The NGO coalition Bersih has reminded the police to perform heir duty to ensure peace today at the Kita Lawan rally in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon as they will be held responsible for any disorder.

"Bersih calls upon the inspector-general of police (IGP) to facilitate and maintain order during the rally and not to antagonise and drive participants to frustration.

"The police should uphold the people’s constitutional right to assemble peacefully," said the steering committee of the coalition for clean and fair elections in a statement today.

The police, they said, "cannot shirk their responsibility for peace and order" at the rally in support of jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Bersih reminded the police of the court judgement in the lawsuit filed by the government against Bersih, and of the court finding in favour of former committee member Wong Chin Huat over assault by a suspected police assailant.

"The lesson learnt here is that the police cannot hope to get away with beating up rally participants by hiding their identification tags such as names and serial numbers," said the committee.

While several past Bersih rallies for clean and fair elections have seen incidences of trouble, it was noted that police cooperation led to a peaceful rally during the landmark KL112 rally on January 12, 2012.

During that rally around Stadium Merdeka, participants even praised the police for assisting in the peaceful assembly.

Respect court rulings, cops told

Meanwhile Bersih also reminded the authorities of the Appeal Court's decision that the 10-day notice required under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 is unconstitutional and to disregard the ruling was "disrespecting" the court.

"In declaring the really illegal for the supposed lack of notice, the police appeared to have not learnt anything with regard to the people's right to assemble peacefully.

"Bersih is greatly concerned that this is not the first display of arrogance and contempt of the court's decisions on the part of the police," said the committee headed by chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah ( above ) and deputy Sarajun Hoda Abdul Hassan.

The police have declared the rally illegal following failure to provide the requisite written notice.

The rally is to show support for Anwar's jailing after his final appeal at the Federal Court on his Sodomy II case failed.

Anwar was first acquitted of the charge in 2012 but was last year found guilty in the government's appeal heard in a two-day period.

This took place just before the Permatang Pauh MP was to run for the Kajang state seat, thus disqualifying his candidacy that was purportedly to pave way for Anwar to become Selangor menteri besar.