updated version

Several activists who were arrested for participating in a May Day march in Kuala Lumpur yesterday were released on police bail this morning.

The 17, including two women were told to report back at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters on May 16 to find out if they would face any legal action.

Among those detained were Parti Sosialis Malaysia pro tem president Dr Nasir Mohd Hashim, 56, vice-president Dr D Jeyakumar, 46, human rights organisation Suaram coordinator S Arutchelvan, Community Development Centre members V Selvam, 41 and Seevan Doraisamy, 24.

While the two women held were, social activist Lee Siew Ha, 33 and PSM member R Manorani,46.

Nasir today criticised the police for behaving aggressively and asked why the detainees had to be held overnight despite no charges being brought against them.

I think the police have gone mad, especially (Dang Wangi OCPD) Bakri Zinin. His behaviour is unbecoming of a police chief.

In fact, some of the lower ranking officers were more approachable, he told malaysiakini when met outside the police headquarters after he was released.

Democratic rights

Echoing similar sentiments was Jeyakumar who lambasted the police for their high handed action and called on the department to stop denying the democratic rights of the people by using security as an excuse.

If the police are professional they should be aware that democracy and preserving security cannot be separated, they co-exist, you cannot have one without the other, he said.

Yesterday, Bakri claimed the peace walk by some 150 workers and supporters from Jalan Chow Kit to the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) was an illegal assembly.

The police chief added that one of his men was attacked when attempting to confiscate the demonstrators placards and leaflets.

However, the demonstrators sang a different tune alleging that the police had manhandled them, a charge which Bakri dismissed by saying, There will always be such accusations against us.

A report was also lodged by DAP against the police claiming that two of its members were assaulted by policemen during the march.

Fabricating lies

Meanwhile, Arutchelvan accused the police chief of fabricating lies for claiming that the demonstrators were unruly.

The statement of the police is false and done with bad intentions. Since 1994 we have been rallying on May Day but this is the first time we were stopped, he said.

Relating her experience in a police lock-up, Lee said: We could hardly sleep as we were cramped in a 10 by 8 feet cell with 23 other women, all migrant workers.

Whereas Manoharani said the cell had poor ventilation and toilet facilities. The women detained were all scantily dressed as the cell was very warm.

It was so cramped we were pressing against each other, she said.

The duo were held at the Wangsa Maju police station in Kuala Lumpur.