Veteran activists and religious groups join first-time demonstrators in Penang anti-war protest

by Anil Netto

Penang joins the historic 15 Feb 2003 global antiwar protest

The air was tinged with expectation as demonstrators started milling at Level 3 of Komtar, Penang in solidarity with the global protests against the war on Iraq on 15 Feb. At exactly noon, the event in Penang got under way at the same time that protestors in Kuala Lumpur were demonstrating outside the United States embassy.

There is no US embassy in Penang. Instead it so happened that the Penang gathering on 15 Feb 2003 organised by the Stop the War Coalition, Malaysia was held just outside a KFC restaurant! The Coalition comprises some 60 civil society and religious groups.

A video clip recalling Desert Storm caught the attention of passers-by. Curious shoppers and tourists slowed to take a look at what was happening. Some joined in. Plainclothes police mingled with the crowd, taking snap shots and videotaping the audience, who didn’t seem the least bothered. The crowd knew that they had gathered for a worthy cause.

Young and old, “virgin” demonstrators and veteran flower power activists of the 1960s, of all ethnic and religious groups, chatted among themselves while parading with colourful placards strung from their necks. Messages scrawled in all local languages, including Filipino, amidst a rainbow of colours called for a stop to the war. One activist even sported a T-shirt bearing the message, “Stop the War, Stop the PORR” in a reference to the controversial Penang Outer Ring Road project.

By the time the video presentation ended, some 250 people had gathered in front of a small stage to listen to speeches and songs. Near the stage were representatives of four religious groups expressing their solidarity against war.

Speeches and Songs

Jamaah Islah Malaysia member Zainudin Hanif kicked off the event with rousing words:

“Today is a historical day as the world today opposes the United States and its allies’ plans to attack Iraq,” he said in an impassioned address. “This period is critical as the United Nations is deciding whether to allow the US to launch a war.

He said that the majority of people around the world are opposed to a war and did not want the United States to launch a war.

“We want to say, America, you speak about human rights, but you are willing to violate the rights of the Iraqi people.”

Clambering onto the stage, Christian youths attached to the Penang Diocese Youth Network then swayed and sang to the moving rhythm of “Heal the World” as the crowd grew silent and thoughtful.

A serene-looking Venerable Ji Xing, a senior assistant with the Malaysian Buddhist Institute followed next, asserting that violence in any form is against the teaching of the Buddha.

“Anger only aggravates a situation, which benefits no one,” he said, his strong but soothing voice belying his small stature. “We say that when an angry man opens his mouth, he usually closes his eyes.”

He recalled a quotation from Martin Luther King: “We have flown in the air like birds and have swum the seas like fishes, but we have yet to learn the simple act of walking on the surface of the earth like brothers and sisters.”

He urged the crowd to pray that all world leaders would be wise and civilised enough not to resort to war. “We want to wake up tomorrow morning, to breathe the abundant fresh air in the arms of our Mother Earth and not, definitely not, to see our homes destroyed and our dear ones killed.”

The singing professor, Aliran’s Johan Savaranamuttu, took to the stage strumming his guitar. Stirring memories of the flower-power heyday of the 1960s, he led the crowd in singing “We shall overcome” to much applause…and even calls for an encore. For a moment, it looked as though Johan was well and truly Unplugged, in his element.

Recalling World War II and the painful experiences of our parents and grandparents, Malaysian Hindu Sangam vice-president K Manoharan spoke of the suffering that war inflicts.

“In the context of Hinduism, never, never in any part of our scriptures - for the 63 sages or the saints who have come to this earth to give us the guidance of Hinduism – does it say that you should go to war,” he said. “We always talk about peace; we always talk about meditation.”

A nasyid group from JIM then captivated the crowd with its performance of a melodious Malay peace song.

The director of the Penang Office for Human Development, Fr Fabian Dicom was up next, calling on the audience to “look into the eyes of the people of Iraq, who share our hopes and dreams for a peaceful world. All they want is to live with dignity.”

“We must say ‘yes’ to all the efforts to remedy the situations of injustice that exist in the world today. We must say yes to the just and legitimate aspirations of people for freedom, for self-determination, for a homeland of their own, for the right to live a life worthy of human dignity.

He also demanded global disarmament. “The (Stop the War) coalition today strongly calls for a total disarmament …We call on America, Russia, China, Britain, India, Pakistan, Iraq, and all other countries: Throw down your weapons. Disarm now.”

Out in the Streets

The gathering was then ushered down to the ground floor just outside Komtar to an empty pavement facing Magazine Road. This was the moment the crowd had been anticipating. For many, it was their first real street demonstration. Earlier, there had been some apprehension as to whether the police would allow the demo to go ahead. But thankfully they maintained a discreet presence at the back, although the video guy and the photographer were still busy at work.

Punching their fists into the air and shouting slogans till they were blue, the crowd, ably led by chant leader, made their presence felt. It was amusing to also see the normally serious members of religious orders – priests, monks and nuns – joining in enthusiastically.

Motorists turned their heads, many of them honking their approval. Someone passed a megaphone to a young man, who crooned a peace song in vintage Louis Armstrong-style, as the crowd listened spellbound. Johan performed his encore outside much to the delight of the crowd as they sang more antiwar songs with gusto.

Young and old, they savoured the moment, their adrenalin flowing as the demonstration reached almost fever pitch, all in a warm, friendly atmosphere.

By 1.30pm after about half an hour on the streets, someone said the cops were getting restless and we had better call it a day while we were on top. Disciplined as ever, the well-behaved crowd gradually dispersed. They took back with them not only the satisfaction of exercising their right to freedom of assembly but also the knowledge that they had been part of a historic day that witnessed the largest coordinated global protest ever.

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