CNN on Malaysian Rally

CNN on Malaysian Rally
|||Today 10:23 AM|hsudarren
I could not find much info in the main stream media about the event organised by
Bersih yesterday, apart from a very detailed reporting by the web based media
Malaysiakini . However, a check in the internet has come up with many foreign
reportings on this event.
On hindsight, the police should have given permission for the organisers to hold
the rally instead of trying to shut down the whole city. It would have won the
government points and accolade if they have allowed this gathering. The police
can always be on the standby to prevent any untoward incidents, but to shut down
the whole city centres and still unable to prevent the memorandum being
delivered was perhaps a loss of face/authority on the part of the government.
Freedom to speech and gathering is a basic right under the constitution. The
world today is a much different world , not like the 50s and 60s when most of
our archaic emergency laws were formulated. It is perhaps time for the
government to review abolish the ruling that any gathering more than 5 persons
need to have a police permit. Much can be learnt from what Raja Nasrin has said
sometime back : Might is not equal right.
Below is the report from CNN:
Teargas used on rare Malaysian Demo
(CNN) ? The largest political protest in nearly a decade erupted in Malaysia?s
capital city, Kuala Lumpur, Saturday with riot police aiming water hoses and
tear gas at thousands of protesters gathered to demand electoral reform.
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur to demand
electoral reform.
Opposition parties and civic groups demonstrated against alleged fraudulent
activity in the electoral process and demanded an overhaul of Malaysia?s
electoral commission ahead of general elections widely expected for early next
year.
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had vowed to suppress the
demonstration, and on Saturday police had erected roadblocks and ramped up
security in an attempt to close down the city?s center.
Nevertheless, in defiance of a government ban, between 30,000 and 40,000
demonstrators massed outside the royal palace in Kuala Lumpar, according to
media reports. Opposition group leader and former deputy prime minister Anwar
Ibrahim put the number much higher, claiming more than 100,000 people had
gathered in the streets.
One witness said police fired tear gas and jets of ?chemically-laced water? at
hundreds of demonstrators who sought refuge in the city?s Jamek mosque and in
commercial buildings.
?Squads of police are chasing hundreds of protesters along alleys and on the
city streets,? the witness said, speaking on condition of anonymity. He said
blockades had been set up around the city to hem in demonstrators.
Photos of the crackdown showed protesters dressed in yellow t-shirts and head
scarves shielding their heads as water from cannons blasted down on them.
New York-based Human Rights Watch slammed the rally ban and urged the government
to support free speech ahead of elections expected to be called early next year.
?If Malaysia wants to count itself a democracy, it can begin by upholding
constitutional guarantees of free speech and assembly. The way the system works
now, only the ruling coalition can get its messages out,? it said.
Human Rights Watch said Malaysian elections have been sullied by vote-buying,
the use of public resources by the ruling parties and accusations of bias
against the Election Commission.
Malaysia has had only one party in power since 1957.
Speaking to CNN after briefly addressing the opposition-backed rally, Anwar said
?we are demanding that the (election) process be cleansed. There are no such
thing as fair elections in Malaysia at the moment.?
He said a memorandum detailing allegations of corruption by the commission had
been handed to Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, Malaysia?s constitutional monarch.
Malaysian law stipulates the sultan must give his royal assent to the commission
after it has been appointed by the government.
Photos link : Photos from the rally
Photos from 10th November Bersih Rally
Didn?t get much of a shot, as I was busy running around avoiding tear gas and
pepper water at Masjid Jamek.
Here are some quick snapshots.
At 1 pm, about 2 hours before the Rally begins, helicopters are seen rounding
the Dataran Merdeka area. Alot of people has already started gathering around
the LRT Stations. The gloomy sky and impending dark clouds marks the beginning
of a rather nasty water spraying and smoky affair later on.
Business must be exceptionally good for Mc Donald?s today. Burger King which is
located opposite, was seen closing down their iron-grills to avoid any
?potential hazard? to their store front.
This is after the meeting with the Agong, where everyone?s heading to the
National Mosque for their prayers.
Causing massive jam along the way.
This Uncle Photographer must be having a good field day!
This young-little gal was waving her ?symbolic? yellow toy at us when passing by
the long stretch of yellow crowd.
The Yellow People is everywhere in every corner of the City, under the bridge,
up the bridge and in back alleys?LUAS COVERAGE!
The road heading towards Dataran Merdeka, from afar you can see the Police
standing in line.
A closer look at the police line ups. I wonder why they are looking so stern and
so stiffed-up. Come on? the walk is already over, and everyone?s going home for
some hot tea.
I see?they realized they are on camera, no wonder the photogenic-look.
Here?s a few video clips I managed to capture during the eventful afternoon.
Peaceful protesters are sprayed with ?chemical liquid? and at least 6 tear gas
during the stand-off at Masjid Jamek.
Video shows loyal rakyats awaiting for the memorandum of Electoral Reform to be
submitted.
That?s all from my K750i. A few videos will be uploaded after my friend
transferred them into the laptop.
I was rather disappointed when the police started spraying water on the peaceful
crowd, and adding a few more tear gas (at least 6-7 of them) into the crowd.
Yours truly was caught in one of the tear gas episode and ran away from the
scene, crying like a baby?lol. A kind police man advised me to was the face with
rain water to clean up the wasabi-effect.
Glad everything went on smoothly and ended with no blood stain on anyone?s
shirt.
A true-Malaysian would be very moved by this thread (because I?m)?
http://www.malaysia-today.net/nuc2006/report07.php?itemid=158
You might want to read these too...
10th November Digi Gathering
Investing in Hong Kong
ETF and Investment Planning Workshop
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Terry Fox Run 2007
Email this ? Save to del.icio.us (1 save) ? Digg This! (1 Digg) ? Technorati
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Posted under Daily Observations.
7 Responses to ?Photos from 10th November Bersih Rally?
Chen Yong Says:
November 10th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
I was lucky to avoid the gas and cannon cos I was in pasar seni area. Let?s hope
this gathering will make a change to M?sia.
» Bersih Gathering: Masjid Jamek Police Violence >> Malaysians Say The Darndest
Things! Says:
November 10th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
[?] with links as and when I read them. Post your links in the comments as well
if you got any): Photos from 10th November Bersih Rally Petitioners Defy [?]
Kitkat Says:
November 11th, 2007 at 12:49 am
Wow? did the water cannon hurt? You are brave!
CNN on Malaysian Rally « Dr Hsu?s Forum Says:
November 11th, 2007 at 10:53 am
[?] Photos link : Photos from the rally [?]
Gormel Says:
November 11th, 2007 at 11:15 am
Nobody mentioned DiGi? Ahahaha
DiGi should have sent 10,000 more DiGi Yellow Coverage Fellows (the fit muscular
ones in the recent ad, not the fat creepy ones). What the hell, right, the
government is forcing them to sell off chunks of their shares in a company they
put so much hard work (and only to certain well-placed Bumis).
amde si*** Says:
November 11th, 2007 at 11:43 am
Great you people, continue doing things which are good for the country and its
people
Yow Chuan Says:
November 11th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Chen Yong, you were there too!? Haha?just too many people in the crowd.
Kitkat , nope, you don?t get hurt when sprayed by the water cannon. It?s the
content of the water canon, the chemical-laced water that hurts the skin, not
unlike applying salt on your fresh cut wounds Yes, there were thousand of brave
people out there that afternoon, and some friends even brought their toddlers
along (wearing yellow also).
Amde, you can help out too by spreading the truths about the Rally, which was
never meant to be chaotic and messy, as it?s now being portrayed in the mass
media.
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Photos from 10th November Bersih Rally
Didn't get much of a shot, as I was busy running around avoiding tear gas and
pepper water at Masjid Jamek.
Here are some quick snapshots.
At 1 pm, about 2 hours before the Rally begins, helicopters are seen rounding
the Dataran Merdeka area. Alot of people has already started gathering around
the LRT Stations. The gloomy sky and impending dark clouds marks the beginning
of a rather nasty water spraying and smoky affair later on.
Business must be exceptionally good for Mc Donald's today. Burger King which is
located opposite, was seen closing down their iron-grills to avoid any
&#8220;potential hazard&#8221; to their store front.
This is after the meeting with the Agong, where everyone's heading to the
National Mosque for their prayers.
Causing massive jam along the way.
This Uncle Photographer must be having a good field day!
This young-little gal was waving her &#8220;symbolic&#8221; yellow toy at us
when passing by the long stretch of yellow crowd.
The Yellow People is everywhere in every corner of the City, under the bridge,
up the bridge and in back alleys&#8230;LUAS COVERAGE!
The road heading towards Dataran Merdeka, from afar you can see the Police
standing in line.
A closer look at the police line ups. I wonder why they are looking so stern and
so stiffed-up. Come on&#8230; the walk is already over, and everyone's going
home for some hot tea.
I see&#8230;they realized they are on camera, no wonder the photogenic-look.
Here's a few video clips I managed to capture during the eventful afternoon.
Peaceful protesters are sprayed with &#8220;chemical liquid&#8221; and at least
6 tear gas during the stand-off at Masjid Jamek.Video shows loyal rakyats
awaiting for the memorandum of Electoral Reform to be submitted.
That's all from my K750i. A few videos will be uploaded after my friend
transferred them into the laptop.
I was rather disappointed when the police started spraying water on the peaceful
crowd, and adding a few more tear gas (at least 6-7 of them) into the crowd.
Yours truly was caught in one of the tear gas episode and ran away from the
scene, crying like a baby&#8230;lol. A kind police man advised me to was the
face with rain water to clean up the wasabi-effect.
Glad everything went on smoothly and ended with no blood stain on anyone's
shirt.
A true-Malaysian would be very moved by this thread (because
I'm)&#8230;<http://www.malaysia-today.net/nuc2006/report07.php?itemid=158>
http://www.malaysia-today.net/nuc2006/report07.php?itemid=158
You might want to read these too...

* <http://www.meshio.com/index.php/2007/11/10th-november-digi-gathering/> 10th
November Digi Gathering
* <http://www.meshio.com/index.php/2006/10/investing-in-hong-kong/> Investing in
Hong Kong
*
<http://www.meshio.com/index.php/2007/10/etf-and-investment-planning-workshop/>
ETF and Investment Planning Workshop
*
<http://www.meshio.com/index.php/2004/11/too-many-pixels-is-bad-for-your-photos/>
Too Many Pixels is Bad for your Photos
* <http://www.meshio.com/index.php/2006/04/more-foreign-funds/> More Foreign
Funds
* <http://www.meshio.com/index.php/2005/08/haze-condition-worsens/> Haze
Condition Worsens...
*
<http://www.meshio.com/index.php/2006/11/public-mutual-to-launch-two-new-funds/>
Public Mutual To Launch Two New Funds
* <http://www.meshio.com/index.php/2007/09/terry-fox-run-2007/> Terry Fox Run
2007
Posted under
<http://www.meshio.com/index.php/category/daily-observations/> Daily
Observations.
7 Responses to &#8220;Photos from 10th November Bersih Rally&#8221;
Chen Yong Says: November 10th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
I was lucky to avoid the gas and cannon cos I was in pasar seni area. Let's hope
this gathering will make a change to M'sia.
» Bersih Gathering: Masjid Jamek Police Violence >> Malaysians Say The Darndest
Things! Says: November 10th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
[&#8230;] with links as and when I read them. Post your links in the comments as
well if you got any): Photos from 10th November Bersih Rally Petitioners Defy
[&#8230;]
Kitkat Says: November 11th, 2007 at 12:49 am
Wow&#8230; did the water cannon hurt? You are brave!
CNN on Malaysian Rally « Dr Hsu's Forum Says: November 11th, 2007 at
10:53 am
[&#8230;] Photos link : Photos from the rally [&#8230;]
Gormel Says: November 11th, 2007 at 11:15 am
Nobody mentioned DiGi? Ahahaha
DiGi should have sent 10,000 more DiGi Yellow Coverage Fellows (the fit muscular
ones in the recent ad, not the fat creepy ones). What the hell, right, the
government is forcing them to sell off chunks of their shares in a company they
put so much hard work (and only to certain well-placed Bumis).
amde si*** Says: November 11th, 2007 at 11:43 am
Great you people, continue doing things which are good for the country and its
people
Yow Chuan Says: November 11th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Chen Yong, you were there too!? Haha&#8230;just too many people in the crowd.
Kitkat , nope, you don't get hurt when sprayed by the water cannon. It's the
content of the water canon, the chemical-laced water that hurts the skin, not
unlike applying salt on your fresh cut wounds Yes, there were thousand of brave
people out there that afternoon, and some friends even brought their toddlers
along (wearing yellow also).
Amde, you can help out too by spreading the truths about the Rally, which was
never meant to be chaotic and messy, as it's now being portrayed in the mass
media.
http://www.meshio.com/img/2007/bersih-rally-10-november-2007-01.jpg
http://www.meshio.com/img/2007/bersih-rally-10-november-2007-02.jpg
http://www.meshio.com/img/2007/bersih-rally-10-november-2007-03.jpg
http://www.meshio.com/img/2007/bersih-rally-10-november-2007-04.jpg
http://www.meshio.com/img/2007/bersih-rally-10-november-2007-05.jpg
http://www.meshio.com/img/2007/bersih-rally-10-november-2007-06.jpg
http://www.meshio.com/img/2007/bersih-rally-10-november-2007-07.jpg
http://www.meshio.com/img/2007/bersih-rally-10-november-2007-08.jpg
http://www.meshio.com/img/2007/bersih-rally-10-november-2007-09.jpg
http://www.meshio.com/img/2007/bersih-rally-10-november-2007-10.jpg
http://www.meshio.com/img/2007/bersih-rally-10-november-2007-11.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-MrSwEewHU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk0KcdeAegg
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