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| Police detain opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) MP Tian Chua (3rd L in yellow) and supporters of the "Bersih" (Clean) electoral reform coalition during a rally in Kuala Lumpur July 9, 2011. Malaysian police fired tear gas and detained more than 500 people in the capital on Saturday in a bid to prevent thousands of anti-government protesters from putting on a massive show of strength against Prime Minister Najib Razak. REUTERS/Ashraf Shamsul Azlan |
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| Malaysian riot police officers march on a street under heavy rain during a rally in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, July 9, 2011. Police fired tear gas and detained hundreds of activists as those demonstrators massed Saturday across Malaysia's main city demanding electoral reforms in the country's biggest political rally in years. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) |
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| Malaysian activists from Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) run away from tear gas fired by riot police during a rally in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, July 9, 2011. Police fired tear gas and detained hundreds of activists as those demonstrators massed across Malaysia's main city demanding electoral reforms in the country's biggest political rally in years. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin) |
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| A Malaysian activist from Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) tries to kick a tear gas fired by police during a rally calling for electoral reforms in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, July 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin) |
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| Malaysian activists from Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) march on a street during a rally in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, July 9, 2011. Police fired tear gas and detained hundreds of activists as those demonstrators massed across Malaysia's main city demanding electoral reforms in the country's biggest political rally in years. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin) |
Malaysia fires tear gas at protest, arrests 672
Saturday, July 09, 2011
By SEAN YOONG and EILEEN NG
Associated Press
Police fired tear gas and detained hundreds of activists as more than 20,000 demonstrators massed Saturday across Malaysia's main city demanding electoral reforms in the country's biggest political rally in years.
The opposition-backed rally was the culmination of weeks of intense pressure on Prime Minister Najib Razak's long-ruling coalition to make election laws fairer and more transparent ahead of national polls widely expected by mid-2012.
Demonstrators marched in defiance of Najib's administration, which declared the rally illegal and warned people repeatedly to avoid it.
Opposition leaders accuse Najib's National Front coalition of relying on fraud to preserve its 54-year grip on power, which has been eroded in recent years amid mounting complaints about corruption and racial discrimination. The government insists the current electoral policies are evenhanded.
Authorities took extraordinary security measures to deter Saturday's rally by sealing off roads, closing train stations and deploying trucks with water cannons near the Independence Stadium in downtown Kuala Lumpur where activists sought to gather.
Nevertheless, thousands tried to reach the stadium from various parts of Kuala Lumpur, chanting "Long live the people" and carrying yellow balloons and flowers as they marched.
Police fired numerous rounds of tear gas and chemical-laced water in repeated attempts to disperse the crowds, causing demonstrators to scatter into nearby buildings and alleys before they regrouped. Police helicopters flew overhead as a brief downpour failed to deter the protesters.
The demonstrators dispersed after a five-hour standoff with police. Only several hundred reached the stadium.
Najib insisted Saturday the protesters only represent a minority, and that most Malaysians support his administration.
"If there are people who want to hold the illegal rally, there are even more who are against their plan," the prime minister was quoted as saying by the national news agency, Bernama.
Police said in a statement that they detained 672 people in a clampdown called "Operation Erase Bersih," referring to the Bersih coalition of civic groups organizing the rally. Those arrested included several senior opposition officials.
Witnesses said riot police armed with batons charged at some protesters and dragged them into trucks. Some were seen bleeding, but police could not confirm any injuries.
Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's top opposition figure, said on Twitter that he sustained a "minor injury" when his group was hit by tear gas. The Malaysiakini news website said he had a knee injury.
The crackdown "stirred a sense of outrage against the exhibition of raw power by our government," Bersih coalition leader Ambiga Sreenavasan told reporters.
"What is the necessity for a show of might against right? No matter what, right will always prevail," she said, minutes before police detained her and other Bersih officials as they walked to the stadium.
As the afternoon progressed, activists estimated the total number of demonstrators exceeded 20,000 people, making it Malaysia's biggest street rally since 2007. Some independent news websites estimated there were tens of thousands of people, but authorities did not immediately have an official figure.
The rally has galvanized the opposition and has been credited for a surge in political awareness among the public in recent weeks.
Government officials accuse Anwar's three-party alliance of endorsing the rally to cause chaos on the streets and undermine the National Front.
Over the past two weeks, more than 200 other activists have been arrested nationwide for trying to promote the rally. Six are being held under security laws that allow indefinite detention without trial. Most of the others were eventually released, but some were charged with laws banning activities linked to illegal assemblies. They face several years in prison if convicted.
The activists' demands include an overhaul of voter registration lists, tougher measures to curb fraud and fairer opportunities for opposition politicians to campaign in government-linked media. The National Front's mandate expires in mid-2013 but many analysts expect elections to be called by next year.
Supporters of the Bersih coalition were also planning solidarity marches over the weekend in foreign cities, including in Australia, Britain, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and the United States.
In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the U.S. has been communicating to Malaysia the importance of respecting human rights, including freedom of expression and assembly.
"We consider it incumbent on all sides to refrain from violence," she told a news conference Friday.
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Associated Press writer Matthew Pennington in Washington contributed to this report.
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Malaysia braces for pro-democracy street protests in Kuala Lumpur
Supporters of the "Bersih" (Clean) electoral reform coalition gather before a rally in Kuala Lumpur July 9, 2011. Malaysian police fired tear gas and detained more than 500 people in the capital on Saturday in a bid to prevent thousands of anti-government protesters from putting on a massive show of strength against Prime Minister Najib Razak. REUTERS/Samsul Said
Malaysian police line up in front of water cannon trucks near Independence Square in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. Photograph: Vincent Thian/AP
Tensions mount as hundreds of thousands of activists expected in capital for Arab spring-style rally against 'dirty politics'
Friday 8 July 2011
Kate Hodal in Kuala Lumpur
guardian.co.uk
Malaysia is bracing for an Arab spring-style stand-off on Saturday, when activists angry at "dirty politics" are expected to rally in Kuala Lumpur despite draconian government efforts to nip the movement in the bud.
Tensions have mounted in this normally staid state, often called "Moderate Malaysia", after a group of 62 non-governmental organisations known locally as Bersih 2.0 proposed a peaceful protest, dubbed the "Walk for Democracy", against alleged vote-rigging and other electoral abuses in a recent state election.
But the government last week declared Bersih – which means "clean" in Malay – illegal, and has warned that anyone wearing the yellow colours of protest will be detained. It has already arrested more than 200 supporters and organisers on charges ranging from the promotion of "illegal assembly" to "waging war against the king". Some are being held for an indefinite period without trial.
Although Malaysia's next general election is not until 2013, polls could take place as soon as this year – with many speculating that the incumbent Barisan Nasional (National Front) may not fare so well.
Headed by the prime minister, Najib Razak, Barisan Nasional has ruled Malaysia since 1955. It suffered a major setback in 2008 when it lost more than one-third of its parliamentary seats to Pakatan Rakyat (People's Alliance), a coalition of opposition parties.
Despite government accusations that they are actively threatening national security, Bersih's leaders have been adamant that they are pushing solely for electoral changes.
"We are calling for a government through free and fair elections, not street demonstrations" like in Egypt or Libya, said Bersih's chairwoman, Ambiga Sreenevasan.
After calling Bersih illegal, the government assented to a rally in a stadium. Opposition groups expect as many as 300,000 supporters to turn out. Police, however, have refused to grant Bersih a permit for the rally – a requirement for any gathering of five or more people – and have said they will work with the army to disperse Saturday's crowds.
Earlier this week police held a military exercise in which soldiers held up banners reading "Disperse or we will shoot".
Najib threw his endorsement behind local silat – or martial arts – groups, including one that has openly vowed to "wage war" against Bersih. "If there are evil enemies who want to attack the country from without and within," Najib said this week, "you, my brothers, will rise to fight them".
Bersih organisers say they have received death, bomb and gang-rape threats in recent weeks, which they claim police have not investigated.
"It has been challenging personally," said Ambiga. Nonetheless, Bersih "understand our responsibility in holding the line on behalf of all of you who want nothing more than a clean electoral system and a better Malaysia."
While no one is entirely sure what to expect on Saturday, the lead-up has already caused mayhem. Extensive roadblocks have caused near standstills in Kuala Lumpur and many businesses will be closing. Widespread mobile phone and internet disruption is expected.
Despite it being a supposedly peaceful protest, many are expecting violence.
"This is the formula now, all around the world – in Libya, Egypt, it's all the same – there will be violence," said Mohamed Rayak, 32, a hotel manager. "But no one knows if it will be coming from the government or the opposition. If it's from the government, then they can say it all got out of hand, and [the rally] has to be stopped."
Thousands of supporters have aired their views on Facebook and Twitter, with many of them, such as Thomas Chai, tweeting directly to the prime minister. "Beneath this YELLOW there is an idea, Mr Najib, and ideas are bulletproof," he wrote.
Bersih supporters in other parts of the world are expected to hold similar rallies on Saturday in Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, France, Switzerland, the US, Canada and the UK.
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