Bersih encircles Dataran, thousands still arriving

28-04-2012

By Clara Chooi, Shazwan Mustafa Kamal and Ida Lim

April 28, 2012

Bersih supporters cheer as they await the start of the sit-in protest, near Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, April 28, 2012. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 — Over 25,000 Bersih supporters have surrounded Dataran Merdeka for a sit-in protest despite heavy police presence guarding the historic square, with more attendees arriving by the minute.

Police have issued a warning for the crowd at Dataran Merdeka to disperse or “face the consequences.” Riot police were also seen preparing tear gas launchers.

But at least 15,000 have moved up Jalan Tun Perak and are now just outside the historic square. This group is now face-to-face with riot police in front of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

We cannot back down from our claims. We have to ‘merdeka-kan’ (free) Dataran, because it is now Dataran Penjajah (Occupier’s Square).

A group of over 5,000 have also left the National Mosque and are occupying the area in front of Menara Maybank near Jalan Pudu.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, flanked by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders at the mosque, insisting that “we will march (to Dataran Merdeka) no matter what” and dismissed any notion of being discouraged by arrests.

Thousands of Himpunan Hijau supporters make their way to Dataran Merdeka for Bersih 3.0, in Kuala Lumpur April 28, 2012. — Picture by Jack Ooi

“No matter what, we will get there. It is a day for Reformasi. Today we demand the rights of people to be met. Enough of fraud, enough of corruption.

“We cannot back down from our claims. We have to ‘merdeka-kan’ (free) Dataran, because it is now Dataran Penjajah (Occupier’s Square),” the PKR de facto leader told the crowd before they began to march.

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang met up with the group in front of Menara Maybank and told them “this assembly is a sign for change.”

“Elections are the court of the public. The public wants fair elections,” the Marang MP added.

They have since joined up with another group at Masjid Jamek LRT station, which was led by Datuk Ambiga Sreeenevasan.

The Bersih chief had earlier told a group of at least 5,000 at Pasar Seni, to “go as far as the authorities allow and sit.”

At Masjid Jamek, she told the crowd the rally was a success and urged them to disperse, but was greeted by chants of “Dataran! Dataran!”

Her co-chair, Datuk A. Samad Said, was earlier spotted behind police lines in protest at a police barricade on the pedestrian bridge linking Pasar Seni and the Dayabumi complex.

“I use this bridge every week, but for the first time in my life, they do not allow me to pass, they asked me to use another route. This is the road I use to go to the mosque,” he said.

Today is a major test case for basic freedoms in Malaysia, starting with the right to peacefully march and assemble.

The police have since abandoned the barricade.

The group from Masjid Jamek is now headed towards Jalan Tun Perak where at least 20,000 demonstrators are gathered along the stretch of road.

Rally-goers in front of DBKL had tried push down razor wire barricades using plastic road barriers, but were prevented from doing so by Bar Council members.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh and his son, Gobind, who is Puchong MP, were allowed through the police block near Jalan Parliament and appear to be headed to join the group from the National Mosque.

At least a dozen FRU and water cannon trucks are also on standby at Dataran Merdeka.

International civil liberties watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that the police will be under close scrutiny today.

“Today is a major test case for basic freedoms in Malaysia, starting with the right to peacefully march and assemble.

“The big question is whether or not the Malaysian police will permit the Bersih 3 event to take place without harassment or violence,” HRW deputy Asia director Phil Robertson said in a statement sent at 2pm, the scheduled start time for Bersih’s sit-in.