opinion

A mark of a civil society is not only judged from the maturity of its people and leaders but also in the manner in which enforcement agencies respect the rights of the citizens.

In most societies, this is where the breakdown begins and the problem stems, more often than not, from overzealous subordinates in the enforcement agencies who are keen to impress their political leaders.

These subordinates tend to go overboard when it comes to things they perceive to be an attack on their leaders.

A case in point is our police force. While they are doing a satisfactory job in arresting criminals, smugglers and international terrorists, they are also quite busy in clamping down on anti- government supporters.

The term "anti-government supporters" for the police can be very loosely interpreted, from one who is a member of an opposition party to those who shout slogans at the top of their voice.

In between, there are many other categories of "anti government supporters" as well.

The justification for the harassment and eventual arrest of these supporters are that they are a threat to national security. Many have been arrested, some even under the Internal Security Act (ISA), for merely voicing out concerns on the manner which the government handles affairs.

Peaceful protests

The police seem to have added another category to this group - people who hold candle light vigils.

A candle light vigil is usually a peaceful form of protest. Protestors hold burning candles to convey their disapproval against a breach of right. There is no reason for any enforcement agency to act in an aggresive manner against these protestors.

On July 12, a group of 13 individuals went to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters to hold a candlelight vigil to protest against the recent arrests of two student activists.

The police were well prepared to welcome these small group of protestors. They waited in the surrounding area for the13 to start their vigil.

In the words of one of the 13, "the event was rudely interrupted when some 40 police (personnel), including the Light Strike Force (LSF) rushed towards the protestors and grabbed and broke their candles.

In the eyes of the police, the candlelight vigil was an illegal assembly and it should not have taken place, especially if it is being held opposite a police station and for the purposes of opposing the ISA.

By strictly adhering to the letters of the law, and possibly to remain in the good books of the politicians, the police had not even allowed the protestors to explain their actions.

Instead, the police implemented scare tactics on the 13, and even resorted to forcefully snatching candles.

Irreparable scar

Not only were the 13 denied their basic rights, but were also disrespected. They posed no threat and the unwarranted harassment by the police would have left them with an irreparable scar.

The police had no reason to damage any of the protestor's personal belongings albeit even candles.

The police high handedness had started a week earlier at the entrance of the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters where a small group of people held a similar candle light vigil protesting the ISA.

Then, the police force moved in five minutes after the vigil began and ordered the protestors to disperse.

In the past, the police never reacted in such a manner towards candle light vigils. This new approach suggests that the police have decided to come down hard on all forms of protest in the country.

Possible tenant

However this is not the way it should be done. The police should not antagonise the people, but should maintain a good relationship with the public instead.

It must not see every protestor as a possible tenant in the lock-ups. The police must also learn to respect the rights of citizens.

The manner which would have been most proper when dealing with the protestors at the candle light vigil on July 12 would have been to discuss with the group on how they should proceed with the vigil.

The police could have layed certain conditions to the group and let them protest silently for a given period of time.

After all, this group was definitely not a threat.

The police must act more professionally in the future if it wants to play a prominent role in nation building. It is not only confined to catching criminals or all forms of protestors for that matter but also to maintain a good rapport with the people.