The police today used water cannon to disperse a crowd who had earlier defied a ban and successfuly held a short candlelight vigil at Dataran Merdeka.

At the end of the brief 20-minute vigil, some remnants of the crowd remained behind in the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka attempting to continue their vigil against the Internal Security Act, a tough law which allows detention without trial.

The police, who had reluctantly allowed the candlelight vigil despite a police ban against the gathering, deployed the water cannon to disperse the remaining crowd who had assembled at a bus-stop in Lebuh Ampang after issuing them warnings to break up.

The Abolish the ISA Movement (GMI), the organiser of the vigil, had also urged the crowd to disperse.

Moments after being awashed with water at about 9.20pm, the crowd numbering about 30 ran along the Lebuh Ampang road, followed closely by the police aiming to arrest them.

Earlier at about 8.25pm, some 200 people participated in the candlelight vigil after GMI successfully negotiated with the police to allow them to stay for a short while.

The crowd started gathering in the vicinity of the historic padang at about 8.15pm despite the presence of an equal number of police personnel.

At about 8.45pm, just as the police threatened to move in against the peaceful protesters, the crowd agreed to disperse on their own.

In all, they managed to overcome a police ban to mark their candlelight protest for about 20 minutes. No arrests have been reported.

A section of the crowd, which was later sprayed with water, however decided to loiter a few metres away from Dataran Merdeka to continue the vigil.

Family support

In the crowd were two family members related to five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders who were the latest individuals held under the ISA.

One of them was S Sivalingam (l eft ), who is representing detained Hindraf leader T Vasanthakumar’s family at the vigil.

Another, V Raidu ( photo, right ), brother of another detained Hindraf leader V Ganabatirau, told Malaysiakini that he attended the vigil to send a message that the ISA must be repealed.

“I’m not just supporting my brother but all ISA detainees. I know the pain the detainees’ family go through,” said Raidu.

Meanwhile, GMI chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said GMI, a coalition of civil society groups opposing the ISA, had urged the crowd to disperse as the objective of the vigil had been met.

“We wanted it to be a peaceful gathering, despite the police restrictions. We didn’t want to be confrontational,” he said.

He vowed that GMI would continue to lobby public support against the ISA.

Appeal rejected

Earlier today GMI said it was pressing ahead with the candlelight vigil despite police not responding to its appeal for a permit.

GMI submitted the appeal yesterday in a bid to reverse the Dang Wangi district police’s decision to deem the vigil illegal.

However, activists and family members of Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees will still try to hold the vigil near Dataran Merdeka, said Syed Ibrahim when contacted this morning.

“We’ll see what happens later. We’ll try to hold a vigil wherever we can gather,” said Syed Ibrahim ( right ).

The police have closed Jalan Raja, opposite Dataran Merdeka, to prevent people from gathering at the historical square. They have also advised motorists to avoid the road.

Yesterday, Dang Wangi OCPD ACP Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman claimed that GMI had “refused” to submit an application form for the gathering when told to do so during a meeting on Wednesday.

Technicalities

GMI however refuted this, claiming that the documents had already been submitted on Dec 26, 2007 which was followed up by a letter on Dec 28.

Zulkarnain had acknowledged the letter and replied on Jan 2, stating that the permit to hold the event was denied among others, on grounds of national security and that GMI was not a formally registered body. [ See letter from police ]

GMI, a coalition of more than 80 civil society groups opposing the ISA, is organising the vigil to show solidarity for detainees held without trial under the ISA.

The vigil was suppose to take place last month on Dec 22 following the ISA detention of five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders on Dec 13, but was postponed after the police insisted that a permit be sought.

Syed Ibrahim added that GMI was also adamant in proceeding with the vigil to reaffirm their rights to assemble peacefully as enshrined under the Federal Constitution.

Zulkarnain had said stern action would be taken against individuals involved in an illegal assembly under the Police Act.