E Contrario

Cheras Batu 11 Anti Toll Hike Protest [Part 3]
21 January 2007

From the police station, we (the arrested) could see Ginie was brought in by the officers. She was taken to join Cikgu Lee and others. Our group of 9 remained in the reception area, enjoying the privilege of watching the drama outside from the tinted doors and windows. The police squad then charged the crowd violently. We saw people dispersing to the side streets.

However, not long after (estimated less than 15 minutes), people again came back to the front of the police station. Soon the crowd grew bigger again. Apparently, leaders of various parties had arrived.

From the window, we tried to wave to the supporters outside. This action was promptly stopped by the officers on duty.

At about 18:00hr, Lim Guan Eng and a contingent of DAP parliamentarians and leaders walked into the police station. Lawyer Siva Nesan demanded the police to explain our arrest. OCPD Rosli promised that we would be released as soon as all paper work were done. I requsted medical attention as my injured shoulder was getting more painful.

I was later taken in a car to Kajang Hospital, which was just next to the police station. After a hour of waiting, I was finally examined. The doctor, who was too occupied with many emergency patients, hardly had time to check closely. He gave me an injection and prescribed some painkiller pills. I was again taken back to the police station.

I met two kids in the hospital. They had injury on their hands and legs. When asked what happened, they told me that they fell from bicycles. Now I saw in these pictures, I only realized that the youngsters were also assembling outside. They were probably too excited with the mood of ‘Reformasi’ arriving in this otherwise quiet township. A group of bicycle ‘mat rempet’, showing their skill as a form of rally to support our struggle.

I am not sure how they fell off the bicycle. Maybe they were chased by police. Whatever it was, Reformasi is now imprinted in the mind of these kids.

The protest outside the police station went on after dark. Kajang town was infused with such a lively and jovial political atmosphere. More onlookers joined the assembly. The protesters number rose to 300-400, and they were determined to continue untill all of us released.

Our muslim comrades even performed their prayer in open air. The rally continued.

Inside the police station, the police officers recorded a Section 113 statement with all of us. Before release, the police were trying to do some sneaky acts on us. They preyed on certain inexperienced protesters who were arrested for the first time.

A few of them were asked to be photographed for record. SB also tried to interview them, probably hoping to collect some private information. A resident of Taman Sri Mahkota was taken into a room. He was asked to delete the demonstration pictures in his digital camera. The policeman threaten to charge him and detain him if he refuses to comply. Unfortunately he was intimidated to delete most of the pictures.

We made lots of noise when we found out. By 20:00hr, we got more and more restless. I had a ceramah to go to. We saw no reason to delay our release as all procedures had been fulfilled.

The officers began to process bail at 20:20hr. Finally, at 21:00hr, all of us walked out of the police station. We were received by a large noisy crowd outside the police station.

Free at last!!

Lee Kim Seng walked out of Kajang Police Station

Everyone was excited. The shouting of “Hidup Rakyat”, “Reformasi” awakened the whole town. Ronie, Hatta and me made a short speech to our supporters. Here, DAP, PAS and KeADILan stood together, fighting for the same freedom, demanding change! This unity spririt will surely shivered the present ruling power.