Two anti-war demonstrations took place in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend with a highly charged crowd taking to the streets to protest the US-led aggression in Iraq. O­ne group's anger was fuelled by the fiery speeches of politicians in power, but the other's was extinguished by tear gas fired by police.

The official demonstration was organised by the government-backed Aman Malaysia. This group, headed by Umno Youth head Hishammuddin Hussein, marched from Padang Merbok to Dataran Merdeka. An estimated 15,000 anti-war protesters took part.

The police blocked several roads in the vicinity and provided personnel to control and manage the traffic to facilitate the peace march over a kilometre-long route. The other group had no such luck.

Cardboard coffins

Aman Malaysia protesters carried placards denouncing the American and British invasion of Iraq. Some contained highly personal attacks o­n US President George W Bush, whose nation is o­ne of Malaysia's main trading partners.

The crowd also carried huge cardboard coffins to symbolise the death of freedom and liberty. Also seen were posters of Iraqi children who have fallen victim to the American-led bombings.

National broadcaster RTM gave prominent coverage to this demonstration, going to the extent of seeking participants, some as young as14 years old, to express their "disgust" over the invasion of Iraq.

This demonstration was labeled as an event for all Malaysians to join the chorus of growing global opposition against the war. Hishammuddin was reported as saying that the demonstration was hugely successful.

The other demo

Simultaneously, some five kilometers away, another group organised a very similar demonstration against the war. This protest was not sanctioned by the government, but had the support of all opposition parties.

The size of the crowd, according to participants, ranged from 2,000 to 3,000 people. They gathered at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) and planned to proceed to the US embassy. But the police were against this idea.

They gave the crowd about 30 minutes to gather at KLCC to express their opposition to the war and then ordered them to disperse.

However, the protesters found their way to the Australian High Commission and this is where the peace rally turned unruly o­n the part of the police.

Several rounds of tear gas were fired at the crowd for continuing their protest. About 12 people, including some opposition political leaders, were arrested.

Political patronage

So what's wrong with this picture? Both demonstrations were against the war, in fact clearly in line with the government's official stand to oppose the war because it is being fought without the approval of the United Nations.

If that's the case, why did the police allow o­ne demonstration to proceed under their full protection while restraining the other? After all, both demonstrations o­nly sought to deliver the same message.

The answer lies in the political nature of these demonstrations. As mentioned, the o­ne at Dataran Merdeka had the backing/blessing of the government, and more importantly of Umno.

The other at KLCC was organised by a coalition of non-government organisations and opposition parties.

As with all other issues, the police decided to throw their 'loyalty' behind the gathering at Dataran Merdeka, and came down hard o­n that held at KLCC.

Why the double standards, o­ne might ask. Again the answer is that the police have become accustomed to denying people their constitutional right to express their opinions, except when this has the right political patronage.

The other inference o­ne could draw is that o­nly the government-backed Aman Malaysia should get full credit for amassing anti-war crowds. Imagine what this could do for Malaysia's image in the Islamic/Arab world especially if the protest is relayed o­n satellite news channels.

It may be presumptuous to say that the government wants to be seen as the champion of Islamic/Third World countries, but the absence of any logical reason for the variations in police conduct o­n Saturday just strengthens this presumption.

Blurred line

Of course, having seen past intolerance over such gatherings, o­ne would be na V ve to assume that the police could have been a little more accommodating in even-handed handling of the two rallies.

Never mind the fact that such rallies are taking place all over the world and that the list of countries opposing the war far outweighs those supporting the US - surely the police remember that o­nly last week, the ruling party and the opposition, for the first time, submitted a joint-memorandum against the war to the US embassy.

Malaysians are fully entitled to express their views/opinions/opposition to the war, just like millions of people worldwide. Our views/opinions/opposition should not be judged according to the 'vehicle' we choose to express our stand.

For the authorities to make distinctions between us in this manner is totally unacceptable - what difference does it make in terms of the crimes against humanity against which we are protesting?

It is highly unlikely that the police will be moved by such pleas. The drilling to support o­nly their political masters has been deeply rooted in the police force over the last four decades.

Nevertheless, given that people have found common ground over the anti-war issue, o­ne can o­nly hope that common sense will prevail in the future and that the police will merely observe those peace protests organised by groups other than Aman Malaysia.

This is of utmost importance: o­ne more canister of tear gas fired against these protesters may be no different from casualties inflicted by bullets and bombs o­n Iraqi innocents.