Cops arrest over 50 peaceful protesters

A press release on the mass arrest of peaceful protesters.

BIRO PENERANGAN PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT
No 110-3, Jln Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur
(atas Hong Leong Bank, sebelah Monorail Station)
Telefon: 03-22723220, 03-22724220 Faks: 03-22721220
Website: www.keadilanrakyat.org Email: biropen@gmail.com

PRESS RELEASE: 26 JAN 2008
(For immediate release)

Mass arrests of anti-inflation protestors an over-reaction;
Indicates Government inability to resolve basic problems

(Kuala Lumpur) The brutal suppression of protestors, who came out on Saturday afternoon against the rising cost of living, is a sign that the Government is at a loss to resolve the fundamental problem of the sky-rocketing cost of living, said Tian Chua, the Information Chief of the People's Justice Party (KeADILan).

"It is an over-reaction when more than a thousand police officers were mobilized to stop the demonstration that merely expresses the people's discontent on impending hike in fuel prices and other essential goods and services," he said while he was held by the police at the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent Headquarters (IPK-KL), together with 54 other persons, which included 10 women, 3 senior citizens and 2 journalists.

Tian Chua was arrested together with Dr. Hatta Ramli, the Treasurer of Pan-Islamic Party Malaysia (PAS) while giving press interviews at a roadside restaurant nearby the Australian High Commission office.

Lawyer, Jonson Chong, was also arrested at the site when he tried to stop the police from manhandling the men. Dr. Hatta reportedly fell at the restaurant when the police moved in to detain him.

Other political party leaders who were arrested include:- Badrul Hisham, Dr. Badrul Amin (Member of KeADILan Supreme Council); Mohd Sabu (Vice-President, PAS); Dr. Dzulkifli Ahmad (Head of PAS Research Centre); Dr. Nasir Hashim, Sarawathy and S. Arutchelvan (Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Secretary-General respectively from protem Socialist Party Malaysia).

Tian Chua added that citizens have a fundamental and Constitutional right to express themselves peacefully.

"Rising inflation impacts on the everyday lives of all citizens. This is no longer just affecting the poor but also those in the middle-income bracket.

"We have the right to express our discontent with the current government policies," he said

By nightfall, lawyers were still denied access to those detained. Some of the lawyers were forced to wait outside the police guard house, whereas others were prevented from entering first gate which leads to the car park of IPK-KL. There is no indication whether the police will press charges on Monday. (END)