From Malaysiakini.comÂ
Immediately, the police through loudhailers issued an order for the crowd to disperse. The crowd ignored the warning, and five minutes later, water cannons were fired.
Despite being drenched profusely, most of the crowd defiantly held their ground, prompting plainclothes police officers to move in and make random arrests.
Those arrested include Liu, PAS Kubang Kerian member of parliament Salahuddin Ayub and Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy information chief Badrul Hisham.
As the crowd moved out of the water cannons’ range, the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) charged at them sending many protestors, including women and children, running for cover as shocked Sunday shoppers looked on.
Eyewitness reports tell of excessive violence being used by the FRU on several protestors, including PKR deputy secretary-general Zahir Hassan (left and below), who was kicked a number of times while sprawled on the road.
…Zahir was assaulted by several FRU personnel. He was thrown to the floor, endured several blows of police baton and at least three kicks – two on the back and one on the abdomen – prompting his daughters to scream hysterically.
In another altercation, one protestor was subdued by at least 10 FRU personnel.
The protester held on to a police officer in a bid to shield himself from the blows, which included one from the butt end of a gas canister launcher.
Traces of blood stains were also found at the entrance of KLCC, where a scuffle between FRU personnel and an unidentified protestor had allegedly taken place. The protestor was believed to have been hospitalised for lacerations to the head.
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I always believed that people who are most afraid because of wrong doings are the ones who react most violently. It is quite evident who is the bully in this piece of news. Sad to see Malaysia having to resort to such measures. And this coming from illogical decisions made from the part of the government.
Always sad to see violence used to break a ‘peaceful’ assembly. And the interesting thing to note is the fact that the police did not act in like manner when an assembly was gathered for that constitution discussion a few weeks back. What double standard isnt it?
Ah well…
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