By P Ramakrishnan | Aliran’s President
The way the police hound and harass activists engaged in social
issues gives the impression that they are more dangerous than the
criminals who cause hell for peace-loving citizens.
The number of police engaged in this activity makes one wonder why
the police are running after these activists instead of the criminals
who are lurking among our midst committing all kinds of crimes, some
even resulting in death.
More and more Malaysians are beginning to believe that the police are
no longer what they used to be in the past when they were professional
in their duty and were not seen as political tools of the ruling party.
The change in perception occurred during the Mahathir years as witnessed
during the Refomasi days and while Anwar’s first sodomy trial dragged
on when the police were harsh and brutal in dealing with the crowd who
stood up against a cruel regime.
We have seen how heavy-handed the police were during the Bersih 1.0
and Hindraf rallies in November 2007. They continue to behave in that
same fashion right up to today.
Yesterday (25-6-11), 31 PSM members, including the Sungai Siput MP,
Jeyakumar Devaraj, were detained at the Sungai Dua toll plaza at about
3.45pm. They were on their way to Penang after leafleting in Kedah when
they were apprehended.
These activists were then taken to Kepala Batas Police Station in
Seberang Perai Utara for questioning. Top-ranking Penang state police
officers were seen at the police station.
According to Jeyakumar, they were expecting to be released on police
bail, but all of them were then detained in lock-ups. The women were
detained at the Kepala Batas police station, while the men were taken to
the Butterworth police station.
About the same time as the activists were detained at the Sungai Dua
toll plaza in the north, PSM activists who had been leafleting in the
south were detained in Tangkak and taken to the Ledang police station
and subjected to the same harrowing experience. But they were released
at 4.00am this morning, after 12 hours with the police.
One is tempted to ask, is this the reason why we have a police force –
to deny the fundamental rights of citizens, making the constitutional
provisions granting them these rights meaningless?
This is a sheer waste of time for everybody concerned in this
episode. The police should not be tied down in a case where there was
clearly no threat to the nation. The activists should not be wasting
their precious time doing nothing when they have their work to carry out
which has been unfairly disrupted.
Four lawyers who had turned up at the Kepala Batas Police Station
last night were blocked from meeting the detainees. This is completely
unwarranted; it is a basic right of detainees to have access to their
lawyers. There is no justification for this refusal; it goes against
natural justice.
The activists have now been remanded for seven days, the application
granted at the Butterworth Magistrates Court. They are now being
demonised in the media.
All these activists were engaged in legitimate, democratic activity
which is guaranteed by the Federal Constitution. Leafleting is not
criminal; educating the public on issues is not an offence. They are not
engaged in violent or armed struggle.
The police have been going after activists similarly engaged in Johor
and Shah Alam. And anyone wearing a T-shirt with the word Bersih
(Clean) is hauled away. What have we come to? Why are the police
targeting this group of people?
It is tied to BN’s fear of the Bersih 2.0’s Walk for Democracy Rally on 9 July.
This rally promises to draw unprecedented huge crowds. The sheer
number of participants will debunk the BN’s claim that Malay support has
swung back to Umno. It would be such a humiliation for Umno, which is
pretending to be brave and masquerading as the champion of the Malays.
July 9 will be the defining moment in Malaysian politics. Umno is not prepared to face this truth.
So the BN is using the police to stop the Bersh 2.0 rally on 9 July.
It has to be stopped at all costs for the survival of the BN.
We will know on 9 July whether Malaysians have been cowed by fear;
whether they will choose to snivel and quiver or will cast aside their
shackles once and for all.
Will 9 July be an epoch-making day? Only time will tell.
P Ramakrishnan
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