Both the protesters and police have set up barricades, while tear gas and water cannons are being fired.
KUALA
LUMPUR: Pandemonium has erupted along Jalan Raja Laut as defiant
protesters armed with planks and water bottles charged at the police.
Both the police and the protesters have also erected barricades near
the closed LRT station, with the former using piles of rubbish and
discarded planks.
After firing tear gas and water cannons, the police had initially
moved in to dismantle the make-shift barricade when a group of
protesters started taunting them.
They then rallied the others who had dispersed when the police swung into action not to be afraid and to stand their ground.
A group of protesters then picked up discarded water bottles and planks, and charged at the police, who retreated.
Earlier, police fired tear gas and water cannons when protesters
broke through the barbed-wire barriers erected at Dataran Merdeka.
The incident happened despite Bersih chairperson S Ambiga’s advise not to breach the barriers.
Near the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) building, police have started
to arrest those clad in yellow t-shirts but the protesters are refusing
to back down.
A protester was also injured in the face when he was hit by a tear gas canister.
The organisers had asked participants to disperse, saying that the gathering had made its point.
However, the crowd was adamant in not wanting to disperse and started
to chant “Buka Pagar” (open the barricade) aimed at the police.
As Ambiga was addressing the crowd and asking them to disperse,
chants of “Reformasi” rang out and soon after Opposition Leader Anwar
Ibrahim took the podium to wave and acknowledge the crowd.
In reaction, the crowd started chanting “Buka Pagar” again.
The police had obtained a court order restraining Ambiga, the Bersih
organisers and the public from entering Dataran Merdeka for four days
starting Friday.
Earlier,
PKR deputy president Azmin Ali in his speech whipped up the crowd
sentiment teasing the participants asking them if they wanted to go into
Dataran Merdeka.
The crowd shouted back in unison that they wanted to do so.
“Dataran belongs to the rakyat…you can always take it back,” Azmin replied.
Tension continues
The police also continued to fire tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters who gathered along Jalan Pudu.
The police also continued to fire tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters who gathered along Jalan Pudu.
Whereas in Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, more than 300 Bersih and PAS
supporters faced off with the FRU and police near the Coliseum
restaurant.
The
protesters shouted insults such as “Anjing rasuah” and “Buka helmet dan
cukur misai, pondan.” They had on occasion tossed back tear gas
canisters fired at them.
Despite the tear gas, the protesters kept re-grouping.
Some protesters also claimed that the police had not allowed them to leave the city centre.
“We are being chased all over and beaten up.” But opposite the Sogo
shopping complex, the police were being chased by the protesters at one
point.
Police have also pushed the crowd back from Dataran to Masjid Jamek
with tear gas and water cannon. Protesters were also seen throwing
bottles at police in anger.
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