excusez-moi?

The powerless Rakyat?

The crowd in front of PAS building.


Water Canon in front of PAS building.


Cops beat and hold down people.


The irony.

(Photos courtesy of Nanda)

1st August 2009. The Rakyat have spoken. Almost 20,000 attended the "No to ISA" rally to call for the abolishment of ISA. I was amazed at the number and the commitment from the Rakyat.

I am, however exasperated by the responses from our national leaders.

The PM said on 3rd August that:

“We can provide them stadiums where they can shout themselves hoarse till dawn, but don’t cause disturbance on the streets,” said Najib in commenting on the illegal assemblies in several areas in the federal capital on Saturday.

He said there were stadiums in Opposition states like Selangor that could be used for such gatherings, adding that it was unnecessary to inconvenience other road users.

Najib also defended police actions, saying that they were done in the interest of public order and safety. (the truth is, it would indeed be safer without the police's presence)

And the FT Minister said that protest cost RM100mil in damage. (Read: Yes, Please Sue)

While the Women, Children and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, strongly condemning parents and organisers who used children as human shields during rallies.

Samy Vellu said that street demos ‘shooing away investors’. (hello, I think it is the other way round, who would want to do business in a country whereby the authority can simply put people in jail without trial?)

20,000 people decided to walk their talk to show the government that we, the Rakyat are against detention without trials.

We talked. We walked. We screamed.

But all these screamings have fallen on deaf ears. PM is even willing to provide the avenue for us to do just that, to scream and rant, but not be heard.

Instead of addressing the issue, as to why so many marched, why so many are even willing to bring their children to support for the cause, due to the importance and grievance of the issue, those in the corridor of power decided to just ignore it and put the blame on the protest itself.

They blamed

• the organisers (for the loss of the business - but it was the FRU that simply fired teargas and deployed chemical-laced water),
• the protestors (for causing the traffic jam - but it was the police that blocked the roads) ,
• the parents (for bringing their children, yet the police dare to handcuffed the kids and locked them together with the adults???),

BUT they fail to (or rather refuse to) question themselves why did this protest had to take place?

It feels as if, that our screams were voiceless, and of no significance, because, the very next day, the powers that be continues to disregard us. Worse still, the blame is now put on us, the RAKYAT instead.

Arghhh... maybe... maybe, we the Rakyat are powerless afterall. There's nothing else we could do to have our voice heard. Is the next General Election the only way out?

Labels: anti-ISA protest

posted by ee chia @ 11:13 am