(Malaysiakini) At least 30 Human Rights Party (HRP) members in Selangor, Perak and Kuala Lumpur have been arrested as police came down hard on their nationwide convoys.
Six were arrested at Jelapang, Ipoh police station while five more were nabbed near Jalan Templer in Selangor, as police mounted roadblocks to stop the convoy to promote an upcoming anti-racism rally.
According to eyewitnesses, a convoy member in Selangor had her camera confiscated and was hit in the face, while police were “very harsh” towards HRP members in Perak.
“The police raised their fists and threatened to hit (the HRP members),” an eyewitness said when contacted.
He added that the Jelapang police station is now closed off and other members of HRP are not allowed in, nor were they told why the six - Perak HRP chief P Ramesh, his deputy N Subramaniam and four other Perak HRP members - were arrested.
There are similar convoys in Johor, Negri Sembilan and Kedah.
According to HRP information chief S Jayathas, who was contacted moments before he was arrested along with Selangor party chief K Selvam and three others, police also mounted a roadblock in Rawang.
“They only stopped our cars, not other road users. We staged a small protest and they let us pass.
“We have the right to use the road. They can only check our road tax and drivers' licences,” said Jayathas, who is now held at the Selayang district police station.
Twenty activists had just arrived from Brickfields when police officers stopped them and took them into custody. They are currently in the Travers police station.
Six were arrested at Jelapang, Ipoh police station while five more were nabbed near Jalan Templer in Selangor, as police mounted roadblocks to stop the convoy to promote an upcoming anti-racism rally.
According to eyewitnesses, a convoy member in Selangor had her camera confiscated and was hit in the face, while police were “very harsh” towards HRP members in Perak. “The police raised their fists and threatened to hit (the HRP members),” an eyewitness said when contacted.
He added that the Jelapang police station is now closed off and other members of HRP are not allowed in, nor were they told why the six - Perak HRP chief P Ramesh, his deputy N Subramaniam and four other Perak HRP members - were arrested.
There are similar convoys in Johor, Negri Sembilan and Kedah.According to HRP information chief S Jayathas, who was contacted moments before he was arrested along with Selangor party chief K Selvam and three others, police also mounted a roadblock in Rawang.
“They only stopped our cars, not other road users. We staged a small protest and they let us pass.
“We have the right to use the road. They can only check our road tax and drivers' licences,” said Jayathas, who is now held at the Selayang district police station.
Around 3pm, HRP activists in a convoy of three cars were taken into custody by police officers just after they alighted from their vehicles in Bangsar Utama, Kuala Lumpur.
Twenty activists had just arrived from Brickfields when police officers stopped them and took them into custody. They are currently in the Travers police station. During a press conference later, Brickfields OCPD Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said that 21 people were arrested and brought to the Travers police station because they were obstructing traffic and moving in a big group.
“As we know, Brickfields is a very busy area,” he told reporters at the station today.
He added that the 21 detainees will have their statements recorded and will be investigated under Section 27 of the Penal Code.
Those arrested were 15 men and five women aged above 40, and a boy aged 10.
“We hope to release them under police bail by today,” he said.
Also confiscated were 55 posters, ten flags and 200 leaflets.
“We will also return their cars when we release them,” he said.
“As we know, Brickfields is a very busy area,” he told reporters at the station today.
He added that the 21 detainees will have their statements recorded and will be investigated under Section 27 of the Penal Code.
Those arrested were 15 men and five women aged above 40, and a boy aged 10.
“We hope to release them under police bail by today,” he said.
Also confiscated were 55 posters, ten flags and 200 leaflets.“We will also return their cars when we release them,” he said.
There are reports, meanwhile, that arrests have also been made in Kedah, Negeri Sembilan and Johor.
This includes 32 HRP activists who were arrested in Seremban and brought to the district police station there. Negeri Sembilan HRP chief S Sivakumar was among those taken in by the police.
HRP had yesterday expressed its fears of a crackdown after Perak police warned them not to proceed with the convoy.
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