I disagree with the Malaysiakini articles Demonstrations and vigils not the right way and Kugan not a hero
The argument in the first article sounds like government propaganda, the sort of thing the government says. "Don't confront, don't publicise - come and talk to us." And the reason? The government does not like its faults to be made known.
It will talk and not do anything and you go back to square one. You simply cannot trust the government. Better to publicise your plight and be beaten by the police than talk to the government and be silenced.
Demonstrations and vigils are proven methods in publicising the plight of people the government would rather keep hidden. Demonstrations and vigils demonstrate the willingness of people to make a public stand and statement about their convictions.
Knowing that they risk being arrested, they still do it because there is no other way. It is simplistic of the writer to talk about using the Internet and blogs as if that is the only way. How many Malaysians have access to the Internet?
But with a public demonstration and vigil, everyone can see for themselves especially if the responsible media reports their story. And if the police hantam the demonstrators, then it proves that the government is worried but the police violence will gain more publicity for the cause.
All over the world citizens demonstrate over a range of public issues and they are not out to cause trouble.
In Malaysia, it is the police that cause trouble and if there is trouble, usually it is the police behind the violence. So keep up the demonstrations and vigils and if the government is responsive it will not be afraid of demonstrations.
If the government had listened to the people they will not be demonstrating. Demonstrations are often the people's desperate last resort. So continue to demonstrate, hold vigils, and of course use the Internet.
People should use every legal mean possible to publicise their plight and cause. It is unconstiutional to ban demonstrations especially peaceful ones.
The writer's suggestion that demos can result in the government calling for an emergency is scaremongering. The Hindraf and Bersih demos were tremendous shows of citizen displeasure. There was no trouble only police troubling the people.
The marchers were peaceful and law-abiding. The government often organises public demonstrations and parades that also take place peacefully. So why can the government organise such demonstrations and not allow others to do the same? Demonstrations are only dangerous when the police make trouble.
I hope the writer will join the next vigil or peaceful demonstration. If your mother or father or son or daughter is unfairly jailed, you too will want to hold a vigil until your loved one is free.
It is easy for armchair critics to pontificate when they don't suffer. Those who think the government will listen to them if they keep smiling and being sweet and submissive will find out the hard way.
In the second article, the writer wrote, "Kugan is not a hero. I think people should stop making him look like an innocent person victimised by police brutality".
The police made Kugan a hero. They made him a martyr like the many other young Indians who died in police custody. People did not make him look like an innocent person victimised by police brutality. Get this: he was an innocent until proven guilty citizen killed in his prime. When was Kugan proven guilty?
The writer's sense of justice and respect for human rights is pathetic. He said, "I am not agreeable to the suggestion of putting up a fight for any criminal". For starters, he is unfair in calling Kugan a criminal and he can be sued for defamation.
He owes this man and his family an apology. Anyway, don't criminals have legal and human rights? It frightens me that anyone can think like the writer. So, shall we just lock up the prisoners and throw away the keys?
Perhaps the people who killed Kugan also think like the writer. Suspects have no rights and can be beaten and tortured until they die!
People don't want Kugan to be a hero or martyr. They want him alive but that is not possible. No one said he was a hero until the Home MInister added insult to injury by his 'hero and demon' comment. The minister is unfit to be Home MInister and has only caused more unhappiness by unnecessary statements.
The Home Minister should resign. He has a big mouth and a small heart. The family is in deep grief and yet he had to score political points. However, he only scored an own goal.
No wonder the country is in such a state, with Rela and uniformed officials now allegedly involved in human trafficking right under his nose. So much bad things and crimes happening and the Home Minister can't even control the police force.
Syed Hamid Albar should apologise to Kugan's family because of what the police did to their son. But that would be asking too much. Kugan's parents should now find a good lawyer to sue the police. The victims of police brutality must start fighting for justice.
