By Anisah Shukry
The Malaysian Insider
May 01, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 — Putrajaya must form an independent panel to investigate claims that police manhandled journalists covering Saturday’s Bersih rally, journalist organisations said today.
The National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJ) maintained that the panel should comprise a retired judge, a former Bar Council President as well as journalism experts.
“Reporters, including those from foreign press, were beaten while on duty, and this is a serious accusation.
“The panel should summon police officers involved, as well as the journalists and photographers to testify, so that the public can finally know what transpired during the Bersih 3.0 rally,” NUJ said in a statement.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) revealed in a statement that more than 12 photographers and journalists were assaulted, intimidated or detained by police while reporting the rally.
“Many were injured, with some receiving injuries serious enough to require stitches and hospitalisation,” it said.
The IFJ added they were alarmed to have witnessed police officers threatening and assaulting journalists who were “only engaged in reporting legitimate news stories”.
“The press should be able to report freely on events in the public interest, without fear for their public safety.
“We urge Inspector-General Tan Sri Ismail to ensure police officers fulfil their duty to protect the safety of media personnel in the interests of press freedom,” it said.
Yesterday, human rights group Proham called for an independent panel to investigate all instances of violence that took place during the Bersih rally, adding that the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) could help with the probe.
The Bersih rally for free and fair elections turned chaotic when Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel began firing tear gas and water cannons after demonstrators breached police lines in their attempt to reach Dataran Merdeka.
The event was initially planned for the historic square but authorities had secured a court order on Friday barring its use for public assemblies until May 1, forcing Bersih supporters to splinter into groups.
#1 by yhsiew on Tuesday, 1 May 2012 - 7:17 pm
Now Hisham wanted to charge Bersih rioters but made no mention of bringing to justice police officers who assaulted journalists and peaceful Bersih protesters. Double standards prevail in Bolehland.
#2 by yhsiew on Tuesday, 1 May 2012 - 7:22 pm
You see how quickly Hisham brings charges against Bersih demonstrators but not the police.
#3 by boh-liao on Tuesday, 1 May 2012 - 7:36 pm
Impartial probe on police violence?!
Big fat hope lah! UmnoB/BN oredi praised mata2 very considerate, restraint (under leash), n professional – even though they whacked, kicked, punched helpless ppl
#4 by Kampong Orang on Tuesday, 1 May 2012 - 7:47 pm
Who is going to investigate Polis Malaysia? Interpol? Polis Malaysia, Anti Corruption Commission, Judiciary, etc. are all under UMNO. Even Najib’s name could be not mentioned during the trial of previous case of murder of the Mongolian mother.
French authorities are now after Najib and Razak Baginda. Guess both of them would go hiding soon.
Hong Kong ICAC is one of the most efficient and clean in the world. Now we see these two guys are in hide and seek game soon.
See Hong Kong news reporting about French authority has investigated about HK$3.66 billion had been credited into Hong Kong based company owned by Razak Baginda and his father. The news writes “the French authority believes the money have been taken away by Malaysian prime minister and his friend” : 港公司捲大馬首相3億賄案
http://news.sina.com.hk/news/2/1/1/2628843/1.html
潛艇交易涉落格 法司法部調查
【明報專訊】一間香港公司捲入法國軍火商涉嫌賄賂馬來西亞首相納吉布的案件，正接受法國司法部調查。外電引述司法部文件指，法國軍火公司DCNS年前向大馬出售3艘潛艇，涉及款項逾1.44億歐元（15億港元），其中3600萬歐元（3.66億港元）疑通過一家香港公司轉到時任大馬國防部長納吉布及其友人手上。
#5 by boh-liao on Tuesday, 1 May 2012 - 9:30 pm
MCA kaki not only did not condemn mata2 over their brutal violence, they now even accused injured ppl of self-acting or self-inflicted injuries 2 discredit mata2
A very caring MCA, indeed! Still want 2 vote 4 UmnoB/BN?
#6 by vsp on Tuesday, 1 May 2012 - 10:22 pm
Breaching the barricades does not constitute violence. Not even a single ant was harmed on that day because of the removal of the barricades. The police reaction was barbaric and unconscionable; this proves that it was preplanned to happen this way. On that day the police has breached a numerous conventions of proper civil behaviour. The most glaring breach of decency was the holding to hostage of the symbol of freedom and independence: the Merdeka Square. Merdeka Square on that day was turned into an ugly fortress with rows and rows of razor-sharped barbed wire strangulating it, and companies of uniformed, boot-straping occupiers with their menacing instruments of oppression on the ready. When the full fury of violence was unleashed it was monopolized by these barbaric human dogs. They target everyone: photographers, reporters, monitors, the elderly, the youngsters, the innocents, the stray cats and dogs and even rats. This madness exposed the lies that these hooligans were the victims. Armed men the victims versus unarmed civilians the aggressors? Who in this world would believe such fantasy except in Bolehland?
#7 by monsterball on Tuesday, 1 May 2012 - 10:25 pm
It is time Journalists unite and stand tall for freedom and justice.
Malaysia is suppose to have best education and Police Force in the world…..so said DPM.
If Journalists do not voice out as ONE…for their Journalist …brothers and sisters…then Journalism in Malaysia has yet to reach a professional standard.
Do you just accept the apology by Najib?
What if that poor man is dead?
#8 by waterfrontcoolie on Tuesday, 1 May 2012 - 10:35 pm
Having seen the comments made by a group of Parliamentarians and Commentors from Australia, Indonesia, India and Pakistan, it only reminds Malaysians, how far we have fallen down the slope. They even quoted [and what else can you expect?] the Sec.Gen of BN who thought Malaysians are still learning to climb tree! Not fit to enjoy democractic Governace??? This BUM should be voted out of office at any place! An insult to all Malaysians! The desperate and suicidal behaviour of BN requires Malaysians to take precaution, especially as reflected by the violent tendency of the unifomed bodies! Though they are in the minority! Of course people like CSL and a… lickers will blame those who took part in Bersih 3 but forgetting that a large number of them is among the below 30 ; thet will decide the fate of the nation very soon and they are NOT going to FORGET this incident over-night! Just remember that!
#9 by cseng on Tuesday, 1 May 2012 - 11:02 pm
Impartial probe? remember Teoh Beng Hock, he is dead, go ask Ambiga about this. Never ask such thing from BN.
The Journalist group should collect some money. Buying airtime thru gov. tv channels, print this brutality everyday on papers, pamphlets, whatever means and advertisement, let whole m’sian knows what happened.
Media needed another Ambiga to ‘bersih’ the media control (or self control of fear), create the free and fair media reporting, choose your color, we will walk for you.
#10 by cseng on Tuesday, 1 May 2012 - 11:07 pm
In bolehland, PDRM is a political party, a component of BN.
#11 by dagen wanna "ABU" on Tuesday, 1 May 2012 - 11:50 pm
Given the hk reporting about jib regarding the 366m i much much more than before believe that jib is now fried chicken. And with that stupid handling of bersih rally that piece of jib fried chicken might have been eaten by someone already. But beware umno. It could be poisonous.
#12 by boh-liao on Wednesday, 2 May 2012 - 12:09 am
Yes, you want impartial probe, go ask lah Al tantuya Shaa ribuu, Bag inda, Teon BH, etc.
D mata2 of a country is a reflection of d gomen: a cruel, brutal, noncaring gomen encourages a cruel, brutal polis force
428 will b remembered as d INFAMOUS DAY when our UmnoB/BN backed polis turned their brutal force on helpless, law-abiding rakyat who went 4 a peaceful sit-in
D crowd on dat day was NOT a threat 2 any1; there was no crowd violence, looting, smashing of cars or shops, burning of properties, racial taunting, etc
Just a large grp of citizens, young n old, male n female, hving a great gala time together 2 voice their wishes 4 a clean electoral system
OK, even though some ppl broke in2 DatMerdeka, there is NO need 4 immediate attack of civilians/citizens
A caring gomen would hv instructed mata2 2 fire a couple of shots up in2 d air 2 warn off intruders or 2 move d water cannons in front 2 frighten off intruders
Rakyat (not out 2 cause trouble) would hv retreated, dispersed n gone home
But, NO, mata2 immediately went on d offensif n attacked helpless, defenceless rakyat, with d intent 2 hurt, injure, maim, n even kill them
By causing a stampede, mata2 wanted rakyat 2 crush on top of each other n 2 b hurt, celaka betul, jahanam, SICKO
Rakyat MUST NOT forget dis cruelty, compliments of UmnoB/BN n polis DRM; Ubah, ABU
#13 by yhsiew on Wednesday, 2 May 2012 - 1:24 am
Bersih demonstrators face rioting charges
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/bersih-demonstrators-face-rioting-charges/
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How come police are not charged?
#14 by good coolie on Wednesday, 2 May 2012 - 8:28 pm
Don’t blame the police, please. If an elephant bites someone, and that someone gets rabies, would you blame the elephant, or would you blame its master?