Aliran Media Statement

Police Should Exercise Restraint

Aliran condemns the excessive use of police force on the crowds that gathered outside the High Court in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to find out the verdict in the Anwar Ibrahim trial.

Much has been said in the media about the violence perpetrated by so-called Reformasi demonstrators. Eyewitnesses at the scene, however, said that the crowds outside the court yesterday were initially very peaceful. It was only after police used teargas, water cannons and baton-charged them that they were provoked. Tian Chua, the vice-president of Parti Keadilan Nasional, was seen bleeding from his head, and had to be sent to hospital after his arrest. He was, without doubt, a peaceful demonstrator. Witnesses saw him being thrown into an FRU truck and beaten.

We do not approve of violent actions of any sort - whether committed by the police or by protestors. We are doubtful that many genuine reformasi supporters were behind the much-publicised aggressive behaviour. Who were these troublemakers? We wonder why all of them - especially those who attacked the TV3 vehicles - weren't arrested on the spot despite the massive police presence in the city.

We are reminded of the peaceful demonstrations last year that were marred by agent provocateurs. Were these agent provocateurs in action again yesterday? The police have the TV3 film footage to help them immediately identify the so-called "teachers" and the youths in school uniform who attacked a vehicle carrying TV3 personnel.

The media reports of violence - which only showed protestors retaliating but ignored high-handed police actions - have to be put in perspective. No one was killed; there were no reports of shops being looted; and no reports of any serious injuries to police personnel.

Aliran calls on the police to exercise utmost restraint in line with its new "mesra" approach - which unfortunately was not evident in the last couple of days - and allow citizens to assemble and express themselves peacefully.

Aliran also calls for the immediate release of all those picked up by police yesterday, failing which they should be promptly charged in court in a fair and open trial.


Executive Committee
15 April 1999