Cops fired tear gas at trapped protesters, lawyer tells Suhakam’s Bersih inquiry

Riot police are seen firing tear gas canisters at Bersih protesters in this file photo. – Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 – Riot police fired tear gas at protesters trapped in a narrow road here during the April 28 Bersih rally, a Bar Council observer told the Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) inquiry today into official violence at the electoral reforms rally.

Senior lawyer Christopher Leong’s testimony at the SUHAKAM inquiry is the latest in a series of eyewitness accounts of what appeared to be high-handed and frequently violent and aggressive action taken by police to break up the rally attended by thousands of Malaysians.

Leong was observing the protest on April 28 for the Bar Council.

He testified today that the police fired rounds of tear gas even though it was clear protesters could not disperse from Jalan Melayu, a narrow road near the Masjid Jamek LRT station.

Leong said the protesters could not move away as ordered by the police earlier because another group of demonstrators had approached the area from behind them.

“I saw the police approaching the protesters and firing tear gas right in the middle of the crowd. At the time, I was standing in the middle.

“We couldn’t leave. We couldn’t move at all. It was impossible to back away.”

Bersih has repeatedly argued that police had fired tear gas with the intention of harming participants of the April 28 rally for free and fair elections here, and used excessive force to make arbitrary arrests.

The electoral reforms group had previously submitted a report to SUHAKAM to back its claims with video and other documentary evidence.

Bersih had added that the police used indiscriminate, disproportionate, unjustified and excessive use of force against participants who largely did not display any act of provocation or misbehaviour.

The Bersih report added that participants who were having meals at restaurants were also arrested or assaulted.

Thousands of Malaysians gathered in the city on April 28 to mount a protest demanding free and fair elections.

The demonstration turned chaotic after police fired tear gas and protesters were unable to disperse because of the huge crowds choking the narrow streets.

The current inquiry is headed by Suhakam vice-chairman Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee and aided by commissioners Professor Datuk Dr Mahmood Zuhdi Abdul Majid and Detta Samen.