Protesters against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) were baffled when police accused them of drug use in a bid to force them to abandon their demonstration in front of Kota Kinabalu hotel where the negotiations are taking place.
"While we were demonstrating across the road from the Harbour Sutera Hotel, the police arrived and gathered 11 of us and told that we were being arrested under Section 15 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
"We were asked to follow them to the police station for a urine test.
"We did not want anything unfortunate to happen, so we just followed them," said Sabah PAS Youth chief Lahirul Latigu (left) who was among those detained.
Later, three more were picked up outside the Karamunsing district police headquarters while showing solidarity for the detainees, bringing the total arrested to 14.
Section 15 of the Act states that it is an offence to administer or consume any dangerous drugs.
However, after all 11 protesters had gone through their urine tests, their statements were recorded under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (PAA), said Lahirul.
"To my knowledge, the urine test for all 11 of us showed negative for drugs.
"It was just an excuse to get us to the police station as we were later investigated under the PAA," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.
"While we were demonstrating across the road from the Harbour Sutera Hotel, the police arrived and gathered 11 of us and told that we were being arrested under Section 15 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
"We were asked to follow them to the police station for a urine test."We did not want anything unfortunate to happen, so we just followed them," said Sabah PAS Youth chief Lahirul Latigu (left) who was among those detained.
Later, three more were picked up outside the Karamunsing district police headquarters while showing solidarity for the detainees, bringing the total arrested to 14.
Section 15 of the Act states that it is an offence to administer or consume any dangerous drugs.
However, after all 11 protesters had gone through their urine tests, their statements were recorded under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (PAA), said Lahirul."To my knowledge, the urine test for all 11 of us showed negative for drugs.
"It was just an excuse to get us to the police station as we were later investigated under the PAA," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.
Lahirul added that two lawyers who had turned up to assist them were also asked by the police to give statements as witnesses.
At the time of writing this report, the detainees are still having their statements recorded.
Lahirul said a coalition of Sabah-based NGOs and political parties, had begun their protest at the entrance of the Sutera Harbour at 8am with around 50 protesters.
They were later asked by police not to obstruct the entrance and had obliged by moving the protest some 50 metres away across the road.
However, at around 9am, the police moved in to arrest them on
At the time of writing this report, the detainees are still having their statements recorded.
Lahirul said a coalition of Sabah-based NGOs and political parties, had begun their protest at the entrance of the Sutera Harbour at 8am with around 50 protesters.
They were later asked by police not to obstruct the entrance and had obliged by moving the protest some 50 metres away across the road.
However, at around 9am, the police moved in to arrest them on
Suaram bashes police action
Meanwhile, human rights group Suaram in an immediate statement condemned the arrest.
"The action clearly disrespects the right of freedom of assembly and freedom of expression as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," it said.
It also criticised the police for using the urine tests as a pretext to arrest the protesters.
The TPPA, a free trade agreement that would include, among others, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, is expected to conclude by October.
The deal has faced criticism due to its lack of information disclosed to the public as well as fears that local industry would become vulnerable to multinational cooperation if the agreement is inked.
"The action clearly disrespects the right of freedom of assembly and freedom of expression as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," it said.
It also criticised the police for using the urine tests as a pretext to arrest the protesters.The TPPA, a free trade agreement that would include, among others, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, is expected to conclude by October.
The deal has faced criticism due to its lack of information disclosed to the public as well as fears that local industry would become vulnerable to multinational cooperation if the agreement is inked.
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