Kajang IPD Protest
Jan 23rd, 2007 by Tian
Protest outside Kajang Police Station
Cheras Batu 11 Anti Toll Hike Protest [Part 2]
continued from Highway on Sunday
All of us who were arrested arrived at Kajang police station by 16:40hr. That showed how fast police had acted. We shouldn’t forget their motto: “Betul, Cepat, Cekap”. I am not sure about ‘cekap’ in fighting crime, but surely cepat in arresting demonstrators. Since the government dares not set up IPCMC, certainly we are not confident with ‘betul’.
The 9 of us including Dr Hatta, Ronie, Jasmine, Jack, me and others who came in police cars were ‘let loose’ in the reception area of the station. The others were transported by truck were taken to the back office. We were separated.
We were basically sitting in the reception idly. No police officers entertained us. Nobody even wanted to answer our simply inquiry: “Under what section of the law we are arrested?”
Soon, people started gathering outside the police station. We could see a gradual swelling of crowd opposite the road.
Again, the force was quick to act. A group of anti-riot squad matched out of the police station towards the crowd. Their intention was clearly to intimidate the people.
Nonetheless, their threat failed to dissuade the growing crowd. On the contrary, residents of Kajang began to converge, partly out of curiosity, and partly to show support.
Although the heavily presence of police cast a shadow of violence, the atmosphere continued to be cheerful. Our supporters waved banners to the passing vehicles.
In a short while, the assembly was interrupted by the police. Ginie, KeADILan Media Coordinator, got into trouble with a Special Branch officer. She was holding a placard urging passing vehicles to horn to signal their support. Probably that offended the police.
Coincidentally, the SB officer ASP Lim was a neighbour of mine, in fact we were childhood friend. He is a few years elder than me, and lived just next door to my house in Melaka.
Another officer ASP Rohiman intervened, and he ordered Ginie to be arrested.
Ginie’s arrest made the total arrested figure increased to 21 person. She was escorted by a female officer into the police station, and placed with the group of earlier detainees.