We witnessed police abuse, says lawyer

Some 100 Sarawakians who took part in the Bersih 2.0 'Walk for Democracy' returned home with shocking stories of police abuse.

KUCHING: Umno-led Barisan Nasional can continue to deny what actually happened at the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9, but those who walked the talk will bear witness to the truth, Sarawak lawyer Voon Shiak Ni said.

Voon and some 100 Sarawakians had flown into Kuala Lumpur to join the rally which called for electoral reforms, and witnessed the police abuse.

“The government cannot deny it as we were there. About 100 PKR and NGOs from Sarawak were there.
“Baru Bian (Sarawak PKR chief) and myself were there witnessing the whole episode,” said Voon, who is also state PKR woman leader.

Recounting her experience, she said one of the most wonderful things that she experienced in the Bersih march was the “feeling of unity, strength and human sentiments”.

“The struggle for justice had brought Malaysians together and I truly felt the bond with the people… everyone marching beside us is a friend.

“We came together and helped each other despite the tear gas, fear, and intimidation… This is something I can never properly define in common words,” she said.

Voon said the BN regime can deny all it wants about Bersih’s success, but the fact remained that tens of thousands of Malaysians came out voluntarily to support the coalition’s call for clean and fair elections.

‘Investigate hospital incident’

On Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai’s denial that police had shot tear gas canisters into the vicinity of the Tung Shin Maternity Hospital in Jalan Pudu, she said:

“I was at Chinatown since 9am. Together with me were people of all races, professions and ages. I was at the scene and I witnessed the merciless firing of tear gas and spraying of chemical-laced water at the crowd.

“The police armed with batons chased the protesters who fled and jumped over the railings.
“If the government had not been so heavy-handed and harsh in handling the crowd, the rally would have been peaceful,” she said.

Voon is among a host of witnesses who have claimed they saw police pursued the protesters into the hospital compound, and fired tear gas at them.

Police have since denied the allegations and the government has also said the eye-witness accounts were untrue.

Voon urged the authorities to carry out investigations into the hospital incident, saying the government should be held responsible for any negligence committed.

She reminded the police that their job was to keep the peace and ensure security and not cause harm to the public. - FMT