Fifty years ago at Padang Merdeka, the flag of our colonial masters, the Union Jack was lowered and the flag of our country ascended for the first time, proudly proclaiming to all that we are an independent nation.

But today, as elaborate preparations to celebrate the country's 50th birthday at the exact same location, the entire notion of independence was questioned and challenged by students who took part in a protest march in the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

The protest, the students said, was meant as a symbolical gesture of dissent against the ruling Barisan Nasional's consistent tempering with campus elections.

"We want independence for students! Get out of the campus!" they chanted.

Protesters comprise members of the Malaysia Youth and Students Democratic Movement (Dema), Coalition of Muslim Students of Malaysia (Gamis), Central Tunnel Forum (For-Lot), Coalition of Youth and Students (Gamp), Islamic Students Club (Karisma) and University Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany).

Memo to Suhakam

The students, many clad in black as a symbol of protest, were seen marching from the National Mosque towards the Tun Razak tower in Jalan Raja Laut where the Human Rights Commission's (Suhakam) office is located.

A memorandum was later handed over to Suhakam.

They also stretched a large banner with the words, "Free students from the intimidation of the Students' Affair Department (HEP) and from the iron fisted election system. Independence for students!" to drive home their message.

The students have complained on numerous occasions in the past of pro-government groups and the HEP conspiring to "intimidate, persecute and ostracize those who challenge their position on campus."

Two striking words stood prominently across each other as the march reached Dataran Merdeka, 'Independence' written on the Sultan Abu Samad Building and 'Independence' stenciled on the cotton banner carried by the students.

Loud chants of "Student Power" and "Down with Injustice" persistently echoed between federal buildings towering Jalan Raja Laut as the march neared its destination.

Along the road outside Suhakam office, students started delivering their speeches.

Despite the presence of the police, Mohamad Shaari Abdul Rahman, secretary of Gamis shouted gushingly, "Do not challenge the students!!" implying that the group will fight to the end.

"We are here to tell not just students but all Malaysians that our democracy is decaying, democracy in the universities is rotting and we intend to take action!"

He then lambasted the ruling party for "a system of selection before election".

"We are not pro-opposition, we are pro-students! We have our own idealism, our own opinions and we do not want external forces to meddle with our struggle!" he stressed.

'The police is good'

As Mohamad Shaari ( left ) was delivering his speech, a few policemen pulled one of the student representative to the side and demanded that he listed down the names of the speakers present.

Moon Hooi, a coordinator with local human rights NGO Suaram, after witnessing this did not hesitate to exploit the situation by giving a speech alluding sarcastically to the police officers present.

"See, we are here peacefully. That is why the police did not harass us. The police even helped us when we were marching. The police made sure that traffic was flowing smoothly and all of us are safe," he said.

"See, the police is good. This is what they (the police) are supposed to do, and they did it well" he sarcastically added to which the crowd, sensing his sarcasm, replied by shouting "Hidup police! (Way to go, police!)" in synchrony.

The protest concluded with representatives of the student groups briefing the crowd on their meeting with Suhakam.

Surprisingly, the protest which lasted two hours was incident-free with no arrest made.