At 2.30AM
...After a gruesome 12 hour bus ride that was caused by the traffic jam (that was a result of unnecessary road blocks for police checks) AND EVEN MORE roadblocks in the city.
The cabbie who took us home (it was me and Yoshi), had to turn this way and that way to find ways to get me home. Paid friggin RM50 for the ride. But anyway...
Here's why:
BERSIH 2.0
What is Bersih 2.0?
Basically, it was a supposed-to-be-peaceful rally by NGOs and opposition parties. They wanted to do a peaceful, non-violent march to the Agong to appeal for a clean election. The was-supposed-to-be peaceful rally turned into pure violence. Resulting in the many injured civilians, arrest of people and even CHILDREN from ages 5 (okay, seriously WTF) and people who wore yellow. Many others were also stuck in traffic jams, sitting in traffic for over 3 hours and stores were forced to close due to the COMPLETE absence of customers.
Why was the police involved?
The government had claimed BERSIH 2.0 to be illegal. Because it was a rally "without police permits". But the government controls the police department and well, even if these people had appealed to do the rally, it would've been slammed down without so much of a glance. Thus, because it was declared "illegal", the police "had to step in". Tear gas and water cannons were shot at the protesters and batons were brought out to "control the chaos".
These photos by Al Jazeera explains a lot.
"With Kuala Lumpur under police lockdown since the morning, protesters tried to gather and seek refuge inside a railway station before being led outside by police where many were detained and put into police vans"
"Police face off against thousands of Bersih supporters"
"Bersih supporters are detained by police during protests in downtown Kuala Lumpur"
"Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim (C) is surrounded by supporters, one of whom is injured, after a protest in Kuala Lumpur calling for electoral reforms" (look at the guy on the left as well)
"Police face off against thousands of protesters in a scene shrouded by tear gas"
The upside?
A famous journalist, writer and editor, Abdul Samad Ismail, famously known as Pak Samad mentioned that this is the most united he's seen the country. Actually, this is so true. More and more people are seeing all their hard earned tax money go to pockets of the people in the ministry who drive Porsches, sit FIRST CLASS to places for a conference and people who use the money for their million dollar houses. (I mean, c'mon, RM1.8million for a FACEBOOK PAGE?!) Many are also becoming more and more upset at the unjust school systems and the severe racism that the government has shown.
What else went down?
Besides claiming that Bersih is illegal, the Prime Minister claimed "If there are people who want to hold the illegal rally, there are even more who are against their plan" and the UMNO (United Malays National Organization)Youth members marched opposite the Bersih people and had caused even more of a mess. This also resulted in a horrible clash of people within the city.
HONESTLY, WAS ALL THIS REALLY NECESSARY?
I'm really upset at the ridiculousness of it all, at the same time, I am very touched by the unity shown by the locals. While it has ended and the proposal was not given to the Agong, I know that my countrymen will continue to fight (without violence, YAY!!!) for what is right
It is time for change. We need to stand up, stop being the puppets for these people.
One last picture:
This needs to end.
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