Reporters questioned as 'independent witnesses'
Journalists covering an event related to the Bersih 2.0 rally were ‘tricked’ by Alor Setar police into entering an unauthorised detention centre yesterday, to be questioned as “independent witnesses”.
Journalists covering an event related to the Bersih 2.0 rally were ‘tricked’ by Alor Setar police into entering an unauthorised detention centre yesterday, to be questioned as “independent witnesses”.
About 3.30pm, journalists had gathered at the Police Training Centre in Anak Bukit after being alerted to a planned demonstration by PKR members.
However, some 30 party members led by Kedah chief Wan Salleh Wan Isa were shooed away by the police, who threatened them with arrests.
About 20 light strike force personnel equipped with batons and shields stood prepared for action behind the gates.
A few minutes later, the gate opened and a plainclothes officer told reporters to "come inside". The impression was that there was to be a briefing on the
detention
of 14 activists on Saturday morning
(right)
.
However, they were then told that they were needed as "independent witnesses" into the incident and warned "not to take any photos".
The group waited for about two hours on the grounds before being called individually into the building. Their professional details were recorded before they were asked what they knew of the planned press conference by the activists, what they had witnessed, if they had seen anyone wearing the yellow Bersih 2.0 T-shirts and if they knew the event involved the NGO coalition for electoral reform.
The Malaysiakini journalist was asked by one T Segaran if “you are aware there will be a big rally on July 9 related to Bersih in Kuala Lumpur”.
Later he told the journalist: "We (are doing) this because we need you to be our witness as we want to be professional in our work.”
The police invoked Section 112 of the Penal Code and held the journalists in an enclosed location until everyone had been questioned.
The activists had been detained just as they were about to hold a press conference in a coffee shop. Apart from observers, uniformed police personnel were also present.
The Bar Council's Kedah chapter representative, lawyer Siti Zuhairah Zulkifli, has lodged a report alleging that her work was hampered by the police.
She said they violated Article 5 of the federal constitution by not allowing the detainees access to lawyers.
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