PKR Youth has lodged a complaint to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) over alleged police abuse during a Pakatan Rakyat rally at Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur last Sunday.

A complaint memorandum was handed to Suhakam commissioner N Siva Subramaniam by a 10-member PKR Youth delegation led by its leader Shamsul Iskandar yesterday.

According to Shamsul, about 60 police personnel and 20 Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel physically disrupted the gathering unreasonably.

“They (the police) ambushed without warning. There wasn’t any written or verbal notice given to us beforehand,” said Shamsul, adding that seven people, including one woman, was injured as a result of this.

One victim, Roslan Mat, lamented that he was beaten up and handcuffed before being detained.

“What was my offence? Did I rape, rob or murder?” he asked Siva Subramaniam rhetorically.

He claimed he was taken to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters where he was detained for about five hours where he was asked to admit that he disrupted the police from carrying out their duties.

Roslan, 49, said if Pakatan Rakyat is barred from organising any assembly, then the same should apply to Barisan Nasional.

Suhakam urged to hold public hearing

Another victim, Tahir Said, later demonstrated to Siva Subramaniam how he a FRU personnel allegedly attacked him with the truncheon and shield.

“At the moment when I was attacked, I could hardly breathe as I am asthmatic,” said Tahir, who said his hand was injured in the fracas.

In the memorandum, Shamsul urged Suhakam to hold a public enquiry into the incident.

Meanwhile, Siva Subramaniam told the complainants that Suhakam is firmly committed to the people's right to assemble peacefully, as guaranteed under the Federal Constitution, and will look into their complaints.

On the evening of March 7, about 2,000 people gathered at the Kelab Sultan Sulaiman field to celebrate the second year anniversary of Pakatan Rakyat's inroads made during the March 2008 general elections.

However, after just two speakers, police forcibly moved in to stop the event. There was one arrest and several injuries.

Pakatan faithful then moved into hall where a string of speakers continued with their speeches.