Two men were arrested this morning when the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) and police raided their protest camp at Dataran Merdeka, the iconic public square in the city centre.
According to eyewitness and supporter Wong Tay Sy, 27, a huge contingent of DBKL and police officers surrounded the campsite, seized the tents and loaded them into a City Hall truck at about 8 am.
"They waited for us to wake up and took away 61 out of 62 of our tents. We are only left with food, drinks and a recycled bunting,” she toldMalaysiakini. “Only one or two of the police were in uniform.”
The 40 DBKL and police personnel were more than doubled the number of protesters, said Wong, who has been camping there since Friday night.
She said that the two arrested - social activist Fahmi Reza and student Umar Mohd Azmi - were "dragged into an unmarked van" by about two or three men each.
"Fahmi kept on asking if he was arrested but they did not answer. He is now at the Dang Wangi police station," she said, adding that the operation was over in 10 minutes.
Two protestors have gone to the station to check on their friends while the rest have collectively decided to stay put at Dataran.
"We are appealing for more people to join us and help us with supplies," she said.
According to eyewitness and supporter Wong Tay Sy, 27, a huge contingent of DBKL and police officers surrounded the campsite, seized the tents and loaded them into a City Hall truck at about 8 am.
"They waited for us to wake up and took away 61 out of 62 of our tents. We are only left with food, drinks and a recycled bunting,” she toldMalaysiakini. “Only one or two of the police were in uniform.”The 40 DBKL and police personnel were more than doubled the number of protesters, said Wong, who has been camping there since Friday night.
She said that the two arrested - social activist Fahmi Reza and student Umar Mohd Azmi - were "dragged into an unmarked van" by about two or three men each.
"Fahmi kept on asking if he was arrested but they did not answer. He is now at the Dang Wangi police station," she said, adding that the operation was over in 10 minutes.Two protestors have gone to the station to check on their friends while the rest have collectively decided to stay put at Dataran.
"We are appealing for more people to join us and help us with supplies," she said.
Day 8 of Dataran occupation
This is the eighth day of the student protest for free education. They share the space with the Occupy Dataran movement - a movement to reclaim public spaces.
The students, who are demanding the abolition of PTPTN (Higher Education Loan Fund), as well as the Occupy Dataran activists,decamped yesterday to make way for a royal concert held in Dataran last night.
While the Occupy Dataran activists re-established their camp late last night after the concert, the students are expected to return today.
The students, who are demanding the abolition of PTPTN (Higher Education Loan Fund), as well as the Occupy Dataran activists,decamped yesterday to make way for a royal concert held in Dataran last night.
While the Occupy Dataran activists re-established their camp late last night after the concert, the students are expected to return today.
When contacted, Fahmi (right) who is still held at the police station, said while DBKL officers took away the tents this morning, the police officers had demanded to speak to him personally."I was sitting down... the police said they wanted to talk to me but I told them to let me discuss with my friends first, he then started to grab my hand.
"I asked if I was arrested, they then grabbed me and arrested me without giving me any reason," he said.
Another Dataran occupier, Umar who approached the police to question why Fahmi was arrested, was also detained by police.
The DBKL officers involved in the operation are also at the Dang Wangi police headquarters.
Illegal structures
Meanwhile, at a press conference later, Occupy Dataran activist Lew Pik Svonn said Fahmi and Umar are being detained under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing public servants from performing their duties.
"They are also accused of violating Section 4 of DBKL by-laws for illegally erecting structures," she said.
She also claimed that a DBKL officer had assaulted Umar while attempting to arrest him.
Lew said their lawyers have been informed that the police are also planning to separate the arrested duo by shipping off Umar to the Jinjang district police station.
The raid and arrest come just hours after DBKL returned the occupiers' belongings which was temporarily stored on their struck in order not to obstruct the royal concert last night.
According to another activist, Dianne Tahir, when the items were returned at around 11pm, DBKL officers also issued a summon to Fahmi for illegally setting up tents at Dataran Merdeka however it did not specify the compound amount.
"They are also accused of violating Section 4 of DBKL by-laws for illegally erecting structures," she said.
She also claimed that a DBKL officer had assaulted Umar while attempting to arrest him.
Lew said their lawyers have been informed that the police are also planning to separate the arrested duo by shipping off Umar to the Jinjang district police station.
The raid and arrest come just hours after DBKL returned the occupiers' belongings which was temporarily stored on their struck in order not to obstruct the royal concert last night.
According to another activist, Dianne Tahir, when the items were returned at around 11pm, DBKL officers also issued a summon to Fahmi for illegally setting up tents at Dataran Merdeka however it did not specify the compound amount.
Close to an estimated RM5,000 worth of items including equipments, tents, raincoats, toiletries were confiscated, she added.
"But they left some food behind for us," she added.
"But they left some food behind for us," she added.
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