Three arrested for bringing food add to May Day mayhem

comments     Susan Loone     Published     Updated

Have the police gone on a mad arrest spree? This is the question many are asking after witnessing todays arrests when police swooped down on May Day marchers in Kuala Lumpur.

In what was supposed to be a peace walk from the rough Chow Kit Road neighbourhood to the upscale Kuala Lumpur City Centre, the police made a surprise appearance and carted away 17 of the marchers who were handing out leaflets in conjunction with the May 1 celebrations.

Events took a spicier turn this evening when the police elected to arrest three more people who were merely bringing some food to their friends who have been remanded for the night for their part in the May Day march.

Womens Candidacy Initiative spokesperson Zaitun Kasim who was present when police arrested the three young men for unruly behaviour at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters, said the police were rude and rough.

(WCI is a group seeking to advance the status of women by encouraging the participation of women in politics.)

When we ask the police why the three were arrested, they (police) said they have the exclusive right to arrest anyone, Zaitun told malaysiakini .

If this is not an indication of a police state, I dont know what else is, she said.

Shouting matches

The names of the three men were not available. Police have remained largely uncooperative and have refused to answer queries from the press, lawyers, family members and friends of those arrested.

The police were seen manhandling some of the marchers earlier today. Witnesses said shouting matches between the police and visitors added to the mayhem at the police headquarters where the arrested marchers were taken to.

Several reports were lodged against the police for their handling of todays events . Lawyer and PRM youth leader Latheefa Koya for the May Day detainees is among those who lodged a report on the behaviour of the police today.

The arrest of the three food-bearing visitors bring the number of the May Day arrests to 20. Most were organisers of the peace walk and two women were among those arrested.



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