— Daisy Lee
The Malaysian Insider
May 03, 2012

MAY 3 — Since most readers wrote in describing their experience during Bersih 3.0. I wanted to have my say about this event as well. It was my first Bersih rally after hearing all the happenings at Bersih 2.0 last year, I regretted not going for the second rally. I vowed that I would go this time and I did. Most of the people whom wrote in described almost all of the happenings, the mass turnout, the atmosphere and from the cheerful first half to the horrific second half.

After looking through all the aftermath videos and pictures both from the mainstream media and alternative online media and social media, I questioned myself if it was a trap set purportedly by the authorities to contain and gang-bang the rally-goers!

I personally saw the sudden retreat of the entire police force, which were guarding the area, away from the barricades not long after the arrival of Ambiga and Anwar. I thought why the police are running away like rabbits when they are the ones with guns and batons (not to mention tear gas and water cannon)! Rounds of tear gas with water cannon trucks surged on, way off into Jalan TAR, Jalan Raja Laut and Jalan Tun Perak. Gas and toxic water was also spewing from Menara Maybank toward Jalan Tun Perak and from Bank Negara roundabout toward Jalan Parlimen. It was a no way out situation further with the closure of LRT operations at Masjid Jamek and Dang Wangi stations. I guess the entire blockade was planned out with the scrutiny of the hovering helicopters and para-gliders, mapping out where the yellow dots converge most below ground. How come during the commencement of the havoc, nearby LRT stations (as I know at least two – Dang Wangi & Masjid Jamek stations) were closed. Is it to entrap people so that all could be gassed and whacked?

It seems there were also two kinds of policemen there as well, some with serial numbers and some without, the humane kind and the monstrous kind. Some will help the participants to escape; some will hit the hell out of them. Whether they are good cops or bad cops, aren’t the entire police force to be blamed? Not only the bad ones, the good ones especially, for allowing the thugs to go on a rampage, for not standing up for what is justice and for not protecting the people as they have vowed.

Why are the media, both local and international being clamped as well? To the extent of being harassed, cameras being confiscated and brutally beaten? Why? So that all these news are contained and not shown to the world? But alas, thanks to the advanced technology, and a not so well-planned plan, the people and the world still get to see. We may have lost the battle, but not the war. It is a case of The Empire Strikes Back… but not too cleverly done.

I am for one, and I am sure for most of the rally participants on that day, getting more sick and enraged at the situation here in our homeland. I do not want to be suppressed anymore, I do not want to runaway anymore; I will stand here and fight for my rights come what may!