Were cops trying to trap Ambiga’s group?

Zefry Dahalan | July 12, 2011

Police may have had punishment in mind when they shot tear gas into a tunnel.

In at least one of their encounters with Bersih supporters last Saturday, police appeared to have used tear gas to trap and punish instead of to disperse a group of demonstrators.

This happened to be the group led by Bersih leader S Ambiga and opposition leaders Anwar Ibrahim, Abdul Hadi Awang, Tian Chua and Nurul Izzah Anwar.

FMT reporter Zefry Dahalan filed the following first person account.

“I was with some journalists following the group that had Bersih chief Ambiga and the top Pakatan Rakyat leaders in the front line. They marched from KL Hilton into the KL Sentral station and went down the narrow staircase that leads to the tunnel that links with Jalan Tun Sambanthan.

When they had almost reached the end of the tunnel, police from the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) suddenly released tear gas directly into the group. A canister hit Anwar’s bodyguard (photo, below), injuring his left cheek.

There was pandemonium. It was at this point that Ambiga, Abdul Hadi and Tian Chua were arrested.

The entire group ran back into the tunnel. And then the FRU fired again. The fumes filled the closed area.

Everyone seemed to be out of breath as they ran, more for air than to escape the FRU. But back at the entry point of the tunnel, a dozen or so policemen were waiting with batons raised.

My vision became blurry, my throat itched and I struggled for breath. Fortunately, I had the presence of mind to flash my media card for the benefit of the waiting policemen. They let me go on my way, and I soon regained my strength with fresh air.

But what about the protestors? I can only imagine their agony as they struggled with the terrible physical discomfort and the fear of being beaten up with batons.

I still cannot imagine why the police would shoot tear gas at the back of a crowd that was already running away unless it was to punish them for gathering at all.

On Sunday night, on TV news, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak was heard saying “Just a little tear gas, and he’s already sprawled in hospital.” The remark was clearly aimed at Anwar, and our prime minister sounded like a bully. He should try sniffing tear gas.”