Malaysia police fire tear gas at protesters, arrest over 1600

2011-07-09 22:12:42 GMT+7 (ICT)

KUALA LUMPUR (BNO NEWS) -- Malaysian police on Saturday arrested more than 1,600 people and used tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of protesters marching in the capital Kuala Lumpur to demand electoral reforms.

According to the Malaysia Star, a total of 1,667 people had been detained, including 151 women and 16 children. Many opposition figures were also arrested. City police chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah said all the detainees were expected to be released later on Saturday.

The organizer of the rally, Bersih 2.0, said some 50,000 people gathered in several areas to march to the city's Merdeka Stadium where they originally intended to hold the rally. On Friday, however, police banned assemblies by any groups in the capital and sealed off all major roads leading to the heart of the city.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said that only 6,000 people managed to gather thanks to tight security measures. He also denied that police used excessive force and urged people to file a complaint so that allegations of police brutality can be investigated.

"We were not rough towards the crowd and we gave ample warning but they kept on provoking," he said. "I was told there are allegations of high handedness or police brutality by certain quarters and I urge those making such allegations to lodge reports and we will act against any of my men if there is any truth."

Meanwhile, Bersih 2.0 condemned the police actions and vowed to continue working for electoral reform and to end the harassment by the authorities.

"We are nonetheless horrified that several hundred people have been detained, many of them without any justification whatsoever," the opposition group said in a statement.

"The only violence witnessed was perpetrated by the police, who unleashed immense amounts of tear gas and chemical laced water on innocent members of the public. Police also baton charged those who gathered, injuring many and some very seriously."

Public gatherings without police permits are illegal in Malaysia. On Friday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the police were prepared to issue a permit to hold a rally on Saturday if it is held outside the capital.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-07-09

The Arab Muslim Spring spreads east. For anyone fooled into thinking Malaysia or Indonesia are democracies think again!

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