Street demos have always been our culture, Maria reminds PM
"Street demonstrations have always been our culture just like how Umno has demonstrated against the British before independence, said Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah.
She was refuting Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak comment this morning that street demonstrations did not reflect Malaysian culture.
"Umno would not have survived if they hadn’t gone to the streets."
Eric Paulsen:
Police reminded of existing law to prevent counter rally
"Human rights lawyer Eric Paulsen has reminded the police of an existing provision of law that prevents a counter rally from being held simultaneously with an existing one such as the Bersih 5 rally.
"Dear police, please don't pretend section 18 of the Peaceful Assembly Act does not exist.
"Red-shirts should be ordered to organise (their rally) at another time, date or place," he tweeted last night."
The Malaysian Bar notes that Section 6(2)(j) of the Peaceful Assembly Act contains a provision that mandatorily requires an organiser of a simultaneous assembly or counter-assembly to “ensure that the organisation of the assemblies are [sic] not intended to specifically prevent the other assembly from taking place or interfere with the organisation of such assembly”.
Don't be angry with police this Saturday, IGP warns
"Do not be angry with the police when they take action against those breaking the law during the Bersih 5 rally and the red-shirts' counter-rally this Saturday.
Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar issued this reminder when he spoke at a press conference after his keynote address at the Seventh Aseanapol Police Training Cooperation Meeting (APTCM) in Cheras today."
IMHO: Bersih did what was necessary but police seems more concerned with technicality to ensure the rally is deemed illegal, so that police can act tough. Why not detain Jamal the chief trouble maker on rally day to prevent trouble? He can have his own rally on another day. That IGP cannot act fairly will certainly make people angry.
Update:
IMHO: It is likely the police will ignore this statement from Suhakam. We shall see come tomorrow.
Meanwhile...
Update:
Meanwhile...
Chief sec's threat over attending rallies 'unlawful' - ex-judge
"A former Federal Court judge has rapped chief secretary Ali Hamsa's threat against civil servants participating in the Bersih or red-shirts rallies tomorrow as unconstitutional.
Retired judge Gopal Sri Ram was reported by Free Malaysia Today saying civil servants had a right to exercise their constitutional right to assembly as long as it did not interfere with their professional duties.
“Participation in a rally is a right conferred under article 10 of the Federal Constitution and any restriction is absolutely void,” Sri Ram was reported saying today.
Ali yesterday said the Public Services Department would not hesitate to act againstcivil servants who are captured in photographs of the rallies published by the media, according to Bernama.
He said those found involved in the rallies face disciplinary action including a pay cut or sacking.
According to FMT, Sri Ram said the order was a "disproportionate incursion against a constitutional right".
“You do not use a sledgehammer to kill a fly and the response from Ali is not proportionate to the harm intended to be dealt with,” he was reported saying.
“The circular is like administering a poison to cure a common cold."
Therefore, he said, the order is null and void."
It would seem, to the civil servants, attending Bersih rally is more serious than those having committed crimes. The latter only get transferred.
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