Monday, November 10, 2008

Vigil in PJ, Nov 9: Shocking use of Force by PDRM

Went to the ISA Vigil which was more of a Bersih Rally. Police roadblocks were all there preventing us to assemble. Gathered at Amcorp Mall. Had a short gathering, sang Negara Ku and dispersed under the watchful eyes and "ready to strike" FRU. It was peaceful and tensed. It was not the ordinary Sunday gathering.

All hell broke loose about an hour later when the FRU charge into the crowd that regrouped outside the Civic Center, arresting about 24 people including YB Tony Pua who we met earlier outside Amcorp Mall. Not aware that RPK was there, I was at the restaurant across the Civic Center where I managed to record some scenes of how the police chased and arrested the people - who were peaceful and was just about to disburse.

I am disturbed and shocked by the use of excessive force on peaceful demonstrations. What's really upsetting was that the charged in while people were singing the NegaraKu.

A sad day for our nation.

Some photos and video enclosed. More stories at Malaysiakini, Masterwordsmith, Paradise Storm and Anilnetto. Tony Pua blogged from mobilephone here and an update on Malaysia-today. I suppose there will be more news and pictures in the morning.

I pray all those arrested are safe and be released soon.

Tony Pua and Haris

The FRU ready to strike, batons drawn. Was it necessary to use such force?


Part of the crown at Amcorp Mall

Haris speaking to the people


the group gathered again near Civic Center, RPK was there with other politicians.




4 comments:

Jarod said...

Thanks for mentioning my post. The hardest day for me to bear...

Jarod of Paradise storm

Peter @ Enviroman said...

Here is proof Chief Police Officer lied

Dondeeness said...

I was there that night, but i came not to join the candle light vigil at first. I was there with my other half because on our way back home from dinner, we passed the FRU truck and was worried for his parents and sister who attended the vigil. We made a quick U-turn and head straight back to the PJ new town. When I reached there, I saw people holding candles and there was someone right in the middle talking to everybody. There wasn't a single sign of riot or destruction. Everything was peaceful. I'm pretty sure I'm the only Kadazan girl there, the rest were Chinese, Indian and a few were Malays. That was the first time I've been really close to a gathering like this, of all races together, well only the major ones of course. And suddenly, the FRU team arrived, and was shouting unneccessarily. And we started to sing our national anthem. Everybody was standing straight, EXCEPT the FRUs. They charged at us and shouted for us to go home. And I was thinking all the while, we are being patriotic, and we love the country, isn't that's what you're suppose to promote and help to reserve?? Instead, they charged at us, attacked us, assaulted us, harrassed all of us defenseless people!!

If it was an illegal gathering, was it correct to use weapons on us when we were only holding candles? Was it right to hit a person when the only thing we did was having a peaceful gathering.

That night opened my eyes, that night when I saw a police afficer in red t-shirt and denim jeans with mustache, I still remember that face. He shouted at us, when we were watching them hitting the people they caught, he shouted "Balik la bodoh!!". That really boiled my blood!

This is how riots and disagreements and revolutions are born. When you have scum-bags like that enforcement officer, people like Najib in this country. No wonder people hate this country so much. It's not because of this land, it's because of the people who thinks they own this land.

I am a Kadazan. And I call myself an Indegineous. We are th epeople of the soil. And not those who claim that they are the original people of this land. Stop being delusional. On today's new, the Chief Police told the reporters that they did not charge the people while they were singing NegaraKu. What a Lie.

This country is corrupted. It boils my blood to see what the people who claim they are the owner of this land is doing.

Dondeeness said...

I was there that night, but i came not to join the candle light vigil at first. I was there with my other half because on our way back home from dinner, we passed the FRU truck and was worried for his parents and sister who attended the vigil. We made a quick U-turn and head straight back to the PJ new town. When I reached there, I saw people holding candles and there was someone right in the middle talking to everybody. There wasn't a single sign of riot or destruction. Everything was peaceful. I'm pretty sure I'm the only Kadazan girl there, the rest were Chinese, Indian and a few were Malays. That was the first time I've been really close to a gathering like this, of all races together, well only the major ones of course. And suddenly, the FRU team arrived, and was shouting unneccessarily. And we started to sing our national anthem. Everybody was standing straight, EXCEPT the FRUs. They charged at us and shouted for us to go home. And I was thinking all the while, we are being patriotic, and we love the country, isn't that's what you're suppose to promote and help to reserve?? Instead, they charged at us, attacked us, assaulted us, harrassed all of us defenseless people!!

If it was an illegal gathering, was it correct to use weapons on us when we were only holding candles? Was it right to hit a person when the only thing we did was having a peaceful gathering.

That night opened my eyes, that night when I saw a police afficer in red t-shirt and denim jeans with mustache, I still remember that face. He shouted at us, when we were watching them hitting the people they caught, he shouted "Balik la bodoh!!". That really boiled my blood!

This is how riots and disagreements and revolutions are born. When you have scum-bags like that enforcement officer, people like Najib in this country. No wonder people hate this country so much. It's not because of this land, it's because of the people who thinks they own this land.

I am a Kadazan. And I call myself an Indegineous. We are th epeople of the soil. And not those who claim that they are the original people of this land. Stop being delusional. On today's new, the Chief Police told the reporters that they did not charge the people while they were singing NegaraKu. What a Lie.

This country is corrupted. It boils my blood to see what the people who claim they are the owner of this land is doing.