I refer to the letter Article 12: Nazri should establish mechanisms .

The forum organised by a 14-member NGOs called Article 11 was done in a legitimate and lawful manner. The writer mentioned in her letter inter alia that '... the demonstrators were merely exercising their constitutional right to peacefully demonstrate against those opposing the Syariah'.

Allow me to say that on that fateful day, the demonstrators among others broke through the police barrier and disrupted the public forum. One protestor took the microphone followed by other fellow protestors in what was a delaying tactic.

Thus, any right-thinking member of the public would agree that this was not a peaceful demonstration as claimed by certain quarters. These so-called legitimate protestors are not stupid because they were clever enough to disrupt and finally get the forum to be called off.

Those who were made to look really silly were the relevant authorities including the police because they could not guarantee the safety of speakers and participants at a legitimate and lawful forum. For the sake of rule of law and civil society, the police must act without fear or favour against the culprits.