KUALA LUMPUR – Although the Covid-19 pandemic is a major factor, it is not the only consideration when it comes to organising a protest, as others, too, have to be looked at to determine if it is the right time to hold one, said Bersih 2.0.
Chairman Thomas Fann shared his thoughts on whether there will be a future Bersih rally, on the electoral watchdog’s 10th anniversary of its July 9, 2011 demonstration.
“There are many factors we have to look at to determine whether this is the right time. Although a protest is not off the table, we are looking closely at where the red line is.
“It is our constitutional right to protest peacefully; it is democracy in action.”
He was one of five speakers at the webinar, with the others being former Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, who led the 2011 rally, and members of its then organising committee Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah, Wong Chin Huat and Zaid Kamaruddin.
Ambiga recalled her surprise at the turnout for the protest, which she described as “historic”.
The rally, also called Walk for Democracy, was held in Kuala Lumpur as a follow-up to the 2007 Bersih march.
It was supported by the now-defunct opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat (PR), but deemed illegal by the Barisan Nasional government under the leadership of then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The authorities used high-handed methods to disperse the crowd, including blasting tear gas and water cannons into the ranks of peaceful protesters.
Several people were injured, including opposition chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s bodyguard, who fractured his cheekbone when a tear-gas canister was shot directly at his face. He was thought to have taken a hit meant for Anwar.
The PR leaders, together with roughly more than 200 supporters, were exiting an underpass at KL Sentral heading towards Dataran Merdeka when they were intercepted by a platoon of around 30 Federal Reserve Unit personnel stationed there.
They were given three warnings to disperse.
Then Batu MP Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, of PKR charged the police line, leading to officers launching tear-gas canisters and resulting in injuries within the tunnel.
“Never in a million years did we expect the turnout we had for (the) Bersih 2.0 (rally),” said Ambiga.
“It really was a testament to the courage of the people, who were prepared to come out on that day.”
Maria spoke of the situation she and Ambiga faced while attempting to evade police.
That night, we were all ready to get arrested. Police were ready for us no matter where we ran and tried to join the people. That’s why we were gassed in that little tunnel. I just felt like they wanted to kill us; you just couldn’t breathe.”
Ambiga added how the stressful situation led to her having to hop on a motorcycle to evade capture.
“I got my bodyguard to take me on his motorcycle to Hilton Hotel, where I met Maria. I had never been on a motorcycle before. And like Maria said, the next day, we were all caught in the tunnel, where they tear-gassed us.
“They tear-gassed us so much that I, too, thought we were finished.”
Zaid praised Bersih for being a factor that helped unite a big part of the nation, adding that the goals for the rally were logical and supported by the people.
The group has launched an oral history campaign called “#kisahbersih709” for those who want to share their experiences and thoughts on the rally a decade ago. – The Vibes, July 11, 2021
