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Bersih 3.0 rally

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Bersih 3.0 rally
Date28 April 2012
Location
Kuala Lumpur
GoalsTo call for free and fair elections in Malaysia.
StatusConcluded
Parties
Lead figures
Number
250,000 - 300,000[1]
(Bersih estimation)
80,000 -100,000[2]
(Independent estimation)
Casualties and losses
60 demonstrators injured, 388 arrested
20 policemen injured[3]

The Bersih 3.0 rally (also called the Sit In rally or Duduk Bantah in Malay) was a demonstration in Kuala Lumpur held on 28 April 2012. This rally was organised as a follow-up to the 2011 Bersih rally and the 2007 Bersih rally. The rally, which is being organised by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih), was supported by Pakatan Rakyat, the coalition of the three largest opposition parties in Malaysia. Following the last rally in 2011, the government of Malaysia organised a Public Select Committee (PSC) into looking at electoral reforms in Malaysia which recently release their proposals on electoral reforms. Bersih has claim that PSC proposals were half-hearted and pointed out that the Election Commission of Malaysia (EC) is insincere in introducing electoral reforms. Bersih has stated that they would call off the rally if the Malaysian government gives a guarantee that the electoral reforms will take place before the next Malaysian general elections.

Background

Bersih

A scene from the 2007 rally. Protestors on the left are dressed in yellow. They are met by the Federal Reserve Unit, the riot police (in red helmets). Standing in between the protestors and the riot police are PAS's Jabatan Amal volunteer unit (dressed in maroon).

Bersih, short for the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Malay: Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil), is a coalition of 62 non-governmental organisations founded in November 2006.[4][5] Since its founding, Bersih has been supported by the three main opposition parties, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), PAS, and DAP.[5] Bersih is the Malay word for "clean."[6]

Bersih, is chaired by former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan. Ambiga served as president of the Bar from 2007 to 2009 and is a recipient of the U.S. State Department's International Women of Courage Awards.[7][8]

The first Bersih rally on 10 November 2007 was estimated to have drawn between 30,000 to 50,000 people.[9] It was broken up by police using tear gas and chemical-laced water cannons.[9][10] The rally was said to play a major role in helping the opposition parties make big gains in the 2008 general election.[11] The second rally on 9 July 2011 was met with similar force by the police after they tried to make their way to Stadium Merdeka.[12]

Bersih's demands

The Bersih's immediate demands were:[13]

  1. Clean the electoral roll
  2. Reform postal voting
  3. Use of indelible ink
  4. A minimum campaign period of 21 days
  5. Free and fair access to mainstream media
  6. Strengthen public institutions
  7. Stop corruption
  8. Stop dirty politics

Public select committee

Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Electoral Reforms was form in the aftermath of the 2011 Bersih rally. The committee consisting of five Barisan Nasional MPs, three Pakatan Rakyat MPs and one Independent MP came up with 22 recommendations for reforming the electoral system in Malaysia.[14] However an opposition minority report was rejected by the parliament speaker without further debate.[15][16]

Lead up to the rally

Announcement

Early this April, the Public Select Committe released a report into their findings on electoral reform. However the speaker in the Dewan Rakyat, or House of Representatives, passed the report with no debate between the opposition and ruling parties. An opposition minority report was not included in the final report.[17] So far none of Bersih's demands have been met and with indications that the Malaysian would be calling an general election shortly without any electoral reforms being implemented, Bersih announced that 28 April 2012 is the date for a third gathering or rally for clean and fair elections.[18]

Non-government organisations

Bersih has been backed by the Bar Council of Malaysia and Suhakam [19]The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) supports the Bersih's right for a peaceful assembly.[20]

Government Reaction

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has revealed that the government had overreacted in its response to the Bersih rally in 2011.[21] Hishammuddin has said that the government does not view the Bersih 3.0 rally as a security threat.[22] He even offered two alternative venues to that of Dataran Merdeka, Bukit Jalil National Stadium and Stadium Merdeka which was rejected by Bersih as insincere.[23]

Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim has describe the Bersih rally as "dirty", saying they do not respect the laws of the country.[24]

After several meetings between Bersih and DBKL, no compromise was made regarding the choice of venue for the rally.[25]DBKL in order to prevent the sit-in rally by Bersih, has erected barricades around the area.[26]

Court orders

The Malaysian High Court has instructed the Hishammuddin to clarify whether Bersih is a banned organisation, especially since his recent statements have been inconsistent regarding the organisation.[27][28]

The Malaysian police has received a court order barring any entry by Bersih into Dataran Merdeka and they would classify any rally as illegal if there is a gathering there.[29][30]

Further revelations

During the lead up to the rally it was revealed that the Election Commission (EC) chairman and deputy chairman were UMNO members, leading to claims of conflict of interest. Bersih stated they would give the two men the benefit of the doubt until more information surfaces.[31][32]

Protest

Despite the police roadblocks, an estimated 250,000 people have turned up for the Bersih rally in and around Kuala Lumpur city centre. Closed to 58 roads leading into the city have been blocked by the police.[33] Protestors have been gathering at several points in the city such as Masjid Negara, Masjid India, Pasar Seni, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Brickfields and Jalan Sultan before proceeding to Dataran Merdeka.[34]

Police began using tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protestors after they began breaching the barricades. [35][36] A police car was overturned- apparently to free a person trapped under the car- after the drivers car was attacked by Bersih protesters, hence losing control of the car and subsequently running into the crowd. [37] [38] [39]

Statements of Malaysian Prime Minister

The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak on his remark in the aftermath of the rally, said that Bersih activists merely wanted to paint a negative image of the Government to the world and confront the police so that they could throw allegations of police brutality to the public. According to Najib further, the organizers are not concerned about fair and clean elections, as the rally was obviously seen as politically motivated and driven by the desire of Pakatan Rakyat in taking over Putrajaya.[40] If the elections have been unfair, the ruling Barisan Nasional wouldn't have lost two-thirds supermajority in the parliament as well as five states to the opposition in the  12th general election, with one state, Kelantan being held by the opposition for more than 20 years.[41]

References

  1. ^ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/196344
  2. ^ Police violence marks Malaysia reform rally - Aljazeera
  3. ^ [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/4/29/nation/11199979&sec=nation Cops release 200 protesters in batches - The Star
  4. ^ "Endorsees". Bersih. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  5. ^ a b "About BERSIH". Bersih. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  6. ^ "Bersih". Dictionary. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  7. ^ "Presidents' Roll". Malaysian Bar. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  8. ^ "Remarks by Clinton on International Women of Courage Awards". U.S. Department of State. 11 March 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Police block Malaysia protest". Al Jazeera English. 22 December 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  10. ^ Brant, Robin (10 November 2007). "Malaysia police break up protest". BBC News. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  11. ^ Netto, Anil (24 June 2011). "Malaysian politics take to the streets". Asia Times Online. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  12. ^ http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/7/7/nation/9050421&sec=nation
  13. ^ "Bersih's 8 demands". Bersih 2.0. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  14. ^ www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/04/08/psc-report-gripped-last-weeks-sitting/
  15. ^ http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/04/03/speaker-rejects-minority-report-tempers-flare/
  16. ^ http://www.thesundaily.my/news/338957
  17. ^ http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2012/04/14/bersih-3-0-wants-to-sit-down-and-protest/
  18. ^ http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/bersih-3.0-wants-to-sit-down-and-protest-dahlia-martin/
  19. ^ http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/04/28/suhakam-bar-council-show-support-for-bersih-3-0/
  20. ^ http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=32736:interfaith-group-support-bersih-30-all-religions-demand-fair-play-and-transparency&Itemid=2
  21. ^ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/195665
  22. ^ http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v6/newsgeneral.php?id=661031
  23. ^ http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Malaysia/Story/A1Story20120425-341945.html
  24. ^ http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/04/28/rais-calls-it-a-dirty-gathering/
  25. ^ http://www.thesundaily.my/news/360023
  26. ^ http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/04/27/dbkl-shuts-down-dataran-merdeka/
  27. ^ http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/04/25/court-orders-hisham-to-clarify-bersih-ban/
  28. ^ http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/court-orders-hisham-to-state-if-bersih-still-banned
  29. ^ http://www.thesundaily.my/news/361941
  30. ^ http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v6/newsindex.php?id=662493
  31. ^ http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/04/27/ec-umno-ties-ambiga-shocked/
  32. ^ http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/ec-chief-deputy-admit-they-could-have-been-umno-members/
  33. ^ http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/04/28/15000-at-city-centre-despite-kl-lockdown/
  34. ^ http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/04/27/court-order-and-barriers-wont-stop-bersih/
  35. ^ http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/police-fire-water-cannons-as-demonstrators-push-into-dataran
  36. ^ http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/police-fires-tear-gas-water-cannon-1.78596
  37. ^ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/196320
  38. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0TnNtzIhTw
  39. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xh52zernUM&feature=share
  40. ^ "Opposition not concerned about free and fair elections, says Najib". The Star (Malaysia). 2012-04-29. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  41. ^ "Election setback for Malaysia PM". BBC News. 2008-03-08. Retrieved 2008-03-09.

External links

Template:Anti-government protests in the 21st century

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