Bersih 3.0 inquiry panel visits Dataran Merdeka

Former inspector-general of police Hanif Omar and his four Bersih inquiry panel members visited the iconic Dataran Merdeka today for a first hand look at what the police and the crowd would have faced during the April 28, Bersih 3.0 rally.

Hanif and the panel members spent about 55 minutes to try to understand how the massive crowd allegedly disobeyed the magistrate's order banning their presence at Dataran Merdeka, how they would have breached the barricades and went 100 metres into Jalan Raja, near the square.

Hanif and the panel members were briefed on the police formations and positions at the time of the incident. 

So far police personnel and four members of the public have testified before the panel.

Hanif told reporters that the door was still open for the Bar Council and members of the Bersih steering committee to testify before thepanel.

'There is no quarrel about it'

"We are still prepared to hear from them and it can be done at our place or their place. There is no quarrel about it. I want to know what actually happened, as the directive given by the government to the panel is to understand what happened on that day," he said.

Hanif said the panel has also viewed 78 hours of video recordings provided to it and other videos taken from YouTube, and will also view personal videos submitted to the panel.

"The panel has agreed to view all the videos to get a clear picture," he said.

Hanif said the government-appointed panel would also take into account the Human Rights Council’s (Suhakam) findings before making its own findings.
[More to follow]