Why bother to protest? Can anything good come out of a protest? Yes, and here's 10 reasons why.
By Thomas Fann
It was soon after the Bersih 3.0 protest on April 28, 2012 that I
chanced upon a posting on a social media network by someone I knew.
Commenting on the huge protest and violence that followed, he said that
it is not that he doesn’t support the demands of the protesters but he
doesn’t believe protesting is the way to go as it doesn’t solve
anything.
It is very likely that many Malaysians echo the same sentiments and
asks the question – Why bother to protest? Can anything good come out of
a protest? Some may even agree with the prime minister who said this is
not our culture.
I want to suggest 10 reasons why we should bother to protest:
It’s our constitutional right
Did you know that the supreme law of our land, the Federal
Constitution in Article 10(1)(b), states that all citizens have the
right to assemble peaceably and without arms (weapons)?
Unfortunately, subsequent laws passed like the Police Act (Section 27)
and its new incarnation, the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012, restricts
that right.
It can be argued that such restrictions are not in keeping with the
intent and spirit of the constitution which allows us to assemble
peaceably. In such cases of inconsistency, we revert to our supreme law,
the Federal Constitution. As law-abiding citizens, our courage
and confidence come from knowing this fact.
It’s democracy in action
We are still a democracy and every citizen has a right to express
their views in a peaceful manner. As you glance through the news today,
you’d find people from all over the world protesting on a variety of
issues ranging from unemployment to the latest government austerity
measures, to the way banks are run and to an offensive film. It is not
just happening in so-called “less” democratic countries but more so in
countries that cherish democracy.
Democracy is not just about casting our votes at the ballot box. It
is about us engaging the political process on an ongoing basis through
dialogues with lawmakers and government servants, lobbying or
petitioning for change in a certain policy, and even protests. Some
issues need multi-pronged approach when the authorities are
unresponsive.
It is healthy and needful
People need a space where they could express their unhappiness and it
is imperative that they be given that space. Constant suppression of
people’s need to release pent-up frustrations could only lead to an
explosion of anger as seen in the Arab Spring.
Protests are healthy in the way they show up the feelings of the
people and are symptoms of some under-pinning problems, not the problem
itself. Using the analogy of our body, protests are like fever or cough.
A good physician does not only alleviate the symptoms but also treat
the root cause, be it a virus or bacteria that is causing the fever or
cough. Good governance means allowing room for protests and paying
attention to the root cause for it.
It highlights issues
Issues that affect communities are many and they are all important to
those affected by them. Often times issues would not be made known to
the rest of the country or the world without a protest.
This would especially be true in a country where the press and media
are not free. How else would we know about problems in our electoral
roll and process, about Lynas, Bukit Koman and Pengerang, if not for the
series of Bersih and Himpunan Hijau protests? How many more
injustices and abuses have gone unnoticed because it was not highlighted
by the press and no protest was organised?
Protests draw our attention to issues that may or may not directly
affect us but at least we know about them and can decide what to do
about it.
It can bring about changes
It would not be wrong to say that much of the course of world history
is shaped by direct actions of the people. Rulers who failed to serve
the interest of their subjects are always removed, eventually. Martin
Luther King Jr. said, “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the
oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”
Protests led by Martin Luther King Jr, Mahatma Gandhi, anti-apartheid
protests worldwide, democracy movements in South Korea, Taiwan,
Philippines, Myanmar and Middle East have brought about seismic changes
in their countries.
On the local front, the Bersih protests have forced the EC to
implement some changes like the use of indelible ink and promises of
reforms to the other demands. While it is true that it still falls
short of the true reforms we are asking for, it has forced the authority
to consider the demands. If any of the demands are not fulfilled, they
would have served to educate the voters of the problems and for them to
question why they are unfulfilled.
It unites people around issues
Issues like injustices, freedom, corruption, abuses of power, crime,
land grab and the environment affect all regardless of race and
religion.
As a participant in a number of protests over the past couple of
years, I can tell you one of the most exhilarating experiences was the
joy and privilege of marching side by side with Malaysians of all races,
faith, age, and social backgrounds. It was a cleansing experience,
being washed clean of years of state sponsored prejudices against our
fellow citizens.
When we protest against our shared common concerns, we realise that
we share a common desire for a better future. Underneath all the things
that make us different, we realise that we are just fellow humans.
It exposes the authority
The role of the governing authority is to facilitate peaceful
protests and to maintain law and order. What all of us, the protesters
and the government, should want is a peaceful assembly. Only a
very small minority would want a violent and chaotic assembly.
If the stated intent and planning of the protest organiser is towards
a peaceful assembly, there is no reason why the authority and the
police cannot facilitate it. They just need to provide a public space
large enough for the protesters, divert the traffic, deal reasonably
with anyone who wants to break the peace, and allow the protest to
proceed.
We have to ask ourselves why they would want to hinder, politicise,
demonise and outright attack innocent protesters unless they feel that
their shortcomings are being exposed?
It’s a check and balance
For too long we have had a one-party political system, given that the
opposition has always been weak until 2008. Now that we are moving
towards a two-party system, we can take heart our democracy is maturing.
Another key component of a matured democracy is the active
involvement of the citizens. Some would call this the Third Force. It is
needed to hold the politicians in check, to ensure that the promises
made during elections are kept. The awakening that our country
experienced in 2008 was the awakening of the rakyat and it is here to
stay.
It’s standing in solidarity with others
Don’t let others struggle for us but stand in solidarity with those
who share our belief and are overcoming their fears to make a stand for
what is right. It is all too easy to click “Like” on Facebook or even to
give money but at the end of the day it is about numbers. Authorities
only take notice when there are big numbers of protesters.
I joined in my first protest at Bersih 2.0 because I didn’t want to
let others do the fighting (struggle) for me. I want to be there for my
own family and for my country.
It’s doing something
Rather than doing nothing and complaining about things, you are doing
something when you protest with others who feel the same way as you do.
Admittedly, protest is not the only way to go but sometimes it is the
only option left when all other attempts are met with indifference or
disdain.
Perhaps there are many who feel the same way as my friend that
protests are a waste of time and that it is too messy. To him and others
like him, I’d want to ask, “What are you doing then?”
Turning up at a protest is the least we can do.
Conclusion
As a nation, we are going through the throes of growing pains and it
does look messy – dirty politics, corruption, vote-buying, gangster
tactics, hate speeches, expose of scandals after scandals and of course,
mega protests. These are normal and will soon pass if we do not give
up struggling for justice and for the preservation of our democracy.
We can gain courage from countries like South Korea and Taiwan whose
people have to struggle to set their country free from military juntas
not too long ago. But once freedom was achieved and democracy
established, their countries flourish and today are shining examples of
prosperity and peace. Yes, it was messy during transition but it was
well worth it.
To the argument that it is not our culture, one only has to look at
the history of our nation. Umnohad held mass protests against the
Malayan Union and the road to independence was one of protests right up
to 1957 and there have always been protests in the subsequent years.
Perhaps there are few men who had to struggle with this matter of
protestation in the modern context of a democratic society as much as
Martin Luther King, Jr. He has this to say.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of
comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and
controversy. The true neighbour will risk his position, his prestige and
even his life for the welfare of others.”
Protesting is not a matter of our culture or not. It is a human need
to be heard and for our views to be respected. No more excuses, pack
your salt and bottle of water, our voices must be heard.
Thomas Fann blogs at www.newmalaysia.org
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