• Malaysian authorities arrest 1,600 protesters as tens of thousands demand democratic reforms
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[list][*]At least 10,000 protesters took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur today to demand reforms to the Malaysian electoral system, which they say is plagued with fraud. [*]Malaysia has regular elections, but it has been governed by the National Front coalition, and its predecessor the Alliance, since it became independent fifty years ago. Although maintaining a majority, they performed unusually poorly at the last election in 2008. [*]The rally, called [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bersih_2.0_rally]Bersih 2.0[/url], is the follow-up to a similar demonstration in 2007, which was unsuccessful in forcing changes to the electoral system.[/list] [url]http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/06d80d3c-aa50-11e0-94a6-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1ReGnHIM2[/url] [quote=Financial Times]Malaysian police fired tear gas and water cannon at thousands of demonstrators to prevent them from assembling to rally for electoral reform on Saturday. Some 1,600 people were arrested for defying the government ban in a street protest against Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government. Organizers of the rally called Bersih say they are “horrified” with the detentions. The coalition of campaign activists issued a statement saying: “The only violence witnessed was perpetrated by the police, who unleashed immense amounts of tear gas and chemical laced water on innocent members of the public.” Bersih insisted they would rally peacefully. Some demonstrators sat in front of a police blockade outside of the Tung Shin Hospital. But the authorities eventually fired water into the crowd, scattering the protesters. Some took refuge in a church compound but a group of officers marched in and headed for people wearing yellow t-shirts, the uniform of the rally. “I don’t know why they are arresting me,” said Muhammad Ismadi bin Haji Abdul Kadir, who works for the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic party, as he was being taken away. The officer refused to comment to the Financial Times. But the police had warned the public that they would detain anyone who was participating or promoting the rally. Activists and opposition parties say it is their right to march against the electoral system, which they say is plagued with fraud. Mr Razak has dismissed the allegation. He has accused opposition parties of backing this rally to gain political momentum ahead of the next poll. The opposition won an unprecedented number of seats in the last general election following restrictions imposed by the police during a similar demonstration in 2007. This demonstration began as a call for free and fair elections. But some analysts see this as a referendum on Mr Najib, who has built an image as a leader of reform. This is the first public challenge directed at the prime minister, according to Ibrahim Suffian with the independent polling group Merdeka Center. The fact that this rally was organized by activists and not political parties makes it more attractive to ordinary Malaysians. Calling for a more transparent electoral system drew Allan Leong, 45, to brave the rain and participate in his first demonstration. “Malaysia is controlled by one party. It’s not fair. It doesn’t really reflect a true democracy,” he said. Demonstrators managed to avoid clashing with pro-government groups, who were also out in the hundreds. But the whole event left Kuala Lumpur paralyzed. The city was placed under a 22-hour lockdown on Saturday. Access to all major roads was cut off and some public transport was suspended. The city was eerily quiet, except for the sound of helicopters circling. In the shopping district of Bukit Bintang some shops opened their doors, only to close up a few hours later. Ms Hao at the Swiss Polo shop, which sells luggage and trinkets to tourists, says she underestimated how much the road blocks would affect her business. “Malaysia is a very peaceful country to live in. I didn’t think it would get this complicated,” she said.[/quote] [img]http://imgkk.com/i/uepn.jpg[/img] [img]http://imgkk.com/i/l_fi.jpg[/img] [img]http://imgkk.com/i/9hm2.jpg[/img] [img]http://imgkk.com/i/in97.jpg[/img]
Oh boy here we go again.
It's still shitty, but thank fuck for once it's not as brutal as some of the anti-demonstration efforts of this year have been.
From what I hear from Malaysian FP members, they have every right to complain.
And we can't even protest here.
[QUOTE=Ignhelper;31022394]And we can't even protest here.[/QUOTE] You can post here, can't you? Why not attempt to get the word around?
Here, have a video: [video=youtube;1KFwLY5TzOs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KFwLY5TzOs[/video] And more pictures: [URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/7/26475813507632657429811.jpg/][IMG]http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/4381/26475813507632657429811.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/10/27028113506500324209711.jpg/][IMG]http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6905/27028113506500324209711.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Would've gone to the rally myself if I wasn't such a big pussy :v:
[QUOTE=ewitwins;31022899]You can post here, can't you? Why not attempt to get the word around?[/QUOTE] [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_demonstrations_in_Singapore"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_demonstrations_in_Singapore A[/URL]nd here, 18 guys protested. No one cares. [URL]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tak_Boleh_Tahan[/URL]
I for one, even though living in malaysia, think Bersih is doing a bad job, in a sense they're doing it wrong. If you pay any attention to Bersih on facebook or their website, they "plan" a date and a place to protest, and sometimes postpone because the government does not want them to protest in a certain place. I don't fully understand bahasa melayu, so correct where I am wrong. Anyone can go on their website and predict their next move, which is pretty clever for the malaysian government. Their "planning" had been followed police blocking off KL from certain places to stop protesters from rallying and be able to prepare for the protest. I honestly think they should rethink their methods of protesting, because their currents methods are just bad.
I didn't even realised the rally already had passed :v: [editline]10th July 2011[/editline] also Bersih means cleaning and the firetrucks are spraying water at them :v:
I doubt this protest would escalate to those we see in Libya or Syria. Singapore can hardly have any protest at all because most of our citizen are actually too lazy to protest. We are just too lazy to cause a riot.
[QUOTE=BCell;31024638]I doubt this protest would escalate to those we see in Libya or Syria. Singapore can hardly have any protest at all because most of our citizen are actually too lazy to protest. We are just too lazy to cause a riot.[/QUOTE] We also don't have the balls to do it.
[QUOTE=Ignhelper;31024842]We also don't have the balls to do it.[/QUOTE] No. Just lazy. I would protest but I just can't find anything to protest in Singapore.
The filthy rich don't protest in the streets, it's beneath them.
[QUOTE=angelangel;31026027]The filthy rich don't protest in the streets, it's beneath them.[/QUOTE] "protest on the streets is too mainstream. I protest in the sky"
I used to live in KL when I was younger, it's sad to find out that it's people live under oppression now that I've turned older...
[QUOTE=BCell;31025642]No. Just lazy. I would protest but I just can't find anything to protest in Singapore.[/QUOTE] Protest for bubble gum.
[QUOTE=Oblivious1;31026917]Protest for bubble gum.[/QUOTE] I hope someone cosplays as Duke Nukem if that happens
[QUOTE=Oblivious1;31026917]Protest for bubble gum.[/QUOTE] Or protest to have the rights to protest.
I was actually one of photographers covering Bersih 2.0 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. We were given a walkie talkie for live information. Nothing happened there except for 3 people detained because they were too stupid. Also, the Malaysian government themselves are stupid. Listed to their explanation, [video=youtube;jfpYZ4IGenY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfpYZ4IGenY[/video] A shot I got before they decided to chase me away. [img]http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/268256_2177237911989_1278090865_2542691_5367158_n. jpg[/img]
I really love watching history in the making, especially for the better quality of people lives.
I hope something good comes out with these protest.
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