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I have nothing to proud to be an ex Cop and now a practising lawyer. My experience in handling supportedly to be a peaceful assembly turned to be a riot. The effect is that there will be damage to properties and will endangered lives. Also history had shown this like during the industry Revolution of Britisah experience. Back home incidents during the 60 ties. Believe me you the IGP knows what he is doing. 1OO thousands people marching definitely most difficult situation for Police to handle. The Police has the network on the ground and got what ever informations the BERSIH group going to do. Public cooperation required to avoid untold incidents and may lead to another !3 May. Why must we waiste the Police manpower for this type of assembly. We only need to go to the Polls for the next election to show our one dissatisfaction . The majority votes counts. Don't take the RISK for this type of assembly.

Mohd.Ismail b Mohamed

I agree, especially since the organisers are KEADILAN members and I know of many lawyers who are in PKR who are spearheading this "kononnya BERSIH" walk. Let us not be stupid people. Let us be law abiding citizens. Yes, it is your right to assemble, but remember, we are talking about the riotious ( not a spelling error) people in KEIDOLAN who are BIG MAJOR TROUBLE MAKERS... They only want political unrest. I love Malaysia and dont want it to be an uncivilised society.... Lets hold a peaceful candle light vigil instead. Lets not make it loud.... Stand up if you must, but dont be stupid to take the bullet in a line of fire...

Please members of the Bar, who are not Keadilan members, please dont support such a move. If you want to act for the protestors later when they are arrested, thats alright...

Thank you.... At least I can enjoy my sleep tonight.

Nik Elin Nik Abd Rashid

Dear Mohd Ismail and Nik Elin

The points made by the IGP and yourselves are noted. They have been made before.

Nevertheless, we have participated and witnessed many assemblies in the country which were planned, and turned out to be peaceful. The last major one of course was the Bar’s Walk for Justice. A common thread in these assemblies has been the commendable, non-interventionist approach taken by the police, Special Branch and FRU.

At the other spectrum, we have seen for example at the KESAS highway and KLCC incidents (both the subject of public inquiries by SUHAKAM) how the authorities have exercised some force in dispersing the crowds, in addition to accounts alleging the involvement of Special Branch involvement in inciting disorder. Not to forget the peaceful protests against the Myanmar government which saw participation by both government and opposition representatives.

It therefore calls on one to be more nuanced in discussing similar events, and issuing threats would be less helpful than constructively facilitating assembly rights. Consistent with international human rights law and the state practices of many countries, it also demands that a gradual mindset change be effected in Malaysia by looking to the authorities to assist rather than to impede the exercise of our rights.

The Bar and SUHAKAM oppose the necessity for police permits to assemble, and this position is the way forward if Malaysia is to become a developed nation by 2020.

Edmund Bon

With respect, I disagree with Mohd Ismail and Nik Elin.

Every indication is that this is a gathering and procession is intended to be peaceful and is an exercise of one's democratic right to march to the palace of our Yang Di Pertuan Agong to hand His Majesty a memorandum.

The right to free assembly and movement is one that should not be curtailed except for very good reason, the only one being a potential threat to public order. If indeed the police have information that undesirable elements intend to cause violence, they should be present to stop the violence whilst allowing the peaceful marchers to continue.

And the whole point of the march is that there is something wrong with the electoral system, such that our votes do not count because of the massive inadequacies in the system of voting. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agfpsl2QFl0

Anyway, it appears that the march will continue, the police will clamp down and there will be a need for legal representation.

I am told that the Human Rights Committee is once again calling for volunteer lawyers to step forward to assist as part of an urgent arrest response task force.

Contact Rajen or Rezib at the Bar Council for further details.

Shanmuga Kanesalingam

Shan,

I will, if need to, volunteer to represent those arrested for participating in an illegal assembly...

Nik Elin Nik Abdul Rashid

But then again, can't an arrestee, other than representing himself, not also represent others? Hm...

CRY FREEDOM

Alex Tan Ken Seng