PAS threatens second protest if detainees not released in 24 hours

The Malaysian Insider – Sat, Jul 9, 2011

• tweet3
• Email
• Print

By Melissa Chi

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — PAS is now threatening to mobilise a million people to mount a second protest against the police if all those detained during today’s mass rally are not released within 24 hours.

PAS deputy secretary-general Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi told reporters outside the KL Hilton hotel here that protestors will converge on the Bukit Aman police headquarters and the Jinjang police station if the hundreds who were arrested this afternoon are released unconditionally.

Among the notable personalities detained are Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, his deputy Mohamad Sabu, vice-presidents Datuk Mahfuz Omad and Salahuddin Ayub, and a number of other Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and Bersih 2.0 leaders.

As at 2.30pm today, police confirmed that they have arrested 672 people during the march, including even Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and the wing’s committee member Lokman Adam.

Those arrested were picked up at various checkpoints across the city when today’s march descended into chaos as police fired tear gas canisters and water cannons at the tens of thousands of people who gathered in support of Bersih 2.0’s call for electoral reform.

“PAS is giving the government, the police 24 hours to free our president. We warn the prime minister, the police chief, that Malaysians, PAS members and supporters, PR members and supporters demand the immediate release of Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi and every detainee, including Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga.

“If not, one million people will come together,” Syed Azman said.

PKR vice-presidents Nurul Izzah Anwar and N. Surendran, who were also present at the ad hoc press conference, accused the police of using violence on peaceful protestors, noting that many leaders had sustained injuries during their march.

Nurul Izzah pointed out that Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad had head injuries after he was hit by a tear gas canister. She said her father Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s bodyguard was also hurt.

“The police, under orders from the home minister as well as the PM, fired tear gas canisters directly at all the leaders of PR, specifically Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim... that’s how his bodyguard sustained injuries on his cheek.

“My sister, Nurul Imman, has also been arrested,” she said.

She insisted that marchers had been walking peacefully and had no intention to harm the armed riot police keeping close watch.

“We were not rioting, we were walking peacefully. I want to remind the home minister, the PM that we want to implement free and fair elections... For God’s sake search within your conscience and do the right thing. It is not too late,” she said.

Surendran said the police’s act of firing canisters without first warning the marchers was illegal and was likely an attempt to “kill, maim or injure”.

“No dispersal order was given, no time was given. The people were peaceful. They were just walking through the tunnel and immediately they (the police) took aim and just started shooting,” he said, referring to the march by Bersih 2.0 and PR leaders from KL Sentral to Stadium Merdeka earlier.