Police had to resort to force to stop “hooliganism” by protesters during last month’s Bersih 3.0 pro-electoral reform rally, to prevent harm to fellow officers and destruction of public property, argued former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“Police brutality”, he said, is being bandied about “indiscriminately” by irresponsible parties, singling out the Malaysian Bar, even when it was necessary for police to apply permissible force to preserve safety and public order.
Mahathir accused Bersih 3.0 demonstrators as being “obviously violent” and the police as only doing what is necessary to contain the situation.
“They chased police cars, shattered the windscreen and overturned it. They kicked a policeman who had fallen on the ground.”
Indeed, he stressed, that the Malaysian police exercised remarkable restraint, observed Mahathir, compared to their counterparts overseas.
“In other countries they would not just threaten but would probably shoot their assailants. As far as can be ascertained they did not use their side-arms. They must have restrained themselves.”
“Next time let’s have members of the Bar Council to keep law and order during violent demos and riots. I am sure Bersih 4.0 will be free of violence as the demonstrators would not be stopped from breaking rules and laws,” sniped the veteran politician.
Well-documented accusations of violence by both the police and demonstrators have surfaced following what was the most violent protest and brutal response by law enforcement in recent history.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.