The students involved in the Jan 1 demonstration in Tanjung Malim say they have evidence of police brutality against them, according to their lawyer.

NONE Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, who represents the 17 arrested that night, said photographic and video evidence in their possession show that the demonstrators were trampled on, beaten and kicked by the police.

Fadiah said that this showed that excessive force was used when the police broke up the New Year's Day event in front of the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.  

"There are criminal elements. The government must take responsibility as a crime had been committed," she said after accompanying a group of students who lodged a report on the incident at the Dang Wangi police station in Kuala Lumpur today.

Premier’s promise ‘a lie’

Speaking to reporters, Fadiah also questioned Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s promise to uphold democracy and human rights in Malaysia.

Instead, the lawyer declared, the PM’s promise was “a lie”, evident through the incident involving the student activists.

“Look at how the students were trampled on and kicked that day. Is this what Najib calls upholding democracy and human rights? This is a lie,” Fadiah said.

She added that Malaysia should observe the United Nations principles, which dictate that no or limited force should be used to control a gathering.

Fadiah said in this case, the students were “absolutely unarmed” and “only used their voices” to call for academic freedom.

The students had earlier lodged a police report urging action against the police who had allegedly assaulted them.

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