Someone doesn’t like the Jerit cyclists Photo by the Jerit crew (More pictures here)
The Jerit cyclists continue to be hit by one obstacle after another.
In a pre-dawn incident today, unknown arsonist(s) torched eight of the Jerit bikes in Penanti on mainland Penang, where the cycling team were spending the night. Three of the cycles were badly damaged.
The four dozen cyclists were not to be deterred and continued their journey south.
Later today, at around 6.00pm, ten Light Strike Force personnel and 15 police personnel stopped the cycling team at Bagan Serai, reports a Jerit source. “The place was crawling with police, who seemed aggressive. They were after the identities of the cyclists. The organisers refused to allow that and said the police could have the organisers’ IDs instead.”
After negotiations, the cyclists were allowed to proceed with their journey to Parliament. The cyclists are spending tonight in Taiping and Bagan Serai.
Over in Johor, despite obstructions yesterday by the police, 30 cyclists from Jerit’s southern team continued with their journey, moving north from Simpang Renggam this morning.
Why all these obstructions? Why so much fear and anxiety about workers and marginalised communities demanding their rights and a minimum wage that would allow them to live with dignity?
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