SHOCKING VIOLENCE: 967 tear gas canisters, grenades fired at Bersih protestors

The truth is out. Data revealed by the Home Ministry has confirmed the extent of the police violence against peaceful demonstrators in Kuala Lumpur on April 28 that has shocked the nation and the world, placing an indelible black mark against Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration.

According to the ministry which is led by his cousin Hishammuddin Hussein, police fired a total of 909 tear gas canisters and 58 tear gas grenades to disperse the 250,000-strong crowd that jam-packed the vicinity of the Dataran Merdeka to attend the Bersih 3.0 rally for free and fair elections.

“Police had to act swiftly to ensure the situation was under control,” the Home Ministry told Parliament on Monday.

It was replying to a question raised by Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan that the government had spent RM1.8 million to police the rally. The Home Ministry also said the number of tear gas shells fired was nearly four times the 262 used in the previous Bersih rally on July 9, 2011.

However, it denied accusations of police brutality and insisted that “police acted according to standard operating procedures (SOP) to prevent the situation from becoming more violent and threatening public safety.”

Whitewashing the BN's hand

The latest data is bound to stir further public anger and indignation. A sit-in rally, Bersih 3.0 was peaceful and under control when just an hour before its scheduled 4pm close, the police had fired tear gas directly into the crowd.

LRT stations were suddenly closed and the protesters found themselves unable to escape the tear gas. Video evidence also shows police personnel gathering in groups to chase and assault hapless protesters.

Najib has come under heavy fire for ordering the crackdown that resulted in the worst bloodshed and violence in recent years.

However, he has refused to apologize and has instead sued the Bersih organizers, as well as charged Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali for inciting the crowd to break a police cordon.

Apologize and pay compensation

Meanwhile, the Malaysian human rights commission or Suhakam has begun a public inquiry into the police attacks, while the Bar Council - which sent marshals  to monitor the rally - has pinned the blame squarely on the Najib administration, advising the government to apologize and pay compensation to those injured.

Najib has snubbed both Suhakam and the Bar Council, forming instead an 'independent' panel of inquiry led by Umno loyalist and former Inspector General of Police Hanif Omar.

However, the Hanif panel has been snubbed in turn by the Bersih organizers and the majority of Malaysian civil society, who doubt its independence and will to find and disclose the 'real' truth.

Malaysia Chronicle