawful action to disperse the crowd; such act is more worthy to be condemned than the Police's act who were acting in accordance with the law. Why put children and women as participants in an illegal assembly with full knowledge that the Police will take action ?
The answer is simple; to assassinate the image of the Police Force.
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Nik Elin Zurina Bt Nik Abdul Rashid
User Senior Forumer
Posts: 216
Police attacks on peaceful (????) protesters - 2006/05/31 08:59I agree with Jaspita completely. The protesters, who were definitely not peaceful, as they were indeed more antagonistic, were in an illegal assembly, and the police had every right to protect other citizens of this country who dont condone such acts of violence. I really think that this protest was riled up by the Opposition and certainly they were behind this. But they were cowards as they used women and children as shields. This tantamounts to holding "voluntary hostages" in order to get the desired results.
If one really studies the protestors demands to reduce oil prices and electricity tariffs, there is really no need to bring kids there. If indeed it was intended to be peaceful, then I would have thought that holding a peaceful march to parliament would have been less "touristic". The intentions of these antagonists were clear, to disparage the whole government. And certainly, if they wanted results, this was not the way to do it as no one bothers to listen to some cranked out broken record.
Yes, I agree, I dont like the rising costs, and I can ill afford it now, but that gives me no right to organise street demonstrations. When I read the report and saw the pictures, I pitied the FRU. Not the ones that started the violence. We dont use violence to get things ur way.
I am taking precautions to cut down my electrlcity use. I am thinking of cycling to town or car pooling or planning my journey to reduce petrol use.
I am calculating every last sen of my wallet. I use the computer instead of going out to do my work.
Comparing our rates to Singapore, Thailand and even Indonesia. I agree that the Government should use our oil revenue to subsidise us, but for how long can we allow the government to subsidise INGRATES? Even if the government reduces the oil prices and tariffs, would they be happier? I doubt... they'll just find another reason to protest again, until the other citizens of this country gets fed up with these people.
I am sure that if we are good peacful citizens, we would be rewarded. Theres a lot to be done by the government, but dont use FORCE AND INTIMIDATION.... it wont get us anywhere.MY KAR MA RAN OVER YOUR DOG MA
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Dara Waheda Mohd Rufin
User Junior Forumer
Posts: 116
Re:MADPET: Police attacks on peaceful protesters must end - 2006/05/31 09:22yes, I agree with u jaspita...if only that we learn to respect each other, none of this could happened...a peaceful assembly that turns into water canon and vandalism no longer can we consider it as a peaceful assembly what more without permits..there are some of us keep urging for democracy this and that...but to some others who might happen to have some agenda in mind prefers something professional than this type of protest...street demonstrations to my mind is ridiculous and to let kids be the shield and exposing them to foreseeable are far more worse..
police is also human being and human being have feelings, expression, emotions and reaction and the approach taken to overcome feelings, expressions, emotions and reaction might be different from one to another, so like my late grandmother always said "sarang tebuan jangan dijolok"..._________________ LiFe Is JuSt A ShOrT JoUrNeY....
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Shanmuga Kanesalingam
User Junior Forumer
Posts: 87
Re:MADPET: Police attacks on peaceful protesters must end - 2006/05/31 09:38The pictures on Malaysiakini speak for themselves:
Read the Press Statement of the President of the Bar: Who had the water canons? Who had the shields? Who had the training? What self defense are we talking about when 100 armed FRU personnel beat up defenceless people?
Why are we talking about permits?
The requirement to get a permit is itself an affront to human rights! Even the Royal Police Commission recommended doing away with permits - all of us should have the right to peaceably assemble, and the police can only disperse such an assembly if it poses a risk to public order.
I think it is quite clear the FRU acted brutally, cruelly and with excessive force to disperse a peaceful assembly.
Those who govern us should start learning to respect the rakyat.
Shanmuga
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Nik Elin Zurina Bt Nik Abdul Rashid
User Senior Forumer
Posts: 216
Re:MADPET: Police attacks on peaceful protesters must end - 2006/05/31 15:14It says the Police asked the crowd to disperse but the protestors held their ground. The police later fired water cannons and yet still they refused to budge. Terrorism is not the way to show your might. You are nothing more than hooligans. I cannot agree to such actions by these 500 people. I fear that Malaysia might just turn into another riot crowd. There are many ways to show dissatisfaction, but not street demonstrations. It isnt our way of life. I am glad TV3 never gave any dignity to their actions. I am glad the journalists never thought it was a good story especially if the aggressive protestors aggravated it. I am very sad indeed. Say whatever you like but this is not a peaceful gathering..... The ends havent achieved the purpose. We should have organised forums and done it in a non antagonist manner. ini semua hanya nak cari pasal saja. Its only my sincere deep feelings and every one else has a right to their opinion. I want peace....MY KAR MA RAN OVER YOUR DOG MA
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Dara Waheda Mohd Rufin
User Junior Forumer
Posts: 116
Re:MADPET: Police attacks on peaceful protesters must end - 2006/05/31 16:22yes, ini semua cari pasal sahaja...why do they have to bring along their kids?to show the kids that the rakyat turns violent, the police getting fiercer than ever?...do we want to see another riot in this country ...nope for me...there are other ways to show our concern, other peaceful ways...get a calon cabar the "hot kerusi" pull down the unwanted representative by way of election, be more educative….
I understand that it is all about money…the recent fuel hike and power hike was due to income shortage, I wonder where do our taxes go… kerajaan cakap takde cukup duit pada masa yang sama ada menteri yang tinggal di kediaman bagai istana dengan beberapa pengawal keselamatan, barang kemas bernilai beribu2 ringgit dilarikan, hartanah bernilai jutaan ringgit, pakaian kenderaan makanan semuanya yang mahal2…how much do they earned per annum? And they are still berkuasa...And this country has not enough money? But there is nothing we could do except to vote them out…
The media will be the best channel to persuade and even TV3 would be generous to air our protest and not street demos..street demos would only end up with riots vandalism wound and broken, a real peaceful demos hanya boleh dibilang dengan jari…_________________ LiFe Is JuSt A ShOrT JoUrNeY....
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