Police clash with May Day detainees supporters
updated version
Supporters of the 17 May Day peace walkers held for participating in an illegal assembly clashed with the police outside the Dang Wangi district police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.The 30-odd supporters had accompanied the 17 who were told to report to the police headquarters this morning.
The commotion broke out when the police tried to disperse the group and attempted to grab a banner from one of them.
PSM protem chairperson Dr Nasir Hashim and party secretary-general S Arutchelvam, who were among the 17, were holding a press conference outside the police station when they were told by senior police officers to disperse.
The PSM leader agreed and the group then proceeded to have their photographs taken by the press together with a banner reading "May Day is Workers Day" and "Cease the oppression of workers" when a seven-member Light Strike Force swooped down on the group.
The police officers said that the group had three minutes to disperse but the police took action even before the time was up.
Trading punches
This resulted in some pushing and shoving with both the police and the group trading punches and kicks. Two people, including a woman, were later detained.
A supporter, Vijaya Jandi, 26, also claimed that he was punched during the scuffle
The commotion later died down with the supporters dispersing towards the direction of Stadium Negara.
"Why do you people act like children? Why can't you just go when you are told? If you think you can be hooligans we can be bigger hooligans," shouted a Special Branch officer identified only as Chia.
The supporters left the station under the watchful gaze of 20-odd uniformed police officers and photographers.
The arrested duo were identified as M Rajina from Ipoh and S Eswaran from Seremban. They were later released on police bail but required to return to Dang Wangi on the same date as the other 17.
However, according to Nasir, who spoke to malaysiakini from the police station, they were given the run around. "They were not given any food and were being ferried around from room to room. This looks like punitive action from the Dang Wangi police chief Bakri Zinin," Nasir alleged.
Meanwhile, the 17 had their police bail extended and were told to report back on June 15.
They were arrested following a May Day march from Jalan Chow Kit to the Kuala Lumpur City Centre.
Woman manhandled
Earlier, a policeman dressed in a white T-shirt and dark jeans was seen grappling with the two women to confiscate the same banner. He was also seen arguing with Eswaran over the banner.
One of the women, who only wanted to identified as Jondi, said that she had been manhandled by the police officer and suffered scratches when he attempted to confiscate the banner.
"He was trying to grab the banner but we refused as we held it close to our bodies but he was pushing and shoving and even grabbed my hair," Jondi said.
Meanwhile, Nasir told reporters that he had lodged another police report against Dang Wangi police chief Bakri Zinin today for, among others, sabotaging the May Day peace walk, making illegal arrests, threatening the participants' safety and acting in a vindictive and vengeful manner.
"The police are supposed to maintain the peace and facilitate democracy. However, they are obstructing democracy here," Nasir said.
He added that he had also written to Federal Police Chief Norian Mai for a meeting to discuss Bakri's high-handed actions.
According to Arutchelvam, Bakri who already had 40 police reports pending against him said that he should not be allowed to handle the multiple cases before him.
"He is already the boss here and should not handle any investigations against him. It should be left to Bukit Aman or other police officers from elsewhere," Arutchelvam said.
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