Cops aggravating BN's headache

There is growing outcry among Malaysians over the 160 arrests made by police against peaceful demonstrators in the past three weeks.

Social reform movement Aliran is concerned over the increasing abuse of power by the police involving the arrests.

"They have intervened whenever peaceful activities such as candlelight vigils are organised by civil society groups," said its president P Ramakrishnan in a statement today.

"These activities have not threatened the security of the nation neither have they caused any traffic congestion. And yet, participants are dispersed and arrested in a regrettable manner," he added.

Recently, Ramakrishan said, the police have become so intolerant that they have "intruded with impunity" into the harmless individual actions of Malaysians.

He also quoted the words of Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming who said: "Put up tent cannot, gather cannot, wear black cannot, hold candles cannot, drink teh tarik also cannot."

Ramakrishnan said the police action has only accentuated the political problem and added tremendously to the BN's headache.

The Aliran president said it was of utmost importance that civil society must have some space to articulate and demonstrate their grievances to make known to the authorities what their complaints are.

"In all civilised and civil societies, this democratic space is accessible and even recognised as a matter of right.

"This is why we are disturbed that the police deployed so much manpower and equipment to disrupt the (Pakatan Rakyat) fast that was scheduled to be launched yesterday," he added.

Police taking sides

Ramakrishnan pointed out that it is also unfortunate that people are beginning to view the police as taking sides in the clash of wills between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan.

"People are wondering whether BN is putting pressure on the police, making it difficult for them to be neutral and to concentrate on their primary task of maintaining law and order.

"It would be more than a pity if Malaysians become disillusioned with the police," he added.

Ramakrishnan also called on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to allow harmless activities, like fasting, to take place.

"The BN leadership must take note that the political turmoil resulting from the illegal takeover of the legitimate government of the people is unlikely to abate. If anything, it will continue to escalate to the detriment of our young nation.

"The only way to overcome the Perak crisis is to dissolve the state assembly and hold fresh elections. Anything short of a statewide re-election is travesty of democracy," he said.

Exercise restraint

Yesterday, the police detained a total of 21 people, including eight Pakatan elected representatives, over the hunger strike launch in Ipoh.

The first to be nabbed in the blitz which started as early as 6.30am were five workers who were putting up a canopy and balloon.

In reaction, Gerakan Youth chief Lim Si Pin urged the police to exercise restraint and rationality in taking action.

He said the five workers engaged by a political party should not have been detained.

"Hunger strike is a form of non-violent protest and the police should not intervene," said Lim, adding the police action could be construed as a BN-sanctioned action.

He believed that Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein would not agree with the police in taking such a drastic action.

According to Lim, the police are too obsessed with "calming down" the political situation.

Suhakam: Police must be tolerant

Meanwhile the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) also urged the government to uphold the rule of law as well as the right to assemble as enshrined under the federal constitution.

"The recent arrests of elected members of parliament, state assembly representatives, and civil society activists are inconsistent with Malaysia's pledge and commitment to upholding human rights," said commission in a statement today.

It added that the continued form of police action showed a growing intolerance towards the exercise of civil and political rights in Malaysia.

"Malaysians have a right to peaceful expressions of dissent and the police and enforcement officials must be more tolerant to public action in a democratic society.

"Suhakam calls on the police not to deprive members of the public this constitution right and calls on the police to take a more tolerant approach towards peaceful expressions."

The statement was signed by commissioners Choo Siew Kioh, Michael Yeoh, N Siva Subramaniam and Denison Jayasooria.