KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Government has faced criticism for arresting hundreds of people and using tear gas and water cannon to break up a protest against laws that allow for detention without trial.
More than 60 of the 589 people detained in Saturday’s protest, in which at least 15,000 people massed in chaotic scenes in Kuala Lumpur, were still in custody yesterday, lawyers said.
‘‘I experienced first-hand the indiscriminate police use of tear gas and its corrosive effects,’’ said Lim Kit Siang, a veteran opposition politician who took part in the protest.
Mr Lim condemned the Prime Minister, Najib Razak, over the heavy-handed police response, in which 5000 officers, including riot squad members, played a cat-and-mouse game with protesters through city streets.
‘‘Is this an indication that the Najib premiership is going to be the most draconian of all prime ministers since independence in 1957?’’ Mr Lim asked.
Mr Najib had criticised the protest plans, saying that he had already promised to review the controversial legislation after taking office in April.
The Home Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, who is in charge of the police, reportedly said the Internal Security Act could be amended as soon as the next session of parliament.
But the opposition and rights groups are calling for the colonial-era act, which has been used to detain government opponents as well as suspected terrorists, to be abolished.
A lawyer for the detained protesters, Latifah Koya, said police were continuing to hold a senior opposition MP, R. Sivarasa, as well as the wife and son of an Internal Security Act detainee. Two other children were also in custody.
‘‘We totally condemn the police action,’’ Ms Koya said. ‘‘People who merely wore T-shirts with an anti-ISA logo were also arrested. We demand their immediate release.’’
No comments:
Post a Comment