KUALA LUMPUR: The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) today blamed PAS for the government’s harsh reaction to its plan for a pro-democracy rally on July 9.
PAS’s central committee member Mohamad Sabu told reporters about the event last Saturday, pre-empting Bersih’s announcement.
Bersih chief Ambiga Sreenevasan said it was probably hostility towards the opposition that prompted Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to issue his vitriolic and threatening statement.
Hishammuddin accused Bersih of making a nuisance of itself in planning the Walk for Democracy. “They have nothing better to do than instil hatred in the hearts and minds of people,” he said, vowing that the police would clamp down on demonstrators if they posed a threat to national security.
In his announcement, Mohamad Sabu promised that PAS would gather 100,000 for the rally.
“Hishammuddin probably responded in such a way when PAS made the announcement just because they are opposition,” Ambiga said at a press conference at the KL Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in the presence of representatives of the different NGOs that make up Bersih 2.0.
Andrew Khoo, chairman of the Bar Council’s Human Rights Committee chairman and a member of the coalition’s steering committee, said it was “unfortunate that PAS released the statement” before Bersih had a chance to do so.
Ambiga stressed that Bersih was a citizens’ movement with no political allegiances.
“No political party is a member of the coalition, nor are there any representatives from the political parties on the steering committee of Bersih 2.0,” she said, adding that the Walk for Democracy was open to all, including parties from Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.
The purpose of the rally is to press for electoral reform, take a stand against corruption and call for the strengthening of public institutions.
No comments:
Post a Comment