In a few more days, it will be the mass gathering of BERSIH. So far, we are confident that the gathering on Saturday 20 November will exceed 20-30 thousands people. We are targeting more. Next few days, PAS, DAP and KeADILan will intensify our mobilization to maximize the attendance.
Our mobilization has definitely shaken the ruling power. Umno assembly will end up as a non-event if 100 thousands people assemble to call for change.
As usual (nothing has really changed), when the regime feels insecurity, it immediately calls the state apparatus to its service. In the beginning, the police force raised the issue of permit for gathering
Bersih organizers maintain that the freedom to assemble and to express ones opinion are fundamental rights. They are inalienable. We need no permit to proceed with the gathering.
In fact, many people misunderstand the issue of police permit. Despite the repressive nature of our laws, it is not an obligatory requirement to seek police approval for all gatherings (the definition of gathering: the congregation of 4 persons or more).
The Acts only provide the police the power to pronounce certain gathering illegal. The police force must only make their own judgement whether the gathering jeopardize public security before it is declared illegal. Therefore not every congregation of 4 or more is automatically considered illegal assembly.
It is not surprising that the authorities have no interest to interpret the laws to favour civil rights. Thus we see the same scenario repeating itself. Whenever there is an expression of dissent, the state apparatus will automatically react with repression.
This time, the police spoke in chorus with the ruling politicians to criticize the mass rally. They went more than words. Last Sunday, Bersih website was hacked. The intruder left a fake message claiming that the gathering has been canceled. The website went back up within a day, but was hacked again today (6 Nov).
On Saturday (3 Nov), I received a phone call from an officer in Bukit Aman. He said he had received police report calling for investigation against me. The police report informed that I would be attending the Bersih rally on Nov 10. I questioned back: “Sir, you have information I will attend or you suspect I will attend?”
Anyway, I sought to end the phone conversation due to the noises in the NUBE picket.
Yesterday (5 Nov) the same officer called me again. His name is ASP Ambran Md Jusin. He claimed to be from Commercial Crimes Division. (Aik? Why is Ramli’s boys messing in political affairs?)
I was then told, the police is investigating Bersih as it is an unregistered and illegal organization. Still? I don’t get it. It is bad enough to have the Special Branch imposing surveillances on political parties and NGOs. Now even the Commercial Crimes investigators are called in to help.
This is just a tactic of intimidation, their purpose is to discourage members of public, private citizens from coming out to show their support.
ASP Amran threatened that a form 111 (summon) will be issued if I fail to appear on the certain date. The ASP asked me to pay a visit to Bukit Aman and for recording a statement.
I told him that there was no hurry, and I would be free to come for recording my statement. Since Bersih (as the authorities claimed) has existed as an ‘illegal’ organization all these time, and it would certainly not going to disappear in the next 6 months.
“You can wait,” I said; “and let me focus on the rally first”. Ambran sounded embarrassed and he straightaway told me that I am obliged to come.
I believes that the investigation was merely as a form of intimation. This trick might work at one or tow persons. However if 50-60 thousands could stand together, nobody can frighten us away. On the contrary, it is the regime that should be concerned.
bersih for everything….