Do we need the banning/clamp down of Bersih now to be disillusioned enough to ask “where’s the 1 Malaysia?” Regardless whether this is a question or an argument, it’s superfluous because well before, the same question has been asked umpteenth time and position known! The charming style has always been the very velvet glove that conceals an iron fist, if you know what I mean. The moment the attack becomes irrational (ie saying Ambiga, the one who threatened Islam and below her is Mat Sabu”), it’s the clearest sign that all concerns for rationality and civility are off the table, the glove is taken off, and what is left is the showing of iron fist and who smashes harder! I am not saying anyone should be frightened or conversely unnecessarily brave but there you are – you will get exactly what you see. Taking the high road to talk about moral, hopes or what is right or wrong – will these considerations bear on or influence the other side’s calculations or sheathe the fist?

Continuing from preceding post: If not, does Bersih or opposition know their own calculations (objectively as regards force to force) in their push to a showdown against the full weight of the police the army and the law and the courts + the mainstream media + the other groups identifying with ruling coalition’s interest? Does it know the implication of being “banned” (just like the Communist party of Malaysia or Al-Arqam)? It means they can now arrest anyone howsoever connected to this organisation/movement whether as a directing will, organizer leader or a follower and supporter! It is easy to now cheer the march to go on – the more important thing is to calculate whether there’s cause to cheer in the aftermath when the iron fist smashes with full force. To Pakatan Rakyat (which I treat as an entity separate from its de-facto leader Anwar), I’d ask whether you have enough shield, weighed fully the relative strength & weakness/cost vs benefit of such a showdown, and confident that you will emerge out of this triumphant or very worse off if you in conjunction with Bersih continue the inexorable course of this brinkmanship game to its final conclusion.

I wonder who is talking rubbish! Those who goad others to fight the common cause on the streets are likely to include many who will not themselves be at the front line facing the tear gas canisters whizzing past, a thick cloud that burns the eyes with water cannon shooting, and before the charging FRU with their batons get trampled or stampeded by a fleeing crowd! More likely they will be in some shopping malls far away from the center of action, keeping tap of whats happening from news media and internet.

Sacrifice? Thats OK provided one has done the calculations objectively and determined how the events of such a venture will be positive with one emerging a winner and not a loser, losing all that one already has previously gained. Talking great hopes and high principles is pointless as the other side is not on same requency and the stage is beyond that now. The struggle on the streets: what makes you think that Bersih will be able to galvanise sufficient numbers/ people power to prevail over the security forces? Can one compare Suu Kyi with Ambiga? Or Malaysia with Burma – or even Egypt or Tunisia? Even Malaysians, are we united in sufficient numbers to speak and act in one voice? Or are you hoping for some kind of genocide happening for international intervention as in Colonel Gaddafi’s Libya? Don’t talk irresponsibly and let others including women and childen get their heads bloodied in the melee.

/// politics need posturing, support and sacrifice/// – LimKamPut

Of course but do it in the way that the objective boundary conditions present in a faceoff/showdown are such that one can reasonably win and one’s agenda is served rather than dis-served (if there’s such a word!) Here it looks as if Bersih is falling right into certain ruling elites’ gameplan to serve their ends instead. Is it smart to be used and walk straight into a trap they set out? The earlier Operation Lallang served whose purposes more in hindsight- TDM’s stamping his authority in the struggle with Ku Li or the Cause of Chinese Education, the immediate reason for the then protests?