'No end to 505 rallies until EC resigns'

INTERVIEW Pakatan Rakyat's Black 505 rallies that have been going on nationwide after the May 5 general election, will go on and won't stop until the present leadership of the Election Commission (EC) resigns.

PKR vice-president Tian Chua said this in an interview yesterday.

"I don't think the EC can go against the will of the people. Five years ago, people told me the government will never abolish the Internal Security Act (ISA), but eventually they did," he said when asked about EC's continuous refusal to heed calls for their resignation.

"We went through midnight in Parliament to pass an election law, which was mutually agreed by both sides, which clearly specified that the indelible ink must last seven days. EC has deliberately violated the law," he said, four days before Pakatan's Black 505 rally at Padang Merbok, Kuala Lumpur.

He said that the EC's failure to provide foolproof indelible ink for the election was a "crime that cannot be forgiven".

"They (EC) should be out on trial for violating electoral law. The resignation of the EC is the bare minimum to show that they take responsibility for what has happened," he said.

'Once in a lifetime opportunity'

Chua believes however that the people would not grow tired of Pakatan's series of nationwide rallies, "except for party workers, speakers, organisers and journalists".

"We follow the news every day, so for us it is repetitive. But for people who are in Batu Pahat for example, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of the rally.

"People are actually excited about the rallies. The fatigue is probably for the speakers who are running around from one place to another."

He said it was only though participation in rallies that the people would feel empowered.

"It's not just about the election. The gathering itself is a right that we have been fighting for. We cannot give up just because the government refuses to acknowledge the rise of the people. All struggles go through a long process."

He also said that, should Pakatan fail in its election petitions filed nationwide, it will again go to the streets in order to demand democratic electoral reforms.

"If our law is correct, if our judges are just, then we stand a chance (of winning the petitions). If the courts cannot give us justice, we have no choice, we will take to the streets again," he added. - Malaysiakini