Protest Flare Up Organisers Tell Cops Not To Play Victim

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Organisers of an anti-corruption rally in Kuala Lumpur yesterday have spoken out against alleged attempts by the police to “play victim” over participants who suffered violations of their rights to peaceful assembly.
Specifically, the Sekretariat Rakyat Benci Rasuah condemned a police officer’s alleged violent and unlawful actions during a theatre performance at the Himpunan Rakyat Benci Rasuah 2.0.
“While the performance was ongoing peacefully and posed no security threat, the police officer suddenly grabbed one of the students by the neck without any warning or reasonable cause.
“When repeatedly questioned by the student and rally participants, the officer failed to provide any justification for his actions,” the secretariat said in a statement.
They claimed that the student was also pulled and dragged roughly, leading to a physical struggle that left his shirt torn.
“This constitutes the use of unnecessary, excessive, and disproportionate force against an unarmed student who had committed no provocation,” they said.
The organisers, however, did not state that a flare was lit towards the end of the performance, causing red smoke to engulf the area near Dataran Merdeka.
Police reports lodged
Earlier today, Dang Wangi district police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman confirmed three reports were lodged regarding the flare lighting incident, and a subsequent tussle between an officer and a participant.
A lit-up flare during an anti-graft rally in Kuala Lumpur yesterday sees red smoke engulfing the area“At approximately 4.30pm, a participant lit a flare, producing thick smoke that posed a threat to the safety and health of participants, security personnel, and nearby members of the public.
“As a result of this action, police took preventive measures to ensure the smoke from the flare did not spread further,” Sulizmie said in a media statement.
ADSHe also said the preventive measures saw a police officer lightly injured.
The organisers, however, said it will soon lodge reports with the Dang Wangi district police headquarters, the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC), and Suhakam over an attempted arrest without lawful grounds and alleged physical aggression against rally participants.
“We also strongly condemn the false, biased, and manipulative news reports published on several media platforms.
“These unethical reports spread the narrative of the police as ‘victims’ while ignoring the abuse and violation of rights suffered by participants - abuses that have been recorded and will be made public,” they claimed.
The rally yesterday ended peacefully after around three hours with four demands for the government. - Mkini

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