E Contrario

Extending bail in the Legal Aid Room, Jalan Duta Court Complex

The 17 of us were requested to turn up in court this morning (Dec 18) only to find the Attorney General’s Chamber was not ready to press charges. We are required to return to court on December 26 (Boxing Day!) to find out our fate. Such an arrangement is totally insensitive to our multi-ethnic multi-religious society. The prosecutors enjoy spoiling our festive mood.

I don’t envy the job of Gani Patail. He must be having a tough time trying to cook up some evidence so that we can be implicated for illegal assembly or riots.

On December 11 last Tuesday, a total of 29 BERSIH activists were arrested. None of us were picked up in a crowd.

As for me, I was inside a car, which is legally considered to be inside a private premise. A warrant is required if the police intended to arrest me. In fact, the policemen in uniform were polite and cautious. We stopped upon their indication when the car passed the road block on Jalan Parlimen.

The officer then backed off when the two plainclothed officers came forward and claimed that they had the authority to arrest me. It is obvious that not all members of the police force were in favour of their ruthless approach.

Assembly has never disturbed public peace. Havoc only arises when police become tools of the IGP, AG and the UMNO elite.