By Tarani Palani
July 11, 2011 | Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar are still in a state of denial. They still deny police brutality during Saturday’s rally despite extensive video evidence of police’s heavy-handed techniques.

Bersih said in a statement that it was “disappointed” by Najib and Ismail’s continuous denial, which “completely flies in the face of extensive video evidence” of the police’s heavy-handed techniques.

“We expect much higher standards of integrity from those entrusted with leading our nation and keeping it safe,” the statement said.

The authorities have maintained that there has been no police high-handedness throughout the rally. However, numerous eye-witness accounts beg to differ. One such incident was the firing of tear gas into the Tung Shin Maternity Hospital.

The police have denied that they fired canisters of tear gas into the hospital grounds, but numerous eyewitness accounts and photographic and video evidence showed that the police had fired tear gas and sprayed chemical-laced water into the hospital compound to lure out Bersih supporters.

Bersih has encouraged participants to submit such photographic and video evidence of police brutality to them.

Ironically, this request from Bersih comes just as Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the police themselves will release footages to counter allegations of brutality.

At a press conference in Bukit Aman police headquarters today, Hishammuddin also warned that action will be taken against those who make baseless allegations against the police.

“We have visual recordings in our operation room. Whatever has been alleged will be investigated , and action will be taken against those in the Internet and foreign media who have made baseless allegations,” he was quoted in a Malaysiakini report.

‘Police brutality shocking’

Bersih also said that acts of police brutality “against a peaceful gathering of unarmed citizens” were “unwarranted” and “shocking”.

“Such acts demonstrate beyond doubt the utter failure of the authorities to uphold and protect the most basic human rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution.”

Bersih expressed shock over the continued arrests of people associated with the electoral watchdog even after Saturday’s rally.

FMT learnt that eight in Sabah were arrested today for wearing yellow T-shirts.

“There is absolutely no need for such paranoid harassment and the authorities must stop these actions at once,” Bersih said.

Bersih also extended its deepest condolences to the family of Baharuddin Ahmad who lost his life while participating in the rally in the KLCC area.

Police said that Baharuddin, in his late 50s, died of heart complications. City acting police chief, Amar Singh, said that the post-mortem showed that he did not suffer any internal or external injuries.

However, Bersih claimed that it had received reports that the main cause of his death was the heavy-handed action of the police and their “complete failure” to provide timely medical aid. However, it did not elaborate further on these reports.

Massive turnout

Bersih also called for the immediate release of the six Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) members detained under the Emergency Ordinance 1969.

“They have done nothing wrong and we insists that they be released immediately without any conditions,” it said.

Bersih said that intimidation by the authorities will not prevent the electoral watchdog from continuing its struggle for free and fair elections.

It also added it was clear from the massive turnout that a huge number of Malaysians agree that things are not right with the electoral system.

Bersih organisers have said that about 50 000 supporters have turned up for Saturday’s rally. Police, however, have put the number at only 6,000.

Press reports estimate that there were 10,000 to 15,000 people who participated in the rally.