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People
Cycling offendsa security threat |
| A DAY THAT SAW an incident free day of cycling took a turn at Rawang . We arrived in Rawang at about 4.30pm. We were supposed to meet up with YB ADUN Rawang, Gan Pei Nei at Rawang Jaya . She and her delegation planned to cycle with the JERIT convoy from there to Rawang town. But a roadblock greeted us at Rawang . As usual the police requested names and IC of all the cyclists and coordinator. We intervened and told the police that it is not necessary to record names and addresses of all cyclists as we have a list that we can give to them. After much argument we took back all the ICs of the cyclists and gave the coordinators IC to record . Myself ,Sugu, Saras,Rani ,Mohan gave our IC to be recorded . The IC were returned after recording. But my IC changed hands to another officer . Soon the police received new directions. The bus was to be held and I and the coordinators were asked to come to the balai. Though we managed to get the cyclists to continue to cycle, they were stopped again further ahead . When the cyclists met up with YB Gan Pei Nei group, they were stopped from cycling into town . After some negotiations by Gan Pei Nei , the convoy proceeded into town . They cycled around Rawang town and stopped at a coffee shop for a drink . I, Sugu and Saras made our way to the balai polis . At the balai , Saras immediately checked on the 7 junior cyclists in the bus that was brought in to the balai . The police were already intimidating the children, asking them questions. Some officers also asked the cyclists if Dr.Kumar had paid them money to participate in the campaign. They harassed the cyclists who were in the bus. Saras and Sugu intervened and chased out the officers from the bus . I met up with Gan Pei Nei who then arrived at the balai. We went over to see the OCPD, Abdul Rahim. He was asking the same stupid questions ,whether did we get a permit to cycle. He said ,it does not matter if other OCPD have allowed the cyclists, but we supposedly should have sought his permission in his district. OCPD instructed all the bicyclists to be brought to the balai. We objected and said that we have given all the names and there was no need to have any statements taken . Later the OCPD instructed statements to be taken from all the 7 cyclists who were already in the bus. He said that he wanted to verify if they were under aged children being abused. I followed them. Informed the officers that they cannot take statements, and we will not give statements. The cyclists will only give their details. |
Soon all the cyclist were brought to the balai. Dr.Kumar arrived shortly. I and Dr.Kumar met up with the OCPD . He still insisted that he wanted to take statements from all the cyclists. We showed him that we have consent letters from all the parents . We gave the police a copy . After much negotiations ,we agreed that the poiice record details of all the cyclists with us . As this was going on, I was taken by the OCPD to his room . He explained that he still considered that the event was a procession. He confirmed that I will be charged under Section 27 of the Police Act (illegal assembly). Kumar also had his statements taken later . At this moment , we were quite sure that all will be released after giving the details to the police . This was when matters took a turn for the worse, when the Selangor CPO arrived, Dato Khalid Immediately the CPO, OCPD and other officers went for taklimat. About an hour later the CPO arrogantly came down and announced that all 50 cyclists and all the 15 coordinators will be arrested . We were gathered at the parking lot. They put a yellow tape around us .All those below 18 years old were separated from the seniors . By this time a crowd of supporters were already swelling outside the balai . A candle light vigil began. Makkal Sakti slogans and songs were sung . There were also PKR , DAP and PAS members. The police made arrangements for the welfare officers to take the junior cyclists away. They would be then handed 'safely' to their parents. The police went all out to harass us . Edmund Bon, lawyer, informed us that the police were going to expel the permit and the driving licences of all the lorry drivers and bus driver. JPJ officials also arrived. They examined the bus, lorry, looking for something to issue summonses on. The driving licences and road tax of the lorry and bus were taken away . As the protest outside gathered momentum, a complete battalion of FRU with water cannon arrived . The crowd outside carried on chanting and demanding our release. As they were about to use the water cannon, the rain poured down heavily. The police did not use the water cannon . As rain kept pouring down heavily the car park, where all of us were being detained, began flooding . All of us were standing cold in a river of water. We demanded to be shifted out of the parking lot . As usual the police 'buat tak tahu'. Tempers flared. I moved to rip of the yellow police tape and walk out of the parking lot. The rest followed. A fight started between us and the police as they were trying to push us back into the parking lot and we were moving out . The officers couldn't stop us . The Light Strike Force rushed in. They pushed us back with their shields and batons. The CPO looked and couldn't do anything. Immediately the police brought all the cyclists below 18 years of age into a dry place at the balai meeting room upstairs. As this was happening, we were also amazed at the 300 over crowd outside that stood in the heavy rain and did not budge. FRU cordoned off the police station entrance . The welfare officers couldn't find a place to take the junior cyclists. Thus they stayed at the meeting room . The junior cyclists told the police they refused being brought away by the welfare officers and that they'd rather remain arrested with the others. |
| At about 2 am, I
and Kumar were given the bail sheets . Soon the rest
had details taken and issued bail sheets . Some comrades spent
the night with the junior cyclists in the balai meeting room.
At about 3.30 am all walked out of the balai polis Rawang . It was an
eventful night. This is one of the stories of the police taking fright from a bunch of cylists from JERIT, the Opppressed People's Movement - from Haris Ibrahim's blog Go to the top |
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| ______ INDEX Point to the article that you want to read, and CLICK Index page Bangsawan Batangkali again Batik exhibition Book review Cycling Despised Asli First 30 daysFood guide In search of Gold (7) Ismail Hashim Letter from Pulau Tikus Ponggal Tan Kai Shouan Terrorist rap! - poem Visiting Tanjong |
the penang file issue 64 |