Malaysian police fired tear gas and water cannons, and arrested dozens of demonstrators yesterday in an attempt to disperse a mass street protest against Draconian internal security laws.
Thousands of police backed by riot squad officers and helicopters cracked down at three rallying points in Kuala Lumpur — two major mosques and a popular shopping district.
Web news portal Malaysiakini said some 200 people had been arrested as police tried to disperse crowds at the rallying points and scupper their plans to march to the royal palace or the city’s Independence Square.
PHOTO: AFP
At least 50 rounds of tear gas were fired and water cannons were directed at a crowd of around 10,000 people who gathered at the Sogo shopping complex in downtown Kuala Lumpur.
An AFP reporter saw at least 25 people arrested, before the huge group began marching down a main thoroughfare toward the royal palace, triggering the police offensive.
Organizers said they intended to present a 10-point memo to the king, including demands for the abolition of the Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial.
They were also calling for the closure of a camp in northern Perak State where detainees are held and an inquiry into all deaths in custody and allegations of police abuse of power.
At the national mosque, where an AFP reporter saw at least 50 detained, opposition Islamic PAS Legislator Siti Mariah Mahmud criticized the arrests.
“This is not reasonable. It’s prayer time and this action is a breach of our religious freedom and duty,” she said.
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