Tag: Bersih

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Liberty Photography

[2396] Second thought, Mr. FRU?

I enjoyed photographing the police in their balaclava and boots during the first Bersih protest. It was no different last Saturday.

This particular member of the Federal Reserve Unit had his uniform out of color and he did not seem to be paying attention to the moment. His face shield was up as well. While I shot this, a small crowd from the old Kuala Lumpur railway station was already marching.

Maybe, he was having a second thought about suppressing the protest. Maybe.

Realizing that this particular squad was blocking the way, the crowd circumvented the police. Much like how the Germans did to the French during the Second World War. The first confrontation was thus averted. But not for long.

Categories
Liberty Photography

[2395] Tangkap! Tangkap!

A long time ago, probably three to four years ago, there was a candlelight vigil in front of a police station. A small crowd was waiting for the police to release several individuals after being arrested for protesting something. I think it was against the Internal Security Act.

The police was unhappy. So they warned the crowd to disperse. After some warnings, an officer shouted, “Tangkap! Tangkap!” A game of cat and mouse began.

Literally, tangkap it means capture in Malay. A more enlightened translation within context will be, arrest them.

I was reminded of the story when a small crowd of probably 500 tried to join the main Bersih protest group yesterday…

…only to be chased by a horde of charging cops.

The group dispersed with each person tried to run away. No fighting back. This is what typically will happen when a peaceful protest is met with brute force (note what some of the officers were holding; you can download this picture and see it more clearly.).

Berita Harian and the New Straits Times had to doctor a picture to show that the Bersih protest was violent.

I thought the situation was particularly funny. I almost laughed when I shot the scene. I would have laughed if I had not been too worried about my own safety. Safety from whom?

From the cops of course. In Malaysia, if you merely practice your individual rights when the government does not like it, the police will get you. Hell, wearing yellow shirt will get your arrested. Lighting a candle will get you arrested. Etc.

Categories
Liberty Photography

[2394] Tyranny’s kahuna

Yes, I was there.

Being tear gassed is not a great experience.

Categories
Liberty

[2390] A disappointing Bersih compromise

Despite what I wrote yesterday, I have to agree that the stadium option is probably the best given the circumstances the electoral reform group Bersih faces.[1] It is a safe compromise for everybody.

The ultimate purpose of Bersih is electoral reforms. It is not a purely civil liberty organization. It is not bound to push through its right to freedom of assembly. It loses no ground in choosing the stadium option while backing down from its initial intention to march the streets peacefully. As as I have written earlier, because Bersih explicitly makes the King their referee, they are bound to the King’s words. The King views the peaceful march negatively.

I planned to attend the now-cancelled street march. With all the news of possible disturbance and threats issued, quite honestly I was afraid for my safety. I am sure many felt the same way. They were afraid. Afraid but brave, nevertheless.

So, the compromise is a relieve. Now they know for certain that they will not face any water cannon or arrest. There is no need to call for courage now.

Still, I am disappointed. I know, there are various arguments out there portraying the compromise as a victory. It may be a victory from various point of view but from a libertarian one, I see it as a defeat.

I see Bersih as a vehicle to push the envelope in the illiberal Malaysia. With a successful exercise of freedom of assembly, I had hope for Malaysia to become less illberal and more tolerant towards peaceful protests.

That scenario will not play out and instead, we will see a compromised scenario. That is a compromise on individual right.

Lastly, I have to say that I am not a fan of protests per se. I always try to judge the worth of a protest based on its agenda. But that statement has a qualifier: only under liberal environment where freedom of assembly is guaranteed.

Without the guarantee, the suppression of that right is enough a reason for me to sympathize with any protest exercising freedom.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

[1] — KUALA LUMPUR, July 5 — Bersih 2.0 will continue its rally for electoral reform but in a stadium and not on the streets, the group said today fresh from an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in Istana Negara. [Syed Mu’az Syed Putra Ambiga: Bersih to rally in stadium, not on streets. The Malaysian Insider. July 7 2011]

Categories
Liberty Politics & government

[2389] Bersih finds itself in a quandary with the King speaking up

I give my support to Bersih. As far as the rally goes, that support is based on the idea of freedom of assembly. That however does not mean I fully agree with everything that Bersih does. Specifically, I disagree with its appeal to the King.

Bersih now finds itself in a quandary. The King has just spoken up against its planned protest in downtown Kuala Lumpur.[1]

For a libertarian like me, the King’s speech should not matter. For those in Bersih who makes the King their arbitrator, it does.

Bersih binds itself to the words of the King and not primarily to the principle of liberty. That binding makes the words of the King as an imperative that Bersih must follow, if these monarchists are true to their conviction. And the King’s words have not been favorable toward it. That is the peril of making the King the referee.

Because of the King, I would imagine that there is a conflict between monarchists and civil libertarians within Bersih.

I take comfort seeing Bersih finding itself in a quandry because, again, I disagree with its appeal to the King. I have been so from the very beginning, even back in 2007 in times when many believed that the monarchy was an important balancing mechanism, especially after they observed how the Thai King helped toned down the political conflict in Thailand.

I have argued that that appeal would only politicize the monarchy and bring the monarchy into politics in times when the status quo has a republican bias. At the time, however, my argument ran against the grain. I lost because they said, “look, the model works”.

Not after a while though. These believers of the monarchy as an arbitrator have been discouraged by the sultans of Perak and Selangor. Today, they have been discouraged by the King of Malaysia. The model does not work.

So, while I sympathize with the political fortune of Bersih in light of the King’s statement, but I shall enjoy my little cake nonetheless.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

[1] — “The fact is, street demonstrations bring more bad than good although the original intention is good. Instead, we should focus on our main objective to develop this country, and not create problems that will cause the country to lag behind. [Statement by Agong on Bersih Illegal Rally. Bernama. July 3 2011]

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

p/s — have a happy fourth of July.