Youths to don Guy Fawkes masks for democracy

f the organisers behind this flashmob get what they want, there will be a sea of people in Guy Fawkes masks at Dataran Merdeka on Sunday, which is New Year’s Eve.

In a posting on Facebook, the unnamed organisers of the V for Merdeka flashmob called on Malaysians to don Guy Fawkes masks in symbolic protest to demand “real democracy” in 2012.

“We will stage the final dramatic scene in the film V for Vendetta at Dataran Merdeka to show our common outrage against the many injustices and anti-democratic events that happened in Malaysia in 2011.

“We want to collectively say enough is enough, time for real democracy now in 2012!” the organisers say in their posting.

In the final scene of V for Vendetta, a popular film released by Warner Bros in 2005, the British Houses of Parliament are blown up in a bid to restore freedom and democracy.

The explosion occurs as fireworks go off to ring in the New Year, watched by thousands who don Guy Fawkes masks.

‘Governments should be afraid of their people’

“Don’t worry, there won’t be any bombing! But there will be a symbolic building with a clock tower, fireworks and…V,” the posting says, referring to the film’s protagonist.

“People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.”

Those interested to join are urged to print out cut-outs of the mask posted on the site by the organisers.

“Put on your V masks during the countdown to midnight and watch as the fireworks go off. Our video and photo teams will capture this reenactment and spread it all over the world!” the posting says.

As of late this morning, 154 people have said that they would be attending the event.

The flashmob is linked to the Occupy Dataran movement, which is an independent grassroots youth initiative to “reclaim Dataran Merdeka as an open and democratic space for the people”.