Activists whose members were chased away from the Penang Speakers' Corner yesterday said the police who were present did not stop the "violent disruption' of their event by an aggressive pro-Sedition Act group.

 

Gerakan Hapuskan Akta Hasutan (GHAH) said the police only intervened when the situation went out of control and the mob started "pushing, chasing and cornering" its supporters and bystanders.
 
"The police could have stepped in earlier to facilitate freedom of speech for both groups, however this didn't happened.
 
"By not doing so, the agenda of the mob was effectively carried out," GHAH said in a statement.
 
GHAH said that the members of the mob were emboldened to act violently with impunity- effectively bullying, intimidating and silencing voices.
 
The movement had planned a peaceful gathering at the Speaker's Corner, along the Esplanade yesterday about 6pm.
 
The group was led by Suaram's coordinator Ong Jing Cheng, but just as he started to read GHAH's statement, a group of men outnumbering the protesters, began to disrupt the event .
 
The angry mob claiming to support the Sedition Act were identified as members of Tanjong Umno Youth and Persatuan Mukabuku Pulau Pinang.

'Violence won't stop us'

 
They angrily demanded that GHAH supporters leave the field as they hurled insults at them.
 
"From heckling and using a loud hailer, the disruption escalated to a physical attack on Ong Jing Cheng and the GHAH supporters.
 
"This goes against freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly as guaranteed in our Federal Constitution to all.
 
"The behavior exhibited is yet another demonstration of premeditated and organised attacks against demands for broadening of democratic rights and freedoms," said GHAH.
 
GHAH, however, stated that the "violent episode" will not deter its focus to repeat the 1948 Sedition Act.
 
They want the Attorney-General to drop all charges against those under the Act and release those convicted under the law. 
 
"There shouldn't be a replacement act of similar draconian provisions," the NGO quipped.
 
The movement to abolish the Act came about after the police launched a series of detention and probe against at least 20 individuals since Merdeka Day.
 
To date, those arrested, interrogated and charged under the law include opposition leaders, activists, academics, students, preachers and journalists.
 
In 1987, a similar dragnet dubbed Operasi Lalang was launched under the premiership of Dr Mahathir Mohamed, which saw about 107 dissidents detained under the now defunct Internal Security Act.

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